Wang Zen gritted his teeth in frustration. He was warned about Lei’s poison techniques and yet, he still fell for it. The man had been able to spit some of his purple poison into one of his eyes, the vision in that eye already close to vanishing.

“I’LL KILL YOU!” The staff wielder shouted.

Zen clicked his tongue, angry that his last attack was not enough to take her out.

She charged at him and he bent his knees, preparing for the attack.

“Stop!”

The woman stopped and Zen stayed in place, both looking confused. Her killing intent faded as she looked at Lei.

“Master Lei?”

Lei coughed. The purple poison he had spat in Zen’s eye running down his chin. “Oh dear, seems I swallowed some of the poison I tried to blind you with. A good thing I have a measure of immunity to it.”

“Master Lei, why did you stop me from killing this bastard?” The Staff Wielder shouted.

He raised his hand, “Calm yourself. I was to ask this man a few questions first.”

Zen looked at him in confusion.

“Wang Zen, was it?” Lei began. “Your eyes, they are similar to mine.”

Zen looked at Lei’s solid silver eyes, unlike his, which only a quarter were silver while the rest were hazel. “Similar? I guess.”

“Eyes like our, one can only get them from signing certain types of contracts with beasts. Correct?”

Zen did not answer for a moment, unsure what was going on. He eventually decided to cooperate. The strange man’s questions would buy him time and what he needed the most now was more time. He nodded.

“What is the beasts name you are contracted with?”

“My companion’s name? Shibi.” Zen said.

Lei rubbed his chin in thought. A look of equal disappointment and reverence on his face. “Companion? Few would call beasts that. I thought perhaps we were brothers, but I see we are more of cousins. Still, we are kindred spirit you and I, so I will give you a chance to leave here with your life.”

“No!” The staff wielder shouted, fire engulfing her staff again.

“Stand down,” Lei said, a killing intent rising from him as his silver eyes glared at her.

“But… But…” she said, before her fire was smothered in defeat.

Lei looked at Zen again. “What say you, Wang Zen?”

“Will you allow me to leave with Captain Lao?” he said.

“The woman? No, she had her chance.” Lei said.

Zen gave a sad smile as he took a ready stance. “Then you know my answer.”

“Pity,” Lei stepped back and looked at the staff wielder, “do what you’ll please with him.”

She smirked, licking her lips and summoning her fire again.

“I suggest you put that weapon away, girlie.” Lao said, walking forward, both her swords in her hands, one with a blade burning and the other covered in water. “You will not use it one either of us today.”

“Captain Lao!” Zen said in excitement.

“Get ready, Wang Zen.” She said, stepping in front of him protectively. “This is all I have!”

The fire of her sword blazed even stronger, flickering white and blue with heat and intensity, just as the water of her other sword also increased in size and volume and also took on a blue glow that seemed to emanate from the sword blade.

“Great Blue and Red X Twin Slash!” she shouted as she swung the two blades in opposite arcs that drew an X before him.

The X of blue and red sped to Lei and the staff wielder, leaving behind a massive trail of steam.

“I’ll stop it!” The staff wielder said, stepping between Lei and the oncoming X attack. “Spinning Flame Shield!” she said, spinning her flaming staff before her.

The attack hit but did not challenge her shield. It did not even budge her. It instead exploded into hot, thick fog.

“Oh dear,” Lei said, “seems her goal was to create this fog.”

“What?” she stopped spinning her staff and looked at Lei, though even this close, he was no more than a silhouette. “Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Lei said. “So they can escape.”