Another night has come and they are now heading towards the South West of Xaltan's Realm. Knowing that the safest place for them now is the place no one will ever visit, the monster den that they call the Dark Forest. Riding slower as they couldn't make loud noises nor make light to lead the way, the only good thing to do is to travel slower. The only problem is, not all of them likes the plan.
"I know that we're in a tough situation but my father needs to know what happened at the training camp. I need to go there as soon as possible and report what happened." Worried, Sha wanted to rush and get back to the city as fast as possible.
Duno looked at her, "I'm sorry, princess but that I can't do. It's hard to explain now but soon you'll see. This is the order of your father." Knowing that the path towards the Dark Forest is near the Black Fist City, he knows that soon, they could see it with their own eyes what the city's current situation.
Sha didn't insist on knowing as she knew that Duno is someone who prioritizes what's the best. Still, she couldn't just stay still and now is waiting for the right time.
Hours have passed and finally, they are now traveling far south of the Black Fist City. With their numbers, it's hardly possible for detection even for those Masters who are around the city. Reaching the entrance of the Dark Forest, they are now relieved that they are now somehow safe. But then something went wrong.
Even from afar, you could see what's happening around the city. Thundering explosions caught their attention. The city walls are now on the verge of collapse.
Thinking too much about reaching safety, "Wait, I can't find Sha. Did we somehow left her behind?!" Duno forgot about his mission. Trying to look back, he couldn't see anything from afar but with only an unconscious scout lying on the ground.
With great panic, Duno looked at the city and there she saw Sha riding a horse. "Sh*t! Why now of all times?! Stay here with the others, I'll fo-"
"No." Ai interfered. "I will get her back and I'll make sure we'll return safely." Duno wanted to do it by himself but looking at Ai right now, he somehow saw the image of Ai's father, the Greatest Commander of Black State.
Getting off the horse, "Take Longface, he's the best horse the Black State could have." Duno agreed of Ai's suggestion. Su'e won't leave him alone but Ai doesn't have a choice but to leave her in Duno's care.
Ai took off like the wind but Sha is still far that she might reach the city before even Ai could get her back. He already knew that it might happen but he still insisted on following her. Sha was the only reason why he stayed alive all this time, even if the world hated him, Sha was there to help him. He won't let Sha get hurt.
"Faster, Longface... let's get that idiot back."
-Black Fist City, North Gate-
The siege hurt the city's defenses pretty bad. Even with the Dark Market guild's help, they couldn't stop the advance of the Three Clans. South Gate is the only safe place to retreat but their attackers already set up an ambush there that even women and children were slaughtered before they could even get out of the city. It's been only hours but the city is already about to fall.
"Sir, only a few managed to escape through the south gate... these traitors prepared this attack well." One of the officers of Black Fist Clan reported.
"If that's the case, then the city... once again will fall."
Black Fist city was once called the Black Petal city. After the war, the old Black Fist city became the barracks for all the cultivators hunting the remaining survivors of the war and after a couple of years, to fight the war against the new enemies, the rebels from the fallen clans.
Looking at the situation of the city, it's not even close to how Bahura, past leader of the Black Petal clan, defended the city that even four of the sub-clan leaders almost failed their attempt to take Bahura down. Still, Tanti predicted that this day will come but he knew that whatever he does, he can't avoid what will happen and the only thing he could do is to save his children.
'As long as my offsprings are still alive, my legacy will not be forgotten like my brother with Ai. I can now die in peace.' Tanti thought to himself while Nou, Leader of Fog Clan, and Rarna, Leader of Sting Clan, holding each of his arms to stop him from moving while Fang, Leader of Howl Clan, is about to unleash a powerful attack against him.
"End it. The city is yours, just let my offspring go. They don't know any better." Without showing any hostility or hint of fighting back, Tanti lost all hope.
He lost his city, he lost his army and all that's left are his offsprings.
"We're not like you, Tanti. We don't pity those who don't deserve life. We waited more than 10 years to be in this moment. We will erase your clan through history!" Fang, is about to end Tanti's life.
"NOOOO!" Tanti's eyes widen out of surprise and grief. He heard the voice of someone he doesn't want to see right now.
"Dad! Fight back! Don't let them-"
*BAAAAM* Fang swiftly appeared in front of Sha and one sway of his hand sent Sha away hitting the wall.
"It looks like we're still lucky. The only one that remains is the shitty brat you have. I'll make sure I'll kill him slow-"
"YOOOOOUUUUU!" A shockwave sent Rarna and Nou away. Tanti's sheer intimidation aura is causing everything to shatter. Even the ground crumbled upon standing and walking slowly towards Fang. Tanti released his qi armor covering his whole body with giant knuckles with faces of dragons as his weapon.
"Huh... I guess you won't go down without a fight after all." The three of them released the peak Grandmaster aura against Tanti who's at early King, showing their qi armor and weapons as well.
Still overwhelming the three, Tanti's enraged after what Fang did and...
"BLACK FIST ART! HEAVENLY FIST!" A giant armored fist made of black qi appeared above Fang and it's moving fast falling from above.
*SWOOOOSH* A spear left a scratch on Tanti's right upper arm. Tanti's defense is still penetrable.
"BLACK HOWL ART! LION'S ROAR!" A thunderous roar created a massive shockwave to stop the giant fist falling against Fang...
*BOOOOOOOOM* but it wasn't enough to stop it.
"What?!" Running away from the hitting zone of the giant hand, Fang ran ahead trying to not get hit by the massive attack.
While... "BLACK FOG ART! SHADOW BREATH!" Nou releasing black fog towards Tanti to restrict his eyesight, "IRON FIST!"
*BAAAAAAM* Swiftly appearing in front of Nou before the fog could do any effect, Tanti delivered a devastating attack against Nou that sent him flying crashing through buildings.
"BLACK STING ART! STORM OF NEEDLES!" Rarna created hundreds of spears made of qi from above and rained towards Tanti.
"GODLY CLAP!" Both of Tanti's arms hit together creating a shockwave making the spears flung around the area.
*SWOOOOOOSH!* But it was just a distraction.
Pain crawled through Tanti's body coming from his left leg, a blindspot from Tanti's Qi Armor. 'What?!' Looking at his leg, Tanti saw a spear nailed to it. Without thinking twice, he broke it using his other leg and pulled it out.
"LION'S ROAR!" Another shockwave coming from behind, Fang once again used his overpowered art.
Using both of his hands, Tanti readied to stop the attack, "HANDS OF HEAVENLY FORCE!" He used the same art as Kiri used when he fought with Ai but this time, it's way more powerful that the ground crushed to ashes and overpowered Fang's art.
"GAAAH!" Fang was hit by the force that his qi armor broke and erased everything around him, though it wasn't enough to end his life.
Still on the Hands of Heavenly Force stance, *SWOOOOSH!* Nou and Rarna took the chance to attack Tanti.
They unleashed attacks with speed trying to bring him down knowing he just used a powerful qi force. Brute force against two forces that relies on agility and dexterity. Quick attacks left a scratch on Tanti which is making him hard to defend. Without his qi armor, he wouldn't survive with their combined attacks but he won't give up.
*CLANG* Tanti managed to get a hold of Rarna's arm but *CHOPS* Tanti's right arm was chopped off by the blade of Nou.
*CRUSHES* But Tanti, ignoring what happened to his hand, he crushed Rarna's right arm "UGH!" and swang him towards Nou pushing both of them away.
"Is that it?! Three Clan Leaders and only managed to pull this off? You traitors couldn't even do the job properly! Now, I'll fini- huh?" Then somehow, felt light-headed.
Nou smiled as if it was all according to plan, leaving Tanti confused. 'What the hell is happening to me?' looking at his hand, his veins and blood coming from his wounds get thicker while slowly spreading through his body.
"An assassin, even at a disadvantage, can win a fight in different ways."