Chapter 722: Jumping the Waterfall
An old legend once stated, that if a carp was to climb a certain waterfall coming from a certain mountain, they would be able to transform into a dragon at the very top of it, passing through an area referred to as the “Dragon Gate”.
This idea is often used in regards to students whenever exam season comes around, students being carp while the exams represent the Dragon Gate.
That said…I think it’d be fair to say that everyone has their own version of a Dragon Gate, that can come in a variety of forms.
A difficult life decision that would have lasting repercussions.
A comely person nobody has the guts to ask out on a date, out of fear of being either rejected or humiliated.
Or even something as simple as walking through an open door, because they’re too afraid to leave their homes.
But this leads to another question in regards to carps and their Dragon Gates.
If they know overcoming them is a good thing that makes them stronger, what will it take for them to risk the leap in the first place?
-The musings of an old coward who made the leap…and has been happily married for forty-two years since.
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∆Oh damn, looks like Zhen Li is down for the count. Took a solid knock to the ribs with that one.∆
=Well that’s a…wait…why do you sound different?=
∆Ah, yeah, trying something new.∆
=Ah…anyways, that’s a pity. I was kind of hoping the Nepherage based power-up would’ve helped to overcome the gap.=
∆Yeah, too bad. I guess we have to notify…oh hold up…you feel that? I think he’s getting a second wind.∆
=I think he is…I will admit, this is one of my favorite moments of working with kaijin.=
∆The sudden reversals they can do due to being beings of pure chaos?∆
=Precisely.=
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‘Oh fuck. Am I going to die here?!,’ Zhen Li thought to himself as he stared up at Zhen Jun Yao and the improvised spear in his hands. The searing pain of a broken rib forced him to be conscious to the fact that he was about to killed by a fellow clansman. ‘Shit! There has to be a way out of this, right?’
Thoughts of escaping, flattery, even outright betraying the Zhen Clan raced across Zhen Li’s mind as he watched Zhen Jun Yao lift the wooden spear higher, with the mere chance that any one of these plans could work.
But…as death seem to loom ever closer to Zhen Li…he realized in that moment that all of those plans were absolute bullshit.
‘Wait…if I actually went through with any of these plans…I’d just be delaying the inevitable. Worst than that, I’d be tarnishing and ruining what little honor I have in this world. What the fuck am I thinking?!’
Once Zhen Jun Yao had pulled his spear as far back as he could he physically lift it, Zhen Li’s mind raced to a thought that seemed more tolerable to his sensibilities.
‘I’d rather die than…no, fuck that idea too! I don’t want to die as a a man of honor, I want to fucking win and live as a man of honor!’
As soon as this particular thought crossed his mind, the world around him began to slow, while the voice of the weird demonic warrior possessing him at this moment began to sound a lot…louder.
…
[Dammit! Looks like I am going to have to reveal myself and take this bastard out myself.]
‘What the hell? Where-wait a minute…’
[Hopefully I can do it fast enough that…hold on…]
‘I felt stronger before, but now I’m feeling like I can keep going a lot farther and hit a lot harder…’
[What’s this?]
‘All I need is to borrow…hey, crazy fire spirit! I’m just now noticing that you’re an Aether Lord or something similar to one. I think I can take Zhen Jun Yao down. I just need to borrow a bit of your power or…whatever it is you’re doing to me! Not sure why, but I refuse to go down without fighting a little more.’
[Oh…well then…if you’re so confident that you can turn it around, be my guest. I am only here to help you out after all…so how about I lend you a little… preview?]
‘Preview? What the hell do you mean by-oh. Well…this is going to be interesting…’
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∆∆I truly am sorry for this. But please die!∆∆
∆∆Fuck off! [Steam Surge]!∆∆
∆∆What the-bah!∆∆
Zhen Jun Yao was just about to stab his makeshift spear downward and jam it at a specific point on Zhen Li’s spinal column. Ideally, stabbing at this specific point would’ve severed something that would cause Zhen Li to die quickly and painlessly.
Instead, in a complete blindside of Zhen Jun Yao’s expectations, Zhen Li released a powerful burst of aether in the form of a scalding hot steam cloud explosion that somehow knocked him away from finishing his violent deed.
After being knocked away, Zhen Jun Yao had to take a few steps back in order to regain his footing and balance. This in turn, gave him plenty of time to witness and appreciate, the thick cloud of steam that seemed to engulf Zhen Li like a fluffy layer of armor.
‘How the hell did he-wait…is that…a hole in my [Regalia]?! How?! Why?!]
Zhen Jun Yao was rendered speechless as not only did Zhen Li manage to knock him away, but he also somehow managed to inflict wounds through his [Regalia] as well as on the damn thing.
From what he could sense, Zhen Li was still only an Aether Master but…there was something extra about him that wasn’t there before…and whatever this extra thing was, it was allowing Zhen Li to treat this fight as a battle between equals and not as the one-sided slaughter that would normally occur in a battle between ranked warriors of different ranks.
∆∆What the hell was in that steam?! How the hell can a simple burst of aether eat through-wait…what the fuck am I sensing now? Wait, why am I swearing so much?∆∆
∆∆Well you’re going to be swearing a lot more in a few seconds,∆∆ Zhen Li called out with an unusual amount of confidence in his voice. When Zhen Jun Yo turned towards the source of this voice, he noticed the silhouetted form of Zhen Li still standing in the giant cloud of steam. However, as he continued to stare at the steam cloud Zhen Li kicked up, he could make out some strange pieces of armor suddenly appearing on Zhen Li’s body.∆∆lBecause I’m going to kick your teeth in.∆∆
∆∆No way…no fucking way!∆∆
As if the universe was mocking him, the steam cleared at this exact moment, revealing to Zhen Jun Yao the truth behind an awful feeling that was building in his stomach. The armor appearing on Zhen Li’s body at this moment weren’t an aether treasure or anything like that. The pieces that were appearing were signs that Zhen Li had managed to produce a [Regalia] or at least something very close to it.
Regardless of the case though, Zhen Li didn’t wait around for Zhen Jun Yao to figure it out.
[Steam Dragon Cycle Kick!]
Without even giving Zhen Jun Yao a warning, Zhen Li went on the attack.
∆∆Burn baby, burn!∆∆
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‘Oh my. Looks like the fight is getting serious…wonder if a winner will be determined before or after the calvary arrives…’
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Propelled by a burst of steam, Zhen Li launched himself forward in such a way that would allow him to land a flying kick at Zhen Jun Yao’s head.
Unfortunately, this initial kick was blocked by Zhen Jun Yao using his arms. Normally, this would be a good idea, as he could use his arms to counter the failed flying kick.
However, this wasn’t a singular flying kick to the head.
In those small moments he was airborne, Zhen Li’s legs became encapsulated in burning steam, taking the form of a pair of dragons that covered each leg with the heads being at Zhen Li’s feet.
Using the momentum provided by his first kick landing on something solid, Zhen Li used the momentary platform to switch to his other leg and land yet another kick on Zhen Jun Yao’s arms.
Neither Zhen Jun Yao nor Zhen Li would know it at the time, but this move was referred to as a “bicycle kick”.
A rain of kicks fell upon Zhen Jun Yao, each one fully enhanced by burning hot steam that seemed to seep through his [Regalia] and scorch his tender flesh.
He didn’t notice this sensation at first, only getting mildly uncomfortable within the first three kicks.
But once he notices that this strange attack of Zhen Li’s began to reach the double digits in terms of blows, he started to worry.
‘Shit…can’t…hold on…much longer!’
Needless to say, Zhen Jun Yao was incredibly miserable at this sudden reversal.
