"Don't spur it even more!" Hao Xuan yelled, making Grey stop begrudgingly.
But Grey had put in enough life in the now mini-tornado that it didn't just vanish and instead continued gathering momentum.
It was already dark and with the wall of black and brown wind filled with debris surrounding Hao Xuan, it was tough to make anything out.
It separated him from the others that were already standing in formation just outside.
Hao Xuan couldn't see them of course but from the clattering of their armors and weapons and the occasional yelling, he had a pretty clear picture of what was waiting for him just outside.
"Damn it, should we just back off and quietly get out of here?" he mumbled with gritted teeth.
He didn't mean to start a fight but right now it wasn't in his hands anymore.
He lightly tapped on Grey's back, "Turn around, let's get out of here," he relayed his order but Grey didn't budge an inch.
"Hey, come on man, we have to go before they come in her-" Hao Xuan spoke up but paused mid-sentence.
His ears twitched slightly as he let out a deep sigh.
He hadn't realized this but there was someone standing right behind him.
Hao Xuan turned his head halfway to the left and looked at the figure from the corner of his eye.
"It's not nice to eavesdrop on people you know," he said in a relaxed tone but he was gripping the Glaive so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"What's wrong with you? You 'feel' much....different...weaker, almost," the figure replied cooly.
Hao Xuan knew it was too late to run. To the front were the tens of warriors to the back was that one individual he was initially looking for.
"Oh, how am I weaker?" Hao Xuan asked.
He gently patted Grey's back to help him loosen up a little and made him turn around to face the individual albeit against his will.
It was a man in his early twenties. He had extremely sharp facial features with long hair coming down to his back.
He was dressed in a white hanfu and looked extremely relaxed standing there.
Hao Xuan's pupils constricted upon seeing him.
"Fuck," he couldn't help but curse his luck.
"Are you the one in charge then?" Hao Xuan asked with a smile, bringing the Glaive in front of him.
It looked like he was casually placing it in front of him but that was part of one of the defensive techniques from the Imperial Glaive Doctrine.
"I am indeed," the man replied as calmly as he possibly could. He was standing in front of Hao Xuan completely at ease.
"I thought the Third protectors weren't allowed to leave their cities unprotected," Hao Xuan commented.
The man in front of him was Stasa (CH405). Hao Xuan recognized him instantly as the Third protector of the Hall's forces this time. He had an ongoing 'spat' with Henrik Biric and last time they both ended up clashing because of it.
Stasa smiled but didn't respond. Instead, "And why are you here?" he asked in return.
"I was told to clear up this place before the tournament starts," Hao Xuan replied.
Stasa ignored him completely and looked left and right, "Did you come...alone?" he asked almost expectantly.
Hao Xuan nodded, "Henrik isn't here, unfortunately. You'll have to wait a bit more I'm afraid."
"Ah, such a shame. I was feeling lucky today too," Stasa mumbled and snapped his fingers.
The maelstrom of dust and debris instantly broke apart and the skies cleared away.
Hao Xuan's heart skipped a beat.
'He got stronger.'
Behind him were the fully armored warriors of the Hall ready to strike but when the obstruction cleared away so abruptly, many of them were caught off guard.
Stasa walked up to Hao Xuan pausing only for a second before going past him.
"You're lucky there are witnesses here today otherwise, this would have been your grave," he whispered in that moment.
Stasa clapped his hands, "Come now, the cleaner is here. Let's go back and prepare for the tournament," he yelled with a smile.
One of the warriors stepped forward, "But Lord Stasa, one of our own was attacked shouldn't we-"
Before he could finish, Stasa glanced towards him, shutting him at once.
"Did I stutter?" Stasa asked.
"O-Of course not my lord," the warrior shook his head left and right.
"Then don't make me repeat myself."
"As you wish, sire," the warrior bowed and walked back.
"Let us leave!" he relayed Stasa's orders to the others.
Although many of them were still dissatisfied, there was nothing they could do.
These warriors were the cannon fodder in a sense. Rogue cultivators that didn't belong to any power but were still given an opportunity to join the Hall's forces this time.
The injured were helped up by the others as they summoned various mounts and set off.
Only Stasa didn't have one.
Instead, with a wave of his hand, a giant sword about 3 meters in length and 15 inches in width appeared in front of him. He jumped and landed on top of it as it rose up into the air.
He turned around to glance towards Hao Xuan one last time and mouthed the words, "Watch your back" with a smirk before whizzing away on his sword.
But as he was leaving, his sword passed by the group of insect monsters that were still huddled up in the middle fo the crater.
A sound akin to a guitar string being pulled came from the sword as a white energy beam shot towards them. It passed through the various monsters with ease.
A second later, all of them fell down lifelessly.. Not a single creature survived.