With a battle cry Goken leapt at Gou, in his hand he held his sword [Onigiri] ready to slice the man's head off his shoulders.

“Hmph.” Gou grunted swinging his log like weapon [树干: Kanchi] into Gokens stomach.

“Ack!” Goken was thrown backwards, smashing through many trees and into a small pavilion which collapsed on top of him.

In only the handful of hours since the raid had begun nearly an eighth of the Dragon Gods Place had been destroyed. If the fighting continued the entire city of Hebi could be in danger.

[Thread Manipulation Extension Technique: Kinbaku Binding!]

From behind Gou came Xing throwing a net of threads over the giant man which bound him tightly. The razor sharp string dug into the man's skin yet didn’t draw blood, his hide-like skin too durable.

“Skin tough!?” Xing grunted watching Gou flex his muscles.

With a crack the threads exploded off of Gou and he spun around smashing the end of [树干: Kanchi] into Xing knocking him backwards. Blood dripped out of Xings mouth as he stumbled over his own feet.

[Thread Manipulation Extension Technique: One Thousand Death!]

Threads wrapped around [树干: Kanchi] and Xing restricted them in an attempt to slice the log apart but he met an unexpected great resistance.

“Tch, you’re annoying.” Gou grunted thrusting [树干: Kanchi] into Xing once again this time hard enough to shatter the sound barrier and send the latter soaring through the air and into a tree with a rumble.

[Branch Spears]

Out of the ground and in front of Gou grew multiple spears made of twisted and aged wood. They shot towards Xing who threw his arms out in a panic.

[Thread Manipulation Extension Technique: Chojou!]

The threads across Xing's body congealed into a shield which the spears stabbed into.

“Over here Troll!”

Gou flicked his head around to meet the knee of Goken who had his two swords [Cloud Cutter] and [Onigiri] in hand. He kicked off Gous chest and spun in the air throwing the two swords down at Gou who batted them away with [树干: Kanchi]

Behind Goken materialized three more swords which shot down to Gou embedding themselves into [树干: Kanchi] like a dart board.

Conjuring [Cloud Cutter] and [Onigiri] once more Goken came down on [树干: Kanchi] with the two swords carving a deep X into the log.

[竹监狱: Root Cage!]

From the ground behind Goken shot out knots of wood which wrapped around his arms and legs ripping him to the ground.

“What the hell is this!?” Goken cried trying to break free.

“Nature Kid, don't underestimate it.” Gou laughed watching more wood pile atop Goken forming a cocoon like trap.

[Thread Manipulation Extension Technique: All Encompassing Thread Domain!]

“!?”

The ground beneath Gou and Goken began to tremble and threads burst out from the ground slicing the earth away in a grid like pattern. Whipping upwards the threads trapped Gou and Goken in a net which was hung up by several tree branches across the garden.

Jumping down from one of these trees was Xing, his eyes narrowed and body covered in sweat. “Now Angry!” He growled, pulling the net tighter.

“Shit…” Gou grumbled as the threads constricted around [树干: Kanchi] locking it into place and forcing his back against the encroaching razor sharp threads of the net.

Suddenly bursting from the wooden cocoon was Goken with a scream.

“A hero won’t fall for such traps!” He cried lunging at Gou with his two swords. Gou kneed [树干: Kanchi] upwards and the ends were sliced off. The middle portion flew up and into Goken who met it with his swords.

“Guraah!” Goken yelled veins bulging across his body as he carved almost completely through the log.

When did he get stronger? Gou furrowed his brow and the tightening net began to slice his arm open. With a growl he grabbed [树干: Kanchi] and pushed it upwards forcing Goken against the roof of the net.

“Damn you villain!” Goken yelped as his back was carved into.

“Bad Goken!” Xing hissed releasing Thread Manipulation Extension Technique: All Encompassing Thread Domain]. The net went limp and the threads shot back down to Xings body wrapping themselves around him.

Gou and Goken fell from the sky and their heated battle continued. Goken conjured his three other swords and shot them at Gou.

Gou dodged one and parried the other with the remains of [树干: Kanchi] but the third stabbed him through the bicep completely. With a frustrated yell he swung [树干: Kanchi] down onto Gokens head like a hammer throwing him to the ground with a crash.

“Ow!” Goken yelped, his body embedded into the soil.

Xing leapt at and came up behind Gou his arms covered in metal threads.

[Thread Manipulation Extension Technique: Sijiyaing!]

Gou spun around with what little remained of [树干: Kanchi] and met a punch from Xing the two casting bolts of mana through the air.

Falling to the floor with a crash, bits of rubble flew into the air and Xing whipped those at Gou with his threads acting like a slingshot.

“What part of being annoying did you not understand!?” Gou growled, spitting his cigarette to the floor and opening his mouth wide.

“!?”

[Branch Spear]

From his throat came a wooden spear which flew at Xing’s head.

SLICE!

A conjured sword shot down from the sky stabbing the spear down into the ground.

“Don’t hurt my friend!” Goken screamed, leaping at Gous' backs with a dual slice.

A mass of wood sprouted out from Gous back, ripping the flesh away and forming a crude armor which Goken hacked into.

“I’m not done yet!” Goken yelled, continuing to carve at the wood.

“You little shits!” Gou growled looking at Xing and Goken with crazed eyes.

“Fall for trap, Goken strong when hero.” Xing snickered, smashing his fist into Gous stomach.

“Gah!” Blood flew from Gous mouth and his eyes blurred, Goken grew closer and closer to his spine and Xing continued to beat the front of him. When the green kid feels and is cheered on like a hero he grows stronger!? “Well then I’ll just have to be an even stronger villain!” He laughed.

From the ground around them sprouted pillars of wood which shot into the sky forming a dome like structure.

“!”

Sensing what was coming Xing tried to jump back but his foot was caught by a tree root grabbing him.

The dome fully formed Gou used it as a base for his barrier, something he wasn’t able to cast without a frame.

[Forbidden Jungle: Lost Pioneers Death Rattle!]

Both Xing and Goken grew nervous at the Territory's creation. From all around them shot out tree roots grabbing Goken and restraining him.

“Let me go damnit!” He argued trying to break free.

“No good!” Xing growled, charging forwards.

[Thread Manipulation Extension Technique: Wire Missile]

Throwing his hands out three bundles of thread in the shape of missiles flew at Gou.

Stomping his foot on the floor Gou conjured a new [树干: Kanchi]. He swung [树干: Kanchi] at the missiles which exploded into a net of threads which fell down on Gou attempting to restrain him. In response two large hands made of wood stretched out from the territory's roof and grabbed The net tightly so it could neither fall on Gou or be retrieved by Xing.

“Idiot!” Gou laughed smashing the back of [树干: Kanchi] into Gokens stomach like a battering ram. Goken vomited blood which pooled beneath him and his rib cage shattered.

Xing leapt at Gou with a punch which Gou met with [树干: Kanchi]. Xing was thrown to the side and spikes shout out of the ground to skewer him.

[Thread Manipulation Extension Technique: Zipline!]

Xing swung over the spikes missing them by less than an inch, the spikes continued to grow out of the floor towards him as he swung through the air heading back for Gou.

“Cut the thread!” Gou barked, as commanded the territory formed a hand which ripped Xing’s Zipline thread from the roof.

[Thread Manipulation Extension Technique: Sijiyaing!]

Xing formed a bubble of threads around himself as he crashed to the floor. The spikes which had continued to follow him managed to pierce the side of the bubble and stab into his arm and leg drawing a fair amount of blood.

Even stronger than metal… Xing winced, bouncing off the floor back into the air.

[Thread Manipulation Extension Technique: Zipline!]

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

The bubble popped and the threads spread back around Xing except for one which clung to the ceiling. Xing flew at Gou directly with a drop kick, throwing the wood general backwards.

Gou slid back some ways and then jumped forward himself swinging [树干: Kanchi] down onto Xings head like a hammer.

“!”

Xing threw his arms up to catch the log which upon impact shook him down to his bones. His legs trembled and the cuts across his body only sprayed more blood.

“Haha!” Gou cackled with a twisted grin. He pushed down on [树干: Kanchi] harder forcing Xing further down. The threads across Xing's body quickly wrapped around his arms and knees holding them in place as his bones began to splinter.

“You strong, but made bad choice.” Xing said with a strained smile.

[Blood Threads!]

The blood which had been trickling down from Xing's open wounds began to congeal and clump together. They spun into tight strings which wrapped around each other to form thick and powerful jelly like threads of blood.

“!”

The Threads snapped upwards easily slicing Gous [树干: Kanchi] into tiny pieces.

“What!?” Gou grunted with flared nostrils.

[Wood Spears!]

From the territories every corner came spears made of twisted wood. Not a single gap was present in their formation as they raced towards Xing.

[Blood Threads: One Thousand Death!]

The blood threads whipped through the air crackling the sound barrier with every movement. The spears were instantly reduced to saw dust which fell like snowflakes. Xing leapt at Gou, smashing his leg into the ladder's stomach.

“!”

Gou was thrown back across the entire territory, blood flying from his mouth. He smashed into the side of the territory with a crash, the entire space shaking like it was hit by an earthquake.

“Goken be hero!” Xing cried, casting his blood threads at the restrained man. They sliced him free and he fell to the floor with a light thud.

[Blood Threads: Stitch!]

The threads climbed through Gokens mouth down his throat and into his chest. They wrapped around his fragmented ribs binding them back together and stitching his pierced organs whole.

“Give me a moment…” Goken coughed as the threads retreated from his mouth back to Xing.

“Be fast!” Xing grunted.

“!”

Something flew at Xing head on, a large log of wood like an uprooted tree. He tried to jump back to avoid the projectile but his foot was one again caught by tree root like trap

BAM!

The log smashed into Xing, ripping him from the floor. He was thrown across the territory and a giant wooden hand came down from above to crush him.

[Forest Gods Devastation!]

The hand made of wood came from the roof and shot down at Xing.

[Blood Threads: One Thousand Death!]

The giant hand was sliced apart into little blocks of wood and Xing came to a stop with a skid. “Not good…” He muttered, feeling his stomach swell with blood.

“Gurrrah!”

From behind Gou came Goken with his sword [Snow Storm] over head.

“!”

Gou whipped around with a newly conjured [树干:Kanchi] which Gokens sword dug deep into.

[Blood Threads: Cable Missile!]

Xing threw his hands and from them came three missiles formed of blood threads. They shot out at Gou who slammed his foot down conjuring a wall of wood which the missiles exploded on. The missiles erupted into a spray of blood threads which sliced through the wall easily and continued to Gou, lashing his skin with a spray of blood and torn flesh.

“Damn you!”Gou roared. Stomping his foot and rotating his hips he swung [树干:Kanchi] like a bat and Goken was flung from the log towards Xing.

[Thread Manipulation Extension Technique: Chojou!]

Xing formed a net of cloth which Goken flew into and like a sling shot it bounced him back towards Gou.

Goken conjured Onigiri in his free hand and came down onto Gou swinging the two swords at [树干:Kanchi]. “Gurrrrah!” He cried as they sliced through the wood completely.

Xing followed Goken jumping over him and Gou who tried to conjure another volley of spears from the roof.

[Blood Threads: Ten Thousand Death!]

The blood threads whipped upwards against the territory's roof ripping it apart and destroying any chance of the spears being conjured.

“Goken! Kill now!” Xing screamed at the top of his lungs.

“Thank you, Xing! It was the power of friendship that made this possible!” Goken stabbed [Onigiri] Deep into the center of Gous chest

CRACK!

The wooden dome collapsed breaking into splinters of wood of which fell down to the muddy floor.

Rain poured down onto the three men from the open sky above. A storm of unknown origin had crept up on them but if one had to guess it would be because of Zhenwu-Guis blast of fire.

“Heh, Rain. You’re outta luck now kids.” Gou coughed as blood trickled from the corners of his mouth.

“!”

Xing sensed a spike in Gous mana production and quickly cast a rope of threads around Goken pulling to his side.

“Xing!?” Goken yelled confused.

“No good! Made trap!” Xing yelled back.

[Thread Manipulation Extension Technique: Zipline!]

Xing grabbed Goken by the hand and retreated into a tree. They watched as Gou exploded into a mass of wood.

[Humble Guardian Of The Sacred Jungle: Humbaba!]

Wood grew out of every pore and orifice of Gou, it tore at his flesh and snapped his bones out of place. The wood wrapped around him and then continued to pile atop itself into a horrific growing mass which began to form a beast like shape.

He over doubled his height and now stood nearly three stories tall and took the shape of some primordial demon of the forest. He had a multitude of arms which sprouted from his torso and a face stone cold like a statue.

The beast opened its mouth and a storm of thick and thorned green vines shot out at Xing and Goken.

“Gurrah!” Goken yelled jumping from the tree running at the Vines with two swords in his hand. From behind him he conjured his other three swords and cast them at Gous transformation, slicing into the wood but not doing any damage.

“Damn!” Goken grunted as he sliced through the vines which whipped at him. Each was covered by hundreds of long thorns which ripped at his flesh like a tiger's claw.

[Blood Threads: Death Binding!] Xing threw out threads which whipped against the wooden monster, they sliced clean into the beast cutting off a few of its many arms but those quickly regrew the rain increasing its speed.

Nature element… mix of Earth, Wind and Water. Rain make grow faster. Xing frowned.

The wooden behemoth opened its mouth wider and from it shot out hundreds of wooden spears flying at Xing who retaliated with [Blood Threads Chojou] Forming a shield around him which the spears pelted against. Blood very low! No good much more and die! Xing thought, his teeth chattering.

“So you’ve revealed your true form now, villain!?” Goken yelled, continuing to fight the never ending swarm of vines. “But you have a damaged core inside this beast somewhere! If we get to that you’re a goner!” Despite his confident tone and words Goken too felt exhaustion and pain taking over. He struggled with each swing of his sword but continued further. “A hero never gives up! Even when he’s tired or exhausted he continues to fight until he wins!” As Goken yelled these things his movements grew quicker, each attack stronger but he was still being overwhelmed.

“!”

From under Goken grew a massive hand made of wood which crushed him in its palm. It squeezed him tightly and the many thorns on the vines riddled him with holes like an iron maiden would.

[Blood Threads: One Thousand Death!]

Xing's blood threads split the giant hand and he pulled Goken back into the tree he sat in.

“Xing!” Goken grunted trying not to collapse from the pain he felt across his body.

“Almost over like you said, I use armor and you kill core.” Xing wheezed, ripping his face mask off. His lips were blue and his teeth chattered as he spoke.

“But it’s too dangerous for you to-”

“If you hero then save from myself! Kill quick so I not die!” Xing grunted jumping at the monster Gou had become.

“Of course I will!” Goken yelled with a new found energy. He leapt after Xing and as the swarm of vines once again shot out at him he sliced them each easily without taking a single injury. “The power of friendship triumphs all else!”

Xing who’d leapt at Gous monstrous form was up in the air and flexed his body. Blood sprayed like a hydrant from each of his wounds and the blood threads continued to generate.

[Blood Threads: Bleeding Warrior!]

Blood threads wrapped around Xing's fist forming a gauntlet up to his elbow. He came down onto Gous' back with a punch, the arms which riddled the monster's torso tried to smack him away but Xing punched straight through them, they exploded easily into specs of sawdust mixed with the drops of rain.

[Deus Ex Machina!]

Bolts of mana crackled as Xing's fist slammed into Gous back, the top half of the beast exploded, massive pieces of wood flew out across the palace blowing holes in castles and buildings. The earth trembled and the air vibrated violently from the amount of energy exerted.

Goken leapt up onto the beast's exposed mid section and began to hack at what remained with his two swords. He dug through the wood which regenerated in a panic boosted by the rain.

[Blood Threads: One Thousand Death!] Xing decast the blood threads around his body and threw them down onto the beast's remaining mass. They constricted around the wood and sliced it into square chunks clearing more room to find the core.

“Come out coward!” Goken yelled as he dug further and further into the wooded mass with his swords.

“!”

Gous face shot out the mass of wood, his mouth wide open.

[Wood Spear!]

From his throat shot out a spear which flew towards the center of Gokens face.

“Shit!” Goken yelped, falling backwards. The spear nicked his cheek, slicing it deep enough to reveal the bone.

[Blood Thread: Cable Missile!] From a tree above Xing shot down missiles formed of his blood threads which blew open the wooden mass further exposing Gou.

“!”

“Blegh!” Xing gagged, his body frozen. His already light head became nearly weightless and he lost his balance, falling out of the tree branch he stood on he crashed to the muddy floor with a splat.

“Thank you, Xing!” Goken yelled, jumping towards Gous' now fully exposed body and swinging his sword.

Gou met him with a newly conjured [树干:Kanchi] and their weapons clashed with sparks of mana rippling through the air. Gou looked just as horrible as Xing and Goken did, barely keeping himself standing.

“Gurrrah!” Goken roared as he swung his swords at Gou so fast it looked like he had eight arms.

“Damnit!” Gou groaned, feeling himself be pushed back. He swung [树干: Kanchi] like a bat and it smashed into Gokens side throwing him through the air.

“I won't let you escape!” Goken grunted stabbing [Cloud Cutter] in the floor to catch himself. He swung back around to Gou with [Onigiri] overhead.

Gou swung [树干:Kanchin] over head intending to pop Gokens skull but his weapon was suddenly sliced apart to nothing but splinter of wood.

“You rat!” Gou yelled seeing thin threads retract back to Xing who laid on the floor with a smirk.

“Friendship triumphs over all else!” Goken yelled his sword slicing into Gous neck with a spray of blood.

“Gurrrah!” He and Gou both screamed, Wood sprouted from Gous exposed muscle shielding his neck but Goken was too fast and strong. His sword completely sliced through Gous neck with a snap throwing it to the mud where it sank.

“I AM A HERO!” Goken screamed out as loud as he could. His sword deconjured and he stumbled backwards, falling to the floor with a splash of mud. His entire body ached and eye lids felt like they each weighed a thousand lbs.

Xing forced himself to his feet and limped over to Goken. The [Deus Ex Machina] from before being just enough to prevent him from dying of blood loss.

“We win.” He grunted as he grabbed Goken and dragged him under a nearby pavilion out of the rain.

“I wonder if Randolph has beat Orochi yet?” Goken asked with a cough as he sat against a wooden pillar.

“No, they not fight yet, when they do we feel it.”

“!”

Just then by pure coincidence there was a surge of mana. Like a nuclear bomb exploded it swept over the entire capital of Hebi. A blue and Yellow Aura both overwhelmingly confident and strong. A battle between two Gods had begun, one which threatened not only the Taiponbo continent itself but the entire world.