Guys, throw some stones, please.
————— ———— ———— —————
Alex walked through the streets of the village. The village was lively, bustling with activity. Some childen played between the streets, while some could be seen in the fields.
Alex had never had the pleasure of playing with others kid of his age. He was a prince, separated from the rest of the world. A lonely existence wandering the great halls of the Empire. He felt happy seeing the kids smiling, giggling, running to catch eachother in a game of tag.
Then, he glanced at men who sat between the spaces of the streets besides their houses, gathering in small crowds, discussing their lives and events going on in the world.
"Good evening! Alex."
"Good evening, Sir."
Such instances kept occuring as Alex went further and further inside of the village.
Now, here, women were gathered in small crowds, going on about the same activities as the males.
Alex greeted them.
Slowly, he went deeper into the village. Eventually entering a small clearing in the forest.
There, he summoned an azure, serpentine odachi. Embedding it into the ground, he sat down, meditating.
Soon after entering a state of deep focus, a barrage of questions disrupted his mind, sweat dropping down off his forehead.
Have I changed? If I have, is it good for my goals? Was merging with the memories of fathe—Jin... really a good decision? Is it okay to continue being like this? Should I ask Great Sage to erase these memories?
No. That won't do. These memories are what have made me into what I am, now. I might not be satisfied with the outcome, but losing this state is just as much of a terrible thing to happen.
Alex immediately got up and took up the odachi, swinging it both wildly and elegantly: It was a weird dance formed of emotions. When he felt overwhelming emotions, he swung the odachi wildly. When he felt cool, calm emotions, he moved it elegantly. This was a dance that represented the storm that currently brewed within his being.
It was not a style or art made to kill an enemy, it was an expression, an enforcement of Alex's will upon the world.
Emotions were the source of creation, they were the origin which gave birth to the building blocks of all of creation. The creator—whoever had created these worlds, if these weren't just made out of the blue, would've definitely had a connection with emotions: the creator might have felt bordedom. But then did emotions exist before creation?
There were all sorts of confusing questions that were birthed when one felt extreme emotions. But, there were very few that could be answered. Why was Alex even wondering about all this? Was there any need? Probably not.
Whatever it was, one thing was true. Emotions were power, too. Alex had after all, used his emotions and desire to create so many skills. It was the very reason he possessed all these Unique Skills.
Suddenly, Alex stopped. Looking into the distance. Somewhere near a bush, a lonesome shadow stood, not bothering to hide. It stared at Alex, straight.
Then, it raised it's hand, and pointed into a certain direction. That direction was where the village was situated.
"You're really open about it, huh?"
"Well, do not make a move. I told you, you have two months to prepare." Alex immediately appeared before the lonesome shadow and slammed his palm into it's tangible form, it disappeared into hundreds of tendrils upon touch.
So that guy knows about my location. I've just put mother and many others in danger.
It seemed that the ogre was extremely sharp... for it to figure out all this.
Alex used [Parallel Existence] to create indentical clones of his. They were the copies of his shadows which shared all senses with him—all of them were his own, very true shadows. When provided magicules, they would immediately turn into physical copies. [Parallel Existence] allowed him to create identical existences of himself by splitting his consciousness. They could be called other bodies.
Each of these 'bodies' had a soul of their own identical to the users.
He willed for them to surround the village and places he deemed important from all directions.
Now, that settles something.
However, there was one shadow he sent away, far, far away. It was towards the Azure Serpent Clan's citadel. There were quite some things that Alex planned to do before entering the trial: one of them was to investigate the Three Great Clans.
He planned to create a persona that would keep the Three Great Clans in check. One that would exist even after he entered the trial.
Ofcourse, his might would be reduced by a lot, but he believed he was already plenty strong. Still, who knew what kind of horrors lurked within that trial?
After splitting into so many, Alex felt himself weaken. His body felt heavier, his magicule count dropped, and such feelings.
He closed his eyes and used [Spatial Step], appearing in the shadows of the streets of the village.
He walked inside his house. It seems they've left. Alex thought as he entered in the hall.
It's really quiet. It seems mother has gone outside.
Alex walked up to his bed, climbed up and laid down.
My mind is a little foggy. Let's just sleep.
Alex closed his eyes.
————— ———— ———— —————
Fire.
Ash.
Blood.
Ruins.
When Alex opened his eyes, he saw fire. The smell of blood and ash assaulted his nose. Looking here and there, corpses lay down in a sea of blood.
Buildings and other structures lay in ruins. Giant crimson towers toppled over the ruins, filling the view with dust, dust that was burned as soon as it rose.
The figure of a woman, bare naked, stood between all this devastation. 'She' was undoubtedly the source of it all.
Bathed in a sea of crimson light, she looked like a vision born from fire and shadow. Her long, raven-black hair spilled down in wild streams, streaked with an infernal red glow that flickered like burning embers. Her eyes blazed with a feral intensity, glowing scarlet beneath the veil of her bangs, sharp and unrelenting as though they could pierce through the soul.
A wicked, knowing smile curled on her lips, carrying both menace and allure. The red glow wrapped around her figure, obscuring the finer details and cloaking her form in a fiery silhouette, while drifting sparks danced against her skin. She stood as both beauty and terror entwined—an untamed embodiment of flame, and ruin.
Alex saw a man enter his field of vision.
It was a young man with pale skin, a slim build, and light pink hair that parted on the side and fell just below his ears.
He had a strangely serious, intense expression, and his eyes, a striking shade of pale pink.
He wore a white, traditional robe, tied at the waist with a simple sash. The sleeves of the robe were wide and loose, and the fabric had a subtle, flowing texture.
In his right hand, a small, glowing orb of light seems floated. It gave off a warm, fiery glow, illuminating his face and casting a soft light on the surrounding area.
His voice, distant and ethereal, resounded throughout the area of destruction.
"Why have you strayed from the path? Why have you betrayed the clan? Was the teaching so ridiculous for you as to destroy the whole clan?" He questioned.
The woman's grin widened, "I do not wish to answer all that. But, before you die, tell me one thing. Why do you—"It is not for you to know. A retard such as you cannot comprehend divine will."
The woman's eyes widened, then, she took on a serious expression.
"Divine this, divine that. Fuck it all!" She lunged at the young man, trails of fire following her. She conjured a small orb of flames and launched it at the man.
The man waved his right hand, the orb's light expanded and devoured the woman's flames and the vision ended.
"Huh?!" Alex jolted awake from his dream. Held his head with his left hand. Sweat visible on his face.
Just what was that? It wasn't scary, but... that, that guy was Ryu, wasn't it? Why did I dream of my past world, now? And who was that woman? Was that place the Twin Sun Clan's mountain valley? Just how did it turn into that ruin?
————— ———— ———— —————
Near the White Feather Clan's Citadel:
Bathed in moonlight, a creature descended from the night sky with wings spread wide like a radiant specter. Its feathers, ghostly white, gleamed faintly against the darkness, giving it an otherworldly presence.
From its head rose a crown of twisted, antler-like protrusions, stark and unnatural, adding to its aura of mystique. Its face bore the shape of an owl, yet its eyes glowed with an eerie, piercing blue, like twin lanterns in the void. The air seemed to shiver with its arrival, as its talons stretched forward, ready to seize the earth below. Against the backdrop of the glowing full moon, the creature appeared less like a bird and more like a spirit of the night—haunting, regal, and utterly unearthly.
Beside it, coiling gracefully through the night sky, a dragon moved like a river of living moonlight. Its long, serpentine body shimmered in shades of pale blue and silver, each scale catching the faint glow of the crescent moon above.
Dark, flowing mane-like fur rippled along its spine, contrasting against the luminescence of its body, while a pair of antler-like horns crowned its head, lending it an air both regal and untamed.
Its eyes burned with a cold, greenish light, sharp and watchful, as if they could pierce through the veil of clouds surrounding it. Every twist of its body was fluid, elegant, and deliberate, making it seem less like a beast of flesh and more like a celestial spirit gliding effortlessly across the endless night.
Alongwith them, two figures, each, on
one's side, stared into the distance, atop an uplifted land. Two figures: one resembling a dragon, while the other, a wolf.
The dragon loomed in the darkness like a mountain of living obsidian, its massive frame blending seamlessly with the night. Jagged scales, black as coal yet glinting faintly with a metallic sheen, covered its body like a fortress of armor. Its vast wings stretched outward, blotting out what little moonlight managed to pierce the clouds, the leathery membranes tattered yet menacing.
Twin horns jutted back from its head, framing eyes that glowed faintly golden, burning with faint divinity in the shadows. Each breath it released came as a low rumble, misting the cold night air.
The beast prowled in silence, its massive frame cloaked in shadows as if it were carved from the night itself. Its fur was an abyssal black, blending seamlessly with the darkness, while long, writhing tendrils of living shadow unfurled from its body, coiling and lashing like smoke given form. From its head jutted jagged, horn-like protrusions, faintly glinting in the dim light. Its eyes, an unnatural and piercing blue, glowed like frozen flames, locking onto the world with an unearthly intelligence.
[Now, do you really wish for this to continue, Syra. You're just a frail, little girl. It's not even been that long since you took over The Obsidian Hound. Yet, you wish to leave so soon. Oh! How I pity you.] The owl stared at Syra with cold indifference and said through [Thought Communication].
Syra ignored him, her focus on all of the six transformers.
[Fine. If that's what you've chosen]
KREEEEEE!
One of the creatures on the owl's side let out a war cry. And in just that instant, all of the ten transformed humans launched into a fierce struggle.
A blue glow emanated from the pale blue dragon's maw. It was a breath of destruction: one born through only magicules.
RRROOOOAAARRR-WHOOOMM!
It tore through the air and landed right where the dragon: Syra and the wolf had just been. The wolf had stepped into the shadows. While it's master, Syra had leapt into the air with a single downstroke, the ground beneath shook under the pressure of it's mighty wings.
Syra flew, dodging several icicle shots from the Owl.
THUD!
Suddenly, a shadow fell on Syra. She did not know who it was, but it was definitely not one of the mighty, colossal Grand Saints.
[Syra Yuhana! You've chosen death!], a female voice rang out. Syra immediately spun down. Throwing the one on top of her down. Then she got back in proper position, and unleashed a fire breath using [Grand Fire Elemental Magic]. The poor fool was burned to ashes within a moment.
Whoever had chosen to attack her like this, was definitely an idiot. However, it seemed it wasn't really the case. A similar shape to the previous one dropped on top of her, then a searing pain ran through her dragonoid body.
Syra immediately reverted back to her original, human form. Her golden eyes traced to the shadow. A tall human with long dark brown hair that seemed almost black under the night sky, hovered above. He wore obsidian black armor.
He raised his hand, forming an orb out of pure magicules, and threw it at Syra. Syra forged a black spear, clenched it and hurled it towards the orb that made it's way towards her.
BOOOOM!
Syra turned back. Thanks to her instincts, she had managed to block an attack from another human.
[Idiots, do not take her head-on! Did I not tell you!]. The Azure Dragon barked.
Syra transformed her hand, covering it with a black scaled armor.
She flew past the woman, beheading her in one, decisive strike.