Shan Wangjiu's Final Hour

Alex stood on the barren land, the chasm to his left. He held Midnight in his right hand, the dark blade with glittering white specks in it made from starforged tungsten.

He stood calm and collected, as if not a single thought concerned him at this moment.

On the other side of him, with the chasm to his right stood Shan Wangjiu. His gray robe flapped in the wind, a look of nervousness and excitement both filling him from head to toe.

He held his sword in front of him which was nearly twice the size of Midnight.

"I'm ready," he spoke with no audible hesitation in his voice.

Alex cracked a small smile. "Then watch carefully."

Shan Wangjiu poured every ounce of his Qi into his sword and it drank it all. It consumed the Qi until it could accept it no longer. Full, the budding sword spirit was half aware that it could use the technique carved into it, should that be necessary.