Two Battle Maniacs
The lotus was spinning like crazy as Elijah channeled a large amount of chi, yet no worry crossed his face. He already had a clone containing his full amount of chi; he only needed to call for it to replenish his energy.
Even for an F+ rank, Elijah's chi was off the charts, comparable to an E+ rank or even higher.
However, his techniques consumed more chi than those who used mana. The purple-skinned man appeared, marveling at the beautiful silver lotus spinning, as a second leaf began to form.
"Beautiful."
It truly was a sight to behold. Elijah stood amidst the serene, shimmering grove, where the air itself seemed to hum with Chi. The brilliant glow and essence surrounding him were mesmerizing, casting an ethereal light that danced on the leaves and flowers nearby. He had never seen anything like it.
The mana in the area pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat, responding to the growth of another leaf on the lotus.
In that moment of awe, Elijah managed to finish sprouting the leaf. The once single-leaved lotus now shone with two leaves. His face became pale, and soon enough it regained its color. A renewed vigor flowed through him, filling his veins with a sense of power.
"Okay, now I have a chance," he thought, his eyes reflecting the luminous brilliance of the lotus. With the lotus's power doubling, so too did his confidence. The future, though still uncertain and fraught with challenges, seemed a little less daunting now.
The silver lotus was only boosting his chi, which wouldn't damage his body as using an element might. With the lotus being much more powerful, using his element wouldn't be a good choice. A silver aura surrounded Elijah as he moved into a stance.
He had already used his clone, so he had no other way to recover his chi if he used it all. The purple-toned man stood there and said, "What are you waiting for?" The man's name was Adin, who smirked while holding his sword before disappearing from his position.
At that moment, Elijah's power had reached E+ rank, a whole rank above his own, as he dashed forward. His hand clashed with the sword, their eyes showing excitement and their smiles widening.
Both men were battle maniacs, as was expected of the purple clan. Freeing themselves from the clash, Elijah used flash step to close the distance, his arm ready to punch out. Adin reacted quickly, using his sword to block.
Blam!
Adin and Elijah squared off, their eyes locked in intense concentration. Adin raised his sword, ready to parry Elijah's next move. As Elijah lunged forward, Adin deftly used Elijah's momentum against him, sidestepping and positioning himself for a counterattack.
"Aura slash!" Adin called out, his voice resonating with power. A purple glow enveloped his sword, illuminating the battlefield with an eerie light. With a swift, downward motion, he unleashed the energy-infused slash.
Elijah's eyes widened in realization—he had miscalculated, and dodging was now out of the question. In a desperate bid to defend himself, his lotus transformed from its usual silver hue to a vibrant blue, though only a single leaf manifested. Lightning crackled around his body, intensifying his aura.
Even with this sudden boost, it wasn't enough to evade the attack entirely. Summoning all his strength, Elijah punched forward, shouting, "Lightning fist!"
BOOM!
The clash of powers resulted in a massive explosion, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. Dust and debris swirled in a chaotic tempest as the force of the impact reverberated throughout the area. Emerging from the billowing smoke, Elijah leaped back, his mind racing.
'Hmm, so my lightning lotus didn't evolve to two leaves when my main one did,' he pondered. The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning—his lightning lotus should have developed two leaves by now. Closing his eyes, Elijah focused inward, seeking answers.
In that moment of introspection, he understood the problem. The quantity of lightning chi within him was insufficient for his lotus to fully mature. He surmised that once his lightning chi reached a critical level, the lotus would naturally grow to two leaves without further consuming his energy.
Sighing, Elijah focused on Adin. "Why did you attack us?"
"It's simple, to get you to join our group," Adin answered.
"You should have asked instead of attacking out of nowhere," Elijah retorted, but he wasn't angry.
"Yeah, that would have been more logical, but would you have agreed?" Adin asked, seeing Elijah smile.
"No," Elijah admitted.
"Then you understand our actions," Adin replied.
The two figures disappeared, clashing as Elijah's lotus returned to silver. His blue lotus wasn't strong enough to face Adin, but his speed with the blue lotus was slightly faster than his current speed.
Elijah's roundhouse kick cut through the air with a thunderous whoosh, aiming straight for Adin's midsection. Adin, eyes sharp and reflexes honed, anticipated the attack. He ducked low, rolling to the side with the agility of a dancer.
As he sprang back to his feet, he called out, "Aura Burst!" Instantly, a radiant surge of purple energy exploded from Adin's body, engulfing him in a shimmering aura.
The sudden onslaught of pressure was palpable. Elijah felt the weight of the aura pressing down on him, his muscles straining against the force.
He activated his Iron Body technique, his skin hardening into a nearly impervious layer of metallic strength. At the same time, he summoned his Silver Shield, which materialized in front of him with a brilliant flash of light.
Adin wasted no time. With a swift, fluid motion, he slashed his sword toward Elijah. The blade, glowing with an ominous purple hue, sliced through the air, aiming to cut through Elijah's defenses.
The shield caught the brunt of the attack, but the sheer force was overwhelming. Elijah was propelled backward, his body hurtling through the air like a ragdoll. He coughed violently, blood spattering onto the ground as he was driven back a good five meters.
The impact was jarring, but Elijah was not one to be easily defeated. He slammed his foot into the ground, managing to break through the lingering force of Adin's attack.
With a fierce roar, he shattered the remnants of the Silver Shield, sending shards of energy scattering in all directions. He took a moment to steady himself, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Before he could fully regain his footing, Adin's figure flickered and reappeared beside him with almost lightning-like speed. Elijah's eyes widened in surprise. Reacting instinctively, he invoked his Illusion Step technique.
His form wavered and split into several ethereal mirages, each one a perfect replica of the real Elijah, confusing Adin's senses.
Adin's sword swung through one of the illusions, its blade cutting through nothing but air. His eyes darted around, trying to discern the real Elijah from the decoys.
At that crucial moment, the true Elijah materialized behind him, his arm glowing with a brilliant silver aura. "Sky Covering Fist!" he shouted, his voice a clarion call of impending impact.
With a powerful, concentrated punch, Elijah drove his fist toward Adin. The force behind the blow was immense, the silver glow of his arm shining like a beacon of raw energy.
Adin, sensing the danger, reacted with remarkable speed. He twisted his body, swinging his sword behind him in a defensive arc. The sword, infused with purple light, met Elijah's attack with a resounding clash.
The collision of energies created a powerful shockwave that reverberated through the air.
The ground beneath them trembled, and the surrounding environment was illuminated by the brilliant clash of silver and purple. Both combatants strained against each other's strength.
Elijah's fist and Adin's sword locked in a fierce struggle, neither willing to give an inch. The ground around them was scorched and cracked from the intensity of their powers.
Sparks flew as their energies collided, creating a dazzling display of light and power. Each fighter was pushed to their limits, their techniques a testament to their skill and resolve. Both warriors were locked in a moment of breathtaking intensity, their wills clashing as fiercely as their physical attacks.
The outcome of this confrontation hung in the balance, each strike and maneuver pushing the fight closer to its ultimate conclusion.
BOOM!
The figures didn't stop for a second, striking at each other.
TING! TING! TING!
Bam!
Adin hit a tree after being pushed back, as Elijah's hand glowed once more. Adin thought it was the same skill and dashed forward, knowing how to counter it. But he was mistaken.
"Sky Beam," Elijah called out as a blade beam of silver shot from his hand, pushing forward.
With Adin clearly running toward it, there was no stopping. He called upon "Aura Dragon Slash!" Spinning around, he slashed, releasing a dragon-shaped beast that clashed with Elijah's beam. But the two continued walking while holding their attacks.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA," Elijah laughed.
"Come on, boy," Adin urged.
The closer they got, the more unstable their attacks became, and soon...
BOOM!