Wudang: Legends Of Qi Earth

THAT DRUG IS SOMETHING THAT IS QUITE SIMPLY KNOWN AS A FIGHT. WHEN THE SOUND AND FEELING OF FLESH STRIKING FLESH RESOUND, IT RESONATES WITH THE SONG OF METAL AS IT CLEAVES FLESH FROM BONE AND POKE YOUR ENEMIES AND OPPONENTS FULL OF ARTISTIC HOLES. THERE IS NO THRILL GREATER THAN THE RUSH THAT IS FELT DURING A FIGHT. THE RUSH OF ADRENALINE WITHIN YOUR VEINS AND THE SOUND OF YOUR BLOOD AND HEART PUMPING AND BEATING TO THE TEMPO OF YOUR FIGHT. THAT FEELING CAN BE ADDICTIVE, BUT WHENEVER YOU CAN, REMEMBER TO SAVOR AND LIVE IN IT. WHO KNOWS WHEN NEXT YOU WILL FIND YOUR SELF IN A FIGHT.]

BARTHOLOMEW ÁLÈ

Alex was standing before the gates of the school once again. Registration ended the day before yesterday, and the compet.i.tion began in earnest today. The amount of teenagers here for the compet.i.tion where three times the amount of those he saw on the first day. Though most of these people were just here for the viewing of the various matches, they were still a lot.

Alex however was not too surprised by such a turn out. The Wudang sect had a reputation that spread to every corner of the modern world, they were among the five great righteous sects, and were quite renown for the martial arts prowess. To be honest Alex expected a whole lot more than what he was seeing, but it was still impressive none the less. It made Alex wonder what the local government and state compet.i.tion would be like.

"Are your ready?"

Anya asked from besides him. She was looking all set and ready, but most importantly she was wearing the same thing as Alex. She had on a sleeveless thin robe that had a hood and stretched down to the back of her calves. The robe was pure white with golden embroidery at its hem and edges, but the inner part of the robe was blue with the same design. She was wearing tight black combat trouser, with white boots and her hands taped up all the way to her elbows. She also had a black bandana tied on her forehead. No matter what, Anya had every intention of making an impression today, and that was mainly Ben"s fault. Finally she had on a black t-shirt that had the word Queen of h.e.l.l written in bold over it. That part of her dressing was entirely her own machination.

Alex had the same thing on, only the robe had the blue part outside and the white in. His combat trousers were white along with the custom made combat vest that had the drawing of a black and white dragon entwined around a sword. His boots were black and so was the bandana he was forced to wear by Anya. However only his left hand was taped up to his elbows, his right hand just had a finger less white glove on it.

While strength was always a big factor in any compet.i.tion, appearances also mattered. It was common knowledge that many sects gave public positions to people who know how to look good in public. Usually such a role was mostly held by actors or any other s...o...b..z personality. Alex felt too extravagant, but appearance really did matter. There was a guy who was even decked from head to toe in golden armor, so Alex might get away from humiliation yet.

Alex turned to look at Anya and said to her.

"I"m ready."

Two hours later the compet.i.tion was already in full swing and there had already been many eliminations. Ben was no where to be seen, but Alex knew for a fact that his father was watching. That old man was so eccentric with the things he did Alex had wondered time without number if his father was just an insane old man. But Alex knew his father never acted without a reason, so all he could do was focus on the matches.

"Contestant Alex of registration number 009835 please make your way to platform three for your match."

Alex was suddenly nervous and scared, this would be his first real fight, and he had to do it in front of this many people. Alex was used to playing soccer with viewing crowds, but everything felt completely different now, like it was a whole new different territory. He had half a mind to get up and run out screaming like a madman, but he felt Anya place her hand on his shoulder as she whispered to him.

"If you chicken out, I will break every single bone in your body."

Alex did not need any more motivation as he made his way to the platform. When he got there he had absolutely no idea who his opponent was, and by the time this fight was done, his opponent would either be forgotten in a moment, or he would be.

"My name is Jaja, I hope you can instruct me."

He was so polite, how did they expect him to punch someone who was this polite. The guy looked so innocent, he even bowed too. Of course bowing was common etiquette so Alex had to do the same.

"Crush his bones to dust Alex! Make him cry for his mother."

Alex wanted to die, first of who had let Anya get this close to his battling platform, now everyone was really looking at him, which meant he had to put extra effort so he wouldn"t make a fool out of himself, that and Anya would never forgive him if he under performed.

Jaja rushed towards Alex and threw a straight punch, wary of the straight forward attack being grounds for diversion, Alex moved back a step letting his fist go past his face. Alex had so far been privy to two types of fighting styles, Anya was straight forward and brash, and would not hesitate to use a low blow or under handed means to win. However his father Ben was different. That man fought like he was dancing, you would never know which move he was going to make or when he was going to make it. Every punch and kick was a diversion or a misdirection. But just like Anya he would not hesitate to use a low blow too.

Alex ducked another punch, and used both his palms to block and incoming kick to the face. He moved his head left to dodge a right hook and took a step back allowing the incoming spinning heel kick to hit nothing but air.

Alex was dodging, trying to get a feel for his opponents fighting style, but he was sorely disappointed. Jaja had no style, it was as if he was just telegraphing his moves. This guy was like that student in school who answered any question based on its text book definition, there was no creativity, just random punch and kicks. It did not take long for Alex to get tired of dodging and decided to give Jaja the instructions he requested.

Jaja took a step forward to throw another punch, but he ended up over extending himself, which made it easy for Alex to slip into his guard and grab his neck lightly, much to the chagrin of all of his viewers. His move was sudden enough that Jaja was fl.u.s.tered and forgot to attack, the sudden change from dodging to attacking would throw any inexperienced fighter of their game, so he couldn"t be blamed.

"Give up."

"I will never give up, a true fighter...…. Arck!"

Alex did not have time for any sort of monologue, so he tightened his hand and raised Jaja up. It was Jaja"s unfortunate luck that he was only in the peak stage of the third level of the body refining realm, three whole realms below Alex. This fight could have ended a lot earlier, but Alex wanted his first real fight to be memorable. It was just so unfortunate that his chosen opponent was so weak.

"You"re not ready for any sort of fight Jaja. You have no style of your own, and your martial arts is too rigid. The text book is there as a guideline and introduction into knowledge. It is up to you to bring and add your own understanding to the knowledge. You have to learn to make it yours."

Then Alex turned and threw the boy off the stage, Alex would never admit this out loud, but it felt good to not be the one being thrown around, instead he was doing the throwing.

"Winner Alex."

When Alex made his way down from the platform Jaja walked up to him and bowed. Then he turned around and disappeared into the crowd. He"s work here was done. Everyone in the compet.i.tion would be eliminated the moment they lost a match regardless of how many matches they had won, and it would continue to be that way until there were only ten left.

"What the h.e.l.l was that about?"

Anya asked in surprise at Jaja"s actions. Alex turned to her and said.

"Don"t worry about. It"s something only the both of us would understand. Now get ready, you"re up next."

Anya could not look any more excited as she jumped onto the battling platform. Alex could not estimate the strength of her opponent, but he doubted the guy was that strong. Fighters in the compet.i.tion were not grouped according to cultivation level, instead it was completely random, which meant at the end of the day, those who had a low level of cultivation would all be eliminated, leaving the stage for a more stronger fighter.

Anya"s opponent was big, stocky and well muscled. This guy did not look anything like a sixteen year old, but Alex knew he would not be on that stage if he was above sixteen. It made him wonder what his parents might have been feeding him.

"Oh I know you."

He said with a rather wide and accomplished grin on his face.

"I don"t know you, so let"s get on with me kicking your a.s.s."

Anya"s reply made it clear she was not here for small talk, it was as if Alex could almost see the itch and need to fight all over her skin. Alex knew if that guy kept talking, no matter how strong he was Anya was going to punish him and humiliate him at the same time. Alex tried shaking his head as a warning to the guy, but he did not seem to notice.

"I"m not scared of your third level of the open meridian realm, I am at the first level, but my defense can withstand attacks from a fourth level cultivator courtesy of my family"s secret martial art. So let me tell you the outcome, you"re going to loose, and when you do I will make a beautiful fairy like you my woman."

Forget it, this guy was going to die here today. Alex might have never met him before, but it was not a pleasure knowing him.

Anya"s opponents squatted and bent his knees spreading them from each other. He pulled his arms to his side in the form of a horse stance and kept his eyes focused. Veins appeared all over his body as a haze shimmer could be seen over his skin.

The open meridian realm, was the realm where a pract.i.tioner could augment their attacks with Qi after absorbing it and storing it in their meridians for a little while. Because the meridian is incapable of storage, the Qi has to be used immediately or as soon as possible. Higher levels made it easier for cultivators to absorb more Qi and hold it in for longer periods of time. It is only till the open dantian realm would a pract.i.tioner be able to store Qi.

Anya did not even absorb any Qi as she took off with a running start at her opponent who believed he was built like a mountain and could not be moved. Alex though was not really sure what to expect, at the open meridian realm, the strength of cultivators was mainly dependent on the grade of their martial arts.

The guy seemed to be willing to let Anya make the first strike, but that was his mistake. She sent her foot straight for the spot between his legs, using every ounce of power she had, Alex was sure she even used Qi with that kick.

"Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!"

The number of times a guy would squeal like a girl in his entire lifetime could be counted, now this guy could just add this day to that list. It was almost as if he was paralyzed as he clutched his crotch and fell to his knees, but Anya was as merciless as they come. She sent her foot still covered in Qi straight for the guys face, there was nothing he could do as a sickening crunch rang out in the immediate vicinity of the platform, then his broken face, body and pride was shot off the platform, only to end up rolling into and unmoving heap of muscle and stupidity. Anya took one mighty leap and landed beside Alex. Then she looked around while also spitting on the ground.

"what a complete looser."

Alex couldn"t answer, because like every other male around, he was trying to over his crotch and move away from this crazy queen of h.e.l.l. But Alex knew it could not be that easy, he was stuck with this monster for life.