The battle outside still rages. Bo fights on, ferocious as ever, but his body shows signs of weariness. Chaos gave him new found vigor, but the years have taken too much. His strength is fading. The Tiger Claws are relentless.

They press him from all sides, but he’s a mountain of power now, fueled by the chaotic magic coursing through him. An assassin falls, their body crumpling beneath the weight of his blows. Another lunges, aiming for his throat, but he headbutts them straight down to the ground. The Tiger Claws grow cautious but there is one who has not been so easily deterred.

Da Vu, the Night’s Rain, stands at the edge of the melee, her cold eyes locked on Bo, waiting for an opportunity to strike. The moment she moves, the air thickens with static. Her speed is unnerving—she’s a blur, body crackling with the speed of electricity as she dashes towards Bo–dodging his strikes with inhuman speed.

“Damn it! Am I getting slower?” He asked himself.

Da Vu responds, as if reading his mind. “You’re probably thinking if you’re getting slower. Don’t worry, old man, you are. But I’m also faster. And I’m only warming up.”

She dances around him like a tornado, her claws flashing with sparks of electricity in the night. Bo swings again, his axe cutting through just an afterimage. Da Vu is too fast. The air buzzes as she strikes, her attacks coming in rapid, disorienting, and deadly bursts. Bo’s massive form is moving slower now, his muscles groaning under the attacks. His breathing labored. Age and exhaustion are taking their toll.

“Today is the day we’ll witness how lightning destroys a mountain.” Da Vu taunts.

With a crack like thunder, she tears through the battlefield. Her claws, crackling with electric energy, slash at Bo—one aimed for his chest, the other for his throat. He swings his axe to intercept, but her speed overwhelms him. The claws slash into him. Pain shoots through his side as the lightning courses into him, paralyzing him. Just a moment. But a moment could be life or death. Da Vu aims for a killing blow, her claws aim to end him. Then it happens. A scream of blue fire burst through the night air like a Phoenix soaring through the sky. Da Vu is thrown back by a wave of heat and force.

Bian crashes into the fray like a blue meteor, her body wrapped in a whirlwind of flames.

“They did it.” Bo whispers through the pain, his voice swells with pride.

Her eyes lock onto Bo, hunched and clutching his side, his pain igniting her fury. With a cry that splits the night, her rage erupts, a fiery pillar surging skyward.

Through the chaos, Ha Linh’s gaze locks onto Da Vu. “She seems powerful… Let’s crush her.”

Bian smirks, her confidence fierce as a younger—or even present-day—Ha Linh. “Let’s see if she can keep up.”

In a blink of an eye, Bian charges into the heart of the Tiger Claws, zero hesitation. Like a flame unleashed. Her gaze is fixed on Da Vu, eyes burning with intensity like a raging inferno of heat and fury. An assassin lunges from behind, but Bian is quicker—she pivots sharply, unleashing a burst of fire from her palm. The attacker is sent across the square, their body scorched and smoking as they crash to the ground.

Da Vu narrows her eyes, focusing intently on the approaching Phoenix. Bian’s flames surge forward. And Da Vu charges to meet it. Their attacks clash in an electrified explosion of fire and lightning. The blast sends each warrior back.

“So, you did that to Bo Pham?” Bian asks, her voice steady.

Da Vu's response drips with arrogance. “Honestly? If I wasn’t playing with him, he’d probably be dead by now…”

“Oh wow... She’s vicious. I kinda love that.” Ha Linh whispers to Bian, slightly amused.

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Bian smirks. “Normally, I’d tell you to retreat. Say we don’t need to keep fighting. But honestly? I really don’t like you.” She raises her fist.

Da Vu laughs, her voice sharp and mocking. “Maybe I should’ve finished him off quicker. Then you’d be fighting me already instead of talking so much.” Her eyes flick to Bian, then narrow as if directing towards Ha Linh. “Or are you both too afraid to act?”

Bian steps back. “She sees you…”

“Right.” Ha Linh's voice grows cautious.

“I thought only powerful ma thuat techs could see you in spirit form.” Bian whispers.

“Right.” Ha Linh replies. “Don’t hold back.”

Da Vu steps forward, a grin on her face. “Or does the spirit of Ha Linh not want to fight anymore? From the stories I read, she was always more of a peaceful type, right?”

Ha Linh’s voice cuts through. “Kill her.”

They charge at each other once more, but this time, Da Vu is quicker. Her lightning-fast reflexes allow her to strike first, cutting across Bian’s hand.

“And here I thought you’d be a decent fight… I hate being disappointed.” Da Vu charges again, even faster this time. She lands another cut, clearly toying with Bian. She lets out an exasperated sigh “Okay. I’m bored now. Time to finish this.”

Across the way, Bian stands unmoving. “You got a plan? Should I take over?” Ha Linh presses her.

Bian remains silent, her eyes fixed on Da Vu.

Faster than ever, Da Vu sprints toward her, lightning streaking across the courtyard, but Bian doesn’t budge. “You’ve gotta make a move,” Ha Linh urges.

Da Vu closes in, her speed unmatched. Just as her claws are about to pierce Bian’s heart, an explosion of blue fire erupts from the stillness. Bian strikes, her fist landing squarely on Da Vu’s chest. The force sends the assassin flying back, her body crashing to the ground. Da Vu grabs her singed chest, blood erupting from her mouth as pain overwhelms her.

“Retreat!” Da Vu snarls, frustrated, but she knows it’s over. The Tiger Claws scatter, beaten and broken, retreating into the shadows of the forest.

The battle is won. But the price is steep.

Bo staggers forward, his massive frame trembling as he drops to his knees. The Chaos that had once made him powerful now oozes through him like poison. His body, too old for this transformation, is failing. He looks up at Bian and Ha Linh as they approach, his breaths shallow and ragged.

“I’m... sorry,” Bo’s voice is weak. “I can’t fight anymore.”

Bian kneels beside him. “You’ve fought enough.” Ha Linh whispers, her voice breaking for the first time. “You don’t have to carry the guilt anymore.”

Bo manages a tired smile. “You’re strong, Bian. Stronger than I ever was.” His gaze drifting toward Ha Linh. “Strong enough to stand by her side.”

“Bo—” Ha Linh starts, but Bo Pham’s body goes still, his hand slipping from Bian’s arm as his life fades away.

Bian and Ha Linh remain in silence, the weight of his death pressing down on them. For a moment, there is no movement, no sound—only a quiet, mournful wind sweeping through the temple grounds.

Bian swallows, she knows they must push forward.

“The Twin Fangs, leader of the Tiger Claws, are responsible for this.” Ha Linh murmurs, her voice colder than the evening air. “We will find them. And we kill them.”

Bian’s fists clench, her eyes narrowing with a renewed determination.

***

The following morning, Bian gathers her things–along with supplies from the monk–for the journey ahead. Together, they leave the temple behind. They don’t speak, but the bond between them is stronger than ever. They’ve both lost so much already and neither will stop until the Twin Fangs are dead. Until the entire Coalition is consumed by blue flames.

The mountain trail stretches ahead of them, the road jagged, but quiet. Suddenly, a movement in the trees above catches Bian’s attention. Her hand instinctively raises to attack.

Before Bian can react, a voice—familiar, light, almost casual—drifts from the shadows.

“Hey again.”

Bian freezes, her heart skipping a beat. From the shadows steps a figure—a man in his early twenties, tall and lean, dressed in simple red and yellow commoners’ robes.

Bian’s breath catches as she realizes who it is.

“Ngo Khon.” Bian whispers, a slight excitement escapes her voice. “Great… This guy again.” Ha Linh doesn’t share the same excitement.

“What do you want?” Bian asks. “Here to dine and dash again?”

Ngo steps forward, rubbing his head sheepishly, hiding an embarrassed smile. “This is going to sound weird, but I’m a descendant of the Monkey Lord and my grandfather killed Ha Linh.”

Fire erupts around Bian.