Dance between Mortals and Immortals

Chapter 5.2

Minako Rize stood looking at the various lines that had students lining up to try and gain a master's approval. Rize had a tinge of fear in her heart as she wasn't sure if she would be refused like she had been refused so many times from all the deities. Though that wouldn't stop her from becoming an inner disciples it would cause her a great setback not to have a Master in the inner court who could guide her.

"What is the matter, young disciple?" a voice came from beside her, she turned shocked she had not noticed his presence. Looking over she saw it was the academy's Grandmaster.

"Grandmaster!" she yelped bowing lowly "Nothing to concern yourself with Grandmaster, I was just trying to decide which master I should go to."

It was not uncommon to be approached by any master, but the Grandmaster always made any student slightly feel a sense of being drowned in pressure emitting from his person.

"I have a suggestion," he gestured over to the far off corner of the testing area. "There is a young master who has yet to take in any disciples, go and try over there."

"Thank you Grandmaster for the advice." Rize bowed swiftly before running off towards the master's direction.

Grandmaster Zhao smiled as he watched the young girl run off towards possibly the most eccentric master of the Phoenix academy, but that young blue eyed girl might possibly be an equally as eccentric match for that master.

…

Cui Xinya waited, not expecting to find anyone worthy of her effort. She secretly was glad that no others dared come to her after she shamed the last two. Word spread quickly. Cui Xinya looked around at the various other masters, some who had over a dozen students while others had one or two.

A dozen students? Are they insane? How can you properly train a dozen students? Perhaps it was a deity thing. She couldn't fathom having more than one disciple. It was said that deities and their familia often had very similar temperaments which is part of the reason they were chosen in the first place.

The two boys stood off to the side. The second boy was treating his friend's wounds, perhaps she was being rather harsh to the young boy, but she couldn't go back on her word it would make her look foolish and that was one thing she could not tolerate. Being a master so young caused her to be looked down upon, by the senior masters so the smallest mistakes were heavily scrutinized.

"Excuse me Master" a small girl with midnight black hair and piercing blue eyes approached her.

"Master, I wish to become your disciple!" Cui Xinya looked surprised. The girl from yesterday? What a pleasant surprise. Perhaps she will be more interesting.

Cui Xinya smiled. She liked this girl. It wasn't often that you found such a young woman with guts. Even though she had a feeling she was just blessed by an unknown minor god Cui Xinya never made that an issue in whom she would pick as a disciple at some point all deities were unknown on some level. "Alright, you!" she said nonchalantly pointing at the young boy from before "would you like another chance to prove yourself?"

"Yes, Master Cui!" he said enthusiastically. His eyes brimming with hope that he could redeem himself.

Turning to Rize she gestured to the young man. "Defeat him."

…

Rize looked at the boy that was approaching her. He was thick and built making her feel if she were to be hit by his fists she wouldn't be able to match his sheer power. She closed her eyes and prayed to Naga-Jin to give your blessing to me the power of the Serpent god of venom. When she slowly opened her eyes, little did she know her pupils had changed to mirror a serpent's pupil shape that of a diamond.

At this point several onlookers had gathered around and were disturbed by the change, but it wasn't uncommon for the blessings of deities to change the appearance of those they blessed, but this was the first time anyone had seen serpents' eyes in another person. Cui Xinya eyebrow raised slightly as she sat up straight again the girl had already caught her interest.

"Did you see that?"

"Her eyes just changed...it looks like a viper's eyes."

"Is she really cursed or did she promise herself to a dark god?"

The flood of off-handed comments beat on her back, but she chose to ignore it and to just focus on the task at hand. The boy at this point had also gotten larger than before. He was clearly determined to win this fight and end it quickly.

Speed will be my friend she thought to herself as she ran at the boy using her speed to dart around him looking for an opening.

Realizing what she was doing the boy got into a defensive posture waiting for her first strike. Raising one arm to his side at a ninety degree angle and his other across his abs.

Rize darted around until she saw an opening and summoned her spiritual energy into her palms; a good palm strike to his lower back should rattle him! As she approached her ki morphed into a virescent liquid like glow. Her strike was just about to land before he shot around and smashed his engorged forearm into her side sending her flying skidding along the ground leaving her heaving for breath he hadn't even connected to her with a full strength hit and he hurt her this badly? She thought to herself. Rize realized that his speed was not nearly as slow as she had predicted.

The crowd laughed in unison.

"See she is so pathetic even in the outer court she couldn't beat anyone in duels."

The boy had gotten up from his position and walked slowly over to her leaving just a couple meters between them. "Don't worry I won't do any permanent damage you can just give up now. You have no hope of winning."

Rize squeezed her eyes shut and a single tear rolled down her cheek pathetic! She berated herself, get up and fight you coward! Why do you care what these people think they never cared before! Rize lifted her eyes, sending glare of determination at the bulky disciple in front of her.

Staggering to her feet she darted to the side running around in circles again which prompted the boy into a defensive position again. Rize ran around him forcing him to continually readjust his position. If she could force him to make a mistake in his positioning she could… There it is. Rize thought to herself. Running at him she went at an awkward angle where he would have to swing across his body to get a good shot in or play defensive. She didn't know exactly what effects Naga-Jin blessing would have on her, but she was certain the serpent god of venom wasn't something that could be taken lightly.

"Are you looking to die!" he yelled as he brought his fist back to bring it crashing down on her chest.

Rize as she approached increased her speed just as he swung his fist at her diving onto her knees she sent her palm strike into his abdomen the virescent liquid spread out several inches around where her strike hit. Which she quickly dove between his legs.

"Is that all you got!" he roared as if her strike was little more than a minor nuisance. Just as he turned around a pain started burning where her strike landed clutching his stomach he went to his knees the place she hit was like he had just eaten poison and his body was violently trying to spew it out. His muscles contracted tightly as he tried to fight it off. Causing immense pain that he had never quite experienced before it was like his muscles were fighting amongst themselves.

Rize saw her opening and charged in. Take your opportunity to show no fear! Rize muttered to herself. As he slowly recovered from the venom that had seeped into his skin he looked up to see a spinning kick land on the side of his head, sending him to the ground passing out.

When the energy from the fight dissipated the crowd stood in shock. They never thought this nobody would beat him so no one uttered a word. No one had predicted this ending to the fight nor did they realize what her ability had done to him as the effects were internal.