[Status Window]
Mana (4,000/4,675) -- Qi (5,400/15,650) —Sword Force (N/A) — Power Level (72,586)— Health (31,054/36,333)
Making a declaration that he was far from finished after reviewing his decreasing stats, Zeke gradually circled Sensei Haruto like a shark smelling blood in the water.
Several arm's lengths apart, a few minutes ticked by as Zeke's steady pace remained the same, while multiple fading figures of himself began to mirror his circular movement.
Seemingly surrounded, unbothered, Haruto patiently watched without batting an eyelash. Without warning, a sharp bolt struck from his blind spot. Sensing the bronze boy's presence nearby, he prepared to use his accumulative green aura to repel Zeke's blinding strike.
Successfully defending a piercing arm thrust, Haruto quickly noticed the difference in sheer force compared to his previous electric flurry.
' Lightning Lance'
Haruto discerned Zeke's technique in just a split second as a torrent of the exact move launched from varying angles, scorching the tiled ground. With the clouds growing darker, a numbing buzz filled the air, making most of those who observed anxious.
Haruto's aura began to waver, becoming vulnerable in certain spots after being pierced numerous times in such a short span. Soon, he mixed in a frontal slide, followed by springboarding into a rising kick, simultaneously casting ignite as the concentrated flames burst from Zekes foot towards his opponent's face.
Pivoting from harm's reach, the spell roared into the sky with raindrops plummeting down in kind. Before the sensei could counter, Zeke disappeared, reappearing as he executed another lightning lance.
Interchanging from offense to defense within the blink of an eye. Maintaining this series of attacks, a multitude of his afterimages still stalked from outside, taking turns jumping into the fray.
Beginning to feel pressed, the pony-tailed man wearing a white, green-crested, double-breasted robe decided to turn it up a notch.
"Impressive. Now, how will you fare going forward?"
Staying in the Horse stance, Haruto's guide leg was slightly lifted before stomping with the magnitude of an earthquake.
Everybody watching fell to their rear while Zeke's footing was upended, immediately disrupting his rhythm.
Caught in the crosshairs, Haruto skillfully lunged at the lone boy, strangling his neck with one fell swoop as he held him in the air.
"Let's see if you can squirm your way out of my grasp this time."
Haruto taunted Zeke as his grip grew tighter, gazing into the bronze boy's wide golden eyes. Struggling to escape from his clutches, he watched on as Zeke began to lose consciousness. With their duel coming to a close, Haruto suddenly felt an impending threat that could break through his aura.
This foreboding instinct prompted him to swiftly turn his body sideways while still tightly holding on to Zeke with his left hand. Around twenty meters apart, to the sensei's surprise, the person who was attacking unprovoked near these stairs happened to be the daughter of a known acquaintance of his.
'Isn't that Bradley Zeal 's child?'
Haruto didn't have much time to reflect as a large arrow composed of flame and mana shot from her wand towards him in a fierce blaze. Leaving the man no choice, he drew a steel fan from his robe.
"Bladed Wisp."
He waved this relic elegantly as a sharp, blade-like breeze violently cut through the damp air. Entangled in a stalemate, their attacks clashed in the middle. Unable to gain traction, these conflicting elements forcefully fused, creating a deafening explosion that shook the area.
This blast caused a short intermission as the thick debris and dust slowly dispersed. Haruto was able to confirm his previous inclination, observing the young scarlet-haired and eyed woman with a mixture of peach.
" Lady Amber, I'm perplexed about what may have spurred your ire against me, but if you cease this insolent behavior, maybe we can discuss whatever troubles you amicably."
Haruto suggested. Suddenly, he found himself succumbing to a numbing pain digging into his left forearm, before combating the cause of this problem, Haruto's worldview became distorted like a water-painted canvas.
Washing away the sight of Amber, in a combination of muddy colors, along with his surroundings thereafter. He was still discombobulated as the rain heavily poured on him from the darkening clouds. With everything having reverted to reality, once again.
Empty-handed, Haruto strongly clutched at his left arm in great discomfort as the status quo had changed. He examined the bloody marks on his wrist as his entire forearm was now a deep shade of purple.
'I've somehow been poisoned.'
Haruto lamented to himself, discovering that he was not only poisoned but also put under a short illusion. Regaining his bearings, he proceeded to circulate his QI detoxify himself while he searched for Zeke's whereabouts.
However, the boy was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he witnessed the puzzled expressions left upon the candidates and outer disciples. From their outside point of view, for a whole minute, strangely enough, Haruto had remained silent and unmoving like a statue, once he scooped up Zeke.
Meanwhile, while being manhandled, Zeke gradually clawed through Haruto's protective aura, eventually breaking the skin. His grip loosened as the boy vanished after freeing himself.
"Where do you hide, boy! Don't tell me you've grown cold feet after gaining a perceived advantage over me!"
Haruto's voice reverberated so loudly that his provocation could even be heard by those who lingered below the steep summit. Soon enough, a string of lightning, followed by booming thunder, filled the clouded sky, seemingly reacting to his words.
The concrete he stood upon began to glow a bluish white light, forming an impromptu circle.
However, this raging occurrence was not the handiwork of Haruto, as his knees buckled against an unseen weight of staggering proportion.
"... Gravity field? How is he able to activate this?"
Haruto pondered in disbelief, grimacing as the gravity ensnaring him felt one hundredfold greater than average. Everybody outside the glowing circle was left unaffected. Glancing at the light pouring upward from the charred and cracked floor, the man began to piece together the chain of events that culminated in putting him into such an unforeseen bind.
"His previous attacks that I thought desperate were in fact a coordinated assault, as each move executed held a deeper purpose this entire time. Setting the stage for this exact moment."
He contemplated referring to Zeke's lightning lance, which left a deliberate amount of scorch marks embedded from his movement. This resulted in him intrinsically forming a makeshift array, which held this Stage 4 Disciple to a standstill.
Not only that, but he also realized the illusion and poison were calculated as well. His internal energy was in constant flux, where he couldn't properly channel his Qi to his inner and outer diaphragm to move outside the array.
Preoccupied with ridding himself of this potent toxin that threatened to spread throughout his body, Haruto became a sitting duck.
Caught in dire straits, Haruto stayed composed, estimating that it would only take a minute longer before he successfully detoxified himself. He remained guarded, bracing for anything that was brought his way.
" So, the board has been meticulously set! Now it all falls solely onto me to actively foil your last placed move, with my superior strength..."
He addressed the hidden Zeke, becoming deadly serious for the first time since they crossed fists. On cue, the hairs on the back of Haruto's neck stood on end, directing his dull grey eyes towards the stormy sky.
He equipped his steel fan. Clueless, those who spectated eventually caught wind as they peered through the heavy rain that showered them, with utter shock.
They noticed that the spreading clouds were now shaping into one huge lump. Levitating above, emerging from the center, a completely electrified figure lit up the dim skies, absorbing the many bolts of lightning that now danced all around Zeke. This advanced technique was named Elemental Raging Bolt.
"Impossible!"
Haruto exclaimed as Zeke sent a voice transmission to him,
'Checkmate'
Fully charged, instantaneously, Zeke burst forth faster than the speed of light, delivering a thunderous blitz aimed at Haruto. Obliterating the concrete into dust within the Gravity Field, a delayed erupting crackling boom sounded, splitting the eardrums of most who looked on while trembling, barely avoiding the consequential aftermath.
The lone admission building and the thick cemented tiles were left in shambles, uprooted and smashed into a discarded pile that spanned across the entire perimeter. Some dislodged themselves from underneath the wreck.
The rain ceased as the sun rays shone from the now cloudless sky. At the apex of this chaos, a crater around 40 meters deep smoked out a stack of dirt and rocks, resembling a chimney. The destroyed environment still sang a tune of destruction.
Being the first to snap out of their bewilderment, the Martial Alliance guards sprinted towards the crater.
" Sensei Haruto!"
They both yelled with an echo, receiving no word from Haruto in return. Still unable to see clearly, through the dense smog, the pair sensed someone as a murky figure leaped in front of them from the crater.
Initially relieved, their mood quickly soured as the bronze boy knelt, clearly exhausted instead of the expected sensei. Outrage, the two drew their blades from their scabbards, ready to apprehend Zeke while he haggardly checked his depleted stats unannounced to them.
[Status Window]
Mana (322/4,675) -- Qi (158/15,650) —Sword Force (N/A) — Power Level (72,586)— Health (21,543/36,333)
" Withdraw your weapons!"
A voice bellowed as the Sensei hurdled outside confinement shortly after. His hair and clothes were in an understated disarray, but compared to Zeke, he still managed to appear energized.
[Scout]
Allias: (Haruto Namgung) -- Mana (N/A) -- Qi (22,144/33,200) —Sword Force (N/A) — Power Level (91,438)—Health (53,566/64,337)
"But Sensei Haruto, this terrorist must pay for his actions."
" That's funny, I failed to realize when your authority suddenly usurped my very own."
Haruto coldly replied as the guards sheathed their blades in a hush, daring not to seem insubordinate. He put his sights back on the bronze boy who gradually rose to his feet.
" Tell me, why at the very last moment did you choose to avoid our confrontation? Don't tell me you'd felt pity towards me?"
Haruto asked with mixed emotions, knowing he should've been severely injured for his carelessness. Prepared to sacrifice an arm to protect his life, on the wake of impact, he was made aware Zeke diverted his full force towards the mountain top, rather than directly at him.
" To be honest, the reason isn't all that complex, instead of pity I just thought that it'll be best if I didn't push my luck any further than I've already had."
Listening, Haruto found merit in his assessment. Thinking back, he had surely planned to unleash a countermeasure that would've sent Zeke's head flying from his shoulders. Amidst their conversation, an elated yell momentarily disrupted them.
" Zeke!"
Reaching the peak. Out of nowhere, a group of familiar comrades called out to him, barely able to catch their breath. Zeke smirked as he addressed Haruto,
" Besides, I already achieved what I initially sought out to do. With a couple of minutes to spare at that."
Flabbergasted, Haruto understood the meaning behind Zeke's actions that seemed unhinged in folly. Momentarily distracted by this boy's disturbance, he rechecked his internal clock, confirming that only two minutes remained. Coming to terms with the fact that he was made to dance in the palm of his hand, the instant he deactivated the Gravity Field.
"Indeed, you have."
Haruto expressed a rare smile as he found himself mesmerized by this boy's talent, cunning, and grit at such a young age. Yet his newfound favorable impressions became irrelevant as an imposing cultivator flew in from above, landing with an authoritative machismo that undoubtedly belonged to one man and one man alone.
"Greetings, Martial Leader Rayden!"
Haruto bowed as those around followed suit, including Zeke.
" Haruto, what is the meaning of this discrepancy?"
Rayden belted, demanding an explanation.