The vision in her eyes began growing dimmer with each second. She heard a cling of metal and a whirl of air. Knowing what was coming, she leapt forward, hearing the iron ball thud just behind her.

She kept performing acrobatics, relying on her movements being to crazy to be predicable. She would sometimes hear the whoosh of the weapon pass by her as she dodged. Opening up her senses, she could tell that Lei and the bo staff wielder were very powerful. Lei’s companion was a Rank 1 Master, though there was something off about her power when compared to what she remembered Wang Zen, another newly minted Rank 1 Master was. Lei himself was Grandmaster Rank 9. The Meteor Hammer Wielder was a Rank 4 Master.

She used her senses to avoid running into them, especially Lei, who was the most dangerous of the bunch. It was hard for her to dodge with a sword in each hand but she did not want to leave them behind, lest she needed them later.

The iron ball found its target in her side. Air was driven from her lungs as her ribs threatened to collapse under the hit. The pain made her lose grip of her water sword. The Hammer Wielder whooped in excitement.

Lao gritted her teeth and struggled to her feet again. The familiar laugh of the Meteor Hammer Wielder echoed in the forest before she felt the chain wrap around her ankle. Reaching for the chain, she tried to untangle it from her ankle until she felt electricity pouring into her from the chain.

“You said I would need better Lightning control to beat you,” The Meteor Hammer Wielder laughed. “I’ll show you I can beat you. I’ll pour all my power into you! By the time I’m done, you’ll be a smouldering stain on the forest floor!”

Lao stabbed her sword into the ground and grabbed the chain.

“No!” The Meteor Hammer Wielder said, his eyes widening. “You should not even be able to move!”

Suddenly the Meteor Hammer Wielder’s body went taught as the electricity in his chain seemed to flow backward right into him.

Lao grunted and pulled on the chain with all her might, making the man fly towards her. Spinning around elegantly, she grabbed her sword and slashed at him while he passed by her. She stopped, her body in a sword fighting stance, while the Meteor Hammer Wielder plopped beside her, dead.

The bo staff wielder’s eyes went wide with shock. That witch, she… she killed him.

Old Man Xiu gathered his ki and lunched at her. She stomped down and a square pillar of earth shot up, intercepted him and slammed into his stomach. He fell to the ground, gasping for air.

“Stupid old man.” The woman said. “Don’t confuse yourself for your female friend. She is actually powerful while you… you’re not even at Master Rank.” She lifted her staff in preparation for a finishing blow. “I’m going to kill you then help Master Lei finish off your friend.”

“Venom Jab!” Lei rushed forward and slammed his fist into Lao’s side.

She was surprised that it happened. She did not even feel his approach before she felt his fist go deep into her side. She swung her sword wildly, swinging at nothing before she fell down. Blood poured from her mouth as pain coursed through her side.

Lei raised his fist, skinny purple vines wrapped around his arm and hand, causing purple energy to flow from her panther fist.

“My Venom Jab is most useful when aimed at the liver.” He said. “That is the pain you’re feeling now. I’m sure one more liver shot should be enough to kill you, or perhaps I’ll just use a quicker and kinder method to finish you off.”