Liang continued his assault, the Zhi nu whizzing around and flashing by Zhao, again, again, and again. Despite the speed, Zhao's eyes move around, following the Zhi nu with his eyes, or rather, attempting to. It was quick, quick enough that even he had trouble. Unsatisfied with his results, Liangiang would swing his arm back, the end of the Zhi Nu going with it. Before throwing his hand forward, and sending the Zhi nu’s end forward, Zhao leaped to the side, avoiding the strike. He would soon jump back. However, his opponent was unrelenting. Liang begins swinging his weapon around once again, which Zhao narrowly dodged. Jumping back once more, but Liang followed. Swinging his weapon once more, to the same result. Liang clicked his tongue, as he rushed toward Zhao, leading the monk to prepare himself. However, even so, he was caught by a kick to his neck, sending him flying away, bounding over the waters of the Amazon, which surrounded the manor. By the time Zhao had stopped himself. He found himself on the roof of one of the Metropolis’ many buildings. However, his brief respite was ended as Liang rushed to follow him once more, reaching the building in a matter of seconds, before launching the Zhi Nu at his opponent once more. However, Zhao dodged once again, though narrowly.

“He's no slouch. I'll need to do better than that if I'm gonna take him out. I'll avoid hitting the buildings in the area.”

The chain whip retracts once again. Liang grasps the chain, before quickly launching it once more. Though it doesn't reach nearly as far. Its movements are swift, much more so than before. Zhao, as his eyes move around, takes notice. As a blue glow began to build around him once again. Soon, taking shape as what resembled a blue flame, a Qi barrier formed around Zhao's body. Liang redirected his attack once more. Zhao was quick to put his Dao in front of him, in an attempt to stop his attack. Something that seemed successful, as the chain whip was stopped in its tracks… However

“Fool… Preemptively beginning a defence. that will prove to be your undoing.”His opponent stated, his words dripping with confidence.

As Liang swiped his hand in the opposite direction, Zhao’s eyes darted to his right to track it. He would soon move his blade, the Zhi Nu’s direction changed, and it wrapped around his dao. It was then and only then that he realized his blunder.

“What?! Was that his plan?”

Using his blade as an anchor, Zhao grasped the chain, before Yanking it, pulling Liang toward him from the other end of the roof. It was only after this that he sheathed his blade, putting his weight on his left leg, he pushed it forward, bending it. While his right moved backward, straightening. By the time Liang prepared to move out of the way, it was much too late.

“Guo Art: 30 Destructive Strikes!”

Zhao began to move his hands, striking all over Liang's body, with his palms, the surprisingly powerful strikes, knocked the wind out of Liang. However, Zhao was not done just yet, continuing his unrelenting storm of strikes. A few moments later, the lightning quick strikes stopped for a moment, at the least, until Zhao changed his stance, placing his weight on his back leg, and lifting his front, before launching a knee into Liang’s stomach, sending him bounding off. However, the man twisted midair, his feet landing on the window of a skyscraper behind him. The glass not even shattering. As Liang looks down, he notices the Santanda on the street pointing at him. Chattering begins between them as some look in the direction of the building he formerly stood on.

“Quie Es ese Hembre?!”(Who Is That Man)

“Porida estar Relocian can las ataques?!”

Liang looked down at them with an expression of apparent disinterest. Within a few moments, he decided to attempt his own attack. He began to dash up the building’s walls. Zhao leaped across the road, taking the attention of all those below. Before landing on the building, with the very same precision, leaving the window, once again, unbroken. Zhao gave chase, running up the wall, following. Liang glanced down, taking notice of his opponent, he leapt off the roof, as he backflipped Zhao, following him with his eyes, would speed up, rushing across the glass panels to reach his height, before jumping off as Liang did. And soon, within a split second, Liang reached into his side, grasping his Jian, at the same time, Zhao drew his Dao.

As they flew toward one another, the two put their blades forward, in an attempt to cut one another, but. Their blades simply clashed between them, with a loud clang emitted. As the two pushed against one another, sparks flew as contact continued. Even so, neither could move, their blades were locked against one another. Rather than continue, the two eventually pulled back and began to fly throughout the city, from road to road. They flew at each other once again, and clashed. Again, again, and again. The light of their respective auras streaked through the sky. Neither could make any progress. Once again, the two would clash, it was only this time that Zhao would speak.

“You tell me not to assume you're aligned with them--yet here you are fighting me, And you haven’t explained why?!”

Liang’s expression becomes all the more intense with his statement, as his eyebrows curve, and his face turns to a scowl. Before yelling in return.

“Why would that be important to you?! And either way, for my cause, the ends justify the means!”

His venom laced voice made it clear... He did not intend to tell him. The two pushed against another once again. As the light around them began to flare out, as they grunted with effort, until they were both forced back. The force alone pulverized the surrounding buildings, sending rubble cascading into the street, as a dust cloud that stretched for miles came afterward. The people below, formerly standing and watching, scrambled away as the debris fell, shielding their faces from the cloud of dust. Even so, the two remained undisturbed, perhaps, uncaring about the effects. Their gazes stayed focused on one another, as they went into close range, launching swipe after swipe, dodging or stopping their opponent’s attacks, a clear display of their skill. Though, even as this took place, the destruction continued to build, the force that flew out from the constant clashes destroying the area around them. Until what felt like minutes later, they locked blades once more.

“What ends justify supporting a group such as this?!”

As Zhao shouted, his opponent began to grow more annoyed. How many times was he going to ask this question?! Liang shouted back.

“If you want to know so bad, then fine! I don't support them!! They are but a means to my end. The only reason I'm with them is that they're helping make a cure for my sister's disease."

“Disease…? Did you become a proto-human through encountering Protomis then? That's very rare… Protomis deposits are uncommon nowadays.”

“No-- She's a proto-human as well…”

Zhao’s face remained neutral for some moments, until his expression changed, eyes widened with his surprise.

“Then-- She Must have…”

“That's correct-- Velox Mortem.. The disease that not even Proto-Humans can fight against"

Part B

2011.

The civil discourse had finally grown too much, though suppressed during the cold war, the Imperial Government of the Zhuhong Dynasty hoped to grab influence across the planet from both the USSR and NAF. The Propaganda against both states helping to keep it together… However, as the damages from the third world war continued to increase, cracks began to form. Now, however, small rebellions began to break out. Such as that in the city of Shanghai. The federalists had since taken over the city. Though, it was after a hard fought battle, one that damaged the city greatly, leaving many in a less than good situation.

One such sat within a run-down building on the side of the road. Within the remains of what looked to be the living room, there sat a boy, with short, rather wild black hair, kneeling at the side of a young girl, with her eyes closed, skin looking rather pale. Her twin-tailed black hair reached her shoulders. Though, the bottom of her body was covered in a blanket. Eventually, however, her eyes did begin to open, her large yellow orbs looked directly at the one above her. Though her gaze only flickered, opening and closing as he scooted somewhat closer, though, he stayed a few feet away. There he was, Liang Yu. He took a closer look at his sister, he’d taken notice of her worsening condition... At this point, she could barely move, laying down in a cold sweat. And yet, he could do nothing

“Cuifen… First we lose mom and dad... Now you too? This war...this war caused all of this.”

As if on cue, a deep voice echoed through the room.

“I suppose one could say that. Yet another child displaced.”

Liang’s gaze went over his shoulder, as he took notice of a rather tall man in the doorway. Wearing a trench coat, the collar covering his face up to the base of his nose and a fedora on his head. Otherwise, his features were hard for the boy to observe. As he stepped forward, Liang swiftly got onto his feet, putting his hands up in front of him, and planting his feet into the ground. Into what was a rather rough-looking equivalent of his current form.

“Who are you?!”

“Just a doctor passing by…I see that this girl is having some problems.”

Liang began to relax as this was said, beginning to lower his hands. Even so, he kept his mistrustful gaze on the man… Given what some had tried these past few days, he wasn’t exactly

“A doctor...In that case, do you think you could do anything for my sister?”

“We could try, Perhaps.”

The man extended a gloved hand toward the boy.

“All you need to do is follow me.”

“Follow Him... Should I really?”

Liang looked back at his sister, and then toward the self-proclaimed doctor. As he begins to slowly, but surely, take steps toward him.

“Fine... I’ll come with you.”

“Alright then, let’s get moving.”

Unbeknownst to him, under that collar was a sinister smirk. The man lowly chuckled... Snapping out of his thoughts, having finished his explanation, Liang opened his eyes. Keeping his venomous gaze focused on Liang.

“They will help provide a cure… That's what I care about, I don't plan on staying with them.”

Zhao shook his head.

“Do you really think you can trust them?! You should know what they do, why do you believe that lying is beneath them?”

“Why should I believe you more than I believe them, Huh?!” His opponent yelled in response.

Zhao went silent, as it wasn’t a question he could ignore. But, he quickly came up with a response.

“I understand why you'd ask that- but think about this for a second- have they ever given you any updates on your sister's Con-”

“Shut up!!!”

Liang charged forward as he yells, the light around him morphing. Until his aura has changed into something undeniably resembling the head of a Long, along with some of its neck.

“Chuojiao Art: Azure Dragon's Cyclone Fang!”

As Liang flew forward, he lifted his left leg as if doing a high kick, before bringing it right toward Zhao’s neck. Taking notice of the attempt, Zhao quickly dodged the attack, weaving to his right… However, it would prove to be a ruse, as, within seconds, Liang twists his waist, his left foot moving away, with his right second coming from the other side, hitting him directly in the neck, knocking the wind out of Zhao. Soon after, the blue glow around him, becoming less pronounced. A surprised expression paints his features.

“Damn!”

“It seems that I was able to hit a QI funnelway on my second strike-- I suppose I was lucky... That could have easily been anywhere else.”

Liang Swiftly placed his Jian away, before pulling out yet another weapon, a polearm with large steel branches. Attached to said branches were razor sharp blades. He held it in front of him, as he focused his gaze on his opponent. Tuning out the area around him. All the while, Zhao did the same.

“That limits my ability to get into close range...It’s a well-forged weapon. With my Qi field weakened- I doubt I’d be safe in close range. I need to get it out of his grasp.”

“Guo Art-- Pressure Strike!”

Zhao shoved his hand forward, as a wave of air rushed forward, forcing Liang away from him, his hair flowing in the small gusts that came soon after. However, Zhao did not stop there, throwing his palm forward time and time again, Until he lost his grip.

“Air Pressure Jet... He must be at least a Mid-Tier if he has that amount of strength... If it wasn’t obvious enough before. Though, that seems to be a stronger jet than normal." Liang mumbled.

Liang then reached to his side, and, between his fingers, were lines of string. As he threw his arms up, out of his pocket came sharp, straight blades, the size of his fingers. Koga Ryu Shurikens. The string itself connected to the weapons. He began to swing them around his body. While Zhao prepared himself, putting his blade in front of him. Elsewhere, Three other Proto-humans bounded across the city. Corde, Bijan, and Kazimir flew in the direction of the battle, at first; they were silent, until one of them decided to break the silence.

“I’d hoped to have kept this battle in there-- though I suppose this was bound to happen.”

Taking note of this, Arctaius looked at Bijan as he spoke… While tempted to say something less than friendly, he decided not to.

“Agreed. This’ll be hell on our mission if they try to make us pay for this or something.” Arctaius responded.

Bijan deadpanned as he heard this.

“That… Isn’t what I meant.. Nevermind.”

Kazimir glanced at Bijan as he finished speaking, before turning his gaze forward.

“Lafeyah, right? You told us that you were being controlled by one of the 4 apostles earlier... Can you tell us some more about that?”

“But of course-- She has abilities similar to what one would call an “Esper” from my knowledge. I’m not nearly the only one to be controlled in that way.”

Kazimir nodded.

“In that case.. If we do reach our goal of getting to wherever the Kaemerge headquarters may be... then I will take her on… I need to gauge my progression. “

While all this happened, however, yet another threat brewed far removed from the city. Within a well lit room. Noticeably similar to the one Bijan and Valiego formerly were in. There lay a group of men, many of whom wore the Kaemerge uniform, The persons of interest, however, were at the very front.

“Lord Ito-- We’ve lost Control Of Bijan Lafeyah. And those 4 look like they’re going to cause more than a bit of issues for us. What is our course of action?”

As the womanly voice spoke, movement finally came from the one at the very front of the room, as he raised his head. It was an older man, with a small beard covering his chin. His brown locks were tied into a ponytail. His clothes were rather traditional, a hakama. Though an uncommon color, it was red. On his left hip was a long sheathed blade. A weapon known as a Nodachi. This man was in fact, the 1st apostle, Minoru Ito. His expression was neutral at first glance, though, one could see how annoyed he’d truly been, the longer one looked at him. He sat in silence for a moment, contemplating his next plan of action.

“Myron - Take our men to the city center and prepare to combat them if needed… They have proved to be a threat to us. Dr. Tsumetai, go as well, And bring Project Aegis with you.”

Myron, the one mentioned, was A man wearing a black cloak, his black hair slicked back. As the apostle spoke, he looked at Minoru with his orange orbs. And then, at the one known as Dr.Tsumetai, a woman wearing thick glasses, her red hair touching her shoulders, with well kept bangs at the front of her head. Though her expression was neutral at first, it soon changed, as a downright unsettling, ear-to-ear grin creeped onto her face.

“But Of Course-- I’d never turn down a chance to use my creation.”

As she turned on her heel and began to exit, many of the men within the room moved to follow her. Myron followed her with his eyes. Until she cleared the doorway. It was only then that he would look back toward Minoru.

“That Tsumetai and her “experiments”, downright unsettling… Anywho- I’m on it, Boss…”

Myron turned and exited, with all of the remaining men following him. Leaving Minoru in the room alone. He sits, planting his Nodachi into the floor, as he closes his eyes.

“If things escalate past this point, I may even have to involve myself…”

To Be Continued