The village night was filled with panic and destruction. However, the defeat of the first group of attackers by an unknown young man forced them to retreat in disarray. At a hidden base deep within the wilderness, the bruised and battered remnants of the attackers knelt before their commander, their faces filled with fear.
The commander sat on a throne made of the skulls of wild beasts, his aura so thick it made the air heavy. He was a powerfully built man with a scar that ran across his face. His name was Vald, a commander known for being both cruel and efficient.
"So," Vald's voice boomed, "you, a team of my elite warriors, were defeated by a mere boy?"
"Forgive us, Commander Vald," one of them trembled. "The boy has a strange power. He created illusory shadows, and his attacks... his attacks combined two opposing energies, hot and cold. We have never seen anything like it."
Vald's face darkened. "Two opposing forces? That is a phenomenon that should be impossible. The boy is an anomaly. I never expected to encounter such a strange thing in this remote place."
Vald closed his eyes for a moment, processing the information. He then opened his eyes, and a flash of fire ignited within them. "You, you deserve to die for disappointing me," he said coldly. "But, I will give you a second chance. Listen carefully."
Vald stood up, and his aura exploded. He was a powerful warrior at a mid-four-star level, far surpassing the level of his soldiers. "The boy, Zego, according to my analysis, his current strength is at a high-two-star level. He is a rare genius. He cannot be defeated with a small team. We need unimaginable force."
Vald ordered over 1,000 attackers, consisting of the best warriors under his command, to prepare. "Tomorrow night, we will attack that village. This time, no one will survive. Capture the boy alive, and kill the old man who is with him. I will lead the assault myself," he commanded.
The next day, Zego and the Elder returned to the village to help the villagers recover from the previous night's attack. Zego felt an immense exhaustion, but he kept working, helping to clear rubble and repair homes. He felt responsible for what had happened.
The Elder watched Zego calmly. "You don't have to feel guilty, kid. This is not your fault. They will be back. They won't give up so easily."
"I know, Elder," Zego replied. "But I won't run. I will protect them."
The Elder smiled. "Good, that's the answer I expected from you."
Night fell. The atmosphere in the village became tense again. The terrified villagers gathered in the town square, seeking protection. They knew the attack was coming again. And they were right.
From the forest, a deafening roar was heard. Over 1,000 attackers, led by Commander Vald, stormed the village. They were like an unstoppable tidal wave, trampling everything in their path.
Zego and the Elder stood at the village entrance, waiting for them. The Elder instructed Zego to focus on protecting the villagers, while he himself would face Vald.
"Zego, there are too many of them," the Elder said. "Focus on defense, don't attack."
However, Vald, with his sharp vision, spotted Zego. "I won't let you, old geezer!" he roared, then attacked Zego with incredible speed. Zego, who was unprepared, was sent flying.
"Zego!" the Elder shouted, his anger flaring. He attacked Vald, but Vald managed to evade him.
"I will kill that boy right in front of your eyes!" Vald shouted, then he attacked Zego again.
Zego, whose resolve was firm, used his Wuji Step to evade Vald's attack. He created many shadows, confusing Vald. But Vald, with his far superior experience, knew which one was real. He attacked the real Zego, and Zego, who was exhausted, couldn't avoid it. Vald's punch hit Zego with devastating force, making him cough up blood and sending him flying. Zego lay on the ground, his body covered in wounds.
Vald smiled. "You are that old geezer's disciple. But you are too weak. You don't deserve to have this power."
Vald then walked closer to Zego, preparing to deliver the final blow. Zego, on the brink of death, couldn't move. He could only watch as Vald prepared to kill him.
But, in his desperation, Zego felt something strange. He felt his Aura and Qi energy churning. He remembered the Elder's words: 'Taichi Breathing is not something you do, but something you are.' He remembered the faces of the children in the village, their smiles. He must not give up.
In the last moments before Vald's punch hit him, Zego gathered all his remaining energy, activating his Wuji Step to a much higher level. The shadows he created were no longer just illusions. They radiated real energy.
"What is this?!" Vald shouted, shocked. "The illusions... they're real?!"
The shadows did not remain still. They moved, and they all attacked Vald simultaneously. One shadow used the Yin-Yang Fist, another used a kick. The shadows attacked Vald from multiple directions, overwhelming him.
Vald, who had not expected this, tried to defend, but he couldn't. The punches from the shadows felt real, and they hit him with incredible force. The real Zego, who was still lying on the ground, gathered all his strength, then he attacked Vald with his final punch.
The punch hit Vald with the combined force of Zego and his shadows. Vald, unable to withstand it, coughed up blood, then fell to the ground. He was on the verge of death.
However, Zego himself was also spent. After his final attack, his body couldn't handle it. He felt all his energy had been completely drained. He went still, then fell unconscious.
The Elder, who saw all this, came running. He swept away all the remaining attackers with a single wave of his hand, creating a powerful vortex of wind. The attackers, terrified, fled.
The Elder walked closer to Zego, lifted his battered body, and then carried Zego back to the temple in the gorge. His face was filled with both pride and worry. He knew that Zego had succeeded, but the price he had to pay was very high. A long journey of healing now awaited them.