Part Three: God of Light II
[Eternal Palace]
(Eldar Hall)
As Xuanyu turned and looked at Ye Ying, he felt an instant sense of fear; Ye Ying did not dare make eye contact and lowered his head. Xuanyu then turned his attention to Zhi'an, "Your majesty, I have come to inform the court that Arceus has awakened". Xuanyu announced it with a clear voice, with his words echoing throughout the hall. Zhi'an instantly stood up from his throne in disbelief, his expression showing a sense of relief. Qinghuan gave a pleased smile.
The Imperial court began to spur whispers and gasps. As the reactions of the officials of the imperial court became clearer, a sense of fear and uncertainty began to seep into some of their minds. Ye Ying, shocked but weary, steps forward, "Beg my bluntness, but this raises the question, is Lord Arceus fully recovered?". He asked in a malicious and intentional tone. "What do you mean?" asked Li Huan…suspiciously. "Exactly what I asked. Lord Xuanyu has Lord Arceus regained himself?" Ye Ying asked…his tone weird and confusing but still clear, full of malicious intent.
Xuanyu, visibly annoyed, started to walk closer toward Ye Ying. "My Lord, what…what are you doing?", said Ye Ying as he stepped backward. His voice had a slight feeling of fear and anxiety. As Xuanyu got closer, he grabbed Ye Ying by his throat and lifted him in the air, with his feet dangling in the air. The entire hall full of officials gasped and fell silent. "Who are you?" asked Xuanyu as he held him by the throat… "My lord," he crocked unable to speak clearly, "Who are you to question me? Just because you're the son of a great noble clan, yet you're but a second son and not even the lord heir. So, I ask again, who are you to question us?" Xuanyu asked…his voice echoed in the hall, with a stern and firm tone.
Ye Ying looked Xuanyu in the eyes. He felt a sudden surge of temperature; an intense, extreme heat rushed over his body. A burning feeling as if he was standing over an open fire. As Ye Ying slightly glanced at his formal official robes, he saw it was engulfed in flames as he was burning. The heat and flame were intense, and he started to scream in pain and agony. It was brutal; he was being burned alive, but the flame did not spread; it was being controlled and formed by Xuanyu. The entire court gasped in shock and horror, the ministers looked away, and the junior official looked horrified.
Ying Pu took the opportunity to escape, and he walked out of the hall. Zhuyuan noticed him, and he wanted to follow. However, that would put Ying Pu in trouble, considering his identity, "I cannot go, it will only bring him trouble," he thought. Qinghuan noticed Zhuyuan's reaction and also noticed Ying Pu sneaking out, "Children," she thought, annoyed. Zhi'an walked from his throne, holding the jade dragon ring on his left hand, twisting it repeatedly, "Enough!" he said…his stern and commanding. Xuanyu released Ye Ying, his robes burned, and his skin severely damaged with burns. As he fell to the floor, he coughed up blood and could not move.
Xuanyu turned to Zhi'an and bowed, "Forgive me, your majesty, please punish me". Zhi'an shook his head, "No need, rise," he utters… "take the minister to the medical department, I hope he has learned from his mistake", said Zhi'an, annoyed. As Xuanyu rose from his bow, the imperial guard picked up Ye Ying as he was moaning from the pain of being moved and carried him off. As he stood on the platform on which the throne was situated, Zhi'an looked over the imperial court, "I will take was said today, I will deliberate and think about my decision. This assembly is adjourned".
"Thank you, your majesty,", said everyone as they bowed and started leaving the hall. Qinghuan stepped forward, "Your majesty…".
With the matter of the imperial court unresolved, the court is adjourned. Meanwhile, at the Demonic Marsh, sudden activity alerts the Di troops.
[Southern Eternal Border]
(Demonic Marsh)
"General, what do you propose we do?" asked Yangyuan…his voice firm. "We have lost a lot of ground, and the Demonic forces keep advancing forward," added Xiao Ling, concerned. Shangtian, with her arms stretched, leaning on a massive table, looked over the map of the territories of the Southern Part Eternal Realm. She let out a soft sigh of annoyance and frustration, "Have the evacuation of the people begun?" she asked. "Yes, general, almost 75% of the inhabitants of the five closest sectors have been notified," stated a soldier. "Good as long as the people are out of harm's way", said Shangtian…her tone filled with relief.
"How many soldiers do we have currently?" asked Shangtian. Yuan Jiang stepped forward, "We have about 50 000 remaining Di troops and 15 000 Yuan troops available to fight, General," answered he. His weighted down by the distress in his voice and uncertainty in his mind. "That's about 65 000 men still able to fight; we are in over our heads. If only we could mobilize the main force of the Di clan, but the stronghold of the Di clan is too far away", said Yangyuan…his voice uncertain and unsure. "I cannot mobilize the main force, knowing that the defeat we suffered in the demonic marsh has already reached the capital, and those scheming officials of the imperial will have already villainized me. So, if I were to mobilize the main force of the Di clan, it would only bring more problems", stated Shangtian. Her tone was filled with annoyance as she looked over the map.
"Those idiots of the imperial court, they enjoy the safety of the capital and yet get to make decisions about military action and play with the lives of soldiers who sacrifice themselves so that they can enjoy their wealthy lives", said Xiao Ling…his voice enraged and filled with anger. Shangtian glanced at him, but she knew how he felt, and there was nothing to be done about it. As they debated on what to do about the demonic invasion, a soldier came bursting into the room. "General, the demons are rallying, they are charging forward and breaking through our defenses", he said, out of breath.
Shangtian immediately ordered everyone to set out. As they reached the frontline, Shangtian mounted on her mighty steed, saw the destruction before her, and the multiple worlds destroyed turned to nothing but a pile of dust and rocks. She looked around as the battle was tense, "Soldier, heed my command, don't let them break through!" she yelled. She rode into the heat of the battle, slaying demons left and right with her sword. As she was charging through the demon lines, three demons with humanoid features created an array and used a spell to blast a stream of energy towards Shangtian. The blast hit her directly and knocked her off her horse, as she was tumbling through the air, slightly nagging her sword, and it turned into a long spear, mid-air. Shangtian landed perfectly on her feet as she slid backward.
Shangtian immediately engaged in battle again, heading straight for those three demons and cutting them down with her newly formed spear. "Advance!" she screamed over the battlefield, and the troops started to advance, pushing the demons back. Just as the Eternal troops got the upper hand and massive surge of demonic and dark Qi flowed from the miasma, knocking over most of the soldiers with its force. Shangtian steadied herself using her spear, "What the hell…" she thought.
As the miasma cleared, a clear view of the Demon Realm could be seen. It shocked the soldiers as they got up from the blast. "It appears, though a rapture has been created in the fabric of space, but how?", said Xiao Ling with a confused look on his face. Across the battlefield, Yangyuan looked at the rapture, "Commander, what should we do?'' asked a soldier, but Yangyuan did not reply. As everyone looked at the rapture that was revealing the Demon Realm, a mysterious figure flashed before them, and the demons started kneeling. "What are they doing?" asked Yuan Jiang, confused.
"Welcome, Overlord!!", said the demons in unison.
Shangtian looked at the mysterious figure, and her eyes widened. It was Xingtian, "Did you miss me, old friend?". Shangtian was in disbelief, "Impossible," she gasped. Xingtian smiled maliciously as he floated in the air, surrounded by dark and demonic Qi leaking like swirls of flames out of his body.
A new threat has appeared on the battlefield between the Demons and the Eternal troops, which shocks Di Shangtian. Elsewhere, another force begins to stir.
[Esnor: The Capital City]
(Upper Ring: Fengyong Palace)
Arceus sits cross-legged on a cushion looking over his children, "My children, you look so peaceful, I wish creation could be the same", said he…his voice filled with disappointment. Acreus stood up and waved his hand, creating a golden yellowish barrier around the children lying on the bed. He then turned around and walked away, then flashed away, leaving a trail of white silver energy swirling in his wake.
[Eternal Palace]
(Eldar Hall)
"Well then, I understand", said Zhi'an, facing Qinghuan. "Good," she responded. Zhi'an then turned towards Xuanyu, "Take me to my brother". Xuanyu nodded. As they were about to leave, they felt a sudden surge of Qi reverberating across the capital heading towards the Bifrost. "Arceus", gasped Zhi'an, shocked.