Author Note: A great apology to readers who were waiting to see what happened. I was suffering from a prolonged writer's block. Also, this chapter is not enough to make up for my absence. But I saw it necessary. Call it those annoying one page chapters you read in books. I promise though that I'm working on the next one and it will be far longer.
Elsewhere...
The towering silhouettes of mountains assumed the forms of sleeping colossuses who guarded the horizon; their jagged and uneven shapes covered in full shadow of the approaching night. An opaque ocean of mist rippled across their green valleys, engulfing the land and all things into a twisted heaven of dark illusions.
The earth lay hidden beneath, sheltered from all light. Trees of luscious green and rivers of sparkling blue now merged into the black of evening, disappearing altogether. Forming winds whistled an eerie cradlesong of death, lulling all wildlife to their own eternal sleep. Warmth left the world, fading out with the departing sun which set into it's grave behind large mountain peaks that served as tombstones. Below, the valley darkened into an abyss, swallowing the trees and creatures into absolute darkness.
The sky above blazed in an unearthly dusk of violet and blue, their bright colors obscured by the blackening rays of a dead moon.
Zuo Ci stood on the summit of the highest mountain, peacefully watching over the land. Atop his place of ultimate prestige, the sorcerer's head remained bowed in silent prayer. Lines deepened their crease in his aging face while mystic energy swirled about him in a glorious violet ring.
The weariness of an old man remained absent from eyes whose depths held within them infinite wisdom.
"So," his frail voice coming with the current of the wind, "Tian Shui's protege has in fact lived to tell the tale." The thin corner of his lips quirked upward as his eyes glinted darkly, "As expected."
The young strategist had piqued Zuo Ci's curiosity with his extraordinary display of strength. He was relentless and terribly persistent, possessing an inapt ability to cheat death more than once. The show had been entertaining to watch, but keeping the boy alive proved too much of a risk to his plans. This nuisance seemed too determined.
"No matter," the breeze whispered with light amusement, "he shall soon fall, along with the rest of his miserable kingdom. I shall see to that."
The clouds collected in a swirling mass above him, darkening with an untold menace. Rage appeared as lightening piercing through, a gargantuan claw that reached the horizon, struggling to grip the land within its deadly hand. Late thunder bellowed out as a heavenly voice, and with it coming the wails of sirens which echoed up from Oblivion.
A slight falter came to the sorcerer's smile, the twinkle of mirth gone from eyes that abruptly dimmed with bitterness. Bony fingers traced the hideous scar at the front of his neck, grimacing at the painful memory of his unjust execution.
But immortality had its ways. Even when the price came to giving up your own soul to carry out your will. Although he could not deny to himself, that revenge tasted as equally sweet.
The rancor in his voice bellowed out as the thunder, "This land...must be purged of those who dare soil it. And from their ashes, shall rise a new utopia!" Lightening struck the surrounding mountain peaks, a demonstration of his ultimate power and unforgivable rage.
"If my people live for nothing but death, then I shall grant them their wish." A chuckling rose in his throat, as hollow and empty as the soul within.
A deep rumbling emanated from beneath the ground where the earth's tectonic plates shifted from their usual alignment. The violent quaking grew with wild intensity as the seismic waves increased with the influence of Zuo Ci's power. Rock grated rock as massive cracks snaked their damaging paths across the earth's crust. The earth tore apart with an ear-splitting explosion, creating faults whose bottomless depths only revealed an impenetrable darkness. Trees toppled over in rows while the changing landscape quelled the river's flow. The air went frigid, a deathly ambience arising out from the gorge as the tremors ceased.
Ghostly shrieks cried out in a terrifying hymn as ethereal lights shot out from the gorge. The transparent shadows came spiraling up towards Zuo Ci in a wild tornado. Deafening screams echoed out as warped faces of the dead appeared, their twisted mouths howling out the unending suffering of the damned.
Lazily Zuo Ci waved his hand through the air, five crimson cards materializing around him in a perfect circle.
With a flick of his wrist they rotated, he stopped on one particular. The symbol of Wei engraved in gold seemed to gleam mockingly at him. But no longer. He picked it out from the air, looking on with a stone set gaze that pertained no mercy.
"Wei will fall." Speaking with utmost certainty as the card in his hand burst into flames. Quickly the ashes fell into his awaiting palm that blackened as his hand clenched into a fist around the remains. The souls continued wailing out to him.
In the distance came the Tian Shui strategist's thoughts, flowing through his ears softly.
Zuo Ci shook his head like an admonishing parent did to a child, "That will not work. You can't stop the inevitable foolish boy." Still.. "But just in case," His gaze redirected over to the demonic shadow that stood obediently behind him. "My own strategy is waiting."
The ten foot tall monstrosity snarled in response, an insane rage vibrating through.
Zuo Ci simply smiled contentedly, nodding, "In due time my friend." Turning, he resumed his watch over the land as the darkness unfurled, satisfied at last.
"In due time..."