Wei charged forward, swinging the staff at Old Han, Old Han raised his stick, meeting the attack head on. However, the impact was shocking, it was clear that the elders had been holding back all this while.
Old Han staggered backwards, struggling to maintain his balance but Wei was in front of him in another instant, swinging the staff again.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Wei repeatedly swung the staff at Old Han, attacking very fast and very aggressive, not even giving his opponent time to breathe.
Old Han gritted his teeth, struggling to keep up, but his Stick couldn't bear the brunt again, it broke.
Old Han's pupils constricted as he saw it, he quickly jumped backwards and placed his hand together.
Wei followed him immediately, his face stern and unsmiling.
Qi Burst!
But that did little to nothing against Wei, Wei quickly burst through it, tearing through the accumulated energy with his staff.
Old Han's face tightened as he swung his hand backwards, attempting to throw another punch, but his opponent was too strong. Wei closed the distance in a heartbeat and he grabbed Han's hand, he spun the old man around and plunged deep into the floor, face first.
Wei raised his staff, qi coiling purple as Old Han struggled up, spitting blood.
"Last chance!"
Wei growled. Old Han grinned, his hand flaring red—"Try it." Lian struck—qi blade slicing Old Han's side. He staggered, crimson pulse fading, Wei gritted his teeth as his staff slammed down, cracking Old Han's ribs.
Old Han crumpled, his breath ragged, "Run… kid…"
Miles off, Orin ran with Scar through tangled roots, his chest burning. "He's not dead," he muttered, tattoo pulsing silver.
Old Han was alone there, he could still save him. Scar wheezed, "Boss, we can't—go back…" Orin shook his head, Deity's Shard humming—cold, sharp. "I'll make it count."
Orin turned to Scar, run if I don't come back within five minutes. He turned around before Scar could talk, speeding away.
Wei raised his staff, qi gathered around it, strengthening it, he locked onto Old Han's chest.
Old Han closed his eye, bracing for the impact.
Orin's qi flared behind, closing fast. Orin spun, Shard surging, a silver arc lashed out, wilder now, splitting a boulder. Wei grunted as he started bringing the staff down, aiming for the kill.
Orin burst through the opening, his chest thudding loudly inside his chest. He saw them, the elders...but Old Han wasn't there.
Orin finally saw him, Old Han, on the floor, Wei's staff lunging towards his chest.
"Old Han!"
Orin yelled as he quickly stretched his hand, aiming it at the staff. The tattoo grew, changing again from the black colour to a silver one, dark qi surged from his hand, covering his hand up.
Then it shit forward, in one single stream, focused and very powerful, aiming for Wei.
*Clank!*
Gao suddenly appeared in front of the qi stream, blocking the attack.
Wei stopped in his tracks, his staff a few centimetres away from bursting Han's heart.
Lian eyes widened as he stepped forward. "That kid... he's got dark qi..."
Gao nodded, "he's dangerous, we must capture him by all means."
Old Han passed out, his mind not registering anything.
Orin bit his lips. He hadn't thought this thing true, how was he to save Old Han now. Old Han was about twenty feet away from him, how was he going to get past these men and grab him?
Orin gritted his teeth as he surged forward, shooting a qi stream at Gao.
Gao dodged, sneering, "Parlor tricks!" His purple fist raised high, then it came crashing down.
Orin rolled, shoving clear, his body was being propelled by an overflow of adrenaline now, this was pure energy surging through him. His hand was covered by the black tattoo now, and he swung it at Gao, knocking the elder away.
Gao gritted his teeth, that dark qi... it's sheer strength was stunning.
Lian loomed, "No more running!"
Orin didn't slow down, he was still charging towards Old Han who lay on the floor. He stretched his hand towards Lian, shooting at him again.
Lian harrumphed coldly as he deflected the attack, the qi blast cratering the earth.
Orin's Shard flared brighter, silver coating his fist now. He swung, meeting Wei's punch.
A shockwave roared—Wei slid back, eyes narrowing. Orin panted, arm trembling—Shard steadying.