Nothing could have prepared the men for what they saw when they entered.
When they opened the door at the bottom, they stepped into a vast chamber of dark stone. Torches lined the walls, casting flickering light.
On the floor lay a body…
Kai Zhao, motionless in pooled blood.
Next to him knelt Weilong Zhao, screaming, blood on his hands. Laughter erupted from a tall slender man with long black hair, "such a fool! When you signed that contract, you gave your life to ME boy!" The man's sinister laughter filled the entire room.
"Xuanming…" Haitao grumbled.
He opened his cold evil eyes and his gaze met Haitao, and Liwei's, "ahh, it appears we have guests. Weilong, if you would be so kind as to kill them."
Weilong moved, forcibly, like he didn't want to, his eyes were blank, his tears had dried. He rushed at Liwei, swinging his fist, but they weren't really his. Liwei grabbed him, trying to peer into the soul of the man that killed the closest thing to a father he ever had.
"Kill me…" Weilong muttered.
"...Please"
Liwei's eyes widened, he was torn, this couldn't be the same man who killed the Abbot. "What happened to you?" Liwei shook him, trying to get answers out of him.
"I have no reason to live on anymore; my hands are stained with the blood of my family… kill me." Weilong said.
Liwei punched him, "it's all your fault. You don't get to be like this, I should be the one who is empty, not you!" Liwei punched him once, twice, until Haitao pulled him back.
Liwei look, Haitao tried to make Liwei come to his senses, "the man below you, that man has no will to fight anymore, that man is broken. He must have been controlled to murder his own father."
"His suffering is greater than ours…"
Tears streamed down Weilong's face as he lay on the floor, "when I killed the Abbot, I did not know he was my uncle. Had I known, I would have never done anything, I would have brought him home…"
Weilong covered his eyes, hiding his tears, "even in death my uncle forgave me."
"Now I have nothing." Weilong said.
"Useless tool, it seems you boys have broken my only toy. No matter, I'll just handle it myself," The room seemed to shrink as his presence took over.
Xuanming summoned a scythe that had an ominous aura to it.
Haitao stepped in front, "if you're not up for it don't worry, I'll put that bastard in his place."
Haitao dashed forward, summoning blades in both hands as he ran,
"Shīluò zhī Rèn: Void Stepper!" Haitao disappeared and reappeared in multiple areas across the battlefield at random, slashing the air with powerful attacks of pure ether. It kept Xuanming on the defensive, cutting him and preventing him from attacking.
Xuanming grew irritated. He waited, focusing on Haitao's Ether. The moment Haitao appeared, a portal opened behind him, Xuanming grabbed him and dragged him through, throwing him into the ground.
Haitao got up, but before he could stand up fully, Xuanming swung his scythe downward, it dug like a snake into Haitao's shoulder, Xuanming ripped it out, shredding Haitao's skin. Blood poured from his shoulder. But he didn't give up.
"Shīluò zhī Rèn: Dance of The Luminous Blade!"
The sword on his hip unsheathed itself, glowing a yellow, attacking Xuanming. It was powerful, each strike forcing Xuanming back.
Xuanming forgot completely about Haitao.
Gritting his teeth, Haitao gripped his swords tight, water pooling underneath Xuanming, he cut upward, slashing Xuanming chest with both blades. The water reacted, in unison with Haitao, it shot Xuanming into the air, and then surrounded him, trapping him in a bubble of water. Haitao leapt into the air, staring at Xuanming from above.
"Shīluò zhī Rèn Water Form: Sharkbait!"
Haitao started to descend, spinning furiously. He made contact with Xuanming, cutting through the bubble of water, bursting it, he kept spinning, his blades cut Xuanming at a high speed, and then Haitao stomped on Xuanming chest, sending him flying into the ground.
Haitao landed easily on the ground, walking up to Xuanming. Xuanming started to laugh. "It's over for you now, I didn't want to resort to this, but you brought this upon yourself."
The ground started to shake, Haitao sensed danger and dashed all the way back.
"You're right to back up Haitao Zhou!" Xuanming yelled.
He stood up fully now, spreading his arms, staring at them he laughed hysterically, "AZEKURA, I CALL UPON YOUR POWER, I AM YOURS!"
His eyes glowed a violent purple. His body began to change, growing, warping. His legs fused and vanished as his form stretched into something serpentine. He laughed as he grew, his massive body nearly scraping the ceiling.
"Ah shit," Haitao muttered. "I'm gonna need some help guys. From both of you. Liwei, you're going to have to get him up."
Haitao drew the serpent's attention, sprinting and slashing from a distance. Corrupted Ether poured from the creature's mouth in violent blasts, each one narrowly missing him.
Liwei stood. Haitao couldn't do it by himself. And this looked like a job for more than two people.
He hauled Weilong to his feet. "You've suffered enough," Liwei said sharply. "But lying on the ground waiting to die won't change anything. That thing is your enemy."
Weilong's fist clenched. His breathing was ragged, spiraling, panic twisting into fury. Flames bled from his skin as he roared, his thoughts burning away until only rage remained.
"Fine," Weilong growled. "I'll fight. But I land the final blow."
Liwei grinned, "ready when you are."
Just then, General Wen Siyuan stumbled into the room, Liang Zhao following close behind. General Siyuan held his shoulder, blood spilling from it, his eyes widened at the sight before him, "I-I-is that Xuanming?"
Liang glanced over to see Liang and Kai Zhao's body, "oh my god…"
Weilong's jaw clenched, "I'm sorry brother, I couldn't protect father. I wasn't strong enough." Weilong stared at the ground, too ashamed to look his brother in the eye, "but I swear I'll make that bastard pay. I swear." Heat rose from Weilong's body, as if it would ignite any second now.
"I can help, my technique Final Spark is powerful enough to stun and damage him, if you guys give me enough time, I'll be able to charge it. Then you guys can deliver the finishing blow, your wind and flame should be powerful together." General Siyuan said.
Tears started to flow from Liang's face, Siyuan put his arm around him, "we have to be strong and defeat our enemy young master. It's what the Emperor would want us to do."
Liang wiped the tears from his face, "you're right Siyuan. Thank you. If I freeze that bastard in place, I think the swordsman over there should be able to deliver a destructive blow. But I'll also need time."
The group nodded.
Liwei and Weilong sprinted in different directions, Liwei caught up to Haitao, quickly explaining the plan and then split off.
They all moved in different directions, attacking the serpent while the two magic users stayed back, charging their energy to finish this.
The war between Ishu Chu and Ihuoin Mechu was nearing climax.