Only Flash

Blood dripped from his fingertips as Su Xiao's perception reached its peak. Despite this, he struggled to keep up with Kanzaki Kaori's speed. After their 'warm-up,' Kanzaki unleashed her full speed, moving at an almost unbelievable pace.

Su Xiao stood in place, seemingly alone. Kanzaki hadn't left; she had merely moved so fast that she vanished from most people's sight. Suddenly, Su Xiao raised his sword, feeling the heavy pressure. Kanzaki reappeared, using the kinetic energy from her high-speed movement to overpower Su Xiao momentarily.

Clang!

Their blades clashed and separated just as quickly. Each had their own advantages—Kanzaki's speed versus Su Xiao's vast combat experience.

The area around them became a forbidden zone, with buildings and public facilities within a hundred meters either sliced apart or damaged by the aftershocks of their battle. Just as Su Xiao forced Kanzaki back, a gust of wind signaled her reappearance at his side, prompting him to dodge.

Swish.

A slash appeared across Su Xiao's chest, not deep but spanning his entire torso. Despite the wound, Su Xiao smiled.

A muffled groan followed as Kanzaki, who had just slashed Su Xiao, clutched her abdomen, retreating a few steps. Four energy blades were embedded in her abdomen, blood dripping onto the road.

Kanzaki reached to pull out the energy blades, but Su Xiao had already leaped forward.

From the start of the battle, Kanzaki had avoided close-quarters combat with Su Xiao, knowing her long weapon put her at a disadvantage. As she attempted to use her speed to retreat, an alchemical crow swooped down from behind her, its unusual aura causing her to hesitate.

The alchemical crow's main function was reconnaissance, but it wasn't entirely devoid of combat capability. Alchemical creatures had a unique aura, a mix of life and death that instinctively put people on alert.

Kanzaki's momentary pause allowed Su Xiao to close the distance. During his approach, Dragon Flash disappeared, and several energy blades shot towards Kanzaki's sword, preventing her from blocking his advance.

With a crash, Su Xiao collided with Kanzaki, who immediately realized his intention for close combat. However, primarily a swordswoman, Kanzaki wasn't afraid of a brawl. Ignoring the potential for exposure and inappropriate contact, she planted her long sword beside her, realizing its length made it less useful than a mere stick in such a fight.

Kanzaki threw a swift punch at Su Xiao's chin, her fist moving so fast it left afterimages.

Bang.

Su Xiao's head snapped to the side, pain blooming in his jaw. But he hadn't engaged in close combat just to trade punches. Su Xiao grabbed Kanzaki's arm, a short knife appearing in his other hand.

Seeing the sudden appearance of the knife, Kanzaki felt a cold sweat. She had observed Su Xiao earlier and knew he carried no daggers.

Su Xiao reversed his grip on the short knife and stabbed at Kanzaki's chest, his movements swift and brutal.

Thud, thud, thud...

The blade pierced flesh and muscle, blood splattering as multiple wounds appeared on Kanzaki's chest. The scene was both savage and thrilling—a true fight to the death.

Qinggang Ying energy surged into Kanzaki, heading towards her brain. Kanzaki gritted her teeth, struggling to stay conscious. She was fortunate not to trigger the control effect of Qinggang Ying's Lv.30 ability, 'Soul Electric Shock.'

After three stabs, Kanzaki, eyes bloodshot, grabbed Su Xiao's wrist. Though wounded, she had avoided fatal strikes by shifting her body each time.

Grabbing Su Xiao's knife hand, Kanzaki felt a sharp pain in her hand. Su Xiao twisted the knife, stabbing it into her palm at an impossible angle.

As the short knife pierced her palm, Su Xiao drove it into the ground.

Clang. Asphalt fragments flew.

The short knife, pinning Kanzaki's hand to the ground, forced her into a half-crouch. She was in so much pain that tears filled her eyes, and with only one hand free to fight, she clenched her fist and punched towards Su Xiao's groin.

The move shocked Su Xiao, making him conjure a 150-point strength energy shield to block the punch. The shield cracked under her blow.

Su Xiao dispelled the shield, pressing one foot on the knife hilt and raising his other leg, shifting his weight. He kicked towards Kanzaki's head, much like kicking a soccer ball. Desperately, Kanzaki raised her free arm to shield her face.

Bang.

The impact sent a shockwave through the air as Su Xiao's kick landed on Kanzaki's arm, nearly driving her to the ground.

Ensuring Kanzaki wouldn't counterattack immediately, Su Xiao drew Dragon Flash. Seeing this, Kanzaki gritted her teeth and leaped back.

Rip. Flesh tore as Kanzaki pulled her left hand free, ripping it from the knife, the gap between her index and middle finger cut open.

Leaping back, she grabbed her sword's scabbard and slashed at Su Xiao's throat.

By now, Kanzaki had killing intent. She wasn't naive, understanding that holding back would be fatal.

Su Xiao leaned back, narrowly avoiding the blade as it grazed his chin.

Kanzaki's sword was too long for Su Xiao to reach her with Dragon Flash, but she still held her blade ready to block any potential sword beams from Su Xiao, which would only waste his energy.

Landing, Kanzaki distanced herself from Su Xiao by several meters.

Drip, drip.

Blood from both fighters stained the ground, their close combat leaving both heavily injured.

Su Xiao flicked his toe, picking up the short knife and stowing it in his storage space, gripping Dragon Flash tightly as he watched Kanzaki.

Kanzaki leaped back to a pile of rubble, kicking it aside to reveal the scabbard of her long sword. She sheathed her weapon and assumed a stance, her aura intensifying as she seemed to gather power.

Seeing this stance, Su Xiao realized she was preparing to use Only Flash.

Zing.

A blinding flash of light appeared before Su Xiao, a speed beyond comprehension. With her Saint Physique activated, Kanzaki moved faster than sight or perception could track.

As Su Xiao sensed the incoming slash, all he saw was the dazzling blade. He couldn't see Kanzaki's movement at all.

Thankfully, as the blade appeared, a golden shield formed around Su Xiao. It was the effect of the skill attached to his sheath, Divine Radiance: creating a lesser invincible shield that lasted for one second.