I liked this fic, and I really like the premise, it's top notch writing that seems like a Death Battle, and I love Death Battles so thank you for this.
Update soon.

Cool oneshot story. I'm glad to see that someone thought to do a story for when Kai took Tai Lung's chi in the Spirit Realm, and this isn't a bad story. It feels quite solid, you get the characters rather well (I thought Kai seemed a little too cool-headed to begin with but then that dissolved, and that's the only complaint I have about the character). I'm also impressed at how you've made it so that Kai and Tai Lung's encounter when Kai absorbed him wasn't entirely just a long fight between them which we know Kai won, but Tai Lung actually tried proposing an alliance to take down Oogway together, which Kai gave the same response as Dalek Thay to the Cybermen.

Not bad at all. :)

Nice!

This...is absolutely superb, incredible, amazing, and glorious. I can't find enough superlatives for it.

Taking it from the top: I love of course your use of the "Imagine Dragons" song, not only in the title and epigraph but in lyrics appearing within the story. Not only did this immediately cause me to hear the song as the background for the whole fight between Kai and Tai (someone on Youtube actually synced it up with all of Kai's scenes in the film, and it is bada$$), but it totally fits Tai Lung, both as he was in the first movie and how you depict him here.

The fight scene was awesome, beautifully described, I could easily see it animated. In fact I agree with the previous reviewer, the whole thing does come off as something that happened right before we saw Kai and Oogway's fight in the Spirit Realm, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if this was the intention of the filmmakers. The only reason I can see why this wasn't included as an Easter egg for Tai fans (besides limits of time and not wanting to take more screentime away from Po) was that it would have given away too soon the nature of the Wuxi Finger Hold and perhaps even hinted at how the plot would be resolved.

But you also are absolutely pitch-perfect in character for both of them. Kai's humor is spot-on, his mockery (I know he's centuries old, but even if he was in his 50's or 60's when he died, that still only makes him a decade or two older than Tai in physical aging, so calling him "kid" is absolutely a dig-and "dragon boy"? Oooo...), how he deduces Tai isn't the Dragon Warrior, Tai's arrogance and overconfidence being his undoing (I especially loved his inner monologue where he praised his own smarts and good looks vs. Po's-not just because when it went on too long and he almost lost his chance and had to hurriedly attack, but because he was actually...rather being like Po there, ha!), Kai's berserk button about everyone knowing Oogway but not him-and especially how Tai revealed his own animus against the turtle and offered an alliance. Obviously I believe Tai could and would redeem himself given time, but this bit is absolutely still in-character for him to do if he had not yet come to any self-realizations...and what's even more interesting is it looks Kai was genuinely tempted by the offer. I wonder if the reason he turned it down wasn't just because of his lust for glory and power that made him want to stay a solo act, but because Tai's offer reminded him of how he used to fight side-by-side with Oogway...and that led to (from his POV) betrayal?

Anyway, the two play off each other so well, in their fighting skill, their sarcasm, and their arrogance, the scene practically seems to write itself. The last exchange of words is especially good. I can't see how this conflict could be written any better, but I'd sure love to see more people try! I'd do it myself but I am done with the KFP fanfic scene, sadly.

Two last bits: I love the inclusion of the nerve strike, that was something I hadn't even considered (not that he might use it, but what would happen if he did), and I like that Kai acknowledged it might have worked, even with him being a spirit warrior, if he'd absorbed less chi, just like he acknowledged Tai's level of chi and the impressiveness of his technique. (This, and the fact Tai made the fight much more of a challenge, means he probably was sincere at the end when he said it was fun.) Secondly, while this is a one-shot and you don't seem to be in the business of redeeming Tai Lung the way so many others are/have been, I do wonder what would happen once Kai was defeated and everyone he absorbed was returned to the mortal world and the Spirit Realm. Would the experience have taught Tai anything, mellowed him in any way, led him to seek out Oogway for some sort of meditation/self-assessment? The title of the story (which again fits him so well) suggests now, but some of the other lyrics of the song (especially the bridge passage) suggest otherwise, as does what he was thinking and feeling right before Kai stabbed him, when he realized he had saved/defended Oogway and was conflicted about that. And the fact the chi which escaped from him whenever Kai wounded him (great idea by the way) was golden, which according to the films' color theory stands for heroism...perhaps there is still hope for him after all?

If so though, it will be up to others to address it, and I know at least two authors who want to. But it's great for you to posit the question or at least hint at its presence. Overall, again, an awesome, awesome story.

Wow. I have to say. That's pretty well done. If I didn't know any better, I'd think it was a deleted scene from the movie.

that was so good!
Now for a sequel where Tai Lung is freed at the end of KFP3 and somehow figured out how to absorb chi..

This fic makes me both sad and happy. Sad that I didn't get to do this premise first, but happy because holy shit it is brilliant! You nailed both characters perfectly, with Tai Lung still convinced he's the Dragon Warrior and Kai being his lovable snarky self about the whole thing. The best part was them realizing that they share a hatred for Oogway and briefly connecting over it...but Kai taking Tai Lung's chi anyway because, hey, he's already been doing this for centuries, why stop now? Spirits "bleeding" chi was an especially nice touch as well. Very nice job. :)

Yep, that's the story I've been waiting for since I saw the screen cap of Tai Lung's jade amulet. The characterization was spot on - poor Tai Lung, still so awesome, still being brought down by his own arrogance and overconfidence! I loved the detail of bleeding chi instead of blood - very nice. And the entire dialogue when they meet - Tai Lung still claiming to be the Dragon Warrior, Kai pointing out that if he were, he wouldn't be dead... and Tai Lung immediately going on the offensive, demanding to know who Kai is. And of course, pushing Kai's big red "why doesn't anyone recognize me?" button. And the action was great; very cinematic, would have loved to see this on the big screen. Very well done!