If the boy's energy was the same, he couldn't afford to play and had to take things seriously.
In a second, he tensed his muscles, one after another, imbuing them with Qi of various elements and causing his veins to bulge like snakes. Feeling he had excellent control over it, he smirked, bent his legs, and propelled himself. The ground exploded behind him, and the wind howled in front as his brown hair fluttered wildly behind his silhouette.
However, Julius' understanding of his body was off the chart. He expected the doppelgänger's charge and speed.
With a forceful step, he planted his feet on the ground, his stance as firm as a wall. Then, using the martial techniques recorded in the Qingming Sutra, he combined strands of fire and water Qi on his fist and hurled it at the racing enemy.
The air trembled under the widening eyes of the ghost as a horned snake-like creature flew out of the extended fist and travelled in his direction at breakneck speed.
Cold sweat dripped from his forehead. He instinctively knew what this technique was. Abandoning his charge, he strained his legs, leaving two holes in the ground, and ducked to the side. He heard the wind roar above his head as he dodged the Qi attack by a hair's breadth and rolled gracelessly on the floor.
Unfazed by the last-second dodge of his adversary, Julius charged in, his sword glinting orange. In a second, he reached the out-of-balance enemy and swung it vertically.
Simultaneously, a calculative light flashed in his eyes. He knew his enemy was more experienced than him. So, what? 'I'll predict your moves and assimilate your experience!' He thought, slowing his swing down.
Simultaneously, the doppelgänger hurriedly used his left hand, pushing the ground with his palm. Without breaking his momentum, his body rose in a headstand, dodging the downward slash. Sneering, he swung his right arm from this unconventional position, aiming to cut the boy in half.
However, his eyes widened, and his features shifted to shock as Julius' gladius was already back in place to repel his strike, his right leg glowing orange. In a panic, he mobilised earth Qi to reinforce his head and neck to endure the strike.
The two gladius clashed again, the collision's sound echoing in the surroundings. Yet, Julius wasn't done. Like a professional kickboxer, his body pivoted on his left leg, increasing his momentum and putting his entire weight behind his low kick.
Amidst cracking sounds, the ghost yelled in pain as the leg unexpectedly collided with his ribs, shattering them and sending his body spiralling in the air.
Assaulted by pain, he hatefully screamed inwardly, 'A kid baited me and read my moves!' before crashing to the ground.
As the surrounding mist engulfed his body, he took a deep breath and slowly rose to his feet, his expression mirroring Julius' completely.
"Playtime is over." He said, calculations dancing in the depths of his eyes. Next, he raised his blade above his head, imbuing it with a large quantity of metal Qi and swung it from his position.
Upon seeing that move, Julius' eyes widened. He used it during his fight against Gaston's illusion earlier. It was his swiftest and most potent attack, but consumed energy like a whale. So, why was the ghost using it without guarantee to hit him?
Failing to comprehend the reasoning, he heightened his focus, ready to move the instant the blade light materialised to counterattack.
As the gladius descended, aimed straight at him without any prediction, he raced to the right for half a meter before pivoting and charging at his enemy. Yet, his pupils dilated as a feeling of danger gripped his heart.
Without hesitation, he abandoned his initial movement and swiftly dodged further in the same direction, noticing two sword lights slicing through the air. 'That was close!' He thought in alarm, his eyes fixed on the two lines traversing the ground.
An Icy shiver ran down his spine. If not for his swift decision, the second would have hit him. Yet, despite the clever double blow, he still had trouble understanding why he wasted so much energy.
'He should have spent most of his Qi by now,' he thought, tensing his legs to resume charging. However, dread gripped his heart as his adversary raised his blade again, red light glinting around its edges.
'He can still use it?!' He screamed inwardly, finally understanding why, despite their limited abilities compared to other ghosts, doppelgängers were so feared.
Under his shocked eyes, five blood-red sword lights flashed before him, separating the mist in their wake. Reflexively, he imbued his blade with metal Qi and used the same move to protect himself hastily.
Forty percent of his Qi vanished from his dan tian as a silver light flashed from his blade, leaving a deep gouge in the stone. In a second, it crashed against his enemy's attacks. In a rain of negative energy, it surprisingly passed through, causing his brows to furrow.
'He didn't use metal Qi. He is emulating my technique using negative energy.' He realised, figuring out the vile strategy.
'I can't use Qi techniques to block his strikes,' he thought, propelling himself forward as the doppelgänger's blade flashed red again. Unafraid, he hastened his momentum, cutting through the mist like an arrow.
A smirk stretched on the copy's face as he swung his arms like the wind, hurling ten sword lights at the foolish boy. Amidst disturbing laughter, it said, "Try to read that. No matter what you do, you can't pass! Hahaha." However, disbelief covered his features as his pupils enlarged at his adversary's bizarre decision.
'You won't force me to waste energy! I need to push through.' Julius gritted his teeth, his gladius traversing the wind in a silver arc.
His arm trembled as he used the metal element's sharpness and durability to cut through the first light, creating a gap in the net-like attacks. Then, without a moment's delay, he imbued his body with water Qi.
Red lights flashed around his body. Yet, his mind remained as serene as a lake as he fluidly contorted his limbs in a dangerous dance.