Following the disastrous events at the forest, news of the incident spread like wildfire throughout Wushu Guan, causing shock and panic among the population. Lian and Si-Fu Hibiki's disappearance, Mei's critical condition, and the ominous presence of Xaphan and Zirkyu were all cause for alarm.
Immediately, each sector of Wushu launched into action, forming search parties to hunt down the perpetrators and bringing back Si-Fu Hibiki and Lian.
The tournament, deemed a security threat in the wake of Xaphan's attack, was swiftly canceled. Amidst the chaos, Mei, who had been struck by Zirkyu's blade, was rushed to the School of Iron Fist's emergency center alongside Meili, Lei, and Elia. Si-Fu Mei and Lei, wounds were severe and their conditions dire. They were placed under the care of the school's healers, who worked feverishly to save their lives.
The incident had taken a heavy toll on the warriors, not just in physical injuries but also in the psychological trauma of the experience.
Meili however, despite her battered appearance, found herself surprisingly free of injuries. As she lay in the emergency room, staring up at the plain white walls, she pondered the source of her accelerated healing.
It didn't take long for the young warrior to realize that the powerful energy she had absorbed from Wraithbane had not just strengthened her blood magic, but had also increased the pace of her ability to heal herself swiftly. Her thoughts, however, were not on her newfound gift, but on the well-being of her friends and the fate of Si-Fu Hibiki.
A soft knock echoed through Meili's room, interrupting her reverie.
"Come in," she called, her voice low and tired.
Fuse, her brow creased with concern, stepped into the room, her gaze immediately falling on Meili. "How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice tinged with genuine worry.
Meili, mustering a small smile, nodded. "I'll be fine. But, Hibiki..." Her voice trailed off, the unspoken question hanging in the air like a heavy cloud.
Fuse's expression grew solemn.
Fuse, her mouth pressed into a thin line, sighed. "I'm afraid I have bad news, Meili. The wulins searched the entire forest, but there's no sign of Hibiki." She paused, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Everyone's belief is that Xaphan may have taken him."
Meili, her gaze growing distant, her hands clutching at the blankets on her bed, whispered, "Xaphan. He's took him, I'm sure he did? That monster!"
Fuse nodded, his voice somber. "Yes, and he's not done yet." Fuse, her eyes meeting Meili's with a steely determination, continued, "Xaphan's return is not a coincidence. He is planning something, and we must find out what it is, before it's too late."
Meili, her hands balling into fists at her sides, nodded slowly. "I know. I'll help. I can't just sit here while my Si-Fu and everyone's in danger."
Fuse, her eyes widening with concern, pressed, "But Meili, i have to ask. What kind of power was that? You didn't look like yourself, Meili. It was...terrifying."
Meili hesitated for a moment, unsure how much to reveal. But, seeing the trust in Fuse's eyes, she took a deep breath and began," I don't really understand it myself, Fuse. It's something called a wraith, a spirit that feeds on negative emotions." She looked around, ensuring no one else could hear, and continued, "The one that possessed me called itself- Wraithbane, and it wants to take over my body, to use me to destroy other wraiths."
Fuse's brows furrowed, her confusion evident. "Wraiths? What are wraiths? And how did you get mixed up with one?"
"Look, Fuse," Meili began, her voice level and serious. "I'm not sure how I got roped into this whole wraith mess, but I can tell you one thing: it's terrifying."
Fuse, her lips twitching in amusement despite her concern, placed a gentle hand on Meili's arm. "Okay, okay. I get it. You don't know how it happened, but it did. And now Wraithbane wants to use you as a vessel to hunt down other wraiths."
Meili, her jaw tensing with resolve, replied, "I've promised myself not to let Wraithbane control me, not like last time. But I need more training, to be stronger, to fight it off."
Fuse, her curiosity getting the better of her, interjected, "Wait, so you can actually talk to Wraithbane? How does that work? It sounds amazing...and maybe a little dangerous."
Meili, her expression softening with a hint of a smile, shook her head. "It's not that simple, Fuse. "
"Hey, Fuse," Meili said, a sudden thought springing to mind. "Have you seen Kai? I haven't seen him since what happened between us."
Fuse shook her head, her brow creasing in concern. "No, I haven't seen him either. He's not in the infirmary, is he?"
Meili frowned, her voice tinged with worry. "No, I don't think so. But with everything that's happened, I'm worried about him. I also want to apologize for what I said back then."
"Meili," Fuse said, her voice gentle, "you don't need to apologize for anything. You did the right thing and though it didn't work out. The tournament's cancelled now and Kai will understand."
Meili, her gaze drifting to the floor, let out a slow breath. "Maybe, but I still need to talk to him. I said a lot of hurtful things, I don't want to leave things the way they are. "
"I get that," Fuse replied, giving Meili's arm a reassuring squeeze. "But right now, I think you should focus on getting better."
Meili shot back at Fuse, "Chill, Fuse, I'm fine... We need to find Kai!" But before she could finish, her door drawn open slowly. In walked Koko, flanked by Kagawa, Jaggy, Ryou, and some unexpected guests, Levi and Nix. Koko gave a thumbs-up, "Coast is clear, guys! They're fully clothed... shocker!"
Meili and Fuse responded in perfect harmony, 'WHAT THE?!' Fuse added, "Did you really think we'd be lounging around in our birthday suits, Koko? Get your mind out of the gutter!"
"Hey, I'm just looking out for you, Meili" Koko retorted, her face breaking into a grin."You know, Meili could've been putting on those hospitals that open at the back."
"Well, you don't say," Meili replied, still chuckling.
As the group settled round Meili's bed, she cast a curious glance at Levi and Nix, who she didn't recognize. "Okay, I'm glad you guys are here, but...who are these two?" she asked, gesturing to Levi and Nix.
Fuse leaned in, her voice dropping to a stage whisper. "Don't worry, they came to our aid in the battle. They're with the Golden Elite Academy, a rival school to ours."
Ryou, interjected. "They're also pretty decent fighters, if I do say so myself."
Ryou stepped forward, introducing Levi and Nix to Meili, before promptly addressing the reason for their sudden appearance. "We're here to assess your readiness for battle. We're devising a plan to track down Xaphan, and your skills would be invaluable in this mission. I know you're eager to rescue your Si-Fu, and I have personal motivations for taking down Xaphan as well and get back Lian. He thinks he can pull one over us and harm Lei, but he'll soon learn the consequences of his actions."
Meili listened intently to Levi's words, a flicker of determination crossing her features. "I'm in," she said, her voice firm and resolute. "I won't let Xaphan get away with what he's done. Not to Mei, not to Hibiki, and definitely not to Lian."
"Hold up," Jaggy interjected, his brow creased with concern. "Are we just gonna run off, vigilante-style? That's not gonna fly with the school, and it's dangerous. What's the plan here?"
Ryou leaned forward, his eyes intent. "Look, each academy sector, Golden Elite, Iron Fist, and Phoenix, is working on a rescue mission. Wulins have already been sent out to gather intel, but the students have been told to stay put, to go home." He paused, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But we won't just sit back and wait. If we can gather enough skilled fighters, we can form our own team, move in when the time is right, take on Xaphan and bring Si-Fu Hibiki and Lian back."
As Ryou finished speaking, the room fell silent, each member of the group contemplating the gravity of the situation.
Levi stepped forward with a nonchalant expression. He faced Ryou, saying, 'Hey Ryou, I understand you want to rescue your friend, but what does that have to do with us? I don't appreciate being dragged into situations that don't concern me. Considering what transpired with Elia - if she hadn't followed that brat of yours, she wouldn't be in such a mess now.'"
The others around them stared, but no one could speak up. Meili shot back at Levi, "Hey, take back what you said about Lei! She's not a brat."
Levi's expression turned stern. "Or what? I didn't choose to be here, so don't think that just because you're hospitalized, I'll go easy on you."
Ryou struggled to hide his anger, calming his voice before responding, "Stop, you two. Hey Levi, Lei is no brat. Her will is as strong as any warrior you can think of. Even the strongest warriors need help from others, and her best friend Elia came to her aid. Elia can do what she wants. Don't think Elia belongs to anyone, least of all you."
Following Ryou's statement, an uncomfortable silence ensued. Then, with rage simmering in his voice, Levi retorted, "How dare you bring me here only to talk back at me in such manner, Ryou? You have guts, I'll give you that."
As he spoke, dark energy began to seep down his arm, a manifestation of his growing ire. Nix swiftly intervened, grasping his arm and urging him to calm down. "Levi, let's leave now," she said, attempting to placate him.
Before departing, Levi's anger boiled over, and he stormed out of the room. Nix followed, but not before casting a rebuking glance at Ryou. "Regardless of your intentions Ryou, it's unacceptable to speak to us that way. I was willing to assist, but I won't stand idly by while you berate my squadmate. If Levi refuses to cooperate, none of us will. Better luck finding strong allies for your plan."
With that, Nix exited the room, leaving Ryou to ponder the consequences of his actions.
"Wow, they're gone! Just peachy. I'm sure it's no big deal they stormed out after you basically but their heads off, Ryou...", Jaggy said sarcastically, his voice dripping with irony.
But before he could finish, Ryou's frustration boiled over. "DAMN IT!!" he bellowed, slamming his fist onto the nearby table.
*CRASH*
The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air, making Jaggy flinch.
Fuse and Meili exchanged worried glances, sensing the volatile atmosphere. "Ryou, calm down," Fuse urged, her voice soft but firm.
Meili's soft voice cut through the tension, her words a gentle balm to Ryou's frazzled nerves. "It's not your fault, Ryou. You were only trying to protect Lei. We understand how you feel, and we'll always have your back. I also forgot to thank you, Ryou."
As she spoke, Meili glided towards Ryou, her hand reaching out to grasp his arm. The touch sent a spark of electricity through Ryou's body, his eyes widening in surprise as a blush crept up his neck.
"H-huh? Wh-what are you talking about?" Ryou stuttered, his face growing redder by the second.
Meili's smile was a gentle reminder. "You've forgotten? You saved me during the battle. I may have been unconscious, but I sensed your presence, felt you hurling me away from Xaphan's devastating attack. And now, holding onto you like this, I'm certain it was you." Her voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes shining with gratitude.
Ryou's cheeks were now a deep crimson, his stammering growing more pronounced. "I-I mean... it was nothing, really... anyone would've done the same..."
Meili's soft laughter was a gentle tease. "Oh, Ryou. You're not very good at accepting thanks, are you?" Her smile lingered, her hand still wrapped around his arm, sending a warm glow through his entire being.
Jaggy's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with a mix of emotions. "Look at him, acting all humble and selfless. What a creep," he thought, his inner monologue laced with jealousy.
Aloud, Jaggy chimed in, his tone dripping with sarcasm and a hint of possessiveness. "Oh, wow, look at that. Ryou's face is bright red. How adorable. Don't start getting any twisted ideas, weirdo."
Ryou shot back, " Shut it, Runt."
Koko shot a glance at Jaggy, her eyes flashing with a hint of annoyance. "Jaggy, that's enough. The mood was getting better" Jaggy adhered quickly, "Yeah, whatever!"
Meili's gaze lingered on Jaggy for a moment, ensuring he wouldn't interrupt again. Satisfied, she turned her attention back to Ryou, her expression serious once more.
"Now that we've cleared the air, let's refocus on our priority: rescuing Lian and Si-Fu Hibiki. Ryou, your plan was great but it would be better if....," Meili's eyes snapped open, her concentration broken by the sudden interruption. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the newcomer.
Si-Fu Yagushi, the Grandmaster of the School of Iron Fist, stood tall, his piercing gaze sweeping across the room. His presence commanded attention, and his stern expression brooked no argument.
"You will not carryout any plan," he declared, his voice firm and authoritative. "Stubborn children,"