Zhen Liu and Zhen Xing stared each other down as they took their respective positions in the fighting ring. Some of the people who were training at the same time as they were decided to stop what they were doing and watch the two young masters duke it out. They had never seen Zhen Liu fight before and were curious about how he would deal with the more experienced Zhen Xing.
From an outsider's perspective, this looked like a pair of young men about to have a friendly competition of sorts. Internally, it was anything but.
In Zhen Xing's head, this was about putting someone who had long been the family's punching bag back in their place after suddenly rising up. 'There's only so much room at the top and I will gladly make sure this dog remember who is the dominant one.'
In Zhen Liu's head...it was a bit different. Thomas inherited a lot from the past guy. His family, his friends, his lover, everything. The least he could do for the guy was to settle a couple of grudges that he wouldn't be able to. 'Hope you're watching past dude. Consider this first of many burial gifts.'
Once the two young fighters got into position, one of Zhen Xing's lackeys took the lead and stood in the referee position.
"Alright young masters, the following match is going to be a test of skill and strength. Each of you are limited to three moves, and must either incapacitate or knock your opponent out of the ring in that frame. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
"Just get on with it."
"Alright then," the lackey said while throwing up three fingers.
"In three...two...one...go!"
"Eat this you dog! [Ember Barrage!]"
The moment they were given the signal, Zhen Xing was the first to go on the attack. He threw forward a palm and released a shower of embers that went flying towards Zhen Liu like a barrage of arrows.
"Oop!"
Not one to be a sitting duck, Zhen Liu employed some fancy footwork and began to dodge the rain of burning embers. It looked a bit like dancing but it was effective in avoiding the attacks.
"Hah! Look at him dance like a monkey! You got this boss!," Zhen Xing's other lackey called out. Jin Fang shot him a dirty look, but he didn't care. The others watching thought Zhen Liu's movements were weird, but effective.
Zhen Xing inwardly grumbled at Zhen Liu's evasion, but kept a fierce a look on his face. 'Fine, if long ranged won't work, let's get up close and personal."
Zhen Xing stopped firing off embers and began to rush towards Zhen Liu, using the aforementioned embers as a cover in case Zhen Liu decided to counter charge.
[Burning Knuckle!]
As Zhen Xing got into punching range of Zhen Liu, he began to rapidly circulate fire aether into his knuckles. Little bits of flames began to ignite in the indents of Zhen Xing's fists as he condensed the fire aether into his hands.
"Die!"
When he finally got into range, Zhen Xing rapidly punched out at Zhen Liu, his fists like a shower of meteors raining upon Zhen Liu's raised arms.
"Oooh, a direct hit! That looks like it hurts. Serve you right!," the referee lackey called out.
'Mental note: Smash that dude's face in later,' Zhen Liu thought to himself as he readied his guard.
Blow after blow landed on Zhen Liu's raised arms, but he was surprisingly resolute as the punches just kept coming. 'Wait...is this technically more than two moves now?'
"Why hasn't the Fourth Young Master use any arts yet? Ain't he at the Acolyte level? He's getting pounded out there!"
"Nah, he's still can't use any arts remember?"
"Then how's he gonna beat the Third Young Master?"
"This will finish it!," Zhen Xing exclaimed as he suddenly pulled back and stomped the ground hard, igniting his leg in a weird blue flame that took the form of a snake-like fox thing that writhed around his leg as such.
'Oh, I guess the moves are counted by arts used then.'
"Here comes the boss' finishing move!"
[Foxfire Wheel Kick!]
Zhen Xing ran towards Zhen Liu and launched a cartwheel kick at his cousins' head, the brilliant blue foxfire forming an esoteric wheel pattern as he did.
'Well that's just extra.'
*BOOM!*
A huge amount of smoke exploded as Zhen Xing's art made contact with Zhen Liu, obscuring the vision of all the people watching.
"Damn that was flashy!"
"No way in hell Zhen Liu is still standing after a flurry of blows like that!"
"Wait...check it out! He's still standing!"
As the smoke began to clear, an unexpected sight began to form in the eyes of the on-lookers.
Not only was Zhen Liu still standing after Zhen Xing's furious combo, but he had managed to lock the latter's leg in a crossarm grapple that no one saw coming. Zhen Xing tried to pull his leg back but with no avail.
"Let go of me you-"
"Quick question: you know how to protect your body with aether, right?," Zhen Liu suddenly asked.
"What? Of course I do. Why would-"
"Okay, now I won't feel so bad for what I'm about to do next," Zhen Liu said while suddenly increasing the pressure he was exerting on Zhen Xing's leg.
"Gaahh! What in the-"
"One!"
Zhen Liu twisted his body and used Zhen Xing's leg as lever as he swung him around and slammed him into the ground. Zhen Liu swung Zhen Xing with so much force that he bounced upward like the ground was a trampoline.
"Shit he's strong!"
"Did anyone detect any aether being used?!"
"Two!"
While Zhen Xing was still midair, Zhen Liu took on a bow stance and uppercut punched Zhen Xing in the stomach and launched him further upward into the air. Zhen Xing was sent flying a solid seven feet off the ground as a result of Zhen Liu's attack.
"Look at that airtime!"
"I don't think the aether skin is helping much in mitigating that kind of damage..."
"And here comes the Fourth Young Master's final move!"
"THREE!"
Just as Zhen Xing was about to impact the ground again, Zhen Liu spun around and landed a round house kick on Zhen Xing's middle, launching him towards the lackey referee like a kickball from hell.
"Oh shi-ACK!"
The two of them were sent flying from the fighting ring and onto the outer training grounds, landing in a heap. Neither of them looked too good, but Zhen Xing looked battered, bruised and about to vomit.
Zhen Liu stared down at his beaten cousin with a smug smile on his face.
"Yeah...next time you think about harassing me or Jin Fang again, remember this ass whooping. I'll be happy to give a repeat performance. Now git!"