“KILL!”

“KILL!”

“KILL!”

The three Sun Imperial Guards, led by Killaman, charged towards Lu Jade with synchronized fury. They slithered across the jade pond's surface, leaving a trail of agitated ripples in their wake as they moved in for the kill.

“This little bastard, I’ll rip out his tongue and wear it as a badge!”

“Such arrogance, challenging those loyal to the Emperor, surely, his death won't be quick.”

They launched a coordinated assault. Fangs were snapping like steel traps. They delivered bone-jarring headbutts, whip their tails with enough force to pulverize boulders, even spat streams of acidic venom that hissed as it hit those delicate blossoms and instantly wilted their beautiful pink petals.

But Lu Jade remained unscathed. He slithered with a newfound grace and confidence. Each movement was fluid as he weaved through the attacks.

It was as if he were anticipating those deadly strikes with a mastery, and to their increasing horror, there wasn't even a drop of sweat on his scaled back. This sight unnerved them more so than anything else he’d conjure within this Jade Flower Domain.

WHAM! WHOOSH!

Killaman’s ‘Sun Cycle’ which was building up spinning momentum at his tail, whizzed towards Lu Jade's neck. But his serpentine body simply flowed like water around that deadly attack before he continued those movements of grace.

Seeing their leader’s strike fail, the other guards also detached those bronze discs from their backs and hurled them towards their agile opponent with venom dripping laughter.

“Ssssuch a worthy opponent! Let’sss make your demise as swift as your tongue, little bastard.”

“Damn! He’s as slippery as baby oil!”

Their curses and insults fueled Lu Jade's growing confidence. “Is that all you got?” He hissed with a touch of mockery as those Phantom Willow Grasses rustled a battle cry in response.

“It’s my turn now."

"Willowing Hands!”

From those depths of the Jade Flower Domain where the plants radiated a brilliant glow, three enormous arms sprouted from the earth with an ear-splitting CRACK! They were composed entirely of Phantom Willow Grass that resembled jade tendrils and possessed a strength exceeding even Lu Ignis’s mighty coils. It was a terrifying sight that had even Lu Ruby gasping from above.

“He…he could conjure such a thing?!” She was baffled and that amusement she'd felt before, it was slowly being replaced with something she'd never felt before. It was a primal annoyance.

"What?! But how?"

Those guards barely had a moment to comprehend this technique’s appearance and magnitude before their world was upside down, and those frantic screams of defiance from their leader were nothing but echoes in a hurricane of green!

WHAM!

They were snagged from every angle by the ‘Willowing Hands’.

Lu Jade watched with delight, "Foolishsss foolssss… my Phantom Willow Grass hungerssss for sssnake blood." Then he slammed their captured forms together before him, causing those armor to clatter and groan as their Solar Essences flickered in pain.

CRACK!

Those once-proud warriors lost consciousness instantly!

With a cruel twist of his monstrous tail, Lu Jade tossed their broken bodies directly below the Red Chariot with a disgusted snort.

"Hmmm... Rubbish!"

"What?!” Lu Ruby screamed!

Those fools had failed to capture that pathetic little snake! Even worse, they'd fallen unconscious before a real attack could be launched, a humiliation beyond even her wildest nightmares.

This wasn’t a game anymore, it was a challenge.

She didn’t hesitate. She unleashed those ancient energies she’d honed through years of training with those stern yet nurturing elders in Fol Ash. A potent fire was resonating between her scales.

"Such a display! Thissss betrayal… I should have had your tongue removed agesss ago. You think a few dancing grassessss can challenge me?! My powers are on a level you could never attain! I'm the true descendant of the Emperor's legacy!"

"You may have hisssss ssscalesss and fangsss, Lu Ruby, but unlike you. I protect those in need! You only destroy!" Lu Jade spat back as his tail slashed in the air like a whip.

This exchange didn’t last because for them both, words were nothing but useless pleas from those about to be crushed underfoot.

“Hmm, you ssseem to have grown ssstronger, little Jade Sssserpent.”

Those words had an undercurrent of respect but carried none of that joy from their childhood.

“It would appear asss though all those beatings were for nothing, hahaha!" Lu Ruby’s sarcastic laughter had those jade flowers above wilting.

Lu Jade recoiled in disgust. The arrogance! How she delighted in bringing pain! He had enough.

Then with a sly smile on her fangs and a terrifying glow in those blood-soaked eyes she said. “Thisss, isss how I play, you ssssee.”

Then…

BAM!

She extended a long crimson tail that slammed down onto those unconscious servants. Her attack was as swift as it was unexpected.

The three Sun Imperial Guards who lay sprawled on the pond's muddy bank. They exploded into crimson mists.

“Those guards…" Even Lu Jade was taken aback by her callousness. It had stunned him completely for a heartbeat.

"What good are guardsss if they fail to protect?!" Lu Ruby hissed arrogantly. Her disregard for life amplified her menace, for those who serve only exist to extend their master’s will. It was the order she understood.

"That… How could you!" Lu Jade couldn't hold back.

The memory of his suffering in her presence, of how those elders laughed and how her father, their Father never even bat an eyelid while he cried in the corner because of those injuries. It was just a game to them! His rage was potent!

“Those were your companions! And… you!"

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Those words that came tumbling from his jaws didn't need to be completed because she interrupted with arrogant mockery.

“Are you defending trash? Their sacrifice, It pleasessss me!” Those chills she felt, they only made her more determined to rip his scales from his body, but this time, it wouldn't be a quick death,

“Sssspare me your lectures, traitorousss sssibling. I’ve alwaysss been better than you. You ssssee… That isss why Father ssent me to Fol Ash. He saw it, that power, that determination that made him a conqueror of realms. But you…” She laughed cruelly, “You only crawl. Perhaps you'd been better suited as one of thosssse human ssservants beneath usss, scrubbing Father'ssssss scalesss.”

Then with a terrifying hiss, she concluded: "Now. Be ssilenced!”

Her form grew faint as she chanted a technique name with chilling familiarity, "Enjoy your 15 sssseconds of glory, little brother, it will be your lassst!”

“Red Chariot! Annihilate!”

Her command reverberated through that domain. And above that majestic crimson chariot, three large red 'Circular Spell Diagrams' materialized, radiating with immense power.

Within those circles, bursts of deadly energies crackled as those runes danced a hypnotic melody that warned of annihilation to anything that came too close.

But Lu Jade wasn’t afraid. His time as a scared serpent had passed.

“While my domain isss ssstill active, I’m going to end you sssister! Your time has run out!” Lu Jade hissed with conviction, then began slithering rapidly across that battleground as those three red circles began their attack pattern!.

BOOM! BOOM!

Blazing red energy blasts came raining from those glowing crimson circles. Each attack exploded with devastating force. But Lu Jade was ready. Those movements were fluid as his Phantom Willow Grass deflected every hit.

"Those movements…” Lu Ruby watched with awe as Lu Jade slithered around the Divine Phantom Willow Tree. He effortlessly dodged every attack. It was a display she hadn't anticipated at all.

"It’s… he's gotten stronger!"

However, for her, this only made this challenge more delicious. Her eyes glowed, a thrill resonating as a wicked smirk stretched her lips.

"Lets see how long you can scurry around for! Red Chariot – Grazing Mogul!"

The chariot hummed with a potent energy that amplified her intent.

BOOM! BOOM! CRACK! CRACK!

Five more ‘Circular Spell Diagrams’ materialized beside the others. They were now eight strong, with those ancient energies roaring even louder.

"Dammit!" Lu Jade cursed, realizing he couldn't outrun those attacks forever. Even with the Jade Flower Domain's amplifying his abilities, those blades of ruby red energies were relentless. And that chariot’s speed… “She has evolved, there’s no mistake about it! Her techniques are stronger!”

He then chuckled softly as a realization came to mind.

"Don't forget. You are within MY domain now, sssister! You’re fighting against the Jade Sssserpent, and hiss will iss law here!"

“Phantom Willow Entrapment!"

WHOOSH! BOOM!

From the very heart of his Jade Flower Domain, 6 light green 'Circular Spell Diagrams’ materialized. They then surrounded Lu Ruby and her Red Chariot.

"Wha…! How dare you?!" Before Lu Ruby had even time to retort.

“Bind!”

Thousands upon thousands of tendrils shot forth from those emerald circles with a dreadful hiss.

Crackle!

Crackle!

BOOM!

The air itself sizzled as Phantom Willow Grass surged toward its prey, consuming those Red Chariot’s spell diagrams like hungry serpents. They shattered her potent energies into fragments before coiling around those crimson rubies, trapping her and her chariot within their emerald embrace.

“I’ve trapped her!”

But Lu Jade’s jubilant victory was short-lived. It was replaced by dread! He glanced ahead, and saw those emerald coils, powerful enough to break even mountains, were struggling against Lu Ruby’s strength, her monstrous, ancient energies. The scent of crushed diamonds came from those clashing energies. His prisoner was breaking free!

“Tsk! Not enough.” He had to deliver a killing blow..

But how?

His eyes darted across that domain. Then… he saw it! His chance.

WHOOSH!

Lu Jade's tail quickly grabbed that ‘Sun Cycle’ lying below. He brought it to his lips and began to breathe emerald flames, infusing that golden disc with his raw potent essences. The energy signature was changing as it spun rapidly.

Lu Ruby watched this with narrowed eyes as she desperately tried to break free from that willow grass prison. It was tightening around her, sapping her energies.

“What are you…”

Before those pronouncements of terror and those questions of, ‘How are you so strong now? How can you even be this much of an annoyance to those who are meant to crush you?’, could even form as syllables…

BOOM!

“DIE!”

From Sun Cycle’s core came a searing-hot blast infused with Lu Jade’s essence. It resembled a miniature version of the ‘Helios Stream' but even more vibrant.

“WHAT THE HELL!”

She couldn't dodge, nor teleport with those roots binding her so firmly, moreover, those eels were frozen solid in fear of those Phantom Willow that had begun to burrow into their supple flesh. Such potent venom! Their predicament had no chance of escape, at least not today.

The blast struck her Red Chariot head-on.

A massive explosion rocked the Jade Flower Domain, causing those trees to sway and a blinding green and red light to engulf everything within its reach.

“YES! A direct hit!”

It took some time, seconds, perhaps minutes? Time felt meaningless in his victory.

But finally, as the shockwaves dissipated, Lu Jade noticed a rain of ruby and gold particles. It was her chariot. Slowly disintegrating, as it returned to whatever realms those treasures reside when summoned.

Lu Jade slithered over to check the situation. During his inspection, he saw no signs of Lu Ruby, all he saw was the last portion of the chariot fading away.

“Oh my…" He stared with disbelief. It was truly a magnificent sight to behold, that ending. His sister’s chariot dissolving away into spirit particles.

"Could it be…? I… I actually won? But… did I overdo it… I must have incinerated her.”

Then just as those anxieties started creeping in…

"Think again, little brother! Your pathetic strength could never harm me!"

That mocking voice had Lu Jade recoiling in terror. His tail trembled, and he looked up into the sky with those pupils expanding, frantically searching for the source of those sounds that haunted his every nightmare and those childhood humiliations.

“Impossible, ssshe’s…”

And then he saw it. Her form. Undamaged, not a single burn nor scratch marred her majestic red scales.

"You fool!”

"Thisss… is… How…? She’s alive?!" His disbelief came as whispers of fear. He’d unleashed all that power within. That direct hit was unavoidable, and yet.

“I… I can’t lose… not now! After everything we've been through.” His fears were replaced by a terrifying resolve that reminded him of a certain bull’s arrogance moments before, but could he match those powers she was unleashing now, his sister?

The air before him crackled. He watched as a massive ruby-red sword materialized and began solidifying. It grew from those depths of those now-darkening clouds above with a brilliance that stole those very life essence from those flowers within his domain.

Such potent power!

He instinctively understood.

This sword wasn’t meant to deflect, block, nor subdue, it was meant to destroy!

Hers was a melody of death.

And within moments, it towered before him, easily a hundred meters long with edges that pulsed with an intensity that dimmed the light radiating from his Jade scales.

“Hissss!”

Lu Ruby gracefully ascended the blade in a coiling fashion, using her slim waist as leverage to glide across its smooth surface. Her movements were as effortless as they were deadly, a spectacle that even his Divine Phantom Willow Tree paused in silent adoration of those movements.

After reaching the handle, Lu Ruby gazed down disdainfully at her brother with those cold, reptilian eyes and hissed.

"With thisss, you pathetic, bull loving creature, you will learn the error of your wayssss. Time for payback. Any last words… little brother?”

Her mockery had a tinge of sadness, however, she was a snake! Her tears were poisonous and meant to consume.

“None!” Lu Jade hissed his answer.

"Very well then! Prepare to be SKEWERED!"

The Ruby sword buzzed as if eager to devour essence. It slowly adjusted its angle, aiming for Lu Jade’s exposed heart.

"Sanguine Coil Ascendancy - Fatal Redscale Impaler! KILL!”

“No! I have to stop this! Phantom Willow Barrier!” But even as those powerful tendrils of his were attempting to stop those descending death…

CRASH!

Lu Ruby's sword cleaved a path through the grass effortlessly! It slammed onto Lu Jade’s chest, piercing him with a horrifying precision and echoing that painful betrayal he’d endured for thousands of years!

“It’s cold. Cold… cold…" Those were his last coherent thoughts before darkness embraced his world in crimson, metallic bliss.

"AHHHHHHH!"

"Ah… Just the tune I like to hear." Lu Ruby savored that heart-wrenching scream. Her brother's agonizing demise pleased her immensely. She had won again!

After those vibrations faded from those delicate chimes adorning her crown, she gracefully uncoiled from the sword and lowered herself to the ground.

Something wasn’t right!

"He should be struggling more? I aimed for the kill shot! Where are those screams?"

She saw it then!

That gaping wound upon his chest where her blade had pierced. It wasn't spurting blood or those entrails she’d envisioned. No. It was withering, slowly becoming more and more like grass before it disintegrated into a pile of ordinary grass before her.

POOF!

The realization hit her like a thunderclap, for even the Jade Flower Domain began dissipating, leaving a trail of sparkling emerald essences behind which revealed those who had witnessed the disturbance in that area, but they were nothing but ants compared to her.

“A duplicate…?”

“That bastard! He escaped! Those vines…!” She had fallen for a cheap trick! A ruse. But how?

Her fury was palpable now.

“Think you can fool a true descendant of the Emperor, you pathetic worm?! You'll regret this! I’ll have your ssscalesss! YOU HEAR ME! Those dreams of freedom. That arrogant bull you ride on… You’ll be crushed! BOTH of you!"

Her furious declaration reverberated across the land, shaking those very trees and those unfortunate witnesses that had their eardrums shattered from the intensity.

But it was too late. She’d lost him. Her brother Lu Jade had escaped.