***This article was written by the author himself.

(Special) Regarding Five-Attributed Cloud Qi - Last Part

The sequel of Five-Attributed Cloud Qi’s explanation based on the concept of five elements. In order to make things easier, allow me to show you the previous diagram.

The doctrine of five elements describes two cycles, a generating or creation cycle and an overcoming or destruction cycle of interactions between the elements.

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[Generating Cycle]

The idea behind the generating connections is that each element strengthens and is strengthened by another element

Fire creates Earth (flames create ashes, returning things to the soil).

Earth bears Metal (metal minerals are within the soil).

Metal enriches Water (minerals enrich water).

Water nourishes Wood (water is essential for photosynthesis in plants).

Wood feeds Fire (wood will make the fire stronger).

[Overwhelming Cycle]

The idea behind the overwhelming connections is that each element weakens and is weakened by another element

Fire melts Metal (metal will be melted down in fire).

Metal splits Wood (metal blades split wood).

Wood drains Earth (plants absorb nutrients from the soil).

Earth absorbs Water (the soil will absorb or drain water).

Water extinguishes Fire (literally, water extinguishes fire).

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Second Stage—Dual Attributes

About the second stage, Sila relied on these relationships between elements to generate stronger moves. He called those moves “Dual Generating Attributes.” Later, he encountered Dark Self and realized that this second stage could be developed further depending on the destructive relationships between elements. He called those moves “Dual Overwhelming Attributes.”

[Dual Generating Attributes]

Regarding Dual Generating Attributes, Sila would support one element with another, activating a more powerful move. Each move can be considered a finishing move. The prominent point of the generating cycle is its assisting nature, so Sila can exert the moves for a long period of time.

Fire creates Earth: Supernova

With Fire’s intensity and Earth’s instantaneity, Sila can explode his power outward, radiating a wave of energy with himself as the core.

Earth bears Metal: Genesis Beam Punch

With Metal’s firmness, Sila can compress Genesis Punch and shoot it forward. Basically, it’s a long-distance Genesis Punch.

Metal enriches Water: Hundred Victories

Tiger’s Palm and Dragon’s Fist are Tiger Dragon Qi’s simple martial moves, and a part of the metal attribute. With the help of Water’s continuous nature, Sila can use them repetitively.

Water nourishes Wood: Rippling Moon Block

The move which maintains a balance of offense and defense. With Water’s complexity and Wood’s control, Sila can generate a wall made of qi to block the opponent’s attack and counter it by using small waves of qi to attack the opponent’s acupoints.

Wood feeds Fire: Shapeless Flame

With Wood’s slowing and Fire’s heat, Sila can radiate heat as a domain and maintain it for a long period of time. The domain gradually burns and chips away at the opponent’s health points.

[Dual Overwhelming Attributes]

Sila developed Dual Overwhelming Attributes after his meeting with Dark Self, or rather it was Dark Self who invented them as he observed Sila’s Dual Generating Attributes. He comprehended the concept of the five elements in the sense that since the generating cycle exists, the same should be true for the overwhelming cycle. Regarding the overwhelming cycle, it’s using the clash of power between elements to ignite and stimulate a greater power. The overwhelming moves are more deadly than the generating moves by nature, though their downside is that they consume more energy. As a matter of fact, psychic power is the core of Dual Overwhelming Attributes, so they are more difficult to analyze.

Fire melts Metal: Crushing Sky

With Fire’s burning and Metal’s forcefulness, Sila can make the enemies kneel by using psychic power to press down on them from above while burning away their resistance.

Metal splits Wood: Surging Strike

With Metal’s simplicity and Wood’s control, Sila can send his attack power through objects (like Sila’s Weapon Subduing’s 8th style, but more powerful).

Wood drains Earth: Phantom Barrage

With Wood’s slow and Earth’s explosiveness, when Sila’s straight punch hits the target, the punch will create a number of surreal, delayed shockwaves.

Earth absorbs Water: Steel Sage

With Earth’s explosiveness and Water’s continuity, Sila empowers his attacks, hitting heavily as if his hands and feet are made of metal.

Water extinguishes Fire: Flame-Ice Dual Strike

With Water’s complexity and Fire’s activating, Sila can generate intensely hot qi in one hand and icy-cold psychic power in the other.

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That’s all for the second stage. As for the third stage, it still hasn’t gotten any screen time yet, so let’s postpone it for later.