A young man stands at the edge of a broken street, a ruined city standing tall around him.

“I promise guys…I’m gonna make him pay for what he did to you,” he growled between grit teeth. His hands clench into fists until his knuckles whiten.

There’s movement, a gray blur that shifts around him across buildings and abandoned vehicles alike.

"There!"

The fist flies at Mach 4, but the man sidesteps. The punch narrowly misses his face, only grazing his cheek, when it hits the wall it destroys the skyscraper behind him, reducing it to complete rubble that falls around the two fighters. A large cloud blankets the battlefield spreading dust and debris everywhere, engulfing both warriors in a dusty fog too thick to see through.

“Fast as ever Khan~,” chirped the voice in the fog. Khan took a step back as the figure vanished completely from sight. The echo of humming and playful singing reverberated throughout the smokescreen which made it harder to precisely figure out where he was moving in the fog. “A step above the other morsels your Master sent, aren’t you?”

Khan does a quick backflip and lands into a leaning stance of Wing Chun.

“Those ‘morsels’ were my friends, Kyouji!” Khan shouted with a furrowed brow. He knew better than to let his anger dictate his actions.

Kyouji had hidden his qi, masking his energy signature. Khan closed his eyes and relied on his hearing. He heard the cracking of stone and the spreading of dust through the air.

"No, not there," muttered Khan. Another moment passed. Khan entered an alternate Xu Bu Shaolin stance, right arm stretched and left hand clenched into a fist closer to the body. He steadied his breathing and listened for the slightest movement. It’s brief but for half a second the sound of a step at his left was made, then one at his back.

“What’s wrong? Can’t see me? Where’s all that confidence now?”

“I don’t need to see you jackass…” muttered Khan as strands of his messy dark brown hair drooped over his eyes. Khan’s right leg drifted across the floor and his left swept the ground at his side, success! As the much taller Kyouji tried to regain his balance Khan propped himself up with a slight pounce and drove the back of his left knuckle into the foe’s face. The enemy staggered back, reeling in pain with spit leaving his lips.

“Gah!” cried Kyouji. Khan wasted no time and with a solid right step forward he delivered a body shot to the foe’s stomach.

Crack!

The concrete underneath him broke apart, shattering under the force. Khan’s hard fist left an imprint in the enemy’s now slightly hunched-over torso leaving the foe coughing up spit onto the pavement.

“Did it feel good? Did killing them make you feel tough?” Khan asked the monster of a man. The younger warrior took advantage of Kyouji’s state, he started chain punching. A vicious strike, one after another, smashes into Kyouji’s stomach. “You think you can just kill my friends and get away with it? You owe me blood!”

A final punch smashes into the creature’s gut, the force of the strike denting the wall of the building behind him. The smokescreen finally lifted and Khan’s red eyes locked with the enemy’s empty green. The foe’s eyes were like black pools with a tiny green droplet in the center, they flashed a crazed look riddled with hunger and pain. The creature was 6’4” and his skin was covered in stitches, a towering sight compared to Khan’s 5’11”. Every inch of the hairless foe’s flesh was a gray patchwork of the skin of nine other martial artists, and each patch of flesh provided him knowledge of their respective schools.

“Sick of your crap, Kyouji!” Khan raised his left knee and made a small leap, smashing Kyouji’s chin upwards and drawing purplish blood. The creature doubled back in pain only for Khan to drive a roundhouse kick into Kyouji’s neck that sent him flying, the beast crashed through an abandoned hospital and then a nearby truck- reducing the building to rubble and causing the vehicle to explode underneath him. Khan stepped towards the blaze, walking over the ruins of the hospital. His gaze narrowed as he exhaled, his first release of breath since his jab. “Not one victim goes unavenged, not one.”

The darkened sky loomed over an empty city from ages long ago, and as the burning wreckage cast a black smog into the air Khan could only stare before feeling the pulse of killing intent. Kyouji's qi had stirred and expanded.

“You people are funny, thinking I’m doing something wrong,” said the hungry voice over the flickering flames. Khan’s muscles tense up momentarily as he feels Kyouji’s qi strengthen. “This world is a jungle, there’s no sanctity to life. The only thing that matters is power. Even your Master knows that.”

“What the Hell do you know about my Master?”

“I know he doesn’t care about some runts who got picked off. They were too weak. Face it, kid, your friends couldn’t cut it. That’s why they died. No no, your Master sent you because I’m too dangerous to be left alone.”

Khan’s expression hardened, his red eyes displaying nothing short of fury.

“You’re talking a lot of shit for someone who just had his gut introduced to his back.”

“I’ve only just begun Little Warrior, haven’t you noticed? I wanted to see how much stronger you were than the others I ate. Your friends, what were their names again? Ah yes, I remember. Johan, tried to run- pleading for his life until I tore him apart in an alleyway. Kiki, squealed as I choked the life out of her. I watched the light fade from her eyes.”

A vein throbbed with anger on Khan’s forehead, his hands tightening as Kyouji recanted the murders.

“Ah, and Ming-Ming,” cackled Kyouji. The wreckage of the car creaked and snapped as Kyouji pulled himself out of the blaze, the flames doing nothing to harm his flesh. “She liked you a lot, didn’t she? She cried out for you, you know. I remember hearing her cry your name when I wrapped my fingers around her heart. She kept wondering why you didn’t save her, it’s hilarious really! If I hadn’t known any better I’d say you two must’ve been close.”

A hard breeze washes over the two. Khan’s face twists into a scowl, his eyes harboring a barely restrained glint of bloodlust.

“Shut up…” Khan hissed.

“Oh? Did I touch a nerve? Why so mad? I thought the Mist Mountain Sect was taught not to feel, not to show an ounce of emotion. Poor form Khan, very poor form,” taunted Kyouji while cracking his neck with the same crazed look in his almost empty eyes. There wasn’t a merciful bone in his body. “What would your Master say if he saw you now?”

Khan quickly struck a forward stance of Southern Shaolin, and as the young warrior stared he could feel his heart begin to beat faster. His soul swelled with rage as his hands clenched so tightly he nearly broke the skin.

“Tell you what, champ. I stole 9 styles, I’ve taken flesh from 9 fighters, 3 of which were your friends, and killed each one with care. Care to be number 10? I’d be happy to let you join them, whaddya say?”

“You piece of shit…” spat Khan.

The gray monster’s grin went from ear to ear. Kyouji then performed multiple velocity movements of the arms in a blur of speed at Mach 5 then his hands entered talon-like hand positions– Eagle Claw. Khan’s eyes widened in horror. He recognized those hands by the scars on the knuckles. They were the product of years of iron tree training.

“Those are…Johan’s…” Kyouji grinned with sinister pride upon seeing Khan’s realization. “You monster! You didn’t just take their flesh, you-”

“I took their parts and made them mine. Fingers, toes, bones, and yes their organs. Even if they weren’t masters, that's still 9 fighters, 9 cultivators, and their styles. Though I must admit, you’re quite skilled. In mere minutes you’ve countered all of them,” A heavy breeze washed over the combatants. The burning wreckage behind Kyouji cast a shadow over his face as he looked down at Khan with salivating lips. “But it’s still not going to save you.”

“Oh yeah, why’s that? You said it yourself I’ve beaten everything you’ve thrown at me.”

Kyouji’s grin widened.

“Who said I only knew their styles?” he asked in a low and confident voice.

A bead of sweat ran down Khan’s cheek as he stood ready. He had faced 9 styles and overcame each one, but what Kyouji was implying was troubling.

“Cultivators awaken unique techniques as they develop their qi, I’m practically 10 people made into one. Each of your friends had developed only one technique, but judging from your level compared to theirs…I’d guess you have 3.” Kyouji leaned forward with his left foot leading before he dashed towards Khan at blinding speeds- mach 10. Khan’s eyes once again widened in horror, Kyouji was twice as fast. “You’ll be a fine meal Khan, a splendid one, the best I’ve ever had!”

“Fast!” thought Khan. Kyouji suddenly leaped into the air, going 15 meters up before violently descending while spinning. Kyouji’s hands while still in the Eagle Claw positions, began to sweep through the air in circles swiftly.

“Here’s a favorite of mine! Vortex Cross!” Kyouji’s descent was accompanied by a cylindrical vortex of air that made the oddest sound as it moved. Khan steadied his breathing again and leaned forward as Kyouji hurtled down towards him. Khan grits his teeth and plants his feet on the floor, cracking concrete. As Kyouji approached Khan noticed the air around him was distorting and the flames of the wreckage had been snuffed out.

“An air-cutting vacuum!? That's Kiki's move!” Khan’s thoughts ran wild as he struck his arms forward, palms facing the coming twister, and slid his right foot along the ground in front with a bend.

“No way I'm letting that hit me!” A thin ring of yellow light formed in the ground underneath Khan. His arms moved juxtaposed to one another, left going up and right going down both moving as flowing rivers. The yellow light erupted from his arms and a shifting line formed between both limbs passing through meridian pathways along his upper body making a yellow line.

“Yellow River Palm!” Kyouji’s vortex would collide with Khan and as it did the slicing air currents would leave dozens of deep slashes in the concrete. It was now impossible for Khan to breathe while inside the vacuum, but he held strong. Kyouji’s Eagle Claw would be met with Khan’s illuminated hands. A flash of yellow and the scream of wind filled the street. The thunderous impact cratered the ground beneath them. The collision of hands would see the vortex disperse as Kyouji landed behind Khan. There was a pause in the fight. Both fighters stood there still as oak trees before Khan suddenly fell to one knee with a ripped hole in the shoulder of his sleeveless jacket, dust collecting on his blue pants. A spray of blood gushed from Khan’s left shoulder where there were now five talon marks. His breath had finally depleted and the inability to breathe during the clash made it worse.

"Guess I win, it's snack time…" Kyouji’s right arm fell to the ground with a loud thud. Kyouji glanced down, his eyes staring in horror at his severed limb.

“Wha-”

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He let loose a primal scream of hate and agony. Purple blood flowed freely from the stump. The tattered black jacket of Khan's gi now dripped with blood onto the floor. Khan took heavy breaths before slowly rising to his feet and glancing back at Kyouji. The gray monster watched as just when he reached to grab the arm it split into dozens of pieces.

"My arm! What have you done to me!? Why aren’t you dead?" Kyouji screamed at Khan who could only smirk at the damage he had done.

"Yellow River Palm. It reflects the enemy’s attack right back at them. It was risky. Even a split-second off and I’d have been shredded to pieces, guess you’re not as sure to win as you thought,” Khan wiped some blood from his cheek. His face exuded confidence, but his hands trembled slightly. Blood continued to stain the white wrappings around his hands and forearms.

Kyouji glared daggers at Khan. The Thief of Styles was about to scream in frustration but noticed the slight trembling in Khan’s hands. His lips then slowly curled into a smile.

“Ah, I see now. You’re bluffing,” muttered Kyouji.

Khan’s confident grin fell away, his heart freezing for a moment.

“That technique can only reflect one attack at a time. You reflected the vacuum, not the strike. I aimed for a pressure point when I delivered that claw to your shoulder, even with all your skill a body is still just a body. Your pressure points are still a weakness.” Kyouji slowly began to approach Khan. Khan grasped his shoulder, and small streams of red fell through his fingers. “Your master is going to have to bury yet another pupil, how sad.”

Kyouji stepped towards Khan with the sky darkening overhead.

“I would say it’s been fun fighting you, but…” Kyouji’s lips twisted into sadistic delight. His crazed eyes now looked sharper. “They always say you shouldn’t play with your food.”

Khan entered an Orthodox Boxing stance, he needed to play it safe for now. As he stood there watching the monster draw closer he felt something, a presence nearby. Then just as quickly as his eye shifted from Kyouji to the distance the gray menace bolted towards him even faster than before- Mach 11.

“Forget your face, I’m going to feast on your heart!” Kyouji moved like a blur and before Khan knew it he was within arm’s reach. The monster threw a jab at Khan’s face, the young warrior used his forearms to block. The blow had so much force it left Khan’s feet skidding across the concrete. The concrete behind him broke apart. His forearms went numb for a moment after blocking the strike only for Kyouji to deliver a Spartan kick to Khan’s gut. He had made Khan block high to open up the body for attack.

Khan spit out some blood before crashing through a nearby building. The window shattered as his back slammed through five walls and then out the other side. Khan’s body rolled across the floor, but he managed to flip onto his feet albeit somewhat dazed. Khan slowly lifted himself off the floor. Kyouji was standing atop the building looking down at Khan with glee. Kyouji licked his lips in anticipation before raising his left hand.

“You’re still alive, good boy. I wanted to kill you with one of my other new techniques.” Khan looked up with blood dripping from a gash above his forehead. Blood slowly seeped into his right eye. That’s when the ground seemed to be darkening, Khan looked down in concern. When he gazed at the concrete he realized it wasn’t that the ground was getting darker, it was getting wet. The already dark sky above them brought down a heavy rain shower. Kyouji flexed his left hand and all the rain began to gather around it. Every single drop of the shower bent to his will and frothed around his now clenched hand. “I told you your level of skill wouldn’t be enough. Now you die!”

“Shit, Johan's move!” Khan once more entered his Orthodox Boxing stance. Kyouji’s fist was now completely engulfed in the rain and as he did the veins in his arms bulged. He was still growing more powerful as he harnessed more skills of his victims.

“How’s this? A technique with too many attacks for you to reflect! ” Kyouji leaped from the top of the building at Mach 12. Khan entered a horse stance, bringing his fists to his sides and preparing to use a last-ditch effort. Kyouji threw a punch and 10,000 piercing raindrops were fired at Khan like a mini-gun. Khan’s body ached but he would try to counter. The technique was devastating, just by being unleashed it shattered a trio of 750,000-ton skyscrapers around them. “This is your end boy, Fist of Tears!”

“Damn it, I just need a quick breather!” barked Khan. The barrage of raindrops was about to bombard Khan like bullets.

“Fractured Heaven!” a voice called out. Then just before any impact could be had all of the rain bullets would be deconstructed by a flurry of finger strikes in front of Khan that cast a mist over the area.

“What?” Kyouji looked on in confusion. There was a huge smokescreen of mist over where Khan had been standing, what’s worse is that he could sense an unfamiliar qi. “Who is that I-”

“I knew I sensed someone nearby earlier. Took your sweet time cutting in Rin, thanks,” joked Khan. He grasped his shoulder and looked ahead with a smile. In front of him stood a 5'7" woman no older than him with long yet layered lavender hair down to her waist with specks of raindrops dripping from her hands. Rin was dressed in a white miko uniform with red trim and she had fair porcelain-like skin. She was a total contrast to Khan's rugged chestnut complexion.

“You looked like you could handle it at first. You okay?” Rin looked back at Khan. Her eyes were a calm blue and though Khan wouldn’t admit it he felt a lot safer knowing she had his back. He even found himself staring for a moment. “Khan?”

“I’m fine. He’s lucky you jumped in when you did, I was about to start fighting seriously,” Rin rolled her eyes and smiled.

“Glad your humor hasn’t been broken. Stand back, I’ll handle it from here. I’ve been studying his fighting style. Seems like the Master was right, he improves his abilities and skills faster with every move in combat..”

“Yeah, he’s a real shit heel, listen just be careful. He managed to kill Kiki, Johan, and Ming-Ming so he's no joke. I made it a bit easier by cutting off an arm, but he’s still developing. The longer we drag this out the more skilled and the stronger he’ll get.” Rin nodded her head and stepped forward. Kyouji grits his teeth before landing on the concrete below with a loud thud. "Make sure you knock that asshole down a peg."

“Must you curse? Anyways, I’ve learned a lot while watching you two fight. I should at least be able to compete. I’ll trust you to re-enter the fight when you’ve caught your breath,” Khan gave her a thumbs up and nodded his head in agreement. Rin knew that if this enemy was able to develop so quickly she couldn't afford to hold back. Kyouji raised a fleshy eyebrow at the new challenger.

“Silly girl, you want to fight Kyouji? You're not fooling me. I can sense both of your qi levels. You two are exactly equal. If he can't beat me then you'll do no better." It was Rin's turn to raise an eyebrow.

"We’re equal in cultivation, yes, but level isn't everything. You’ll get yourself killed by playing with me, monster," Rin clenched her hands into fists. Knowing Kyouji was the murderer who had killed their friends nearly drove her up the wall, but she focused on the enemy. This wasn’t the time to let her emotions dictate her actions. Without warning Rin dashed towards the monster. Kyouji raised his arm and rain from the clouds once again engulfed his fist.

"Fist of Tears!"

Rin's gaze narrowed before she raised both her arms in preparation for the incoming bullet hell of raindrops. She had already seen through this move by watching Khan's fight. The barrage of rain bullets moved even faster than before- Mach 14- but she remained unfazed.

"This is for Kiki. Fractured Heaven!" Rin outstretched her pointing and middle fingers on both hands and started a furious chain of finger strikes. Kyouji watched in astonishment when he saw the rain bullets get deconstructed with every strike, becoming nothing more than vapor only for that too to disperse. Rin drew closer rapidly all while dismantling each drop that came her way. Khan smiled while using the time to recover. When Rin closed the distance her fingers struck a pressure point in Kyouji's side, fragmenting then atomizing one of his ribs and bursting open his spleen. The murderer shook with pain as his purple blood gushed from between clenched teeth.

"Fractured Heaven, fingertip strikes that increasingly deconstruct whatever point they hit. Look at her go Johan, she’s taking it to him."

Kyouji leaped back to gain some distance from Rin but it was in vain, she swept across the battlefield with the sleeves of her miko uniform fluttering behind her. The gray monster saw the fierce look in her eyes and for a moment felt a tinge of fear. That brief moment left an opening and Rin drove a sharp kick into Kyouji's gut to hunch him over then a palm strike to the face, he staggered back with streams of purple spilling from his nose.

"That was for Johan," Rin performed a sweeping motion of her hands and placed two fingers on Kyouji's chest. Her hand crackled with sparks of lightning. He looked down weakly before his expression became one of horror. "And this is for Ming-Ming! Strongfist: Thunderclap!"

Rin drove a one-inch punch into Kyouji's rib cage that sent lightning through his bones and shattered all the ribs on the right side of his chest. The force of the blow sent the stealer of techniques careening through the air, tearing up concrete around him in a line of devastation and destroying the entire block of buildings behind him. Rin drew a breath and took a moment to ease her tense muscles. Khan smiled, disappointed he didn't get to beat Kyouji by himself, but happy Rin could get the win. The air went quiet as Khan watched from a distance, but as he watched Rin gather herself he felt something in his mind. Block!

"Endless Hammer!"

"Rin look out!" shouts Khan.

Suddenly there was the loud sound of a crack. Rin's gaze shifted ahead only for a gray fist to come hurtling through the debris and smoke, crashing into her stomach. Rin spat onto the floor and was launched into the ground, her body streaking through the concrete leaving a long trail of destruction in her path. The punch was so heavy it burst a hole through the stomach of her miko uniform. The gray hand dragged her across the ground by her neck until eventually bringing her towards Khan trying to slam them both.

"Oh no you don't!" Khan put his hands in front to catch Rin from behind to stop her path of destruction before flipping over her and stomping on Kyouji's extended arm. Kyouji let out a howl of pain from the distance before retracting his limb. The wheezing Rin rubbed her bruised neck and coughed.

"Thanks…Khan," she whispered between coughs.

"Don't thank me yet, he's coming back for more," and right he was. Kyouji ran towards the duo of martial artists like a ravenous zombie, his body hunched and arm swaying from side to side aimlessly. The salivating monster now had two meals standing before him, how could he possibly control himself? "I think I've let you hog the spotlight long enough, let's jump him."

"I misjudged how quickly he could increase his strength, teamwork is our best option. But if we want to overcome the gap we'll need to be in sync. You still remember the steps?" Khan smirked and entered his Orthodox Boxing stance.

"Like you even need to ask," cracked Khan. Rin smiled and entered a Southpaw Boxing stance. "Let's make Master Brock proud."

"Endless Hammer!" Kyouji leaped towards them before once again extending his arm by dislocating it. The extended arm moved to strike Khan. It shot forth at blinding speeds, it was his fastest technique yet, moving twice as fast as the others at Mach 28. Yet, Khan could still see it coming. He had seen Kyouji use it once, now he knew the timing he needed to counterattack.

"Ming-Ming, I know you’ve gotta be furious…" Khan slid his foot across the ground and the familiar yellow light embraced his arms. "Because there’s no way your technique is this sloppy!"

Khan's palms struck Kyouji's fist and reversed it with the Yellow River Palm. The technique was then reflected upon Kyouji causing him to get hit in the face with his strike, stunning him in mid-air.

"Rin!" Rin capitalized and used Khan as a springboard to meet the airborne Kyouji.

"Strong Fist: Thunderclap!" The electrified punch struck Kyouji in the jaw, breaking it. Lightning surged through his skull and he was sent plummeting towards the concrete. Khan palmed Kyouji's head and then tossed him forward, keeping him just above the ground. He ran up to the gray monster and prepared a strike. Khan's right hand was engulfed in a violet torrent of crushing gravity, increasing its weight twofold.

"Brave Crusher!" Khan drove his fist square into the stomach of Kyouji- rupturing organs. Kyouji's broken jaw spewed a fountain of his purple blood. The punch embedded the murderer in the concrete, unable to move as he felt the heightened gravity pressing down upon him. Khan and Rin stood over the creature, fury evident in their eyes.

"Let's finish this," said Khan.

"Gladly," confirmed Rin. The two leaped 10 meters into the air, spinning in unison with one another. Rin's grace and Khan's roughness coupled together made a calm yet ferocious combo.

"Let's end this bastard!" Khan yelled. Rin nodded in agreement. The two began to spin even faster as they descended upon Kyouji.

Kyouji looked up but even in his agony, he retaliated. He pointed upwards before spreading his middle and pointing fingers then swiping down through the air. A large arc of flame erupted from his hand threatening to consume Khan and Rin.

"Burning Crescent!" yelled Kyouji. The flames were hot enough to liquefy a steel battleship.

"Let's end this Khan. Be ready!" Rin's arms and legs now shimmered with a red glow.

"Who are you kidding? This is my favorite part!" Khan's arms and legs now shined with a blue hue. Both of them together would charge headlong into the arc of flame before unleashing a single attack. Their strongest techniques, both with tenfold the power of any other strike in their arsenal.

"Shooting Comets!" roared Khan.

"Falling Meteors!" roared Rin. The twin barrages of red and blue melded together with the makings of a seasoned duo. A mark of hundreds of hours spent practicing together. Each technique saw the user unleash a flurry of super high-speed strikes all contained within a single blow. Each blow was utterly devastating, obliterating enemies. The dance of red and blue pierced the inferno causing the fire to burn along their synchronized limbs. With the grace and ferocity in which they moved, they would look like a descending yin-yang symbol of red and blue flames. Kyouji was powerless to resist his punishment. A combined 82,304 strikes rained down upon him in pounding waves. The combined force was so great it shook the entire abandoned metropolis around them.

A myriad of punches and kicks bombarded the creature, not a single inch of his body was left untouched. With each strike, his flesh would break, and his arms and legs were blown away and turned to dust. Kyouji's bones turned to powder and his remains exploded. All he could do was muster a final scream before that too was obliterated by the assault. Vengeance was theirs.