Fighting a 9th Stage Genesis Core Expert

  The man looked at Ryker, seeing the aura of fire, death, and sword surrounding him, "I hope you can hold to that power boy. Or this fight will be short," the man said before blasting him with his qi. 

  Ryker surrounds himself with death qi, the death qi absorbing and destroying the qi blast. The man looked at him with some consideration, "So, something simple wouldn't work. Looks like I have to get myself dirty," 

  As he said it, he leaped towards Ryker, swinging his axe. The power behind the swing would be enough to destroy an entire building, he thought to himself, as he parried with his sword, the sword qi helping him to dissipate the qi on his axe.

  Seeing how his attack was dismantled, the man narrowed his eyes some more before letting out some guffaws. "Oh, to think I would meet someone like you. But, a job is still a job after all, so I have to take your life,"

  As the man finished his words, he surrounded himself with his qi, making him even stronger than before. Ryker tensed, the reason for him being able to block the attack without suffering any losses was because the man was still holding back, disdaining on taking the life of a Genesis Foundation expert with so much effort.

  His being so strong likely made him change his mind, so he had to face his true strength, something he was not sure he could handle for a long time. 

  Before the man could attack, a necklace was thrown in his direction. Sensing it, he caught the jewelry. In the span of 10 seconds, things escalated. The man launched a more powerful attack, one he knew he could block but likely suffered some huge injuries.

  However, the necklace seemed to enhance his strength, pulling some power from some other place. He quickly connected it to one thing, the formation of the Hal Estate. He didn't have time to look at the thrower but he knew it was likely Shuri.

  He hoped the young girl was able to get away after doing such a dangerous maneuver. He was not in a position to help him. The only thing he could do was make sure the man in front of him couldn't cause any more trouble.

  He blocked the attack before returning it with a Monkey Lord Fist, the technique enhanced with fire qi. The man was able to block it but his sleeve burned from the flame. Realizing the danger his opponent possessed, the man looked at him with a serious expression.

  He then returned his attack with another technique, a large black axe descending on top of him. He used the corrosive nature of death qi to lessen the strike's strength. The death qi was able to reduce more than half of the full strength. 

  He then used his sword qi to shatter the weakened attack, making the man fly back to avoid the sharp sword qi. The make looked at the sword qi with a hint of wary. His cheek, which suffered a cut from the sword qi should be healed immediately. 

  But because of the sword qi, he is natural healing abilities couldn't heal it. The only way for him to heal the cut is by using his qi to remove the sword qi. But it will take some time, one he couldn't afford. Besides, it was just a small cut.

  The man looked at him, his aura once again surrounding him. Ryker did the same thing, his eyes locking with his enemy's own. In the next three seconds, the two charged at each other as the ground cracked and broke from the two powerful pressures.

-x-

  The other could only watch with awe as the two fought each other with all their might. Even the Genesis Core experts stopped their fighting, focusing more on the two fights.

  Ryker swung his sword at the man, the burning slash blocked by a qi barrier before it was burned by the fire qi. He launched another one, this time with death qi coating it. Another barrier was erected, disappearing as the corrosive nature of death qi destroyed the barrier too.

  The Genesis Core expert could only watch with apprehension. The threat shown by the young man far exceeds what he expected. The necklace likely allowed him to fight as an equal but in the end, it was his skill that made him such a deadly opponent.

  In the same vein, Ryker could feel the opponent still holding back. But not because of arrogance, but because of caution. He likely feared him pulling some kind of card that would lead him to suffer if he was careless. After all, one second of inattentiveness is all it takes for one to die.

  The two were about to have another go at each other when the man turned his attention towards the west. Ryker refrained from doing the same, despite being slightly curious about what the man's action meant.

  The man laughed loudly, before looking at him. "Looks like help is already here boy. I'm going to run for now. If you want to hire me, just ask for Rusty Blade in the Dark Market," the man said before flying away. 

  As much as he wanted to stop him, he knew that attacking a mercenary who had no desire to fight him was stupid, so he could only let him go. He looked towards the sky to spot Solance's grandfather and another expert, this time more powerful than even the old man.

  The expert looked at the Genesis Core experts of the traitor families before he waved his hand like he was swiping some dirt. The Genesis Core expert tried to flee but most of them coughed up some blood, some even exploding into a mist of blood from the casual strike.

  With them being injured, the Genesis Core experts took advantage of the sudden windfall, descending upon their injured opponent and unleashing their own attack. They were joined by some other Genesis Core experts, all of whom are a part of the Hal Family that joined the assault on the enemy's main base.

  With the arrival of reinforcement, Ryker lay down, too exhausted to do anything. It took all he had to block the man. Their fight might last for 20 minutes or so, but it felt like days for him.

  It would take some time for him to replenish his qi. However, the fight did come with the advantage of him being able to garner more experience fighting someone way stronger than him, allowing him to see his weakness, one he planned to rectify.

  As he took a much-deserved rest, Shuri went to his side, hugging him as he asked if he was okay, before giving him a kiss. On the lips.