Later that night
Sensing a familiar presence, I left my tent and walked deeper into the woods. Finding the person I was looking for, I called out.
"Father,"
"Igneel," he responded.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Your mother told me to come get you," he said with a sigh.
I paused and sighed.
"Why are you doing this? You know I won't go. I'm already an adult—you need to stop treating me like a child."
"I know," he sighed. "But your mother... You're barely a year old," he added.
"You know I'm not like the rest, so why do you keep using my age as an excuse? No matter what you say or do, I won't return until I've finished what I'm doing," I said firmly.
He paused and rubbed his forehead.
"I'll be attacking China in a week."
My eyes widened.
"Already?"
He nodded.
"That's the most time I can give you. I managed to convince your mother, but now she wants constant surveillance."
"What?"
He revealed an orb that showed what I was doing at this very moment.
"Y-you've been watching?"
He nodded.
"That's why you're my son," he smiled. "Oh, and your mother saw as well," he said before disappearing.
I froze on the spot. What the hell. So that was what I'd been feeling.
"It's fine. I'll figure it out later," I muttered.
I turned and headed back toward my camp. Upon reaching it, I noticed Mulan running back into her tent. Sensing her distress, I ran and blocked her path.
"What's wrong with you?"
She stopped and tried hiding the huge blanket from before.
"Is that my blanket?" I asked.
She didn't say anything and tried to walk past me. As she did, I grabbed it and saw the tears.
"I-I'll pay you back," she exclaimed.
I raised an eyebrow, then thought of an idea and smiled.
"This was a gift from my mother..." I muttered just loud enough for her to hear.
She turned pale and fidgeted.
"I-I didn't mean to. I was trying to clean it but it suddenly ripped," she tried to explain.
"Of course it would. This is made from the most expensive materials. The cost is immense."
She fidgeted even more.
"I-I—" she stuttered.
Before she could speak further, I flicked her forehead.
"Ow!" she yelped and looked up at me.
"I'm just joking," I laughed.
"Y-you—" she didn't finish her words and stormed into her tent.
But a moment later, she poked her head out.
"Is it really expensive?" she asked.
I nodded.
"It was made with the finest silk and wool."
She gulped and threw a bag of coins to me. I grabbed it and smiled.
"This is not nearly enough."
Her eyes widened.
"H-how expensive?" she asked.
I took out a pouch of my own and threw it to her. She opened it and her eyes widened. The pouch was full of gold ingots.
She froze and gulped.
"You know, you could do something else for me."
She looked up hopefully.
"How about a kiss?" I asked.
Her eyes widened. Then she looked at me and nodded. I didn't think she would actually agree. She walked toward me and stopped in front of me. I leaned down a little, then remembered I had a mask on.
I moved my hand to take it off, but she grabbed my arm and stopped me.
"W-what are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm taking off my mask—don't tell me you thought I meant kissing me with the mask on," I joked.
She didn't say anything, but that was all I needed to know. She paused, then let go. I slowly took off my mask. Her eyes widened at my appearance.
"Y-you look—"
"Beautiful," I interrupted.
She blushed. She took a deep breath and kissed me on the lips before quickly running back to her tent.
My heart raced. Whoa, what's this feeling? And why did she kiss me on the lips? I meant for the cheek.
Usually when I ask for a tree I get a log, but this time I got a forest. I smiled. That was worth it.
I then heard a horn. I turned and noticed it was coming from the camp. Mulan came back out and ran toward the camp. This must be serious. I ran after her.
Everyone gathered in the center of the camp where Shang stood.
"Everyone get ready, we're needed at the front," he said.
"Come back in 30 minutes," he added.
Everyone nodded and rushed back to their tents for armor and weapons. I followed Mulan and once we reached our tent, I disassembled mine and stored everything into my storage ring.
Mulan didn't ask anything, probably because she was too busy. I took out my armor and put it on. She looked surprised.
"What kind of armor is that?" she asked.
"Ah, it's from my homeland."
She nodded without further questions and headed back toward the camp. After everyone gathered, we set off.
A week later we arrived at a snowy mountain. We passed many villages along the way but didn't stop.
Suddenly we halted. The sight before us sent shivers down my spine. Such brutality. It was what remained of a village—burned to the ground.
"Commander, look," Fu called.
We moved toward where he pointed. Our eyes widened further. I had never been in war. But such violence...
Chien Po approached and handed a helmet to Shang. Shang looked shocked as he slowly walked to a cliff, plunged a sword into the ground, and prayed.
He then stood.
"Time is running out. We can make it to the imperial city faster through the Tungshow path," he said, mounting his horse.
"We're the only hope for the emperor now. Move out," he commanded.
Everyone followed. As we moved, I noticed Mulan placing a doll next to the sword and helmet of the fallen commander.
I waited for her, and soon we rejoined the rest of the army. As we continued, I heard a sound coming from the carriage that Mulan's horse was pulling.
Then a skyrocket flew out of the carriage, shot into the sky, and exploded.
"What was that?" Shang asked.
He moved toward Mulan.
"You just revealed our location—" Before he could finish, I grabbed my spear and blocked an arrow aimed at him.
"Enemy attack!" I roared.
"Go, go, go!" Shang commanded.
Everyone started running.
A fire arrow hit the carriage, setting it ablaze. Shang noticed immediately.
"Save the cannons!" he ordered.
I rushed in, cut off the burning top of the carriage with a wide slash, and deflected incoming arrows to protect the cannons.
The men grabbed the cannons and retreated. After they were safely removed, I cut the rope connecting the horse to the carriage. I ran back, lifted Mulan onto the horse, and we kept moving.
We rushed to hide behind rocks.
"Ready the cannons," Shang commanded.
Everyone positioned the cannons and prepared to fire.
"Fire!" Shang roared.
I stood watch in case anyone approached from behind. Then the place fell into silence.
As the smoke cleared from the top of the mountain, silhouettes were revealed. More and more kept appearing as roars echoed across the valley.
Shang turned back.
"Prepare for battle. If we die, we die with honor," he said.
Everyone unsheathed their blades. The Huns started charging as their numbers continued to grow.
"Yao, aim the cannon at Shan Yu," Shang ordered.
As Yao prepared, Mulan suddenly rushed forward and grabbed the cannon.
"What are you doing?" Shang demanded.
Mulan kept moving, placing the cannon and aiming it toward the mountain. I followed behind her, noticing the Huns were coming closer.
I took out my spear and prepared to throw it. Gripping it firmly, I hurled it with all my strength directly at Shan Yu.
The spear moved so fast it created a whistling noise. It plunged into the horse, sending Shan Yu tumbling to the ground.
I unsheathed my sword and prepared to fight. I rushed forward with the other men following. Then I heard the cannon fire. Looking toward where it was headed, I saw it was aimed at the top of the mountain.
I immediately knew what was going to happen.
"Retreat!" I roared.
My voice reverberated and all the men paused. I started grabbing soldiers by their shoulders and throwing them back. Eventually, they noticed the avalanche and retreated on their own.
The Huns were quickly swallowed by the snow while I turned to look for Mulan. I found her being attacked. I rushed toward her but was too late. She was cut in the chest and fell.
I reached the Hun and punched him so hard he went flying. I then picked up Mulan and ran back for shelter. I soon reached the others and hid behind a large rock.
After a while, the avalanche finally stopped. We peeked over and saw the entire area covered in snow. But then I sensed movement. One by one, hands and then full bodies dug out of the snow.
I gritted my teeth and looked at Mulan. I took out a healing concoction and gave it to her. I then passed her to Shang.
"I will hold them off, you guys retreat,"
"No, I have to—"
I stopped him.
"You don't have to do anything, I will. The emperor still needs you," I added.
He paused, then nodded. In truth, I just wanted to get Mulan to safety. I couldn't guarantee I could protect her while fighting over a dozen men, since I'm not my father.
As they retreated, I jumped into the snow. Shan Yu saw me and growled.
"You cannot stop me. My army shall decimate and finally take over China," he declared.
I didn't listen and charged right at them.
"Attack!" Shan Yu roared.
The first person to meet me head-on was sent flying by a punch. Each strike I made sent two or three people flying.
"Damn it—attack from the back! Surround him!" he commanded.
I smirked at that. My armor was made by my father and enchanted—there was no way they had weapons strong enough to pierce it.
One tried to slash my back, but I turned around, grabbed his arm and tore it off while seizing his sword to continue fighting.
I was killing and ripping these people limb from limb, but I couldn't stop. I couldn't let them pass.
This went on for hours until Shan Yu growled.
"Stop," he commanded.
He couldn't afford to lose so many men to kill just one person.
"Retreat," he ordered.
They looked hesitant but still followed the order. I breathed heavily.
"Shit, if we weren't on a snowy mountain, I could have used my fire dragon slaying magic to burn these fools to ashes," I cursed.
I wasted too much time. Looking around at the dead and dismembered Huns, I shook my head.
Now isn't the time to be feeling bad. I turned back and headed toward where the army had retreated.
After another two hours, I finally found them. They noticed me.
"Igneel, you're back!" they cheered.
My body was covered with blood, and I was tired. I kept walking toward Shang.
"Where is Mulan?" I asked.
Chi then walked toward me.
"That woman? She was—"
I stopped him. I didn't have time to listen to this idiot's rambling. I didn't know how he knew about Mulan being a woman, but I had more pressing matters.
I felt weird, my body weakened. Like I was about to fall asleep.
"Where is she?" I growled.
"Tch, that woman brought shame to her family. We left her—" Chi said.
I grabbed him by the mouth and lifted him.
"What did you say?" I said coldly.
I breathed heavily with each step.
"Igneel, calm down," Shang tried to defuse the situation.
Everyone froze as smoke emitted from my mouth. I let Chi go, and he ran back. Fire then started coming from my mouth.
They all took a step back. I didn't know what was happening, but I felt like something was changing.
I released a huge roar that shook the mountain.
"Where?" I roared, my eyes bloodshot.
Chi pointed at the direction. I needed no further instructions and headed where he pointed.
As I walked away, nobody stopped me. There was fear on all their faces.