Dong Ya Qi's attack missed his foe... or rather was diverted intentionally to not hit his opponent.
On the opposite side, Dong Yun An's indifferent stare had turned into a slight frown.
Surely her body condition was subpar and her "cousin" had the reason to not expose her to his might, this and the two times before this were still insults to her as a fighter. Moreover, it was in front of all the young fighters of the grandest youth tournament and their mentors. She rather be retired on the spot than receiving this kind of pity.
Well, it was not without reason. Ya Qi knew well Yun An wouldn't go down without sustaining really heavy injury, and he couldn't do so to his beloved cousin.
Yun An could guess that reasoning from Ya Qi but that didn't change the sour taste in her mouth.
"When will you decide to drop this act?" The stern voice was in stark contrast to her small youthful face.
"I-"
"You want me to say the words, don't you?"
"..."
Yun An let out a frustrating sigh. Her eyes, unmoving from the averting face of Ya Qi. Boiling blood, coursing through her visible veins. His silence, his affirmation.
Yun An tossed the weapons on her waist down the stage, everything, everything except one, a short saber in its gold-pattern black scabbard.
The blade was unsheathed... smoothly... steadily... soundlessly.
The scabbard then joined the rest of the weapons on the floor outside the ring.
In this courtyard turned avenue, only the sound of mother nature was audible.
Yun An made her strides. Gravity compressed under her tranquil fury.
The expert eyes caught on the strings of qi tightening the particles of the earth like tree roots whenever she put down her steps.
Something was growing with the passage of time. Something big would be happening.
The audiences kept their voice. Their being concentrated onto what was about to unfold.
At three meters away from her opponent, Yun An's blade was behind her back.
Her upper body slightly leaned back. The center of gravity, right on top of her right leg.
For a moment, Yun An stopped. This was when the trigger was pulled.
The pavement, cracked. The earth, crushed under the weight of her swing.
The fortified weapon, made from one of the best stores in the great city of Gudu, ascended above its wielder's head.
Then- And then, wrathful might descended.
Under non-qi condition, this burst of super quick action would have propelled her to cloud nine, not today.
The root-like strings of qi held tightly onto Yun An's feet, allowing her immeasurable strength to exert its destructiveness.
Instincts screamed at the teenage onlookers behind Ya Qi. Some with steel mind employed their qi armour and qi reinforcement. Others evacuated the location.
Luckily for them, the older observers have already deciphered the future. Large forces of qi constructed hardened barriers in a blink of the eye.
This tournament still had some tens of participants, contestants' guardians, attending staff members, and honorable guests. Like a torched beehive, all were in motion, either to lessen the effect of the upcoming impact or to be flabbergasted by the magnitude of it.
The only person who was frozen by the occurring was its recipient, Dong Ya Qi. Never, even in his wildest dream, could he imagine his lovable cousin could demonstrate this level of strength.
Like a meteor crashing down from heaven, the saber strike let out its howl.
Still air, scattered into tempest gale.
Fallen leaves, eviscerated by the brutal shockwave.
Ground, sent out rings of ripple like it was water.
All the shields in the vicinity, flickered. Some, cracked. Others, shattered into fragmented qi.
Buildings couldn't hold onto its parts, letting go of broken debris which rode on the outwarding shockwave dispersing into the sunset.
The qi-reinforced saber in Yun An's hand turned into pieces under the stress of the attack.
If it didn't- If Yun An had a stronger weapon in her hands, the young man in front of her wouldn't stand unscratched regardless how strong he made his last-minute barrier to be.
Yun An turned her neck to the sideline, spitting a blood-filled cough like it was the norm.
While walking back to her corner, she wiped the bleeding from her eyes, ears and noses.
After swallowing the remaining salty red liquid in her mouth to clear her throat, she spoke to the referee. "I concede."
Not waiting for anyone's response, she hopped down the elevated ring, collected her weapons and left the stage.
The eyes following her walking figure held many contemplation.
