Karni was hopping on one side of the arena, trying to relieve the nerves. It's been more than half a year since he'd been hyped up for a fight. The last time was during the tournament in the Star Luo Empire.
And this was Siduo. He wasn't sure how powerful she was. They'd been hiding it for the past few months they've been back together as well. He was fucking excited for this.
Siduo was on the other side of the arena looked the same. She was grinning and cracking her knuckles.
The audience wasn't sure what to make of this though. All the students from Star Luo Academy seemed excited to see their teachers fight, because they have been legends here for years. But the rest? The journalist? The government officials? Teachers and Headmasters of other academies? They were looking for prove today. For proof of Shrek within these two individuals.
Karni looked around the arena and his eyes widened. Were that… They all came to watch? The Shrek Seven Devils were here! Even some of their classmates were here! Li Tai and Yu Tian, Luo Guixing and Xu Yucheng, Liu Liu and Wen Bao, Yang Nianxia and Zheng Yirang. Siduo's whole team. He pointed at them and Siduo saw them as well. She waved with a smile.
Some of them facepalmed, because the cameras turned to them. It wouldn't take long before the journalist found out who they were. But that would actually serve Karni and Siduo well.
Karni stepped forward. He was today's announcer, which was quite funny to him. He was actually kind of nervous about it. He didn't have a microphone or anything of course. He tapped his throat. "Testing, testing, one two three. Throat check." Karni started with a smile, and the audience fell silent after a few soft laughs.
Karni nodded around, his hand pressed on his throat for visual affect. "Alright people. Welcome. I am Val Karni, and this over here is my girlfriend, Wu Siduo. We are both from Shrek Academy's Inner Court and yes, what you heard was correct." He used his comprehension of Sound to reach everyone's ears, he didn't just amplify his voice. "We were indeed meant to be a part of the Shrek Seven Devils. If you do not believe us, just ask the current ones! They're all here, we've all seen the news. They spread like wildfire two months ago." Karni pointed over to the current Shrek Seven Devils.
Indeed, the news were announced when the new generation was decided, but the news stations only knew of their names, while their information on Martial Souls, abilities, or backgrounds were completely unavailable.
The Shrek Seven Devils all glared at him. "Look guys," Karni said so everyone could hear him. "You can always challenge us if you don't like it. We're all equals here. Gu Yue, as the temporary Captain, do you want to say hi?"
Karni amplified her voice. She had a neutral face. She announced simply and with zero tact. "No."
"That's the Shrek Seven Devils for you folks." Karni smiled and was happy to get some chuckles out of the crowd. "Gu Yue, always so cold. Poor Captain will have his heart broken when he returns."
This caused some confusion among the crowd, because they really did not know any other captain, but at the same time, this built-up intrigue. The news about the new Shrek Seven Devils, while popular, was limited, because there was nothing to talk about. This was how Shrek always did things. They announced the new generation, but did not reveal anything. The new generation always had to prove themselves to the world. Shrek would not help more than announcing. People were excited, but until the new generation proved himself, their names wouldn't really be known far and wide.
"I am sure some of you wonder why Wu Siduo and I said no to such a prestigious position. Part of it was that we grew up here, and getting the position would make it so we couldn't stay here for a long time. Oh, I can already hear some of you. Hey, you, yeah you over there. I heard your 'Yeah, right. That's bullshit.'" Karni perfectly imitated the guy's voice. The man, as soon as he was called out, shrivelled in embarrassment.
"And I mean, you're not completely wrong." Karni shrugged. "We do have our own motive. But I believe you folks will only take us seriously after we present our power. So enough of this longwinded introduction to the event. You are here to watch a fight."
Karni stepped back a bit, opening up. "The name is Val Karni. I am a Twin Martial Soul Master. I have the Royal Bamboo Panda and the Cosmic Instrument. If they don't sound familiar, it's because both are mutations." Then Karni pointed to Siduo. "And this is the love of my life, who will try to beat me up today, Wu Siduo, also a Twin Martial Soul Master. She has the White Tiger and the Hell Cat, who I believe do not need introductions. With that, I would like to ask the audience to help me countdown to the start of the fight, because I'd like to use the last five seconds to focus."
Karni got back into position and raised his hands. "10, 9, 8, 7…"
The audience finally joined together with Karni. "6, 5…" Karni was… so happy that they cooperated.
He quieted down. Only the audience remained. "4, 3…" They became louder. "2, 1. Sbaergtin" Some said Start, others begin, some said go. The final word was a mess.
Siduo and Karni vanished almost at the same time.
Siduo lit aflame. Her whole body covered in Black and White. Patterns of spirals and crossings all over her body like tattoos. Black on White, White on Black.
On the other side. Karni's left leg bone left cracked floor behind him as he lunched himself into her.
Just as they were about to crash. A humongous Greatsword appeared in his hands, slashing down.
Siduo's hands exploded. One bursting with white flame, as hot as the sun, and the other with black flames, as cold as the moon. Her hands collided just where the Greatsword was about to fall.
The fight started with a mighty boom. They usually would not start this way; it wasn't their style. But they needed to create the proper atmosphere.
The audience could not help but fall completely silent. The shockwave reached each and every one of them. The giant shield around the arena lit up fully. If not for it, many of the chairs would have been blasted away. This collision was no joke! This was on the level of Soul Emperors! And they only just started! In the next moment, the kids jumped into an uproar, while the adults that doubted them previously locked in on any little detail they could pick up. This was ripe for the news.
From the stands, a certain dad of two kids that didn't like him was sweating. He tried to attack these teens earlier? They haven't even used their Soul Rings yet!
The dust cleared and Siduo stood on one side, Three Purple and Two Black Rings circulating her. Her body was now fully white, parts of it flowing with pitch black patterns.
Karni stood on the other side. Five Black Soul Rings around him. The sword seemed to transform. It was shaking, vibrating. And it was also covered in beautiful yet terrifyingly sharp silver feathers. Draconic Thunder and Quivering Silver Feathers were fused into the Guardian.
The Greatsword turned sharp. Terrifyingly sharp. It cut the very space. And the feathers danced from bottom to the top, like quivering in the wind. They looked deceivingly soft. But the streak behind them was pitch black, a sharp cut in space. It was anything but soft.
Siduo's hands formed stripes of golden light. Her Sun Stripes of the Torso Bone imitated her Hell Blade.
Yet as the sword was falling down, Siduo changed paces. Her fifth Soul Ring shone. Hell Cat's fifth Soul Ring. A Soul Ring given by the Moon-Footed Cat.
"Shadow Fall." She whispered. Her whole body flashed from White to a complete, light-sucking Black. The Sun Blades turned Blue. Sun Stripes changed to Moon Stripes. Her Third Soul Ring shone, supporting the Moon Stripes, it didn't even take a full second for her to completely envelop the Moon Stripes into a full Black colour.
Siduo sidestepped with speed that broke the Sound barrier, appearing to the side of Karni. It wasn't a transformation ability; it was one terrifying dash of speed.
But Karni had Golden Insight. And recently, speed wasn't much of a problem to see anymore. What greeted Siduo was the Greatsword split, the Dagger part meeting her pitch-black blades. Karni wasn't even looking at her as the attacks collided.
But he was thrown back, her explosive power was as dangerous as ever. No, it was far more dangerous than before. The speed and explosiveness were far smoother than before.
Karni flipped in mid-air and banged the Dagger and the Longsword in his hands. A beautiful Sound enveloped the arena. Still Harmony, performed through the Guardian. Karni threw the dagger at the already following Siduo.
At the same time, Karni's Martial Soul changed, Cosmic Instrument got attached to the Guardian, while the Royal Bamboo Panda took hold of Karni's body. He activated his second Soul Ring, Royal Paw Pad and bounced back into balance.
Siduo deflected the Dagger off with ease, she was used to Karni's Sound numbness… but the dagger circled back around. A deadly boomerang.
Siduo sensed it as well. Her fourth Soul Ring shone. Moon Feet Clones. The dagger slashed right through one of them.
But one of the clones turned White and Black with flames, just like Siduo at the start. Her fifth Soul Ring activated again. Shadow Fall. While it wasn't a strengthening ability, it was a temporary transformation into Shadow.
But just before the Black could overtake the White, the Soul Rings changed and another fifth Soul Ring shone brightly. Her White Tiger.
Siduo blazed yet felt terrifyingly murky at the same time. Shadow Fall was a Soul Skill which could completely transform her being into Shadow and cold. Her new transformation skill was its polar opposite. Sun and fire. The White Tiger Sungod Possession! It was a true transformation ability, and in an odd twist, it seemed to make Shadow Fall more permanent. The only way she could do such an instant switch was through a new breakthrough. This was the power she had kept hidden. The Scorched Moon Phoenix Feather!
But it wasn't only the feather which allowed it. The White Tiger's third strengthening ability was the White Tiger Devilgod Transformation. One of the three great abilities of the White Tiger. Siduo's Spirit Soul, Solaria, was a Sun Tiger. It mutated her Soul Ring into a stronger one. The White Tiger Sungod Possession. The power came from the connection to the sun itself.
Karni's third Soul Ring shone in response. Blooming Loti. "Lily!" He called inside. She joined to help. Instead of Blooming Loti, it was a single arena-stretching Blooming Lotus.
The audience could not help but be amazed and frustrated at the same time. The Lotus was beautiful and humongous, but it blocked the vision of what was happening!
It covered Siduo's full field vision as well, and it slowed her down immensely. While the leaves of the Lotus were shredded like they were paper as she advanced into it, it was like mountain was put on her mind. The weight of Spiritual Power of the Spirit Abyss Realm.
She came through the other side and Karni was gone. She took a big, focused breath. "Fuck."
She quickly turned around, her White Tiger Crystal Light Wave flying toward the other side. Yin and Yang flamed enveloped the Wave.
But Karni was nowhere nearby. He was on the other side of the arena, looking at her through the hole she shredded in the Lotus. And his Skull Bone was out. Nerve Authority shot out at Siduo.
"Motherfucker!" She yelled. The paralysing ray reached her, but not before she exploded with her Battle Armour. It managed to block the ray. Most of it.
She actually sighed in relief. That ray wouldn't just immobilise her. Her control over the Yin and Yang Flames would be completely fucked up, which would cause a boom. She required very delicate control. The skill was mighty, but a single fuck up could cause her a massive injury.
"No time for games anymore I guess." She breathed in. Her Flames of Yin and Yang dissipated and were replaced by a Black and White glow mixing. The glow of her Martial Souls. The ruined Lotus surrounding her was enveloped in the mixed light, and in her place, the Hell White Tiger appeared.
Karni breathed in. His Royal Panda Cushion and Royal Paw Pad activated. His Battle Armour came on. It had to; Siduo's Hell White Tiger had Battle Armour on as well!
Two of her Black Soul Rings fused. Sun Tiger Meteor and Moon Feet Clones. Multiple Hell White Tigers appeared, then all of them rushed with flaming meteors at Karni.
Karni cursed under his breath. All of those were solid! These were true clones!
It was also quite the terrifying scene for the audience, as multiple humongous tigers appeared in the arena. It looked to be a fight of great, giant skills. It was grand.
Karni banged the Dagger and the Longsword together, releasing a Sonic Boom. He slashed the Greatsword toward one of the meteors. A slash of Space and Sound was released… and cut into the Hell White Tiger.
They might look like they all had Battle Armour, but only one really had. Cutting into them was easy… but the Hell White Tiger still stood and bit at him, just as another Hell White Tiger was charging from the side.
Karni jumped toward the incoming Hell White Tiger coming from the side to avoid the bite. He allowed himself to get hit toward another Hell White Tiger. Karni spun from the strength of the push with the Royal Panda Cushion and Royal Paw Pad. He crashed into another Hell White Tiger with the Greatsword slashing through the skull fully. A black cut followed the Greatsword behind him. The cut in space. It was terrifyingly beautiful, as the sun shimmered off of the Silver Quivering Feathers.
Flight into the River, Lily's Soul Bone, was released. He kicked himself off into another Hell White Tiger with terrifying speed, turning the one with the cut head into complete mush when he jumped off.
Siduo saw how this was going. Another set of Black Soul Rings appeared. The fifth Soul Rings. Sungod Possession and Shadow Fall joined into the Hell White Tiger. The tigers now almost looked like they were covered with the Yin and Yang Flames, though they weren't. The energies of shadow and sun mixed interchangeably instead.
But there was an explosiveness to her now. One could say that her current form rocked the lite version of the Yin and Yang Flames. The contrast between sun and shadow energies, while not as pure, still provided a similar intense result.
Karni slashed from the right, but he was smiling, as this was just the ninth hit he was waiting for. Karni hit at the tiger, cutting into it, but also pulling it toward the right.
He spun from right to left slashing into the imbalanced Hell White Tiger Siduo.
Another one of her clones defeated.
Karni knew where the real Siduo was. But this was more exhausting for her than for him, because the clones were of a Soul Fusion, and the skills transferred over in a lesser capacity as well.
Siduo noticed it as well. It was only the third tiger Karni got rid off, and all of her started attacking in the next moment.
"Well, shit." Karni lunched himself into the middle. The second Soul Ring shining through the Guardian.
The Guardian lit up, and Karni saw Siduo's eyes. They were those of expectation. Like she was looking forward to this move.
Karni's Sword appeared almost like a Holy Sword, despite the light only serving to apply the Mirage Bestowal.
Siduo was struck with the Mirage Bestowal, but in the middle of the field also appeared giant Lotuses. A whole field of them.
Not only was her mind affected just now, but Spiritual Pressure pressed onto her as well. She was vulnerable. Easily affected.
And Karni used all of his advantage on it. Though Siduo wouldn't just let that happen. A third set of Soul Rings joined. A year ago, Siduo using this would have caused her injuries, now she looked like she had no trouble controlling it. Her first Soul Rings joined her. Hell Rush, and Diamond Transformation.
That was Hell Rush, Diamond Transformation, Moon Feet Clones, Sun Tiger Meteor, Shadow Fall and Sungod Possession all fused into Siduo's Self Soul Fusion.
But it could not shake off Karni's effects. Hers were all physical abilities.
The audience immediately noted something was wrong. Siduo suddenly started missing Karni, and Karni was moving into her. He was building up the Disordered Spiral Resonance.
He bounced between the Hell White Tigers with ease. When the position wasn't optimal, he Shifted.
The Guardian seemed to reverse in movement as it hit one of the charging Hell White Tigers. Those familiar with Karni could see that he did not actually need nine hits anymore. He was taking five hits to reach each major stage of Disordered Spiral Resonance. All of his skills worked to disorient and constrain her.
Not only were his abilities changing, so was the power of the Sound. Still Harmony was already activated, so was the Quivering Silver Feathers, which gave him a similar quality of control over Space as Draconic Thunder did over Sound.
It wasn't just Sound that was growing. Karni could shape the sharpness of Space with greater quality now. Shaping space had a lot of variability, but this was the direction of his current training. He needed to figure out one thing at a time, lest he completely lost sight of his battle style.
He slashed at Siduo directly this time as he Shifted next to her. Sound, Space, power, sharpness, all combined into one. A complete release of all at once, before it was sucked back in, causing an explosion. What used to be the 27th hit was currently technically 15th hit, with the quality of the 27th.
Siduo crashed into the ground, but her Battle Armour protected her. Her abilities were still active. Her clones continued to bombard Karni.
It slowly started to look like it was Karni who was bombarding Siduo. The tide had changed. In four more hits, the pressure intensified in the surroundings, locking down one of the Hell White Tigers. It was soon gone as well.
He took only four hits. Karni was improving mid battle. Siduo gave him an incredible amount of pressure. Siduo may had taken that one hit, but one had to admit. She took that hit, she took Karni's mirage bestowal which completely immobilised most people and yet her clones still did not let down on the aggression. Karni had to be careful. His durability was increased, yes, but if he let the Hell White Tiger clones get in a hit he wasn't prepared for, the situation could turn around in an instant.
Siduo only had to focus on the attacking, while he had to juggle so many things. He had to keep the skills going. He had to build Disordered Spiral Resonance, which furthermore required precise movement, which he had to do while weaving between the myriads of attacks of the clones that, when defeated, would be replaced by a new one.
But what the audience saw… was a dance. A dance between tigers and a panda. Karni was spinning between the tigers, jumping around, appearing here and there. And he did it all between those beautiful Lotus leaves sprouting from the ground. Sometimes he even hopped and spun on them.
It didn't take long for people to have started calling him a name which would be destined for him. The Dancing Panda. For now, it was just a nickname, but in the future, this soft-sounding name would inspire fear and hope on the battlefield.
In the next moment, his power fully exploded. Disordered Spiral Resonance was complete. The power rose twice as much as before, and despite Siduo fusing six of her Soul Rings, he now started one-shotting her clones.
The clones vanished all at once. But not truly. They fused into Siduo. Her feet turned fully white. Her body was a flow of Black and White. She stood still, and Karni saw the rising fourth set of rings. Hell Blade was joining the Crystal Light Wave. She was going into full offence.
So, Karni decided to as well. He stood on one of the Lotuses. He raised the Guardian Greatsword up in the sky and closed his eyes.
Spiritual Power, Sound, Soul Power. The sword glowed in a pure white colour. But his control of Space and his understanding of the Future joined in as well—the first and the fifth Soul Ring. Karni sensed this feeling. He was experimenting. He felt like he did not need to aim. It was like he knew. Even if he attacked in the other way, he would hit her.
Sonic Entropy. Spiritual Power, Sound, Soul Power, and now Space and Sounds of Future, joined all into one. The whole Guardian glowed. Three colours interchanged. Gold, Silver, White. White, the fusion of Sound, Spiritual Power and Soul Power—the original Sonic Entropy. Gold, the power of prediction, of the future provided by the Sound. Silver, the power of Space.
Even his Bloodline, Relaxing Aura exploded. Not to affect the others, but himself, because he was losing control. He affected the elements inside. It was his first time creating Sonic Entropy like this, so he needed some help.
Sonic Entropy. The fusion of all into one. Of his comprehensions. Built up with its tension, ready for a released.
And the Hell White Tiger. Eight Soul Rings, half belonging to Yin, half to the Yang, all fused into one through the Soul Fusion. Finally, her whole body turned a Bloody Red. Horns. She was saving the best for last. The Raging Buffalo Duke's Skull Bone. Buffalo Duke's Rage. Once she used that, the timer would start. But this time she did not need a timer. Both of them knew this was the final attack.
Karni and Siduo opened their eyes. Siduo exploded in speed. Karni slashed… and released.
Siduo felt danger. Despite being absolutely filled with power, she was terrified. She chose to dodge, her powers were far more than just direct attack. She would pounce and defeat him after she went around in one move. That was what she had been waiting for.
Yet as she dodged, at the moment she knew was right, the attack followed at the exact same time. It followed her exactly, before she did it, as if the attack itself knew the future.
The Slash of Sonic Entropy crashed into the explosive Hell White Tiger, but Siduo didn't give. All of her power was released into the attack, defending.
An explosion enveloped the whole field. A boom of Sound so loud people could hear it through their held ears. A crash of white and black smoke.
People waited. Who would come out? Would there be a next attack?
The field cleared, and what people saw shocked them even more.
Karni had to support himself with the Guardian. He looked on and saw… Siduo standing on the four paws of the tiger, unmoving, face intense… but the eyes were unfocused, like the person wasn't there. She passed out standing, somehow managing to keep her Soul Fusion form intact.
The Headmaster flew quickly into the field. His Soul Rings were shining. Four Purple Five Black. A brilliant Emerald Shield was out, but he had no use for it. Originally, he was planning to block that explosive attack of Siduo's. Everyone felt the danger of it. At the end, it did not even reach him.
Yet apparently the silent and simple attack that Karni released was even worse than that.
He looked to Karni with slight terror. He actually did not feel that attack's danger. It was like it was simply a part of space. "Val Karni… is the winner."
No one actually felt the danger of that attack. Except for Siduo. And even then, she had to fight her instincts and trust her gut of what she knew of Karni's abilities.
Karni slowly walked up to Siduo and picked her up. He infused Relaxing Aura into her and released a soft, soothing Sound. Siduo soon opened up her eyes. Though she wasn't exactly stable.
Headmaster waved over the Healing type Soul Master. One of the teachers that used to heal them when they still studied here came over. A Soul Sage. He quickly used his skills on the two of them.
Siduo leaned onto Karni and the two simply sat there in the middle of the arena. They still had things to say.
Karni finally spoke. "I believe all of you here today have seen and believe our claims are true. We are sixteen years old. I think we qualify as Inner Shrek Students even without confirming it through the academy." He looked at the journalists.
Of course, the two of them did. Their all-out attack managed to get a Titled Douluo moving.
"We have heard that the academy has been accused of quite a few unsavoury things in the recent year. Families have removed children from the academy due to it, and the local talents have not joined the academy due to it."
Karni raised his head proudly. He sat, yet he looked proud and confident. In some way, despite being below them, it felt like he had the authority. "I belong to Shrek. I would never associate the kind of academy the rumours describe if they were true. Shrek upholds honour and morals even above talent. It wouldn't matter if I once attended this school or not. If it had truly turned astray, I would not respect it anymore."
The audience listened carefully. It was hard not to after a fight like that.
"I only ask that people listening form their own opinions. But if you wish to do that, you will need a bit of context." Karni spoke.
"Wu Siduo and I have attended Star Luo Academy from ages six to fifteen. When we were ten, we were reckless kids. Due to an unfortunate incident, we ended up chasing a corrupt police gang. In the scuffle however, Siduo and I killed their leader. I believe many of you should still remember the incident. While our names were not advertised at the time to keep our privacy, it was us who caused that incident. I remember it causing quite the stir."
The people started whispering around the whole arena. Yes, people did remember that. And with the power the two showcased now, one far above the average of a Soul King, those that were smart did not doubt that they could have defeated a Soul Ancestor back then. However, as the whispers spread, many were also doubtful. They were ten back then. How strong could they have been?
"When we were ten, we just broke into the realm of Soul Elder." Karni answered many questions. "Even then, we were good enough to face a rank above us. We got into Shrek, after all. And Shrek only breeds monsters. We have only grown since then." It sounded arrogant, but with their display of power today, it was hard to consider it as arrogance.
"The leader of the gang back then, was Tan Bai. He was the son of the current police chief of Star Luo City." Karni stood up and did not say anything more. He believed the people and the journalist would know how to use that. It was juicy information after all. And it came from a Shrek Student! When it came Shrek vs Police, most people would trust the words of Shrek, especially considering the incident six years ago.
"I hope everyone enjoyed today's battle. Siduo and I could both really use a rest, so we will not be answering and questions." Karni nodded over to Gu Yue and sent her a little message as to where they can find them if they want to talk. Then Karni Shifted them out.
… … …
The first stage was done, now it was time for them to prepare for the fallout. This little stunt should get the police chief restless. A public battle was bound to start. Karni and Siduo hoped it would build pressure on the police. Enough for them to come seeking them even if they never leave the academy.
"Was that why you guys really came here?" Xie Xie was the first to ask. "To save the Star Luo City academy?"
"Eh, not really." Karni was lying in the shade. "We came to deal with the police chief, we didn't know the academy was in trouble. We were going to take it slow, but if the academy was willing to help because it was pushed in the corner, why not use it?"
"And we really do like this place. It's more of our home then Shrek is. And my family is also here." Siduo smiled.
It did make sense to Karni now—why Siduo was so attached to her family. The conversation before the battle was revealing in many ways.
"Any way we can help?" Yuanen Yehui offered. She was perhaps most eager of the group to have a little fight.
"No. We have a lot of things to prepare, and we need the police to get reckless, not the other way around. This isn't a simple problem of facing an Evil Soul Master. Police are a public institution." Siduo was the first to say. Even if she liked to fight without weird mental battles, she knew they couldn't do that here, exactly because this was the police they were facing. Besides, this was her hometown. She did not want to risk wanton destruction.
"What exactly are you preparing? Facing the police won't be easy." Yue Zhengyu said. He had ties in the military. While police were under different jurisdiction, the two forces worked similarly.
"It won't be the whole police. The chief was already lying low when we first got her son, because she was connected to the whole operation. It's only now, years after, that she dared to put pressure on the academy. A little reminder should frustrate her again. If you guys are here with the academy watching us, she will only be careful. You guys should not only leave but leave in a way people see it." Karni told Yue Zhengyu. While Siduo knew to be careful, she wasn't the brains of the whole operation. She knew how to be tricky in the battlefield, but less so on the grand scale.
"We'll do just that." Gu Yue nodded. "Yue Zhengyu, Xie Xie. You two will draw a bit of attention when we leave."
"Wait, wait. But still. You two should be careful. The police connections and resources run deep. Especially that of a chief which was not removed despite suspicions." Yue Zhengyu warned again.
"We know." Karni said. "There is a reason we want them to make the first move. We intend to get the Tang Sect involved as well. We have a plan to upgrade our weapons, as well as building a Black Mecha."
"And an upgraded motorbike for me." Siduo added.
"And that." Karni had a full plan of action, as well as intent on upgrading themselves. That second part was Siduo's idea. It was the best back-up option they could have.
Yue Zhengyu tapped his chin. "Mm. That should be enough if you bait the chief in the right way."
"That's the intention." Karni nodded.
"Alright then, how about we return today already. It will be less suspicious. And also, we really need to train." Xu Xiaoyan said.
The rest of the group nodded, especially at that last part. Watching today's battle made them feel a bit sour. They were the Shrek Seven Devils, yet the only people who looked like they wanted to challenge the two were Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan. Gu Yue was the only one Karni and Siduo knew was stronger at the moment, but she wasn't exactly a battle junkie like the other two.
"Yes, please do leave. My family is coming here."
"They're here already." Karni smiled. Actually, they've been waiting here for a while.
Jianyu peeked in as soon as Karni said that, with his father and mother right behind him. But interestingly, even the girl they met before was here. She really stuck to the kid. Siduo thought about it. Wang Chao, wasn't she? Hmmm. She really wanted to tease her brother.
"Oh, are we interrupting?" Wu Jianguo asked.
"Dad, meet our friends. The Shrek Seven Devils."
"Oh…" Dad looked at the group of teens. It was interesting to see that somehow, Karni and Siduo looked like the centre of the group, despite not being in the Shrek Seven Devils.
"Wow. You're the Shrek Seven Devils?" Jianyu ran in and looked them over. He came to Gu Yue. "Hm. You must be the captain."
Gu Yue was taken aback. "Did your sister tell you?"
Jianyu shook his head. "No, I heard it in the stands. And Captains should be serious. And you look like the least fun."
Gu Yue stared at the kid, genuine confusion on her face. She didn't know how to deal with that. She turned to look at Siduo. "He is your brother, huh."
"Sense the family resemblance?" Siduo cuddled her little brother.
"It's good that Wulin isn't here." Yuanen Yehui chuckled on the side. She seemed amused.
"Speaking of, Yehui." Karni said. "Jianyu here made those games you liked."
Jianyu's eyes shined. "You like my games?!"
Yuanen Yehui looked at the boy. "I really do. Do you have any more?"
"Yes! Wait a minute! I'll be right back!" Jianyu ran out.
"I'll go with him. You have fun." Ta Siyu waved her daughter goodbye.
The family left, but another group approached. Karni's little shaded tree was now very busy.
"Li Tai, Yu Tian? Filled with nostalgia?" Siduo asked. It was Siduo's old group that approached them.
"Eh. Yes and no." Yu Tian shrugged.
"Hm. Any of you staying?" Karni asked.
Everyone shook their head. Everyone but Wen Bao.
"Oh? Wen Bao, you staying?"
"I regularly visit my family during the weekends, actually." She answered.
"Oh, hey would you be willing to help us out at some point? We could use someone the kids could practice with. We need to get everyone into the academy." Karni offered.
"Not just into it. We need them to pass with over 90 points."
The group all fell silent. They all knew how difficult that was. The Shrek Seven Devils only looked serious and nodded. "Why do you need to do that?" Wen Bao finally asked.
"Because they made a bet with the Pavilion Master." Xu Xiaoyan snickered. "They won't be able to hang out for three years if they fail." She winked at the two. "Oh, love."
Wen Bao sighed. "Sure. I'll join here and there. Though I don't know how much my food would help."
"It would help a ton. They need to get used to feeling power and how different abilities can be." Karni smiled.
… … …
Half an hour later Jianyu returned. "Here! My latest invention!" He ran to Jianyu.
"Thank you." Yehui looked happy.
"Hey, uh, kid. You got any more?" Xie Xie asked a bit bashful.
Jianyu frowned and pointed a finger with Xie Xie. "Why didn't you ask before?! I could have brought two! Are you an idiot? Of course I have more! Ugh. I'll be back."
Xie Xie was left speechless as he watched the kid leave.
"Okay, but after this we're leaving." Gu Yue rolled her eyes.