Xiao Yan exhaled sharply, steadying himself as he wiped the blood from his lips. The impact from Kaiser's attack still lingered in his bones, but his fighting spirit burned even stronger. He had never faced an opponent like this—someone who completely disregarded Dou Qi yet possessed monstrous strength and speed.
Kaiser grinned, rolling his shoulders. "Still standing, huh? Not bad. Most people stay down after that."
Xiao Yan smirked. "You're strong, but don't underestimate me."
Kaiser's tail swayed lazily behind him. "Then show me what you got."
Without hesitation, Xiao Yan surged forward, his feet digging into the dirt as he closed the distance in an instant. His hands blurred, executing a flurry of precise strikes aimed at Kaiser's torso.
Kaiser, however, weaved effortlessly between the attacks, dodging with minimal movement. "Too slow."
Xiao Yan clenched his teeth and adjusted his approach. His Dou Qi flared as he pivoted on his foot, launching a devastating punch toward Kaiser's ribs. This time, Kaiser didn't dodge—he caught the fist with his palm.
Xiao Yan's eyes widened. His Dou Qi-enhanced strike felt like it had hit an immovable mountain.
Kaiser smirked. "That all?"
Before Xiao Yan could react, Kaiser twisted his wrist, flipping Xiao Yan over his shoulder and slamming him into the ground. Dust erupted from the impact.
Xiao Yan groaned but forced himself to roll away before Kaiser could follow up. He sprang to his feet, eyes sharp.
"Alright," Xiao Yan muttered. "Let's see how you handle this."
His Dou Qi surged violently around him. He shifted his stance, his right fist drawing back as energy condensed around it. The air crackled with power.
"Octane Blast!"
A thunderous boom echoed through the forest as Xiao Yan's fist shot forward, unleashing a concentrated shockwave of Dou Qi directly at Kaiser.
Kaiser's eyes gleamed with excitement. Instead of dodging, he raised his own fist and punched forward.
The resulting explosion sent shockwaves in all directions, uprooting trees and kicking up debris. The sheer force of the clash forced both fighters back, their feet skidding across the ground.
Xiao Yan breathed heavily, sweat forming on his brow. He had put everything into that strike—yet Kaiser stood there, flexing his fingers like it was nothing.
Kaiser tilted his head. "Huh. That actually had some force."
Xiao Yan's heart pounded. "How—?"
Kaiser smirked. "Alright. My turn."
Before Xiao Yan could react, Kaiser vanished.
A sudden pressure slammed into Xiao Yan's stomach. His vision blurred as his body lifted off the ground from the sheer force of the gut punch.
Then, Kaiser appeared behind him midair.
"See ya."
A downward axe kick sent Xiao Yan crashing into the earth below, creating a crater upon impact.
Dust settled.
Kaiser landed beside the crater, arms crossed. "So? You still conscious down there?"
Silence.
A sinking feeling crept into Kaiser's chest. He crouched down, peering into the crater. "Oi… you good?"
Still no response.
Kaiser blinked. "Oh sh—"
Without thinking, he jumped into the crater and poked Xiao Yan's cheek. No reaction.
Cold sweat formed on Kaiser's forehead. "Oh, hell no. I didn't actually kill him, right? Right?"
He pressed two fingers against Xiao Yan's neck. A pulse.
Kaiser exhaled in relief. "Okay, he's alive… but unconscious. Damn, I really gotta learn to hold back."
Glancing around, he muttered, "Alright, guess I gotta carry him."
He hooked his arms under Xiao Yan's legs and back, lifting him effortlessly. The unconscious boy's head flopped slightly against his chest.
Kaiser deadpanned. "Great. Now I look like some kind of weird kidnapper."
With a sigh, he kicked off the ground, flying into the sky with Xiao Yan in his arms. His tail flicked in frustration. "Why do I feel like this is gonna be a pain later?"
Far above, hidden in the clouds… a ghostly figure watched the entire scene.
Yao Lao floated silently, his ethereal form observing the shirtless warrior carrying his disciple like a princess. His ancient eyes narrowed.
"What… in the world is that boy?"
His gaze lingered on Kaiser's tail. Something about this man was completely unnatural.
For now, he would watch.