"I've bought us some time. With that one punch, I made sure to shatter Xie Wang's spiritual form. It would take him almost 5 months to recover if he tries to stay in Paul's body any longer."
The punch Aariz landed on Xie Wang, that sent him flying, was infused with some sort of a special power which could shatter spiritual forms.
From what I understand, a spiritual form is like a soul—neither alive nor dead. It's a limbo state where you're stuck between existence and oblivion for eternity, unless you find a way out.
From my understanding of it, spiritual form is something like a soul form. It's neither alive nor dead.
Maarij dematerialized the barrier which he had formed to protect us. He looked at us and said, "Staying here is dangerous. Plus it's a waste of time as well. We must depart now."
With that, we began to move, walking towards the stairs. We only had walked a few steps, but as always, my mind raced with questions.
Xie Wang couldn't have come here for something that trivial. Plus, I don't believe he came here alone. There must be something more to it.
A quick glance at Maarij and Aariz's back told me enough: They know something that we are supposed to know as well.
My brain was running too much that it was going to be fried at any moment. I knew that I was exhausted, yet I couldn't help but run my brain to think of possible outcomes. I had to be careful, because as we stand now, a single wrong move could prove fatal.
That's precisely why I had to be careful and continue with precautions. I believed that I wasn't the only one who was thinking like that. Kane must had been thinking the same thing.
I turned my eyes to Kane and saw him giving out a faint smile behind Maarij and Aariz's back who were walking ahead of us to protect us should an attack were to come from the front.
"They must have come here for something, don't you think?" Kane spoke in a calm, yet polite tone.
We all didn't stop on our track and continued walking. Maarij, without turning back, asked in a calm tone, "What makes you think that? Are you sure that's the case?"
"Ah, no, no." Kane smiled. "It's just that I doubt Xie Wang came here for a stupid fight. Besides, he also brought some of his minions along with him, I believe."
We all stopped on our track. Maarij began to stare at the direction where Xie Wang flew from Aariz's punch.
Aariz turned to Kane and asked, "What are you trying to say?"
"I believe this was just a petty distraction. Their real motive must have been something else." Kane brought his right hand up to his face and put the index finger on his lips, getting in a thinking gesture as if to say, "For instance," then turning his head to the direction from where I could see thick green forest, he gestured slyly with a suppressed smile, "The giant mysterious-looking gate hidden there."
As expected of him. He is observant as always. His memory to recall and memorize everything that picks up his interest is excellent as well.
On our way to here, we happened to pass by that area. There were some people, equipped with weapons and bags, going in through that giant mysterious-looking gate. It didn't seem to be made of any metal but rather something which was very similar to that of a Magic.
Normally, we shouldn't be able to see that as the distance between us and that gate was far. However, we both brothers had good vision, so we barely were to see the glimpse of it and came at that conclusion.
Aariz fell into a thinking gesture and asked, "You mean to say that they are trying to retrieve something from there?"
I was wondering if he was going to say a cliché line, like I am amazed that you were able to see that despite the distance between you and that gate. But oh, well, he didn't say that.
Kane simply smiled as if to say, "Correct."
"It looks like you already know Xie Wang's real identity." Aariz sighed. "Let's go, Maarij. He's sharp as always."
As always? Why does it sound like they have met each other before? I began to recall my past memories to check whether Kane mentioned them to us, or we have had met. But I couldn't recall anything. As expected, something or someone is interfering with my memories.
Aariz looked at me and said, "Don't think too hard, Leo. It's not good to do so when you are that exhausted."
There's something they know that either I don't know or have forgotten. I was getting these vibes, simply because they were acting as if they knew us or something like that.
"Do we happen to—" I was going to ask Aariz if we knew each other or had met before just like some Fantasy Stories where main character loses his memories, and the people who he knew once help him out.
Although I didn't consider us to be main characters of whatever story was unfolding, but still, the way things were happening, it was most likely the case we were.
Maarij cut me off when I was midway speaking, and spoke, "Hey, Aariz... didn't you say you shattered his spiritual form?"
Our focus shifted to Maarij."Yeah, I believe I did that. What about it?" Aariz appeared to be confused by what Maarij asked. He was sure that he had shattered Xie Wang's spiritual form. So what Maarij asked left him in the state of confusion.
Maarij pointed at the sky, "Then how come that idiot is here?"
Xie Wang appeared in the sky before us as if he came here with a speed that made it look like a teleportation. Xie Wang had red-lines all over his body as if he were a glass that was on the verge of being broken. He was snarling, his eyes were full of fury. He clenched his fists. "Aariz...!"
"This is not looking good." I said, looking at Xie Wang. By just a single glance, I understood that Xie Wang was now mad as hell. I hurriedly looked at Aariz and Maarij, worrying that things might go ugly. "Hey, Aariz, Maarij... what do we do now?"
I glanced at them... and instantly felt like an idiot. As expected, they are not taking it seriously.
Aariz wore a robotic expression and in a deadpan robotic voice, he spoke, "Ah, so scary. Maarij, what do we do? I am so scared."
"Why are you asking me?" Maarij responded in the same tone and expression. "I am scared as well. He looks so scary. Waaah. Waaah. Mommy, Daddy, save me."
"Ha. Ha . Ha. Your daddy ain't coming 'cause he left to buy milk and never returned."
Without glancing at Aariz or changing tone, Maarij simply punch Aariz, who was standing beside him, with his right hand without changing his posture or anything.
"Ack!" Aariz let out a sound after he received a punch to his face which sent him flying through the sky, probably sending him out of the space... Alright, that was just an unfunny joke from my part.
Anyways, Maarij didn't punch Aariz that hard, just hard enough to make him fall to the ground. It was clear that they were doing that purpose to annoy Xie Wang who was already annoyed and furious.
"Ha. Ha. Ha. What a nice joke, Aariz. You are so funny. Ha. Ha. Ha."
Aariz got up on his feet with a dramatic robot-like movement. "What do we do? What do we do? We are gonna be killed by the scary guy in the sky."
"Waaah. Waaah. Waaah."
I was incredulously looking at them with my hands on my knees. I was feeling pity for that Xie Wang guy. At this point, it was a straight up bullying. "Are they guys for real...?"
"Now, now, Aries, enjoy yourself as well. It's good to have stronger ones on our side, no?"
I straightened up my posture and looked at Kane who was smiling at the sight before him, and said, "Well, at this rate, we'll be running behind the schedule which Maarij and Aariz mentioned, no?"
"We will manage—" Kane was saying something, but was interrupted by a sudden attack that came towards us from where Xie Wang was. Maarij materialized the shield to protect us before that attack could hit us. At first, I believe that it came from Xie Wang.
But upon looking at him, there was a tall skeleton figure, draped in worn-out cloak, emitting a sinister aura even when he spoke, levitating behind Xie Wang. It was none other than Xiao who had arrived on scene through a portal.
Xiao kneel on an unknown space and spoke, "Your Excellency, you must retreat. I will handle this. You need to recover your strength."
Xie Wang turned his head through his shoulder. "What if I refuse?"
Xiao looked straight into the eyes of Xie Wang and replied, "I am afraid you have no choice. It's a direct order from His Majesty."
Xie Wang sucked his teeth and turn to return back through the portal from where Xiao came that was still open. "Don't kill them. Just deal sufficient damage to them." Xie Wang gave Xiao his command as he walked towards the portal.
"As you wish." Xiao nodded.
Kane took the chance and whispered me, "Taunt Xiao in the best way possible. I have a plan, but it's a long term plan. So—"
I cut him off and said, "Give me the details about it and that as well at night. I will do as you want, so deal with the aftermaths, just like always."
Kane smiled as if to say, "Good then."
I understood what Kane wanted as it was always the same. Whenever he planned which was a long-term based plan, he needed my help as carrying out them alone was a task which was very difficult to begin with. So, over time, our understanding on each other grew more and more. Thus, it was natural for me to understand it without being explained.
To sum up, he was going to toy with Xie Wang and Xiao from now on. They had got Kane's eyes on them.
Portal closed. Xiao descended before us, but floated just above the ground. His hollow gaze fell onto us and remained at us. "You two were lucky last time. However, this time, it won't be the same." His voice carried and malice and hostility towards us.
Time to make this bony lamp cry. I said to myself as I stepped forward with a wide grin over my face. I let the words fly out of my mouth with a tone which was drenched in mockery and contempt. I made sure to use the tone and wordings that could even peel the pain off the wall.
"Oh? Look who's back, the Mighty General of the Devil's army." I was making sure that every word I utter came out with a theatrical exaggeration. "The one who let his mere human targets escape because he couldn't break a 'petty' little barrier."
I had no way to read his expression as there was nothing over his face except for a skull. So, I had no way of knowing that. However, I had my experience, so I went along the flow, trusting my experience.
"Ah, and that 'epic' monologue you gave back then? What was it...? Hmm... Ah!" I mimicked the way he said and his voice, but in an over-the-top dramatic tone. "'Join us or meet your end here.'" I burst into laughter. Of course, I was acting, yet I somehow managed to make it look genuine. That's the power of experience.
"Man, that was amazing! You showed up all of a sudden, dropped that cringe villain lines, and then got humiliated by the couple of humans. I mean... Ouch! That hurts!"
It's looking good. I have to keep it up just like that.
I shook my head in a mocking pity while clapping slowly. "Honestly, if I were you, I would've dug a hole with my own bony hands and just laid down in it, and just disappear. Vanished. Poof. I mean, really, man? Imagine being a General in Devil's army and getting outplayed by two mere humans with just a sheer luck. How do you even show your face at work?"
I wasn't just ridiculing Xiao, but was also keeping an eye on our surroundings in case if someone else tries to attack us. While doing so, I noticed the expression on Maarij and Aariz's faces.
The expressions were clearly saying, "Oh, well, it's looking interesting." "Let's enjoy it to our fullest." "We hardly get to see something like this." "Yeah, so let's enjoy it and step in when needed."
And Kane? He clearly had, "Nice, Aries. Keep going," written over his face.
"Wait!" I stopped for a minute as if to think. I then began to mock him again. "You don't even have a face!"
Xiao levitated in silence. I could see that he was reaching upto his boiling point which was what I was waiting for. Now, it was time for a killing blow.
"You had your shot. You barged in, gave your dramatic little speech, and got clowned by humans. Congrats!"
I look a step closer, deliberately, to make things more dramatic. Pointing at him, I spoke, "No muscles, no skin, and now what? No dignity either? Gonna get your bony ass handed to you, then trip over your own shadow on your way out here now? Man, you aren't an Undead Ghost, but rather an Undead Clown!"
I began walking backwards, just in case I'd crossed the line. But the grin stayed on my face. "Bwhahahaha!" Of course, it was all just an act.
Everything went according to plan. Xiao got infuriated by it. Anyone could feel the air bristling with killing intent around Xiao. Xiao spoke in a sharp tone, "You are going to regret it!"
I didn't bother looking back and walked my way to Kane with a smile of an accomplishment. Maarij and Aariz took their stances to attack whenever Xiao showed any sign of attacking. I turned to Xiao who was glaring at us. He was clearly annoyed. I could tell.
Everything had gone exactly as planned. Now it's Kane's move.