The Jin Alliance
"What does he think he is doing? That damn traitor."
"That fiendish conspirator."
"Indeed. That insolent scum."
"Vile, loathsome villain."
Sitting uncomfortably at the edge of his throne, Emperor Xian listened to the hateful ramblings of the court's eunuchs, their high-pitched voices drowning out any of what he had to say. The Imperial Court had degenerated, ever since his ascension, into little more than a mob of greedy men talented only in deceit, speaking only in lies, and in love with nepotism. Only several men had remained above the pettiness and the backhanded murders and illegitimate power struggles. Xian's guardian, Cao Cao, was one of them.
But now, the Emperor's guardians plotted even the Premier's assassination.
"His defiance can no longer be tolerated," hissed one of the eunuchs. "He is a dangerous man, a threat to the very stability of the Court!"
"We cannot allow him to run around unchecked any longer. He dared to exercise authority in the name of His Imperial Majesty on the excuse that he possessed the royal chop of authority! What of the disasters at Wu Zhang Plains and at Jieting? The Awakened Beings tore through our armies like silk and we lost so many of our esteemed commanders – Master Deng Ai, Master Zhong Hui, and Grand Marshal, Cao Ren! Cao Cao was responsible for both farces. But we still allow him to command us, to abuse his power so flippantly? No more!"
"Enough is enough!" cried another. "Your Majesty! We shall deal with this rogue for you, now and forever!"
"But he has protected us from the Awakened Beings for as long as he has." Xian shook his head in protest. While he was well aware of the fact that Cao Cao had rendered him a titular ruler, at least he seemed to be the only individual capable of reunifying the empire. The young sovereign had retained his life and his comfort these few years because of Cao Cao's care. But such was the impassioned hatred of the ministers that there was no place for dialogue. And he could not control either of them… the Cao faction nor the eunuchs.
I… I am weak. If only I was strong enough to stand on the shoulders of my forefathers…
"We have summoned him here, Your Highness. He shall submit to us or be ground under our authority. It is as simple as that."
The head courtier rubbed his hands in anticipation. "We have decreed that he come alone. Without his precious bodyguards, we shall teach that weakling a lesson in obedience – "
"Or perhaps," boomed a deep voice, "it is not I who requires such a lesson."
The ministers and the Emperor gasped as Cao Cao glided into the room, emerging from behind the tinkling drapes that separated the convocation chamber from the palace exterior. His dark eyes glinted as he leisurely walked past the pillars and towards the throne. His phoenix cape swished behind him, and his minister's shoes tapped lightly on the carpet.
"Imperial Chancellor, you are under arrest on charges of high treason!" cried the head courtier. "Take him into custody."
Stepping forward, the guard standing at attention drew his weapon, but screamed as the terrifying edge of a large greatsword from the darkness cleanly sliced off his hand. His appendage landed mutely on the ground as he toppled forward in agony, only to be cut apart by a flurry of invisible blades.
The compatriots of the handless sentry faltered and began to back away, their eyes unsually wide.
"Not bad, Flora," sneered Cao Cao.
The ministers gasped at the name. "The legendary Wind… Windcutter?! Why… why is she here?!"
"Think nothing of it, Your Excellency," said Flora quietly, sheathing Durandal as four more figures moved behind Cao Cao from the shroud. They slowly made their way into the light, staring intently at the Emperor and his eunuchs.
The silver eyes of Galatea.
The black and red armour of Zhou Tai.
The expressionless face of the young Cynthia.
The grim, tightly pressed lips of Yue Ying.
Cao Cao had completely flouted the courtiers' orders. It was as if he had never even received the edict. Instead of coming on bended knee as a snivelling sycophant in order to redeem himself, he had brought with him the finest warriors in all of China.
"What – what is the meaning of this?" cried a minister, backing away. "You dare to defy us?"
"What… what about the guards outside?" whimpered a younger attendant.
"Cynthia and I disposed of them," said Galatea casually. "After all, we do not serve castrated cowards like you. We serve the Hero of Chaos, and have aligned ourselves with his cause."
Flora raised her head, staring sharply ahead. "Please stand down," she urged loudly. "A bloodbath here is not necessary."
Cao Cao did not even bow as he made his way to confront the Emperor, sneering as the courtiers and eunuchs rushed to accost him. "What are you doing here, invading the Son of Heaven's dwelling with armoured guards and foreigners?" snarled the head courtier. "Have you gone completely insane?"
"Gentlemen, this is a coup d'état," declared Cao Cao matter-of-factly. "We have come at your request, but our intentions are not congruent with yours. We shall now strip away every illegitimate power that the eunuchs have seized by taking advantage of His Young Imperial Majesty, Emperor Xian." He glanced at the young man, the veritable boy that had been chosen to rule as a puppet figurehead. "As His Majesty's retainer, I am here to take him into permanent custody and to purge this city of every despicable eunuch." He waved his hand, and the five warriors behind him moved to position themselves. The servants gasped as Flora suddenly shifted into an aggressive stance. Galatea smoothly slid Euangelion from her scabbard, and Cynthia did the same with Excalibur. Zhou Tai stood at attention silently, and Yue Ying slowly raised a new model of the bladed bow, one that she had constructed for this very occasion.
The Emperor trembled. "Imperial Chancellor," he cried. "Your actions need not be so drastic. Surely we can talk this through – "
"You are a traitor to your own empire!" bellowed one of the eunuchs. "How dare you threaten us with terror and revolution!"
"You swagger as if you possess supreme authority in China," barked another minister, waving an imperious hand as he drew a sharp dagger from his pouch. "You have made a mockery of the imperial bloodline. That shall end today."
Cao Cao nodded in agreement. "I have indeed made a mockery of your hollow, miserable lives, and they shall certainly end today. Die knowing you have lived a meaningless existence, you non-men."
"Guards! Guards! Arrest him! Arrest Cao Cao!" roared the panicked eunuchs. But it was too late. They stared in terror as the nearest soldier gurgled and collapsed, his throat slit by Zhou Tai's sword. Another attempted to charge, but Cynthia's foot found his groin and he collapsed, clutching at his precious privates before his windpipe and spine were crushed underfoot by her high heel. "What… what are you doing?! Why are you lending your aid to him? Help! Help us!"
Cao Cao nodded at Galatea and advanced, protected by Flora and Yue Ying. A soldier tried to thrust his spear at his head, but Flora parried with Durandal and flung him aside. Yue Ying quickly turned and sent several deafening rounds into the fallen guard, silencing him forever. At the sight of this terrifying display, the courtiers screamed, scrabbling for a safe location to hide. But the sweeping nakedness of the Throneroom was hardly advantageous, and there was nothing that could possibly suffice for a temporary haven from the omnipresent silver eyes that stared at them.
Cao Cao did not relent, either. He grinned wolfishly as the head courtier raised his sword in desperation, visibly trembling.
"Have you no shame, betrayer of the Han?!" he bawled.
The Hero of Chaos gave a chilling, haunting laugh. "After living the entirety of your worthless life in the imperial court, you still have no idea of what I truly am?"
The leader of the courtiers turned to Xian desperately. "Come with me, Your Majesty! I will keep you safe from Cao Cao! I will hold off that wretched traitor – "
But before he could finish his entreaty, Yue Ying's shotgun blasted a round point-black into the side of his head, and it exploded in a miasma of gore and fleshly tissue.
"Sit down, Wei filth," she growled.
The dead man collapsed without further protest. Brains and cerebral fluids dyed the rug a deeper red as she advanced, coldly reloading her weapon and sending another eunuch crashing into the wall, his abdomen flayed open by another explosion from her petrifying new weapon. She bit her lip and aimed at the final courtier, who had scrambled and hid behind a large, ceramic vase. One blast was all it took to shatter the vase, along with the weak body of the minister.
The hall was suddenly silent. Zhou Tai flicked the blood off his sword and moved to take Cynthia's hand, which was shaking slightly. Flora looked at Yue Ying uneasily, who shrugged in resignation. "I almost feel filthy. This had better be worth it," muttered Yue Ying. "I'm not going to kill the Emperor's men unless they truly were a threat to His Majesty." She glared at the Prime Minister. "I am staggered to find that I actually trust your words."
"Watching you blast that meddlesome eunuch's head off was already worth everything," laughed Galatea, glancing mockingly at her husband. "Relax, sister. These men deserve to be punished for defying Mengde so." She looked towards the dais, on which Cao Cao stood. Still seated on his throne, the Emperor stared up at the Premier, his lip quivering.
"What… what are your intentions, Prime Minister?" he whispered. "Just why have you come here to murder my attendants today?"
Amidst the bloody corpses of the guards and eunuchs, Cao Cao smiled. In a gesture of submission, he pressed his right fist against his open left palm, and slowly lowered himself to one knee. "I am merely serving and protecting Your Imperial Majesty, as I promised your late father I would," he said quietly, looking down at the floor deferentially.
"You… have never desired the glory of my throne, have you?" asked the Emperor, unable to stop shaking within the other's choking aura.
Somehow, Cao Cao seemed even more frightening in such a submissive position. "Your Majesty is entirely correct. I am but disposing of slanderers who would denounce me as a traitor when I am, in fact, realizing the highest ambition of every Chinese soul." He looked up into the young man's eyes. "Unless… you have other plans for me?"
Xian shook his head. "You… you only need to ensure my family is not harmed by anyone. Keep your end of our promise, and you may do anything you see fit."
"My humble gratitude to the Son of Heaven," whispered Cao Cao, lowering his head further. Galatea smirked knowingly as he spoke again. "Very well. In that case, allow me to inaugurate the Jin Alliance at once. We must move to destroy the Awakened Beings that threaten our empire – "
"Damn you!" shrieked a eunuch – the non-man that had been pinned against the wall by Yue Ying's projectile. He clutched at his dagger and in one last burst of surprising strength, threw it towards Cao Cao's head, before slumping into oblivion. The blade hurtled towards him, and the Premier's eyes widened, taken completely by surprise. Xian yelled in shock, and a frantic Galatea lunged to block the dagger's flight. Cynthia screamed out a terrified warning. But it had struck without any prior warning, and the tip of the dirk was already brushing at Cao Cao's eyelashes.
Yue Ying could hardly believe it. Cao Cao was finally about to be slain, but this was the first time that she wanted him to live. Damn it!
"No!" cried Flora.
Cao Cao suddenly disappeared in a pillar of light and white, angelic feathers. In an almost comical fashion, the dark hero reappeared from the void and slammed painfully onto his backside, hurled aside by a geyser of luminosity. He tumbled along the floor and slid for several feet, looking stunned and rubbing his head.
"Mengde, are you unharmed?" cried Galatea.
The dagger clanged to the ground harmlessly as a white-ponytailed, golden-eyed woman lowered her hands. Her halo – her insignia of divinity – shone brightly behind her head as she eased Cao Cao out of her teleportation magic. A moment later, and a five-inch blade would have plunged itself into the Hero of Chaos's eye socket.
Galatea whipped around to look at the newcomer. "Who… is this?"
"A pity," cursed the shining figure casually. "I had never imagined my next revelation to the human world would have ended up like this – saving your sorry behind from a puny kitchen knife. The things I would do for you, little brother."
Zhou Tai moved to stand beside an astonished Cynthia, and Yue Ying lowered her shotgun, the battle completely forgotten.
"The mythic tales are true?" she whispered.
"This is no human being," acknowledged Flora in awe.
Cao Cao's eyes widened. "Damn it, not you again."
"Sorry, but I'm afraid I can't let you die here," said Nu Wa, smiling.
*
"Who… who is that?" cried Cynthia, clutching Zhou Tai's arm as he stared at the celestial vision before them. The divinity casually walked towards the warriors, her golden eyes scrutinizing them as she examined their thoughts, their emotions and their motivations. The complexity of their reasons for fighting was daunting to say the least. But that was the meaning of mortality, after all. "Tai? Have you met her before?"
"Radiant. Beautiful," was all that Zhou Tai mumbled, his usually narrow eyes wide in veneration. Her face quickly souring, Cynthia shot him an upset look, and he quickly fell silent whilst Flora stepped forward, her hand slightly outstretched.
"It is… a revelation," she breathed. "I've never witnessed… a divine being as it is in my entire life."
Might this be the goddess Clare herself? Or perhaps Teresa?
"Nu Wa," murmured Yue Ying in awe. "This… this is Nu Wa. Her I Ching attire… her aura. It is beyond anything contingent beings are capable of. If we are speaking of feminine divinities, there can be none other. But why is she here? Surely something momentous in history must be occurring for her to reveal herself like this."
"Did I not say that your intervention was unneeded, unwelcome and unwanted, Elder Sister?" snapped Cao Cao suddenly, much to the others' surprise. He glanced at the dirk on the ground. "I thought you and I would have no regrets… no matter what happened to me."
"You're welcome, kid," snapped Nu Wa, brushing off her slender hands. "You've united the most powerful warriors in the world, destroyed all opposition in the imperial court, earned the Emperor's trust once again, yet possess the gall to have 'no regrets' about dying here?" She glared at him. "I think you're merely embarrassed that I had to show you up in front of everyone. Things are getting interesting. I just had to see for myself."
Flora stared at them. Elder Sister? Little brother? What in the nine hells are they talking about?
Cao Cao hadn't finished. "I will not permit another escapade like this again. I will kill myself before you save me again."
Nu Wa smiled smugly. "I'd like to see you try and stop me. But for now, don't you have more important matters to attend to instead of whining about me?"
"Damn you, Nu Wa," snapped Cao Cao.
Galatea could hardly believe her eyes. "She's the advocate you've been talking about?" she asked, inquisitively and irately.
"Yes," he muttered, glaring up at the newcomer. "She is goddess of humanity and…" He grimaced, as if reluctant to admit an embarrassing fact about his past. "My close associate since childhood."
"The goddess… of creation?" whispered Xian. "Heaven herself… descended upon your body?"
"Your Majesty," muttered Cao Cao, his voice growing quieter by the moment.
"My, I like your choice of words," tittered Nu Wa. "Either way, this boy enjoys my support. I have thrown humanity's lot in with him and his ambition. Don't tell me I've gone mad to trust a man like him – I already know." She looked at Cao Cao more proudly than she would have liked. "I'm sorry, young Xian. But you never possessed the Mandate of Heaven, and I have hesitated for many decades in deciding whom to confer it upon. But ever since this little brother of mine won my trust…" she smiled, and Cao Cao returned with a reluctant smirk, "I believe in his ability to bring an end to the chaos that plagues this world."
Galatea stepped forward, sheathing Euangelion. "You may be the Empress of Heaven, but… I'm his favourite now," she said haughtily.
Nu Wa's golden eyes twinkled. "I know."
Galatea stared at an uncomfortable Cao Cao with a mixture of disbelief, pleasure and outrage. "You told her about me – and did not tell me about her?"
Flora and Cynthia blinked, and Yue Ying gave a triumphant, savage sneer. Surrounded by five curious and prying women, and suddenly wary of his precarious situation, the Imperial Chancellor rose to his feet and dusted angel feathers off himself. "We have more important things to worry about now. For example…" He glanced at Xian, who had reverently fallen on his knees. Xian did not seem perturbed by this astonishing revelation at all – perhaps it was because he knew that he was not of true royal blood. "Your Imperial Majesty. I need your seal of approval for this alliance to be forged."
"If the Prime Minister possesses your Mandate of Heaven… then I can truly rest at ease! Cao Cao." The Emperor looked at him admiringly, but also with great fear. "Why do you still adhere to your personal rule of not usurping me? Even Nu Wa wishes for you to sit upon the Dragon Throne."
"I may be carrying out her will, but I am also carrying out my own. And I have no intentions of becoming Emperor. You may remain as the Son of Heaven, Your Imperial Majesty. I only require your… cooperation in affairs of the state and our military. So, before anything else…" he smirked. "Bless this Jin Alliance that I wish to instate."
Nu Wa smiled at Galatea. "He is a sneaky one, isn't he, my child?"
Despite herself, the veteran Claymore nodded fervently. "I couldn't agree more."
Cao Cao grimaced. "You two are quite the tease. Make yourselves inconspicuous while I finish up this business."
"Yes, Your Excellency," mocked Galatea in a singsong voice.
Nu Wa's smile broadened. "You impress me already, Continental woman."
"Now," he snapped.
They sniffed and shifted to stand behind the Hero of Chaos. Galatea took Cao Cao by one arm, and Nu Wa teasingly did the same with the other. Flanked by two immortal women, Cao Cao smirked as Flora slowly kneeled, followed by a wide-eyed Cynthia, an uneasy Yue Ying, and a hesitant Zhou Tai. Xian meekly stood to one side as the entire chamber was saturated with Cao Cao's aura. A tense silence filled the air, before being replaced by Nu Wa's voice.
"You all know of the danger this world faces. Our hearths are in danger from an ancient foe that will stop at nothing to destroy All Under Heaven. But the old ways are no longer capable of protecting what mortals hold most precious to them. For that reason, they must be abandoned. All things will pass to dust, and the Han Dynasty has now joined the musky pages of history. It has reached its twilight. The evening star of revolution has descended. Therefore, I speak to you of a new Mandate which sets the destiny for all."
The cosmic Empress raised her free hand as Cao Cao closed his eyes. A shining orb of pure light, surrounded by several angelic feathers, materialized above her palm and slowly travelled towards his head, swirling daintily and spinning in several revolutions around his torso, before shooting into his bosom with a heavy but harmless thud. He did not flinch. "I, the Presence, hereby grant this child, Cao Cao Mengde, the Mandate of Heaven."
Xian breathed in helpless dread. Even Flora could not tear her eyes away as her former archenemy received the blessing and explicit consent of Nu Wa. Cao Cao opened his eyes and smirked at her, before doing the same to Galatea. His voice was simmering with triumph. "Thank you, my Elder Sister. All of you. There is nothing more important to me now. You are this world's future. The defeat of these fiends from the Continent has been made possible because of your allegiance, no matter how temporary. With your support, the Mandate that I possess will crush Isley under its sheer weight." His voice gathered in volume and emotion. "From this day onwards, he shall know the meaning of fear. He shall know the meaning of defeat. But most importantly, he shall know the meaning of death. We will bring death to him and his hordes. Through our united strength, we will topple every threat he and his followers throw against the invincible nation of China. This day onwards, the land shall fight as an alliance, as a united front against the Awakened army. As such… I hereby declare the Jin Alliance inaugurated and extant!"
The room rung with silence after his thunderous declaration. In under an hour, the empire had changed forever, and only the battles in the months to come would indicate whether it was for the better. Nu Wa and Galatea smiled down at the warriors that kneeled before the Throne, and Xian himself looked mesmerized. But in the end, it was Zhou Tai that had the last word.
"Get on with it then, Prime Minister. Your orders?"
*
Midnight. Royal Bedchamber
"I am stunned that this is the first time you have met face-to-face. I suppose you think it conveniently slipped my mind, hm? But I assure you, Elder Sister decided to act out of her own impulse, breaking the promise we had struck."
"Don't play dumb, Mengde. You told me about her, didn't you? I shouldn't have expected anything more from you… duplicitous, manipulative sneak that you are."
"And I was forced to reveal myself because of your incompetence, little brother. Imagine the greatest man in this nation, stabbed to death with some nameless eunuch's dagger. Wouldn't that be rich? Be grateful I saved your life."
Cao Cao's voice was weary as he glared at Nu Wa, who was smirking playfully at Galatea, who was in turn glowering at her husband. The tripartite tension was palpable as he gestured outwards, turning away. "As the general consensus is that I am a good-for-nothing villain, I will leave it to the two of you to enjoy one another's pleasantries," he said in mild exasperation. "The day has been long, and I am weary. Do not expect me to entertain the two of you for long." He slipped off his black gloves and proceeded to the inner hall to change into his nightclothes, yawning quietly. "Feel free to join me. If not, then at least leave me in peace."
Galatea's eyes shifted to his childhood companion, who also happened to be the ancestral deity of the world. Silver met gold. She wasn't sure what she could say to change the slightly toxic atmosphere in the room. "He's always been a handful," she muttered, shrugging rather helplessly. "I do not like the fact that he didn't trust me with his most intimate secret."
"You don't need to tell me that," replied Nu Wa, who was a foot shorter than the other except for her halo. "He's been a troublemaker since childhood. And I may have been a close secret of his, but that was only out of necessity." She smiled. "It seems that has changed today, what with his grand plan to bring the entire world under his rule."
"I see. But he hasn't ceased to fascinate me," murmured Galatea, as Cao Cao emerged in nightclothes of venerable white silk. "This man's arrogance is outrageous. I'm surprised he's still alive. Surely he has made as many enemies as he has allies."
"You are undeniably correct. But you forget one important thing: it is we who counsel him. And surely there are none under Heaven that can hold a candle to our grace and power?" Nu Wa smiled. "Fear not. You made the right choice when you acted to support him, as much as I hate to admit that. He is a true lord and steward to those he loves. And I can guarantee he has not deceived you with falsehood… for he has not deceived me. He changed the world today. I don't think he has time for playing a game of deceit with you."
She paused, closing her eyes as she remembered the many crimes he had committed and the people he had killed to fulfil his dream. "I only hope that he won't go… where we can't follow," she noted wisely, smiling sadly. "I fear for the child sometimes. His sins are innumerable. He will never be able to escape them. I have warned him on so many occasions. But he rarely listens to me, if at all.
"Are you retiring to bed, little brother?" she called suddenly, not bothering to look behind her. Cao Cao replied with a curt groan. He lifted his silk bedsheets from his massive bed and flopped down, his demonic eyes closing in exhaustion. Galatea sniffed as he grunted a brusque parting. He did not even invite her to join him, as he usually did. But suddenly, Nu Wa shot her a sly expression. Without speaking, she glided over to him and eased herself onto the mattress, her hands finding the pleasantly smooth, velvety covers. She straddled her little brother, rudely shaking him from his momentary doze. Cao Cao grunted in surprise, opening his eyes to glare at the goddess. But his words of annoyance were quickly dismissed by a light kiss on his lips, an act that was done with the sole intention of irking Galatea. After teasing him again and again, Nu Wa raised her face from Cao Cao's and looked back at the Claymore governess. "Well?" she challenged. "Does your pride not match mine?"
Galatea felt her heart pounding in simultaneous irritation and anticipation… not because of her, but because of him. "You're loving this, aren't you?" she said indignantly.
"I never asked for this," he protested dryly, only to be silenced by another, more passionate kiss. Nu Wa took his shoulders and pressed herself upon him harder, more aggressively. To Galatea's chagrin, Cao Cao's next words were ones of invitation. "If you think you can stop her – or outmatch her – then do what you must."
Galatea made her way over to them and glared down. Man and goddess smirked up at her as she reluctantly undid a button.
"Both of you are complicit in this, aren't you?" said Galatea sarcastically. "I've never revealed myself to you in front of another woman. God forbid that anyone discovers what is unfolding in this bedroom tonight."
Nu Wa placed a finger on her lips, reading her thoughts. "Silence is the pathway to bliss, sister."
Galatea shot her a dirty, displeased look. "Easy for you to say. He is my husband."
Nu Wa's golden eyes shone with humour and pleasure as she reached out for Galatea's hand. The fabric of her glove caressed the Continental woman's fingers. "He is yours. He told me so himself. So, do not be afraid." Her irises twinkled. "He knows his place, my dear."
"Stop your teasing, Nu Wa. Galatea, I am weary," snickered Cao Cao. "But do not underestimate the affection I nurture for the two of you. When I spoke to Elder Sister of you…" He gazed into Galatea's annoyed eyes. "I made clear what I want you to become."
Galatea eased herself onto his bed, blushing slightly as she and Nu Wa simultaneously slipped off their brassieres. They curled up beside the man between them, their soft, slender perfections pacifying his stern temperament. He closed his eyes, doing his best to look impassive. Galatea felt rather awkward, but for now, her curiosity was renewed once again. There was a certain air of interest, of wonder, about the new dimension of affection that had opened between them. The erotic (or perhaps debauched?) possibilities seemed unlimited.
"How I hate sharing," murmured Galatea, her lips brushing smoothly across her husband's bicep.
Nu Wa laughed as her hand pressed against her chosen champion's chest. "My, my. You and I do think alike."