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Sat 2nd Apr 2022 10:41

Szechuan Showdown

by Dragon Lady

Over the past several weeks, Luo Jian and I travelled across China to complete my mission. We first went to Fuijian to deal with the Zhang clan. They put up a fight (as expected), but I triumphed in battle against the Zhang chosen in the Wisdom in Death challenge. We then travelled to Jiangxi and Hunan to deal with the Li and Wong, respectively. These two clans required some persuasion, but their chosen were far more accommodating. Once I explained to them about the current situation in the spirit world, their responsibilities to the ancestors, and my mission; they accepted my request. We then received a message from the Tong Clan in Szechuan: Copper Spear, one of the Four Sons of the Dragon, had taken on the power of the chosen of their clan. Copper Spear wished to challenge me to the Wisdom in Death challenge. Knowing that the Four Sons of the Dragon are all the sons of Dr. Yin Wu, I was surprised to hear of this but also pleased that I would get the opportunity for revenge for Huang Yen's death.
 
Copper Spear and I met in a field in Szechuan. We spoke briefly: he issued the challenge to me and I accepted, and then he warned me that his father disapproved of his actions and might intervene to stop it. I indicated that there would be consequences if he tried to do so. Luo Jian told me that Copper Spear was the only "honorable" member of Dr. Yin Wu's entourage, and would fight with respect for the rules. I summoned forth the ritual, which transported us to the arches of battle within the spirit realm. I started off the battle with a usual leap to the heavens, followed by a flying kick- which Copper Spear blocked. He proved himself far more capable than the Zhang or Liu chosen- as he utilized blocks and moved with incredible agility. He was so skilled with his spear that he even knew a spear cyclone maneuver that was impossible to block. This was the most frustrating as I was unable to block it, and diving for cover only left me vulnerable to a future strike.
 
However, his spear fatefully failed to penetrate my armor when he attempted to land a finishing blow. I responded by using a set of Tai Ch'i moves: first, I disarmed his spear and sent it flying. Then as he moved to collect it, I grabbed his arm and applied a joint break- shattering his spear arm. Although his father had clearly blessed him with great power, his power was insufficient to prevent me from disabling his limb. With the fight turning in my favor, suddenly a vast horde of dragons showed up outside the arches of battle. The dragons began attacking the arches with their flaming breaths, with their sheers numbers overwhelming its defenses. Copper Spear and I heard the booming voice of Dr. Yin Wu, who was furious that his son was about to lose and decreed that he was there to stop it. I turned to Copper Spear, informing him that as Yin Wu had interfered in the match- he had to forfeit the match. Surprisingly, the spear fighter knelt and declared that he had been defeated and he was voluntarily going to the spirit world to fulfill his duty.
 
Truly this man was worthy of the mantle of chosen and I told him that the Tong ancestors would be proud of his actions. I then sent his spirit into the spirit world with a successful use of Yengtao magic, while I heard his father rage with fury. I turned to face the dragon horde, noticing the malevolent sorcerer among them. The arches defenses were crumbling, and I think I saw Ghost diving into the dragon horde- coming to rescue me from the sore loser of a supervillain. However, then Dr. Destroyer suddenly appeared and revealed that he had warned Yin Wu that such abuse of his power would not be tolerated. It looks like the alliance between Dr. Destroyer and Yin Wu had just been broken. Does this mean that Ghost and I will be fighting alongside Dr. Destroyer?