The underground cavern, echoing with the calls of an ancient struggle, transformed into a stage of brutal artistry and dark powers as Yu Baozhai and The Head faced each other. The air crackled with malevolent energy, each combatant ready to unleash their deadly skills in a dance of destruction.
'His assassins are around us like they're setting up a makeshift arena! I have to defeat this bastard, but not kill him, and he'll for sure be my subordinate and be under my control! My lust power depends on my enemies' will; if I defeat them, their will has a high chance of depleting, and they'll be mine! Venrix…give me strength.' Yu Baozhai's mind raced.
The battle commenced with Yu Baozhai summoning a massive, shadowy lance, crackling with dark electrical energy. He hurled it towards The Head with unerring precision, slicing through the air. The Head, with a smirk, sidestepped the lance, which shattered against the cavern wall, sending a shower of sparks. Laughing, The Head's punch shot forward, warped by gravitational qi, aiming at Yu Baozhai's chest. At the last second, Yu Baozhai turned into shadow, reappearing behind The Head to deliver a high kick that sent The Head staggering forward.
The Head just laughed.
Yu Baozhai got even more pissed.
The Head, unphased by the blow, clapped his hands together, creating a focused gravity well directly beneath Yu Baozhai. The ground trembled as it began to implode. Yu Baozhai leaped high, dodging the collapse, and from mid-air, he spit out a barrage of shadowy daggers downward from his mouth. The Head raised his hands, stopping the daggers in the air with a burst of qi, then sent them flying back at Yu Baozhai, who deflected them expertly with a whirling shadow sword he created.
'Is he not taking me seriously?! That bastard is just standing there smiling!'
The Head smiled, "So you can travel through shadows, and even create weapons from shadows. You're around the 7th gate, and have mastered the 6th gate, Gate of Resonance. Cool."
"Take me serious!"
As Yu Baozhai charged with a flurry of rapid slashes with his shadow sword, The Head vanished in a blink, reappearing behind Yu Baozhai. He landed a devastating punch to Yu Baozhai's back, drawing first blood, which splattered against the stony floor. The collision sent Yu sprawling forward, but he rolled, regaining his footing fluidly, his face a mask of focused rage. With a bellow, Yu Baozhai stomped the ground, unleashing a tidal wave of shadow energy, aiming to engulf The Head and disturb his gravitational field. The Head floated up with a mocking laugh, using his gravity manipulation to remain unaffected. He then pointed forward, and compressed the air around Yu, attempting to constrict him like a vise.
Yu Baozhai materialized a sinister-looking broadsword, swinging it in a massive arc that cut through The Head's qi, releasing him from the air's grip. The Head was faster; he grabbed Yu's wrist, sending a jolt through it that made the shadow dissipate, but not before Yu managed to nick The Head's cheek, leaving a shallow, bloody trail. Utilizing the ancient language, Yu chanted ominously, causing The Head's shadow to animate and slash at its owner with a scythe formed of dark mist. The Head, clearly amused by the betrayal of his own shadow, simply dispersed it with a clench of his fist, laughing as he prepared his next move.
"I love it! You're really skilled for an 8th gate user!"
"Tch! I'm not done yet!"
Old Han from the side thought, 'He's toying with him. Why?'
Everyone surrounding them thought the same thing, their thoughts swarmed:
'Why is he playing around?!'
'Does he want to lose on purpose?'
'Even Kai, as nervous as he always is, folded his arms, thinking, 'What if the Head dies? And this guy tries to rule over us?! Even though the Head is creepy, I'd rather have him rule rather than this fat guy.'
The Head pointed a finger, manipulating the fabric of reality around Yu Baozhai, creating multiple points of implosion. Yu, surrounded by collapsing air, twisted and turned his body, using shadow teleportation to escape, reappearing each time with less space as the imploding spots increased in intensity.
'He's keeping up with me using his technique! What's his limits on manipulating the qi of gravity?!'
With fury, Yu Baozhai summoned several shadow tendrils from his mouth, using them like whips. They cracked through the air, striking The Head with formidable force, wrapping around his limbs to constrain him momentarily. The Head responded with a burst of laughter before his body exploded with qi, shattering the shadow bindings.
"Next." The Head smiled.
The Head suddenly intensified the gravitational pull directly under Yu Baozhai, slamming him hard against the ground. Despite the impact, Yu quickly somersaulted away, coughing up blood but ready to continue, his eyes glowing dangerously under his battered visage.
The Head walked forward, saying, "I'm surprised you're able to survive against me when I'm only using 8% of my power."
"I can't be that weak…I can't be! I have a mission! A job! I will eradicate this world of the demons and those who won't join me! This is what the Black Lotus sect always wanted."
"Control. Why even bother trying to gain control of something you cannot control? You cannot compete with the demons who have come and took over, or me, or the deities you would run into."
Launching into the air, Yu spawned a multitude of insanely large shadow shurikens, which spiraled towards The Head like a deadly storm. The Head, uncharacteristically serious, whisked from spot to spot in speed, his form a blink of speed force as each shuriken missed its mark, embedding themselves into the walls with quivering ferocity and an explosive THUD!
As Yu landed, The Head appeared beside him, touching his shoulder lightly. Instantly, massive internal pressure built within Yu, making him gasp in pain, blood bursting from his lips. With enormous effort, he converted one arm into shadow, slipping free from the devastating touch.
Summoning all his shadow energy, Yu Baozhai began to chant over and over, chanting scriptures as he transformed into a giant shadow beast in the shape of a shadowy Minotaur roaring as he lunged at The Head. The cavern shook with the power unleashed. The Head, however, met the charge head-on, his body radiating a terrifying aura of control.
The assassins in the crowd thought:
'Oh shit!'
'Even after all of this, the Head is still laughing..'
The Head, now equally gigantic, thanks to his manipulation of reality, grappled with the shadow beast. They crashed through the cavern walls, each punching blow from The Head causing eruptions of blood from Yu's beastly form, each roar from the beast reverberating through the bones of the earth. Amidst the chaos, The Head found a moment and clasped his hand around the throat of the shadow beast, lifting it off its feet. With a sinister smile, he brought his other fist up, charged with all the deadly power of his qi, and struck the beast down, causing a shockwave that shook the entire lair, a large hole blasting through the chest of the beast in gory fashion.
As the dust settled, The Head stood over the crumpled form of Yu Baozhai, who was now reverting to his human shape. With a casual flick of his wrist, The Head's finger touched Yu's forehead, and in a moment of grotesque beauty, Yu exploded in a burst of shadow and blood, his end as dramatic as his life—fighting passionately against the inevitability of fate. The Head, smirking amidst the wreckage, turned away, his laughter echoing through the shattered silence of the cavern.
"Ugh. What a waste. He could transform and stuff, that's associated with the 9th gate. And that monstrous beast of his, he desired to be a monster, metaphorically, which aided his lust and power which manifested on its own."
**9th gate: Gate of Ascendancy** - Near the pinnacle of Qi cultivation, these practitioners wield monumental power, able to influence large scale natural phenomena and exert their will over vast distances.
Everyone was shocked to see what the Head could do, but they couldn't speak unless given permission too."
The Head smiled, "I bet you all are wondering, how he was able to do all that. Even if you're not perfect at learning much about the gate, I'll help you now, because from here on out, I will be teaching yog all things from time to time, to help gain an advantage on enemies. Yu Baozhai has achieved more than two gates of qi cultivation, but also has mastered 9th gate, which means he is super strong. To achieve the transformation into a beastly form of their natural affinity using Qi at the 9th Gate of Ascendancy, a cultivator must master profound control over their Qi energy and have a deep connection to their natural affinity. At this advanced stage of Qi cultivation, the 9th gate, the practitioner's Qi energy is incredibly refined and potent. They must have complete mastery over channeling and manipulating this energy within their body. The cultivator needs to understand and embrace their natural affinity, whether it's related to an animal, element, or another aspect of nature. This deep connection is essential for the transformation process."
Kai, watching, thought, 'He's giving us a lesson after slaughtering someone?! He's unhinged, it doesn't bother him at all!'
The Head walked over to Yu Baozhai and lifted a dismembered piece of his arm, confining with a smile, "The practitioner must visualize and focus on the beastly form they wish to embody. This mental image, combined with intense concentration, helps direct the Qi energy towards the desired transformation. By channeling their refined Qi energy through specific meridians and energy centers in the body related to their natural affinity, the cultivator can begin the transformation process. As the Qi flows through the body, the practitioner may start to experience physical changes such as heightened senses, increased strength, and alterations in appearance that align with the beastly form they are invoking. It's crucial for the cultivator to maintain control over the transformation process. They must balance the influx of Qi energy with their physical body's capacity to handle the changes to prevent any negative consequences."
The Head tossed the arm in the crowd of assassins, and some moved out of the way to avoid it; some were disgusted, and vomited to the side.
The Head began to walk back and forth, "The practitioner needs to merge their human consciousness with the beastly instincts of their transformed state. Achieving harmony between these aspects is key to fully embodying the beastly form while retaining control and awareness. After utilizing the beastly form for its intended purpose, the cultivator must reverse the transformation by consciously directing their Qi energy back to its normal state and restoring their human appearance. This transformation process requires a profound understanding of Qi manipulation, a strong connection to one's natural affinity, and intense focus and visualization. It's a complex and challenging endeavor that showcases the cultivator's mastery over Qi cultivation and their deep bond with nature. Do we have a volunteer? You may raise your hand or speak."
No one wanted to raise their hand, but Mina exclaimed, "I do! Pick me! Yes, pick me!"
Hyun sighed, "Mina…sister… calm down."
The Head walked forward, grinning, "Mmmm, no. I want you."
He pointed at Kai, and Kai's heart dropped.
'Why me? Why did he choose me? I hate being put on the spot.'
Kai walked forward, and Mina slapped him in the back of the head, "Get em!"
Kai turned around, nervously, "S-Shut it!"
He walked forward to The Head, and stood there, saying, "What do you need me to do—."
KATHOOM!
The Head punched Kai in the face with the back of his fist, sending him sprawling across the floor, blood leaking everywhere.
The crowd of assassins gasped, but Kiera and Old Han had no expression. Kai immediately sat up, and he gritted his teeth, his right hand clasping a bright white sword made of qi, and he panted, "What…"
The Head clapped, "There it is! That berserker in you! It's always the quiet nervous ones that are dangerous, I've noticed that about you since the exams started. Now then, see if you can try and transform, use your Qi as I have explained it to you all."
Kai stuttered, "I-I can't!"
"Do it or die. With your power similar to the light affinities of the Luminous Vanguard, it should be no hard task for you—."
FWOOM!
Kai dashed forward with his sword of pure light, and he stabbed himself with it, and he transformed into a bright pure white Griffith beast.
The Head laughed, "As I thought, only the Luminous Vanguard can transform into those beasts. Or either Eagles, or the sun itself. You must be kin to them, you'll definitely be needed in the future."
'With this, it'll increase my chances of destroying them, but I'm far from it.'
Kai in his Griffith form tried to attack The Head, but the Head touched his head, and Kai transformed back.
'He forced me back to my original state with a touch?! I learned I could do this at a young age, this transformation was the main reason why I never lost fights…'
The Head walked past him, saying, "Time to wrap it up, class."
"I need medics!" Jiho's voice yelled behind everyone.
The Head turned around, replying, "How unsightly, a top prospect in this state."
"The Lust Deity manifested, Joon stayed back to fight it. Everyone else is behind us."
"And you left him."
"….Punish me, but—."
In the blink of an eye, the Head zipped up to Jiho, and hugged him, saying, "Shhh…shhh…it's okay. I get it. You're acting like Vaelle, starting to care about these brats after you spent years not liking anything or anyone. I won't punish you, send her to a medic before she dies."
Jiho stood still, gritting his teeth silently, thinking, 'That Bloodlust…he's definitely pissed at me.'
As Elara was getting moved away, she kept mumbling, "Joon….Joon…"
The other assassins said:
"That's Elara!"
"That cut looks horrible…"
"I hope she makes it in time.."
Kai saw her, and thought, 'She came back alone, the rest are on the way, and Joon stayed behind to fight a literal deity?! I wanted to join their group, but it seems they really do get the heavy side of the fights…I'd be too nervous to even do what they do, acting like heroes and all. Will Joon survive?'