High Mountains, Flowing Waters[Kenichi, Vanyel]

Kenichi's diligent gaze continued to read Vanyel's every movement. His mind had already cast away the distraction prior, wholly consumed by the battle at hand. Any misstep, any error, could singlehandedly shift the momentum in his favor. As such, he could worry about any foul play later. In truth, that only proved to make their bout all the more entertaining.

They were waging a war against each other and the elements! Vanyel soared forward. Kenichi slammed his feet against the ground with enough brute force to toss up a piece of debris. Using the earth as his weapon, he manipulated his reiryoku to such a degree that it exerted enough kinetic force to push the debris against Vanyel's body, in a ruthless attempt to force him backward. Pure martial prowess was entertaining, no doubt, but he wished to explore the greater degree of Vanyel's abilities, both physical and spiritual. He would settle for nothing less.

To bookend his offensive, he would employ a similar burst of movement akin to shunpo, vanishing and reppearing from above to execute an axe-kick at Vanyel's shoulder. Two actions executed within the space of a single movement, proof that he hadn't lost a single step in their absence.

Vanyel's eyes widened slightly, a bit surprised at the sudden shift, but, he was quick to adapt, bringing his arms to cover himself, his energy reacting and adapting alongside him. The damage itself was dampened, but he certainly still felt the sting as the debris connected, forcing him back.

Though he managed to keep himself standing, Kenichi's characteristic relentlessness didn't give him much time to recover. As he sensed the movement of his energy signature, Vanyel didn't have time to adjust his stance before the axe-kick came down. However, while his body wasn't fast enough, the energy coursing through him was able to pool at the impact area.

The hit still made him flinch, and it certainly hurt and did some damage, but he was able to mitigate a portion of it. But, that still didn't make him lose spirit. Vanyel found himself grinning as he forced Kenichi's leg off him while leaping up at the same time, striking forward with the bottom half of his palm. Despite the gentle, oceanic flow that his energy had when trying to defend, it just as quickly switched, channeling and pooling into his hand, coating it with gold-yellow as a wave of energy erupted from his palm.

"Hahahaha!"

How long had it been since he experienced an adrenaline rush like this? He felt so alive right now. With superhuman resilience, Vanyel mitigated the damage of his axe-kick and soared forward for a counterattack. Of course, Kenichi was prepared. After all, he was no stranger to the principle of reiryoku manipulation and manipulating the nature of his spiritual energy.

In response, his palm glowed with a golden confluence of energy rotating at the center of his palm. He didn't retreat nor did he evade his attack. His palm thrust forward to meet his rival's own in a fierce clash. No longer content with clashing fists, the energy at the center of his palm continued to revolve and rotate, aiming to push Vanyel backward. His intent was evident. His approach was relentless. He wanted to win.

"Goshoku Ryuuken - Kōryuu Ken!" [五色竜拳, 黃龍拳 Five Colours Dragon Fist - Yellow Dragon Fist]"

An explosive bloom of golden energy erupted from his palm. To strengthen the capacity of that strike, his other hand swept forward to join the other as he generated energy through his palms, increasing the overall effectiveness of the attack tenfold.

If Vanyel did nothing to evade it, the attack would swallow him whole. On the other hand, if he retreated, the golden energy would grow into a grand spectacle at once, golden light fashioned in the image of the divine dragon, Huanglong.

He could feel the pressure of their energies clashing alongside their palms, the interruption and counter only causing Vanyel's grin to grow even wider. As Kenichi's energy rotated and erupted to try and push him back, Vanyel found himself sliding backward, leaning forward slightly to shift his weight and keep himself from falling backward. However, as he came to a stop, his body lurched backward, and Vanyel adapted accordingly. His arms moved, and, in a move that was surprisingly flashy, yet elegant, Vanyel flipped backward and onto his feet.

Upon hearing the name of the technique and seeing the surge of golden light, Vanyel took a stance that reinforced his lower body. The Yellow Dragon, a symbol of the center of the universe, of power and authority. In wuxing, it was the symbol of earth - relentless, stubborn, and stability.

As that golden energy bloomed, Vanyel's energy surged along with it, a golden aura surrounding him as he braced himself for the attack, adjusting his footwork. Energy coated his body internally as much as it did externally, hardening and reinforcing himself as the attack encompassed him, pushing him backward.

Even as the concussive blast made his ears ring, as well as making his body and the arena tremble in response, Vanyel remained upright, his lower body tensing. His mind continued to focus on the idea of the Yellow Dragon, what it represented from home. He needed to be strong, resilient, stable,

Channel that into my stance, my body, my energy!

Eventually, the pushback stopped, and Vanyel took a step forward. Then another. Slowly, Vanyel pushed onward. It was a struggle, and it was no easy task to even take steps forward. Frankly, it was a miracle that he was even able to still stand outside of sheer willpower. He could hear and feel his muscles and bones creaking from the strain.

Yet, with a triumphant yell, Vanyel forced his body past its usual limits, that golden aura surging bright as he slowly redirected the attack, forcing it downward. Free from the strain of Kenichi's technique, Vanyel surged forward to close the distance, running along the extension of the emitted energy. But, rather than use another typical move, when he got close, he'd suddenly turn his shoulder and charge forward, intent on crashing down into his opponent.

Energy coated his body, making the tetsuzanko feel rough and course, as if a boulder had suddenly barreled into him. If there was one thing Kenichi knew of Vanyel, it was that he was stubborn to no end. Even after everything that he had gone through, he still stood tall, a fire in his eyes that screamed for victory.

"Amazing..."

Kenichi applauded his sworn brother's determination and the relentless tenacity that accompanied it. As expected, this duel was everything he could ask for, mercilessly defying his expectations repeatedly. Huanlong did not overwhelm and consume him. He remained steadfast in the face of his golden wave of spirit energy. The triumphant yell only provoked a greater intensity in Kenichi's body and soul.

From his throat, he roared at him with arms wide open, a clarion call to ignite the flame of excitement in Vanyel's spirit. He wanted him to give it his all. In return, he would undoubtedly do the same. For that was what it meant to decide a battle of this magnitude.

"That's right! Show me what you're made of!"

In that instant, he felt the rough impact of his Vanyel's tetsuzanko slamming against his frame, rattling every bone in his body. Much like before, he shifted the momentum back in his tempo. An impressive blow, to be sure, sent his body flying backward as he gritted his teeth. His natural reaction was to counter his offense with more offense. Efficient. Simple. Effective. Adapt. If he roared past his first wave of energy, he'd simply shift the energy onto his own body. He would reach heaven. He would become the arbiter of the cosmos, the centerfold bridging the path between the four auspicious beasts - the imperial fifth.


...He would become Huanglong. Unless one mastered the outermost reaches of Goshoku Ryuuken, they could never call themselves a true practitioner of the art. When you stepped through the gate, your blood, sweat, and tears would be sacrificed to climb the ladder of martial supremacy. He didn't know if he could channel all four modes of energy into the fifth, but what of it? To push past one's limit was the true test of a martial artist's conviction. Transcend the limit. Become the exception, not the rule.

Azure. Vermillion. Black. White. Gold. The true essence behind Goshoku Ryuuken...

Like rays of light, alternating colors emanated around his body. There was Azure Blue. Vermillion Red. Obsidian Black. Transculent White. Forming this into a singular focal point gave birth to transcendent Gold. Like a sun emanating at the center of the arena, Kenichi grinned from ear to ear as kicked his foot against the platform of the roof, roaring through the air like a radiant meteor. His body was shrouded in the silhouette of the Golden Dragon, his fist an amalgamation of all the reiryoku he brought to bear. His soul cried out for victory as he aimed to knock the other dragon out of the heavens.

"Hoooooooo!"

He knew that Kenichi would never settle for anything less than his absolute best, and Vanyel was the same way. That was how they always did things. Whenever it came to fighting one another, they both always went full throttle until they couldn't go any further. So, as Kenichi became bathed in his own yellow aura, a shroud of crystal-clear gold enveloped Vanyel's own body.

Just like before, he focused his energy, inspired even further from the sheer power he could feel from his sworn brother. Huanglong, the Yellow Dragon, center of the universe, symbol of the Earth, the Sun, stability. That course, rough aura of energy erupted from him, causing waves of air pressure to rocket from all around him. As Kenichi launched himself from the roof, Vanyel funneled all of his energy into not just his fist, but his entire body as he kicked off the floor, hurling himself toward the other martial artist.

As the two's fists clashed, the two golden auras did as well, an eruption of power causing even more waves of pressure to propel from them. Every fiber of his body and soul screamed to withstand and overcome, to weather the storm. Unconsciously, his body had been slowly adapting to the energy that was thrown at him, allowing him to become more resilient toward it, but the sheer determination and raw spiritual essence behind Kenichi's fist still brought forth a seemingly insurmountable challenge.

Yet, there was something else that drove him today: love. Violet was in the audience, watching him right now.

The fact that she was there, the fact that she loved him and he loved her, it gave him a new strength, one that he hadn't felt in years. Knowing that she loved him, it made him feel like he could do the impossible. It made him feel like he could take on the world, no matter what happened. No matter how difficult the road was ahead, he knew that he would still blaze the path ahead with every ounce of stubbornness he always had.

With all the people he had by his side, his experience, and his own inner strength, there was not a single part of his soul that would willingly yield.

The two men's cries of battle were eventually drowned out in the radiant gold, the light growing brighter and brighter, until there was an explosion between the two fighters. Gold-yellow and ash-grey mixed together as the sounds of combat finally began to die down. The crowd waited with bated breath for the dust to settle...

...to reveal the white-haired dragon on his hands and knees. He was evidently exhausted, his clothes mired in dirt, grime, and mildly torn. However, despite the winner being apparent, there was still a fire in his eyes, a smile on his face, and a weak, but still bright and proud golden aura that surrounded him.

Under the bright sun, two men clashed. When the clouds of dust settled, one remained upright, standing on his own two feet through sheer force of will. Shirtless now, the result of the collective roar of energy, he stepped forward as he wiped the blood from his mouth. Each step became increasingly difficult as he moved toward him.

He exerted no small note of energy to bear, and the price of his ambition was evident. Bruised and battered as he was, he still possessed every desire to approach and congratulate his friend on a hard-fought battle. This is where their friendship began, and now... this is where their friendship would resume. He was elated at his victory, but he was doubly so to know his best friend hasn't lost a beat. After the dimunitive announcer called the match, she quickly hurried over to award Kenichi with a belt he paid a handsome amount of cash to make.


It was well-designed, with a bright sheen of gold but not overpoweringly so. In the center, there were two dragons clashing amidst a sea of clouds. For now, this belonged to him. But who knows? In the future, he had no doubt that they could compete over this thing several times more. Taking the belt from her hands, he walked over to kneel before his friend and pull him into a firm embrace, forcing him to stand upright as he implored the crowd to cheer for him.

"I know you'll probably want to know where I've been all this time, but for now... Thank you, Van. You truly are my sworn brother, through and through. Now, then, what say you and me get healed up and grab a bite to eat? I haven't enjoyed your cooking in ages!"