Chapter 1083: Winning Conditions
‘Wait a minute…’
Initially, Gao Dau had developed the strange, yet possible, notion in his head that Springerdermain had surpassed him in terms of cultivation.
From what he could remember from Buzza’s lessons in regards to kaijin and their cultivation, they could only reach a point slightly above their lord’s cultivation level.
As such, when he saw that a majority of the kaijin he and his allies fought up to this point were all about as strong as Aether Lords, he figured that their leader was about at that level, and that any other kaijin were going to be that strong.
And usually, when it came to aether arts and aether warriors, if the disparity between two warriors was high enough, it was entirely possible for the higher tier warrior to be able to completely ignore the attacks of their lessers.
But then he noticed two things.
First, the cultivation disparity between himself and Springerdermain was not that big. While it was significantly harder to quantify the power difference between [Chaos] users, he could at least estimate that the difference was about a ring or so.
Second, and more importantly, it finally dawned on him that he couldn’t detect a single sign of life coming from Springerdermain. It was like he was staring at a mirage, an illusion.
And it wasn’t until he felt the ground rumble beneath his feet that he realized the truth of the situation.
He just got played.
“Shit!”
In an attempt to escape from whatever was going to happen to him, Gao Dau leaped backwards in order to distance himself from the rumbling earth beneath him.
Unfortunately, this turned out to be pointless, as from beneath the ground came several dozen or so spring arms that coiled and surged at him like a pack of snakes.
Once one of these hands managed to lock on to wrist, the rest shortly followed. After that, Springerdermain popped out of the ground as well.
[When the hell did you-?!]
[Firsr rule of magic, never reveal your secrets,] Springerdermain taunted. [But don’t worry, you’re gonna be seeing all sorts of tricks!]
…Meanwhile…
‘Wait…Razorstella. You and Screamira are objectively stronger than us, right?’
[Flattery will get you nowhere, but yes. We are.]
‘Okay…so why are we here acting as your hosts? I mean, I don’t mind fighting as much as the next warrior, but…’
[Ah, well, you know the saying that experience is the greatest teacher?]
‘Yeah…’
[Well, aside from Screamira and I wanting to maintain a low profile in front of tall, dark and buggy over there, we figured that this would be an excellent way for you guys to get a taste of high level fighting. Don’t worry, everyone will get a turn being hijacked. Consider it a tutorial for the real thing.]
‘That…makes sense.’
[Now then, I suggest you juke to the left…now!]
‘Aish!’
…
“Quit flitting about so I can rip out your spines!”
“No!”
[I would’ve threatened to rip out hers in retaliation, but that’s just me.]
[One with a focus on death, and another on stars…why, you lot are just a greatest hits in terms of Kaijin development, aren’t you?]
“Why does his voice sound like a swarm of angry hornets eating a dying Banshee Goat?”
[Why do you know what that sounds like?]
Thanks to being backed up by Screamira and Razorstella, respectively, Zhen Feng and Zhen Hai were able to fly and fight against Buzza and Gao Shen Yuan without getting immediately slain.
Which was a good thing because they were essentially punching way above their weight grades.
The Fallen Matriarch, Gao Shen Yuan had the power of an Aether King and was more than able to swat a pair of Aether Masters like Zhen Feng and Zhen Hai like they were nothing more than flies.
Thankfully, Zhen Hai was just the right amount of crazy and brave to distract Gao Shen Yuan and throw her off her game.
[Dodge to the right!]
‘Right!’
And Razorstella gave him the speed necessary to dance around her.
Speaking of insects though, neither Zhen Hai or Zhen Liu was able to get a single read on Buzza.
They didn’t know how strong this weird ass hornet kaijin was, all the Zhen Clan scions knew for certain was that he was strong.
That’s it.
It was actually because of this strange, unreadable strength, that Zhen Feng did his absolute damnedest not to confront him head on.
[Scream in that direction.]
‘Okay!’
Thankfully, Screamira was perfect for projectile interference as well as close combat deterrence.
Needless to say though, just as much as they were able to defend themselves, they weren’t able to inflict any lasting damage.
Zhen Hai and Zhen Feng did manage to get in the occasional cheap shot, but any damage they inflicted was superficial at best.
But this was fine, since their only win condition was to just distract these guys as long as possible until reinforcements arrived.
However, they weren’t the only ones aware of this particular win condition.
…Speaking of win conditions…
“Wait a minute, what the fuck?”
“Where are they going?”
The retreat of the Fallen warriors from Undertow was a strange affair, especially to the Zhen Clan warriors that were fighting them this whole time.
The Fallen had arrived via a tidal wave and inside of specially designed boxes meant to carry them ashore.
But now, instead of waiting for the arrival of new ships or a tamed beast to take them away, the Fallen simply threw themselves into the abyssal drink made of [Shadow Water].
Many of the pursuing and observing warriors assumed that they were suicidal, but this was an incorrect assessment.
The Fallen didn’t immediately die as their bodies made contact with the hostile substance.
Instead, they lasted just long enough for strange looking cephalopods to swim to their current position, encapsulate them in a protective coating of mucus and drag them away from the city and back to their homebase, [Darkshell Citadel].
Which wasn’t a long swim at all, since the aforementioned citadel was currently parked in a submerged spot in front of Undertow.
Cephalopod after cephalopod was deposited into the inner workings of the citadel, allowing the Fallen warriors to recuperate from any injuries they occurred during this offensive.
Amongst these retreating warriors, there were precisely three people that were of important notice.
Namely, the surviving Grafted warriors.
…In one of the citadel’s medical wing…
[Wait, so those three kaijin that initially confronted us, somehow fused into one being and kicked the shit out of Gao Kan and Gao Su before sending you flying? Seriously?,] Alain asked in disbelief.
[Yup,] Sophita answered while reattaching pieces of crystalline exterior back to her chest. [Crazy motherfucker was stronger than any warrior I’ve seen, present company included.]
[Damn.]
On his flight back from [Storm Castle], Alain had spotted Sophita looking rather haggard in the streets of Undertow. Figuring that it was best to retreat as a unit, he dropped down to grab her before checking on the others. Unfortunately, Gao Su and Gao Kan had been taken hostage.
[So…what do we do? Do we try to save them?]
[I don’t think we’re gonna have a chance to do so. Not unless we can grab them before the matriarch and others return.]
[Oh yeah…]
As the two young Grafted warriors discussed their current predicament, Gao Ao Long had made his way back to the citadel for the sole purpose of preparing for Phase 2B. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to finish due to a very important factor.
“Who are those warriors attacking the Matriarch and Buzza?”
“We’re not entirely sure, War Elder. But they’re radiating the same power as our Grafted.”
“Strange…”
In one of the inner portions of [Darkshell Citadel] was special observation deck that was designed for the explicit purpose of spying on any area that was directly above the citadel at any given time.
This deck was empowered by an ancient array that the Fallen had only just recently gotten to work again, but it has proven crucial in their above ground operations ever since.
For this particular moment though it allowed them to keep watch as a strange warrior wreathed in starlight and another warrior covered in bone-like armor, assaulted their clan’s matriarch and special guest.
Although…they weren’t doing a good job at doing so.
These young warriors, despite having the guts, didn’t seem to have the power to back it up.
This action perplexed Gao Ao Long…up until the people in charge of the observation deck made an unsettling announcement.
“War Elder! Three,no, five more signatures of [Chaos] appear to be converging on the Matriarch.”
“What?!”
“Take a look.”
With a wave of their hand, the attendant summoned forth a illusionary display that showed five distinctive warriors flying towards the Fallen’s matriarch. Gao Ao Long didn’t recognize three of the warriors, but he definitely recognized the other two.
“Wait a minute…that armored fellow in black is the one that called themself the current Kaijin Lord, while that girl next to him was at the arena…could it be…”
