Chapter 668: A Clash of Emperors
A tense moment of silence formed between Zhen Xun Tian and Gao Ao Long as the two continued to circulate their aether and used it to enhance every fiber of their beings.
As the aether flowed into their skin, they became tougher than steel.
As it flowed into their muscles, they condensed enough force to level mountains with a flick of the finger.
Once it flowed into their eyes and nervous systems, the world around them began to slow to a crawl.
Both fighters were absolutely ready to rip each other apart at the drop of a hat, now the question was…who was going to make the first move?
The answer to that question though was actually quite simple…both.
*FWIP! FWIP!*
*BOOM!*
Without a single word of warning, Zhen Xun Tian and Gao Ao Long launched towards each other, faster than the speed of sound and aimed lethal blows at one another, only for their attacks to be intercepted by one another and repelled.
Zhen Xun Tian had aimed to crack open Gao Ao Long’s skull with a devastating roundhouse kick, while the latter aimed to crush the former’s wind pipe with a four finger strike.
What ended up happening instead was that the two attacks collided with one another and canceled each other, causing the two of them to recoil from one another, but for no more than half a second. Immediately after this cross attack, the two warriors proceeded to trade life-threatening blow after life-threatening blow as if they were nothing more than warm-up punches, blocking, countering and striking whenever they had the chance to.
A sound akin to steel colliding with steel, echoed throughout the arena and beyond as the two Aether Emperors fought on.
If these two warriors weren’t fighting mid-air at this time, the shockwaves from their blows alone would’ve already flatten the arena into a fine dust and render everyone who was inside it at this time into a fine red mist.
Surprisingly though, neither of them had begun to circulate their aether in a manner that would suggest that they were about to use an aether art, nor were they circulating their aether that would suggest that they were going to summon their [Astra], [Regalia], [Icon], or [Avatar] at this time.
Were they doing so because they were still in the process of gauging their opponents?
Was it because they were waiting for an opening, a gap in the defenses in order to release a devastating counter?
Or were they waiting for their allies to come and assist them in taking them down?
In truth…it was none of these possibilities.
It was actually a bit more…sinister.
If one were to take a closer look at these two conflicting Aether Emperors at this time, they would notice the faint shadows of a monstrous squid man and a monstrous whale man, clashing at the same tempo as their mortal counterparts. One would also notice a strange type of energy exuding from these shadows.
‘Come on…just a few more seconds…’
The reason for this “light” exchange of blows, was because they were both aware that the other had access to a powerful trump card that could annihilate conventional means of protection with surprising ease and deal devastating amounts of damage in the process due to the weird energy associated with them. They understood on a primal level, something beyond thought and emotion, that their duel would be decided on who’s trump card was the strongest.
For Zhen Xun Tian this trump card took the form of a tattoo that wasn’t always visible on Zhen Xun Tian’s personal “tapestry”, but when it did appear, it took the form of a kraken. Those who had the “fortune” of seeing this tattoo, swore that it looked back at them with eyes that judged their very souls, down to their very first memories.
On the other hand, literally, Gao Ao Long’s trump card was the arm that he…acquired…from an ancient tomb he stumbled upon in the abyssal lands, several decades ago. Actually, he had a bit of assistance finding and surgically attaching the arm by an outsider, but nobody needed to know that little bit of information.
Either way, both sides understood that the moment they took out their opponent, the other could go on an unmitigated rampage and decisively end this conflict, one way or another.
After all, there was nobody else that could use this strange energy except for the enemy in front of them…right?
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Meanwhile, in the hiding spot of someone who definitely knew what the fuck strange ass energy was being released at this moment between two Aether Emperors…
‘So the grand plan here is for me to just sit here for hours on end, as the desire to murder courses through my veins like lava, while those old bastards duke it out?’
=Like we said before milord, while you and the kaijin have a numbers advantage, in terms of raw power, Gao Ao Long has gotten you beat. Also, hours? It’s only been a few minutes at most, six if I’m being generous with the time here.=
‘The animosity coursing through my veins says otherwise, I desire to drink his blood and use their bones as a toothpick.’
[JUST LET US EAT HIM ALREADY! VIVA LA RETRIBUTION!]
‘Yeah, and talking doesn’t help either!’
Mere moments after learning that kaijin have a powerful instinct to absolutely murder anyone who dares to mistreat the corpse of their kaijin kindred, Zhen Liu had to learn how to properly process the unbridled rage of five incredibly powerful kaijin. Technically that number should’ve been about six, maybe seven, however, Razorstella, Spring Brawler, and the yet-to-be-named kaijin-zako hybrid had yet to be in “aggro” range.
It was already taking Zhen Liu all he had to not fly into a berserker rage at the moment, so he was hoping that the others took a long route back to him…that or Gao Ao Long gets his stupid head ripped off his shoulder before they returned, either option was good for him.
On the plus side, Logos and Pathos managed to get their shit together and went back to their usual dynamic…mostly.
‘The downsides of an attached soul, I guess.’
=If it helps, we could try and relay you some information in regards to that bastard’s stolen arm. Give you an idea of who it used to belong to.=
At the mention of this suggestion, Zhen Liu’s expression became weird as he shot a funny look at his left hand.
‘You didn’t decide to bring this up before, why?’
=Had to make sure the information was accurate. Didn’t want to just go off an assumption and guess which kaijin that arm belonged to. Made that mistake before…=
‘What was that last bit?’
‘OH GODSDAMMIT!’
Before Zhen Liu could get any answers in regards to his companion spirits’ questionable behavior, he was getting a lot more information about someone who’s remains were being abused right this very moment.
And what made this moment really special though, was that this was the first time he got to read through a kaijin profile that wasn’t directly related to him.
‘Huh…what a noble soul…hold up, what the fuck is all this fuzz?’
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Kaijin: Grand Blue
Creator: Invulnerable Storm Queen
Core: Magnanimous Magnificence
Formula: Code of the Titanic Siegebreaker
Strength: S
Dexterity: D
Endurance: S
Intellect: A
Speed: E
C.O.D.: Designated Lord fell, shortly destroyed after [DATA ENCRYPTED].
Description:
A member of the Whirling Storm Knights, Grand Blue was created when the Storm Queen came upon the remains of a Sapphire Whale King and use them as a vessel to contain the desire core of [DATA ENCRYPTED].
As the most physically imposing of the Knights, Grand Blue fought by leveraging his great size and strength, using himself as a living battering ram to destroy fortifications and foes alike, having no need for a weapon. That said, he did start wearing a suit of specially made armor after the Storm Queen showed concern for his well-being.
Grand Blue had a heart that was as big as he was strong, being delightfully friendly and charming if only a bit showy.
Would also often boast that despite not being the leader, that he was the greatest of the kaijin ever created by the Queen.
…
Like all the other members of the Storm Knights, they share a connection with the Storm Queen that was rooted in a past that had long since been buried with her name.
