Chapter 1038: [Time] to Fight
[I think for obvious reasons, Screamira and I can’t participate.]
‘Wise move, Razorstella,’ Zhen Liu praised. ‘Nepherage, Blazejudicator. Y’all wanna have a go?’
[Do you mind if I have a go?]
[All yours, judgeman.]
[Bully. Time to show off a bit and leave an impression.]
…
<
<
Across from Terra, Zhen Liu placed one of his hands over his mouth but in a way that made it appear he was blowing soap bubbles through a ring made with his thumb and index finger.
Of course, he wasn’t blowing bubbles with this gesture.
‘Ya want me to show off? Fine, I’ll show off.’
“What’s Zhen Liu do-”
FWOOSH!
“Ah.”
“Wait, what?”
Zhen Liu proceeded to release a jet of flames that initially confused the hell out of everybody present. That is, until one of his cousins noticed something in the conflagration.
“Wait a minute…is that an arm?”
“It is…oh.”
<
Moments after this observation was made, Zhen Liu stopped breathing literal fire, in order for his puppet (Blazejudicator) to properly form and make an appearance…and make an appearance they did.
From the initial bonfire that Zhen Liu literally breathed into existence, a humanoid made of flames began to rise from it like someone kind of an ancient monstrosity.
Once the blazing humanoid fully rose up from the bonfire, they swung their arms towards each other in order to clap.
The sudden of metal sheets clanging against each other, rang out as metallic gauntlets manifested over the flaming arms upon impact.
[And…pose!]
As the flaming manifestation retracted their fists, a robe, a metallic helmet and a pair of metal boots formed over them, ending with the manifestation taking on a form that gave people the impression that they were staring at some kind of judge for the afterlife.
Once everything had formed, the flaming judge took on a fighting stance that was eerily similar to Terra’s. In fact, it was like looking in a mirror.
Zhen Liu was all set to match up the stances and make it appear he was controlling Blazejudicator, until Zhen Hai decided now was a good time to make a comment and ask a question.
“Wait a minute, Zhen Liu, what the fuck?”
“Are you referring to my new puppet or the fact that it’s made of immaterial energy?”
“Yes,” Zhen Hai and Zhen Feng said simultaneously.
…
‘I really need to introduce the concept of jinx in this world.’
…
“In no particular order, my master gave me a manual that enabled me to turn intangible items into aether puppets by using certain objects as anchor,” Zhen Liu lied through his teeth. “I made the judge here a few weeks back. Around the time y’all ended up at the temple.”
“Oh…yeah, that tracks.”
<
<
Understanding that she was getting ignored in this regard, Terra decided to go with her original plan.
<
…
[So…who do you think is going to win this? The girl with the shocking heritage, or our homegrown judge of flames?]
[Depends.]
[On?]
[Who’s the trickier SOB.]
________________________________________
*Bing-Bong*
The following scene will be written from omniscient narrator POV.
You’ll understand what this means when you see it.
*Bing-Bong*
________________________________________
‘Lets start with something simple.’
[Flowing Thunder Strike!]
Terra started the fight by infusing her hands and feet with aether and stepping forward. As she did, she struck outwards with her hands moving in a manner similar to that of an eel on the hunt.
In times past, this was the go-to move for Lady Shockheel.
The strange flowing movements made with hard for people to block with hard point defenses, while the actual attack itself struck like thunder. This attack was enough to send most people and beasts into the hospital.
Against another kaijin though, it was tricky but not impossible to deal with.
[I was right, her movements are based on tai chi,]Blazejudicator transmitted to Zhen Liu as they observed the encroaching attack. [So let’s counter as such.]
[Flickering Flame Palm!]
Just as Terra was about to strike at Blazejudicator’s neck, in a manner very similar to how an eel would tear into the side of a fish, the flaming kaijin countered by suddenly pushing the strike away with one hand while attempting to strike with the other. While this was happening, Zhen Liu made sure to copy the exact movements Blazejudicator was performing, beat by beat, in order to give the illusion that he was controlling the kaijin like a puppet. That and it helped him get some practice in to perform the moves himself, if it ever came down to it.
At this moment, Blazejudicator’s and Zhen Liu’s hands were moving in the same way embers would dance and flicker as their source flame roared with heat and light.
‘Clever.’
In response to this counter, Terra swung her other hand down and struck at the encroaching palm, forcing it to recoil due to pain.
[Gah! She’s using Chaos.]
‘Then counter with it!’
What followed after this revelation was a rapid exchange of blows between Terra and Blazejudicator.
Sparks of flame and electricity danced in the air as the palms collided with one another, causing the air around the two warriors to become hazy. The faint illusion of an electric eel nipping at embers could be seen as the two continued their exchange.
[Alright, time to change tactics.]
‘How are you going to do that?’
[Bajiquan!]
In a moment where both Terra and Blazejudicator were locked with their moves, the latter decided to immediately knock away both of the former’s hands in order to create an opening. Once it was made, Blazejudicator pulled in both of their hands in order to stomp on the ground.
[Quaking Stomp!]
<
A surge of aether and [Chaos] surged out from the point Blazejudicator stomped, causing the surrounding ground to become rocky and wavy.
This should’ve knocked Terra off her feet, or at the very least, trip her up. At which point, Blazejudicator would’ve followed with a straightforward but explosive punch.
Unfortunately, this didn’t happen.
Instead, she managed to move her feet in such a way that it appeared that she was swimming across the surface of the shaking ground, like an oarfish during a storm.
<
[‘Oh balls.’]
Riding on the waves of churning earth, Terra proceeded to use the wobbly movements to encircle Blazejudicator in an unpredictable manner. As she moved, she pulled from her person a length of chain that ended in a steel ball.
<> Terra mused as arcs of electricity began to form around her.
…
[Things ain’t looking good for your progenitors…especially now that the eel woman got a chain whip.]
[True…but you remember how Blazejudicator is the least solid of the lot of us, right?]
[What’s that got to do with anything?]
[Just watch.]
…
<
As the ball descended, it began to erratically swing in the air like a real bolt of lightning.
[Well, I definitely need to dodge that.]
‘Then do it!’
Boom!
As the ball of steel and lighting impacted the ground, Blazejudicator made sure to dodge it. Unfortunately, this was planned.
Clank, clink, clank
‘What’s that sou-‘
FWOOSH!
‘Incoming!’
[Oh, shit.]
The steel ball did not stay in the cratered ground as anticipated. Instead, like a living thing, the chain connecting the ball to Terra had suddenly stiffened and strengthened at certain key points.
This in turn, caused the steel ball to launch out of the ground and towards Blazejudicator’s direction.
Before Blazejudicator could even dodge or block in time, the steel ball went right through side and punched a hole through both finish arms and torso.
From an outsider’s perspective, it appeared as if Blazejudicator’s entire torso was obliterated in an instant.
…
=Shockheel’s Dancing Iron Thunderbolt…been a long time since we saw that move used.=
=Honestly…could be either or.=
CREATORS’ THOUGHTS
Mizako
Hmmmm, I should probably share Terra’s design.
