Chapter 774
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Chapter 774
I think Naaran hates me.
Well, hate is probably too strong a word, but he definitely doesnt like me.
Which is totally fair. Not everyone has to like me, even though Im funny, polite, generous, considerate, and conscientious. I get it. Some people are bothered by that. Im not to everyones tastes, which is fine. To each their own. I accept this. Naaran doesnt have to like me. Its cool. That being said, I dont think its fairthat he doesnt like me, because Naaran doesnt even know me. He knows Falling Rain, but thats not me. Im just a Natal Soul assigned to help Naaran in these trying times, which means technically, this is our first time ever meeting. Okay, yea, Im like, ninety-nine-point-nine-nine percent similar to Prime Me, but that zero-point-zero-one percent is more of a difference than youd think. For the sake of comparison, humans and chimpanzees share almost ninety-nine percent of the same DNA, but youd never mistake a chimp for a man or vice versa, now would you?
Now that I think about it actually, you might. Really depends on the chimp or the man, I guess.
Whatever. Im just saying, its not fair to judge me by the standards Prime Me set. Besides, why doesnt he like Prime Me? Weve spent so much time together, Naaran has pretty much become a fixture in my life, so I figured hed at least be lukewarm to my presence, but nope. Here I am trying to literally sacrifice my newly acquired existence so he can get a leg up in his fight against the Half-Demon Mataram Patriarch YuGan, and what do I get in return? Nadda. Nothing. Zilch. Thats what I get. Unlike Binesi, Naaran isnt stonewalling my efforts to contact him, but so closed off hes utterly unaware of my presence in the first place, alongside any and all efforts to open up a line of dialogue. Far as I could tell from Prime Mes earlier efforts, Binesi at least had some inkling of someone trying to contact him, because the timing of his attacks perfectly coincided with Prime Mes attempts to help. Granted, the outcome was completely different from what we were trying to convey, but its proof enough that something was getting through. With Naaran, its like Im trying to teach advanced calculus to a god-damned rock, though Im beginning to think Im sorely underqualified to teach Naaran anything at all.
Seriously, Peak Experts are on a whole other level from us normie pleb Martial Warriors, and I never really wholly appreciated this fact until just now. The demarcating line between Expert and Peak Expert is not so easily defined, because its not solely a matter of jumping higher, running faster, or hitting harder. Nor is it really about Martial skill, because if it was, Lang Yi would count as a Peak Expert due to his superb mastery of the spear forms. Ive asked before, but no one really ever told me how one becomes a Peak Expert, and seeing how I jumped through the strength rankings reach to my current undefined level in a single bound, I kinda stopped caring about getting a more specific answer. Today, as I stand and watch Naaran trade blows with Mataram YuGan, I finally understand what it means to be a Peak Expert.
In a word?
Mastery.
Whether it be Chi skills, Forms, weapon handling, or anything else you might think of, a Peak Expert is someone who has mastered the myriad intricacies of combat. Thats what it takes to be acknowledged by the world at large, a demonstration of said mastery. When Gerel declared himself a Peak Expert, he was telling everyone in the Citadel that he had mastered the various aspects of the Martial Path and possessed the qualifications to stand amongst the best of the best. Then, in a series of duels against established Peak Experts, he proved it. Not by winning against his opponents, because thats not enough. You can be more skilled and still lose due to a number of factors. Less strength. Less stamina. Poor decision making. Slow reflexes. Whatever. Mastery gives you an edge over your less skilled opponents, but it doesnt guarantee victory, the same way superior strength or speed doesnt. Gerel winning his matches was just an added bonus, proving that he not only has the skills, but also the instinct, intelligence, and experience to use them, but even if hed lost against his first opponent, no one would have dared to claim he was no Peak Expert. Fifty moves was the gift Gerel offered his foe, Brigadier Sang Hyoon of the Seven Star Sect, fifty moves before he would retaliate, and in that short period of time, Gerel demonstrated his skills for all to see and proved that he deserved the lofty title of Peak Expert.
I remember the fight well, but I was merely a frog in a well at the time, still overly impressed by how Gerel Cloud-Stepped off the balcony and over to the stage. I remember thinking how cool it was to walk on air like that, and how jealous I was that it wasnt me, but even though I can Cloud-Step now, I doubt I could ever match Gerels casual arrogance and lofty disdain. Its just ingrained into every fibre of his being, a stubborn pride that refuses to ever back down, and while I hate to admit it, he has the talent and dedication to back his arrogance up. To think, hed calmly offer his opponent fifty moves, then break his promise in the first exchange to show everyone that he wasnt boasting and could really defeat a Brigadier in a single move. Thats some serious swagger that I know I could never match, and it burns me to admit it.
Seriously, if I tried something like that, my opponent would probably scream, You dare? and immediately try to kill me, but when Gerel does it, he earns their respect. Probably because hes tall and muscular, plus he has a face that belongs on a heroic male lead in a superhero movie, while Im short and pretty, as Yan would say. Life just isnt fair.
Running through the memories of that fight in my head, I note how Gerel made sure to showcase all eight basic Chi skills throughout the duration of the match. A hop back to avoid the first swing, then another for the second, then he reversed his momentum and bent over backwards while sliding under Sang Hyoons maul before coming around to face him again, the movements so smooth and slick it almost seemed like Gerel was a leaf in the wind. As incredible as it looked, at the time, I never really appreciated just how difficult that series of movements must have been, because I had no frame of reference to compare it to. Gerels movements were quite literally inhuman, because no basic human could ever replicate them. He was only able to pull it all off through a combination of Lightening, Stability, Deflection, and Amplification, but there might be other Chi skills I missed. Whats more, despite the inhuman nature of his movements, he made them look so normal and natural I didnt even question how he pulled it off, just accepted that it was a part and parcel of being a better Warrior.
But even now, if pressed to replicate those same movements in a safe environment, I doubt Prime Me could pull it off within a hundred tries. Or even a thousand, if Im feeling bold, though hed probably give up long before reaching that mark. I know how to use all the Chi skills, but you gotta do more than memorize the steps if you wanna be a professional dancer. You gotta practice the steps, then practice them some more, and again and again until they become ingrained in your body, mind, and yes, soul too, until its all as natural as breathing. I named four Chi Skills which Gerel used in those three exchanges, but I couldnt count the number of times he used each one or describe the method of application, because he was almost always using more than one Chi skill at any given moment. More than that, he was also making minute adjustments to each skill on the fly, and applying them unequally across different parts of his body. Take Lightening for example. In order to bend over backwards and glide away, he had to Lighten himself enough so that he could slide across the stone stage on his Deflected Domain, yet do so in an unequal fashion to keep his boots from flying off the ground or losing too much traction and slipping, to say nothing of the core strength required to do the limbo mid-fight. I cant even begin to wrap my head around the physics of his actions, but Gerels mastery of Lightening is so high he doesnt even need to think about it. Its the same with all his Chi skills, so ordinary and instinctive that its as natural as pointing at a flying bird or letting your feet follow a paved road.
Dont get me wrong. Prime Me is strong, but hes no Peak Expert. Stronger than one, maybe, but thats not what the designation is all about. Its the difference between a professional eater and a bear, wherein even though the professional loses every time, its still an impressive achievement to be able to compete, whereas the bear is just a bear. Cute, cuddly, and incredibly voracious, but doesnt really do anything extraordinary from a technical perspective, which sums up my attainments in the Martial Path pretty well. Power, I have plenty of in the form of Heavenly Energy, but no real idea on how to use it, else I wouldnt be floating here in helpless impotence while reminiscing about a fight I saw almost two years ago.
Honestly, what I should be doing is breaking down Naarans fight with Mataram YuGan instead and seeing what I can learn from it, except its a little like trying to puzzle out advanced physics while Im still struggling to count. I can slow down my perception of time and see them jumping around and trading blows in the skies over Meng Sha, but while seeing is believing, understanding takes a fair bit more work. Even though theyre all Peak Experts, there is a vast disparity in the level of skills shown by the various Peak Experts in Meng Sha, and I believe that these two here are the most skilled, bar none. Comparatively, this means Im even more clueless here than I was during Gerels inaugural fight as a Peak Expert, leaving me wholly unable to comprehend the inner workings of their actions. I mean, theyre freaking fighting in mid-air for fucks sake. I can Cloud-Step with the best of them, or so I thought, but Naaran and YuGan are treating gravity like a suggestion as they zip back and forth, up and down, sideways and under, all the while trading blow after blow after blow. Its like seeing a fish and saying it swims, which is 100% correct, but also wholly lacking in any and all useful information regarding the mechanics behind aquatic motility.
It starts with Naaran soaring through the air to deliver a thrust thats more than a thrust. I say this not because I cant recognize the Movement hes using, which I dont, nor is it because I see the same signs of elevated mastery I saw from Lang Yi only dialed up to eleven, which I do. No, I believe Naarans thrust is more than a thrust because despite looking like a straightforward lunge of his spear, there are a myriad of forces and variables in play which I can barely perceive, much less identify. Even though hes moving at a snails pace in my eyes, I cant even track the course of his spear as it slithers like a snake through the air, oscillating at speeds so quick it doesnt even look solid anymore. Not because his spear is special and floppy like Singing Spear Shi Yukans signature weapon. No, Naarans spear is solid steel and rigid as can be, but his movements make it look flexible using the same principle every bored student uses to make their pencils look like theyre made of rubber. An optical illusion, but one so well done that I find myself second guessing the facts as I watch the spear do more than just undulate back and forth, but also seemingly rotate and spiral as well as its Chi runs rampant to confuse my eyes and Spiritual Senses, all of which makes it nigh impossible to track Naarans course or make any conjecture regarding his chosen target.
For me at least, but not so for Mataram YuGan, who brings his spear downwards in a diagonal sweep to intercept Naarans thrust. Tiger Form, Twitching Tail, delivered as an active parry that could also double as an offensive strike, a simple and straightforward response to an infinitely complex attack. From this alone, its easy to see that the Mataram Patriarchs spear skills are inferior to Naarans, lacking a certain je-ne-sais-quoi that I cannot describe because I myself am lacking the same, an ineffable quality that elevates a Warrior into a Weapon Master. That being said, their spear skills are but a single facet of the respective strengths of these two pinnacle Peak Experts, and YuGan is not to be underestimated, for the Sword King Ryo Dae Jung was the greatest swordsman of three generations and still fell to the Mataram Patriarchs spear.
Which just goes to show, in a life and death battle, the stronger, faster, or even most skilled Warrior isnt always the one who comes out on top.
In response to his opponents counter, Naaran adjusts course and picks a new target, causing YuGan to shift his movements to match him. This sets off a chain of adjustments and readjustments as they approach one another at break-neck speeds, and it occurs to me that theyre not really reacting to each others actions as they are playing out a set of moves they already planned in advance. Surely there are some on-the-fly changes and adjustments made last second, but I cant pick them out, nor do I really understand what sort of tactics or information theyre working with. Its like seeing two grandmaster chess players sit down and stare at each other, playing dozens of games out in their heads before ever laying hand on a single piece, except this game here has far more variables and unknowns to account for as well as a complete and utter lack of rules besides the admittedly pliable laws of nature.
Their spears cross paths without colliding, but not for a lack of trying, as Naarans repeated twists and turns do more than just deceive. The movement itself lends weight to his Domain Deflection as a veritable whirlwind of Chi surges out from the spearhead with an audible gust of wind. Sticking to his guns, the Mataram Patriarch continues with his sweep in an effort to barrel through the Deflections, and crude as it might seem, theres no arguing against its effectiveness. Pure unadulterated power against pinnacle skill, and power wins out in the end as Naarans thrust is swept aside in an ear-splitting collision. Credit where credit is due, YuGan aims his parry perfectly to give him all the leverage in their exchange, striking the tip of his opponents spear with a section sitting in the top-third of his own.
A basic concept even I understand, yet seeing the Mataram Patriarch use it so effortlessly makes me feel ashamed to call myself the Number One Talent, for there is still so much I have yet to learn.
Ordinarily, youd expect a parry like that to smash Naarans spear aside, but he expected the exchange to play out like this, or at least had plans in place for this very outcome. Though his Domain Deflection failed to turn aside his opponents active parry, Naaran repurposes those same energies to instead bind their spears together, grabbing hold of YuGans spear and dragging along as he sweeps his spear out to the side before bringing it back around for a horizontal strike. Theres a flash of surprise in YuGans eyes, so brief even I barely catch it, and I would have entirely missed it if I wasnt able to read his emotions so well. That brief moment is more than enough for Naaran as he exhales so loudly he might as well shout, and his Honed spear is a formidable sight to behold. This Chi working is nothing particularly out of the ordinary like Dastans Severing Cut or Moms Reinforced shards of Honed Domain, elevated forms of Honing that can cut without a blade behind it. Nor is it anything beyond what I would call regular Honing, because thats all it really is. That being said, theres still a marked difference in Naarans Honing that I cant really describe, an ease and fluidity to it that I wouldnt be able to see with my physical eyes. I Visualize Honing like a chainsaw, a moving layer of Chi over the edge of my weapons that is filled with rotating rings of biting teeth, for lack of a better word, but Naarans Honing is seamless and inseparable from the spear itself. Hes not using his Chi or Domain as an extra layer, nor is he using it to enhance the sharpness of his spear. Instead, his Honing accentuates the natural sharpness of his spear, a difference that one might think is without distinction, but I cannot deny the effectiveness of what I see and feel here.
Theres no separation between his Chi, Domain, and spear, none whatsoever. Three as one and one as three, One with the Spear, One with the World, One with the Heavens, and more, a merger of man, nature, and Heaven working together. For a moment, Im unsure if Naarans spear is moving, or if its fixed in place, and the universe is moving around it to facilitate this one, singular attack. Theres so much more to this strike than what I can sense, so much more than I can comprehend, but even this much is enough to leave me speechless in awe. Still dragging his foes spear behind it, Naarans strike passes through the finger wide gap between helmet and pauldron and crashes into YuGans neck, sending a spray of sparks flying out into the air.
Pain.
Fear.
Shame.
Rage.
Mataram YuGan experiences a rollercoaster of emotion, wholly caught off-guard and unprepared for Naarans superlative strike, but the Demon residing within his Runic armour is not so easily deceived. Much like me, it can glean more than what the physical senses perceive, for though it is an aberration and abomination of nature, it was crafted from the Energy of the Heavens themselves, and therefore far more in tune with it than mere mortals. Chi surges out from YuGans Core and into the quasi-living armour through connections that go beyond the physical. Once inside the armour, YuGans Chi merges with the Demons Ichor which is the lifes blood of its existence, a perversion of Heavenly Energy made real and tainted by the wrongness of the Demons birth. Together, these two energies mingle to become more than the sum of their parts, only to pass back into YuGans Core whilst still in the Demons control. From the Core, it flows through YuGans metaphysical body like blood through his veins, billowing out in all directions rather than veering straight towards its eventual target. No idea why the Demon would move its energies in so roundabout a fashion, but it does have the added benefit of highlighting YuGans Spiritual system for me to see.
And so another beacon of hope is lit as any and all who see this are emboldened and enlivened, whispering of how Lei Gong no longer qualifies as a mere lord, but deserves to be known as the veritable God of Thunder in the flesh.
That is the greatest success around, and there are several smaller victories to be found all around, but there is still the matter of Mataram YuChun and YuGan. Even as I deliberate on which one to direct Lei Gongs efforts at, my heart seizes up in terror at the sight of my beloved Yan making a beeline over towards the former. The balls on this woman, for my sweet, headstrong wife has set the Ten-Thousand Spears in her sights, and all I can do is curse at the Natal Soul assigned to her for not keeping her ambitions in check. Then again, its not like I could even if I wanted to, so I cant really blame myself for not trying, but that doesnt absolve me of blame for just leaving Yan to her own devices. Okay, yea, shes a boss and can do her own thing, because she dont need no man to approve of her actions, but it is the sheer height of stupidity to take on a Peak Expert who is clearly heads and shoulders above the crowd.
Knowing theres no convincing Yan otherwise, I set into motion a plan to at least send her some support, but alas, YuChuns current opponents are of no help. Two headstrong Society Adherents are currently locked in bitter battle with him, their anger surging over the loss of their third comrade lying dead at Yuchuns feet. Well, one of them is angry, the other a little pleased, because he never liked his dead ally, though hes considerably scared of YuChuns prowess. The Society Adherents both feel outmatched and are a hairs breadth from fleeing in terror, but they both fear Situ Chi Gan even more, because they know what he will do to them, their families, and their factions if they were to abandon their posts. Nothing overt as destroying them outright, but the price paid would be far more costly than their meagre lives, so they stand their ground and spin their wheels in an effort to come up with some plan to ensure their survival for as long as possible.
None of which includes putting their trust in Legate Falling Rain, which is why the three Natal Souls assigned here are standing around and twiddling their thumbs like the idiots they are.
Executive Orders, I Send, and they all jump to attention before realizing its just another Natal Soul. Not that theyd treat Prime Me any differently, but were a jumpy bunch by nature. Help Yan. Orders all three were ready to argue until they actually received them, but they are more than happy to join hands and merge with our beloved wife, which is far more palatable than doing so with some dusty old Warriors who we dont even know or like. At the same time, I dole out orders to other Natal Souls who are in similar straits, stuck in limbo because they cant find anyone useful to help or because their assigned targets have already died, but not all of them go to Yan. Shes got more than enough Heavenly Energy, but even if I gave her everything I had, that still wouldnt be enough to ensure she can take down her target without dying.
An outcome I will not allow, because even though I am but a copy of my real self, my love for Yan is still real enough to matter.
A shot rings out from the battlements and its soon echoed by several others as my Spiritual Rifle bearing infantry all fire upon YuChun, with an extra added shot from OuYang Yuhuan who still hasnt quite got the hang of her rifle just yet. Deadly as the weapons are, theyre not so effective against Peak Experts without the element of surprise, and YuChun has kept his guard up after losing his favourite son to those same weapons. Kinda fucked up that he had a favourite, so fuck him and fuck his son because theyre a bunch of murderous bastards. A skilled murderous bastard however, as YuChun plummets tot the battlements and slides out of the way of every bullet aimed at him. The second volley misses as well as he sets his boots to skimming across the parapets, and impressive as it is, I can sense his frustration and tell that hes only doing this because hes not confident he can avoid the bullets while dancing around in the sky like his father and Naaran. That makes me feel a little better about Prime Mes lacking skills since even a Peak Expert like YuChun has room to improve, but theres no time to celebrate minor victories as the next part of my plan comes into play.
For despite having free reign to fight anywhere he would like, Mataram YuChun has been lingering around where my retinue is stationed in the hopes of getting a clean strike on the man who killed his son, the ever-vigilant Old Bulat who keeps weaving in and out of the crowd to fire his Domain-imbued bullets.
A useful skill that, one Ive taken, examined, and disseminated amongst a select few individuals, including one woman who has yet to really make her presence known upon the battlefield. Shes been here from the start, but shes never been one to stand out, despite being both skilled and beautiful in her own right. Then again, part of this might well be due to her position on the battlefield, with boots in the sand alongside her comrades guarding the Irregulars, but make no mistake, Sai Chou is a talent few can match with bow or axe alike, and she showcases her talents here as she lines up her difficult shot and lets loose at a target she can barely pick out from the crowd.
And yet, her shot flies true, for she is one with the Bow, and one with the Arrow, a feat I fear will forever remain beyond my reach.
An arrow is much slower than a bullet, but much quieter as well, a sub-sonic projectile that even a regular Martial Warrior can smack out of the air. That being said, there are many, many, many more arrows flying about then there are bullets, so even though Mataram YuChun hears Sai Chous arrow hurtling towards him, he doesnt register the danger until it is almost too late. A slight turn of his head, thats all it takes to ensure the arrow strikes his helmet instead of his cheek, but unlike every other arrow flying through the air, Sai Chous arrowhead is encapsulated in a severed shard of her Domain. The Domain itself is not Honed, Reverberating, or Amplified, for Sai Chou lacks the skills to do such a thing, and truth be told, so do I. Aside from Mom and Dastan, I dont really know anyone else who can imbue destructive energy into their Domain and use it to injure and kill on its own, but thats okay. Sai Chous severed shard of Domain is similar to the arrow itself, merely a mechanism to deliver the true killing blow hidden inside.
A strange and unknown Chi skill Bulat developed himself, in a pique of rage over how unfair it was for the Enemy to all be clad in Runic armour.
Unlike his father, YuChun is not a half-Demon, but whole human encased in Runic steel. Probably because his talents are even greater than his fathers, with potential still yet to be tapped. It just goes to show that theyre not wholly unhinged and unaware of the consequences, but while YuGan was willing to pay the price, he was not willing to let his son to do the same. A good thing for us, because Bulats new working is an.. Unravelling, of sorts, as thats what it does. I hesitate to call it a dispelling force, because rather than unmake a Chi working, it neutralizes any unnatural changes made in the material world by Will or Domain, hence the new and made-up term, Unravel. From what I can tell, its similar to what happens when two Blessings interact, resulting in a net zero effect as they cancel one another out, which is exactly what happens when the Chi skill impacts against YuChuns Runic helmet.
As the ties binding the physical and metaphysical come apart, the Runes engraved into the steel helmet become little more than pretty carvings etched into the metal itself. A micro-second later, the full force of Sai Chous arrow hammers home against mundane steel, and the results are most satisfying to behold. Designed only for its looks and relying on the Runes to bestow protection, the helmet does nothing as the arrow drills through the thin metal and digs deep into soft flesh before stopping as it strikes bone, and YuChun reels in place even as his lungs fill with air for a scream he has yet to unleash.
Credit where credit is due, the Ten Thousand Spears is a survivor. Taking to the skies in search of escape, he slips away from the two Society Adherents rushing in to engage him, but I am a man who plans for the worst. As such, Yan is already in position above him and strikes before he registers her presence, her scything Wind Blades hammering home against YuChuns exposed face. Spinning about to avoid the bulk of the damage, he hunkers down and raises his spear to cover his throat while Healing for all hes worth, using Panacea of all things to avoid instant death as the Wind Blades almost decapitate him. Quick on her feet as ever, Yan utilizes her Wind Domain to condense a whirlwind inside an orb no larger than a grape and sends it at her foe with a beatific grin of murderous delight. I have never been more turned on in my life, which admittedly is better measured in seconds rather than minutes, but even this is not enough to kill Mataram YuChun as a watery tentacle rises up to smash Yans Exploding Wind out of the air in a spray of water and mist.
Fucking Pudge is back, but my enemies are out here playing checkers while Im playing 4d chess.
Before YuChun can even heave a sigh of relief, a beam of fiery hot light smashes into him from below, proving exactly why most Warriors prefer to fight on the ground. In taking to the skies, hes opened himself up to attacks from below, an opportunity my beloved Mila was just waiting for from her place on the beach. With a little advanced warning and a full Core recharge from a friendly Natal Soul, shes firin her lazors at one of the most dangerous Peak Experts around, an attack which smashes into him and almost overloads his still working Runic Armour in one go. Theres no Unravelling there, just plain old raw power and the heat of the god-damn sun as Mila unleashes her ultimate attack once again, one powered by the lives of my brethren.
Alas, even this is not enough to kill Mataram YuChun, and Ive no moves left to make as he Cloud-Steps away to safety over the Defiled encampment. Somehow, he was able to mount a defense against Milas laser, one that left him with horrific burns across the entirety of his naked, charred body, his flesh and armour all melted away and leaving him as one, giant, cauterized wound, yet doing nothing to quell his rage and fury. The pain is nothing to him compared to the injury to his pride, for he is a Warrior standing close to the peak, yet he has been done in today by two young girls who he sees as beneath even his sons. A grievous wound this is, but one he will eventually recover from, or so he believes.
Not because his pride is so weak as to crumble from a single loss. No, Mataram YuChun is a determined man and stalwart Warrior, someone who could have been the second Living Legend of his generation after Ryo Dae Jung, but alas, his Clan has led him astray. There is only anger and hatred left within his heart, most of it directed towards the Empire but no small amount pointed at Mila and Yan, which means there is no mercy in mine as I watch three mute Aspirants materialize around him and drive their swords into his crisp flesh.
A suicidal attack, one I did not order, but one all three Aspirants were all too happy to deliver the moment they saw their chance, for they find their past sins and silent existence too heavy to bear much longer. There is only pride and relief in their hearts as the Demons and Champions tear them apart, for death represents the freedom and contrition they so desperately desired. Even if theyd accepted my offer to free them from their Oaths, they each believe they would have succumbed to despair in time, but I still shed a tear for their deaths. I dont know the full extent of their sins, or the burdens they bear, but the help and information they provided was instrumental to my continued success. Id hoped to one day break their Oaths, learn their names, and raise a drink to their honour, but now this day will never come to pass. Such is the Path of a General, to leave a mountain of corpses in his wake, and my mountain has grown that much bigger today.
A rousing victory that comes at great cost, but the soldiers of the Empire cheer all the same, not knowing the names of the heroes who died to make it happen or the Natal Souls that gave up everything along the way.
Much as I would like to take a moment to grieve, I cannot spare anymore time, for in my distraction to take down YuChun, I have left YuGan too long unrestrained. Losing his grandson didnt affect him much, but YuChun was his pride and joy, and the Demon with YuGan encourages his rage and feeds on it all the same. Seething with fury, denial, and dejection, YuGan erupts into a storm of destruction as his spear smashes against Naarans time and time again, and finally, the grizzled old man lowers his emotional barriers to let a little something of himself leak through. A massive pang of regret for so very many things, but entwined with a warm and fond farewell directed to someone below, someone here in Meng Sha who cannot hear him, but someone he loves all the same.
And like that, the answer comes to me in a burst of inspiration, nothing Heaven sent or extraordinary, because I recognize this specific kind of love, as warm and pure as any. It is not the love of family, or love of another person even, nor is it the impersonal love of duty, bloodshed, or the Empire. This is a simple love, straightforward and undemanding, one born from a lifetime of camaraderie and companionship without even a single tint of conflict or betrayal. It is a love that is dependent, yet also supportive at the same time, unyielding and eternal for as long as there is life, and I deliver said love to its intended recipient, even though Naaran never intended for his love to be known.
Yet know this, Kharuul does, the biggest heckin chonker of a quin Ive ever met, and more importantly, Naarans loyal mount and companion. Who wouldve thunk it? Naaran is a floof lover, just like me.
Unlike his closed off master however, Kharuul is more than happy to accept my help as he utters a piercing, chittering cry and pounces through the air at the Mataram Patriarch, much to Naarans dismay. He knows theres a vast disparity between a Spiritual Beast and even a normal Peak Expert that few animals could ever surpass, but what he doesnt know is that despite having fought at his side for so many years, Kharuul has never once gone all out in battle. This means that in spite of his formidable strength, he has never once wholly exerted his Will in a do or die effort, but thats just the way animals are. Why fight to the death when you could escape to live another day? Thats the mindset most animals live by, but in order to save the human he adopted so long ago and loves every bit as much as his pups, Kharuul the Spiritual Quin is finally ready to throw down.
So ready that he draws so much of my help that I can barely string together a coherent thought anymore, but I remember to pass the mantle of leadership to another Natal Soul along with all the tools hell need before embracing my ultimate fate. Terrified as I am by the prospect of imminent death, I also find it a relief in a way, because much like the silent Aspirants who gave their lives to bring down Mataram YuChun, I am now finally freed from the heavy burden of responsibility, and can go out doing what I love best.
Never once has Kharuul let me hug his floof, but now I can metaphysically snuggle him for all Im worth. Honestly, there are far worse ways to go, and worse causes to die for, so I close my eyes and sink into the warm floof of Kharuuls soul without a care in the world for what comes next.
Thats Prime Mes problem now, because my work here is done.
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 774
I think Naaran hates me.
Well, hate is probably too strong a word, but he definitely doesnt like me.
Which is totally fair. Not everyone has to like me, even though Im funny, polite, generous, considerate, and conscientious. I get it. Some people are bothered by that. Im not to everyones tastes, which is fine. To each their own. I accept this. Naaran doesnt have to like me. Its cool. That being said, I dont think its fairthat he doesnt like me, because Naaran doesnt even know me. He knows Falling Rain, but thats not me. Im just a Natal Soul assigned to help Naaran in these trying times, which means technically, this is our first time ever meeting. Okay, yea, Im like, ninety-nine-point-nine-nine percent similar to Prime Me, but that zero-point-zero-one percent is more of a difference than youd think. For the sake of comparison, humans and chimpanzees share almost ninety-nine percent of the same DNA, but youd never mistake a chimp for a man or vice versa, now would you?
Now that I think about it actually, you might. Really depends on the chimp or the man, I guess.
Whatever. Im just saying, its not fair to judge me by the standards Prime Me set. Besides, why doesnt he like Prime Me? Weve spent so much time together, Naaran has pretty much become a fixture in my life, so I figured hed at least be lukewarm to my presence, but nope. Here I am trying to literally sacrifice my newly acquired existence so he can get a leg up in his fight against the Half-Demon Mataram Patriarch YuGan, and what do I get in return? Nadda. Nothing. Zilch. Thats what I get. Unlike Binesi, Naaran isnt stonewalling my efforts to contact him, but so closed off hes utterly unaware of my presence in the first place, alongside any and all efforts to open up a line of dialogue. Far as I could tell from Prime Mes earlier efforts, Binesi at least had some inkling of someone trying to contact him, because the timing of his attacks perfectly coincided with Prime Mes attempts to help. Granted, the outcome was completely different from what we were trying to convey, but its proof enough that something was getting through. With Naaran, its like Im trying to teach advanced calculus to a god-damned rock, though Im beginning to think Im sorely underqualified to teach Naaran anything at all.
Seriously, Peak Experts are on a whole other level from us normie pleb Martial Warriors, and I never really wholly appreciated this fact until just now. The demarcating line between Expert and Peak Expert is not so easily defined, because its not solely a matter of jumping higher, running faster, or hitting harder. Nor is it really about Martial skill, because if it was, Lang Yi would count as a Peak Expert due to his superb mastery of the spear forms. Ive asked before, but no one really ever told me how one becomes a Peak Expert, and seeing how I jumped through the strength rankings reach to my current undefined level in a single bound, I kinda stopped caring about getting a more specific answer. Today, as I stand and watch Naaran trade blows with Mataram YuGan, I finally understand what it means to be a Peak Expert.
In a word?
Mastery.
Whether it be Chi skills, Forms, weapon handling, or anything else you might think of, a Peak Expert is someone who has mastered the myriad intricacies of combat. Thats what it takes to be acknowledged by the world at large, a demonstration of said mastery. When Gerel declared himself a Peak Expert, he was telling everyone in the Citadel that he had mastered the various aspects of the Martial Path and possessed the qualifications to stand amongst the best of the best. Then, in a series of duels against established Peak Experts, he proved it. Not by winning against his opponents, because thats not enough. You can be more skilled and still lose due to a number of factors. Less strength. Less stamina. Poor decision making. Slow reflexes. Whatever. Mastery gives you an edge over your less skilled opponents, but it doesnt guarantee victory, the same way superior strength or speed doesnt. Gerel winning his matches was just an added bonus, proving that he not only has the skills, but also the instinct, intelligence, and experience to use them, but even if hed lost against his first opponent, no one would have dared to claim he was no Peak Expert. Fifty moves was the gift Gerel offered his foe, Brigadier Sang Hyoon of the Seven Star Sect, fifty moves before he would retaliate, and in that short period of time, Gerel demonstrated his skills for all to see and proved that he deserved the lofty title of Peak Expert.
I remember the fight well, but I was merely a frog in a well at the time, still overly impressed by how Gerel Cloud-Stepped off the balcony and over to the stage. I remember thinking how cool it was to walk on air like that, and how jealous I was that it wasnt me, but even though I can Cloud-Step now, I doubt I could ever match Gerels casual arrogance and lofty disdain. Its just ingrained into every fibre of his being, a stubborn pride that refuses to ever back down, and while I hate to admit it, he has the talent and dedication to back his arrogance up. To think, hed calmly offer his opponent fifty moves, then break his promise in the first exchange to show everyone that he wasnt boasting and could really defeat a Brigadier in a single move. Thats some serious swagger that I know I could never match, and it burns me to admit it.
Seriously, if I tried something like that, my opponent would probably scream, You dare? and immediately try to kill me, but when Gerel does it, he earns their respect. Probably because hes tall and muscular, plus he has a face that belongs on a heroic male lead in a superhero movie, while Im short and pretty, as Yan would say. Life just isnt fair.
Running through the memories of that fight in my head, I note how Gerel made sure to showcase all eight basic Chi skills throughout the duration of the match. A hop back to avoid the first swing, then another for the second, then he reversed his momentum and bent over backwards while sliding under Sang Hyoons maul before coming around to face him again, the movements so smooth and slick it almost seemed like Gerel was a leaf in the wind. As incredible as it looked, at the time, I never really appreciated just how difficult that series of movements must have been, because I had no frame of reference to compare it to. Gerels movements were quite literally inhuman, because no basic human could ever replicate them. He was only able to pull it all off through a combination of Lightening, Stability, Deflection, and Amplification, but there might be other Chi skills I missed. Whats more, despite the inhuman nature of his movements, he made them look so normal and natural I didnt even question how he pulled it off, just accepted that it was a part and parcel of being a better Warrior.
But even now, if pressed to replicate those same movements in a safe environment, I doubt Prime Me could pull it off within a hundred tries. Or even a thousand, if Im feeling bold, though hed probably give up long before reaching that mark. I know how to use all the Chi skills, but you gotta do more than memorize the steps if you wanna be a professional dancer. You gotta practice the steps, then practice them some more, and again and again until they become ingrained in your body, mind, and yes, soul too, until its all as natural as breathing. I named four Chi Skills which Gerel used in those three exchanges, but I couldnt count the number of times he used each one or describe the method of application, because he was almost always using more than one Chi skill at any given moment. More than that, he was also making minute adjustments to each skill on the fly, and applying them unequally across different parts of his body. Take Lightening for example. In order to bend over backwards and glide away, he had to Lighten himself enough so that he could slide across the stone stage on his Deflected Domain, yet do so in an unequal fashion to keep his boots from flying off the ground or losing too much traction and slipping, to say nothing of the core strength required to do the limbo mid-fight. I cant even begin to wrap my head around the physics of his actions, but Gerels mastery of Lightening is so high he doesnt even need to think about it. Its the same with all his Chi skills, so ordinary and instinctive that its as natural as pointing at a flying bird or letting your feet follow a paved road.
Dont get me wrong. Prime Me is strong, but hes no Peak Expert. Stronger than one, maybe, but thats not what the designation is all about. Its the difference between a professional eater and a bear, wherein even though the professional loses every time, its still an impressive achievement to be able to compete, whereas the bear is just a bear. Cute, cuddly, and incredibly voracious, but doesnt really do anything extraordinary from a technical perspective, which sums up my attainments in the Martial Path pretty well. Power, I have plenty of in the form of Heavenly Energy, but no real idea on how to use it, else I wouldnt be floating here in helpless impotence while reminiscing about a fight I saw almost two years ago.
Honestly, what I should be doing is breaking down Naarans fight with Mataram YuGan instead and seeing what I can learn from it, except its a little like trying to puzzle out advanced physics while Im still struggling to count. I can slow down my perception of time and see them jumping around and trading blows in the skies over Meng Sha, but while seeing is believing, understanding takes a fair bit more work. Even though theyre all Peak Experts, there is a vast disparity in the level of skills shown by the various Peak Experts in Meng Sha, and I believe that these two here are the most skilled, bar none. Comparatively, this means Im even more clueless here than I was during Gerels inaugural fight as a Peak Expert, leaving me wholly unable to comprehend the inner workings of their actions. I mean, theyre freaking fighting in mid-air for fucks sake. I can Cloud-Step with the best of them, or so I thought, but Naaran and YuGan are treating gravity like a suggestion as they zip back and forth, up and down, sideways and under, all the while trading blow after blow after blow. Its like seeing a fish and saying it swims, which is 100% correct, but also wholly lacking in any and all useful information regarding the mechanics behind aquatic motility.
It starts with Naaran soaring through the air to deliver a thrust thats more than a thrust. I say this not because I cant recognize the Movement hes using, which I dont, nor is it because I see the same signs of elevated mastery I saw from Lang Yi only dialed up to eleven, which I do. No, I believe Naarans thrust is more than a thrust because despite looking like a straightforward lunge of his spear, there are a myriad of forces and variables in play which I can barely perceive, much less identify. Even though hes moving at a snails pace in my eyes, I cant even track the course of his spear as it slithers like a snake through the air, oscillating at speeds so quick it doesnt even look solid anymore. Not because his spear is special and floppy like Singing Spear Shi Yukans signature weapon. No, Naarans spear is solid steel and rigid as can be, but his movements make it look flexible using the same principle every bored student uses to make their pencils look like theyre made of rubber. An optical illusion, but one so well done that I find myself second guessing the facts as I watch the spear do more than just undulate back and forth, but also seemingly rotate and spiral as well as its Chi runs rampant to confuse my eyes and Spiritual Senses, all of which makes it nigh impossible to track Naarans course or make any conjecture regarding his chosen target.
For me at least, but not so for Mataram YuGan, who brings his spear downwards in a diagonal sweep to intercept Naarans thrust. Tiger Form, Twitching Tail, delivered as an active parry that could also double as an offensive strike, a simple and straightforward response to an infinitely complex attack. From this alone, its easy to see that the Mataram Patriarchs spear skills are inferior to Naarans, lacking a certain je-ne-sais-quoi that I cannot describe because I myself am lacking the same, an ineffable quality that elevates a Warrior into a Weapon Master. That being said, their spear skills are but a single facet of the respective strengths of these two pinnacle Peak Experts, and YuGan is not to be underestimated, for the Sword King Ryo Dae Jung was the greatest swordsman of three generations and still fell to the Mataram Patriarchs spear.
Which just goes to show, in a life and death battle, the stronger, faster, or even most skilled Warrior isnt always the one who comes out on top.
In response to his opponents counter, Naaran adjusts course and picks a new target, causing YuGan to shift his movements to match him. This sets off a chain of adjustments and readjustments as they approach one another at break-neck speeds, and it occurs to me that theyre not really reacting to each others actions as they are playing out a set of moves they already planned in advance. Surely there are some on-the-fly changes and adjustments made last second, but I cant pick them out, nor do I really understand what sort of tactics or information theyre working with. Its like seeing two grandmaster chess players sit down and stare at each other, playing dozens of games out in their heads before ever laying hand on a single piece, except this game here has far more variables and unknowns to account for as well as a complete and utter lack of rules besides the admittedly pliable laws of nature.
Their spears cross paths without colliding, but not for a lack of trying, as Naarans repeated twists and turns do more than just deceive. The movement itself lends weight to his Domain Deflection as a veritable whirlwind of Chi surges out from the spearhead with an audible gust of wind. Sticking to his guns, the Mataram Patriarch continues with his sweep in an effort to barrel through the Deflections, and crude as it might seem, theres no arguing against its effectiveness. Pure unadulterated power against pinnacle skill, and power wins out in the end as Naarans thrust is swept aside in an ear-splitting collision. Credit where credit is due, YuGan aims his parry perfectly to give him all the leverage in their exchange, striking the tip of his opponents spear with a section sitting in the top-third of his own.
A basic concept even I understand, yet seeing the Mataram Patriarch use it so effortlessly makes me feel ashamed to call myself the Number One Talent, for there is still so much I have yet to learn.
Ordinarily, youd expect a parry like that to smash Naarans spear aside, but he expected the exchange to play out like this, or at least had plans in place for this very outcome. Though his Domain Deflection failed to turn aside his opponents active parry, Naaran repurposes those same energies to instead bind their spears together, grabbing hold of YuGans spear and dragging along as he sweeps his spear out to the side before bringing it back around for a horizontal strike. Theres a flash of surprise in YuGans eyes, so brief even I barely catch it, and I would have entirely missed it if I wasnt able to read his emotions so well. That brief moment is more than enough for Naaran as he exhales so loudly he might as well shout, and his Honed spear is a formidable sight to behold. This Chi working is nothing particularly out of the ordinary like Dastans Severing Cut or Moms Reinforced shards of Honed Domain, elevated forms of Honing that can cut without a blade behind it. Nor is it anything beyond what I would call regular Honing, because thats all it really is. That being said, theres still a marked difference in Naarans Honing that I cant really describe, an ease and fluidity to it that I wouldnt be able to see with my physical eyes. I Visualize Honing like a chainsaw, a moving layer of Chi over the edge of my weapons that is filled with rotating rings of biting teeth, for lack of a better word, but Naarans Honing is seamless and inseparable from the spear itself. Hes not using his Chi or Domain as an extra layer, nor is he using it to enhance the sharpness of his spear. Instead, his Honing accentuates the natural sharpness of his spear, a difference that one might think is without distinction, but I cannot deny the effectiveness of what I see and feel here.
Theres no separation between his Chi, Domain, and spear, none whatsoever. Three as one and one as three, One with the Spear, One with the World, One with the Heavens, and more, a merger of man, nature, and Heaven working together. For a moment, Im unsure if Naarans spear is moving, or if its fixed in place, and the universe is moving around it to facilitate this one, singular attack. Theres so much more to this strike than what I can sense, so much more than I can comprehend, but even this much is enough to leave me speechless in awe. Still dragging his foes spear behind it, Naarans strike passes through the finger wide gap between helmet and pauldron and crashes into YuGans neck, sending a spray of sparks flying out into the air.
Pain.
Fear.
Shame.
Rage.
Mataram YuGan experiences a rollercoaster of emotion, wholly caught off-guard and unprepared for Naarans superlative strike, but the Demon residing within his Runic armour is not so easily deceived. Much like me, it can glean more than what the physical senses perceive, for though it is an aberration and abomination of nature, it was crafted from the Energy of the Heavens themselves, and therefore far more in tune with it than mere mortals. Chi surges out from YuGans Core and into the quasi-living armour through connections that go beyond the physical. Once inside the armour, YuGans Chi merges with the Demons Ichor which is the lifes blood of its existence, a perversion of Heavenly Energy made real and tainted by the wrongness of the Demons birth. Together, these two energies mingle to become more than the sum of their parts, only to pass back into YuGans Core whilst still in the Demons control. From the Core, it flows through YuGans metaphysical body like blood through his veins, billowing out in all directions rather than veering straight towards its eventual target. No idea why the Demon would move its energies in so roundabout a fashion, but it does have the added benefit of highlighting YuGans Spiritual system for me to see.
And so another beacon of hope is lit as any and all who see this are emboldened and enlivened, whispering of how Lei Gong no longer qualifies as a mere lord, but deserves to be known as the veritable God of Thunder in the flesh.
That is the greatest success around, and there are several smaller victories to be found all around, but there is still the matter of Mataram YuChun and YuGan. Even as I deliberate on which one to direct Lei Gongs efforts at, my heart seizes up in terror at the sight of my beloved Yan making a beeline over towards the former. The balls on this woman, for my sweet, headstrong wife has set the Ten-Thousand Spears in her sights, and all I can do is curse at the Natal Soul assigned to her for not keeping her ambitions in check. Then again, its not like I could even if I wanted to, so I cant really blame myself for not trying, but that doesnt absolve me of blame for just leaving Yan to her own devices. Okay, yea, shes a boss and can do her own thing, because she dont need no man to approve of her actions, but it is the sheer height of stupidity to take on a Peak Expert who is clearly heads and shoulders above the crowd.
Knowing theres no convincing Yan otherwise, I set into motion a plan to at least send her some support, but alas, YuChuns current opponents are of no help. Two headstrong Society Adherents are currently locked in bitter battle with him, their anger surging over the loss of their third comrade lying dead at Yuchuns feet. Well, one of them is angry, the other a little pleased, because he never liked his dead ally, though hes considerably scared of YuChuns prowess. The Society Adherents both feel outmatched and are a hairs breadth from fleeing in terror, but they both fear Situ Chi Gan even more, because they know what he will do to them, their families, and their factions if they were to abandon their posts. Nothing overt as destroying them outright, but the price paid would be far more costly than their meagre lives, so they stand their ground and spin their wheels in an effort to come up with some plan to ensure their survival for as long as possible.
None of which includes putting their trust in Legate Falling Rain, which is why the three Natal Souls assigned here are standing around and twiddling their thumbs like the idiots they are.
Executive Orders, I Send, and they all jump to attention before realizing its just another Natal Soul. Not that theyd treat Prime Me any differently, but were a jumpy bunch by nature. Help Yan. Orders all three were ready to argue until they actually received them, but they are more than happy to join hands and merge with our beloved wife, which is far more palatable than doing so with some dusty old Warriors who we dont even know or like. At the same time, I dole out orders to other Natal Souls who are in similar straits, stuck in limbo because they cant find anyone useful to help or because their assigned targets have already died, but not all of them go to Yan. Shes got more than enough Heavenly Energy, but even if I gave her everything I had, that still wouldnt be enough to ensure she can take down her target without dying.
An outcome I will not allow, because even though I am but a copy of my real self, my love for Yan is still real enough to matter.
A shot rings out from the battlements and its soon echoed by several others as my Spiritual Rifle bearing infantry all fire upon YuChun, with an extra added shot from OuYang Yuhuan who still hasnt quite got the hang of her rifle just yet. Deadly as the weapons are, theyre not so effective against Peak Experts without the element of surprise, and YuChun has kept his guard up after losing his favourite son to those same weapons. Kinda fucked up that he had a favourite, so fuck him and fuck his son because theyre a bunch of murderous bastards. A skilled murderous bastard however, as YuChun plummets tot the battlements and slides out of the way of every bullet aimed at him. The second volley misses as well as he sets his boots to skimming across the parapets, and impressive as it is, I can sense his frustration and tell that hes only doing this because hes not confident he can avoid the bullets while dancing around in the sky like his father and Naaran. That makes me feel a little better about Prime Mes lacking skills since even a Peak Expert like YuChun has room to improve, but theres no time to celebrate minor victories as the next part of my plan comes into play.
For despite having free reign to fight anywhere he would like, Mataram YuChun has been lingering around where my retinue is stationed in the hopes of getting a clean strike on the man who killed his son, the ever-vigilant Old Bulat who keeps weaving in and out of the crowd to fire his Domain-imbued bullets.
A useful skill that, one Ive taken, examined, and disseminated amongst a select few individuals, including one woman who has yet to really make her presence known upon the battlefield. Shes been here from the start, but shes never been one to stand out, despite being both skilled and beautiful in her own right. Then again, part of this might well be due to her position on the battlefield, with boots in the sand alongside her comrades guarding the Irregulars, but make no mistake, Sai Chou is a talent few can match with bow or axe alike, and she showcases her talents here as she lines up her difficult shot and lets loose at a target she can barely pick out from the crowd.
And yet, her shot flies true, for she is one with the Bow, and one with the Arrow, a feat I fear will forever remain beyond my reach.
An arrow is much slower than a bullet, but much quieter as well, a sub-sonic projectile that even a regular Martial Warrior can smack out of the air. That being said, there are many, many, many more arrows flying about then there are bullets, so even though Mataram YuChun hears Sai Chous arrow hurtling towards him, he doesnt register the danger until it is almost too late. A slight turn of his head, thats all it takes to ensure the arrow strikes his helmet instead of his cheek, but unlike every other arrow flying through the air, Sai Chous arrowhead is encapsulated in a severed shard of her Domain. The Domain itself is not Honed, Reverberating, or Amplified, for Sai Chou lacks the skills to do such a thing, and truth be told, so do I. Aside from Mom and Dastan, I dont really know anyone else who can imbue destructive energy into their Domain and use it to injure and kill on its own, but thats okay. Sai Chous severed shard of Domain is similar to the arrow itself, merely a mechanism to deliver the true killing blow hidden inside.
A strange and unknown Chi skill Bulat developed himself, in a pique of rage over how unfair it was for the Enemy to all be clad in Runic armour.
Unlike his father, YuChun is not a half-Demon, but whole human encased in Runic steel. Probably because his talents are even greater than his fathers, with potential still yet to be tapped. It just goes to show that theyre not wholly unhinged and unaware of the consequences, but while YuGan was willing to pay the price, he was not willing to let his son to do the same. A good thing for us, because Bulats new working is an.. Unravelling, of sorts, as thats what it does. I hesitate to call it a dispelling force, because rather than unmake a Chi working, it neutralizes any unnatural changes made in the material world by Will or Domain, hence the new and made-up term, Unravel. From what I can tell, its similar to what happens when two Blessings interact, resulting in a net zero effect as they cancel one another out, which is exactly what happens when the Chi skill impacts against YuChuns Runic helmet.
As the ties binding the physical and metaphysical come apart, the Runes engraved into the steel helmet become little more than pretty carvings etched into the metal itself. A micro-second later, the full force of Sai Chous arrow hammers home against mundane steel, and the results are most satisfying to behold. Designed only for its looks and relying on the Runes to bestow protection, the helmet does nothing as the arrow drills through the thin metal and digs deep into soft flesh before stopping as it strikes bone, and YuChun reels in place even as his lungs fill with air for a scream he has yet to unleash.
Credit where credit is due, the Ten Thousand Spears is a survivor. Taking to the skies in search of escape, he slips away from the two Society Adherents rushing in to engage him, but I am a man who plans for the worst. As such, Yan is already in position above him and strikes before he registers her presence, her scything Wind Blades hammering home against YuChuns exposed face. Spinning about to avoid the bulk of the damage, he hunkers down and raises his spear to cover his throat while Healing for all hes worth, using Panacea of all things to avoid instant death as the Wind Blades almost decapitate him. Quick on her feet as ever, Yan utilizes her Wind Domain to condense a whirlwind inside an orb no larger than a grape and sends it at her foe with a beatific grin of murderous delight. I have never been more turned on in my life, which admittedly is better measured in seconds rather than minutes, but even this is not enough to kill Mataram YuChun as a watery tentacle rises up to smash Yans Exploding Wind out of the air in a spray of water and mist.
Fucking Pudge is back, but my enemies are out here playing checkers while Im playing 4d chess.
Before YuChun can even heave a sigh of relief, a beam of fiery hot light smashes into him from below, proving exactly why most Warriors prefer to fight on the ground. In taking to the skies, hes opened himself up to attacks from below, an opportunity my beloved Mila was just waiting for from her place on the beach. With a little advanced warning and a full Core recharge from a friendly Natal Soul, shes firin her lazors at one of the most dangerous Peak Experts around, an attack which smashes into him and almost overloads his still working Runic Armour in one go. Theres no Unravelling there, just plain old raw power and the heat of the god-damn sun as Mila unleashes her ultimate attack once again, one powered by the lives of my brethren.
Alas, even this is not enough to kill Mataram YuChun, and Ive no moves left to make as he Cloud-Steps away to safety over the Defiled encampment. Somehow, he was able to mount a defense against Milas laser, one that left him with horrific burns across the entirety of his naked, charred body, his flesh and armour all melted away and leaving him as one, giant, cauterized wound, yet doing nothing to quell his rage and fury. The pain is nothing to him compared to the injury to his pride, for he is a Warrior standing close to the peak, yet he has been done in today by two young girls who he sees as beneath even his sons. A grievous wound this is, but one he will eventually recover from, or so he believes.
Not because his pride is so weak as to crumble from a single loss. No, Mataram YuChun is a determined man and stalwart Warrior, someone who could have been the second Living Legend of his generation after Ryo Dae Jung, but alas, his Clan has led him astray. There is only anger and hatred left within his heart, most of it directed towards the Empire but no small amount pointed at Mila and Yan, which means there is no mercy in mine as I watch three mute Aspirants materialize around him and drive their swords into his crisp flesh.
A suicidal attack, one I did not order, but one all three Aspirants were all too happy to deliver the moment they saw their chance, for they find their past sins and silent existence too heavy to bear much longer. There is only pride and relief in their hearts as the Demons and Champions tear them apart, for death represents the freedom and contrition they so desperately desired. Even if theyd accepted my offer to free them from their Oaths, they each believe they would have succumbed to despair in time, but I still shed a tear for their deaths. I dont know the full extent of their sins, or the burdens they bear, but the help and information they provided was instrumental to my continued success. Id hoped to one day break their Oaths, learn their names, and raise a drink to their honour, but now this day will never come to pass. Such is the Path of a General, to leave a mountain of corpses in his wake, and my mountain has grown that much bigger today.
A rousing victory that comes at great cost, but the soldiers of the Empire cheer all the same, not knowing the names of the heroes who died to make it happen or the Natal Souls that gave up everything along the way.
Much as I would like to take a moment to grieve, I cannot spare anymore time, for in my distraction to take down YuChun, I have left YuGan too long unrestrained. Losing his grandson didnt affect him much, but YuChun was his pride and joy, and the Demon with YuGan encourages his rage and feeds on it all the same. Seething with fury, denial, and dejection, YuGan erupts into a storm of destruction as his spear smashes against Naarans time and time again, and finally, the grizzled old man lowers his emotional barriers to let a little something of himself leak through. A massive pang of regret for so very many things, but entwined with a warm and fond farewell directed to someone below, someone here in Meng Sha who cannot hear him, but someone he loves all the same.
And like that, the answer comes to me in a burst of inspiration, nothing Heaven sent or extraordinary, because I recognize this specific kind of love, as warm and pure as any. It is not the love of family, or love of another person even, nor is it the impersonal love of duty, bloodshed, or the Empire. This is a simple love, straightforward and undemanding, one born from a lifetime of camaraderie and companionship without even a single tint of conflict or betrayal. It is a love that is dependent, yet also supportive at the same time, unyielding and eternal for as long as there is life, and I deliver said love to its intended recipient, even though Naaran never intended for his love to be known.
Yet know this, Kharuul does, the biggest heckin chonker of a quin Ive ever met, and more importantly, Naarans loyal mount and companion. Who wouldve thunk it? Naaran is a floof lover, just like me.
Unlike his closed off master however, Kharuul is more than happy to accept my help as he utters a piercing, chittering cry and pounces through the air at the Mataram Patriarch, much to Naarans dismay. He knows theres a vast disparity between a Spiritual Beast and even a normal Peak Expert that few animals could ever surpass, but what he doesnt know is that despite having fought at his side for so many years, Kharuul has never once gone all out in battle. This means that in spite of his formidable strength, he has never once wholly exerted his Will in a do or die effort, but thats just the way animals are. Why fight to the death when you could escape to live another day? Thats the mindset most animals live by, but in order to save the human he adopted so long ago and loves every bit as much as his pups, Kharuul the Spiritual Quin is finally ready to throw down.
So ready that he draws so much of my help that I can barely string together a coherent thought anymore, but I remember to pass the mantle of leadership to another Natal Soul along with all the tools hell need before embracing my ultimate fate. Terrified as I am by the prospect of imminent death, I also find it a relief in a way, because much like the silent Aspirants who gave their lives to bring down Mataram YuChun, I am now finally freed from the heavy burden of responsibility, and can go out doing what I love best.
Never once has Kharuul let me hug his floof, but now I can metaphysically snuggle him for all Im worth. Honestly, there are far worse ways to go, and worse causes to die for, so I close my eyes and sink into the warm floof of Kharuuls soul without a care in the world for what comes next.
Thats Prime Mes problem now, because my work here is done.
Chapter Meme
Chapter 774I think Naaran hates me.Well, hate is probably too strong a word, but he definitely doesnt like me.Which is totally fair. Not everyone has to like me, even though Im funny, polite, generous, considerate, and conscientious. I get it. Some people are bothered by that. Im not to everyones tastes, which is fine. To each their own. I accept this. Naaran doesnt have to like me. Its cool. That being said, I dont think its fairthat he doesnt like me, because Naaran doesnt even know me. He knows Falling Rain, but thats not me. Im just a Natal Soul assigned to help Naaran in these trying times, which means technically, this is our first time ever meeting. Okay, yea, Im like, ninety-nine-point-nine-nine percent similar to Prime Me, but that zero-point-zero-one percent is more of a difference than youd think. For the sake of comparison, humans and chimpanzees share almost ninety-nine percent of the same DNA, but youd never mistake a chimp for a man or vice versa, now would you?Now that I think about it actually, you might. Really depends on the chimp or the man, I guess.Whatever. Im just saying, its not fair to judge me by the standards Prime Me set. Besides, why doesnt he like Prime Me? Weve spent so much time together, Naaran has pretty much become a fixture in my life, so I figured hed at least be lukewarm to my presence, but nope. Here I am trying to literally sacrifice my newly acquired existence so he can get a leg up in his fight against the Half-Demon Mataram Patriarch YuGan, and what do I get in return? Nadda. Nothing. Zilch. Thats what I get. Unlike Binesi, Naaran isnt stonewalling my efforts to contact him, but so closed off hes utterly unaware of my presence in the first place, alongside any and all efforts to open up a line of dialogue. Far as I could tell from Prime Mes earlier efforts, Binesi at least had some inkling of someone trying to contact him, because the timing of his attacks perfectly coincided with Prime Mes attempts to help. Granted, the outcome was completely different from what we were trying to convey, but its proof enough that something was getting through. With Naaran, its like Im trying to teach advanced calculus to a god-damned rock, though Im beginning to think Im sorely underqualified to teach Naaran anything at all.Seriously, Peak Experts are on a whole other level from us normie pleb Martial Warriors, and I never really wholly appreciated this fact until just now. The demarcating line between Expert and Peak Expert is not so easily defined, because its not solely a matter of jumping higher, running faster, or hitting harder. Nor is it really about Martial skill, because if it was, Lang Yi would count as a Peak Expert due to his superb mastery of the spear forms. Ive asked before, but no one really ever told me how one becomes a Peak Expert, and seeing how I jumped through the strength rankings reach to my current undefined level in a single bound, I kinda stopped caring about getting a more specific answer. Today, as I stand and watch Naaran trade blows with Mataram YuGan, I finally understand what it means to be a Peak Expert.In a word?Mastery.Whether it be Chi skills, Forms, weapon handling, or anything else you might think of, a Peak Expert is someone who has mastered the myriad intricacies of combat. Thats what it takes to be acknowledged by the world at large, a demonstration of said mastery. When Gerel declared himself a Peak Expert, he was telling everyone in the Citadel that he had mastered the various aspects of the Martial Path and possessed the qualifications to stand amongst the best of the best. Then, in a series of duels against established Peak Experts, he proved it. Not by winning against his opponents, because thats not enough. You can be more skilled and still lose due to a number of factors. Less strength. Less stamina. Poor decision making. Slow reflexes. Whatever. Mastery gives you an edge over your less skilled opponents, but it doesnt guarantee victory, the same way superior strength or speed doesnt. Gerel winning his matches was just an added bonus, proving that he not only has the skills, but also the instinct, intelligence, and experience to use them, but even if hed lost against his first opponent, no one would have dared to claim he was no Peak Expert. Fifty moves was the gift Gerel offered his foe, Brigadier Sang Hyoon of the Seven Star Sect, fifty moves before he would retaliate, and in that short period of time, Gerel demonstrated his skills for all to see and proved that he deserved the lofty title of Peak Expert.I remember the fight well, but I was merely a frog in a well at the time, still overly impressed by how Gerel Cloud-Stepped off the balcony and over to the stage. I remember thinking how cool it was to walk on air like that, and how jealous I was that it wasnt me, but even though I can Cloud-Step now, I doubt I could ever match Gerels casual arrogance and lofty disdain. Its just ingrained into every fibre of his being, a stubborn pride that refuses to ever back down, and while I hate to admit it, he has the talent and dedication to back his arrogance up. To think, hed calmly offer his opponent fifty moves, then break his promise in the first exchange to show everyone that he wasnt boasting and could really defeat a Brigadier in a single move. Thats some serious swagger that I know I could never match, and it burns me to admit it.Seriously, if I tried something like that, my opponent would probably scream, You dare? and immediately try to kill me, but when Gerel does it, he earns their respect. Probably because hes tall and muscular, plus he has a face that belongs on a heroic male lead in a superhero movie, while Im short and pretty, as Yan would say. Life just isnt fair.Running through the memories of that fight in my head, I note how Gerel made sure to showcase all eight basic Chi skills throughout the duration of the match. A hop back to avoid the first swing, then another for the second, then he reversed his momentum and bent over backwards while sliding under Sang Hyoons maul before coming around to face him again, the movements so smooth and slick it almost seemed like Gerel was a leaf in the wind. As incredible as it looked, at the time, I never really appreciated just how difficult that series of movements must have been, because I had no frame of reference to compare it to. Gerels movements were quite literally inhuman, because no basic human could ever replicate them. He was only able to pull it all off through a combination of Lightening, Stability, Deflection, and Amplification, but there might be other Chi skills I missed. Whats more, despite the inhuman nature of his movements, he made them look so normal and natural I didnt even question how he pulled it off, just accepted that it was a part and parcel of being a better Warrior.But even now, if pressed to replicate those same movements in a safe environment, I doubt Prime Me could pull it off within a hundred tries. Or even a thousand, if Im feeling bold, though hed probably give up long before reaching that mark. I know how to use all the Chi skills, but you gotta do more than memorize the steps if you wanna be a professional dancer. You gotta practice the steps, then practice them some more, and again and again until they become ingrained in your body, mind, and yes, soul too, until its all as natural as breathing. I named four Chi Skills which Gerel used in those three exchanges, but I couldnt count the number of times he used each one or describe the method of application, because he was almost always using more than one Chi skill at any given moment. More than that, he was also making minute adjustments to each skill on the fly, and applying them unequally across different parts of his body. Take Lightening for example. In order to bend over backwards and glide away, he had to Lighten himself enough so that he could slide across the stone stage on his Deflected Domain, yet do so in an unequal fashion to keep his boots from flying off the ground or losing too much traction and slipping, to say nothing of the core strength required to do the limbo mid-fight. I cant even begin to wrap my head around the physics of his actions, but Gerels mastery of Lightening is so high he doesnt even need to think about it. Its the same with all his Chi skills, so ordinary and instinctive that its as natural as pointing at a flying bird or letting your feet follow a paved road.Dont get me wrong. Prime Me is strong, but hes no Peak Expert. Stronger than one, maybe, but thats not what the designation is all about. Its the difference between a professional eater and a bear, wherein even though the professional loses every time, its still an impressive achievement to be able to compete, whereas the bear is just a bear. Cute, cuddly, and incredibly voracious, but doesnt really do anything extraordinary from a technical perspective, which sums up my attainments in the Martial Path pretty well. Power, I have plenty of in the form of Heavenly Energy, but no real idea on how to use it, else I wouldnt be floating here in helpless impotence while reminiscing about a fight I saw almost two years ago.Honestly, what I should be doing is breaking down Naarans fight with Mataram YuGan instead and seeing what I can learn from it, except its a little like trying to puzzle out advanced physics while Im still struggling to count. I can slow down my perception of time and see them jumping around and trading blows in the skies over Meng Sha, but while seeing is believing, understanding takes a fair bit more work. Even though theyre all Peak Experts, there is a vast disparity in the level of skills shown by the various Peak Experts in Meng Sha, and I believe that these two here are the most skilled, bar none. Comparatively, this means Im even more clueless here than I was during Gerels inaugural fight as a Peak Expert, leaving me wholly unable to comprehend the inner workings of their actions. I mean, theyre freaking fighting in mid-air for fucks sake. I can Cloud-Step with the best of them, or so I thought, but Naaran and YuGan are treating gravity like a suggestion as they zip back and forth, up and down, sideways and under, all the while trading blow after blow after blow. Its like seeing a fish and saying it swims, which is 100% correct, but also wholly lacking in any and all useful information regarding the mechanics behind aquatic motility.It starts with Naaran soaring through the air to deliver a thrust thats more than a thrust. I say this not because I cant recognize the Movement hes using, which I dont, nor is it because I see the same signs of elevated mastery I saw from Lang Yi only dialed up to eleven, which I do. No, I believe Naarans thrust is more than a thrust because despite looking like a straightforward lunge of his spear, there are a myriad of forces and variables in play which I can barely perceive, much less identify. Even though hes moving at a snails pace in my eyes, I cant even track the course of his spear as it slithers like a snake through the air, oscillating at speeds so quick it doesnt even look solid anymore. Not because his spear is special and floppy like Singing Spear Shi Yukans signature weapon. No, Naarans spear is solid steel and rigid as can be, but his movements make it look flexible using the same principle every bored student uses to make their pencils look like theyre made of rubber. An optical illusion, but one so well done that I find myself second guessing the facts as I watch the spear do more than just undulate back and forth, but also seemingly rotate and spiral as well as its Chi runs rampant to confuse my eyes and Spiritual Senses, all of which makes it nigh impossible to track Naarans course or make any conjecture regarding his chosen target.For me at least, but not so for Mataram YuGan, who brings his spear downwards in a diagonal sweep to intercept Naarans thrust. Tiger Form, Twitching Tail, delivered as an active parry that could also double as an offensive strike, a simple and straightforward response to an infinitely complex attack. From this alone, its easy to see that the Mataram Patriarchs spear skills are inferior to Naarans, lacking a certain je-ne-sais-quoi that I cannot describe because I myself am lacking the same, an ineffable quality that elevates a Warrior into a Weapon Master. That being said, their spear skills are but a single facet of the respective strengths of these two pinnacle Peak Experts, and YuGan is not to be underestimated, for the Sword King Ryo Dae Jung was the greatest swordsman of three generations and still fell to the Mataram Patriarchs spear.Which just goes to show, in a life and death battle, the stronger, faster, or even most skilled Warrior isnt always the one who comes out on top.In response to his opponents counter, Naaran adjusts course and picks a new target, causing YuGan to shift his movements to match him. This sets off a chain of adjustments and readjustments as they approach one another at break-neck speeds, and it occurs to me that theyre not really reacting to each others actions as they are playing out a set of moves they already planned in advance. Surely there are some on-the-fly changes and adjustments made last second, but I cant pick them out, nor do I really understand what sort of tactics or information theyre working with. Its like seeing two grandmaster chess players sit down and stare at each other, playing dozens of games out in their heads before ever laying hand on a single piece, except this game here has far more variables and unknowns to account for as well as a complete and utter lack of rules besides the admittedly pliable laws of nature.Their spears cross paths without colliding, but not for a lack of trying, as Naarans repeated twists and turns do more than just deceive. The movement itself lends weight to his Domain Deflection as a veritable whirlwind of Chi surges out from the spearhead with an audible gust of wind. Sticking to his guns, the Mataram Patriarch continues with his sweep in an effort to barrel through the Deflections, and crude as it might seem, theres no arguing against its effectiveness. Pure unadulterated power against pinnacle skill, and power wins out in the end as Naarans thrust is swept aside in an ear-splitting collision. Credit where credit is due, YuGan aims his parry perfectly to give him all the leverage in their exchange, striking the tip of his opponents spear with a section sitting in the top-third of his own.A basic concept even I understand, yet seeing the Mataram Patriarch use it so effortlessly makes me feel ashamed to call myself the Number One Talent, for there is still so much I have yet to learn.Ordinarily, youd expect a parry like that to smash Naarans spear aside, but he expected the exchange to play out like this, or at least had plans in place for this very outcome. Though his Domain Deflection failed to turn aside his opponents active parry, Naaran repurposes those same energies to instead bind their spears together, grabbing hold of YuGans spear and dragging along as he sweeps his spear out to the side before bringing it back around for a horizontal strike. Theres a flash of surprise in YuGans eyes, so brief even I barely catch it, and I would have entirely missed it if I wasnt able to read his emotions so well. That brief moment is more than enough for Naaran as he exhales so loudly he might as well shout, and his Honed spear is a formidable sight to behold. This Chi working is nothing particularly out of the ordinary like Dastans Severing Cut or Moms Reinforced shards of Honed Domain, elevated forms of Honing that can cut without a blade behind it. Nor is it anything beyond what I would call regular Honing, because thats all it really is. That being said, theres still a marked difference in Naarans Honing that I cant really describe, an ease and fluidity to it that I wouldnt be able to see with my physical eyes. I Visualize Honing like a chainsaw, a moving layer of Chi over the edge of my weapons that is filled with rotating rings of biting teeth, for lack of a better word, but Naarans Honing is seamless and inseparable from the spear itself. Hes not using his Chi or Domain as an extra layer, nor is he using it to enhance the sharpness of his spear. Instead, his Honing accentuates the natural sharpness of his spear, a difference that one might think is without distinction, but I cannot deny the effectiveness of what I see and feel here.Theres no separation between his Chi, Domain, and spear, none whatsoever. Three as one and one as three, One with the Spear, One with the World, One with the Heavens, and more, a merger of man, nature, and Heaven working together. For a moment, Im unsure if Naarans spear is moving, or if its fixed in place, and the universe is moving around it to facilitate this one, singular attack. Theres so much more to this strike than what I can sense, so much more than I can comprehend, but even this much is enough to leave me speechless in awe. Still dragging his foes spear behind it, Naarans strike passes through the finger wide gap between helmet and pauldron and crashes into YuGans neck, sending a spray of sparks flying out into the air.Pain.Fear.Shame.Rage.Mataram YuGan experiences a rollercoaster of emotion, wholly caught off-guard and unprepared for Naarans superlative strike, but the Demon residing within his Runic armour is not so easily deceived. Much like me, it can glean more than what the physical senses perceive, for though it is an aberration and abomination of nature, it was crafted from the Energy of the Heavens themselves, and therefore far more in tune with it than mere mortals. Chi surges out from YuGans Core and into the quasi-living armour through connections that go beyond the physical. Once inside the armour, YuGans Chi merges with the Demons Ichor which is the lifes blood of its existence, a perversion of Heavenly Energy made real and tainted by the wrongness of the Demons birth. Together, these two energies mingle to become more than the sum of their parts, only to pass back into YuGans Core whilst still in the Demons control. From the Core, it flows through YuGans metaphysical body like blood through his veins, billowing out in all directions rather than veering straight towards its eventual target. No idea why the Demon would move its energies in so roundabout a fashion, but it does have the added benefit of highlighting YuGans Spiritual system for me to see.And so another beacon of hope is lit as any and all who see this are emboldened and enlivened, whispering of how Lei Gong no longer qualifies as a mere lord, but deserves to be known as the veritable God of Thunder in the flesh.That is the greatest success around, and there are several smaller victories to be found all around, but there is still the matter of Mataram YuChun and YuGan. Even as I deliberate on which one to direct Lei Gongs efforts at, my heart seizes up in terror at the sight of my beloved Yan making a beeline over towards the former. The balls on this woman, for my sweet, headstrong wife has set the Ten-Thousand Spears in her sights, and all I can do is curse at the Natal Soul assigned to her for not keeping her ambitions in check. Then again, its not like I could even if I wanted to, so I cant really blame myself for not trying, but that doesnt absolve me of blame for just leaving Yan to her own devices. Okay, yea, shes a boss and can do her own thing, because she dont need no man to approve of her actions, but it is the sheer height of stupidity to take on a Peak Expert who is clearly heads and shoulders above the crowd.Knowing theres no convincing Yan otherwise, I set into motion a plan to at least send her some support, but alas, YuChuns current opponents are of no help. Two headstrong Society Adherents are currently locked in bitter battle with him, their anger surging over the loss of their third comrade lying dead at Yuchuns feet. Well, one of them is angry, the other a little pleased, because he never liked his dead ally, though hes considerably scared of YuChuns prowess. The Society Adherents both feel outmatched and are a hairs breadth from fleeing in terror, but they both fear Situ Chi Gan even more, because they know what he will do to them, their families, and their factions if they were to abandon their posts. Nothing overt as destroying them outright, but the price paid would be far more costly than their meagre lives, so they stand their ground and spin their wheels in an effort to come up with some plan to ensure their survival for as long as possible.None of which includes putting their trust in Legate Falling Rain, which is why the three Natal Souls assigned here are standing around and twiddling their thumbs like the idiots they are.Executive Orders, I Send, and they all jump to attention before realizing its just another Natal Soul. Not that theyd treat Prime Me any differently, but were a jumpy bunch by nature. Help Yan. Orders all three were ready to argue until they actually received them, but they are more than happy to join hands and merge with our beloved wife, which is far more palatable than doing so with some dusty old Warriors who we dont even know or like. At the same time, I dole out orders to other Natal Souls who are in similar straits, stuck in limbo because they cant find anyone useful to help or because their assigned targets have already died, but not all of them go to Yan. Shes got more than enough Heavenly Energy, but even if I gave her everything I had, that still wouldnt be enough to ensure she can take down her target without dying.An outcome I will not allow, because even though I am but a copy of my real self, my love for Yan is still real enough to matter.A shot rings out from the battlements and its soon echoed by several others as my Spiritual Rifle bearing infantry all fire upon YuChun, with an extra added shot from OuYang Yuhuan who still hasnt quite got the hang of her rifle just yet. Deadly as the weapons are, theyre not so effective against Peak Experts without the element of surprise, and YuChun has kept his guard up after losing his favourite son to those same weapons. Kinda fucked up that he had a favourite, so fuck him and fuck his son because theyre a bunch of murderous bastards. A skilled murderous bastard however, as YuChun plummets tot the battlements and slides out of the way of every bullet aimed at him. The second volley misses as well as he sets his boots to skimming across the parapets, and impressive as it is, I can sense his frustration and tell that hes only doing this because hes not confident he can avoid the bullets while dancing around in the sky like his father and Naaran. That makes me feel a little better about Prime Mes lacking skills since even a Peak Expert like YuChun has room to improve, but theres no time to celebrate minor victories as the next part of my plan comes into play.For despite having free reign to fight anywhere he would like, Mataram YuChun has been lingering around where my retinue is stationed in the hopes of getting a clean strike on the man who killed his son, the ever-vigilant Old Bulat who keeps weaving in and out of the crowd to fire his Domain-imbued bullets.A useful skill that, one Ive taken, examined, and disseminated amongst a select few individuals, including one woman who has yet to really make her presence known upon the battlefield. Shes been here from the start, but shes never been one to stand out, despite being both skilled and beautiful in her own right. Then again, part of this might well be due to her position on the battlefield, with boots in the sand alongside her comrades guarding the Irregulars, but make no mistake, Sai Chou is a talent few can match with bow or axe alike, and she showcases her talents here as she lines up her difficult shot and lets loose at a target she can barely pick out from the crowd.And yet, her shot flies true, for she is one with the Bow, and one with the Arrow, a feat I fear will forever remain beyond my reach.An arrow is much slower than a bullet, but much quieter as well, a sub-sonic projectile that even a regular Martial Warrior can smack out of the air. That being said, there are many, many, many more arrows flying about then there are bullets, so even though Mataram YuChun hears Sai Chous arrow hurtling towards him, he doesnt register the danger until it is almost too late. A slight turn of his head, thats all it takes to ensure the arrow strikes his helmet instead of his cheek, but unlike every other arrow flying through the air, Sai Chous arrowhead is encapsulated in a severed shard of her Domain. The Domain itself is not Honed, Reverberating, or Amplified, for Sai Chou lacks the skills to do such a thing, and truth be told, so do I. Aside from Mom and Dastan, I dont really know anyone else who can imbue destructive energy into their Domain and use it to injure and kill on its own, but thats okay. Sai Chous severed shard of Domain is similar to the arrow itself, merely a mechanism to deliver the true killing blow hidden inside.A strange and unknown Chi skill Bulat developed himself, in a pique of rage over how unfair it was for the Enemy to all be clad in Runic armour.Unlike his father, YuChun is not a half-Demon, but whole human encased in Runic steel. Probably because his talents are even greater than his fathers, with potential still yet to be tapped. It just goes to show that theyre not wholly unhinged and unaware of the consequences, but while YuGan was willing to pay the price, he was not willing to let his son to do the same. A good thing for us, because Bulats new working is an.. Unravelling, of sorts, as thats what it does. I hesitate to call it a dispelling force, because rather than unmake a Chi working, it neutralizes any unnatural changes made in the material world by Will or Domain, hence the new and made-up term, Unravel. From what I can tell, its similar to what happens when two Blessings interact, resulting in a net zero effect as they cancel one another out, which is exactly what happens when the Chi skill impacts against YuChuns Runic helmet.As the ties binding the physical and metaphysical come apart, the Runes engraved into the steel helmet become little more than pretty carvings etched into the metal itself. A micro-second later, the full force of Sai Chous arrow hammers home against mundane steel, and the results are most satisfying to behold. Designed only for its looks and relying on the Runes to bestow protection, the helmet does nothing as the arrow drills through the thin metal and digs deep into soft flesh before stopping as it strikes bone, and YuChun reels in place even as his lungs fill with air for a scream he has yet to unleash.Credit where credit is due, the Ten Thousand Spears is a survivor. Taking to the skies in search of escape, he slips away from the two Society Adherents rushing in to engage him, but I am a man who plans for the worst. As such, Yan is already in position above him and strikes before he registers her presence, her scything Wind Blades hammering home against YuChuns exposed face. Spinning about to avoid the bulk of the damage, he hunkers down and raises his spear to cover his throat while Healing for all hes worth, using Panacea of all things to avoid instant death as the Wind Blades almost decapitate him. Quick on her feet as ever, Yan utilizes her Wind Domain to condense a whirlwind inside an orb no larger than a grape and sends it at her foe with a beatific grin of murderous delight. I have never been more turned on in my life, which admittedly is better measured in seconds rather than minutes, but even this is not enough to kill Mataram YuChun as a watery tentacle rises up to smash Yans Exploding Wind out of the air in a spray of water and mist.Fucking Pudge is back, but my enemies are out here playing checkers while Im playing 4d chess.Before YuChun can even heave a sigh of relief, a beam of fiery hot light smashes into him from below, proving exactly why most Warriors prefer to fight on the ground. In taking to the skies, hes opened himself up to attacks from below, an opportunity my beloved Mila was just waiting for from her place on the beach. With a little advanced warning and a full Core recharge from a friendly Natal Soul, shes firin her lazors at one of the most dangerous Peak Experts around, an attack which smashes into him and almost overloads his still working Runic Armour in one go. Theres no Unravelling there, just plain old raw power and the heat of the god-damn sun as Mila unleashes her ultimate attack once again, one powered by the lives of my brethren.Alas, even this is not enough to kill Mataram YuChun, and Ive no moves left to make as he Cloud-Steps away to safety over the Defiled encampment. Somehow, he was able to mount a defense against Milas laser, one that left him with horrific burns across the entirety of his naked, charred body, his flesh and armour all melted away and leaving him as one, giant, cauterized wound, yet doing nothing to quell his rage and fury. The pain is nothing to him compared to the injury to his pride, for he is a Warrior standing close to the peak, yet he has been done in today by two young girls who he sees as beneath even his sons. A grievous wound this is, but one he will eventually recover from, or so he believes.Not because his pride is so weak as to crumble from a single loss. No, Mataram YuChun is a determined man and stalwart Warrior, someone who could have been the second Living Legend of his generation after Ryo Dae Jung, but alas, his Clan has led him astray. There is only anger and hatred left within his heart, most of it directed towards the Empire but no small amount pointed at Mila and Yan, which means there is no mercy in mine as I watch three mute Aspirants materialize around him and drive their swords into his crisp flesh.A suicidal attack, one I did not order, but one all three Aspirants were all too happy to deliver the moment they saw their chance, for they find their past sins and silent existence too heavy to bear much longer. There is only pride and relief in their hearts as the Demons and Champions tear them apart, for death represents the freedom and contrition they so desperately desired. Even if theyd accepted my offer to free them from their Oaths, they each believe they would have succumbed to despair in time, but I still shed a tear for their deaths. I dont know the full extent of their sins, or the burdens they bear, but the help and information they provided was instrumental to my continued success. Id hoped to one day break their Oaths, learn their names, and raise a drink to their honour, but now this day will never come to pass. Such is the Path of a General, to leave a mountain of corpses in his wake, and my mountain has grown that much bigger today.A rousing victory that comes at great cost, but the soldiers of the Empire cheer all the same, not knowing the names of the heroes who died to make it happen or the Natal Souls that gave up everything along the way.Much as I would like to take a moment to grieve, I cannot spare anymore time, for in my distraction to take down YuChun, I have left YuGan too long unrestrained. Losing his grandson didnt affect him much, but YuChun was his pride and joy, and the Demon with YuGan encourages his rage and feeds on it all the same. Seething with fury, denial, and dejection, YuGan erupts into a storm of destruction as his spear smashes against Naarans time and time again, and finally, the grizzled old man lowers his emotional barriers to let a little something of himself leak through. A massive pang of regret for so very many things, but entwined with a warm and fond farewell directed to someone below, someone here in Meng Sha who cannot hear him, but someone he loves all the same.And like that, the answer comes to me in a burst of inspiration, nothing Heaven sent or extraordinary, because I recognize this specific kind of love, as warm and pure as any. It is not the love of family, or love of another person even, nor is it the impersonal love of duty, bloodshed, or the Empire. This is a simple love, straightforward and undemanding, one born from a lifetime of camaraderie and companionship without even a single tint of conflict or betrayal. It is a love that is dependent, yet also supportive at the same time, unyielding and eternal for as long as there is life, and I deliver said love to its intended recipient, even though Naaran never intended for his love to be known.Yet know this, Kharuul does, the biggest heckin chonker of a quin Ive ever met, and more importantly, Naarans loyal mount and companion. Who wouldve thunk it? Naaran is a floof lover, just like me.Unlike his closed off master however, Kharuul is more than happy to accept my help as he utters a piercing, chittering cry and pounces through the air at the Mataram Patriarch, much to Naarans dismay. He knows theres a vast disparity between a Spiritual Beast and even a normal Peak Expert that few animals could ever surpass, but what he doesnt know is that despite having fought at his side for so many years, Kharuul has never once gone all out in battle. This means that in spite of his formidable strength, he has never once wholly exerted his Will in a do or die effort, but thats just the way animals are. Why fight to the death when you could escape to live another day? Thats the mindset most animals live by, but in order to save the human he adopted so long ago and loves every bit as much as his pups, Kharuul the Spiritual Quin is finally ready to throw down.So ready that he draws so much of my help that I can barely string together a coherent thought anymore, but I remember to pass the mantle of leadership to another Natal Soul along with all the tools hell need before embracing my ultimate fate. Terrified as I am by the prospect of imminent death, I also find it a relief in a way, because much like the silent Aspirants who gave their lives to bring down Mataram YuChun, I am now finally freed from the heavy burden of responsibility, and can go out doing what I love best.Never once has Kharuul let me hug his floof, but now I can metaphysically snuggle him for all Im worth. Honestly, there are far worse ways to go, and worse causes to die for, so I close my eyes and sink into the warm floof of Kharuuls soul without a care in the world for what comes next.Thats Prime Mes problem now, because my work here is done.Chapter Meme
