Randolph calmly approached Zao-Huwang who held the Katana [竜舌焼: Scorched Dragon's Tongue] in his hand tightly.
[竜舌焼] one of the three cursed Katanas of Edoland To wield [竜舌焼] was to hold an army in your hands. Yet Randolph brandished no weapon, instead he encased his right hand in Aura as he moved closer and closer to Zao. Each of his footsteps loud and echoing like the clacking hooves of a horse.
“Do you think I'm weak?” Zao asked, wrinkling his brow.
“Of course not, that’s why I’m not limiting myself with a weapon.” Randolph answered with a warm smile.
[Blind Tiger Style: Leaping Fang!]
Zao lunged at Randolph with his katana overhead, a clear derivative of the Wolf Fang Styles Lupus technique.
Randolph threw his forearm up and the two clashed, mana rippled in sparks of vibrant colors and the air crackled.
Zao grimaced as he felt Randolph not even budge from the attack. He retreated backwards, and slid across the floor before changing his stance. “I see, you truly are powerful…” Sweat dripped down Zaos cheek as those words left his lips. “But I’ll not be deterred, I will slay you even if it costs me my life.”
Randolph felt a slight pain in his arm like he’d bumped it onto the corner of a counter. [竜舌焼] is stronger then I imagined, if I hadn’t been more careful he might have actually drew blood… but [竜舌焼] isn’t the only thing that’s powerful, he has a strange aura around him. One that permeates a deadly trick. Thought Randolph waving his arm through the air. His coat was a specially forged magic item known as [Chlamys]. It not only kept him safe from the elements no matter the weather but also acted as an armor. One greater than any kind used in a conventional war.
Making the first move this time Randolph kicked off the floor with a roundhouse kick aiming for Zaos right arm.
“!” Zao jumped to the side to avoid the attack but Randolph spun through the air and the moment his foot touched the ground he kicked off it once again this time using his opposite foot.
[Blind Tiger Style: Wolf Slayer!]
[竜舌焼] came down upon Randolph's leg with a crackle of mana, Zao put his whole body into the swing and roared as he pushed against Randolph's leg.
Randolph suddenly flipped backwards pulling his leg away and Zao stumbled forwards losing his balance for less then a second. Randolph in that incomprehensible amount of time spun around with another kick this time aiming for Zaos head.
As Randolph's kick flew at the blind swordsman he flicked [竜舌焼] to the side blocking the attack as if off reflex alone. Randolph was pushed back and rolled across the floor before jumping to his feet with a confused grin.
I knew his observation would be great to support his lacking eyesight but to think he can even sense the future, how impressive!
Zao charged at Randolph once again and Randolph met him with his enhanced arm. [竜舌焼] and Randolph's arm met clashed with a sound similar to two trains crashing into one another. Sparks of mana radiated through the whole chamber.
Even if a master ranked magic user was to watch this battle they’d see nothing other than flickering figures, like speed lines in real life dancing around with sparks of colorful electricity and a sound like nails on a chalkboard.
Randolph swept Zaos leg out from under him and Zao stumbled to the side, as he did so he stabbed [竜舌焼] into the ground and used it as a support to flip himself over avoiding the punch Randolph threw in his direction. Randolph, not relenting, chased after Zao and the pair continued to clash increasing their speed. Each of Zao's sword swings cracked like a whip, the sound barrier shattered repeatedly.
Zao frowned and scrunched his face as he felt the overwhelming presence of Randolph, he had little room to attack as most of his movements were on the defense. Despite this he had yet to incur a single scrape or bruise, he stayed focused sensing each attack as they came at him and countering. “You truly wish to humiliate me more do you? Making me go all out against someone other than the Emperor himself?” Zao asked, curling his lips into a nervous grimace.
“There’s nothing humiliating about using the power you’ve cultivated, show me everything.” Randolph said, stomping his foot on the ground, shattering it and sending rubble into the air. Show me what I want to see… He thought, flicking his eyes around searching for Zao-Huwang.
“To think you’d even go so far as to give me an advantage, Sir Freyr… you are a tricky man.” Zao muttered, biting his lip. His observation acted like a mini map in a video game or a rough echo location. He could understand the movement of those around him and the general shape of both living and non living constructs. Though one would think adding more items like rubble to that map would be a weakness it actually made it easier for Zao to find a blind spot in his opponent.
[Blind Tiger Style: Leaping Maw!]
Zao jumped at the back right of Randolph's hip, the place where he saw an opening in both Randolph's stance and line of sight, a radius of less than half of an inch but it was enough for Zao to make his move. He thrust his Katana forwards like a rapier and aimed for the back of Randolph's right side; he'd slice straight through his liver and then go for his head.
“!?”
Right as [竜舌焼] was about to touch his coat Randolph vanished, he had jumped in the air and and flipped forwards. His foot came down on the blade of [竜舌焼] but Zao twisted the katana in his hands and swung it upwards now aiming for between Randolph's legs.
Randolph leaned to the side and fell to the floor with a cartwheel avoiding the attack. Zao spun around and leapt forwards chasing after the Emperor with [竜舌焼] swinging it at the man who continued to dodge by a hair's length.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Will you keep running like a coward or fight back!?” Zao yelled a vein thumping on his forehead.
“That depends on whether or not you can keep up with me.” Randolph grinned, he threw his knee up pushing [竜舌焼] to the side and threw a punch at Zao who jerked his body away right as Randolph's fist encroached on his person. Though only Randolph's knuckle grazed his arm it was enough to rip the outer layer of skin off and cause the sleeve on his purple Hanfu to quickly turn black from blood.
Zao flicked his hips and swung [竜舌焼] with one hand aiming for Randolph's side. Randolph spun around and jumped back but [竜舌焼] managed to slice the front of his shirt which was exposed by his open coat. It sliced the cloth revealing his abs and tickling them with the wind.
There it was! Even if just for a moment he did something different! Randolph thought as he jumped back.
Zao chased after him throwing a barrage of swings with [竜舌焼] each one shattering the sound barrier multiple times, Randolph now on the defensive met them with his reinforced arms and a wide smile. “Impressive!” He laughed.
Titan watched Randolph and Zao with a frown, this was nothing he couldn’t have done himself. Zao was certainly powerful but not to the point of being a great threat. It seemed as though Randolph was doing this to humor himself. Something Titan found strange.
Does this swordsman have something you desire? Do you want to make him a part of the Gotterwache? Or are you simply wanting to test the waters with the strongest Divine General? Titan wondered. His black camera-like eyes followed the motions of both men as they flew across the hall exchanging thousands of blows a minute. Neither side wanted to back down and the battle had a long way to go.
[Blind Tiger Style: Tendon Rupture!] Zao dove to the floor and flipped himself in the air aiming [竜舌焼] at Randolph's achilles heel.
“!?”
Randolph jumped into the air to avoid the attack and Zao jumped up after him, They both bounced around the room as they continued to battle.
Despite being the only one to sweat and be out of breath Zao felt nothing but pride in himself. He was overcome with joy and smiled as he continued to clash with Randolph.
When was the last time I got to fight someone like this? I can’t remember, it has to have been decades. Even when challenged by the other Divine Generals to take the first rank it never was anything like this. I’d win without much challenge, perhaps a few cuts but that was all. Now here I am pouring my soul into a fight with this man, and he is just playing with me! I should feel angry but I can’t help but feel overjoyed, maybe my old age is making me sick.
They’d only been in battle for under ten minutes but they’d traded nearly half a million blows each. Slowly they both increased their strength and power until Randolph forced Zao to do almost as much as he could.
“Tell me Zao, how did you become the strongest Divine General? Was it before or after you were blinded?” Randolph asked.
“I became a Divine General after slaying a lead general from an aggressive rebellion. I lost my eye sight shortly after that and it surely led to me becoming the strongest!” Zao answered.
As they spoke they still fought bouncing around the room, they moved so fast it looked like there were multiple of them.
“How did you lose your eyesight?” Randolph asked.
“...” Zao didn’t respond, his bottom lip trembled and he hesitated for a second, in that lapse of action Randolph jabbed him in the stomach with a pop. Zao flew to the floor with an explosion of tile and dust, he rolled some distance before staggering to his feet. The side of his stomach looked as though someone had taken a sword to it, it bled profusely and his Hanfu had been shredded open.
Upside down on the roof stood Randolph, his boots [Angel Wings] had the enchantment of [Ascension] letting him walk on any surface he pleased. He stared down at Zao with his trademark cold neutral face.
“Don’t underestimate me dammit!” Zao grumbled, rising to his feet. “I’m an excuse of a Royal Guard to fall for your word play!” His stomach began to heal at a surprisingly average rate. It would take at least an hour for the entire thing to close and ten minutes for him to fight at full power again.
“I asked you a question, why don't you answer it?” Randolph asked.
“I don’t heed the requests of anyone other than my Emperor!”
“I see…” Randolph frowned. He dropped down from the roof and flipped forwards landing on his feet. He stood there with his hands in his coat pocket staring at Zao who grit his teeth in pain. But what was more painful then his injury was that question Randolph had asked, one which hurt his very soul to hear.
# # #
I was a young man at the time, the lowest ranking of the Divine Generals. Despite my low ranking the Emperor himself had requested that I become his personal guard even closer to him than the Four Cardinal Court Guards. I was terrified of making a mistake, afraid of my weakness and how I was the last one protecting the Emperor from an attack. The idea ate me alive.
Occasionally the Emperor would call me into his throne room and I’d slip through the door and kneel in front of the curtain which obscured him from my view. He’d ask me about the outside world and what life was like as a normal man.
I was shocked at his questions, God himself was asking me about my everyday life. I of course answered honestly and he’d laugh at my worries and wave off my insecurities as something only mortals could fret over.
Despite most of the time we spent together being him mocking me I found it enjoyable. I thought of him as a friend if I dare say a foolish idea which should have had my head lopped off my shoulders.
“I like you, Iron General.” He said one day.
“...” I was speechless and didn’t know how to respond so he continued without pause.
“Up until this point I’ve viewed you mortals as no more than swine or cattle on a farm. Beasts that serve no purpose other than fulfilling my pallet of desires. But you Iron General are different, you are not blinded by my greatness. You can think of me as a mortal.”
“I would never think such things my lord!” I interrupted him, slamming my head to the floor. “I would never think of you as a low-”
“Silence.” Emperor Orochi said, silencing me.
I continued to kneel on my hands and knees with my head glued to the floor and I kept my mouth shut.
“At first I found it disgusting and wanted to have you flayed for it, but once we began to converse I found you pleasant. Like a wild rat which you throw crumbs to as you leave your home. You’ve become a part of my daily routine and I like it.”
I was still speechless, without saying another word the Emperor signaled for me to leave his presence and I did so. Our days together continued like this for another few months until something horrible happened.
As an assassin from a rebellious group of democrats with high level illusion magic slipped through my sight. He blended in with the air itselfs and my eyes failed to see him. He ambushed the Emperor who of course killed him instantly and I ran into his chamber upon hearing the man's screams of anguish.
Once inside I saw the Assassin in his cloak and put the pieces together in my head. I apologized and kneeled before the Emperor willing to take any punishment given.
“Remove your eyes.” He said emerging from behind the curtain.
My lips quivered and my teeth chattered as I stared at him in confusion.
“You said your eyes betrayed you, am I correct? In my Empire we kill those who betray us. So kill your betrayer.”
I gulped loudly and pulled the small silver knife from inside my Hanfu. My hands shook as I stared at the blade which reflected my pitiful state.
“If you refuse to kill the traitor would that not be treason against the empire and me by extension Iron General?” The Emperor asked. I could see his face through the reflection of my blade. The last thing I ever saw, a face with an expression I refuse to describe. After that I only saw darkness.
image [https://i.imgur.com/XnsaOF6.png]