As Klause was about to pursue Wolf-bat, he caught sight of a blue glow coming at him from the right. In that split second, he blocked with his sheathed blade, but the impact sent him flying towards a building, raising a cloud of dust and debris.
"So, you are Vion Klause, A.K.A Sleavetry, the one who created the first Faction and forged the golden rule behind it. It's a privilege to engage you in battle. I'm Zhòng Biān," said the attacker, adjusting his three-section staff. He had long black hair tied with a band, wore a black and blue haori, and fitted flip-flops. He was 19 and stood 6'11".
Coughing up blood in the dust, Klause grinned and stood upright. "Finally! … But you forgot to add your title, Mr. Echowood Retreat, or do you worship me that much? Sorry, I don't need your praise."
"You even know me? I'm flattered," Zhòng Biān replied, touching his chest with a mocking smile.
His expression transitioned into a serious one as he said; "You'd better win this fight, or everything you stole from us will be forsaken, and I'll haunt you until you pay back every single thing."
Laughing with his right eye open, Klause said, "Don't worry, adrenaline is rushing through my veins right now. Your spy, Rattle, gave me one hell of a fight, and I bet you're even tougher. You better not lose intentionally."
Gripping and rolling his three-section staff vigorously, Zhòng Biān replied, "We shall see."
"Whoosh," Klause dashed towards Zhòng Biān, clearing the dust.
Going barefoot, Zhòng Biān responded with the same move.
As Klause approached, he drew his katana with an upward slash aiming for Zhòng Biān's left arm. Zhòng Biān anticipated this and stopped the katana with the chain between the three sections of his staff.
They struggled, Klause trying to cut upward through the staff while Zhòng Biān held it down.
After about eight seconds of struggle, Zhòng Biān swept Klause's right leg from the floor, disrupting his balance. While on the ground, Klause attempted to slash Zhòng Biān's legs, but Zhòng Biān leaped vigorously, avoiding the attack.
As he landed, Zhòng Biān rotated his staff, a blue light running through it to the tip. He swung downwards towards Klause, who was kneeling on the ground.
Sensing the potential damage, Klause rolled to his right, avoiding the attack. "BOOM-CRACK," the impact was so strong it destroyed the spot.
As Klause stood upright, "WHOOM," Zhòng Biān swung his staff horizontally at him. Klause rolled again, dodging the attack.
The glass of the lower buildings in the direction Zhòng swung the staff shattered, displaying the sheer power of the weapon.
"Skrshhhhh," Klause slided backward away from Zhòng Biān and sheathed his katana.
'That three-section staff packs a punch. Not even Fortis would block it; it would rip his arms off. My katana is a goner if I block the attacks with it. He's slightly slightly tougher than Rattle, but not invincible,' Klause thought as blood flowed down from his cut left eye.blood running down from
'But that blueish glow is suspicious. Is it required for the weapon's destructive capability to activate, or is it just for show? It only appears at the tip, the point of impact. That mostly indicates its maximum damage is at the tip, and also, it only appears when it's swung.' Klause stared at the formidable weapon.
"What's the matter, has your adrenaline stopped flowing?" Zhòng Biān taunted, looking down on Klause.
"Ask your three-section staff," Klause replied.
After a few seconds of silence, After a brief moment of silence and stare down, Zhòng Biān twirled his Sanjiegun with precision, creating a mesmerizing display of skill. The blue light at the tip flickered and intensified, Klause drew his katana with lightning speed.
With a swift movement, Zhòng Biān lunged forward, his Sanjiegun whirling through the air. Klause parried with his katana, careful of the tip, the clash of metal echoing throughout the area. They engaged in a deadly dance, their movements fast and fluid.
Zhòng Biān used the length and flexibility of his staff to strike from a distance, keeping Klause at bay. Klause countered with swift, calculated movements, his katana slicing through the air.
Their clash left trails of destruction.
Meanwhile, as Wolf-bat emerged from an alley holding his bleeding shoulder, three smoke grenades were thrown around him from an unknown distance.
His senses heightened, he drew out his weapon, Four Claws, worn on his fists. He looked around as the smoke screen gradually obstructed his vision.
Using his surround sound amplifier, he heard and dodged an incoming curved fan blade. Three more followed. Parrying them, he was forced outside the smoke screen.
The four fan blades boomeranged back toward him. He ran inside buildings, hoping to disrupt their paths, but they cut through everything. He jumped, slid, and parried them when necessary. He then decided to dive into water. Jumping from a rooftop, he activated his suit's wing system.
He glided to the River Eldathren near Hall Olympus. Dodging the fan blades, he dived into the water, rendering the blades ineffective.
Meanwhile, Klause and Zhòng Biān had been fighting for over ten about five minutes non-stop and were already losing stamina.
They lunged at each other for a final strike.