Agni continued sitting on his throne, dismissively looking down upon the martial artist. Who slid his left foot forward, with the light around him intensifying.

“Agni the False God… I will end you.”

“False god…? So that's what those ardamites are calling me…”

Agni stood up from his throne, as the air began to weave with the heat the same white flames that destroyed the loyalists spread around him. Liang took notice of the heat, as well as the uptick in protomis. Something followed by him leaping back, creating distance between them. Soon after, the two were left in a staring match. At the least, until the two turned their attention from one another, to a third who entered. Descending from the hole in the roof, was Bijan. He soon flew to Liang’s side, before he made his landing.

“Alright- I’m here!!” Bijan yelled.

Liang shot a glare at him as he did so.

“Didn’t I ask you to watch Cuifen?”

Bijan glanced over at his ally.

“Do you really think you can handle someone on that level by yourself? He’s got to be a high-tier at the least from what I'm sensing.”

Liang went silent for some time, before, begrudgingly, accepting this fact in his head.

“Fine then. But if Cuifen is caught in the crossfire- I won’t forgive you… Don’t forget what I’m here for.”

Apparently the girl wasn’t wrong, though that was to be expected, she’d known him for a lot longer than he had.

“Yeah, I got you. But let’s focus on taking this one down for n-”

Before Bijan finished hsi words, their opponent appeared in front of them, before they even had time to recognize it, Bijan was sent flying away, as a left hook smashed into his face, sending him out of the building’s walls. But he did not stop there, instead, cascading out of the base, demolishing the walls. He only came to a stop as he crashed into one of the many rocky hills typical for the region. Within the base, Liang launched at Agni’s neck. However, he moved to catch it, almost effortlessly, at that. Before his opponent twisted his body, spin kicked the Martial artist in his chest. Something soon followed by him being sent flying away, in the same direction as his ally. Unlike him, however, he stopped mid-air. Floating over the rocky plains.

Bijan’s gaze began to move up as he took note of Liang’s arrival. It looked like his luck wasn’t any better. He got to his feet as he levitated up, meeting his height. And no sooner, did a mass of white flames streak across the sky. Before they even had a chance to strategize, Agni had already arrived. The field of heat around him began to expand further, something followed by the ground below them being vaporized. Not only the plant life, but the earth, and stones alike. Bijansoon jumped back to avoid this, While the Qi barrier around Liang intensified. He found that it wavered a bit, flickering in and out, but for the most part, it kept him protected. Eventually the field of heat around Agni retreated, as he ceased his attack. Soon, the two-regrouped.

“That heat… If my barrier hadn’t stopped that- I'd surely be in a much tougher spot, this one is no joke.” Liang mumbled.

“It would be pointless to form the Verdant Emperor now- that heat would definitely take it out quickly… I’m not even sure I could use the Verdant Overlord against him.”

Agni, disregarding the two’s words, sped forward once again, throwing his arm forward, and placing his grip around Bijan’s neck. His target’s eyes widened as he took note. And no sooner did he tighten his grip, before flinging him further into the air, with a smirk coming onto his face.

“It’s about time to show you just how outmatched you are!”

Now, he continued his attack, Flashing behind Bijan, before he launched a knee into his back , Knocking him into Liang’s direction. Before, in the same fashion, he appeared in his path, Knocking him in the opposite direction. What came after, was a storm of blows. Agni continued to flash around, hitting his opponent again, and again. And with each and every strike, the youth found himself knocked back and forth, as if he were a volleyball. Now, the damage was beginning to pile up. For a moment, the strikes stopped falling, and Bijan was left with some brief solace. But before he could get out of range, Agni appeared once again. Clasping his fists together, he raised them above head, before he brought them down upon Lafeyah, sending him crashing into the ground below, and creating a crater underneath.

“Lafeyah!!!”

This was not Ideal, not in the very least. He couldn’t allow this to continue any longer. He needed to think of something, and he needed to do so quickly... Something that he did not get to do. Just as he’d appeared behind Bijan, Agni appeared directly behind Liang.

“Danm!”

“You should worry about yourself first… It’d be a shame if you died before saving that sister of yours.”

However, Liang was not ready to be hit that easily, he soon pivoted, sending a kick at the man’s side, however, Agni weaved out of the way, and flashed around Liang, appearing behind once more. Before, he grasped the back of his skull. Liang tsked, as he twisted his body, sending a kick at his side once more, an attempt to force him to release him. Even so, it was ineffective... Agni began a rapid descent keeping his grip onto the martial artist's skull, and driving his face into the ground. The earth giving way and rupturing around them from the force of the impact... For a few moments, Agni continued to hold Liang’s face into the ground. Eventually, however, he did let go, before he began levitating. Looking down upon the two fighters as they got to their feet.

“Both of you shall fall, and so shall the Ardamites. Nobody will defeat me!”

Agni’s smirk turned into a grin, as he began to cackle, loudly at that. The two fighters looked upon this display with their expressions unchanged. All the while, Lanzengan and Cuifen stood within the base, watching the battle through a camera feed, displayed by one of the many remaining terminals. What Cuifen saw, it worried her, without a doubt.

“It looks like my senses weren't off, He really is as strong as I sensed.”

Part B

Unbeknownst to any of those there, another force was beginning to approach. The hum of plasma jets resounded just above the plains and rolling hills. The source being a small transport ship with a black, angular frame. Though it did not fly over the site of the battle, they could have very well been getting closer. In the small cabin that lied in the ship, well-lit by the white bulbs. But the ship was not what was of note, rather, it was one of its passengers. Sitting on what little seating there was, was a tan-skinned, older man. He looked to be in his late 40s, with the angular shape of his face, and the numerous marks around it. He had a head of spiky Auburn hair that went down to the middle of his back, below his broad, toned shoulders. The same color as a thick beard, that connected with a mustache on his lip. He sat there in silence, with his eyes closed. At the least, until one of his subordinates, donning the Kaemerge’s armor, entered the cabin. Now, the man’s eyelids parted, revealing his yellow orbs.

“My lord-- We’ll be at the Lhasa fortress soon- It seems as if Agni is already active.”

“Good, That traitor shall be eliminated- in the name of Ardam… Enter cruising speed, we will put down this rebellion quickly.”

Elsewhere, the battle continued, Liang clutched his bloodied arm, breathing heavily, Bijan, kneeling behind him doing the very same. However, Liang would eventually release his grip on his arm. Followed by the Qi swirling around him once again, before re-taking its previous shape of a dragon’s head. However, there was a difference this time around it, as it leaped toward his opponent, a tail, or at the least, a fraction of it, had formed around him.. He balled his fist as he extended his arm, punching his opponent square in the chest... Agni looked upon this with his expression unchanged. Not even making an attempt to move out of the way. Letting the attack hit him. And unlike the two’s other attacks, he actually found himself being pushed back, even if just a bit… However, the attack was fruitless.

“Impressive, But not enough.”

Agni soon grasped Liang’s amr, before flinging the youth to the ground. Liang stopped mid-air, opting to fly back at his opponent, launching a flurry of kicks across the man’s body. However, he was simply met by the man weaving around his strikes without effort. On the ground, Bijan took note of this, launching off volleys of spines at Agni. All the while, Liang moved back, flinging shurikens from between his fingers. Only for the attempted attacks to hit air, his speed simply too great.

“Tch… I can’t even get into close combat- this man is a troublesome one.”

Liang retreated to Bijan’s side, landing. Bijan glanced at him.

“We need a plan of action… We can’t do anything to him like this…” Bijan stated.

Liang nodded in agreement. Even he could take note of this fact. Had they note gone together, there was a high chance they would have already been dead.

“Right you are-- What I suggest doing is-”

He cut himself off, grunted in surprise, as his eyes darted to his right, with Bijan doing the same. A certain feeling began to run through them, a tingling so to speak. One that seemed to overtake some of their senses...

“This power!” Liang yelled.

Bijan shook his head.

“Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse… This guy, he’s at a level near Minoru Ito.”

Both of them went silent with this... This didn’t go unnoticed by Cuifen, who’s eyes widened as the feeling panged within her.

“Somebody new Is entering the fray, and they’re no weakling…” Cuifen mumbled.

Kasiro began to tap his foot.

“But if that’s the case, who could it be?”

While those four didn’t know the answer to that question... It was something that a certain man knew, not only did his eyes widen as his eyes darted in the same direction. He seemed to begin shaking at the appearance of this unknown.

“Dammit, NOW?!”

Soon enough, descending from the clouds, was the very same transport aircraft. flew over an area filled to the brim with crater after crater, from the combat that took place. The same man who appeared on the craft came out of a door that opened on the side, jumping out as he homed in on his target. Something followed by stark white blades, resembling those of a scythe, came out of his wrists, breaking through the skin. Agni took notice and attempted to move out of the way. However, before he had the chance to move the inch, the man had moved past him. The previously clean blades, now stained red. Despite the fact that he’d seemingly just rushed past him. What truly happened became clear as Agni began to fall out of the sky, deep cuts covering his entire body, with blood gushing from the many wounds. Liang parted his lips.

“That’s- ”

“The Third Apostle, Najeem Al Moussa!!! We need to get out of here before he notices us!”

Now, Bijan and Liang began a dash away from the third, a swift attempt at an escape. Najeem looked down upon this, but, regardless, took no action against them. Soon, the craft he arrived on came to his side, as he levitated back inside. As he planted his feet onto the ground, he began to walk through the hallway that would lead to the cabin. Soon greeted by the same soldier who came to him before.

“Do you not plan to go after them?” He questioned.

“Going after small-fry like that would do nothing but waste our time… If they can not defeat Agni- they for sure won’t even get past the Imperial Guard… We have more pressing matters in Visagon. What is the status of that high-tier running the country?”

“Malati Ahuja, sir?”

“The very same…”

Their conversation carried on as the ship made their way above the lands, continuing toward their original operation... The two glanced at each other, with a single thought reverberating through their heads, one that continued, even as they made their way back to the base. As the two arrived, They found that Lanzengan’s HAU stood outside of the walls. The two stopped in front of it. The hatch opened within a few seconds, With Cuifen rushing toward the two, and Lanzengan staying seated.

“Brother- are you alright?”

“I’m fine… We have more important things to worry about. That man, he completely outmatched us, and the fact that the third defeated him effortlessly, we aren’t at all ready for the capital…”

Bijan nodded in agreement.

“One thing is for sure- we need to start training… I’m going to call the Tides- and see what they’re doing. They might’ve contained the situation in Tokyo…”

“Perhaps they have, but I’d hope not…” Lazengan commented, as he arched his brows… Something that was met with, less than-pleased expressions from the Liang and Bijan. However, even so, he made no attempt to retract his statement.

“I’m not a fan of those “4 Tides'', nor how they do things. Either way, I will take my leave.”

Lanzengan soon closed the hatch to his cockpit, as he activated his thrusters, the grass waving as he did so. At least, until he levitated above. He took one last look at the three as he rotated his seat, before he flew, following the transport ship. It was something they ignored, after all, the three of them had since expected for that to take place. Bijan reached into his pocket, pulling out his holo-phone, and tapping the side, with the display coming out. Liang turned to Cuifen as he did so.

“I don’t exactly have anyone to leave you in the care of… And I don't want you in the epicenter of the battle. “

“I understand, I’m not exactly at full capacity anymore, it’s not something I’m happy about.”

As she made her statement, Liang was silent for some moments, as he delved into his thoughts... After all these years of fighting for the Kaemerge, the thought of that disease the damned so much, Velox Mortem, it never did leave his head... Even so, he’d never come up with a way to get rid of that thought, to make his sister safe. Nothing came to his head. Until, an idea finally came to his mind.

“How could I have been so blind… I’ve been looking for a cure. The answer has been under my known this whole time.”

He had his talents, that much he knew. But he could develop more, and he would do so. Especially with what was at stake. He put his hand on Cuifen’s shoulder. Causing the shorter girl to look up at him.

“Mark my words, Cuifen- I will find a cure somehow, and fix that. However, it will be pointless if the Kaemerge still exists…” Liang stated. Something that made the smile on Cuifen’s face grow.

“Alright…”

Soon after, Bijan walked up to the two, tapping Liang’s shoulder, as what soon appeared on screen was Arctaius, Alarick, Liang, And Rhuskov. All sitting on a couch in an unfamiliar room. Arctaius, scooted forward on the couch,and slouched over. The first one to part hsi lips in speech.

“Well, it looks like you didn’t have too much luck either. We managed to push them out, but we became like this as a result. That aside, Bijan told us everything... And we’ve decided where we’ll be training.”

Alarick nodded.

“Yahatari Island… It’s about 400 Miles East of Kyushu...It’s large, but it's uninhabited- so we won’t be causing destruction with our training… As for your sister, we could just have the Federation government protect her for now, Corde has some connections.”

As alarick finished, Liang glanced at his sister once more.

“It looks like this is gonna be cut short-- that isn’t exactly my preferred course of action, but...There’s not much choice otherwise… “

“Cuifen, you’re fine with this- right?” asked Liang.

“I wouldn’t want to be a burden… As much as I’d like to help- there isn’t much for me to do if there are guys stronger than that one running around the capital...I’ll accept it, just this once.” Cuifen responded.

“If that’s the case, then...I suppose it’s settled, Me and Lafeyah will be coming to join you all.”

A certain monk leaned forward as he spoke.

“Good- We’ll be going in three days…”

Soon, both sides hung up. With the call over, Arctaius began to tap through his holo-phone’s display, and opened his messages, taking note of a new message within. He tapped it, as his eyes moved across.

“Taius, got your number from that Rhuskov guy. Me and Junko are gonna start training, Keep us posted!”

A smile, even if slight, came onto Arctaius’ face as he tapped the side of the device, placing it on the table.

“This is it- then… I get to pay that so-called empire back for what they did.” Arctaius stated.

“Rather-- We will…” Alarick corrected.

“Right…” Zhao agreed.

“It looks like this will come to an end soon… We may be in the final stretch, but we can’t get soft just yet. We got work to do.” Kazimir stated, gaining nods of agreement from his allies.

To Be Continued