BOOM!!!! BOOM!!!!
The sound of marching boots thundered through the night as the Sword Spirit Sect disciples advanced. The formidable outline of the Qi clan's stronghold grew larger against the horizon, its walls glowing ominously in the firelight.
"Fen, am I staying with the main sect to attack the west gate?" Hua Piao asked, his voice thick with expectation.
"No!" Fen's reply was a whip-crack in the dark. "You cannot help them. We are the final arrow meant to pierce Qi Lantian's heart. We cannot afford to be tired, even slightly."
"Ahhh." Hua Piao sighed, the sound full of despair. He had hoped to follow and mitigate the inevitable casualties, but it seemed even that small mercy was denied to him.
"Let's fall back," Huayen said, his voice solemn. "Any closer and Qi Lantian's spies will catch wind of our presence." A grunt of agreement passed between them before they shot backward in a blur,stirring a cloud of sand in their wake.
BOOM!!! BOOOM!!!!
The main force continued its relentless march until the West Gate stood clearly before them. On the walls, disciples clad in fiery armor drew bows, their burning arrows aimed at the approaching army. A boundless legion of Qi clansmen stood ready at the gate's base—a testament to the clan's fearsome efficiency, having rallied such a force with so little warning.
Atop the wall stood Qi Wei, General of the West Gate. His fiery beard seemed to dance with a life of its own as he glared across the distance at his counterpart: Wei Gui, Commander of the Sword Spirit Sect's vanguard.
Amplifying his voice with spiritual energy, Qi Wei's shout echoed across the field. "SWORD SPIRIT SECT! ARE YOU TRULY WILLING TO DIE FOR THIS WAR?!"
Wei Gui saw the transparent ploy—a desperate attempt to buy time for reinforcements. His answer was not words, but action. He raised an arm and let it fall.
SHIIIING!!!!
A single, unified sound of steel leaving scabbards ripped through the air. The faces of every disciple and elder were set, alight with grim vigor and unwavering battle spirit.
"Attack!" Wei Gui barked, his voice brooking no argument.
"HAAAH!!!!"
Their battle cry shook the very earth as they charged, a silver tide rushing toward the crimson fortress.
"Fire the arrows! Loose the cannons!" Qi Wei commanded, his arm dropping with a sigh of resignation.
SWISH!!! BOOOM!!!!
Fiery arrows sliced through the air, dyeing the night sky a bloody hue. They were followed by massive, burning boulders that screamed with destructive energy as they arced down toward the sect's ranks.
"Secure the formation!" Wei Gui's roar cut through the cacophony.
"YES!"
In perfect, drilled unison, the disciples and elders fell into line. Strands of spiritual energy connected them, weaving into a massive, shimmering force field that took the shape of a revolving Yin and Yang symbol above their heads.
"Yin Yang Sword Formation!" they shouted as one.
The rain of fire and stone smashed against the barrier. The formation distorted under the impact, and the faces of the disciples below scrunched in strain and pain, but they held. With a final, concussive BANG, the attack scattered, kicking up a storm of dust and dissipating energy.
"HAAAH!!!!!"
The Sword Spirit Sect's cry erupted again as they cut through the dust cloud. Their spiritual energy dispersed the debris, revealing their ranks—exhausted, some lagging behind and breathing raggedly, but unbroken. Not a single life had been lost.
"Shit," Qi Wei swore under his breath, his eyes wide. He'd forgotten about the infamous formation. There was no time for another volley. Leaping down from the wall, he drew his own blazing spear and shouted, "WITH ME! FOR THE QI CLAN!"
"HAAAH!" The Qi clan's response was loud, but it lacked the crushing conviction of their enemies.
The two tides met.
CRASH!
A wave of blistering heat erupted from the Qi clan lines a moment before the first spray of blood darkened the soil. The air filled with a metallic tang, quickly overwhelmed by the stench of seared flesh and death.
Splutch! A Sword Spirit disciple ran a Qi clansman through, only to be impaled through the gut by another, both collapsing into the churning mud. Scclech!Two Qi disciples cornered a single sect warrior, their spears piercing his body moments before a burst of inner flame incinerated him mid-scream.
Though the Qi clan fought with desperation, the Sword Spirit Sect held the overwhelming advantage. The ground became a grisly carpet of Qi clan dead, their crimson armor doing little to hide the carnage as they were trampled underfoot. A sea of blood spread, making the footing treacherous, the battle more brutal with every passing second.
Amidst the chaos, a bubble of calm formed. Wei Gui and Qi Wei stood facing each other, their powerful auras pushing the fighting back, creating a clearing for their duel.
"Old friend," Qi Wei mocked, a cruel smile on his lips. "Are you sure? Ten years ago, I left you broken in the dust." Wei Gui bared his sword,transparent energy coiling around the blade like a hungry spirit. "I was a youth, foolish enough to challenge a realm higher. Today, we are equals. Fourth Level of the Spiritual Realm. Let us see who has improved more." Qi Wei's smile vanished.His strategy had failed again. With a scoff, he leveled his fiery spear. The tension between them grew palpable, their auras clashing with an audible BOOM! that expanded their makeshift arena.
"You may have the first move," Wei Gui said, mockery dripping from his tone.
With a displeased grunt, Qi Wei lunged. His spear became a brand of fire, painting the air with heat. Wei Gui didn't retreat. He met the thrust, deflecting the spear with a sharp clang and using the momentum to unleash a horizontal slash.
A beam of pure sword light tore through the space between them, arriving before Qi Wei in the blink of an eye. "Myriad Sword Lights!"Wei Gui uttered, the words a breath of effort.
The beam screamed with lethal intent. Qi Wei's eyes widened as he felt the scythe of death at his throat. How is it so powerful?! He didn't know that from the moment the march began, Wei Gui had been channeling and storing his energy, waiting for this exact moment to unleash a single, overwhelming blow.
Qi Wei dashed backward with shocking speed, feeling the sword light graze the front of his armor as he escaped its range. He sucked his spear back into his hand, ready to breathe a sigh of relief.
Then a second aura of danger pressed down on him. He looked up, stunned. Two more beams? He remembered the name of the technique.Myriad Sword Lights. It was the most difficult art in the Sword Spirit Sect, demanding immense talent and comprehension. To manifest even a second beam at the Fourth Level was a legendary feat. Sweat poured down Wei Gui's face; this was clearly his absolute limit.
I just need to evade, Qi Wei thought. He's exhausting himself. When the beams fade, he'll be vulnerable.
He dodged right. The beams twisted in the air, following him. He performed a desperate backflip, the heat of the energy singing his beard. Seeing Wei Gui concentrated on controlling the swords, Qi Wei saw his opening. He sent a serpent of fire streaking toward his opponent's chest.
Clang!
One of the sword beams broke its pursuit, flashing back to intercept the fire serpent, dissipating it with a shower of sparks.
In that moment of shock—that the beam could defend independently—Qi Wei failed to notice the second sword. Wei Gui had already altered its trajectory. It shot toward his throat like a bolt of lightning.
By the time Qi Wei sensed the danger, it was too late. He twisted sideways in a desperate evasion. The blade missed his neck by a hair's breadth, shearing through his fiery beard instead.
The two sword beams flickered and died, revealing two physical longswords clattering to the ground. Wei Gui stood pale, gasping for air, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Qi Wei, though sweating, looked far more vibrant. He laughed softly. "Heh. So that was your limit."
A collective despair fell over the Sword Spirit disciples. Their commander was spent; their enemy was still strong. Their morale shattered, and the death toll on their side began to spike.
"I see you don't even care for their lives," Qi Wei pressed, seeing his advantage. "You don't support this war either, do you? They didn't even tell you why you're here to die."
Wei Gui merely grunted, a sound of agreement.
The disciples stared in horror at their commander. "Then why sacrifice yourself?"Qi Wei's voice was persuasive, smooth. "Surrender. I will spare you and your pitiful army."
Wei Gui gave a slight, weary nod. He began to raise his hand, the universal signal to stand down.
"Commander, no!" an elder whispered, rushing to his side. "Our morale is low, but we must hold! The plan! We only need to hold until the Beast Flame Sect arrives!"
Wei Gui, still gasping, weighed the words. Then he snarled with frigid authority, "Get back! It is not your place to command me!" The elder retreated,bowing his head in despair.
"Have you reached a decision?" Qi Wei asked scornfully.
"Yes." Wei Gui's voice was hoarse. "And I…"
The first half of the sentence was a death knell to the Sword Spirit Sect's spirit. A slow, collective sigh of agony passed through their ranks. They began to lower their weapons, faces twisted in pain and shame, ready to kneel. The very flames around them seemed to dim in sympathy.
Then a shout pierced the night, sharp and defiant.
"…WILL NEVER SURRENDER!"
Wei Gui's raised hand glowed with a piercing white light. On the ground, one of the fallen longswords flared in response.
WHOOSH!!!
The sword shot up from the earth and became a silver streak. It pierced clean through Qi Wei's back, erupting from his chest in a burst of crimson. He looked down at the blade in disbelief, then back at the pale, blood-streaked face of Wei Gui, before his vision dimmed and he collapsed, dead.
One second. Two seconds.
Silence. The two armies stared, dumbstruck, unable to process the reversal.
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?" Wei Gui roared, his voice cracking but filled with renewed fire. "THE BATTLE IS WON! FINISH IT!"
The cry shattered the spell. From the depths of despair, the Sword Spirit Sect's morale erupted into a blazing inferno of battle intent. "YES, COMMANDER!"
They fell upon the stunned Qi clan army with renewed, savage fury. The Qi disciples, their general dead, their spirit broken, could only watch in desolate horror.
"I surrender!" one screamed, dropping to his knees. The cry became a contagion.Dozens, then hundreds, threw down their weapons, kneeling and quaking in fear. "WE SURRENDER!" A stubborn few fought on,but they were cut down without mercy until only the supplicants remained.
An elder approached Wei Gui, who was now supported by two of his men. "Commander… the prisoners?" Wei Gui's face was cold as jade."Kill them all." "Commander,this is—" "Were you not listening?"Wei Gui interrupted, his voice icy. "The Sect Master's orders were clear. Maximum chaos. Leave no one to warn the inner clan."
The elder sighed, a sound of profound weariness, and turned to the ranks. He raised a hand. "Show no mercy." The word"No!" was cut short. SLASH!
The sound of decapitations filled the air, and the blood-soaked earth drank deeply once more.
---
Far from the carnage, in a dilapidated slave courtyard, Lethean gazed out a cracked window. The moon, veiled by gossamer clouds, cast a pearl-white light over his delicate features, making his skin glow and his snow white sliver hair shimmer like spilled water.
Behind him, his mother Caiyi watched him, her heart aching with a love so profound it stole her breath.
"Mom?" Lethean asked softly, feeling her gaze. "What's wrong?" "Nothing,my heart," she said, gently stroking his hair. They both turned back to the moon. A good thing that boy didn't cause trouble, Lethean thought. Who would want to admit being half-beaten to death by a ten-year-old, vein-locked trash?
"Mom?" he asked again, his voice small. "Am I scary?" Caiyi was silent for a moment."Yes," she answered truthfully.
His shoulders slumped, his gaze turning despondent.
"But," she said, turning his face to hers. Her eyes glistened with tears of unwavering love. "Know this. No matter what you become, or how terrifying you may be to others, I will love you with all my heart. I will never leave you. Unless you choose to send me away." She pulled him into a tight embrace,planting a tender kiss on his forehead. Unbeknownst to them, a grueling war had just concluded at the West Gate, its chaos expertly contained by Qi Lantian's formations to prevent panic.
They stayed like that for a long time, a silent portrait of love under the moonlight. Lulled by the comfort and safety of her arms, Lethean began to drift to sleep.
CRAHH!!.
A crow screeched. He ignored it, snuggling deeper. CRAHH!!.
It called again, jolting him awake with a spike of annoyance. He tried to ignore it. CRAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!.
The third screech was deafening, a psychic nail driven into his skull. His eyes snapped open. He turned.
There, perched on the windowsill, was a crow. Its body was a void of absolute blackness, blending into the night so perfectly that only its eyes were visible—two pools of deep, liquid blood. A chill raced down his spine, yet simultaneously, his own blood surged in response, a strange, primal intimacy stirring in his heart. This creature felt like a part of him.
He was drawn into those crimson orbs. Deep within them, past the void, he saw not malice, but a sharp, urgent warning. Run. Get far away.
He blinked. The crow was gone.
He looked at the moon. It was no longer white. It hung in the sky, a swollen orb of deep, bloody red, casting the room in a sinister crimson glow.
He shook his head and jolted awake—truly awake—still nestled in his mother's arms. The moonlight streaming through the window was pure and silver once more.
He stared at the serene moon, his heart pounding. Strange,he muttered under his breath. Was it just a dream?