Lao Jianghu nodded and then waved his sleeve: just as it had done in the few battles before, a golden screen appeared, separating the Arena’s stage from the stalls.

Fu Yin and another youth stared at each other: the first’s gaze was a full of confidence, the other’s of wariness.

“Are the combatants ready?” The old man asked and turned to look at the youth standing in front of Fu Yin: he was a young man in his late twenties, with long, blue hair falling down his back.

His two completely white eyes narrowed as he glanced at the young, white-haired, pale-blue skinned boy. He pursued his lips and then gulped before nodding: “This Disciple is ready, Lord Sect Protector!”

Fu Yin also nodded “Ditto.”

“Then… Begin!” The old man’s golden eyes lit up as his robes fluttered.

Just as Lao Jianghu spoke those words, the blue-haired youth’s eyes turned red; he grabbed a few vials from his Heaven&Earth Pouch and threw them on the ground: as soon as they shattered, a pungent, metallic smell permeated the Arena.

Fu Yin’s eyes glinted with amusement “Blood… And not just any kind of blood… This belong to the Sung stage! You are really resourceful!”

“So smug… But for how long!” The other replied as he grinned fiercely. He made a mysterious hand seal and the blood on the ground transformed into a thin mist “I, He Gon, will defeat you here and now!”

“He Gon… Bad?” He muttered. He turned towards the crowd, a confused expression on his face “Has He Gon-e bad by any chance? That would explain a lot...”

The audience broke into laughter and some even fell from their seats. Xiao Wu rolled her eyes and sighed “Seriously, you don’t have to be the best at everything, you know?”

He Gon ignored the trash talk and simply drew a large symbol in the air: the blood mist seemed to have been caught into a hurricane as it gathered in front of the symbol, taking the shape of a large scythe.

The laughing members of the audience immediately shut up: the pressure emitted from the scythe was incredibly powerful, at the very peak of the Sung stage! Who would dare ridicule somebody that had power akin to the Sung stage?

“What is it now, great genius? Are you too scared to move?” He Gon chuckled, his now red eyes glowing brightly with the crimson glow of the fresh blood.

Fu Yin raised one of his eyebrows and then sighed, seemingly in disappointment “I was expecting more out of you… After all that acting high-and-mighty you only bring out this… This thing.”

Fu Yin’s eyes glinted and he brought his hands to the nails embedded into his temples “What do you say, Blood? Should we show this guy how it is done?”

As soon as he spoke those words, the air trembled as two inverted triangles appeared in his pupils. They shined an eerie pale blue light and seemed to hold countless mysteries within… They were also sharp, seemingly sharp enough to delve into someone’s soul and see their innermost thoughts!

Those two triangles then lit up with blinding, blue light and black smoke suddenly appeared behind Fu Yin’s figure. The crowd watched in amazement as that black smoke seemed to be gathering in an ordinately fashion, soon taking the shape…

Of a humanoid figure!

It had long, black hair that fell down its shoulders and wore thorn, crimson robes. His appearance was hidden below a metallic mask: the mask seemed to have been made out of wire of some sort. On the spot where the nose should have been, a fierce-looking beak protruded, resembling the beak of a demonic bird that thirsted for human flesh...

He Gon looked on before smirking “Why is that thing wearing such an ugly mask, hiding its appearance? Is it shy?”

Fu Yin grinned “Eheh… Let’s just say that it is for your sake… Were you to see its true appearance, you would collapse where you stand, foaming from your mouth!” he tilted his head backwards and grinned “Right, Blood?”

The figure in question said nothing, however his presence grew even more imposing, as if it being there alone was enough to make a weak-minded person grow crazy!

“You see… Blood is what many would call a demon!” Fu Yin smiled as the two inverted triangles in his eyes began to shine with bright, red light.

He turned his head and then looked straight at He Gon “Long ago, he was called the Demon of War and Gore!”

“Blood died long ago and has not tasted a human’s blood for countless years. He is also incredibly hungry… Now, how could I possibly resist his will and not be devoured as his summoner?” He smiled and his whole appearance began to twist as he emitted fierce killing intent.

“Simple!” He yelled “It is because I promised him the blood of my opponent! The battle three months ago barely served to quench his thirst for a short while, how about you also help by filling in your own share?”

He Gon had a bad feeling and he immediately grabbed the blood scythe, entering a fighting stance.

“Seriously… What is up with everybody and their stances?” Fu Yin chuckled “It looks like brother was just talking to the wind when he explained that stances have no other use than to give away your next moves to your opponents!”

“Oh well… It’s too bad that you won’t have another chance to listen to those lectures again…” Fu Yin smiled as he pointed at the shaking blue-haired man “Blood… I’ll leave it to you.”

The masked figure made out of black smoke nodded slightly as it waved the wide sleeves of its crimson robes: a blinding, red light flashed.

The ground shook as black flames appeared, surrounding He Gon in a cage of heat and darkness!

The flames then spread all over the stage, blocking the sight of the audience as well as cutting the top of the stage off with the outside world...

Within the cage, the youth trembled and attempted to escape the prison made out of black flames but found out to his dismay... that he couldn’t! Let alone escaping, even approaching the black flames proved to be nigh impossible due to the heat emanated by the fierce fires.

It was like a nightmare he couldn’t awake from! He Gon was sweating profusely as he looked around, his expression twisted into a look of terror.

Tap.

Splat.

Tap.

Splat.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. At first it was faint, but soon thereafter, he was able to see a figure approaching slowly… It wore red robes and its expression was hidden by a fierce-looking mask...

With each step, the blood dripping from the crimson robes could be seen gleaming in the darkness before splattering on the ground, leaving behind a bloody trail wherever the robed figure passed.

He Gon trembled as he stepped back, tightening his grip upon the blood scythe: “Stay away! Don’t come any closer!”

The masked figure said nothing as it kept approaching, closing in the distance between the two with each step. After a short while, He Gon could almost smell the faint odour of blood on the body of the demonic figure.

The figure approached and the youth could only stare blankly as it caressed his cheek, like a loving mother would caress her child… Or just how a hungry man would look at a fancy meal!

Tears streaked down He Gon’s cheeks and fell down. Finally, the boy’s knees gave out and he also fell down on the ground. His eyes were devoid of any light as he bowed his head.

The masked figure seemed somewhat disappointed. It leaned in nonetheless however and extended his arm to touch the other’s forehead…

Swish!

He Gon grinned as the blood scythe in his hands gleamed dangerously: the bisected corpse of the masked creature fell on the ground!

You bastard! You thought you could defeat me, He Gon, in such a way? You fool, your punishment shall be your own death!

The man’s blood-red eyes shone with bright light as he looked at the deceased demon, laying on the ground, cleaved in two.

Now… Where did that bastard, Fu Yin go?

He Gon smirked as he confidently turned around, his gaze wandering all over the place, searching for the next target that would feed his beloved scythe! Suddenly, the air trembled as he found himself in a different spot than he remembered being previously...

This... isn't this where I was standing when I got here?

Tap.

Splat.

Tap.

Splat.

The sound of steps reached his ears. Drops of blood also splattered on the ground rhythmically… It was as if he was reliving the same moment as before...

This… No… It can’t be…

He Gon turned with horror and, certainly enough, he could see the masked figure inching towards him, wobbling at every step. Slowly, but securely, shrinking the distance between the two with each second. In his mind, he could almost imagine the fierce beak on top of the mask opening and closing, licking its lips with a decomposing tongue...

“Stay away! Stay away!” He yelled once again as his mind began to show signs of giving up. He tightened his grip around the bloody scythe and charged towards the masked figure, his expression twisted into pure and utter terror.

Once again, the weapon made out of blood easily cut through the masked demon’s figure… And once more his surroundings twisted, as He Gon found himself in the spot he stood on before. Except, this time there was no such thing as excitement on his face… Only utter and complete despair!

He gulped and waited, praying in his heart that he would not have to experience that again.

...

...t.

...at.

Pat.

Splat.

Pat.

Splat.

...