Read Another Life, Another Me :: Wind Blade

The clear blue sky was reflected into Ian's vision. He had to blink a couple of times to realize what had just happened. He quickly lands back on his feet. Ian looks up as Scarlet was upon him, ready to punch his lights out. Ian dodges to the right only to get sidekick by her. He tumbles on the arena while holding his side.

He coughs out saliva. His side burns with pain. As though he's been hit by a bulldozer.

<What's going on...?! What in the world just happened?!>

Ian looks at her. Scarlet was still struggling to even stand straight. So just how did she manage to hurt him like this. Ian had her cornered and was so close to killing her. Death's door was just waiting for her, so how did she escape it?

Ian looks at the crowd thinking that someone must have helped her. However, that wasn't possible with his Grandfather as the judge. Moreover, even if it was his grandfather that helped her, that was near to impossible. James was strict with tradition. It was his rule and law of life.

Then, the only explanation would be that someone was able to help Scarlet without alerting his grandfather. Ian snarls at her, "Cheap tricks. They won't work on me!"

As Scarlet finally manages to stabilize her standing, Ian is already upon her. He swings his sword down with crazed eyes. Scarlet struggles on her feet to move, and kicks him hard on the stomach again. However, the force was a lot weaker this time. Ian lands quickly on his feet and charges in again.

Scarlet scrambles on her footing. Everyone there laughs at her. She was being very unsightly and shameless. There was no way she could win. Her arm and palm was injured so heavily, she was bleeding non stop. All she was doing was just embarrassing herself.

Ian chuckles at her action. Though he felt very satisfied to see her like that, he was also getting irritated. She kept dodging his attack, and was able to land blows on him even though she was injured. He was waiting for her to yield in complete surrender, but she kept going like a cockroach. And what was the best way to kill one? Squash it until it is dead.

Ian took a few steps back from Scarlet. She looks at him, focused and ready to block the next move. Ian lights up two of his fingers and slides it against his sword. A pale blue light surrounds the sword making a light vibration sound. The back of Scarlet's hair went up. This move that Ian was about to use was by no means weak. Somebody in the crowd gasped, "Is that what I think it is?!"

"It is! Young masters killer move, Wind Blade!"

The crowd was excited to see a killer move by an upper4 before them, and it was the young master of the Polarmis Household no less. The girls cheer for him in excitement. Those who rooted for Ian knew that this was a deceitful move.

Wind Blade, a force created by the sword cuts through its opponents with its pale blue light. If one does not avoid it or does not have a strong counter, they will lose their head. A pity that he had to use it on Scarlet, but if he didn't, would she even learn her lesson of going against him and fate?

As blood seeps out from the cut on her forehead, Scarlet raises up both of her hands towards Ian. He narrowed his eyes at her and chuckled.

"You think you can beat me with that move alone?" He asked with a mocking tone.

Scarlet smirks back at him, "Try it."

"Very well, you asked for it!"

Ian swings his sword directing the force at Scarlet. The crowd behind her ran. If she dodges it, they will die, and even if she could take on the forces of the wind blade, they would get blown away.

Scarlet braces herself as she thought to herself.

BOOM

White smoke covers where Scarlet had stood. Ian whips his sword around to flick the blood off. He huffs out, "Hmph, should have just admitted defeated. Such a waste."

Everyone in the crowd cheered for his victory. Ian waves at them with a charming smile. He turns to James and cups his hands together.

"Grandfather. Though it is a pity, Scarlet has lost her life, therefore, she has lost the duel."

Ian awaits for his ruling, but James says nothing to him. All he gave was just silence. Ian looks at him, "Grandfather, I know you adore Scarlet, but she brought this on her own. Had she just admit-"

"Admit defeat, then you would have spared me?" said a chilling voice behind him.

A cold chill ran down his spine instantly. In that instant, Ian suddenly saw a large vicious red snake staring at him right in the eye. It swoops down and swallows him whole. Ian snaps back to reality as his eyes meet the arena floor. He slowly turned around and saw it. Crimson hair fluttering in the wind with blood moon eyes. It wore the same exact expression when the Twins of Huns were murdered by it's own hand.

Ian quickly unsheathes his sword and directs it at her. His hand wouldn't stop shaking, and his teeth chatters. Her very image and air was intimidating. James had to grip his own chest to settle down his own bloodthirst to fight her. He never knew this side of Scarlet. It was like she was a war goddess, not a war demon. It made him smile secretly to himself.

His grandson had thought that he was able to finish her off just from using the Wind Blade. Everyone thought that she had died due to her injuries and bleeding. However, only James knew the truth. As a veteran of war and cultivator, he has seen many battles and many people. Though he had never fought nor seen her fight until now, he knew what she was the moment the battle began. It was a pity and a sad sight to see that his grandson failed to see through it.

Not only that, he gave away his killer move right off the bat. He did not wait long enough nor had enough patience. He toyed with her too much, and was too absorbed in torturing her. Had Ian just calmed down and realized what was happening, he could have won.

"You!" Ian yelled out, "How did you do it!? Who in the world is helping you!?"

Scarlet smirks at him, "Are you trying to say that there can be someone here that can get past Old Master?"

James glares behind Ian. This grandson of his has been insolent for the past few days. Now, he was even questioning him as a judge and a cultivator. Ian shivered from the pressure behind him.

He yells out, "Nonsense!"

"Ian," Scarlet suddenly called out, "You just lost your chance to win."

Ian's eyes flashes in warning, "What?"

Instantly, Scarlet disappears from his sight, from everyone's but James. He smirks at her action.

BAM

Ian's face lands smack down against the arena's floor. One of his teeth broke off, and his nose cracked. Ian quickly gets up from the floor, but then plows back.

"UGH!" he grunts out loudly.

Everyone grasped out in shock. Scarlet lifts her right leg back and kicks him hard like a soccer ball. Ian tumbles on the arena floor like a basketball. He staggered as he got up from the floor.

Scarlet pulls her leg back, and gets in position. She smirks at him, "Is this all you're amount to, Ian?"

He snarls at her remarks and unleashes the Wind Blade again. Scarlet took a small step to the side, dodging the Wind Blade. It flew directly at James. He uses one hand to deflect the Wind Blade towards the side wall. Scarlet bows to him, "Apologize."

He shakes his head, "Continue."

Scarlet nods with a smile and turns to Ian. He shrieks back ,"H-How?! How could you avoid it like that!?"

Scarlet looks at her cut up palm and smirks at him, "Easy, the Wind Blade can only go in one direction. Once I know which way, anyone can easily dodge it."

"What?!"

Scarlet clicks her tongue at him, "You rely too much on the Wind Blade."

His head boils at her words. Ian attacked her mindlessly like a mad man. She smirks at him as she dodges his attack. She brings down her leg and smacks him hard against his neck sending him kissing the floor again.

BAM

Everyone there could only watch as their breath went cold. This woman before them was clearly losing. She was losing in the beginning, so how in the world did she over turn the situation like this?

No one knew. No one but James knew.

To Be Continue