Demons, even with intelligence, have always been a warring race. Their core ideology lay in growth.
That didn't mean that they would look for the strongest opponent. Rather, they fought the opponent that would let them grow the most.
At this moment Variant Naga seemed to have found its crucible. An opponent that could refine its skill.
"It seems like we didn't even need to separate them... go take care of the variant, Danho; I'll handle the rest."
"I'll see you on the other side."
No other words were exchanged. The two walked to their respective opponents. Their trust in each other's prowess let them move without sparing the other a glance.
"I'll take on all five of you together."
Vera proclaimed, a dense golden hue apparating around his arms. Its newfound density seeming almost viscous.
The Myridom Nagas entered a formation, a reluctant expression lingering in their visages. Their servitude superseded their instinct for battle.
"Don't think poorly of yourselves. Honour can only take you so far."
The Nagas's expressions eased a bit.
The dark night let out a cold breeze; its embrace marked the start of the battle.
One other Myrimdom Naga leaped into the air. Its maw fixed on Vera, a furnace-like heat permeated from its throat.
Just as Vera was about to leap back, two more Nagas slithered in his direction, blocking his escape.
Seeing there was no retreat, Vera stood directly under the Naga's path, ready to accept its blow completely.
A thin layer of golden qi covered his body, while an intense fortification took place within.
While the Nagas were perplexed by this action, the outcome seemed too certain to doubt.
A thundering crash erupted. Vera disappeared into the Naga's mouth.
At that very moment the furnace in the Naga's mouth exploded, turning the ground around them into molten glass.
The sight of blood pooling into the ground convinced the Nagas of their victory. However, this illusion was dispersed as they saw the bloody truth.
The infernal Myridom Naga's throat acted as a veil for Vera's body. Its thick skin draped Vera's visage as he ripped through it.
A heavy thump ensued as the infernal Naga crashed into the molten glass of its creation.
Dollops of molten glass splattered as the air ripped. Vera was nowhere to be seen.
A frost Naga in the back immediately froze the floor under it; as it turned, it tried to roll over on its back.
Another loud thump resounded through the forest. Vera's fist made contact with the frost Naga.
Thankfully for the Naga, its preparations allowed a portion of the blow to transfer to its rotation. Nonetheless, the punch formed an indent in its body.
Vera dashed towards the retreating frost Naga.
Arrow-like projectiles whipped through the air, blocking Vera's path.
Vera retreated, crouching into a low stance.
A bright golden light erupted from his feet. Vera dashed back to the infernal Naga's corpse.
Projectiles flew at him at speeds surpassing sound. Each forming deafening explosions.
Vera's dash turned into short steps in his low stance. The mobility allowed him to weave through each projectile.
Coils formed through the Nagas. Each lashing out at Vera from different directions. Blocking all routes.
Time felt like it had dilated. Vera recalled a conversation he had with Leng before he left Bromwich.
When I manifest actions through qi, I don't think of the action itself. Rather, I imagine what defines the action.
The golden light erupted again.
However, this time the Nagas got their way.
A heavy crash broke the sense of dilation. Vera was sent flying into a nearby tree.
Three of the Nagas regrouped behind the infernal Naga's corpse.
Light groans escaped Vera as he dislodged his body from the tree.
"Still too early to use projectiles, huh..."
Vera's quick recovery reassured the Nagas of their decision to not build on their momentum.
Vera leaned into the ground, picking up a pile of pebbles.
The sound of air ripping alerted the Nagas.
Just as they were about to prepare for another sweep, they felt a barrage of pebbles flying at them.
The Nagas immediately propped their tails up to block the barrage. A decision built through understanding Vera's scale.
The pebbles burst open as they made contact with the Naga's tails, bloody indents etched into their scales.
Disregarding the pain, the Nagas started to coil again.
Suddenly Vera's body turned invisible, their senses overwhelmed by a veil of the infernal Naga's steaming blood.
Vera leaped into the air, his movements left no sound.
The Frost Naga's skull pressed into its brain, the pressure turning it to soup.
Vera's feet landed on the ground again, he feigned rushing towards the disoriented Nagas.
A low rumble shook the ground, heading towards the disoriented Nagas.
"There you are!"
Vera's half-hearted dash turned serious; only now it led him to the ground beneath him.
Arms like pincers, the ground broke open, forearms locked across the body of the Earthen Naga.
Vera tensed his arms, pulling into his chest.
The ground was soaked with blood, half a fang breaking through its embankment.
You followed me just off the vibrations from my movement...
The remaining Nagas slithered away, expecting Vera to attack them again.
But Vera stood still, a deep crease forming above his eyes.
Two arms stood pointed at the remaining Nagas.
"The sound I made allowed you to picture me, even without sensing the heat from my body."
"What I implied allowed you to picture me perfectly."
"Negative space..."
Two bright lines of qi zipped through the air; the remaining Myrimdom Nagas fell lifelessly to the ground.
A steaming hole was bored through their heads, through which endless amounts of blood seeped out.
"Definition over the word itself... Process over conclusion."
Vera bowed his head to the Nagas, expressing his gratitude for the inspiration the battle had given him.
"It's been a bit too quiet on the other side..."
Vera turned his head to look at the Danho and the variant Naga.
The battle was almost one-sided. Not in the sense that Danho was losing. Rather, the variant Naga was nowhere to be seen; its movements were invisible and soundless.
Danho stood silently, a calm expression on his face. Cuts formed over his body continously, blood seeped through them slowly.
Yet, each cut seemed to grow more shallow.
Danho's senses were being pushed to their maximum; he no longer relied on sight or hearing.
A line started to extend through the ground, slithering towards Danho at extreme speeds.
Danho relied on the change in the atmosphere itself to reveal the variant's path and speed.
Just as the line got closer, Danho stomped onto the ground. A plume of dust formed a veil around him.
Danho opened his eyes to see where the dust turned dense.
Danho's qi manifested, most of it concentrated into this palm.
A dampened low crash permeated through the surroundings.
A deep slash ripped through Danho's forearm.
The Variant Naga's invisibility slowly wore off, its body slumped over Danho's arm. Its eyes turned lifeless.
A deep breath escaped Danho's body. The fatigue from pushing his senses to the extreme manifested in his breath.
After taking a moment to recover his breathing Danho turned to Vera.
"It was an interesting variant. Its manifestation seemed to completely block out sound and light from its body."
"Unfortunately, it was still too young. If it had another decade, the outcome could have been different."
In victory Danho's numbed expression seemed almost pained.
"Don't think too much of it. The variant would've tried to challenge the guardians sooner or later. The outcome wouldn't have been any different."
"Hmm..."
After paying his respects to the Variant Naga, Danho and Vera continued their search for the technique.
"Did you learn how to manifest actions?"
"Yeah. To some extent. Complex actions like transmutations seem to be a bit far still."
"Well, don't bother with them. You must have realised your strenght lies in being absolute."
"Yeah..."
Vera continued to talk with Danho about manifestations. While they proved to be useful pointers, Vera understood they would only shine when tested through action.
The dark covers of night soon wore off.
Vera and Danho stood in front of a well hidden cave.
They entered as they pushed away the foliage that hid its entrance.
Fibers were strewn across the ground, most seeming to be from furniture that had lived far beyond its time.
At the far end of the cave stood a chest. Its condition contrasted with the rest of the cave.
A complex manifestation of qi wafted across the chest.
"Well, the intel was definitely credible." Danho spoke, a confused expression plastered on to his face as he stared at the qi surrounding the chest.
"How could qi remain from the ascenders time?"
"I'd tell you if I understood. But the structure of this qi is far too complex for me to comprehend."
"Could it have been a master of manifestation from our era."
"Unlikely, most of the literature surrounding complex qi structures don't even touch upon this level."
The two took a moment to comprehend the level of the manifestation that surrounded them.
"Well then, should we check it out?"
Danho nodded at Vera and opened the chest. The qi spreading out as his arms pased through its edges.
The chest had an old book and a map within it.
"Inverted Heavens."
Danho muttered.
The name alone carried an untold dignity. Its discovery, unearthed lost knowledge from over three thousand years.
It felt as though they were looking at the most accomplished master to have ever existed.
The light of dawn broke through caves entrance. Entangling with the ancient qi that permeated through the cave.
The qi slowly coalesced with the light of morning. Finally resting. The role it was entrusted many a milenia ago finally coming to fruition.