The woman sect leader who helped Joon, her name was Vaelle, and she has reached the top of a large cliff in the cave. Upon reaching the top, she encountered another figure, a towering man whose presence was almost as imposing as his stark appearance. The bald man, adorned with a prominent scar across his skull and a dense, black beard, turned to face her with his glowing gold eyes. Known as Krakus, his reputation for ruthlessness preceded him, a contrast sharply felt against Vaelle's more considered and nurturing nature.
Krakus frowned slightly as he observed her concerned expression. "Worried about the boy, Vaelle?" His voice was deep, tinged with a mocking undertone.
Vaelle stood firm, her gaze unwavering. "My duty is to the Sect and to the balance. Joon's potential makes him significant, not a target for our baser instincts."
Before Krakus could reply, a subtle disturbance caught Vaelle's attention. She saw 4 shadowy figures sneaking towards the area where Joon was resting. Their movements were calculated, their intentions unclear but undoubtedly sinister as she caught the glint of weapons adorned with intricate Qi runes. There were more prospects going into the tent after Joon dealt with the others.
"I see ambition has clouded your judgment, Krakus," she accused, her voice steel. "Those are our own prospects, armed against an unarmed boy? I'm going."
Krakus shrugged, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Let this happen, Vaelle. There are those that are against Joon and his demonic Qi inheritance, this can turn the tides—."
Without hesitation, Vaelle struck him, her fist connecting with his jaw and sending him staggering back. The bald man grinned, unfazed, as he summoned a large wrecking ball chained to a handle; it emanated a blood-red aura, alive with malicious intent.
Vaelle drew her own weapon, a sword stained with the blood of past conflicts, her eyes glowing a fierce red. She understood the gravity of defying a fellow leader but stood resolute. "I won't let your ambition harm the boy. You plan to use this situation to think of another exam test."
"HAHA! You know the head leader will definitely do the same, so why even try to fight me? This is the first I've seen you care about some random prospect out of all the ones we've gathered."
Krakus swung his chain, the heavy ball arcing through the air towards Vaelle, who deftly sidestepped and parried with her blade, sparks flying upon contact. The clangor of their battle echoed throughout the cavernous space.
As the confrontation escalated, Vaelle felt the need to enlighten those who might still question her actions. "Weapons with Qi runes are not merely tools; they are embodiments of divine will," she shouted over the din of their clashing weapons. "Gifted to us by the deity Kyung-Hu, each rune is a scripture of power, governing specific elemental forces."
Krakus attacked relentlessly, but Vaelle continued, "Every element, every power granted to us, is under the vigilance of a deity. From the might of the winds handled by Jisan to the fiery depths wielded by Hyun-wook, our world is a tapestry of divine governance."
"There you go again, always spouting wisdom or smart stuff at me like I care! You need to break out of that habit!"
The chain of Krakus's weapon whirled with increasing ferocity, every link echoing a sinister intent as Vaelle defended with equal fervor. "This recklessness endangers the very balance we vow to protect!"
Their battle continued, neither yielding, the crack of the wrecking ball against Vaellef's sword ringing out like a bell in the night. Vaelle concluded with a fierce proclamation, her blade meeting Krakus's weapon with a resounding clash, "I will not let you or anyone else disrupt the cosmic equilibrium for mere political gain!"
With their weapons locked in a deadly dance, the first sparks of dawn began to crest over the horizon, the light reflecting off their blades. The scene froze in a moment of intensity, the outcome of the battle yet unknown, their fates—and possibly Joon's—hanging in the balance.
The cavernous echoes of the cave blended with the metallic clangs as Vaelle and Krakus faced off, each poised with lethal intent. The conflict had escalated, driven by a fierce determination to protect and, conversely, to conquer.
Vaelle initiated the battle with her renowned glitch speed, a blur to the naked eye as she darted towards Krakus. He swung his wrecking ball in a wide arc, attempting to intercept her swift advance. Vaelle, predicting the trajectory, slid under the colossal weapon, her movements a fusion of elegance and deadly precision. She rose sharply, unleashing a crescent-shaped blood slash from her sword, which narrowly missed Krakus but sliced through a nearby stalagmite, sending stone shards flying.
Krakus, unfazed, grinned maliciously as he manipulated the mass of the wrecking ball, enlarging it dramatically. He brought it down with earth-shattering force towards Vaelle, who flipped backward, her feet grazing the weapon's surface. The impact with the ground created a mini-crater, from which she quickly rebounded, launching herself at Krakus with a spinning heel kick aimed at his head. The kick connected, but Krakus absorbed the impact, utilizing the moment to wrap his chain around Vaelle's leg. With a fierce pull, he yanked her towards him, but she twisted mid-air, slicing the chain with a swift strike of her blood sword. Landing adeptly, she thrust her sword into the ground, and a series of large blood swords erupted from the pooled blood, aiming straight at Krakus.
Dodging with barely a moment to spare, Krakus's form blurred as he sidestepped the blood swords, which erupted like volcanic spires. He retaliated by igniting his wrecking ball in a swirling vortex of blood-red flames, swinging it horizontally towards Vaelle. She ducked under the swing, feeling the heat scorch the air above her, and countered with a double-palmed strike filled with Qi to Krakus's chest. The strike forced Krakus backward, his boots sliding against the stony floor. Seizing the opportunity, Vaelle darted forward, her blade dancing dangerously as she combined slashes with pinpoint kicks. Krakus raised his wrecking ball defensively, blocking her sword strikes, sparks flying with each collision.
Adjusting his strategy, Krakus detached the chain from the wrecking ball, wielding it like a flail. He spun it overhead, creating a menacing barrier of motion. Vaelle approached cautiously, timing her movements. With a sudden burst, she leaped, somersaulting over the swinging chain, and delivered a mid-air slash that left a shallow cut across Krakus's forehead. Blood trickled down Krakus's face, a stark red against his pale skin. Enraged, he expanded the wrecking ball to a massive size, thrusting it forward with tremendous force. Vaelle used her glitch speed again, appearing behind Krakus in a blink. She attempted a decisive stab, but Krakus anticipated and turned swiftly, catching her wrist and twisting painfully.
With her free hand, Vaelle drove an elbow into Krakus's side, breaking his grip. She spun around, her blood sword slashing deeply across his arm, drawing more blood which she immediately manipulated into sharp, blood-coated shards that flew towards him like deadly projectiles. Krakus growled, using the wrecking ball to shield himself from the blood shards, which embedded themselves into the weapon with thuds. He then swung the wrecking ball in a low sweep, aiming to knock Vaelle off her feet. She jumped, flipping backward, and upon landing, sent a powerful wave of Qi-infused blood slashes across the cave floor towards him.
"Haha! It's been awhile since we've sparred, huh?" Krakus chuckled.
Vaelle responded, "This isn't sparring. I'm trying to kill you."
"So angry for what?"
"Don't act foolish."
"You just need a husband!"
"Shut up."
"Ugh. I guess I have to kill you then for you to finally understand I'm stronger than you."
"Show me something."
Krakus leaped up, avoiding the slashing waves. Mid-air, he compacted the wrecking ball, making it dense and razor-sharp. He threw it directly at Vaelle, who narrowly sidestepped the deadly missile, feeling the whoosh of air as it passed by her cheek. Landing, she thrust her hands forward and unleashed a massive, spiraling blood vortex from her palms. The vortex engulfed the wrecking ball, pulling it within its swirling depths. Krakus, momentarily weaponless, charged at Vaelle, his fists glowing with accumulated Qi. They exchanged a flurry of blows, punches meeting blocks, kicks parried with swift counters, each movement a testament to their supreme martial prowess.
During their hand-to-hand combat, Krakus managed to land a heavy punch to Vaelle's torso, knocking the wind out of her. Gasping, she retaliated with a knee to his abdomen, followed by a headbutt that left both momentarily dazed.
"Ow! I told you to stop with the headbutts! It's annoying!"
"Shut up and fight me."
Recovering first, Vaelle grasped her blood sword, channeling her Qi into an ultimate crescent slash aimed at a decisive victory. Krakus summoned his wrecking ball back to his hand, meeting her slash with a counter strike that created a shockwave, sending a ripple across the entire cave. As the shockwave settled, both warriors stood, breathing heavily, wounds evident but their resolve undiminished. Before they could continue, a powerful, authoritative voice echoed through the cave, halting their actions.
The head leader of the Blood Sect, an imposing figure with an aura of undeniable power, appeared suddenly between them. With a swift movement, he caught Vaelle's blood sword and Krakus's wrecking ball in each hand, his grip unbreakable. "Enough. he commanded, his voice resonating with finality. "This ends now."
The battle ceased abruptly, the tension still palpable but controlled by the overwhelming presence of their leader. Blood dripped from their wounds, a stark reminder of the fierce duel that had transpired. Vaelle and Krakus, both breathing heavily, stepped back, their weapons lowered in deference to the ultimate authority before them.
'As expected of the head sect leader…catching our weapons with his bare hands without using any aura or qi..' Vaelle thought.
As the dust settled and the reverberations of the halted conflict echoed through the stalactite-laden cave, the head leader of the Blood Sect stood imposingly between Vaelle and Krakus. Even with the cessation of their intense battle, the air hung thick with the metallic scent of blood and the sharp tang of exertion. The leader, clad in an immaculate white robe distinct from those of his counterparts, exuded a sense of unparalleled authority. His mask, a striking contrast of black and gold, hid his expressions, yet the slight upturn of his lips was evident; a grin that bespoke both amusement and a hint of pride.
"Indeed, impressive," his voice boomed, resonant and clear. "Both of you demonstrate exceptional mastery over your qi manipulation, particularly in how you integrate it with your blood abilities. Such prowess... it is not often seen even among the elite of our sect." His eyes, visible through the slits in his mask, flicked from Krakus to Vaelle, appraising their stances and the visible signs of their recent exertion.
Krakus, slightly stooped and catching his breath, nodded curtly in acknowledgment. Vaelle, though still poised for battle, relaxed her stance slightly, the grip on her blood sword easing.
The leader continued, his tone both commendatory and stern. "The Blood Sect thrives because of warriors like you; however the strength we seek is not solely for personal gain but for the unity and power of our sect. Let this duel remind you both of the strength you have and the strength you can offer together. If you fail to do that…I'll kill you both."
Having delivered his message, the mysterious leader turned, his white robe billowing slightly with the motion. With a final nod to Krakus, he began to move away, his presence as commanding as his departure.
Left in the now-quiet cave, Vaelle sheathed her blood sword with a swift, fluid motion. She cast a last glance at Krakus, who was already beginning to tend to his wounds, then turned and exited the area quickly. Her movements were a mix of frustration and resolve—a warrior temporarily withdrawn from the battlefield.
She dashed back to the tent where she had left Joon. As she pushed aside the flap and stepped inside, the scene that greeted her was grim. Joon was there alongside Elara indeed, their fists covered in blood, but the state of the tent was chaotic. Joon and Elara sat calmly on a cot, completely unharmed, surrounded by unconscious bodies scattered around them. Each figure bore signs of a violent struggle—bloodied, bruised, and broken in various degrees. Joon, his expression unreadable, looked up as Vaelle entered.