Solar Blood Masters

A flash of vibrant light split the tranquil sky above Nestoria as the Skybridge Dais activated. Raphael burst forth in a rush of wind that had the rainbow-hued clouds scattering. On his back, perched gracefully, was Thienika. She had her lanky legs crossed as she held her staff; a picture of regal indifference.

Below, an enchanting vista unfolded: verdant fields teeming with delicate flowers, serene jade-colored ponds reflecting a perfect azure sky. It was a realm with potent, yet soothing energies, unlike that treacherous swamps they'd left behind.

Thienika glanced around. "That Qi Hawk… to think he created something this serene…?" she mumbled with amusement as Raphael navigated through the floating structures with ease.

He noticed a questioning gaze upon him and smirked. "I know. He surprised me too, Grandma. I didn't expect a 'Marble World' to be this beautiful."

"Hmm. That mischievous little fledgling… always so brash and eager for confrontation…"

"Grandma, you knew him when he was… small? That must have been millions of years ago."

"Ahahaha, indeed. Even Emperor Calamities, start as fragile hatchlings, impatient, ambitious, and full of grand ideas. He often boasted, saying one day, the skies and the realms beyond it would bow before his might. To think he's achieved it? Truly wondrous."

Then, with a gentle touch of her staff, she drew a magnificent scene in the air that mirrored that memory she'd shown him.

Raphael watched with a growing curiosity and a smile as a smaller Qi Hawk zoomed across her branches, bumping into ancient runes and nearly causing a forest fire from his reckless wingspan.

It was indeed a magnificent spectacle.

Then it faded.

"He doesn't seem the type to allow a bull into his haven, not the one I knew. And one with your potency, Raphael, well. He despises your kind."

"Ahahaha, you're right, Grandma. But… I did him a favor. You see…"

As they continued their journey, Raphael recounted his daring escapade into the Bronze Serpent Emperor's domain and the bargain he'd struck with Qi Hawk to retrieve that precious 'Void Eye'.

He'd left out a few gory details like his battle with Lu Lingxue and the feast. After all, this wasn't something a kind grandma needed to hear.

Thienika listened intently. "Such arrogance that hawk possesses. I suppose even old age hasn't fully tempered his ambitions. Hmm, what is his plan?"

She then paused, her eyes narrowed for a moment, "So it was you who gave that arrogant snake a beating? I would have love to witness such a spectacle."

"I sure gave him a taste of my hooves! He even lost his tail! It was hilarious, you should've seen the look on his faces." Raphael burst out laughing.

"Hohoho. Good! Good! This is how a true Calamity should act!"

"Right, Grandma?!" He smiled at her approval and then slowed his flight speed a bit as they arrived in range of his Citadel. He pointed his massive head towards a golden glow below. "Look! It's ahead. That's the Golden Prism Citadel."

BOOM!

Suddenly a large explosion had both bull and tree shifting their gaze. Below them, within a grand courtyard paved in white marble, was a scene that ignited Raphael's curiosity.

Two figures moved in a blur of green and purple! The sound of blades clashing and thunder echoing came.

"Is that…"

Raphael watched from above. He recognized them instantly.

"It's Little Lu, and… That princess! What are they doing?"

It was Lu Jade and Qi Fenwei.

They were locked in battle, but it wasn't the clumsy strikes of drunken thugs nor frantic swings.

No, these movements were a ballet of death, an exhilarating display of skill and potent essence unleashed.

WHAM!

Lu Jade bent his body backward with an unnatural grace, barely dodging the descending arc of Qi Fenwei's 'Archon'. Its orange eye flickered as her blade cleaved a chunk out of the pillar Lu Jade had used as leverage moments before.

He retaliated instantly.

"Solar Beam!"

A blinding green blast shot forth from his 'Jade Sun Cycle'.

"Hmph, the audacity!"

Qi Fenwei reacted instantly, her reflexes were as honed as any sword master's as she repositioned 'Archon' and met the incoming attack head on.

WHOOSH!

The eye upon the blade dilated then the beam was consumed!

"Redirect!" She swung the blade downwards, sending a crescent of emerald energy towards Lu Jade.

Lu Jade didn't panic. Instead, he laughed with a terrifying arrogance that had those watching from a distance yelling out in amazement, "Such audacity! He's facing that slash head on?!"

"Come on, bird brain! Let's see what your cheap borrowed techniques can do!"

He slithered toward the attack, but just as the emerald energy was about to shred him.

"Limiter On!"

His serpentine form shrank! Now he was a slender vine with scales no larger than a pinky finger. With effortless grace, he weaved over the blade and flicked his tail at her face.

"Limiter OFF!"

And in that instant, his tail enlarged, slamming into her with bone-jarring force.

"ARGHHH! This little…!" Qi Fenwei was sent flying into a nearby jade pillar. Cracks radiated outward from the point of impact, as her armor glowed, absorbing the shockwave.

"You're quite sturdy! But I'm just getting warmed up." Lu Jade coiled around another pillar and chuckled, feeling the potent essence she'd accidentally infused his domain. Such a wondrous gift from a worthy opponent!

Qi Fenwei landed, sheathed her blade 'Archon', and then unleashed 'Lullaby'

"Whisper!"

She vanished from sight.

"That technique!" Lu Jade remembered that flash, and those elegant movements from their previous encounter as he'd witnessed her humiliating his older sister. "She's trying to disrobe me!"

"Not this time! Phantom Willow Grass – Crystallization!"

His entire body glowed, a brilliant emerald green aura exploded outward as the grass that adorned his scales solidified into an armor of blades and thorny protection.

He stood ready. But was it enough?

WHOOSH!

"Where…?"

A chilling sound, that of steel against bark, had Lu Jade frantically glancing around those shifting shadows. He felt multiple strikes across his hide. Those phantom energies were cutting, slashing, but they weren't deep, not yet!

"DIE!" She appeared behind him, but this time, her strike was different. She used the blunt side of 'Lullaby' as a hammer, aimed to smash. He was ready!

BOOM!

He raised one of his monstrous Phantom Willows as a shield. "Willowing Hands!" It took the blow.

"Damn! His defense…! That grass… It's hardened!" QI Fenwei yelled. She was baffled and couldn't hold back her insults "Damn snake! Why won't you just yield?!"

This time, however, there was a tinge of respect lacing her words, "Such strength…"

"You have to make me, bird!"

He launched an emerald flame straight at her location but it was no use.

SLASH!

She cleaved his flames in half and laughed at his futile attempt to overpower her, but then…

"She… She's coming back down!" He noticed a whirlwind forming. Those razor sharp blades were circling above. This was a deathly melody!

"Lullaby – Tornado Song!"

The pressure had him hissing with dread. "I won't survive a direct hit!"

He instinctively called upon his Sun Cycle.

"SHIELD!"

A golden shield flared before him with his essence depleted to almost nothingness, but it wasn't enough. Those slashes were ripping, tearing, It was collapsing!

His only hope?

"Limiter ON!"

His form contracted! With a speed rivaled only by those blood-sucking insects, he slithered away from his shield.

BOOM!

He was mere inches from certain death as QI Fenwei crashed through the ground in a whirl of blades and anger!

"Damn… he's too slippery!"

She rose from the crater. Her amethyst armor radiated anger now, those feathers were ruffled and her blades buzzed, for it seem she'd met an opponent worthy of her true skill. This would not be an ordinary spar anymore, she thought! This annoying emerald serpent deserved more.

Qi Fenwei was getting serious!

"Is… Is that how you want to play, damn snake?! Don't blame me, when this ends…!" She unsheathed Archon while simultaneously holding her magnificent Lullaby. Since their sparring match started, this was her first time wielding both blades simultaneous.

"I'm honored! Truly honored!" He wasn't mocking her. This escalation, it fueled his ambition. She wasn't holding back any longer. This was thrilling, a test he'd desperately craved!

Lu Jade felt a shiver of anticipation. He could sense the shift, that immense power surging. The air around her buzzed and then black lighting began to crackle along the edge of her blades.

"This… She's about to unleash her true might."

Then as the air itself darkened before his trembling gaze. He heard a chilling declaration that his heart recognized instantly.

"Black Heaven Ripper!"

Qi Fenwei's blades slashed downward and a dark, imposing God of Death, clad in a midnight black armor, materialized before them. His twin swords, as tall as an average house, dripped venomous black blood that sizzled and smoke when they touch the ground below.

This was a vision that had even the bravest bird-creatures scrambling back with cries of, "This energy is too much!"

"NO!"

"PHANTOM WILLOW GRASS – SHIELD!"

BOOM!

Lu Jade attempted to deflect this incoming attack with his most trusted technique, weaving his grasses to conjure a colossal protective wall that he hoped would withstand that incoming wave, those blades.

However, even as he felt his strength draining he knew it wasn't enough!

The Black Heaven Ripper was too powerful!

And those swords…

"I'm…" His final words, lost to those shadows.

Then as his world was about to end, a golden blur appeared, It crashed before him in a flash of might that shattered the earth!

The impact had everyone shielding their eyes because they saw an enormous golden hoof materialized from that glow. It slam against those shadowy blades! And as a bellow resonated. It shattered their arrogance.

"GOLD PRESS!"

Lu Jade gasped, for the figure that descended was unmistakable, those horns, the black wings, those eyes…

"BIG BROTHER!"

Qi Fenwei recognized her nemesis. "That BULL?!"

"Lu Jade!" Raphael spoke softly as he watched those black swords dissolving, as his hoof dug deeper and crushed the God of Death, "You okay, little buddy?"

The embrace of brotherhood, that warmth… It was as if the sun itself was shining just for them. It brought tears to Lu Jade's emerald eyes, even as his scales were being stained crimson by a familiar scent that flowed from Raphael's hide.

"Big Brother! You're back!"