Snippet #2430303

The steps leading up to the Master's prestigious dojo had always been busy with the traffic of students; coming and going; running up and running down. But the two students who stood on patrol under the open gate seemed to get a heavy feeling when they saw a particular one make his way up towards them. He was a stranger, and never before had he stepped foot there to practice or to learn from their many masters.

More worryingly, however, was the way he looked and dressed. His pale skin covered by a traditional, ceremonial clothing and a headdress stood atop his head to decorate his grey hair. His youthfulness was betrayed by his eyes, which held the taint of experience and a lust for power that could be matched by no usual man lest they had studied from one of the few dark manuscripts of the martial arts world. All students were warned away from those difficult-to-decipher symbols, and for good reason. Once you understood their true meaning, they changed you into something malevolent and greedy. An upset to the balance of Yin and Yang.

"May we help you?" One asked, as the stranger stopped at the top of the stairs and peered at them, one at a time.

"Yes, you may. I wish to speak to your master," Dark Sky replied, giving a slight bow of his head in respect.

"Our master is not present at this time. May I ask what it is you need of him so I can relay a message?"

"You may," the stranger answered with a nod. "Though as they say, actions speak louder than words."

".. How do you mean?" One asked, looking at the other.

"Well.. Leaving his students defeated, ashamed and dying is much more likely to get me a reply now, isn't it?"

They replied with their swords, suddenly drawing them from their hips and swinging out for the man who had clearly shown his intent to cause trouble. Their blades, however, would hit nothing but air as he deftly moved his form around, between and through each strike. He retaliated with blows of his own, fingers striking precisely at points across their body, then a sudden gust of Chi that resulted from him pushing out his arms knocking them aside and wincing.

As they scrambled to get up, Sky shook his head. "That technique is known as 'Restore The Balance of Yin and Yang'. You have roughly eight seconds to do as the title orders, or you will both immediately lose your lives."

With a sly smile, he stepped inside, where dozens of other opponents awaited him.