Chapter 2: Mysterious hero part 5

Moments prior to si-u's fight, approximately 30 mins before. "Remember it'll be hard to hide my presence with so many high level ki-masters around so I won't be able to help you without someone noticing," so-hee states "and I can't lend you my cultivation either so it's best you prepare yourself, Steel your resolve because everyone there will be an enemy so trust no one, if I do end up having to help you though, you have to use that teleport shard. It'll return you to the teleportation array and it's only good for one use-"

"-so try not to use it unless it's an emergency." Si-U answered finishing so-hee's sentence "I wish you'd trust me a little."

So-hee sighed.

"who's fault is it that we're still here? when we could be halfway to my home by now," she asked a now distracted si-u as he walked by several item traders who had set up stalls "hey are you listening?"

"i am,' si-u replied mentally.

"i thought you wanted to free me," says in a softer tone.

"hey," he asks "you can read minds, i know you can so you know my intentions. Besides i may only be twelve, almost thirteen but even though im a kid i know you understand that i'll help you, i've seen everything you've endured i've seen you laugh, cry, angry, frustrated and those memories are now a part of me and i'll cherish them for as long as i live." si-u sighs "you've trusted me with everything that you are so i won't ever betray you."

so-hee didn't reply and stayed quiet

"so-hee?" si-u asked.

"i'm glad," she responds finally "all this time i was afraid of reading your thoughts i didn't want to be hurt, i had hoped that even if it wasn't the truth and your feelings weren't real that I'd at least get to be by your side. I'm really glad your feelings are real, im really glad. I want to spend many more moments with you so don't get hurt ok?"

-----

NOW

"You may be a kid but i won't go easy on you," mei-yunxi stated as she made space stepping back her smirk her body language made it apparent that she was confident in her abilities. " now! look at how strong this big sister is!!"

si-u calmed his breathing and focused his mind, ready for whatever that was coming. "i'll finish this quickly!"

"Ha ha ha! Good!" mei-yunxi states her glee apparent "Now come at me with all you have or you'll die." she clapped and si-u took the initiative, with burst he'd closed the gap between them.

-ill go for her arm, subdue her and make her surrender.- he thought as he dashed to her at an incredible speed reaching for her hand to put her in an armlock. -huh? i used burst right? then how are her eyes following my movements?! suddenly the platform flashed by his vision a mix of sky and the arena flashing before his eyes as if he was... spinning? Quickly he used burst to help him counter his rotation and then peer to assess his current situation, he'd been launched upward in the air. Something had hit him hard enough to force him from his feet into the air, he felt the sharp pain in his jaw and a light buzzing from his face where he'd been hit but nothing to indicate how or what had hit him.

The shock causes him misjudge the distance and to fall as as he tries to land gracefully.

Slowly he gets up.

"You caught me off guard there for a second," mei states retaining her unfazed manner. "this time though-" suddenly she was before him her arms crossed "ill make sure you don't get up again." In a flash he was blown backwards by an incredible and unseen force, barely managing to keep his footing he slid to a stop close to the the edge of the ring. "ugh!" si-u grates his teeth the pain this time made his vision blur and for a moment he thought he'd pass out. Whatever it was he could not continue to take them head on. That's when he noticed, -the heel of her right shoe was partially lifted, ever so slightly elevated indicating that her balance was on her left leg.

-her arms are crossed and she's leaning on her left leg, why didn't i notice sooner?! This girl was incredibly talented, strong, fast and well trained.- Si-u smiled.

"hey kid did you hit your head or something?" mei asked.

"No i just realized, given how strong you are i don't need to hold back," si-u replies "your kicks are really powerful and i can't see them at all but if i don't have to worry about hurting you i can go all out."

mei-yunxi frowns "So what if you know? ahh now I'm mad. A little twerp like you not even at the ki-gathering stage, holding back against me?!" she relaxed her stance "how humiliating."

-now's my chance! - using peer and burst simultaneously he launched himself toward her keeping his body lowered. Suddenly a force violently pushes him back very different from the one before, a wave of blue energy -ki-? si-u thought as he places his arms in a guard bracing to prevent the second wave which was sure to come as he slid to a stop. His clothes sizzled from the heat several holes burned through his shirt. Little blue flames dancing on the arena's floor as the result of the scattered fallout of the ki wave that had pushed him back.

Mei had released her ki and it enveloped her like blue flames her eyes glowing a fierce blue. "Kid i'll teach you to respect your seniors and you'll see now just how much stronger i am compared to you! now burn this into your mind and fear, ki-release stage 2!" The ki force from her becomes a violent vortex of blue flames forcing si-u to lower his stance and lean towards it to avoid being knocked over.

-if it wasn't for the limiter i'd be able to end this in a flash but i guess it's not so easy with only this amount of strength, still sorry to say this mei-yunxi is strong... but i've fought stronger shadows.- focusing all his energy into burst and peer then taking advantage of his position he launched himself towards mei and the vortex then left, narrowly dodging an intense burst of burning ki before darting towards her again he couldn't get close enough but the more he pushed himself the faster dodging left and right then left again he became so fast that after a little while the ki-waves which relentlessly came at him from the vortex all seemed to miss him leaving scorch marks and deep gouges in the arena's floor his after image appearing in random parts of the arena with just enough space to avoid the waves entirely.

Slowly he was making his way closer to her.

"damn you!!!" she screamed focusing the vortex in its entirety into her right leg before launching a powerful kick at si-u who was now in range. The right of the stage exploded leaving blue flames and rocks falling as the dust cleared.

No sign of si-u.

"ha," mei stated in her disbelief and then through heavy breaths "i did it."

"did what?" si-u askes from behind her.

startled she turns and trips, sitting abruptly. The mental energy radiating from si-u's pseudo aura mimicking the shadows he'd fought so often. A dark overbearing presence which leaked killing intent.

Scared and exhausted mei attempts pulling herself away from him failing miserably, "i.. i give up. don't hit me."

"Th..the winner," stated the announcer who was taken aback by the explosive fight "Si-u of the divine winds!!!"