W.I.T.C.H. Dreams of Lusteria
By Galistar07water
Chapter 08: A Mermaid's Tear pt. VI
In Kandrakar, Yan Lin gazed out of the window and stared into the vastness of space, her face worried. She glanced over her shoulder to see Lord Araël lying on a bed. Lady Verlona was sitting by his side, waiting patiently for him to rise.
"He should be awake by now," Yan Lin whispered.
Verlona glanced stoically at her. "You should know better than to be impatient, Oracle," said Verlona at last, although not unkindly. "Time flows differently between the realm of dreams and the waking world. The Dream Seer cannot control the pace of a foreshadowing vision."
A long breath escaped Yan Lin. She never realized that waiting could leave you so exhausted. "Of course, but aside from being the Oracle, I am still a grandmother, Verlona. I cannot help if I'm worried for Hay Lin. Or her friends."
Verlona said nothing. "The Guardians are more than capable. They have faced two demigods and defeated them. That, I must also remind you, is no easy task."
"Nearly at the cost of their lives!" Yan Lin retorted.
Before Verlona could say anything more, Lord Araël's eyes fluttered open and he sat up.
"Lord Araël! At last you're awake!" said Yan Lin.
The Dream Seer sighed. Verlona saw how worn he looked and handed him a small, wet towel. He took it graciously and washed the sweat from his face.
"Araël, what happened?" Yan Lin asked. "Are you alright?"
Araël's face grew more somber. "Yes, Oracle. I am well, but I fear the same cannot be said for the Jade Dragon."
Yan Lin's eyes grew wide. She glanced at Verlona and saw that her face also showed signs of concern.
"What did you see, Araël?"
Araël handed the wet towel back to Verlona and grabbed his small mirror that he wore around his collar. Yan Lin wasn't certain, but its surface seemed darker than usual.
"The vision I saw was of Lady Ngọc Long fighting against Zhu Que," Araël answered, his hand gripping on the small mirror. "And then I saw a flashing black arrow."
The air around them grew colder. Yan Lin knew this wasn't good. "Araël, what's going to happen?"
"Either Ngọc Long or Zhu Que will die, no matter what the Guardians will do."
Yan Lin shook her head. No, how could this be? The Guardians worked so hard to achieve their goal. Surely, fate couldn't be this cruel? Not since Kimi's father was killed? "Araël, surely these visions of yours have been altered before? Are they not just premonition of a possible outcome? Nothing is written in stone!"
Araël glanced at Yan Lin. His expression remained dark and somber, but he did give her a small nod. "Dreams are as intangible as their messages, Oracle. For once, I hope what I saw was nothing more than a forewarning rather than a certainty. We can only hope that it will play well enough in the end."
Princess Huyền Trân paced back and forth, her hands clutched together nervously. Her father and ladies-in-waiting had been trying to calm her down for hours, but all failed.
"Daughter, please sit and rest. It does you no good to worry more than you should. You've been through a lot these past several days," said Nhân Tông.
"Father, how can I rest when Chung is out on the battlefield fighting for our survival?"
"Daughter, I understand how you must feel—"
Huyền Trân glared at her father, brushing her maids away. "How can I rest when the husband you and my brother, who so graciously forced upon me, was killed minutes after my nuptial?! How can I rest when the Champa were quick to turn against us and wanted to kill me as a part of their barbaric tradition? It was General Trần Khắc Chung who saved me and now he's out there fighting against Zhu Que and his army! For all he has done for me, for us, he could be killed any moment! How can I rest knowing that I might lose him? No, you know nothing of what I feel!"
Her accusation was as biting as a viper's venom. The Retired Emperor said nothing, but his eyes betrayed his guilt. He and his son had only wanted what was best for their kingdom. They thought an arrange marriage between Huyền Trân and the Champa King would save both nations on the eve of Zhu Que's siege. But things fell apart so quickly when King Jaya suddenly dropped dead within minutes of being married, his throat was shredded by ice shards that spiked the wine of vow. What's more alarming was when his son, the young King Jaya ordered Huyền Trân to be executed as a part of their Champa funeral tradition.
"Did any of you knew?" Huyền Trân demanded, angry tears spilling from her eyes. "Did any of you knew that a man's wife is to be killed or cremated alive should her spouse die? If Chung hadn't—"
"Sister, please," Trần Anh Tông interrupted firmly. He lowered his tone, and caressed her face. "It was foolish of me to believe that marrying you off would save our kingdom. Had I known of the Champa's barbaric funeral custom, I would never agree to such a union! I should have allowed you to marry Chung as originally planned."
"If we can survive this terrible siege, you and Chung will have my blessing, daughter," said Nhân Tông. "And now the young Champa king has declared war on us," the retired Emperor added. "By the fires of Kandrakar, how did all of this happen so quickly? It was not so long ago that I was invited to Jaya's court last year. He was so generous a host! What a foolish old man I have become!"
Anh Tông scoffed. "It appeared the same cannot be said for his son. The Champa is barely a thorn on our side, Father. That boy barely has any experiences as ruler. He's young, arrogant, and reckless. No doubt he'll believe we'll be too weak to defend ourselves after this siege and will use that to his advantage. That will be a foolish mistake. Should Jaya the Younger and his army dare set foot back in Annam, I will personally lead in the charge to meet him in battle."
"Only if we survive with enough recruits after this siege!" his father retorted.
The young emperor took a glance around the chamber. It was built as a survival shelter for the imperial family and lacks all the splendors that accommodate the rest of the palace. Yet, it still possessed a certain amount of furniture for its occupants while they wait out the siege, including several chairs and a long table. Trần Anh Tông spotted something in the corner and saw a dirty old mirror hanging on the wall next to his sister's ladies. Why or whoever placed it there, he'll never understand. Gazing into its reflected surface, he saw that he was quite filthy. The fight against the Champa resulted in his precious golden robes being torn and caked in blood and dirt. His hair was slightly out of place and there was a small cut above his left eye. This isn't what disgusted him, it's the how useless and weak he appeared. His sister was right. His general and his best friend was the one fighting out there, while he and his family are hiding under the palace as if they were cowards. Didn't he just give a rowing speech about standing up against Zhu Que earlier? Wasn't he the one who ushered his people not to give up hope and fight for their freedom?
Trần Anh Tông's eyes glowered, his expression hardened as his heart began to resolve. He could feel his reflection mocking him, Hypocrite. Coward.
Trần Anh Tông clenched his hands. "Fetch me my sword," he said.
His father and sister turned towards him.
"What?" his father blinked, completely taken aback. The emperor ignored him.
"Didn't you hear me? I said fetch me my sword! I'm going out there!"
A guard bowed and quickly ran out of the chamber. Five minutes later he returned with the ancient sword still in its scabbard, gilded in gold with the emblem of a dragon and phoenix.
"Son, what are you doing?!" the Retired Emperor demanded furiously. His daughter rushed to his side, but he brushed her off. "You're the Emperor! Your duty is to survive this battle!"
"Brother, are you really…?"
"Forgive me, Father, but I cannot do that," Trần Anh Tông replied, taking his sword. "Huyền Trân is right, we're sitting in here like cowering mice while the real sons and daughters of Annam are fighting out there! Are we not the descendants of dragons and nymphs?!"
"Don't be foolish! It is your duty to survive and—"
"With all due respect, Father, I am Emperor now, not you! I am the one sitting on the throne! I am the one wearing the crown! I decide what a king's duty is! The barrier is down! The magic from the ancient bronze drums will no longer protect us! We must take action and seize upon this chance bestowed on us! As Emperor, it is my duty to stand and fight for my people and our freedom!"
"But what if you die?! What then?!" the Retired Emperor demanded.
"Father, if I die, then at least I will die knowing that I fought for the preservation of the freedom," Trần Anh Tông answered solemnly. Then he smiled gently and continued, "If I die, I think Huyền Trân would make an excellent queen."
No words utter from the Retired Emperor's lips for none should be said. His son's conviction surprises him, and deep down, he was proud of what he was seeing.
Princess Huyền Trân silently stepped forward and caressed her brother's face in her hand.
"Sister…"
"Anh Tông, find him for me…Please, bring my love back to me…"
Trần Anh Tông held her hand in his and quietly embraced her. "I'll find Chung for you. I'll bring him back and should we survive this, you're free to marry him."
A small band of his best warriors were going to go out and fight with him. Inspired by his words, Trần Anh Tông found himself in the company of no less than five warriors. The rest would stay behind to protect his family and their servants.
"Come warriors," Trần Anh Tông said as his attendants finished donning him in his battle armor. He held out his sword and cried with a fire burning in his heart. "Let us go and put an end to a tyrant godling!"
Orube had been having a bad day thus far: she had been mercilessly beaten by an old nemesis whom she thought was dead, followed by Kenji and the twin sisters who were still under his spell! Had it not been for Kimi's untimely arrival, Orube would not be alive. Beaten by a she-fox and three teenagers? She was Orube, warrior of Basiliadé and trained under the tutelage of Master Luba and the previous Oracle Himerish! She had never felt so humiliated!
Orube's anger was threatening to boil as she cuts down several Annamite demons, also known as con quỷ. Her mind chastised her, reminding that she shouldn't show too much anger into her melee for Zhu Que's minions are fueled by their master's Wrath. Sure enough, every time Orube cuts down someone, more kept popping up.
This isn't working, she thought. I must channel my anger. Orube sheathed her sword and got into a defensive position. The demons laughed and threw attacks at her. She dodged, but not as fast as she had hoped. Despite Kimi healing her with the Jewel of Life, the aches from her previous fight were still there. They were slowing her down as Orube felt a passing heat brushing against her skin.
Orube noticed several soldiers jutting their spears at her. Instinctively, Orube dodged and spun on one foot, grabbing a few spears by their shafts with one arm, and then with the other free arm broke them using her supernatural strength. Her enemies were surprised for a moment, but it was all she needed as she flung the spear heads back at them, killing several demons with their own weapon.
"Who's next?" Orube asked, the fire burning in her eyes.
Orube's ears perked, detecting a whistling sound through the air. Without thinking, Orube snatched an arrow mid-air with one hand. More fiery arrows flew at her. Orube spotted the head archer directing the attack ahead.
"KILL HER! KILL THAT BITCH!" someone cried, but he was immediately cut down by Orube as she ran passed him.
More arrows came, and Orube diverted her chi into a shield for protection. She flung her sword, hitting one demon standing close to the head archer. Distracted by his fallen comrade, he failed to see Orube was already right in front of him. With the arrow still in her hand, Orube impale the head archer in the eye. The sound of his eyeball being gouged out would have disgusted most people, but Orube was too focused to care. She's been trained to not be squeamish on the battlefield.
Orube glared at the rest of the archers. Barely wavered, they aimed their arrows at her and fired. Orube grabbed her sword that had impaled the demon next to her and knocked the arrows away. Orube was tired, but she had to keep fighting for Zhu Que's army was endless! He must have at least ten times more than Byakko and Xuan Wu put together! Orube wanted desperately to rest but knew that wasn't possible.
By the fire of Basiliadé! Orube thought. There must be close to a hundred thousand of them! How did Zhu Que amass such an army?
Orube was so engrossed in her battle that she didn't hear the clopping of hooves behind her until it gave a deafening neigh, blasting her sensitive ears. Orube cried in pain and barely turned around. She gasped. Before her was an equine creature that is chimerical in nature; possessing the body of a deer, the head of a tiger, and turquoise-colored scales of a dragon covering its body. There were sparks of fire and mist dancing around its hooves and tail.
"By the fires of Kandrakar!" Orube gasped. "A kỳ lân!"
Orube questioned why a kỳ lân was working for Zhu Que. She knew they were powerful creatures, considered to be good omen in terms of bringing prosperity and serenity to a kingdom. But then Orube noticed a metal collar around its neck, tightened by chains, causing small trails of blood to trickle. Without a doubt, it was causing the creature great pain.
Orube hissed under her breath. These quỷ have captured this beautiful and majestic beast and readied it for battle in the cruelest fashion: breaking its body and mind. The kỳ lân's eyes glowed and Orube knew that no amount of words can break its trance. It gave another deafening neigh and ran at her, its horn blazing. Orube tried to dodge, but the creature was quick as it slammed into her, sending her flying yards. Orube coughed. It hurts. Orube looked down to see that she was bleeding and knew she was in big trouble.
The kỳ lân neighed and ran at her again. Orube tried to dodge as best as she could, but found herself in a circle with several demons jeering at her with their pointed weapons. They've set her and the kỳ lân in a fighting ring and they were the spectators, hooting for her death. If Orube tried to run away from the beast in any direction, she would be impaled by their weapons.
"Ah!" Orube gasped from the pain. Apparently, some of the quỷ were too impatient as they extended their pole weapons closer towards the circle, hoping to skewer Orube for sport at least!
"Damn them!" Orube hissed. She had never been so humiliated, now finding herself lowered into a common animal fighting for her life by Zhu Que's followers. Orube was so distracted that she nearly forgotten about the beast until it ram against her again, sending her to the other side of the ring. Orube feared she would be impaled, but instead, a demon's spear merely knick her thigh.
"C'mon! Getup, you bitch!" he sneered and tried to bring down his pole weapon on her.
Orube quickly got back up, dodging the blade but then faltered. She was in so much pain. Was she going to die like this? Alone and battered like a beast of burden? In an instant, flashes of her recent memories came to her. She saw her friends and how much they had changed her for the better. She hated being on Earth at first, but it was a world that was both terrible and wonderful. She made friends and found her first love.
"Cedric…" Orube whispered. Despite his villainous past, Orube felt a connection with him. They were both aliens…isolated on a world that doesn't believe in magic. They felt as if their purposes were diminished to a mere bookseller and a journalist. Yet, they found some things in common with one another. And despite Orube's great disappointment in Cedric for betraying them later on, he had proven her wrong by sacrificing his own life because he couldn't bear to see her die. Cedric's death broke Orube and drove her to leave Earth, but along her journey, Orube found greater strength.
Cedric, if you're still with me, then please help me free this beast, Orube thought.
The kỳ lân neighed loudly and began to paw the ground with one of its hooves. It was getting ready to charge again.
Orube closed her eyes, expecting the creature to ram its horn into her abdomen. Suddenly, there was a deafening boom, followed by a wave of power from the palace's ground. Whatever it was, it created a powerful shockwave, echoing like a slumbering giant that had awoken. It pushed back a massive wave of con quỷ and corrupted humans, many were sent flying! Orube looked up and saw thousands of them crashing down all around her! Her ring of spectators gaped in surprised before finding themselves crushed by their own brethren while Orube dodged as best as she could. Spotting one of her swords lying on the ground, Orube dashed for it. The kỳ lân saw this and ran for her. The sword was now only ten feet away…five feet…three…she got it!
With a swift move, Orube spun around and as the kỳ lân was about to ram into her again, Orube managed to shift her weight further to its side to avoid it and swung her sword. The blade came down and sliced into the beast's collar, cracking it. The kỳ lân turned around and charged at Orube again. Again, Orube timed herself and dodged, spun around and sliced her sword at the collar again. This time, the crack in it grew bigger and just when the kỳ lân was about to turn around and fire its attack at her, the collar cracked and came off.
The fiery glow in the beast's eyes subsided, its mind began to clear. The kỳ lân looked around and realized that it was free. Orube sighed in relief but then the beast charged at her again! Orube gasped and dodged to the side. As she turned, she saw that the kỳ lân had rammed into a demon who was about to hack Orube's head off. She had forgotten about her flank!
The demon screamed as the kỳ lân trampled its hooves on his stomach repeatedly. Several more of Zhu Que's followers tried to jump in, but the kỳ lân neighed and blasted fire mandala at them, killing them. Once finished, it quickly trotted towards Orube and bowed. Orube gazed into its eyes and saw strength in it and in herself. Orube smiled and gently stroked the beast. The kỳ lân nudged its head towards her wound. Orube winced but suddenly felt the pain beginning to lift. The kỳ lân was healing her! The magic washed through her body and the heat was gentle and calm.
"Thank you," Orube whispered.
The kỳ lân, now recognized as a male, gave her a nod.
Gratitude, said a voice. Orube blinked. Had she heard his voice in her mind?
The beast didn't answer. Instead, he knelt. Smiling, Orube flung herself onto the back of the mythical beast.
Thank you, Cedric, Orube thought.
With one hand, she tightened her sword. Zhu Que's followers looked up and saw before them a frightening war goddess and her mount with a sword glistening in the light of the fire in one hand. Orube and the kỳ lân gave them all a look of contempt.
"Well now, shall we repay them in kindness, my friend?"
The kỳ lân leaned back on its hind leg and gave a piercing neighing sound. Waving her sword, they charged.
"IRMA!" Hay Lin screamed desperately. She ran towards the sinkhole where the water had swept Irma away, and gazed down into the darkness but saw no sign of her friend.
"HAY LIN, WATCH OUT!" Will screamed.
"Huh?!" Hay Lin looked up in time to see a monolithic fiery bird swooping down at her.
"HAY LIN, NO!" Taranee screamed.
Too late as Zhu Que opened his beak and fired several spheres at her. Hay Lin screamed. She was going to be burned alive! But it stopped. Hay Lin looked up to see that she was being nestled by an enormous hand. It the goddess Amaterasu, Kimi's astral avatar with her still encased inside its center. Zhu Que's fire encircled her avatar. Kimi tried to tap into Amaterasu's affinity of the sun, a source of fire and light to repel it. But like last time, Zhu Que's fire was so saturated with his own Deadly Sin that it overpowered her avatar. In a split second, Kimi knew if she didn't let go, she would either succumbed to Zhu Que's Wrath or be severely burned. Her friends gasped in horror as Kimi's avatar dissolved away like diamond dust.
Will and Cornelia flew in, the latter using her earth magic to create an enormous swirling vine, allowing Kimi to slide down to them safely. Once safe, Will created a powerful dome shield over them. Zhu Que was about to turn around and attack them again when an emerald-colored dragon rammed into him, sinking her teeth into his fiery feathers. Zhu Que shrieked and shook her off, scratching Ngọc Long in the face with his talons.
Ngọc Long's voice echoed a low, rumbling warning tone. "Your fight is with me, Zhu Que!"
The Guardians watched as Ngọc Long and Zhu Que battled fiercely in the air. Fiery columns were shot from their mouths while orbs of molten flames were conjured from their wings and claws. If they weren't in danger, the Guardians would perhaps find this battle fascinating to watch. Whenever Zhu Que fires an attack at Ngọc Long, she would serpentine through them gracefully, before getting close enough to clamp her jaws down on him. Zhu Que roared and pecked her ferociously with his beak. He fired at her again with a chain of fire mandala, and Ngọc Long weaves through them gracefully in the air before flying at him, shooting another attack. Zhu Que dodged it but her attack struck one of the palace's towers.
"Brace yourselves, girls!" Will, cried as the debris came crashing down. Will strengthened the protective dome around them. It glowed with crackling electricity. The falling debris bounced harmlessly off of its surface while the smaller pieces were vaporized. The Guardians breathed in relief.
"Will, we can't stay under here forever," Kimi said.
"Kimi's right," added Taranee. "What do we do?"
Hay Lin gave them all a look of bewilderment but it was soon replaced by anger. "What do you mean what do we do now? We have to find Irma—"
"No, Irma is lost to us," Kimi cut her off sternly.
Hay Lin shook her head fiercely. "No! We have to find her! She's our friend! We have to save—"
"HAY LIN, THAT'S ENOUGH!" Will snapped. "I'm sorry. We're all worried about her, too, but right now we have to focus on this battle."
"Will, I don't think Ngọc Long can hold out much longer!" Cornelia said, peering through their dome. "From the looks of things, Zhu Que is still more powerful than her!"
"How are we going to defeat him? He's so powerful," Taranee added darkly. "My fire magic pales in comparison to his! Without my own Power Girl, I don't think I can stand a chance against him alone! At this rate, even reasoning with him seems like a fool's errand. Maybe Irma's right and he can't be converted. He killed his own sister back in Joseon, remember? And if we don't do something, he'll kill Ngọc Long and us all."
"His third chakra," said Kimi.
The others turned and gave Kimi a blank stare. "What?"
"His third chakra!" Kimi repeated. "It should have worked had Irma struck a blow at his solar plexus. It's the source of power and will and it only becomes his main weakness when he blocks it with remorse and shame."
Another boom reverberated above their heads. The Guardians looked to see Zhu Que and Ngọc Long now crossing swords in their human forms. Sparks were flying everywhere whenever their blades meet.
"Looks like we've got no other choice," Will said darkly. "Alright, let's all take him on. When one of you sees an opening, go for his chakra with all your might. Don't hesitate!"
As Zhu Que and Ngọc Long clashed their weapons, Zhu Que's body was still alight in fire, making him looked more imposing than ever. Ngọc Long was undeterred by her husband's magnificent and terrifying display of raw power. Yet, he pushed her back and swung his talisman at her again. Ngọc Long leapt into the air, and fired a column of water at him. His fiery form was extinguished, but the heat wave emitting from his body left a cover of steam.
"Tell me," Ngọc Long said, glaring as she watched her husband stepping out of the smoke screen. "Tell me what has happened to you? The man I married wouldn't have performed such duplicities!"
Zhu Que stopped and matched her glare with a cold gaze. "Thou cannot understand. Thou cannot comprehend the enlightenment that has touched me!"
"Enough, Zhu Que!" Ngọc Long replied coldly, giving an air of authority. "Our people have always looked to us for guidance and protection! Why would you seek to enslave them?"
"I've told thee! We art amongst the most powerful of species, yet our existence is eclipsed by Metamoor, Basiliadé, and Earth! EARTH!"
"You are grossly mistaken, dear husband."
"AM I?!" Zhu Que cried, coming at her. Their swords clashed again, until Ngọc Long managed to push him back. Leaping into the air, she transformed into a dragon. Zhu Que followed suit, shrieking as he gave her chase. "Earth is the cesspool of the universe! A world that rejects magic! Its leaders constantly undermining the wellbeing of their own subjects! They care not if their wars bringeth misery, pain, instability and famine! Justice is in their eyes for the sake of their growing wealth and political stature!"
"And how are you and your siblings so different?! You're waging war against the Lusterians and Kandrakar! You've killed and inflicted pain upon the people you were created to protect!"
"DO NOT DARE TO LUMP ME WITH THE HUMANS! MINE SIEGE AND WRATH ARE A NECESSARY EVIL TO UNITE ALL OF LUSTERIA UNDER OUR MIGHT!"
Zhu Que rammed into Ngọc Long hard and dug his sharp talons into her. The Jade Dragon roared with pain as he flung her to the ground. She crashed and reverted back to her human form. Ngọc Long looked down at her side, and saw that she was bleeding. Wincing painfully, she struggled to get up. As she does, the giant phoenix knocked her back down with its powerful wing beats. Before she could do anything, a giant bird's foot slammed on top of her, holding her in place.
For a split second, Ngọc Long looked up at him in fear, terrified that he would do kill her. "Husband, would you?" she whispered.
He glared at her, not moving. "THE IS NOTHING I WOULDN'T DO…"
Zhu Que caught something in the corner of his eyes and immediately reeled back before a beam of light, crackling with voltage shot near his throat.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Will snarled.
The other Guardians came charging at him, their magic at the ready. Will conjured a cage around herself, crackling fiercely with electricity as she flew towards Zhu Que. The Celestial Warrior quickly dodged, but Cornelia crystallized his feet and tail feathers, trapping him. Will rammed him down, but he burst into flames immediately and rematerialized elsewhere as a man. Taranee and Hay Lin combined their magic and fired at him, but Zhu Que merely flicked his wrist and their fiery tornado flew back at them. They scrambled out of the way, the tips of their wings singed.
"Whelps," he sneered. Furiously, Zhu Que quickly swung his sword, and an intangible blade of fire flew out of it.
"LOOK OUT!" Hay Lin cried.
They quickly dove for the ground in time to save their necks. The attack flew over their heads and sliced a nearby palace tower in halves.
"Girls! This is my battle!" Ngọc Long cried. "Leave him to me!" She winced, a hand still clutching her injury.
"No, you're bleeding, for heaven's sake!" Taranee objected. "You can't fight him alone, Jade! You need us now more than ever!"
"I had enough of thy meddling, Guardians!" Zhu Que said darkly, his voice still distorted as if possessed by an unknown entity.
Zhu Que transformed into a giant fiery bird once more and attacked. Cornelia erected a crystal shield above them in time. So focused on the fire, she didn't see Zhu Que reverting back to his human form as he slammed his sword against her shield. His attack was so swift and surprising that Cornelia's lost her grip on the shield for a split second, allowing him to obliterate it with his sword. Before any of them could react, Zhu Que appeared right in front of Kimi and grabbed her by the neck before she had time to predict his move. Kimi gasped and began to choke as Zhu Que tightened his grip.
"KIMI!" Will cried.
"LET HER GO!" Taranee warned, fists flaming.
"ZHU QUE! UNHAND MY WARD!" Ngọc Long cried, bringing her sword down on him, but he blocked it with his own with his free hand. Kimi's fingers clawed at Zhu Que's arm desperately. Kimi matched his gaze, the light in her eyes cut into Zhu Que's face. Shocked by the blinding pain, he finally released her, allowing Kimi to escape and his wife to come at him again. Again he blocked her, the two of them trying their best to push each other over the line beneath their feet.
"I told you not to touch her or any of them, husband!" Ngọc Long seethed, her tone dangerously low. Their swords clashed again and again, sending sparks flying whenever their blades meet.
"Thou wilst not stand in mine way! The Light Guardian shalt serve her purpose! For mine siblings decree it!"
"You're not taking her or any of our friends!" Will conjured her energy claymore. "It's bad enough that we've lost Irma because of you!"
Zhu Que pushed Ngọc Long back and clashed his sword with Will. Will gasped at how easily he could push her back. She had underestimated his strength. "Fooling little mortal. Has thee learned nothing? Thy friend succumbed to her own darkness! Do not blame me for her demise!"
"Cornelia!" Will cried.
Cornelia tried to tie him down with her powerful vines again, but they incinerated before they could even touch him.
"Kimi! Are you alright?" Hay Lin gasped.
"Since when can you shoot lasers out of your eyes?" Taranee asked.
Kimi's eyes watered as if they had been stung. Rather than the piercing blue color, Hay Lin and Taranee were surprised that they were now milky white. Kimi quickly rubbed them fiercely with her hand and they slowly reverted back to their original state. The attack, as powerful as it was, seemed to have rendered Kimi blind momentarily. It was no wonder she didn't use it often.
"How did you—" Taranee asked, clearly interested.
"Later," Kimi snapped.
The three of them rejoined the others. Hoping to overwhelm him, they fired and shot every attack they could muster. Unfortunately, Zhu Que was as quick as he was skilled. He was a demigod, after all.
"Knaves!" he bellowed. "Do you all wish for your deaths so eagerly?"
It was Cornelia who saw her chance. Cornelia knew that the only way to get close enough to him was to surprise him from underneath. Using her magic, Cornelia melted into the ground and for a few precious seconds, she was one with the roots beneath their feet. Traveling through the vegetation, Cornelia sensed Zhu Que's feet above her head and emerged before him like a blooming flower. And quick as lightning, Will appeared next to Cornelia, her hand clenching on the Heart of Kandrakar. Cornelia grabbed her hand conjured her own Heart of Nature. The two Hearts emitted powerful pink and green auras of Temperance and Diligence, Energy and Earth.
"What?!" Zhu Que said.
"This is for Irma!" Together they aimed for Zhu Que's solar plexus.
For a split second, everything slowed down. The Guardians could see their fists inching towards Zhu Que's solar plexus and thought they would succeed where Irma had failed. Their hearts weren't tied down by his Wrath. Any anger they felt were channeled elsewhere as they refocused their intent for victory. But then, everything went wrong.
Zhu Que realized what they were doing and blocked with his sword at the last moment. As soon as their fists collided with the blade's fuller, Will and Cornelia knew they were in trouble.
Zhu Que's talisman was surprisingly more durable than Byakko's or Xuan Wu's as it did not shatter from the impact. However, under the strain of their raw magic, the blade began to crack slightly, allowing Zhu Que's fire and Wrath to seep out. As powerful as Will and Cornelia's Virtues were, they were not supposed to be mixed with Wrath. Zhu Que's Deadly Sin was different compared to Gluttony and Sloth. It was more unstable and violent, and as it swirled and mixed with their Virtues and elements, the concoction gave birth to something explosive. What follows was like a nuclear bomb detonating. The shockwave spread out, pushing back several hundred yards. It sent Zhu Que's con quỷ flying, several of them landing where Orube was, which gave her the opportunity to free herself and the kỳ lân.
By the time it was over, Will and Cornelia struggled to their feet, their powers drained. Parts of their bodies felt numb. Being closest to the explosion, they suffered severe burns, including the ones on their legs. They couldn't get up nor stand.
"C-Cornelia? Are you alright?" Will said, her voice rasped. She looked around and saw the effect the explosion. The palace gates were finally brought down, and several of the smaller estates within the palace grounds were obliterated. The palace itself, miraculously survived, although there seemed to be several larger cracks in its stoned walls.
"W-Will…the others…" Cornelia gasped.
The two of them glanced to see Kimi, Taranee, Hay Lin were unconscious and had reverted back to their human forms. They, too, had suffered some flash burns from the explosion, albeit minor as they were further away. Miraculously, Ngọc Long seemed to be unscathed by the shockwave, but it had left her looking somewhat exhausted, her hair loose. Zhu Que, too, had survived, although the explosion had done some damage on him: the blast had caused some wear in his clothes, his topknot now loose, and his handsome face caked in soot and cuts. It looked as if his regal and handsome features had been burned away, leaving a battle worn soldier with no hope or love left in his soul. He limped slightly towards his wife. He paused, glancing down at the unconscious Kimi. Holding up his sword in the air, Zhu Que conjured a translucent sphere of fire and threw her inside.
"K-Kimi…" Will gasped and winced from the pain. It hurts to move.
"No…" Ngọc Long whispered.
At the sound of her, Zhu Que turned his head. He approached his wife, dragging his sword behind him with an expression still blank and cold.
"Will any of this be worth it, Zhu Que?" Ngọc Long's expression was livid. But then, it melted away into pain and sadness. "I've waited for you! Since the day you left me for the Gate of Oblivion, I've waited for your return, hoping that I would see you again."
Zhu Que said nothing. She continued. "I've waited for months, and then years. I've waited so long that generations of mortals grew old and died. At that point, my siblings came and implored me to stop my foolishness. I refused at first, thinking that any moment now you would fly back home to me. But you didn't. Eventually, I began to search for you, but found no traces of your presence, not even at the Gate of Oblivion. At last, I finally gave into my siblings' plea and I stopped my foolishness. My heart died a little each day since."
Zhu Que didn't answer her, but Ngọc Long saw something in his eyes. Tears? It was difficult to tell because they quickly evaporated from the heat wave he was producing. Despite this, she saw something else flickering in his eyes. Was it remorse or pity?
"You became a distant and painful memory and I was alone," Ngọc Long pressed on.
"Why has't thee wed again?" Zhu Que questioned. The explosion had forced him to revert back to his normal voice. "Why must thou endure such pain and agony?"
"How can I when you still have my heart?" Ngọc Long answered softly, tears welling up in her eyes. "I could never love someone else as much as you."
"Thou art foolish to love me still, for I am a creature of malice and anger!" Zhu Que snapped. "Mine hands have been stained with the blood of mine foes! Their cries for mercy are as insidious as their worthless existences! I spared no one, not even my own dear sister who thought it wise to claim more power for herself! Abandon thy foolish mission, Ngọc Long, for I'd rather have you by my side as my queen than be the weak man who married you."
"You're not weak! Whatever has happened to you at the Gate of Oblivion has obviously poisoned your soul! There is conflict within you, but you don't know which side to choose. Husband, please come back to me. Let Kimi and the Guardians survive. Let go of your anger and let your dream of a conquered Annam go."
"Thou dare to manipulate on mine feelings?! How must thou loathe me…to reduce to such a method!"
"No, never. How can I hate you when it was you who freed Kimi from her icy-prison? How can I hate you when it was you who aided the Guardians to defeat Xuan Wu?"
"I did not perform out of compassion, but from a sense of loyalty to mine master and brother! Thou can still be by mine side! Thou can—"
"You cannot have both ways! You can't be loyal to Hwang-Ryong and expect me to stand by you! You have to choose! Many would think you cold and heartless, even you yourself would believe it. But if you were so merciless, then you would've killed me in that damn jungle! You would have killed me just moments earlier and yet here I still stand, Zhu Que!"
At the mention of this, Zhu Que paused.
"Husband, I am at your mercy. If you are truly the Lord of Wrath, then this is your moment: Strike me down. Isn't that what you've promised to do to me since our last encounter?"
"Do thou wish for death so easily?"
Ngọc Long held his gaze and replied calmly. "If I am to die at your hands, then so be it. At least, our memories together would be eternal for me. But for you, dear husband…shall live without me. Wrath would replace me as your idol."
The sword's tip came closer to her neck; the edge drew a small trickle of blood as the Zhu Que's grip on the talisman trembled. He raised his sword above her. With one swipe, he could behead her.
"No…Ngọc Long…" Cornelia croaked.
"Jade…run…what are you doing?!" Will struggled unsuccessful.
Zhu Que glared at Ngọc Long, but she did not quiver in fear. This made him even more furious. How dare she mock him? How dare she refuse him still? If she wants to die so badly, then so be it! Clutching his sword tighter, Zhu Que swung his sword.
"Your Majesty! Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine! What happened?" said Trần Anh Tông, trying to get back to his feet. "For a few seconds, it felt as if the entire palace was going to come down on us."
"It was Zhu Que and the Guardians!" cried one of his guards. "Their powers converge by accident!"
"By the gods! All that power did this?! If we don't stop Zhu Que now, the entire kingdom will be obliterated! Take your positions now!"
The guards nodded and managed to find a good spot in the last remaining tower where they had the entire courtyard in view. They watched as Zhu Que trapped the Guardian of Light in a sphere of fire before making his way towards the battered woman in light armor. Trần Anh Tông did not recognize her at first due to her disheveled and exhausted appearance. He could only guess that she was one of General Chung's soldiers.
"Do you have the Celestial Warrior within range?"
The five guards nodded as they nook their arrows.
"But Your Majesty!" One guard protested. "That woman is too close! We might hit her—"
"She understood what is at stake when she joined Chung's army! If she dies, I will personally honor her family for her heroic sacrifice. But if we don't take this chance, then her death will be for not—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Zhu Que's fire blade flew at them, striking the estate located below the tower. They watched in horror as the building collapsed on itself.
"DO IT! SHOOT HIM NOW BEFORE HE KILLS US ALL!"
The guards need no more convincing as they quickly re-aimed and fired.
The blade stopped mere inches from her neck.
Zhu Que glanced down and saw that his sword had stopped dead. His trembling arm wouldn't move a centimeter further. He tried again and again, but every time his sword would stop dead before it could touch the Jade Dragon. He couldn't do it. He couldn't kill her…but why?
"Zhu Que?" Ngọc Long whispered.
He glanced at her, confused. "Why can't I kill you?"
Ngọc Long smiled sadly. "I think you know the answer to that, Zhu Que."
Furiously, Zhu Que swiped his sword, flinging another translucent blade of fire at a building located beneath a tower several yards away. The building was sliced in halves and collapsed under its own weight. And at that moment, a soft light glowed inside Kimi's prison. Kimi slowly stirred inside her bubble, and watched weakly as the Jewel of Life emerged from within her. A beam of brilliant light shot out into the horizon. It was fortunate that Zhu Que was too distracted to notice what was going on behind him. His attention was still on his wife.
"WHY?! WHY CAN'T I KILL YOU?!" Zhu Que demanded, glaring furiously at Ngọc Long.
"Because you still feel something for me! Zhu Que, you may have fallen to the Darkness, but even it cannot destroy the love you and I have still have for one another! Yes, you are the Lord of Wrath, but you should have realized that love is more powerful than hatred! Deep down, you know it! You still love me, Zhu Que! And I still love you!"
"No…I am loyal to mine brother and master…our dreams of everlasting dominance…"
"…is pale in comparison to the everlasting love that we share. Zhu Que, for all your cruelty, for all your dreams and your goals to set Lusteria on a grander stage of the universe will be nothing more than a speck of a moment in time and space. Only love is eternal! It is the most powerful magic in the universe. It transcends beyond time and space for us. No matter how many millennia has pass, no matter how far I am away from you on another world, my love for you still burn!
"I'll admit what you've done has disgusted me, but I also see that you're not beyond saving. You've spared us in that jungle! And I if I still know you well enough, you wouldn't have told Seiryuu or Hwang-Ryong of our marriage, because you knew they would kill me and remind you of how dark they want you to be. Zhu Que, these decisions are a reflection of the man that I love! He is not gone! If he were still here in front of me, he would be glad to cast aside his hatred and return a little more love back in this world."
Zhu Que never looked so lost in his life. He gasped and faltered back, the sword in his hand fell to the ground. He sank to his knees, screamed, clutching his head as if his mind was about to explode. Cornelia and Will watched in absolute amazement as their caretaker was able to take down her husband, one of the most powerful and ruthless demigods, with nothing but her words and her love for him.
"Zhu Que…husband…my love…please, look at me…" Ngọc Long whispered gently. She got up slowly and cautiously came closer to her spouse. "Everything will be alright…please, just look at me and tell me that you still love me…"
"I…I…" Zhu Que whimpered as if in pain and fear. For a short moment, he didn't look like a terrifying demigod, but a man, ashamed at what he had done.
Zhu Que gazed her at. She smiled kindly at him and for a brief second, he gazed at her as if it was for the first time. Her gentle smile brought back the beautiful memories they shared. They had been so content. Nothing in the world mattered but their love for each other and the love they share for their world. For a single moment, something is his heart pulsed, causing the Wrath in his soul to seethes in rage. His anger subsided and all he could see is Ngọc Long. Zhu Que wanted to touch her, kiss her, and hold her in his arms as before. A small smile cracked on his lips and Ngọc Long couldn't help but smiled, too.
Her smile didn't last as five arrows shot past them from a distance. Instinctively, Zhu Que dodged, one arrow grazing his check. Three missed and ricocheted off the ground. The moment Ngọc Long turned, an arrow found its way between the chinks of her armor and embedded itself into her right shoulder.
Ngoc gasped and fell forward into her husband's arms.
"No! Ngọc Long! My love!" Zhu Que cried.
"Zhu Que…" she whispered painfully.
Zhu Que glanced up and saw Trần Anh Tông and his guards and growled.
Will and Cornelia watched in absolute awe and terror as the red aura around Zhu Que grew again, more saturated with the Darkness. His love for Ngọc Long fuels his hatred, his anger, and his Wrath! These mortals have harmed his wife! Worse, they had used her as a distraction in order to kill him. The Celestial Warrior of Fire wanted nothing more than to eviscerate them for their treachery!
Zhu Que placed his wife on the ground and burst into flame, walking ominously towards the tower. Will and Cornelia gasped as the demigod's body was aflamed in a haunting, blue and white fire. So consumed with rage, Zhu Que's fire now burns hotter than ever before.
Zhu Que picked up his sword, sealed up its cracks, and pointed it dangerously at tower, his white, hot fiery eyes glaring at Trần Anh Tông and his men.
"COWARDS! How dare thee harm mine wife?! Thee humans art not but a plague and a pestilence upon this world! Thee dare hurt the Jade Dragon?! Thee dare hurt thy own protector to killeth me?! Trần Anh Tông! Thou art not worthy to wear that crown upon thy brow! I wilst eviscerate thee all! Thee wilst face the might of mine Wrath!"
"RUN!" Cornelia and Will cried hoarsely. They managed to sit up, but the burns on their bodies hurt like hell.
The Emperor and his men didn't need to be told twice as they scrambled to safety desperately.
"Zhu Que…no…" Ngọc Long pleaded weakly, but her words fell on death ear. Her husband was too consumed by his own Wrath to hear her.
The demigod barely swiped his sword, and out came a blade of blue fire, slashing at the last remaining tower with a clean cut. The tower began to crumble and fall. Zhu Que immediately fired again, this time, melting the ground around the falling tower and turning it into a small lake of molten lava. The royal guards scrambled to get their ruler to safety. Will saw that the tower was leaning towards the roof of another small estate as it came down.
"JUMP!" she cried desperately. She and Cornelia cursed themselves for not being about to do anything. The blast from their accidental convergence had left them too weak and helpless.
The five guards ushered Trần Anh Tông towards the other balcony. Terrified of the pool of lava getting closer as the tower fell, three of them jumped. Luckily, the young Emperor and two guards landed roughly but safely on the estate's roof. The other two guards were not so fortunate. Zhu Que held up his hand and a volley of fiery arrows rained on them. One hit a guard as he jumped, causing him to fall straight into the lava pool below. Cornelia and Will shut their eyes and winced from his scream of agony as he burned to death. The other arrows decimated what remained of the falling tower, killing the last guard with falling debris.
Zhu Que pointed his sword at the Emperor and his two remaining guards and threw another attack. There was no chance it would miss this time. For a moment, everything was still. Time seemed to have frozen and death seemed stalled. Emperor Trần Anh Tông saw his life flashes before his eyes. His only regret was forcing his sister to marry the Champa king for the sake of his kingdom. It wouldn't have worked. He should have just let her marry his best friend! Trần Anh Tông realized that he had been unkind and cruel to General Chung by making him watch the love of his life being married to someone else. Perhaps dying would be a divine punishment from the gods for his hasty decision. Barely in his mid-twenties, Trần Anh Tông will be remembered as the Emperor who failed his kingdom. He will be the last Emperor of Annam.
The end didn't come. In that moment, a flashing streak appeared out of nowhere and diverted Zhu Que's attack away from the three men. Everyone turned to see Orube on the back of a kỳ lân standing between them and Zhu Que. She looked battered and bloody, but at the same time, very awe-inspiring. Sadly, the sword she used to swipe away Zhu Que's attack disintegrated into ash.
"YOU!" the Emperor looked shock. "You're alive?! But what about General Chung?"
"No time for explanation! Get on!" Orube cried, glancing over to see Zhu Que aiming at them again. They didn't want to point out to Orube that there was only enough room for two more passengers on the kỳ lân. Nevertheless, the two guards gave their ruler a leg up onto the creature. One guard hopped on behind Trần Anh Tông, but the last one shook his head sadly. He was staying, hoping to distract Zhu Que long enough for them to get away. Orube nodded solemnly and signaled to the kỳ lân to run. They didn't turn around to see the guard drawing his arrow and fired defiantly at Zhu Que. He was quickly incinerated alive.
Zhu Que turned his attention back at the three of them on the kỳ lân and tried firing again. The kỳ lân was quick, dodging as best as he could, but Zhu Que was just as fast, nearly grazing the creature.
"RUN, ORUBE!" Cornelia and Will cried. Kimi tried to speak, but was too weak as Zhu Que's fire sphere was eating away her chi.
There was a flash of fire and light and the next thing they knew, Zhu Que had transformed into his giant phoenix form, wings and fiery plumage in blazing blue and white fire. He was emitting such a terrifying aura that the kỳ lân stopped and froze in complete fear of this biblical being. Orube and her two passengers were also frozen. There was nowhere to run and hide. Zhu Que is going to incinerate them all and bring down the entire southern hemisphere.
"AND SO HE SHALT BRING DEATH AND PYRE TO THE SCOURGE OF THE WORLD!"
Zhu Que gave one final, deafening shriek that caused everyone to wince in pain. He beat his wings and unleashed white, swirling hellfire on them all.
"Is this the end?" Will whispered and closed her eyes, expecting to die by fire.
The heat never came. Will felt a warmth from within her as the Heart of Kandrakar finally appeared. At first, it was pink, then a second Heart with bluish glow split from it, emitting a brilliant glow. A figure appeared from this light, her hand holding onto the blue Heart. It was Irma and she was glowing brilliantly with the Heart of Waves in her hand. Zhu Que's fire came, and with the Heart of Waves, Irma waved her hand over their heads and a large dome of water appeared. Steam hissed as fire made contact with the water, but they were all safe.
Will didn't know whether to cry from relief or surprises. "Irma! You're alive!"
"You've gotten your Power Girl!" Cornelia smiled and winced painfully from her burns.
Irma glanced over her shoulder and smiled. "Hey, guys. Sorry for being late. Hang on, this should help!"
Irma waved her hand, conjuring up thousands of sparkling water droplets. She gestured at them all: her friends, Orube, the young Annamite Emperor and his remaining guard, and the Jade Dragon who was lying on the ground bleeding from her wound. They watched in utter amazement as the droplets danced around their bodies. Their touch washed all of their wounds, cuts, bruises, and burns. Irma glanced and saw Kimi barely conscious in her fiery prison. Irma frowned, immediately remembering the vision she had during her ordeal. Irma gestured at the translucent fire sphere and her water droplets immediately fell upon it. The bubble hissed fiercely, but seconds later, Kimi was free. The droplets foamed a cushion for her fall on before wrapping themselves around the Light Guardian to wash away her wounds.
"Astonishing!" said Trần Anh Tông. He was amazed at his disappearing aches from the fall. His guard was also in amazement.
Not only had Irma's newfound magic washed their wounds away, but they can feel most of their strengths returning as well. Taranee and Hay Lin were jolted from their unconscious and the two practically broke into tears upon seeing Irma again.
"Irma! You're alive!" Hay Lin cried, hugging her friend.
"And it looks like you've finally got your Power Girl!" Taranee beamed, unable to control her amazement. "And you have regenerative magic!"
Orube and Kimi ran to Ngọc Long. With a steady hand, Orube yank the arrow out of Ngọc Long's shoulder, causing their mentor to gasp and winced in pain. Her cry was quickly subsided as Irma's magic began to wash away her wound. Breathing slowly, Ngọc Long slowly sat up. Kimi and Orube held onto her, trying to hold her steady out of caution.
The Jade Dragon turned to face Irma, her expression still saddened. "You were successful in your ordeal, but I fear you may be too late." She glanced over her now healed-shoulder. Everyone turned to follow her gaze to see Zhu Que still pounding against Irma's dome. Will and the others were amazed, for Irma's dome was practically a giant bubble! Yet surprisingly, its thin watery wall was holding out against Zhu Que's intense blue fire magnificently. When he tried to peck and claw at it, the bubble dome merely distorted in shape. This made him even angrier as he fired molten lava at them, but to no avail. The bubble with its rainbow surface remained unyielding.
"My husband is now so consumed by Wrath, he'll stop at nothing to destroy us all. He doesn't even see that I'm in here with you," Ngọc Long said sadly.
"My lady, please forgive me!" the guard cried. Abandoning his ruler, he rushed to Ngọc Long and kowtowed before her. "It's my fault! It was my arrow that wounded you! I beg for your forgiveness! I didn't know that you were Lord Zhu Que's wife!"
"Neither did I!" Trần Anh Tông interjected. He, too, also bowed to her. As a king, he would normally bow to no one, but one of the Jade Dragon's siblings became the first ruler of Annam, and thus, she is Trần Anh Tông's distant ancestor. "My Lady Dragon! I have proven to be a foolish ruler these past several hours! I've forced an unwanted marriage on my dear sister and I didn't recognize you as the Jade Dragon! Punish me as you see fit! It was I who ordered my men to fire! I mistook you for one of Chung's soldiers and sought to use you as a distraction to kill the Lord of Wrath!"
Ngọc Long held up her hand to silence them both. "If I were to punish you two for your mistakes, it would do nothing to free my husband from his own Wrath."
"They can't," Irma said. "But I can. I know what to do."
Cornelia frowned. "I know you just got your Power Girl and your new regenerative power is cool and all, but exactly how is that going to save him?"
Irma glanced at her and smiled. Cornelia blinked, surprised that the smile on Irma's face wasn't cocky or mischievous. Instead, it was gentle, serene, and patient…How very unlike Irma. Had something happened to her during her own ordeal?
"Girls, leave it to me," Irma said, reassuring them. She stood and spread her wings, which transitioned from ethereal for the stronger and corporeal ones, glittering with pastel-colored hues.
Irma flew towards Zhu Que, creating a small opening in the bubble dome to let herself through.
Zhu Que, beat his wings fiercely, hovering in the air and glaring at her in all of his mighty glory. He truly was biblically intimidating in this form.
"So thou art still living?"
"Yeah, I am," Irma replied.
"Be gone, Earthling! I wilst purge this world of the pestilence of humans! They dare harm my beloved!"
"Your wife is safe. I saw to it!" Irma replied. "If you don't stop, you'll end up killing her! I've seen a vision of you turning this capital into a burning wasteland! I saw you holding Ngọc Long with a black arrow in her heart!"
"SILENCE, MORTAL!"
"I'm telling you the truth! If you don't let go of your hatred, Wrath will be your only companion! You will gain nothing if you continue like this! But I can help you! I can show you a better way!"
"THY WORDS ARE MEANINGLESS TO ME! THOU SHALT DIE AT MINE MERCY!"
Zhu Que breathed fire at her, and everyone gasped. After several seconds, he stopped but Irma was unharmed, encased in her own magic bubble shield. Irritated, Zhu Que attacked her in every way possible with real fire, lava, deadly fire discs, and his sharp beak and talons. When they didn't work, he reverted back to his human form and fired more attacks at her. Again and again they bounced off of Irma's shield.
"Give it up, Zhu Que! I got my Heart of Waves and my own Virtue and I've infused them both into my water magic! Your Wrath won't work against my Patience!"
But Zhu Que didn't listen. He kept on attacking and firing for what seemed like hours, although it could have been several tantalizing minutes. So focused he was on Irma, he failed to see the Guardian of Water summoning storm clouds above the city. Infused with Irma's newfound strength and Virtue, it began to rain. General Chung, Quang Long, and the rest of Ngọc Long's family gazed up in wonder as the miraculous rain put out all the fire created by Zhu Que and his followers. With renewed strength and vigor, they fought back against the last of Zhu Que's army and soon, only Zhu Que remained.
Irma had to admit that his endurance is unwavering! He had been attacking non-stop without showing any signs of weariness. Waiting it out would not work on him like it did on Dark Irma. But that doesn't mean there are other ways. Her hand clenched the mermaid's pearl. It may have taken seconds for a mermaid's tear to form a magic pearl, but it takes years for an oyster to produce one. Time and patience is the key. Irma smiled, for the pearl had given her an idea!
Irma tapped into the Heart of Waves and she heard the ocean's song…the rhapsody of the river…the moans of the glacier…the whisper of mist…she can hear all the melodies of water in all of its form whether it is liquid, steam, or solid. She called on all the rainwater and they came, slowly converging to form a veil of water. It grew and swirled around not Irma, but Zhu Que. Seeing this, he attacked but the enveloping wall of water only hissed upon contact. They were also infused with Irma's Virtue of Patience for good measure, much to his great frustration. Soon, he was trapped inside Irma's bubble sphere. With a flick of Irma's hand, the surface froze over, turning Zhu Que's cage into a glistening ice prison.
The great fiery bird shrieked, clawed, and pecked away at its prison fiercely, but it did nothing to help. Instead, all he created was steam and mist. It was getting hard to see. Irma began to disappear from his view and so did the palace and the people below. Zhu Que was alone.
"COWARD! FIGHT ME!"
But there was no reply. Zhu Que could no longer hear the sound of the battlefield below. No sound of fire being put out by the rain. No cries of pain or cheers of victory. Nothing but the sound of his own wings beating and his heart pounding. He was alone in this place. Zhu Que stopped, reverting back to his human self. Then an image appeared before him. Gripping his talisman, he aimed to strike the intruder. To his surprise, it was only himself. Except this Zhu Que looked different for his head raised proudly and his face so fair. Where there was an intoxicating red aura of rage was instead a glittering glow as if he was truly celestial and divine.
"What sorcery is this?"
Zhu Que stabbed his clone, but the sword went through. An illusion. The other Zhu Que gave no indication of his presence. Instead, he turned as if someone was approaching. Sure enough, someone appeared next to him. A woman holding something in her arms tenderly. Zhu Que raised his brow. "Ngọc Long? Thou art well…"
The illusion Ngọc Long smiled and offered the bundle in her arm to the illusion Zhu Que who held it tenderly as if it was a treasure. Curious, the real Zhu Que stepped forward and gasped for it was an infant. A girl! The child yawned and blinked at her father sleepily. She has Ngọc Long's fairness and would no doubt grow to be as beautiful as her mother. Her eyes were a soft amber hue like Zhu Que's. The little baby cooed and grabbed one of her father's fingers as he played with her. This caused both husband and wife to laugh. The illusion Ngọc Long said something that Zhu Que couldn't hear. She turned and to his surprise, was holding another bundle! He came closer and saw that this time, it was a boy! Were they twins? It was difficult to tell. The illusion Ngọc Long kissed him, causing the infant to stir. He blinked and looked up at his mother and the real Zhu Que saw that he has his mother's green eyes.
Is this the future? Or is this an illusion off what could have happened had Zhu Que not left Ngọc Long centuries ago? Had he stayed, could their love produce two children? The couple seemed content as they cooed and played with the two infants. The sight of it caused a jolt in Zhu Que's heart. For so long, all he had ever felt was anger and coldness. For every cruelty he had inflicted, the hole in his heart grew. But seeing the illusion before made him wondered, could he be happy again?
"No! Return to me!" Zhu Que cried.
The illusion faded away to show something different. This time, it was Zhu Que as he was now, battered and bloodied and defeated. In his arms was the corpse of his beloved Ngọc Long, her heart pierced by a dark arrow. Surrounding them was the capital burning like hell. All was chaos and death. All was lost as he held the still body of the love of his life in his arms.
"No…NO! Ngọc Long!"
A dark voice whispered in his ears. What's wrong? Isn't this what you wanted? To conquer all of Annam? Why should you mourn over the death of your wife? She stood against you! She was treacherous!
"No…I never desire this…I love her…"
The voice laughed. Love is weak. You are a godling! You are the son of the Vermillion Bird god! Power is all you need! Did you not dreamed of propelling Lusteria into the galactic spotlight and rule the entire universe? The only way to do that is to conquer all of Annam and kill those who stand in your way! Your wife refused this dream of yours and stood against you! She, like all the others, deserved to suffer your Wrath!
"No! Tis not my dream! It's—" Zhu Que gasped, realizing that he was repeating what Ngọc Long had asked him. "…tis the dream of a madman…no, even mine brother would not dreamt of such things! Such is the sickening dream of an ancient evil long forgotten! This dream has been planted within us since the Gate of Oblivion!"
You're a fool!
Zhu Que gasped as his red aura erupted from within him. It writhed and churned like a monster. It was his Deadly Sin in all its glory. Never before had it looked so revolting.
A melodic voice spoke from it, but Zhu Que knew better than to fall for its spell. It was beautiful and tempting, but beneath it, was ancient and unknown, laced with poison and deceit. I've bestowed upon you and your siblings power! Powers beyond imagining! You would do better than to use the Deadly Sins against the humans and rule all of Lusteria! You—
"Enough!" Zhu Que seethed, glaring at the thing before him. He drew his sword. "I have let thee possess mine heart and soul for too long. I shalt not let thee invade mine realm!"
You know not what you speak of, Zhu Que! You're a fool to choose love over the power of the Seven Deadly Sins!
"I am Zhu Que! Son of the Vermillion Bird and Celestial Warrior of Fire! I am beholden to no one and no power but mine own! Begone, you ancient evil! I shalt cast out thy Wrath that has poisoned my soul and heart!"
With a single stroke, Zhu Que sliced at the red mist, causing it to writhe and seethe in agony. It struggle valiantly, but it was no use. As Zhu Que watched, a heavy burden that he never noticed until now began to lift.
You'll…pay…for this! I'll make you rue your decision, Zhu Que!
Zhu Que closed his eyes, ignoring it. For the first time in centuries, he felt lighter…calmer…at peace…he was free…
To be continued…
I'm so sorry this chapter took so damn long! I had a busy holiday, working two jobs was very straining on me and I barely had time to write. Plus, I've been writing and re-writing this chapter countless times. I honestly don't know what's been happening to me. I used to be able to write these chapters with ease, but lately I've been very unsatisfied with the scenes and kept re-writing them over and over again. In any cases, this chapter was once again longer than expected. There is supposed to be an epilogue at the end of this, but it is way too long and I didn't want to cut or shorten the battle scenes above. So I'll end it here and will leave the epilogue as its own chapter in the next update. Hopefully, it will be updated a lot faster.
Cultural reference:
The kỳ lân (also known as the Qilin in Chinese), is a mythical chimerical beast in Vietnamese mythology. Some say it's part dragon, part horse, and part deer with flames dancing around it. Some called it the Asian unicorn…although it is mostly depicted with two horns/antlers. I thought it would be bad-ass to have Orube ride on one and charging to battle like a mighty warrior.
In the Vietnamese language, conquỷjust means demons or devils.
We are soon approaching the midway point of this story, notice that there is a big clue as to what happened to Zhu Que and the other Celestial Warriors when they left for the Gate of Oblivion centuries ago! This will play a huge part in the story's turning point in later chapters. That means there are only 8 more chapters before the epic finale, each chapter will be divided into at least 3 parts. So far, chapter 8 was extended as the longest chapter because it had too many important scenes for the story to move forward and I wasn't going to cut them out. I don't know if this will happen again in future chapters, but do expect its possibilities.
Story Trivia: Originally, I didn't plan for Zhu Que to be Ngọc Long's husband when I first wrote this! It's just one of the good ideas that came to me while writing.