143 Skyfight I (1/2)
”Me? Hunted?” The woman laughed, her hand covering her mouth in a manner that oozed both delicateness and arrogance. ”Beast, you stand before the great Lady Zhen, Grand Advisor to the Immortal Emperor himself.”
”Immortal is not the word I would use to describe a dead man,” said Li, recounting the desperate note in the manual he read that detailed how all of civilization had collapsed - dead emperor included, of course.
”You dare demean the name of the emperor?” came Lady Zhen's fierce response.
Li's ursine eyes squinted as he noticed a difference in the golem's posture. Her expression deepened into a scowl and her fingers twitched ever so slightly. He could not actually sense any magical energy from her, and that was probably because she, like the heroes, used power far different from that which Li used.
He could, however, get a general read on the amount of power she had even if he did not have an exact understanding of the type. That was why he did not worry too much, but he was still wary of unknown attacks.
”Most impressive,” said Lady Zhen, her scowl still prominent on her face. ”It has been a long time since I have seen a magical beast of your caliber. Perhaps you are not a beast. No, your presence indicates you are more. Perhaps a devil? It matters not. Devil, Spirit, Beast – all have fallen before me.”
Li had his burly arm raised overhead, reaching near the ceiling of the enormous kitchen. His ursine paw held in between its long, black-tinted claws the almost invisible silhouette of a slightly curved blade that he recognized as a Chinese dao. He had seen the difference in the golem's mood and predicted an attack, and he was right on the mark.
Though the blade was invisible, there was a ripple in space where its handle should have been that presumably explained where it had suddenly emerged from. Li pulled his arm back, shoving the blade out from the small portal.
The attack had come lightning fast compared to the standards of this world. Li figured this was how she instantly cut so many victims in halves. Somewhat curious, he tried inspecting the blade, but it disappeared the moment he got a firm grasp on it.
”You think you possess the right to behold a treasure of the Divine Armory?” Lady Zhen shook her head mockingly. ”Very well. I am feeling generous today, so I shall indulge your curiosity.”
Lady Zhen thrust her arms to the side, the sleeves of her robes fluttering with the motion. Countless miniature portals appeared behind her until the image of the kitchen itself became distorted into a blend of unintelligible colors through the sheen of warped space. From each ripple of space appeared weapons of all kinds and colors.
Swords, staves, spears, and even fully nocked bows and arrows.
The Golden Dragon Sword. Level 90 in strength.
The Seven-Spirit Splitstaff. Level 90 in strength.
The Forest Qilin Cleaver. Level 90 in strength.
Lady Zhen crossed her arms in triumph.
”Behold my Dao of Creation that can create the finest of treasures kept throughout the ages. Weapons of such fierce power that they toppled entire armies, slew dragons, and beheaded devils. You may hold great power within you, but how can your lonesome strength compare to weapons that have carved their greatness through the eternal channels of time and history, proving their might through the ages?”
Lady Zhen saw Li shudder and put a paw to his face. She pointed to him with her head tilted back. The weapons emerged further from their portals and began glittering. ”So you understand the position you are in? Then very well. My Flying Sword Whirl Incantation will ensure your death is quick and painless.”
”Forgive me,” said Li. He moved his paw away from his face and let it drop to his side, its shaggy black fur crackling with royal purple bolts of energy. ”It is rude, but I had to stop myself from laughing. All that bluster for level 90 weapons?”