Chapter 226
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Chapter 226
Lips pursed and eyes narrowed, Mila leaned against the wall and listened to the distant sounds of battle, picturing her betrothed fighting against the Enemy. Glaring daggers at Major Yimus back, she resisted the urge to send Tursinai to beat some sense into the man. A coward who hid at the rear while Defiled Champions rampaged through his lines, allowing the elites under his command to be slaughtered one by one. Its no wonder Yimus army stood at the brink of ruin before Rains retinue arrived, ready to collapse the bridge and retreat if not for their intervention. Now that victory was in their grasp, Yimu rewarded them by setting Rain to task distracting the Defiled, hoarding all the glory and honour for himself.
There was nothing wrong with the strategy itself, especially if Yimu committed a second force to aid the first, but why did Rain have to play the part of bait? As the youngest Warrant Officer in a thousand years, the thankless task fell far below his station. He would have been well within his rights to refuse or request more soldiers to carry out the plan, yet he accepted the orders without a word of resistance. Any of the other officers would have been a better choice to command the diversion, especially considering their familiarity with the soldiers. To hold against twice their numbers of Defiled, the soldiers needed to be confident in their leader and while Rain was a rising dragon with a limitless future, she was forced to admit he was sorely lacking in heroic bearing and charisma.
Blatant discrimination is what this was, giving the unpleasant task of luring the tiger away from the mountain to the outsider, ensuring the greatest rewards would land in hands of locals. Rain would be in no shape to join the final battle, stuck tying down a minor flanking force in a nameless alleyway. When the historians wrote of Sanshus defence, Rains part would be reduced to a mere footnote, the weeks of hardship endured to reach this point overlooked or dismissed. Stupid idiot. If his final words to her turned out to be Dont worry, Ive got a plan, Mila intended to march before the Mother herself and demand Rain be given life, just so she could choke him to death.
Resisting the urge to scream and pull her hair out of sheer frustration, Mila took a deep, calming breath. Then, when it failed to calm her temper, she took another. And another. And another. Growing lightheaded from her attempts to find calm, she gave up and sighed, turning to check Songs injury. Despite having a hole two fingers wide in her cheek, Song paid no mind to the pain as she scanned their surroundings. Vigilant to the extreme even as they sat in the centre of an army, Song never lowered her guard when out with Mila, resigned to protect her master even at the cost of her own life.
The thought almost brought a tear to Milas eye as she gently pulled Song into her arms. Rains fighting so we can rest, Mila said, snuggling against Songs shoulder, So we should take advantage. Meekly obeying, Song melted in Milas arms, though her eyes continued darting left and right, searching for danger in every shadow. Such an incredible warrior, intercepting the Demon as it appeared in the air before them, crippling it with a dominating blow. If not for Songs quick thinking and forceful defence, Mila would have undoubtedly died there, yet she failed to notice Songs grievous injury until it was almost too late. To endure the pain of Demonic ichor eating through her cheek without even a whimper, what sort of torment did she suffer to make her so resilient?
Squeezing Song tightly in her embrace, Milas thoughts turned to the necklace around her neck. Such a plain, ordinary piece of jewellery, hard to believe it was a physical representation of Songs abominable oaths. If only there were a way to remove them... Song, take better care of yourself, okay? Id be heartbroken if I lost you. If youre ever injured, tired, or even uncomfortable, please say something.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
This lowly one apologizes for taking injury, Master. She will endeavour to improve from hence forth.
Choking back a sob, Mila hugged Song a little tighter, shaking her head but unable to speak. Maybe Song didnt even see them as friends, only as master and slave, but Mila wouldnt stop trying. If words were no good, then she would show Song her appreciation with love and affection. Taking several minutes to compose herself, Mila cleared her throat and said, Song, you risked your life and fought off a Demon to save me. Any saviour of mine has more than earned the right to call me Mila.
Ears fluttering, Song glanced at Mila, briefly making eye contact before glancing away like a child caught stealing candy. ...Is this an order?
The only orders Ill ever give you are military ones, those were merely my thoughts. Make what you will of it. Closing her eyes, Mila willed herself to rest, ignoring the distant clash of weapons and shouts of triumph. Rain would be fine, he was the Undying, a title she was rather fond of once you removed the Savage. Besides, Mama and Baatar probably had experts watching over him in secret. Hopefully. Maybe at first they left him to his own devices, but after he condensed his Aura, theres no way they would let him wander about unsupervised, especially considering his tendency to... complicate matters. A man beloved by hardship and tribulation, Rain was a headache and a half. So aggravating, it was Milas misfortune to fall in love with him, perhaps divine punishment for crimes committed in a past life.
Yet somehow still well worth every bit of trouble, a sweet, caring man who loved her dearly.
After what seemed like only a brief second of blissful oblivion, Songs voice woke her from slumber. Mila, Major Yimu has called us to action. We are to move out.
Yawning as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, Mila asked, How long did I sleep for?
Less than a quarter hour, Mila.
Songs hands were in place to help Mila stand and she graciously accepted. Rising to her feet, Milas eyes widened as she came awake, an elated smile spreading across her face. You called me Mila! Twice! Wrapping Song in a bear hug, Mila lifted her from the ground and twirled in place, giggling all the while. Finally! Flushed from worry or embarrassment, Songs stony demeanour cracked a small smile which turned into a wince, her ruined cheek in no state for smiling.
An arrow of flame came into existence and consumed the air around him with a pop. The air rushed from his lungs as the arrow surged towards its target, arcing over the heads of Butcher and defender alike to crash unerringly into Lei Gongs chest. His cacophonous din interrupted for the first time, the old mans eyes flashed with rage and pain as he pointed his cane in Gens direction. The world filled with blinding light as Gen recoiled in panic, but Beis arms wrapped around him. The world blinked past him as she shifted them away and a deafening boom filled his ears, sounding as if the storm clouds were inside his skull.
Glancing out the window of a new building, Gen looked across the street at the smoking ruins of a rooftop where he stood only moments ago. Destroying stone and wood with a single gesture, Gen shivered with delight at the display of sheer destructive power. Given time, he would soon do the same, striking terror in the hearts of his enemies with his presence and casually killing hundreds with a wave of his hand. Lei Gong was ancient while Gen still in his youth, there was no comparison between them.
Its good you survived, came Jianghongs Sending, but perhaps you should move away from the window. If Lei Gong sees you, you might not be so lucky the second time around. Your Demon requires time to prepare a second jump. Come, find me at the rear guard. Yo Ling has a task for us I think youll enjoy.
Heeding the older warriors advice, Gen leaned back into Beis embrace and willed her to bring him away. That word again, Demon, so distasteful. A shame really, it only showed Jianghongs distaste for his own allies. Too much time spent among the sheep was Yo Lings description of Jianghong, and Gen agreed with the analysis. No matter, he would come around soon enough, and if he continued to refuse Bei the respect she deserved... well, Gen grew in power with each passing day. Idly dreaming of the future, he arrived next to Jianghong and cocked his head in question. So what task do we have?
Major Yimu broke through the forces guarding our flanks and headed our way. Theyll arrive long before the Magistrate, and by Yo Lings orders, we must delay until the fat bastard arrives. Something about having a grand audience for the finale, the cryptic old bastard.
At least Jianghongs disrespect wasnt solely aimed at Bei. So wheres the fun part?
According to the survivors, Falling Rain led the assault, taking great lengths to inform them of his identity. Somehow the savage killed all six aura users before battle was joined and overwhelmed the remaining infantry. Hidden assassins perhaps? Frowning, Jianghong glanced at Gen, shaking his head. Though theres bad blood between you, Id recommend you refrain from challenging him. Even ignoring his guardians, I doubt youre his match, not with his Aura. The survivors describe it as soul-rending, whatever that might mean, and his soldiers were calling him unrivalled beneath heaven. An arrogant little savage, but well end him together. That skill you used against Lei Gong, can you repeat it?
Instead of answering, Gen focused his attention and summoned the flames, creating a second bolt and unleashing it on a nearby building. The projectile smashed against the stone and exploded, leaving a blackened crater the size of a melon on its surface. Hmm... Jianghong muttered, inspecting the results, not bad, but it takes too long to form. Five and a half seconds is too slow to use in close combat, but its more than enough to deal with the whelp from range. Hang back and hide yourself among my soldiers striking from the shadows. Ill draw out Falling Rains guardians, that blasted chain-wielding woman and her knife-throwing companion. When you see a chance, strike with your attack and have your Demon do the same, focusing on the woman. With her taken care of, the rest will crumble. Understood?
Bei.
Raising an eyebrow, Jianghong asked, What?
Her name, Gen said, keeping his tone cordial but confident, is Bei. She is my wife, and a Transcendent, not so-
For a brief, heart-stopping second, Gens mind filled with terror unlike ever before, Jianghong transforming from kindly older brother to unspeakable horror without moving a muscle. Beis soothing presence dispelled Jianghongs Aura, but the experience lingered in Gens mind, his body quivering and mind blank, reeling from the mental assault. Pursing his lips, Jianghong closed his eyes and exhaled. My apologies Gen. I let my anger get away from me. You were right to correct me, Ive not shown your wife the respect she deserves. Saluting Bei with a smile, Jianghong spoke like a charming noble, no sign of the monstrous existence from before. You must forgive an old soldiers habits, Transcendent Bei. Now come, both of you. Theres still work to be done, and whatever Yo Lings has planned, I pray it will be enough.
Still trembling from head to toe, Gen reached out and took Beis hand as they followed, cursing his weakness. With every stride forward, he learned how far he still had yet to go. Shaking off the fear, he steeled his nerves. No matter. His talent was unparalleled, time his limiting factor. Given another year, Gen would be more than capable of crushing Rain beneath his boot, taking the arrogant savages title away from him.
Gen, Emissary of Flame, Unrivalled Beneath Heaven. Truly a magnificent name.
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 226
Lips pursed and eyes narrowed, Mila leaned against the wall and listened to the distant sounds of battle, picturing her betrothed fighting against the Enemy. Glaring daggers at Major Yimus back, she resisted the urge to send Tursinai to beat some sense into the man. A coward who hid at the rear while Defiled Champions rampaged through his lines, allowing the elites under his command to be slaughtered one by one. Its no wonder Yimus army stood at the brink of ruin before Rains retinue arrived, ready to collapse the bridge and retreat if not for their intervention. Now that victory was in their grasp, Yimu rewarded them by setting Rain to task distracting the Defiled, hoarding all the glory and honour for himself.
There was nothing wrong with the strategy itself, especially if Yimu committed a second force to aid the first, but why did Rain have to play the part of bait? As the youngest Warrant Officer in a thousand years, the thankless task fell far below his station. He would have been well within his rights to refuse or request more soldiers to carry out the plan, yet he accepted the orders without a word of resistance. Any of the other officers would have been a better choice to command the diversion, especially considering their familiarity with the soldiers. To hold against twice their numbers of Defiled, the soldiers needed to be confident in their leader and while Rain was a rising dragon with a limitless future, she was forced to admit he was sorely lacking in heroic bearing and charisma.
Blatant discrimination is what this was, giving the unpleasant task of luring the tiger away from the mountain to the outsider, ensuring the greatest rewards would land in hands of locals. Rain would be in no shape to join the final battle, stuck tying down a minor flanking force in a nameless alleyway. When the historians wrote of Sanshus defence, Rains part would be reduced to a mere footnote, the weeks of hardship endured to reach this point overlooked or dismissed. Stupid idiot. If his final words to her turned out to be Dont worry, Ive got a plan, Mila intended to march before the Mother herself and demand Rain be given life, just so she could choke him to death.
Resisting the urge to scream and pull her hair out of sheer frustration, Mila took a deep, calming breath. Then, when it failed to calm her temper, she took another. And another. And another. Growing lightheaded from her attempts to find calm, she gave up and sighed, turning to check Songs injury. Despite having a hole two fingers wide in her cheek, Song paid no mind to the pain as she scanned their surroundings. Vigilant to the extreme even as they sat in the centre of an army, Song never lowered her guard when out with Mila, resigned to protect her master even at the cost of her own life.
The thought almost brought a tear to Milas eye as she gently pulled Song into her arms. Rains fighting so we can rest, Mila said, snuggling against Songs shoulder, So we should take advantage. Meekly obeying, Song melted in Milas arms, though her eyes continued darting left and right, searching for danger in every shadow. Such an incredible warrior, intercepting the Demon as it appeared in the air before them, crippling it with a dominating blow. If not for Songs quick thinking and forceful defence, Mila would have undoubtedly died there, yet she failed to notice Songs grievous injury until it was almost too late. To endure the pain of Demonic ichor eating through her cheek without even a whimper, what sort of torment did she suffer to make her so resilient?
Squeezing Song tightly in her embrace, Milas thoughts turned to the necklace around her neck. Such a plain, ordinary piece of jewellery, hard to believe it was a physical representation of Songs abominable oaths. If only there were a way to remove them... Song, take better care of yourself, okay? Id be heartbroken if I lost you. If youre ever injured, tired, or even uncomfortable, please say something.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
This lowly one apologizes for taking injury, Master. She will endeavour to improve from hence forth.
Choking back a sob, Mila hugged Song a little tighter, shaking her head but unable to speak. Maybe Song didnt even see them as friends, only as master and slave, but Mila wouldnt stop trying. If words were no good, then she would show Song her appreciation with love and affection. Taking several minutes to compose herself, Mila cleared her throat and said, Song, you risked your life and fought off a Demon to save me. Any saviour of mine has more than earned the right to call me Mila.
Ears fluttering, Song glanced at Mila, briefly making eye contact before glancing away like a child caught stealing candy. ...Is this an order?
The only orders Ill ever give you are military ones, those were merely my thoughts. Make what you will of it. Closing her eyes, Mila willed herself to rest, ignoring the distant clash of weapons and shouts of triumph. Rain would be fine, he was the Undying, a title she was rather fond of once you removed the Savage. Besides, Mama and Baatar probably had experts watching over him in secret. Hopefully. Maybe at first they left him to his own devices, but after he condensed his Aura, theres no way they would let him wander about unsupervised, especially considering his tendency to... complicate matters. A man beloved by hardship and tribulation, Rain was a headache and a half. So aggravating, it was Milas misfortune to fall in love with him, perhaps divine punishment for crimes committed in a past life.
Yet somehow still well worth every bit of trouble, a sweet, caring man who loved her dearly.
After what seemed like only a brief second of blissful oblivion, Songs voice woke her from slumber. Mila, Major Yimu has called us to action. We are to move out.
Yawning as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, Mila asked, How long did I sleep for?
Less than a quarter hour, Mila.
Songs hands were in place to help Mila stand and she graciously accepted. Rising to her feet, Milas eyes widened as she came awake, an elated smile spreading across her face. You called me Mila! Twice! Wrapping Song in a bear hug, Mila lifted her from the ground and twirled in place, giggling all the while. Finally! Flushed from worry or embarrassment, Songs stony demeanour cracked a small smile which turned into a wince, her ruined cheek in no state for smiling.
An arrow of flame came into existence and consumed the air around him with a pop. The air rushed from his lungs as the arrow surged towards its target, arcing over the heads of Butcher and defender alike to crash unerringly into Lei Gongs chest. His cacophonous din interrupted for the first time, the old mans eyes flashed with rage and pain as he pointed his cane in Gens direction. The world filled with blinding light as Gen recoiled in panic, but Beis arms wrapped around him. The world blinked past him as she shifted them away and a deafening boom filled his ears, sounding as if the storm clouds were inside his skull.
Glancing out the window of a new building, Gen looked across the street at the smoking ruins of a rooftop where he stood only moments ago. Destroying stone and wood with a single gesture, Gen shivered with delight at the display of sheer destructive power. Given time, he would soon do the same, striking terror in the hearts of his enemies with his presence and casually killing hundreds with a wave of his hand. Lei Gong was ancient while Gen still in his youth, there was no comparison between them.
Its good you survived, came Jianghongs Sending, but perhaps you should move away from the window. If Lei Gong sees you, you might not be so lucky the second time around. Your Demon requires time to prepare a second jump. Come, find me at the rear guard. Yo Ling has a task for us I think youll enjoy.
Heeding the older warriors advice, Gen leaned back into Beis embrace and willed her to bring him away. That word again, Demon, so distasteful. A shame really, it only showed Jianghongs distaste for his own allies. Too much time spent among the sheep was Yo Lings description of Jianghong, and Gen agreed with the analysis. No matter, he would come around soon enough, and if he continued to refuse Bei the respect she deserved... well, Gen grew in power with each passing day. Idly dreaming of the future, he arrived next to Jianghong and cocked his head in question. So what task do we have?
Major Yimu broke through the forces guarding our flanks and headed our way. Theyll arrive long before the Magistrate, and by Yo Lings orders, we must delay until the fat bastard arrives. Something about having a grand audience for the finale, the cryptic old bastard.
At least Jianghongs disrespect wasnt solely aimed at Bei. So wheres the fun part?
According to the survivors, Falling Rain led the assault, taking great lengths to inform them of his identity. Somehow the savage killed all six aura users before battle was joined and overwhelmed the remaining infantry. Hidden assassins perhaps? Frowning, Jianghong glanced at Gen, shaking his head. Though theres bad blood between you, Id recommend you refrain from challenging him. Even ignoring his guardians, I doubt youre his match, not with his Aura. The survivors describe it as soul-rending, whatever that might mean, and his soldiers were calling him unrivalled beneath heaven. An arrogant little savage, but well end him together. That skill you used against Lei Gong, can you repeat it?
Instead of answering, Gen focused his attention and summoned the flames, creating a second bolt and unleashing it on a nearby building. The projectile smashed against the stone and exploded, leaving a blackened crater the size of a melon on its surface. Hmm... Jianghong muttered, inspecting the results, not bad, but it takes too long to form. Five and a half seconds is too slow to use in close combat, but its more than enough to deal with the whelp from range. Hang back and hide yourself among my soldiers striking from the shadows. Ill draw out Falling Rains guardians, that blasted chain-wielding woman and her knife-throwing companion. When you see a chance, strike with your attack and have your Demon do the same, focusing on the woman. With her taken care of, the rest will crumble. Understood?
Bei.
Raising an eyebrow, Jianghong asked, What?
Her name, Gen said, keeping his tone cordial but confident, is Bei. She is my wife, and a Transcendent, not so-
For a brief, heart-stopping second, Gens mind filled with terror unlike ever before, Jianghong transforming from kindly older brother to unspeakable horror without moving a muscle. Beis soothing presence dispelled Jianghongs Aura, but the experience lingered in Gens mind, his body quivering and mind blank, reeling from the mental assault. Pursing his lips, Jianghong closed his eyes and exhaled. My apologies Gen. I let my anger get away from me. You were right to correct me, Ive not shown your wife the respect she deserves. Saluting Bei with a smile, Jianghong spoke like a charming noble, no sign of the monstrous existence from before. You must forgive an old soldiers habits, Transcendent Bei. Now come, both of you. Theres still work to be done, and whatever Yo Lings has planned, I pray it will be enough.
Still trembling from head to toe, Gen reached out and took Beis hand as they followed, cursing his weakness. With every stride forward, he learned how far he still had yet to go. Shaking off the fear, he steeled his nerves. No matter. His talent was unparalleled, time his limiting factor. Given another year, Gen would be more than capable of crushing Rain beneath his boot, taking the arrogant savages title away from him.
Gen, Emissary of Flame, Unrivalled Beneath Heaven. Truly a magnificent name.
Chapter Meme
Chapter 226Lips pursed and eyes narrowed, Mila leaned against the wall and listened to the distant sounds of battle, picturing her betrothed fighting against the Enemy. Glaring daggers at Major Yimus back, she resisted the urge to send Tursinai to beat some sense into the man. A coward who hid at the rear while Defiled Champions rampaged through his lines, allowing the elites under his command to be slaughtered one by one. Its no wonder Yimus army stood at the brink of ruin before Rains retinue arrived, ready to collapse the bridge and retreat if not for their intervention. Now that victory was in their grasp, Yimu rewarded them by setting Rain to task distracting the Defiled, hoarding all the glory and honour for himself.There was nothing wrong with the strategy itself, especially if Yimu committed a second force to aid the first, but why did Rain have to play the part of bait? As the youngest Warrant Officer in a thousand years, the thankless task fell far below his station. He would have been well within his rights to refuse or request more soldiers to carry out the plan, yet he accepted the orders without a word of resistance. Any of the other officers would have been a better choice to command the diversion, especially considering their familiarity with the soldiers. To hold against twice their numbers of Defiled, the soldiers needed to be confident in their leader and while Rain was a rising dragon with a limitless future, she was forced to admit he was sorely lacking in heroic bearing and charisma.Blatant discrimination is what this was, giving the unpleasant task of luring the tiger away from the mountain to the outsider, ensuring the greatest rewards would land in hands of locals. Rain would be in no shape to join the final battle, stuck tying down a minor flanking force in a nameless alleyway. When the historians wrote of Sanshus defence, Rains part would be reduced to a mere footnote, the weeks of hardship endured to reach this point overlooked or dismissed. Stupid idiot. If his final words to her turned out to be Dont worry, Ive got a plan, Mila intended to march before the Mother herself and demand Rain be given life, just so she could choke him to death.Resisting the urge to scream and pull her hair out of sheer frustration, Mila took a deep, calming breath. Then, when it failed to calm her temper, she took another. And another. And another. Growing lightheaded from her attempts to find calm, she gave up and sighed, turning to check Songs injury. Despite having a hole two fingers wide in her cheek, Song paid no mind to the pain as she scanned their surroundings. Vigilant to the extreme even as they sat in the centre of an army, Song never lowered her guard when out with Mila, resigned to protect her master even at the cost of her own life.The thought almost brought a tear to Milas eye as she gently pulled Song into her arms. Rains fighting so we can rest, Mila said, snuggling against Songs shoulder, So we should take advantage. Meekly obeying, Song melted in Milas arms, though her eyes continued darting left and right, searching for danger in every shadow. Such an incredible warrior, intercepting the Demon as it appeared in the air before them, crippling it with a dominating blow. If not for Songs quick thinking and forceful defence, Mila would have undoubtedly died there, yet she failed to notice Songs grievous injury until it was almost too late. To endure the pain of Demonic ichor eating through her cheek without even a whimper, what sort of torment did she suffer to make her so resilient?Squeezing Song tightly in her embrace, Milas thoughts turned to the necklace around her neck. Such a plain, ordinary piece of jewellery, hard to believe it was a physical representation of Songs abominable oaths. If only there were a way to remove them... Song, take better care of yourself, okay? Id be heartbroken if I lost you. If youre ever injured, tired, or even uncomfortable, please say something.Updated from novelbin.comThis lowly one apologizes for taking injury, Master. She will endeavour to improve from hence forth.Choking back a sob, Mila hugged Song a little tighter, shaking her head but unable to speak. Maybe Song didnt even see them as friends, only as master and slave, but Mila wouldnt stop trying. If words were no good, then she would show Song her appreciation with love and affection. Taking several minutes to compose herself, Mila cleared her throat and said, Song, you risked your life and fought off a Demon to save me. Any saviour of mine has more than earned the right to call me Mila.Ears fluttering, Song glanced at Mila, briefly making eye contact before glancing away like a child caught stealing candy. ...Is this an order?The only orders Ill ever give you are military ones, those were merely my thoughts. Make what you will of it. Closing her eyes, Mila willed herself to rest, ignoring the distant clash of weapons and shouts of triumph. Rain would be fine, he was the Undying, a title she was rather fond of once you removed the Savage. Besides, Mama and Baatar probably had experts watching over him in secret. Hopefully. Maybe at first they left him to his own devices, but after he condensed his Aura, theres no way they would let him wander about unsupervised, especially considering his tendency to... complicate matters. A man beloved by hardship and tribulation, Rain was a headache and a half. So aggravating, it was Milas misfortune to fall in love with him, perhaps divine punishment for crimes committed in a past life.Yet somehow still well worth every bit of trouble, a sweet, caring man who loved her dearly.After what seemed like only a brief second of blissful oblivion, Songs voice woke her from slumber. Mila, Major Yimu has called us to action. We are to move out.Yawning as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, Mila asked, How long did I sleep for?Less than a quarter hour, Mila.Songs hands were in place to help Mila stand and she graciously accepted. Rising to her feet, Milas eyes widened as she came awake, an elated smile spreading across her face. You called me Mila! Twice! Wrapping Song in a bear hug, Mila lifted her from the ground and twirled in place, giggling all the while. Finally! Flushed from worry or embarrassment, Songs stony demeanour cracked a small smile which turned into a wince, her ruined cheek in no state for smiling.An arrow of flame came into existence and consumed the air around him with a pop. The air rushed from his lungs as the arrow surged towards its target, arcing over the heads of Butcher and defender alike to crash unerringly into Lei Gongs chest. His cacophonous din interrupted for the first time, the old mans eyes flashed with rage and pain as he pointed his cane in Gens direction. The world filled with blinding light as Gen recoiled in panic, but Beis arms wrapped around him. The world blinked past him as she shifted them away and a deafening boom filled his ears, sounding as if the storm clouds were inside his skull.Glancing out the window of a new building, Gen looked across the street at the smoking ruins of a rooftop where he stood only moments ago. Destroying stone and wood with a single gesture, Gen shivered with delight at the display of sheer destructive power. Given time, he would soon do the same, striking terror in the hearts of his enemies with his presence and casually killing hundreds with a wave of his hand. Lei Gong was ancient while Gen still in his youth, there was no comparison between them.Its good you survived, came Jianghongs Sending, but perhaps you should move away from the window. If Lei Gong sees you, you might not be so lucky the second time around. Your Demon requires time to prepare a second jump. Come, find me at the rear guard. Yo Ling has a task for us I think youll enjoy.Heeding the older warriors advice, Gen leaned back into Beis embrace and willed her to bring him away. That word again, Demon, so distasteful. A shame really, it only showed Jianghongs distaste for his own allies. Too much time spent among the sheep was Yo Lings description of Jianghong, and Gen agreed with the analysis. No matter, he would come around soon enough, and if he continued to refuse Bei the respect she deserved... well, Gen grew in power with each passing day. Idly dreaming of the future, he arrived next to Jianghong and cocked his head in question. So what task do we have?Major Yimu broke through the forces guarding our flanks and headed our way. Theyll arrive long before the Magistrate, and by Yo Lings orders, we must delay until the fat bastard arrives. Something about having a grand audience for the finale, the cryptic old bastard.At least Jianghongs disrespect wasnt solely aimed at Bei. So wheres the fun part?According to the survivors, Falling Rain led the assault, taking great lengths to inform them of his identity. Somehow the savage killed all six aura users before battle was joined and overwhelmed the remaining infantry. Hidden assassins perhaps? Frowning, Jianghong glanced at Gen, shaking his head. Though theres bad blood between you, Id recommend you refrain from challenging him. Even ignoring his guardians, I doubt youre his match, not with his Aura. The survivors describe it as soul-rending, whatever that might mean, and his soldiers were calling him unrivalled beneath heaven. An arrogant little savage, but well end him together. That skill you used against Lei Gong, can you repeat it?Instead of answering, Gen focused his attention and summoned the flames, creating a second bolt and unleashing it on a nearby building. The projectile smashed against the stone and exploded, leaving a blackened crater the size of a melon on its surface. Hmm... Jianghong muttered, inspecting the results, not bad, but it takes too long to form. Five and a half seconds is too slow to use in close combat, but its more than enough to deal with the whelp from range. Hang back and hide yourself among my soldiers striking from the shadows. Ill draw out Falling Rains guardians, that blasted chain-wielding woman and her knife-throwing companion. When you see a chance, strike with your attack and have your Demon do the same, focusing on the woman. With her taken care of, the rest will crumble. Understood?Bei.Raising an eyebrow, Jianghong asked, What?Her name, Gen said, keeping his tone cordial but confident, is Bei. She is my wife, and a Transcendent, not so-For a brief, heart-stopping second, Gens mind filled with terror unlike ever before, Jianghong transforming from kindly older brother to unspeakable horror without moving a muscle. Beis soothing presence dispelled Jianghongs Aura, but the experience lingered in Gens mind, his body quivering and mind blank, reeling from the mental assault. Pursing his lips, Jianghong closed his eyes and exhaled. My apologies Gen. I let my anger get away from me. You were right to correct me, Ive not shown your wife the respect she deserves. Saluting Bei with a smile, Jianghong spoke like a charming noble, no sign of the monstrous existence from before. You must forgive an old soldiers habits, Transcendent Bei. Now come, both of you. Theres still work to be done, and whatever Yo Lings has planned, I pray it will be enough.Still trembling from head to toe, Gen reached out and took Beis hand as they followed, cursing his weakness. With every stride forward, he learned how far he still had yet to go. Shaking off the fear, he steeled his nerves. No matter. His talent was unparalleled, time his limiting factor. Given another year, Gen would be more than capable of crushing Rain beneath his boot, taking the arrogant savages title away from him.Gen, Emissary of Flame, Unrivalled Beneath Heaven. Truly a magnificent name.Chapter Meme
