Chapter 177: Hue Yi Vs. Hao Meng & Xu Hua

Zen watched as Hue Yi in silence, looked at the two teenagers who had arrived. One was the love of his life, the other was her boyfriend.

“Hue Yi, what are you doing?”

“Xu Hua,” he said.

“I’ll tell you what he is doing.” Hao Meng said. “He is betraying the city and the academy by sidingwith the Commoner’s Rebellion. I thought you said you loved Xu Hua.”

“I do!” Hue Yi said.

“Then why are you doing this?” she said. “You know I am a noble. If the commoners win ths civil war, what do you think will happen to me.”

“Xu Hua,” Hue Yi said as he removed his mask, “you don’t understand. I am doing this for us.”

“How?” she shouted in anger.

“Don’t you remember when we were young?” he said. “I wanted to be with you but I saw how disapproving your friends and family were. Your father told me there was no world his daughter would never be with some no name from a no name family, no matter how hard or strong I became. That’s why I am doing this. I want to makea world where commoners and nobles are separated only by the work they put in. A world where we can be together.”

“After taking the the side of the people who have declared war against my father.” Xu Hua said, with tears in her eyes. “I would never forgive you for that even if you made such a world.”

“That’s right, Hue Yi.” Hao Meng said as he moved forward. “No matter what your ideals are, this war is us versus them. Xu Hua and I are us, and you are them.”

A killing intent began radiating from Hue Yi. Hao Meng continued forward and stopped, only to match it with his own killing intent.

“You’ve hurt my love,” Meng said. “Now you’ll pay. Xu Hua, stay out of this, it has been a long time coming.” He said this, not taking his eyes off of Hue Yi.

“That it has.” Hue Yi said, putting his mask back on his face.

“Tell me, Hue Yi, when was the last time we fought?”

“4 years ago at the academy tournament.” He said.

“Yes, it ended in a draw I believe.” Meng said.

“I warn you, I am stronger than I was then.” Hue Yi said, his blades glowing with ki.

“You don’t think I’ve been standing still, do you?” Meng opened his palm and white ki began collecting in the air between. It took the shape of a long pole with a diamond tip, a spear made purely of ki. “Spear of Fate!” He smiled.

They faced each other then dashed at each other.

“Ki Slash!” Hue Yi said, releasing two powerful ki slashes.

That was when Zen realised that Hue Yi was holding back. Most of the ki slashes, other than the one he used against his Battle Mannequin were slower and of less power. And he looked at Shibi, even though he was hurt, he was not cut in half like his mannequin. He needed to get to him but between him and his scorch ape were the two battling teenagers.

Meng twilred his spear, creating a screen of ki that blocked the slash. “Ki Ora!” Meng shouted as he thrust the point of his spear at Hue Yi.

“Ki Slash!” Hue Yi intercepted the move with her own.

The slashes were blown away and sent Hue Yi sliding back. He looked up to see Meng in the air about to stab Hue Yi from above. However, Hue Yi stood his ground.

“X-Slash!” Hue Yi blasted an X shaped ki arc.

“1000 Pound Ora!” Meng threw the spear just before the X could cut him.

The two techniques met and the Hue Yi’s was blown away as the spear continued forward. Hue Yi leapt up, over the spear and toward Meng who was still in the air.

The spear hit the ground and there was a giant explosion that sent a cloud of debri up into the air.

With great effort Zen got onto his feet. He knew he had to get to Shibi. He dashed into the debris cloud. There was a pow and the smoke debris was blown away to reveal Hue Yi and Meng still going at it.

Meng thrust the spear into Hue Yi’s face but he dodged and swiped low, which Meng dodge.

“1000 Flash Ora!” Meng shouted.

“Makashi Slash!” Hue Yi called back.

Both their weapons moved as a blur as mini booms of ki spread out each time their attacks met. Their techniques ended, though it seemed like a stalemate, Hue Yi had been pushed back.

“I’m surprised, Hue Yi.” Meng said, getting back to a ready stance. “Last time, your strategy was to stop me from making my Spear of Fate, of course that failed. This time you just watched.”

“I want you at your best.” Hue Yi said, smirking. “

Zen continued on, heading for Shibi.

Meng slammed his spear down for Hue Yi’s head but he side stepped and the ground concaved when it hit, sending Hue Yi rolling away but still in the crater the attack caused.

The shockwave made Zen lose his balance and he fell down. He was about to ge up when a pair of slender legs got in his way.

“What are you doing?” Xu Hua said, looking down at him in disgust.

“My companion… Shibi.” Zen said. “I need to get to him. Please help.”

She gave him one last look of disgust before walking on. Zen looked at her and caught sight of Hue Yi and Meng.

Hue Yi was moving around Meng, slashing at him quickly as he darted around him. It seemed that against Meng’s spear technique, Hue Yi was in a fight of speed versus power. Hue Yi’s movement became more regular as he ran around Meng in a perfect circle.

“Whirlwind Slash Ambush!”

Multiple slashes started shooting for Meng from all around as he was at the center. Meng slammed his spear point into the ground, sending out a shockwave of ki that pushed the slashes away.

Hue Yi planted his feet. “X-Slash!” The slash shot out but did not move much further as it struggled and was being dissipated by the shockwave. It was enough, as it parted the shockwave and kept Hue Yi from flying away like his other slashes.

Zen had to get up and dodge the stray slashes. “Shibi!” he shouted in worry but the slashes missed him. Zen looked to the side to see if there were any more stray slashses but saw none as the battle commenced.

Hue Yi dashed forward at a surprised Meng who still had not pulled his spear from the ground. He was forced to abandon it to avoid his head getting loped off by Hue Yi’s blades.

Zen knew this was good. Hue Yi had separated Meng from his spear, the source of his power. Without it, Meng did not have the power and Hue Yi still had his swords and speed. At least that is what he had thought but Meng was dodging the slashes, however, he would not last long.

The spear start to tremble where it had been stuck in the ground. It flew up, freeing itself from the ground than shot at Hue Yi.

“Look out, Hue Yi!”

Hue Yi dove out of the at at the last moment. The spear grazed his mask and it was obliterated. The spear headed for Meng who stopped it by thrusting his hands out, the effort sending him falling onto his butt.

Meng glared at him. Hue Yi looked at him in shock. Xue Hua gazed at him in annoyance. And Wang Zen wished they were not looking at him.

Xu Hua’s hand began glowing in white ki as she glared at her. “You annoying piece of TRASH!” she swiped her hand and sent out a large arc of ki.

Zen got up and began running away from the attack. The earth before the ki technique rose up, creating a giant wave. It was a ki technique that mimicked an Earth Arts technique! He saw as Shibi’s verage was hidden by the dust that was forming around him and yelped as the wave of ki charged earth buried him.

“Now your friend won’t be able to help you.” Meng said as he rose to his feet.

“You can control it remotely?” Hue Yi said.

Meng nodded. “Told you I was also much stronger.” He gestured for the spear to attack him.

Hue Yi was forced to dodge the flying spear. Intercepting it with both his swords when he was forced to.

“1000 Flash Ora!” Meng said.

“Makashi Slash!” Hue Yi said.

Once again the attacks met but this time, Hue Yi was being pushed back much further and he lost one of his blades. Hue Yi realised that before, the 1000 Flash Ora was limited by Meng’ski and his arms. But since the spear was being controlled by the ind, its speed was no only limited by Meng’s very thoughts.

With one blade he had to contend with the powerful spear that was slowly overwhelming him. He flipped, scooping up his fallen sword as he avoided the spear. However, he still struggled as the spear would so often slam into the ground, sending out shockwaves.

Hue Yi grunted as he slashed the spear away but it stopped and shot for him. He leapt to dodge the spear pont but the shockwave slammed into him, sending him tumbling over. Hue Yi was still getting to his feet when he sensed the ground beneath him tremble. He rolled to the side and the spear shot out from the ground with an explosion of rocks.

The rocks rained down on him but he was too focused on dodging the spear to care. The spear found an opening and swung for his abdomen, sending him flying away where he crashed into a building.

Meng walked closer, his flying spear floating at his side.

Zen burst from the ground. He was bruised and bleeding but he had survived. He continued to struggle keeping an eye on the three teenagers, especially Xu Hua. He was shocked to see Hue Yi looking as bad as he had.

Hue Yi was just as bruised. Every breath he took through his battered ribs hurt. But instead of hopelessness, Hue Yi felt pure determination and his face resembled it. He looked at his swords, there were cracks running along the blade.

He knew the next few attacks would be the last of this battle and he was determined to win. He infused the blades with ki and they glowed white, preparing the final bout.