Tides Of Protomis XCIV

The Wolf’s Fangs

Lupus was as he was before, excited to begin battle with the man standing before him. His muscles tightened as he prepared to launch himself forward. Meanwhile, Zhao watched intently for any opening he could find. Given that the being apparently had no shortage of power, the youth decided he would need to end this quickly. Or rather, quicker than first thought. While he couldn’t sense anything from the demon, given that he wasn’t a proto-human, he could tell that something had changed. The wolf began a wild charge, his claws at ready. Zhao changed his stance, moving his blade in front of him to stop the claw swipes. Though this seemed to be successful at first, the plan quickly failed as the wolf twisted his body backward and forth. The energy contained in the attack shattered Zhao’s guard.

The Monk drew back as this took place.

“His attacks have gotten heavier... It looks like Alarick was right to think what he did. We wouldn't have stood a chance if these had appeared back then!”

The youth would be in worse shape if he managed to hit again, and as such, he would have to stay on the defensive until he figured out how to defeat this opponent. And to that end, Zhao began to create a qi barrier around himself, increasing its density and range soon afterward. Though it seemed to slow down the demon’s movements, it did not do so in such a manner that made his battle much easier. But it seemed like enough for him to try a counterattack, sending a palm forward, but the attempted hit went right as the demon pulled back. It did not take long for Lupus to continue his assault, raising both his arms above his head and swiping downward. Luckily, his quick evasion was enough to escape what would undoubtedly have left him at a disadvantage. With no more words, Zhao began swinging his blade, sending bursts of cutting air forward with the force of his attacks. The target of these attacks said nothing, simply trying to overwhelm Zhao once more, rushing forth with his claws drawn back. Zipping through the sky to avoid being hit, with only a few grazing strikes coming close. The dodging continued until he’d gotten into striking range and prepared to slice the Monk up. But, as he entered the qi barrier once more, his movements were slowed enough for Zhao to get in a counterattack, and he would use an old favorite.

“Guo Art: Cyclone Sanctum!” As Zhao spun and a dome of air pressure was shoved out, Lupus was as well. Giving Zhao some breathing room, at the least, until he came back. And just as he began spinning, did the gears in his head start turning.

“Something is strange here… My qi barrier slows him down, that is clear, and yet, he keeps trying to go for melee attacks. Considering what I saw earlier, he can attack at range. Given his lack of speech and those eyes of his… It seems that one way or another, he’s no longer conscious. His speed and power may have gone to new heights, but if my theory is correct, then I have a clear path to victory…I’ll simply need to use what separates us, humans, from beasts… Technique, and Strategy.”

“Guo Art - Quán Shì Sān Yǎn!”

The skin on Zhao’s forehead began to part as the white sclera became clear and the black iris that lay in the center. Placing his blade away and slipping into his stance. One hand extended, and the other closer to his shoulder. Now, he kept his eyes forward, the direction in which Lupus flew. He wasn’t planning on being caught unaware. And to him, it was clear that another attack would come soon. These thoughts were confirmed. As the being rushed forth with a snarl. Now, Zhao shifted his arms, Bending both, and beginning to sidestep.

“Guo Art- Redirect!”

Lupus continued his charge, unaware of what was to come. Zhao grasped the demon’s arm with both hands, promptly throwing him over his shoulder and launching him into the ground. Kicking up dust and debris as he landed on the asphalt. Though he got to his feet soon after, Zhao was already in range, sending a palm forth, which the demon dodged by side-stepping to the right, Not realizing he’d fallen for a feint. A kick fell from his left, and the foot planted firmly into his torso.

The being staggered in that direction, and Zhao stepped in and followed. Brandishing his dao and running toward Lupus. Beginning to take a lateral swing, the demon moved to dodge, but the Monk changed the blade’s path quickly, swiping diagonally at the torso and leaving a gash on the chest. Lupus tried to counter with another swipe, but Zhao jabbed his elbow into his forearm, forcing it to fold and subsequently break. With one arm disabled, he drew his blade once more and threw it to his free hand before he flipped over Lupus and left a gash down his back as he landed and kneeled on the ground. Before standing up once more.

Lupus was ready to do another attack, attempting to Carve Zhao’s chest, but the Monk jumped back, avoiding the attack entirely.

“I’m doing well enough, but I Mustn't get complacent. Let’s hurry this up..”

Part B

As Zhao prepared to continue his assault, the man noted that Lupus had stopped moving… The snarling that had filled his ears just moments ago had finally ceased, as his eyes, formerly pure white, were once again filled with his pupils. Nevertheless, the excitement within him continued to brew as he looked down upon his body and took note of the fact that he’d gained some injuries. Perhaps the situation would be more to his liking than he thought.

“You really are a good fight. The fact that you made me act up like that is proof. Between you and me, I couldn't care less about that “Mallegan’s” Conquest. It’s time to achieve what I haven’t in years, a true battle against an equal opponent!”

It didn't take long for Lupus to prepare himself for battle. The tightening of his muscles occurred as they began to increase in density, and his strength began to build as a result. This much was accompanied by the red luminance around him growing brighter and spreading further out from his body, changing shapes as well to resemble the head of a wolf.

“You’ve earned this… Canis Maxima!!”

With the words invoked, a shockwave flew out of his body, rupturing the ground under their feet and knocking over the surrounding buildings, flattening multiple city blocks within moments. Something accompanied by the light spreading further… By now, the area was covered in a cloud of dust. The exposed ground and rubble continued to spread as the remnants of the shockwave passed through. Regardless, Lupus retained his wide grin as his transformation continued. His eyes glowed as his body grew, going from what was seemingly the height of an average man to about 9 feet. His claws grew longer and sharper as his change continued…

Zhao didn’t have much time to analyze the situation as Lupus burst forward, sending a shockwave behind him, the ground further destroyed in a straight path. His target was made clear, and the Monk prepared accordingly.

“Blitz Fang!!!”

It did not take long for the Jawlike constructions to appear at Lupus’ side and concurrently begin flying toward Zhao, trying to clasp down on him as soon as they got close. But the Monk wasn’t so willing to get caught. Though he jumped away, this much only led him directly into lupus’ trap, the demon appearing above him with his hands clasped together, held skyward. Ready to knock him back into the ground. Though Zhao knew this, it seemed like his predictions were pointless by now.

This much was further confirmed by the actions that followed. Though he predicted the techniques, there was very little he could do, knocked back and forth, up and down, as if he were a ball in a ping pong machine. The successive highly powered and quick hits were followed by a crack upon impact. Eventually, what was originally the dense downtown, turned into the small suburbs and then the rice paddies and mountainous forests of the countryside. The barrage finally ended as Zhao was knocked into the ground, shattering the ground underneath…

“I'll need to turn off the San Yan to put more qi into my barrier. Slow him down as much as possible. Besides, I can fight without using that as a crutch... His movement patterns. He seems to love going for frontal, high-speed attacks. Occasionally, he'll change direction to go for another. If I strike as he prepares to change direction and break his tempo, I retake the flow of the battle…”

Preparing to act on the newly created strategy, the Monk rose from the ground, wiping away the blood on his lip as he retook his stance. Dropping his left leg and bringing his right leg forward, bending it. The powerful stance was accompanied by the straightening of his palms. And the subsequent closing of the eye on his forehead. Now he stood ready to weather any attack that came toward him.

“Not done yet, huh? All the better!” Lupus exclaimed, rushing forth to continue his assault. This time he opted to go for an attack he hadn’t done before, a flying knee. Though this surprised Zhao somewhat, not nearly enough. His barrier of Qi expanded and condensed, with the demon taking note of the effects almost immediately. His moves felt almost sluggish in comparison to what he was doing before. Was the human possibly behind this? If that were the case, he’d simply have to change his direction. And he did just that, sidestepping to the Monk’s left flank and attempting to jab his claws into him… But, as the digits continued to get closer, Zhao’s head snapped towards him, and Lupus found himself hit square in the chest by a palm strike. Which he certainly felt, given his widening eyes.

“So it increases his speed and strength, but not his durability…” Zhao noted as he weaved around yet another strike.

“Right then. Let’s finish this!”

Zhao returned the attack with a knee aimed at his opponent’s stomach, followed by a palm strike to the cheek turning the barrier off for a second to send the demon flying back, demolishing the vegetation at his back. It was switched back on moments after as the Monk flashed forward, following.

As the wolf stopped himself, he jumped forward, ready to meet him. Again, promptly changed his direction and attempted to close in from above. But this time, Zhao was not going to go for a simple grazing strike to wear him down. His dao being drawn from the scabbard proof of that. The demon’s leg was removed with one swipe, much to his surprise. But the Monk wasn’t done yet. He leaped from his former place and now floated in front of Lupus. Who tried to swipe at him once more. But the Monk seemed to be faster. This same arm sliced from his body by the blade. And when a kick came, the second leg was removed.

Zhao continued his hailstorm of attacks, taking off the other arm and then bisecting the demon, cutting him vertically, through the middle… By this point, Lupus knew what the result of the battle was. Even so, while many may have been disappointed, if not outright angry, he’d been alive for centuries, just sitting around with his fellow untamed, with very few challenging them… Or, at the least, very few who were worth mentioning. But, it seemed that was not the case with the man standing before him. As his vision began to darken, he had but one thing to say.

“You truly were a good opponent… Thanks for giving me the rush I was missing for oh so long…

The two halves split apart, landing on the forest floor and staining it with the yellow blood within the creature. Zhao sat on the grass, which crunched below him, leaning on a nearby tree. Though he’d won, the memories of Kyoto’s state were fresh in his head. That much, in addition to the numerous injuries, spread across his body.

“This… Will be an issue.”

To himself, the only reason he’d won was that he studied how Qi worked heavily. In no small part, thanks to his upbringing in the Monastery. But that did not apply to the others. So he could only hope the others could figure out how to beat whoever they got mixed up with.

To Be Continued