Chapter 46.5: Christy's Fears and Determination
Earlier, around the time when war preparations in the Bright Blade Subsect were taking place…
The rhythmic hum of energy in the meditation chamber came to a sudden halt as Christy Hucklebare stormed outside, her long hair swaying like a banner behind her. Her heart pounded not from exertion, but from a rising panic she could no longer contain. The peaceful courtyards of the Bright Brilliant Blade Sect did little to calm the storm inside her.
One of her fellow disciples — also a member of their Aka Boshi no Tengan family clan — had just delivered grave news. The Bright Blade Sect, a branch under the Bright Brilliant Blade umbrella, was under siege by a horde of vicious Demonic Beasts. A war was underway.
And all she could think about was Elton.
Then Zoro.
Then Cedric.
And the rest.
They were all down there.
She paced furiously in the open-air corridor, drawing glances from the female disciples nearby. Friends she had recently made tried speaking to her, voices soft and worried.
"Christy, they'll be alright. Reinforcements are being sent."
"The Bright Blade Sect is strong. Elton and the others are tough."
Her responses were sharp and clipped.
"That's not good enough. I have to go now to help them."
She turned to the Aka Boshi no Tengan envoy. "Take me with you. I can help. I need to help."
He shook his head, calm but firm. "You are too important. Not only to our clan but also to this sect who we have a great relationship with. If something were to happen to you—"
"Then someone else pick up the slack!" she shouted, her gloves clenching at her sides.
The enchanted battle gloves shimmered faintly in the sunlight. Thin, durable, forged for her style of combat. They were made to channel her essence, not to protect from emotion.
"Christy," he said with finality. "Another of our clan and I are going. We will protect them if they still draw breath. That's our vow."
Her fury wavered. She gritted her teeth, but finally, reluctantly, nodded.
Days passed, and with them, the silence became unbearable.
Whispers spread through the sect like wildfire: a Magical Meteorite Storm had been summoned by a hidden demon cultivator. The reinforcements from both the Bright Brilliant Blade Sect and the Fighting Brawlman Sect had been devastated.
Christy's stomach curled inward. She trained mechanically, spoke rarely. She could only think of Elton, who could be wounded, or worse. Zoro, possibly fighting to his last breath. Cedric, perhaps already gone.
Then, one night, the communication talisman flared to life.
The faces of the two Aka Boshi no Tengan clan members appeared. They looked exhausted but alive, sporting minor wounds.
"We were flung off course during the chaos," one explained. "We lost track of Elton and Zoro."
Christy leaned in, barely breathing.
"We found Shia by chance later on. She's safe. As for Elton… it's currently unknown, but there is something else to report. The Soloman family is involved. Erica and John Soloman were picked up from us by them shortly after."
"The Soloman family…" Christy murmured, her eyes narrowing faintly as she heightened her alertness.
"Erica seemed… close to him," the second added.
Christy's expression tightened. A strange discomfort bloomed in her chest, vague and undefined. She shook her head, pushing the thought away. Now was not the time for useless distractions.
The next morning, senior disciples returned from a strategic meeting. The Gate to a Sacred Land had appeared. Dozens of sects and clans had already begun claiming areas around it.
The Bright Brilliant Blade Sect had already stationed many elite disciples at the site. Full mobilization of their forces would begin within a two-to-three month timeframe, when the dimensional gate would likely reach a stabilization period. When that happened, the sects and various organizations could finally begin the process of breaking through.
Christy's instincts screamed at her.
Zoro and Elton were already there.
"I'm not sitting back again."
Christy turned her attention inward. She would shatter her limits the hard way. She had two months.
Her goal: Gold Tier.
She stood before the sealed entrance of the Crimson Tempest Chamber, the elite core disciple training grounds.
Her gloves glowed faintly as she flexed her fingers. Her breathing slowed.
A subtle red shimmer pulsed in her aura.
She stepped forward.
"Zoro… Elton… wait for me."