Jiya charged forward first, summoning then hurling a smoldering and ridiculously huge ball of flame. It grinded against the platform gauging a deep tunnel into it as it hurtled towards me at an incredible speed.
The disciples had all already started running to safety.
They know that a fight at this caliber is leaps and bounds beyond what anyone at their level can withstand.
The immense heat and power behind this attack meant that it could easily level mountain peaks.
Yes.
Getting hit by this thing would be bad.
Very bad.
At best I'd be reduced to a broken pile of charred flesh and bones.
And at worst I'd be completely erased.
-This thing however… -
I wait till it's closer before side stepping just enough so that it barely misses me.
-Is too slow!-
-Ha, this is nothing!~-
A flash and glint in the distance causes me to remember something the Sect Master once showed me.
I sidestep instantly jerking my head to the right and as soon as I did a large chained dagger whizzed past my ear. Easily cutting a lock of my hair as it passed.
I was familiar with this move.
This wasn't the scary part of this attack.
As dangerous as the cutting edge was, the part that followed was even worse.
I quickly did a graceful forward summersault out of the way.
The sect masters whipping motion causes the chain to loop widely, clinking and grinding as the lightning fast wave of chain crashes loudly into the area where I stood reducing it to near rubble.
-Again??!-
Another huge ball of flame hurtled in my direction, headed towards my landing point.
"Even If it's mid-air don't think that I don't have a way!"
It's huge circumference suddenly contracted!
-Shit!-
It exploded loudly and the heavy force hits me like a steel wall launching me out of the area and over the surrounding sea of trees!
The wind whistles by as I hurtle through the air!
The force of the explosion was terrifying enough to have broken the larger part of dark energy that had covered me.
It had taken the brunt of the blow only leaving me with only mild bruises as it slowly regenerates.
-You bastards! Once I catch you I'll make sure to relish your blood essence!-
My trajectory slowly changed, the inertia slowly dissipates causing me to fall steadily towards the dense forest of the lesser populated area.
Another glint in the distance!
-damnit!-
A Millisecond later the sharp edge of the sect master's chain dagger whizzed past me missing by a couple feet.
-Heh!-
-Stupid old man!! Have your eyes withered?-
-…Wait! It can't be!-
Looking in the distance it was hard to see but.
I could hear it coming!
And at this angle!! I can't dodge!!
The old man was proficient in both pole arms and rope daggers. His strength was no joke as he'd climbed to the top with his strength. So of course when a sharp bladed whip wrapped itself around my torso and pulled me clear of his attack's trajectory he was no doubt as mad as I was surprised.
The whip user was strong and skilled enough to have pulled me to safety without hurting me in the slightest.
All the while trying to keep their presence hidden. If it wasn't for their glowing blood essence I wouldn't be able to determine their location.
That or the fact that they were now moving quickly away.
I fell-rolled into a graceful sliding stance. I looked around at the wide clearing.
Far from my savior's location. No doubt as per their intention.
The trees now formed a perimeter while swaying in the wind. Leaves rustling as the wind picks up.
Soon enough jiya and the sect master enter the clearing also landing smoothly. Not losing out in the least.
"Seniors why are you being so hard on this junior?" I ask coyly my intent to buy enough time for the energy to regenerate fully. The competition was fair and we all knew the stakes going in.
"Do the rules set by the the first sect master not matter?
I'm sure he'd be turning in his grave right now seeing how you both so easily broke one of the sect's prime rules."
"Don't go easy on her!" Jiya barks roughly while rallying the sect master and instructing him to cut off all possible escape and ignoring my words completely.
I had been surrounded.
And the energy hadn't yet recovered completely.
The wind was picking up.
The vibrant green and purple tree leaves all trembled to the vibration the sect master and jiya's massive hou reserves caused.
The tall crisp golden brown grass rustle as they slowly made their way closer without taking their eyes off me.
These two are peak existences. If it weren't for them being careful of the other I would never be able to take advantage of their long range attacks.
"Careful, I suspect she has an accomplice!" The sect Master offers.
"I know." Jiya responds.
I dodged to the left! Leaning just enough so the sect masters chained dagger would miss its intended target.
But…
-this is getting annoying!-
Whatever! I know their attack pattern now.
I turned to face jiya's attack!
-Huh?!? Where?-
Jiya was no where to be seen!
I sidestep quickly avoiding the sect master's follow up attack before a large blade swung in a low and swift arch caused me to do a high twisting front summersault to safety.
Close combat?
Jiya?
She wields a large blade many times bigger than I would expect her to be able to handle.
But where did she get it from?
Never-mind that for now! The sect master closed the distance opening with a quick combo of three quick jabs and a spinning back spear kick! All deflected perfectly by me with the exception of the kick. It sent me careening towards jiya's general direction.
Without the full protection of the dark energy I took the majority of the kick's force.
It hurt!
Aren't they holding back at all?
Do they mean to kill me?
But why?
What did I do that was so wrong?
A realization slowly comes over me causing my lips to curl into a miserable smile.
They feel threatened by my power!
I stumble barely catching myself in
time to slide-dodge Jiya's blade.
Opportunity!
The dodge put me in her blindside
allowing me a brief window to counter.
This was more opportunity than I
needed.
I reach forward my hand
quickly passing over the exposed small
of her lower back.
This!!!
Her power was ridiculously crazy!
She instantaneously pushes me back! She
realized what I'd intended to do and
used the pressure of her hou to force
me out of range before I could siphon
too much of her blood essence.
What she didn't realize though is that
the moment had given me enough time
to snatch her necklace.
The thing radiated a strange power and
My curiosity only led me to want it's
restricted secrets more.
However that comes second.
Her blood essence seemed gentle at
first but reacted badly. Causing dissonance with my inner core and forcing the rings to spin out of Sync.
Her energy had boost my power by an
immense level but it was too much.
And I could feel that there was was immense resistance.
The incompatibly made my movements
sluggish and my reaction similarly slow.
-Ugh!-
The feeling of wanting to vomit made
itself apparent and within moments I
was reeling in pain from jiyals kick to
my abdomen.
She'd realized how effective the Sect masters kick was and
copied it Precisely.
lt was obviously some strange type of martial art. It's movements bordering on fast with
feints and slight-of-handish type
attacks.
I slowly struggle to get up but the
throbbing pain from attack and
the relentless waves of nausea make it
a difficult struggle.
Seeing my state both she and the Sect
Master approach me, now with their
guards slightly lowered.
I growled in retaliation.
"Stay away!" I tried but it came out
weak and barely a whisper.
"l thought you said she was suffering
from hou deviation." The sect master
snapped.
Jiya cast him a serious glance which
told him to mind hís place before
slowly responding.
'l could've been wrong. But I can't
be blamed if her cultivatíon method
appears similar to ones cultívatíon
when undergoíng hou deviation."
She concludes with her nose held high
and pompous pride revealing it's head.
"What explanation do you suggest I
give to the ancestors and elders of my clan? I
clearly violated sect rules and under
your command! You fix this!"
The sect master ordered.
Jiya sighed audibly, "Just kill her. The
victor is the one who tells the story and
dead men… or women, tell no such tales."
The sect master looked at her seriously
for a moment before smiling slyly. "With
pleasure, but remember! You owe me
for this!"
He turned his attention to me once
again.
"Era donlt blame me for this, blame
your despicable mother for leading my
good son astray!" He'd taken out his
Blade again. Pointing its Sharp tip at me threateningly.
Suddenly the sky darkened and extremely heavy hou waves press down from the sky pinning both the SectMaster and Jiya to their position. The pressure increased many folds.
Pressing down on me even more.
I was used to cultivating under the pressure. But they weren't used to enduring its crushing force and thus as I stood they could only watch with gritted teeth.
But before leaving I offered them both one final remark. "You may have beaten my body but my soul can never be crushed. I will return and when I do you'll know what it's like to be in my shoes."
And slowly.
I make my escape.