A few minutes ago...
Coughing up blood, Elijah felt his body hadn't fully healed from his internal injuries. The forest around him was dark and dense, the canopy above blocking most of the sunlight, casting eerie shadows on the ground.
The air was thick with the scent of pine and the distant sound of running water. Suddenly, a terrifying pressure and massive killing intent hit him from behind. Fear, more powerful than any other emotion, forced him to move.
BOOM!
Elijah barely dodged the attack, his injuries making it hard to breathe. The ground where he had stood exploded, sending shards of rock and dirt flying. "Why now?" he muttered in pain, staring at the spot he had just vacated.
The creature behind him stood on two legs, resembling a human but covered in dark blue scales. Its claws glinted menacingly in the dim light, capable of slicing through iron like paper.
It opened its mouth as if welcoming him into an endless abyss, its aura overwhelming him. It was an E+ rank, nearly at the peak of E rank—far beyond his level.
To match it, he would need the full power of his lightning lotus, but in his damaged state, that seemed impossible. Unlike other beasts that toyed with their prey, this one did the opposite.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
Lightning started covering its body, and it roared, "CARRRCARRAAA," sounding more like laughter than a roar. In the blink of an eye, it reached Elijah, landing a devastating punch that broke his ribs and further damaged his internal organs.
He was sent flying, crashing through trees and rocks before coming to a stop, the forest floor littered with debris.
Before the next punch landed, he dodged and jumped back, creating some distance. "I told you this was a bad idea," Kai muttered before an explosion erupted behind him, sending Elijah flying through more trees. "Are you okay?" Kai shouted, still focused on the panther.
"Just a few broken bones, don't worry. How about you?" Elijah asked, standing up and setting his arm back in place. His vision blurred momentarily from the pain, but he steadied himself.
"I'm surviving," Kai replied, both men eyeing their opponents. The panther attacked, slashing forward and sending three large sword arcs gouging the ground as they rushed toward him. Elijah charged, lightning crackling around him.
"I should at least try," he thought, the lightning intensifying. Elijah reached the creature in seconds, but it seemed to be waiting for him. With a crack of lightning, it disappeared and reappeared before him. The onslaught of punches was so fast and fierce that Elijah was knocked unconscious.
He flew back and hit a tree, bloodier than before, his previous injuries worsening as he coughed up blood while unconscious. His body was a mess of cuts, bruises, and broken bones, the forest floor beneath him stained red.
Inside his mind...
"Wow, what happened?" Elijah wondered, surrounded by a pure white space. It was serene, almost peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos outside.
"You were beaten so badly you can't remember," a voice answered from behind him. He turned to see his alter ego, Alter Elijah, with golden hair and eyes. "I need to wake up before it kills me," Elijah said, standing up.
"You can't win like this," Alter Elijah shouted. "Let me take over for a minute."
"Last time I would have said no, but I don't have many choices," Elijah sighed. "Tell me how to access that form."
Noticing something, Alter Elijah said, "You're healing your muscles with Chi. Interesting." Then he added, "I am you, and you are me. You already know the answer." He smiled before disappearing into the mist.
"I am you, huh," Elijah thought, sitting down. "Time here is 100 times slower than outside, so I should have enough time." He closed his eyes, feeling the flow of Chi within him.
Meanwhile...
Kai dodged every attack until a powerful wind slash forced him to block. He was pushed back, and the panther was already behind him, its tails striking at extreme speed.
He blocked two but the third stabbed his hand. "AGAGAGAGAA," he cried out, blood dripping from the wound.
He jumped back, analyzing everything. He wasn't faster or stronger than the creature, so he needed a different approach. Holding his sword, he braced himself as the beast disappeared.
"Seems like I have no choice," he thought, closing his eyes as the creature appeared with claws and tails ready to strike.
Elijah's battle...
Elijah stood up as the human-like creature tilted its head, staring with a creepy smile. "Huff, huff, huff," he struggled to stand, but smiled. "I just need to push past my limits." He fully stood, the forest around him silent and tense.
"HAAAAAAA," Elijah shouted, a burst of Chi surrounding him. The lightning Chi, more powerful and majestic, surged from his body. Rocks started floating, his black hair defying gravity. The one-leaf lotus circled around before merging with him. "Lightning Form: Kenshi!" he shouted, his body covered in brilliant lightning.
This form combined his lotus technique with Kenshi. "Thank you for pushing me, because alone, I wouldn't have achieved this. Goodbye, see you when you see me," he thought, the brilliant lightning calming around him. "I have a minute in this form, so let's not waste it."