Jong Must Defeat Jong
By Casper McPhee
The Showdown would begin shortly, and Zan was prepared for the worst. His Shen Yi Bu Dare had been genius. A balancing-act battle. Thin stone pillars above a pit of sand. The first man to fall into the pit or disturb the sand in any way would be the loser. Zan looked down at the two Shen Gong Wu he had in hand, trying to decide if he had chosen wisely. The Jet Bootsu would keep him from falling most likely, and he could use the Fist of Tebigong to knock his enemy down. His only fear was dropping the Fist and disturbing the rippling dunes below.
His enemy was equally focused. He was a Sheth, one of the demonic shadow beings now employed by Jack Spicer. Jack Spicer was now middle aged, but still put up a good fight. He had learned from Chase Young how to summon the Sheth, and now used them to his benefit. His Sheth wielded some of Jack's now growing assortment of Shen Gong Wu: The Longi Kite and the Ruby of Ramses. With these he could get a higher vantage and smite the Xiaolin Dragon against the rocks.
The game was set. The weapons were selected. There was only one thing left to do…"Gong Yi Tampai!" The Sheth strapped the Kite to his back and took flight, Zan following step for step with his own Shen Gong Wu. The Fist of Tebigong grew heavier in his hand, as Zan put all of his effort into it's strength. He struck out only to feel his hand held back by a strange grip. The Sheth held the Ruby aloft, it's magic slithering over Zan's wrist and holding back his strike.
Zan calculated the distance, threw the Fist across the field and kicked upwards. The jet fire emanating from the Jet Bootsu slid across the demon's face, melting it's toxic flesh and causing it to shriek horribly. Zan hoped and prayed, and sure enough, the Fist of Tebigong landed on one of the rock pillars and stayed firmly lodged in place. He raced among the pillars, hoping to retrieve his weapon, but he could feel the Sheth behind him, heard the flapping of the Longi Kite's wings. Zan turned suddenly and wrenched the Ruby of Ramses from the Sheth's hands, then turned it on his enemy. The shadow was blasted back into one of the pillars just as Zan placed his hand in the Fist, and Zan watched as the rock crumbled beneath the demon's weight. The rock was broken, but not loose enough. How could Zan get the Sheth to break the rock?
The demon was starting to come to, so Zan had to think fast. He had only three Shen Gong Wu, and not enough variety to be able to improvise very well. Ruby of Ramses, Jet Bootsu, Fist of Tebigong…He couldn't think of any way to trick the Sheth…wait a minute. Zan raised the Ruby of Ramses high, calling out it's name and activating it's power. The Sheth was now under his control. He commanded the demon to punch the rock until it shattered, and Zan watched with enormous satisfaction as the first pebble landed with a soft thud in the sand below. With a flash of light, the Showdown was over.
NEXT UP: CHAPTER 2: Memories of Demons