Lightning Is the Only Way

SSSSSHHHH!

Red continued using his fire to chase Gravis, creating an incredible amount of steam in the process. Gravis moved at a depth of around ten meters against the river's flow. Luckily, he didn't need to swim due to his Elemental Synchronicity. He turned towards Red while still moving along the river. Gravis' eyes narrowed as he concentrated his lightning to shoot at the Riverbed surrounding Red.

Red also narrowed his eyes. He didn't know what Gravis was planning, yet he quickly found out as he felt his speed slowing. "Tch," spat Red underwater. Gravis was using the lightning to excite the flow of water so that more water would flow into his flames. Normal water might not impact their attacks much, but it still used up his flames' power. Since he always used the same amount of Energy, the additional water slowed him down.

Yet, Gravis also moved slower due to his constant use of Energy. Red gnashed his teeth in hatred, and his expression formed into a grimace. Gravis would run out of Energy at some point, and even if he didn't, as soon as Red's reserves hit 20%, he would just flee. If he were to use all his Energy, Red might die to Gravis if he still had Energy. With 20%, Red would still be able to put up a fight!

Of course, Gravis was only masking his Elemental Synchronicity with that lightning. This small amount of lightning wouldn't excite the flow of the river that much. Yet, if Gravis just used his Elemental Synchronicity without masking it with his lightning, Red might grow wary. There was also no possibility to use his Elemental Synchronicity underwater to damage Red. His body was too powerful for that.

If Gravis went closer to Red, Gravis would probably die. Red had already shown that he had realized how Gravis had dodged his earlier attacks. By deliberately attacking differently, Red made it impossible for Gravis to anticipate his attacks. Red might seem to be in a disadvantageous position, but that was not true. One physical attack from him would spell Gravis' doom.

They moved for many kilometers under the river, and Red's Energy reserves grew dangerously low. As soon as his reserves closed in on the 20% mark, he decided to abort his chase and jumped out of the river. Gravis saw this, and his eyes narrowed. Gravis immediately stopped and also jumped out of the river.

Gravis saw Red moving along the river's coast, back into the direction of the Fire Guild. He was running through thick steam, which had been produced from his flames when Red had chased Gravis inside the river. Gravis readied himself and exploded forward with the same speed as Red.

Red turned to Gravis, and his eyes also narrowed. 'Sure enough, he was trying to exhaust me. Good that I still kept enough Energy to return to the Fire Guild. As soon as I reach the Fire Guild, he won't be able to kill me anymore. The fight is over,' Red thought with a sigh. Retreat was part of the arsenal of strategies that a cultivator could use.

grew denser. Red had already lost vision of Gravis inside the steam, but he could still feel the movement of Energy in the atmosphere. Judging by the Energy's movement, Gravis was slowly gaining

the steam at this place should have already risen into the sky. How is there still so much steam?' Red thought,

from the steam. Red turned around to look back, and his eyes widened as his mouth involuntarily fell

cloud was at around the distance where Gravis should be. What

his Elemental Synchronicity, he could control water, and therefore also steam. Like this, Gravis could collect more and more steam as they continued running

become steam, and if a lot of steam gathered together, it would make a cloud. With the right movement and manipulation, the

had escaped the steam and no longer held his speed back. He and the cloud exploded in speed,

He quickly felt where Gravis was and slashed down. Gravis had expected such an attack and had already prepared himself to

WHOOM!

the fight! One didn't need to win the tempering to increase their will. They only had to survive. When Red had relaxed while running back to the Fire Guild, his Will-Aura had condensed, and he successfully surprised Gravis. Due to

SHING!

was severed at the shoulder and flew away. Like this, Gravis had lost both his arms since the left half of his torso was still

BANG BANG BANG!

to the peak of Energy Gathering, which would generally make it still weak enough to

going after him for several seconds, and his right arm had blackened. Red had run out of Energy

THUNK!