The four all rushed towards the powerful martial artist. Skysin increased his speed tenfold, already beside Greyvus. Leg pulled in, about to kick his foot to the jaw.
Greyvus, however, wasn't surprised in the slightest. Arms kept behind his back, his sharp eyes tracking Skysin, gazing at him. 'His speed is definitely worthy…he'll be trouble.' Greyvus thought as his hand blurred, pressed onto Skyin's chest and applied aura. Energy exploded onto Skysin like a dynamite being held under a bowl.
Skysin was cast from Greyvus in a millisecond, sent rolling through the debris and rubble. But this didn't stop the group from pushing forward. Crim and Ai Mei both streaked, launching a chain of attacks to the man.
Greyvus was precise, flexible, slipping past each attack with minor movement and blockage. The true experience of a warrior. The way he moved was seasoned and expert. Greyvus knew exactly how to maneuver through a barrage of onslaughts.
Elaine hastily made her move, leaping high above. She folded her legs in, knees straight, falling to the man as he eluded Ai Mei and Crim's attacks.
But at the very microsecond Elaine touched Greyvus' shoulder, he acted.
Greyvus slouched his shoulder and maneuvered, spinning to throw Elaine right into Ai Mei, ramming them into the nearby wall of a building.
Crim didn't let off, however.
No.
He kept pushing. Crim utilized his white flames as he continued attacking, using his blazes as a speed boost to push Greyvus back. With another explosive punch, Crim popped his fist onto Greyvus' chin, knocking him back by just a bit.
Greyvus didn't immediately respond. The man raised his hand, sliding his finger across the throbbing part of where he was damaged. Greyvus chuckled, "very good. Now I'll play offense a bit." Aura bursts from Greyvus' body, shaking the floor under him, "Mantis: Blood Wind."
Greyvus surged forward, extending his arm and cloth-lined Crim onto his torso! Greyvus swung Crim through air at high speeds as the boy yelled, "HOLY SHIIIT!!!!"
A ray of ice had fired, aimed at Greyvus' head. Greyvus bobbed, barely dodging it by a few inches. But Skysin was already there, lunging at Greyvus and drop-kicking the man on the stomach, knocking Crim from him.
Crim gathered himself as he flew off Greyvus, quickly aiming his hands. "Flame Lotus!!" A circular explosion of white flames came spewing out, blasting Greyvus back as he held his stance firm, blocking himself from the hazardous heat.
As Gryevus was pushed back, Ai Mei and Elaine came charging from opposing sides, slamming a fist onto Greyvus' torso!
"Mother-!!" Greyvus spat blood; it felt like his insides were getting crushed by a hydraulic press. The girls didn't stop there, though. The two moved like each other's shadow, leaping into the air as they twirled, spinning a kick onto Greyvus' nose, shooting him into the ground, creating a destructive trail as he crashed through everything that stood in the way.
"Damn…" Crim fell to a knee, feeling nauseous; his stomach felt like it got tugged on from a metal string, being pulled by a beast, "I feel like shit…"
Skysin helped Crim up, "you gonna okay dude?"
"Yeah…just a minor…"—Crim nearly vomited, covering his mouth—"setback is all." Crim stood straight, shaking his head, as if trying to release the pain.
Elaine huffed, "think that got him? He literally threw up blood."
"Doubt it," Skysin shrugged, "old dudes pretty tough."
"Yeah…" Ai Mei replied, "we can hardly match him fighting one on one."
Crim stretched his arms, "well everyone's got a weakness. We just gotta find it."
"The way he's fighting…" Ai Mei crossed her arms, pondering as her eye squinted. Replaying the way he moved and acted in her mind, "I've read about it in a book before when I was a little younger. If I remember correctly, he's using two techniques. Shang Fu Arts, which is obvious. But the other is called Tangen."
The others all eyed Ai Mei, the same expression on all their faces, Confusion.
"What's dat?" Skysin blurted.
"It's a specific fighting style used for both offense and defense simultaneously. That's why he's handling us so effortlessly."
The teens thought about it now, thinking about how Greyvus specifically countered against them. Crim spoke up, "one good example was when we all first attacked. He maneuvered through us without a problem."
"Yeah," Skysin agreed, "and he's quick too. He reacted to me without a problem. I thought I was going fast enough."
"So all we need to do now…" Elaine thought aloud, pursing her lips, "is try to overload his defense while taking on the offensive side, right?"
Skysin scratched his head, "easier said than done… he's on our asses like a fat hog trying to eat all the food. We'd have to move almost perfectly."
"True…" Crim spoke up, "still, what else can we do. Gotta think of something. And I think I have an idea."
The others nodded.
"Alright, let's hear it out," Ai Mei responded.
Crim looked to Skysin first, "Sin, just how fast are you?"
Skysin was caught off guard. The question itself was a mystery to him too!
Sure, the kid was fast. He ran around the entire planet of Valorrey under a second. Three times at that! A world that's two hundred fifty thousand miles in diameter! Skysin wasn't even running at his fullest; after all, he was looking for where Crim was at the time. Now that Skysin mused about it, he never tried discovering how quickly his legs could move.
"I have no idea."
Ai Mei, Crim, and Elaine all stared at Skysin, neutral. Disbelief was a better word. How the hell do you not know how fast you can move?
Crim slapped his face.
Elaine giggled as she sweated.
Ai Mei stared at Skysin with a crooked, utterly done expression. Like her soul had clocked out the second she heard that, "are you serious Sin?"
"What?! C'mon guys, how the hell do you expect me to know this shit? You think I clock my own speeds then raise a finger?"—Skysin imitated some kind of nerd with glasses—"Intriguing! Faster than light I see!"
"You were literally bragging about 'Speed Perfected' earlier, you big dummy!" Ai Mei argued, poking Skysin's cheek, "do you at least have a general idea??"
Skysin rubbed his fingers against his temples, eyes squinting so hard it looked like he was trying to move a car with his mind, "uhhhh…. I think I ran around the world like… three times under a second! Maybe…"
The teens raised a brow at Skysin's information. That's just ridiculous to hear. Elaine's lips parted, impressed. Crim knew Skysin was fast, but that definition just expanded now.
Ai Mei gave a nod of acknowledgement, murmuring to herself, "kay, you can keep the speedy title."
"Well," Crim spoke up, "think you can move faster?"
"Hell yeah!" Skysin puffed his chest out, cocky as could be, slapping his fist where his heart sat, "when it comes to speed, leave it to me!"
"Good, because you'll be the one to catch him when we get his guard down."
"Just say the word."
Crim nodded, looking to Elaine, "we need you to keep him steady. The first person he sees."
Elaine pointed at herself, "me…?" She smiled, anxious at the thought of it, "he'll crush me…"
"Why not me? Wouldn't it be better for him to go for me first?" Ai Mei asked, especially if her sister's life was one the line.
"But this guy literally hates you, Mei," Crim replied, "the moment he sees you, he might just act out of instinct then logic. That happens, then our plan is cooked. Elaine, though, isn't in that place of his mind. If anything, I think he might be a bit surprised. But that's when the plan starts. Me"—Crim pointed at himself then Ai Mei— "And you are gonna push out. I'll go first. After we set him into the ground, if it works, you'll attack. I'll need you to build up a lot of debris. Rocks, cars, anything. Make a giant boulder of shit to squish him."
Ai Mei nodded, "kay." She looked to her sister, "will you be okay?"
Elaine smiled, "we gotta win somehow. And Crim's plan sounds good. It all just comes to execution."
"Remember," Crim spoke to Elaine, "don't try and take him down; just hold him off by any means. Got it?"
"Yep!"
"Alright, lets get this done."
"Right!"
***
In another part of the city, Greyvus walked from where he lay, thinking to himself. 'That girly-looking boy is the fastest out of the four, that much is clear. The redhead is physically the strongest. Ai Mei is the most technical fighter. Her sister Elaine might not be the best, but she shouldn't be underestimated if she took out Yuer.' Greyvus gritted his teeth, thinking that his accomplices are now gone, especially Morlis. 'Dammit boy…you weren't supposed to go out like this.'
Greyvus, while his heart had diminished after his family was murdered in cold blood, still had feelings left for his disciple. After all, he had taught and watched over Morlis, who had faced the same experience as him. But now the plans have changed. Capreece, Yuer, and Morlis are all gone. However, this did nothing but fuel Greyvus' hunger. He needed this.
Morally, was this wrong?
Yes. Yes, it was.
But what else could Greyvus do?? The man was strong, very, especially in the eyes of Ai Mei and the others. He could level an entire continent if pushed to his very limits. But the Omiverse is broad.
No, it's limitless.
The talent, strength, and utter power across space are insane.
Or in simpler terms, there are levels to such stature.
And Ai Mei's mother, Ai Ling, was one of the very beings who stood at the top when it came to the mortal realm. The Preghiere Al'Inferno, the six most dangerous individuals of the Omiverse.
Greyvus already tried fighting against her once, when his family's life was on the line. The only thing returned was a scar of his own mistakes in owing that malicious woman money. She let him live for a reason, and that was to dwell on what he lost. Greyvus stood no chance against her. So now, he wanted Ai Ling to feel the same pain he felt, losing family. That all begins with Ai Mei.
Cowardly? It was. But Greyvus was in too deep now. Rage was the only thing that stood in his broken path.
Greyvus came to a stop, gazing at Elaine standing meters away from him.
"Now this has to be satire," Greyvus scoffed, "why is the least threatening child standing here like a powerful tiger?"
"No reason," Elaine spouted, "you say I'm the least threatening. So why not find out?"
Greyvus laughed, "please, girl. Such jokes in times like these can cause a misleading death." Greyvus' eyes sharpened, glaring at Elaine, "where's that fellen?"
"Mantis: Gren Bullet," Elaine calmly said, shifting to Greyvus faster than a single heartbeat and reaching a punch to him.
Greyvus sidestepped, planning to smite her with his own. Until a flash of flames drifted before him, catching the man by surprise.
Crim phased before Greyvus, elbow whistling like an arrow to his face.
But Greyvus sliced his hand out, cutting Crim through the torso in two.
But the boy's body lit into flames, disappearing.
"An illusion…" Greyvus murmured.
Elaine hastily spun back, her foot carving a wide arch to Greyvus' back.
Yet Greyvus reacted with swiftness, raising a knee to block off Elaine's kick.
Elaine frowned, eyes wide, "crap…"
Greyvus fired back another jab, but his fist stopped just a few centimeters from Elaine's nose. Like it was caught in trap of microscopic ropes.
That grabbed Greyvus' attention, 'how did I not notice?? Telekinesis?? It's a trap!!' Greyvus shifted back, and just as he moved, Skysin blurred in the air before him.
Everything had paused, frozen in time.
Greyvus himself could only stare, watching as Skysin was propped in the air, wearing a maniacal grin on his face.
'I wasn't expecting this…' Greyvus spoke to himself, 'this brat enhanced his speed more than before! I can't even reac—'
Skysin popped a knee onto Greyvus' face.
Greyvus was sent cracking into the ground like a pole getting slammed into the floor.
Skysin didn't stop, though. The boy flipped once, kicking his leg out and ramming his foot onto Greyvus' chest. The land under uplifts, cracks in the ground as dirt and brick exploded into the air!
Greyvus laid in a huge chasm in the floor, teeth pressed against each other, "those…little bastards." Greyvus growled, looking up to Skysin and Elaine, standing over him just at the drop of the hole.
Skysin, being the idiot he is, laughed so hard the boy wheezed as he slapped his knee, "you really got your ass handed to ya, huh old man?!"
Elaine recoiled so hard it looked like her skeleton tried to escape. She let out a tiny 'eep', grabbing Skysin's shoulders, gently shaking him, "…Sin don't say that—! You're gonna make him even angrier!"
"I'd be mad too if I got my ass kicked by some teenagers!"
Greyvus' anger was slowly filling like a volcano about to explode on a small island. Here he was, lying in a crater, while a kid who didn't look any older than seventeen was clowning on him. And then the least strong child of the group played him like a fiddle!
The heat suddenly began to rise, like the sun was slowly making its way to the surface. Skysin looked down at Greyvus with a grin, then jerked his thumb upward like a road sign.
Greyvus' eyes followed, gazing at a ginormous ball of rock and other objects crushed and squished together, covered in a blaze of whiteness. It was like a humongous meteor was falling right to him!!
"I'll be incinerated from that…!" Greyvus quickly stood, "Crane: Billowing Winds!!" Greyvus slashed giant arcs of wind, cancelling out the flames and destroying the meteor-sized boulder. Everything had flown across the city as the ground shook, smoke covering the clouds above.
But Greyvus heard something.
Underground.
It was movement. Like a mole that was on a thousand grams of caffeine, traveling through the dirt with swiftness.
Skysin and Elaine grew silent. Eyes peeled on the martial artist below.
Before Greyvus could uncover what was going on, Skysin and Elaine hastily moved, landing on opposite sides, arms drawn back for a punch.
Greyvus reacted swiftly, shooting his palms out, keeping them separated, releasing a small pulse of aura. Both teens were pushed back, just slightly. But something in the ground made dirt shuffle right under Greyvus' feet.
Greyvus looked down.
Skysin and Elaine latched onto his arms.
Crim exploded from under, surging a vicious uppercut onto Greyvus' chin!
Greyvus was launched out of the hole, his brain blinking in and out like a lamp with an old light bulb. As he rocketed into the sky, Ai Mei came flying down, "Tiger: Behemoth's Palm!"
The wind itself had shrieked. A wave of pressure tore across the sky as Greyvus rippled through the air, driving back into the floor.
Greyvus forced himself to stand, feeling his bones practically scream in his body by the second. Gritting his teeth through the aches of battle, he watched as the four came pushing forward.
"To lose…to a bunch of kids…?" Greyvus scoffed, blood sliding from the corner of his lips, "No… NO!" Greyvus snapped, the pressure of his aura growing denser. "I will not die this way!! I REFUSE! ULTIMATE TECHNIQUE: TENSIONS RISE!!!!"
Greyvus' aura had run rampant, exploding into the air like a chaotic beacon of light. The ground under his feet caved in; fishers from the crevice on the floor hissed like furious snakes. A shockwave of power had roared, pushing the kids back!
Skysin propped his arms over his face, barely able to stand straight from the very force, "damn, this guy just won't give!"
Ai Mei and Elaine had paused, feeling the same very power before in their younger years as children. With their father Raine, when he first showed them this technique. One used to release the user's full power, to its maximum extent.
"No…" Ai Mei whispered.
Greyvus laughed, raising his hand, fist balled, "let this be a lesson to the four of you!!"