Chapter 130: Two Boys Two Monsters

Zen ran as fast as he could. Shibi met him, running diagonally before they met, not slowing down as Shibi climbed up Zen’s body up to his shoulder.

“Here,” Shibi said before dropping his storage stone in his hand. The boy had sent the Scorch Ape to fetch it from his dorm room while he made his way to Jiahai.

He clenched it tight, the dull pain making him feel better about the turmoil of emotions I his heart. He had just founght a dear friend and had seen her killed. He could not avenge her. Could not mourn her. She had revealed herself as the enemy but it did not change the sorrow of losing her.

He bit his lips to hold the tears back for he needed to focus on helping his other friend.Entering the territory of Blackfur, he began to slow down, confused by what he saw. Strewn aroundthe place were bodies of Ragged Jackals. Zen realised that he did not recognise any of them. Neither of these dead beasts were Rizon or Blackfur.

There was a scream, which snapped him to action, making him run forward. His eyes widened when he saw his friend hanging limply from Chen Jian’s grip on his throat. Chen Jian had his broad sword at his other hand. Tears streamed from his bloodshot eyes as he stared out in horror at the beasts that were decimated and at their feet was the shattered Tamer’s Staff.

“Jiahai!” Zen screamed as he raced for them.

He passed by Po, who had coiled around some poor Jackal, stragling the life from it. He untangled as Zen came closer and striked at him but Zen did not even give him amy notice as Shibi changed shoulders and lunged to meet the snake, his body engulfed in flames.

Zen called the Zen Blade in his hands as he swung it for Chen Jian’s neck. Chen Jian threw Jiahai away like trash before he blocked Zen’s strike. He attacked the boy furiously. Jian was forced to step back as their blades produced sparks in the night whenever Zen struck and he blocked.

It did not take long for Zen’s movements to become sluggish. He almost got run through once, only dodging at the last minute and causing the blade to nick his arm. He leapt back as Chen almost beheaded him and he could not get his sword u in time to defend.

He glared at Jian as he tried to figure out how he became so tired that his blade felt so heavy in his hands. He swung it and realised that it was not exhaustion, his blade was literally heavier. He also felt his other arm that was knicked y Jian’s blade also felt a little heavier.

Zen narrowed his eyes at Jian’s sword and came to the conclusion that it was just like his Zen Blade, it probably had a hidden ability that Jian was able to use.

“I guess it is a good thing you’re here,” Jian said, his breathing a little heavy. “Now I can kill two birds with one stone.” Jian pointed his sword at Zen.

Zen looked at Jiahai and could not hel but smirk. Though his friend was in a bad condition, he had obviously pushed Jian to the full if he looked this beat up. He glared back at Jian, deciding he could not lsoe after Jiahai’s work done.

“For what you’ve done,” Zen began, as a killing intent he was radiating became stronger with each word, “I will kill you!” He shouted as the killing intent spiked.

Zen attacked! Jian blocked his strikes and countered but Zen twisted his body under and away from the deadly counters. He continued to fight, didging another lunge for his neck by leaning back. He had to grunt to raise his sword up to smack his sword away, making his own even heavier, before stumbling back.

Zen used his other hand and brought the sword up. He charged, not missing the smirk on Jian’s face as he did but Zen was about to surpri himas he used an overhead strike that easily swatted away Jian’s sword because of the extra weight, then, like a lever, Zen allowed his body to be dragged down by the Zen Blade, leaning his head forward so that the top of his head made contact with Jian’s face. Jian stumbled back, blood streaming from his nose as he had to fend off another attack.

Zen swatted his blade away again using and overhead strike and kicked him in the gut, sending him sliding back. Jian held his abdomen, catching on to what Zen was doing. He was turning an disadvantage intohis own advantage by using the heavier blade for overhead strikes that were difficult to stop.

Jian spat out a mixture of saliva and blood before he took on a stance, then for the first time, he attacked. Zen was put on the back foot. Jian’s attack not allowinghim to make anymore overhead strikes. The fight was gettingmore dangerous for him for he not only had the heavier weapon, which got even heavier when he used it to parry, but his sword also had a shorter range.

Zen knew he had to pull out his trump crd or it would be too late. With all his energy he leapt up, dodging a sweeping blade from Jian. From the air, Zen threw his blade like a spear. The blade moved too fast for Jian to completely clear and it cut his face, down one eye and even along the leg.

Jian screamed in pain as he stumbled back but Zen was not done there as he stepped on his sword, buried deep in the ground and launched himself for Jian.

“Blitz Punch!” A volley of punches throttled into Jian’s body, sending him flying away. Zen used the momentum to come over Jian as his opponent landed on his back. Jian thrust his sword out, hoping to impale him as he landed but Zen swatted the blade away using his hand in the flat side of the broad sword and delivered a punch to Jian’s face. Using his legs as leverage, Jian volted Zen up and over him.

Zen rolled through when he landed and turned around, delivering a sweeping kick that Jian avoided by disappearing in a flash of glowing white ki. “Cosmic Short Step,” Zen mouthed the move as Jian appeared a little distance away, looking exhausted.

Jian was bent over, breathing heavily. Zen knew he was closeto his limit. Jian got up and glared at Zen who just smirked at him.

“You okay, Genuis Boy?” Zen mocked. “Seems like this average boy is kicking your ass.”

Jian gritted his teeth as for the first time a killing intent rose from him. “I’ll show you,”he said before his white ki erupted from him, swirling around his body. It seemed like it wanted to take shape but could not exactly do it but Zen could still feel the fearsome power.

Jin charged for Ze and even though he faced a lot of power, Zen ran for him too. Both boys were getting nearer and nearer and for a moment, Zen could have sworn that a pair of giant eyes appeared in Jian’s ki. That was before a swirling wind appeared between the two boys before they met and launched them back where they rolled along the ground.

The violently swiling air died down to nothing. When the air vanished, Lou Shan was standing in the middle, arms folded behind her back.

“What is the meaning of this, boys?” she said, surveying the rea around.

“Chu Jiahai escaped confinement,” Chen Jian said calmly as he returned to his feet.

“That’s only because you attacked him!” Zen snapped as he also returned to his feet.

“Chu Jiahai,” Lou Shan said, looking at Jiahai lying on the ground, “You have escaped custody and attacked a fellow student. Your crimes are…”

“Chu Jiahai is innocent!” Zen said.

“What are you taking about, Boy?”

Zen dug through his persn and produced a white cylinder.

“Wait,” Chen Jian stiffened. “That’s…”

“The summoning contract between Xue Shaonu and Silicy.” Zen completed.

“What did you do to her?” Jian shouted.

“Nothing,” Zen said, ““She gave me this as proof of my words. Chu Jiahai is not the assassin.”

“Then who is?”

Zen hesitated, his hands clenched the scroll before he said, “Geyi Kun. Xue Shaonu is at her quarters… she’s dead… Geyi Kun is dead.”

“Well, you dod have the scroll.” Lou Shan said, seemingly convinced.

“I’ll take the scroll,” Jian said reaching out for it.

Zen pulled it back, close to his heart. “It’s not yours to take,” he said, a killing intenet rising from him. “Xue Shaonu gave it to me to keep safe.”

“The Boy talks the truth.” Lou Shan said before he turned to Wang Zen.

“No, I…” Jian began before he collapsed, forcing Lou Shan to catch him.

“You are hurt,” Lou Shan said, as Jian got back to his feet. “I will take you to the infirmary.” She looked at Zen and Jiahai. “I will call a healer to come here immediately. However, Chu Jiahai, you should know you are not allowed to keep this many beasts on campus. Your punishment for this will be addressd later.

“Wait,” Jian said before glaring at Zen. “You and I have tangled a few times but this is your last warning. If we meet again in battle, it will be your last.”

At that, Wang Zen’s killing intent increased three fold. It was so intense, that even Lou Shan broke out in a cold sweat from being in its presence. Po, who was making his way back to Jian stopped in his tracks, sections of his long body shuddering as he was engulfed in the killing intent. Shibi lied down on the ground, placing his hands over his head and crying softly.

Chen Jian trembled but then stopped. Something rose from him too, his potential. A cultivation base much higher than what he was now and even higher than Lou Shan emanated from him.

Lou Shan’s eyes widened in horror. These two… What are they? Are they really just two boys, or monsters?

Zen and Jian forgot about the world around them and were oblivious how their show of power was effecting everyone. At that moment, there was only Zen withstanding Jian’s impossible potential and Jian enduring Zen’s overwhelming killing instinct.

“Enough!” Lou Shan shouted, a pulse of air coming from her. “We’re leaving,” she said almost out of breat before Jian left and Zen walked to his friend.

“Jian?” Zen said as he kneeled down. Shibi climbed up to Zen’s shoulder where they overlooked Jian.

Tears streamed down Jian’s face as he cried silently.

“Jian?’ Zen said, with more worry to his tone.

“I couldn’t protect them.” Jian said between his tears. He began getting louder, unable to form words. “…They’re gone…” he sobbed. “…he killed them all… and I couldn’t protect them…”

Zen could only kneel next to his friend, unsure what to do as one of his closests friends sobs could be heard echoing in the night.