Tides Of Protomis XCIII

B-Class demons, The Untamed!

It hadn’t been long since Zhao left Tokyo, and he had already found himself closing in on his target. Though he couldn’t sense him given that this being wasn’t a proto-human, the map shown on his display was more than enough for navigating. At this point, his current location was just outside of Kyoto. Something supported by the cityscape he saw in the distance. He placed the holophone in his pocket as he began to increase his speed, now shooting through the sky.

“Whoever I'm after should be nearby… Let’s find them quickly before things get worse around here.”

As Zhao drew closer, he took note of a strange beast in front of him, One that resembled a wolf. With the distinction of standing on two legs. He had numerous lines of red fur going down his arms and legs, which looked like they to branched from a circle on his chest of the same color. He immediately took note of the destroyed buildings around the demon, as well as the fleet, ships large and small, that came to slow it down. Firing rockets, beams, railgun shells, anything they could think of… But the beast simply took it like it was nothing. The fleet commander watched this from a camera feed within one of the ships.

“Dammit… Where is that so-called holy order, our high tiers?! The silver lions, even those Four Tides! We can't do anything against an opponent like this. Not unless we used one of those.”

This much was met by glances from his troops. Even though he hadn’t said it, they all knew what he was thinking. Strolling behind him was an orange-haired woman wearing the standard officer dress uniform.

“Sir. With all due respect, Using a Fulde warhead here is inadvisable at best… I suggest that-”

The woman’s words were soon cut off by the ship around her, seemingly deconstructing itself, explosions ringing out as the room was ripped apart and compressed. No sooner did she and her allies follow suit. The source of the attack was the demon itself. As he opened his jaw, an enormous projection constructed of red light, larger than the fleet, appeared, the projection, his jaws as well. Something that the pilots, crew, and soldiers within took note of… But before they were able to react, he shut his jaws. And just like that, the construct clamped down, demolishing the fleet within seconds… He looked upon this with a neutral expression. He came to this realm, and this was what he got?

“Pathetic!! Where are these strong opponents that Meleggan told us about? These aren’t anywhere near enough for the great Lupus!”

Zhao wordlessly brought his hand to his side, grasping the hilt of his Dao, before drawing the blade. Before beginning a slow advance toward Lupus. Slowly moving through the city below so as to not alert him. Given the difference between them, a new strategy was now on the table, stealth. He continued his slow advance while Lupus continued to float there, seemingly unaware of this fact. As he got within 30 meters, Zhao decided to strike, bursting forward, his blade poised to stab Lupus through his back.

The demon’s ears twitched as he sensed the movement, swiftly moving out of Zhao’s path and putting his gaze on the monk. Who decidedly continued his attack, pivoting his body as he closed the distance between them, swiping his midsection. But the attack hit the air as the demon dodged once more. So Zhao continued once more while Lupus simply dodged… Until something changed. Rather than continue on his previous paths, Zhao changed his direction mid-strike. As if predicting where the demon would move, Something that let him get a good strike on the beast, taking his arm off.

This was followed by the limb falling to the ground, a purple liquid dripping from where it used to be. Lupus looked at the removed arm and then focused his gaze on the human. Something followed by a smile beginning to form on his face.

“Hmm…. Not bad for a human. You’re the only one to land a hit on me since I've come here…”

Zhao did not respond to this, his demeanor not even changing. Instead, his eyes stayed trained on the beast, and his blade gripped tight in his hands. After all, given who this was, what would praise from him matter?

“Is that so? I’m honored. I truly am…”

“Sarcasm... I’m starting to like you more… Now then, I know who you are. You meet the description of one of those “4 Tides”. Zhao Lei.”

So he knew of them. It seemed like a better time than any to get some information.

“How did you know that? Our titles and our names?”

“You've built up quite a reputation in the demon realm. How lucky, I thought I'd level this place with no resistance. It’s good to know there’s something other than the insects that tried to go after me beforehand.”

As Lupus spoke, Zhao’s eyes began to move across the city. And it was then that he saw it, Strewn across the ground were multiple mountains of corpses. He spotted dead soldiers from Yamato’s army, Some even from the West African, And North American Federations, respectively. The unfortunate civilians caught in the battle were there as well. They were not the only ones he took note of. However, there were also slayers from the holy order…

“Oh. So you’ve noticed… The armored ones threw themselves into my path… But, of course, they were of no consequence. Nor were the humans with that watered-down version of our power.”

Of course, it was obvious to the monk that Lupus was the cause. His thoughts went elsewhere. This many dead soldiers here means whatever demons got out into the smaller towns could run wild, provided nobody else stopped them, which did not bode well. While he did not doubt in his mind that there were proto-humans who could help hold back the invasion. The question remained, for how long? What if more high classes were to make their way in…

With this in mind, Zhao put two hands on his blade once more as he got into his signature stance.

“Enough talk.”

Zhao dropped back into his stance and jumped forward without another word. planning to do the same, and Lupus went to meet him, his claws growing longer as he began to swipe them, as Zhao began attempting to cut him with his blade. However, the rapidly blurring strikes seemed to only intercept each other, no doubt due to their respective expertise in combat. As it was made clear that they couldn’t break through each other's guard, Zhao slammed his palm into Lupus' chest, sending him flying back before jumping back himself, creating more distance between them. Finally, a larger distance established, Zhao began to shift his stance, twisting his torso, and his blade was brought behind his shoulder.

“Guo art- Gale Blade Dance!!”

No sooner than he began swinging, waves of cutting air, much larger than they were beforehand, began to ravage anything in their path as they made their way toward the wolf demon. However, He didn’t even seem phased by the attack. Instead, he reveled in the challenge, choosing to meet the monk head-on with an attack of his own. Swiping his hands and sending arcs of light barrelling toward his opponent, cutting through anything in their path, invoking the technique’s name.

“Grand Claw!!!”

It did not take long for the respective attacks to clash. As the first two crashed, a shockwave was sent outward, cutting winds sent in all directions. This much happened again, as the next two attacks crashed. And it didn’t seem like that would end anytime soon. The two had slipped into trying to out-muscle. Or so it seemed. Sending a few more waves forth, Zhao finally leaped from his current position, using the buildings around him as stepping stones as he jumped between them, taking advantage of the fact that the demon could not sense him. It did not take long for him to arrive behind Lupus. With an opening created, he raised his dao above his head and leaped downward, ready to bisect his opponent. Apparently, the demon had caught wind of him as he reared on the monk and leaped as well, taking a swipe at Zhao’s undefended body.

Only to find that he had eluded the attack before moving back. Strangely enough, the monk began his next technique, putting the dao back into its sheath. Landing on a nearby building, holding the sheath with one hand and his hilt with the other. Lupus, none the wiser about the techniques used by the humans, rushed forward to continue his attack.

“Putting your blade away? What sense does that make?!” The demon questioned… However, he did not get an answer, only the swing of a blade that he barely managed to avoid, relegating it to a minor cut. As the demon turned around, he found the monk preparing another attack.

“Guo Art: Shearing Thrust!”

Lupus was prepared, sidestepping the attack, and flew above his opponent, swiftly descending upon him with his claws prepared to carve through him. In the same way, Zhao was also prepared, tightening his grip on his weapon and preparing a counterattack. As soon as the demon swiped, Zhao did as well. Something which left both of them nearly undamaged, only a grazing cut as they passed each other. The two turned as their positions changed, making sure to keep an eye on their opponents.

Part B

A grin, or as close to one as the demon could create, crept onto his face.

“Finally, someone I can cut loose against… Save for my brethren, all I had to battle were weaklings, and when I got here, what did I find? More… But you, you’re different. Don’t disappoint me!!!”

Lupus was soon cloaked with a red glow. As he pushed more of the energy within him outward, the excitement continually grew within him. It was made clear that he wasn’t going to be finished anytime soon, given the words that came out of his mouth.

“Grand Claw!”

The demon began swiping its claws once more. And, though Zhao was prepared, he saw a clear difference in his opponent’s capabilities. Not only did the resulting projection come faster, but its force had increased as well, given the deep gash left as it carved through the monk’s shoulder. Seeing the apparent danger and the change in the situation, he decided he would move back for the time and test the new parameters his opponent had set. But even this much wasn’t going to happen as he found Lupus appearing at his side, driving a left hook into him, and sending the proto-human flying. The demon quickly gave chase, ready to follow up his attack.

As Zhao began to stop in mid-air, he saw that the demon was still coming in fast.

“Not good… I’ll have to create an opening and break his tempo.”

Lupus took another swipe at the youth, but he was prepared this time, ducking under the attack. But, he did not stay there for another one to fall upon him. Batting the demon’s arm out of the way, Zhao straightened his fingers as he brought his right hand forward and his left hand back, preparing one of his preferred techniques.

“Guo Art: 50 Destructive Strikes!”

The monk continued his assault. His palm strikes continually, landing center mass, making sure to strike some areas repeatedly. And there was no doubt that Lupus felt it, as his jaw now hung open, and his eyes went wide with the impacts. This much, along with him continually being pushed back a few feet with each successive strike. Finally, after he was finished, the demon was seemingly stunned. Now, he would end it in one strike.

He grabbed hold of his blade once more before driving it into his chest, where Zhao assumed the heart would be… Lupus floated there, unmoving.

“Now then. It looks like that’s over. I’d better-”

The man quickly cut off his speech as he took note of some kind of pull on his blade, and his eyes quickly shot toward Lupus. He found the demon looking at him with a grin and his furry hand placed upon the dao. Then, wordlessly, he pulled it out of his torso. No sooner did the damaged skin begin to heal rapidly. Leaving almost no sign of it having been there, aside from a small amount of scarred tissue.

“What?!” The demon continued his assault as if nothing had happened. Raising his arm and bringing it down upon Zhao’s good shoulder, leaving a gash across it, with red liquid gushing forth afterward. Lupus’ grin continued to become larger as a laugh began to emanate from him. Having finally found what he was looking for, the demon knew what his next course of action was.

“I’m in high spirits now... Ready yourself, human!!!!”

Lupus’ aura grew more intense as the city around him seemingly shook with the influence he exluded. As he observed this, Zhao tightened his grip on his blade and kept it in front of him. An attempt to have himself ready for any attack that came. But, as he floated there, he noted the issue, the demon was strong, as he could regenerate on top of that. He would need to figure out a strategy quickly.

“He’s enjoying this. One of my stranger opponents, no doubt. But I've seen worse. Need I even mention Vogel… I will slay you here- wolf.”

To Be Continued