Ogre Tyrant

Ogre Tyrant: Chapter 79 – Death and Dominance – Part Two

Ogre Tyrant: Chapter 79 - Death and Dominance - Part Two

Having extracted Oaths from Wolf, Fox and Crow, I gifted them each a Storage Ring and sent them to collect fresh beast corpses to serve as materials for Jin’s Alchemy. Feng would remain behind on the mountain and serve the function of a supply depot, accepting the corpses from the others and storing them within a fourth Storage Ring with a larger internal capacity.

Feng would also serve as Jin’s minder while on the mountain and had explicit instructions not to allow Jin to wander beyond the protective barrier.

Too dangerous to allow outside of my supervision, Kwan’s training had to be put on hold while I made the arrangements. However, once I was finished, Kwan was ready to throw himself right back into it again.

While Kwan recuperated between skirmishes, I spent my time reading through the freshly translated books taken from the realm of Yi Gim’s rival.

Many contained the dictated notes of the dead Monarch’s research. Referencing acts of immense personal cruelty in meticulous detail. I managed to read three pages before setting the records aside in their entirety.

The Technique manuals were far less disturbing but became somewhat boring when read back to back. There were only so many times I could read the claim of ‘ultimate power’ without rolling my eyes and shaking my head with cynicism.

Every self-proclaimed master professed the virtues of their Techniques and made outlandish claims of invincibility. It just seemed to be the way things were done.

Which made it difficult to determine which Techniques I should learn for my personal use.

I didn’t have familial or cultural traditions to guide my preferences or mentors I could trust to make the decisions on my behalf.

Watching Kwan dodge the spiked antlers of a large deer, I decided to simplify matters and take his lead.

To the best of my knowledge, Reinforcement Techniques were practised to amplify or manipulate physical attributes. The exact combinations of offensive, defensive and utility-driven enhancements varied wildly from Technique to Technique. However, the majority possessed at least some measure of Damage Reduction and Damage Enhancement, enforcing a tiered ranking structure of combat strength amongst Cultivators.

The Cultivators I had fought thus far had been countered by the effects of Racial and Class Abilities, evening the playing field or outright skewing battled in my favour. Which, of course, would mean future battles would become that much more one-sided if I committed to acquiring and mastering Cultivator Techniques as well.

Unable to find a written copy of Kwan’s Technique, I settled for learning from him directly instead.

Curiously, my decision to learn the Iron Titan Body Reinforcement Technique was all it took to add the Technique to my Status.

Kwan’s limited ability to communicate and knowledge of anatomy made it difficult to understand what exactly I needed to do. However, after a few hours of trial and error, I was able to successfully initiate a self-sustaining current of Chi just beneath my skin.

What was strange was that the probationary status of the Technique did not disappear until after I began meditating as Kwan instructed. Focusing my mind on thoughts of striking and being struck by others. Dominating my opponents through raw endurance and strength rather than skill.

Quite familiar with the concept, I had chosen to actively reflect on my early experiences fighting the Orcs and Goblins on the first floor of the Hurst labyrinth. Remembering the vibrations that would pass up my arms as I struck Orcs with my club, the pain as their primitive weapons crashed into my flesh.

If I had been human, there was no way I could have survived.

The second element of the training required eating iron-rich foods, or liquids, and drawing that iron into the skin. However, this part of the training would only be effective after receiving physical trauma to the skin and straining the muscles beneath.

To that end, I decided to engage in an experiment.

Taking on my Human form, I was both surprised and relieved that the Chi circuit persisted through the transformation. It was a variable I hadn’t considered until after the transformation. So I was glad there didn’t appear to be any complications.

Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I asked myself one last time whether what I intended was a good idea. Unable to come up with a compelling reason to back down, I resolved myself to the imminent self-inflicted hardship and gathered my MP.

Donning a helmet as a precaution against potential brain damage, I conjured a staff and offered it to Ophelia’s projection. “This is going to sound strange...” I cautioned awkwardly. “But I need you to hit me-WOAH!”

I had barely finished talking before Ophelia jabbed the end of her staff at my bare chest.

“You said to hit you...” Ophelia retorted, narrowing her eyes accusingly.

“I did,” I admitted and hastily raised my arms into a defensive posture as Ophelia prepared for another strike. “But I wanted to explain why first!”

“Oh...” Ophelia nodded in understanding and lowered the staff.

“It’s for a type of training. It requires being the recipient of violence-” I explained while eyeing the staff warily.

“Which is why you want me to hit you,” Ophelia interjected matter of factly and without a shred of judgment.

“More or less, yeah,” I agreed.

“Okay,” Ophelia grinned and swung her staff into my right shin.

Barely registering the pain, I grabbed the staff but recoiled out of reflex as Ophelia rapped my knuckles.

If I were human, it would have probably split the skin, but beyond a faint pinch of pain, I felt nothing.

Growing bolder, I began actively intercepting Ophelia’s attacks with my forearms while trying to snatch the staff from her grip.

Seeing that her attacks were not causing me serious injury, Ophelia grinned all the wider and her eyes began to glow with a rich amber light. “Yessssss!” Compensating quality for quantity, Ophelia began striking the same places over and over with unsettling accuracy.

With each strike, the pain increased, eventually becoming bad enough that I lost control over my right knee. Losing most of my mobility in the process and making me an easier target.

Forced to abandon offence entirely, I weathered Ophelia’s blows as best as I was able. All the while internally counting down her projection’s remaining duration.

The upside to Ophelia’s manic onslaught was the increased MP drain incurred to maintain her projection. What could have been an hour became something closer to twenty minutes.

Ophelia disappeared mid-strike but her staff carried enough established momentum and force to send a painful jolt up my arm from my left wrist before falling harmlessly to the ground.

Unable to stop myself from wincing as I inspected my swollen fingers, I had to remind myself that the pain served a greater purpose. I had to remind myself again as I exsanguinated Kwan’s latest kill and combined the blood with rough flour to form a crude dough.

Most of the body's iron was in its blood. Although it didn’t amount to as much as people might think. If the blood bread didn’t work, I would have to think of other potential alternatives. While I found the idea of eating blood bread strange, I loathed eating liver and kidneys. There was something about the texture that had always made me gag.

Although it really shouldn’t have come as a surprise, Kwan showed an increasing degree of interest as the loaf continued to bake.

<Food?> Kwan tasted the air with his tongue and huffed at the dark brown mound uncertainly.

“I’m not sure you would like it,” I replied, uncertain if Kwan would be able to digest the flour without complications.

Kwan huffed unhappily and settled down to begin cycling again.

While it could definitely have used some salt, the blood bread wasn’t the worst thing I had ever eaten. Although it did sit heavy in my gut, it was a mildly distressing experience all on its own.

Cycling my Chi again, I tried to picture the iron in my stomach being drawn out and carried by the veins of Chi toward my skin.

As I continued to meditate, the pain began to subside, making it easier to concentrate and direct the flow of my Chi. Unfortunately, that increase in control did not appear to provide any noticeable benefits. Suggesting that the Technique itself would handle everything so long as I maintained the correct state of mind.

<Dominance. Strength!> Kwan repeated encouragingly.

I followed Kwan's advice and shifted my focus from the one-sided loss I had suffered at Ophelia’s hands and back to my encounters with the wild Orcs of the Labyrinth. The victories I had won through brute strength...

It felt like years had passed since then, but it had been only a matter of months.

Sensing an increased draw on my Chi reserves, I was surprised to find the automated circuit had extended beyond my skin and into my muscles.

Looking to Kwan for a reference point, I was equally surprised to find that he appeared to be undergoing the same change.

Checking my Status, I confirmed that my mastery of the Technique had reached eleven per cent and that it appeared to be rising. As my injuries healed, the progress began to slow.

Comparing Kwan’s progress against my own, I was inclined to believe that the artificial method was the more effective of the two. However, repeating the experiment for a second time left me feeling disappointed.

The changes made to my skin and the presence of the Chi circulating just beneath didn’t seem to have made a difference. My knuckles and the multitude of welts were just as swollen as before, and the pain felt more or less the same.

Despite being discouraged, I continued preparing another batch of blood bread while watching Kwan battle against what looked like a large and heavily muscled water buffalo.

My heart skipped a beat as the horns of the buffalo caught Kwan in the chest and sent him tumbling into the water. However, when Kwan reappeared, leaping from the water with fangs bared, there was no sign of his injury. Similarly, the buffalo’s hooves failed to leave any marks on Kwan’s scales either.

After reviewing his Status and confirming that Kwan had taken damage from the attack. I realised that the Body Reinforcement Technique must have played a part in downgrading the injury. Like a suit of armour, preventing penetration but unable to stop the concussive force behind the blow outright.

To test the theory, I conjured a low-level magical dagger from the treasury and lightly dragged the blade across my left palm. Failing to draw blood, I increased the pressure and tried again.

I repeated the test several times, increasing the pressure and amount of force with each attempt. It wasn’t until I tried stabbing my hand at full force that I managed to leave a shallow cut. Generating a disproportionate amount of pain in the process as the muscles and tendons were badly bruised.

I barely had a few moments to entertain delusions of near invincibility before remembering the first Monarch I had fought in a Supremacy Challenge. He had the means of not only cutting through my Ability reinforced hide but the magical armour I had been wearing at the time as well. So while the Iron Titan Body Reinforcement Technique would no doubt prove incredibly valuable as a defensive tool, it was by no means something I could just take for granted.

However, the defensive properties of the Technique did offer training opportunities I would not have otherwise been comfortable engaging in before. Notably, engaging in mock bouts with real weapons.

While waiting for my HP to recover, I noticed a new modifier had been added to both of my Status sheets. Strength and Toughness had both gained a single point bonus. Cross-referencing Kwan's Status, I found he had gained the new inputs as well, but they were both zero values.

As best I could figure, the reason I hadn’t noticed the changes sooner was because I had grown too accustomed to the existing Class and Bloodline bonuses. The fact that Kwan possessed neither a Class nor a Bloodline only served to confirm my theory that the new bonuses were the result of the Body Reinforcement Technique.

What didn’t make sense was the massive leap in my skin’s durability.

While my Toughness did increase my passive Damage Reduction through my Thick Hide Racial Ability, it shouldn’t have increased by such a significant margin. The only reasonable assumption I could make was that the Body Reinforcement Technique was providing a second stacking source of Damage Reduction. However, there wasn’t an official description in the Status I could use to confirm or deny the theory.

Recognising that I needed professional advice, I began mentally reviewing the list of Factions. Searching for the clan of Cultivators that I had recruited to serve as mentors and teachers for my children and the other nascent Cultivators under the Farmers Union Faction.

It didn’t take long.

After allowing Kwan time to recuperate, I exercised my authority and teleported us both to the general vicinity of the Faction Leader.

Suddenly standing before a lavish palace, decorated with vibrant silk flags and curtains bearing intricate and exquisite designs, it occurred to me that I should have spared a few moments to dress myself first.

Wearing nothing more than my armoured kilt, I locked eyes with the armed guards and glared in an open challenge to their authority.

After overcoming their initial surprise, the guards cast their eyes downward and fell onto bent knees. “The Oba clan recognises the esteemed Monarch!” The guards barked in near unison. Although it was unclear whether it was primarily intended to serve as a greeting or alert those within the palace.

Kwan preened pridefully, striking an intimidating pose and rumbling with pleasure. Mistaking the deference of the guards for genuine terror.

As I was preparing to address the guards, a small staggered horde of white and grey-haired elderly men and women began sprinting out of the palace. Leaping down the stairs and landing on the road with heads bowed and fists pressed together in a show of respect.

Behind them, men, women, teenagers and even children came streaming down the steps of the palace. Most wore simple clothing, suggesting they were most likely servants, while the core clan members wore dark robes accented with bright reds, orange and gold.

“How may the Oba clan serve the esteemed Monarch?” Implored an old man at the forefront of the gathering. My authority immediately identified him as the Faction Leader, Oba Shoji.

“It is a private matter,” I prefaced neutrally, uncertain whether the display represented a true representation of the clan's loyalty, let alone their potential trustworthiness. “I would speak with you alone.”

“As the Monarch wills,” Oba Shoji Oba Shoji waved one hand to his side, sending an invisible ripple of Chi through the assembled crowd.

As one, the crowd rose to their feet, heads still bowed and retreated into the palace. All except for Oba Shoji himself and an elderly man who appeared thirty years his senior.

“Please forgive this one for his impudence,” the elderly man, Oba Kei, apologised. “This humble servant wishes only to compliment the esteemed Monarch for producing such talented and magnanimous offspring!”

Kwan flicked his tongue, tasting the air above the elderly man. <Pete. Suzy. Momoko.> Impressions of each child were communicated through our link.

Pete and Suzy both had a portion of my authority, so they might have encountered the Oba clan while exploring. However, the thought of my children just wandering around was deeply unsettling.

Then I recalled their odd behaviour. How Pete and Momoko had been doing...’something’...manipulating my inner energy...

“You are my children's teacher,” I stated aloud, recognising Oba Kei’s role in events.

“It has been this one’s profound honour,” Oba Kei answered in confirmation.

“Then it is you I wish to speak with,” I decided. Convinced that trusting the man further would pose less of a risk than including anyone else. “You may leave us, Faction Leader,” I added, making my desire for privacy known.

“As the Monarch wills,” Oba Shoji bowed his head and retreated just as the others had done.

“Please, rise,” I ordered, uncomfortable with the idea of such an old man being made to hold such an awkward pose.

Oba Kei obediently rose to his feet but kept his head bowed.

“I will tell you now what I have told countless others. Bowing respectfully is more than adequate, and I would even accept a slight bow at the waist or kneeling on one knee. However, I will not tolerate the sight of free men and women grovelling on their hands and knees.” I took a moment to calm myself. “I would appreciate it if my thoughts on this subject are made known so it is not repeated.”

“It will be as the Monarch wills,” Oba Kei promised.

“Good,” I sighed and let the tension melt from my shoulders. “I require your expertise as a teacher,” I stated bluntly, pushing to the heart of the matter. “My Bonded Beast and I are engaged in learning the same Technique, but I could use advice.”

“Wisdom is one of the noteworthy advantages of age,” Oba Kei chuckled softly. “I will offer what insight it allows.”

“Regarding Body Reinforcement Techniques, what are considered the most effective means of training?” I asked, making no attempts at concealing my intense interest.

Oba Kei raised his head, revealing a pair of strangely intense emerald green eyes. “Begging pardon, esteemed Monarch, it would depend upon the Technique in question.” He furrowed his wrinkled brow and gave Kwan an appraising, yet respectful stare. “Body Refining Techniques have a trend toward testing and pushing the established limits of the physical form. The most efficient means of training is most often the most dangerous, carrying dire consequences for failure.”

I had more or less guessed as much already but remained silent. There was no point in seeking an expert's advice if I was just going to ignore it.

“Techniques that are compatible with both human and Celestial Beasts are incredibly rare...” Oba Kei slowly looked away from Kwan, and for a fleeting moment, gave me a piercing stare before casting his eyes downward again. “May this one ask which Technique the esteemed Monarch and his Bonded Familiar are engaged in mastering?” He asked politely.

“It’s called the Iron Titan Technique,” I replied while making an effort to disguise my eagerness for his insights.

Oba Kei frowned slightly and carefully ran a hand through his long wispy beard. “I...I must confess, I am not familiar with this particular Body Refinement Technique...” He apologised. “If this one might be so bold to ask, might I see the written description for the Technique?”

I felt a mild flush of embarrassment, realising that I may have done something incredibly foolish. “I do not have a written copy of the Technique,” I admitted honestly and decided I might as well go all in while I was at it. “I am learning the Technique from Kwan, my Bonded Familiar.” Adopting the elder’s terminology as a means of showing I was open to outside ideas.

“Ah...” Oba Kei nodded silently to himself and continued stroking his beard, returning his attention to Kwan. “The esteemed Monarch’s Bonded Familiar is a rare breed of Serpent...” He released faint tendrils of Chi that came just shy of touching Kwan directly. “An Abyssal Serpent?!” Oba Kei took an involuntary step backward before catching himself and reasserting control. “Apologies esteemed Monarch! I had not expected to bear witness to such a legendary Calamitous Beast in my lifetime!”

Kwan hissed pridefully and waved his dorsal frills.

“Calamitous Beast?” I asked, already losing track of the different names the Cultivators gave to the Beasts of their world.

“A term referring to the most powerful breeds of Divine Beasts...” Oba Kei choked out through his shock. “Legendary Beasts of providence!...To learn a Technique from such a Beast...” He slowly shook his head, lips opening and closing several times before staying firmly closed.

Taking it all as praise, Kwan had begun undulating his tail, unrepentantly knocking down several flag posts in the process.

To be fair, I felt a little less like an impulsive idiot.

Oba Kei softly cleared his throat, although it appeared to be an attempt at finding his voice rather than a desire to draw further attention to himself. “Esteemed Monarch, might this humble one ask which Transcription Techniques have been employed to gain knowledge of the Technique?...” He asked timidly, almost on the verge of outright cowering.

“I haven’t employed any Techniques, just intuition,” I replied, settling on a half-truth. My authority gave me insights about certain things, but I would prefer that knowledge not become widespread. “I have successfully progressed to the first rank of the Technique without difficulties. I just wanted to know if there are more efficient means available.”

Oba Kei gulped dryly and nearly tugged at his beard by mistake. “Esteemed Monarch, to have progressed at all without instruction is...well...” He blinked hard and quickly began waving his hands defensively. “It is to be expected! Of course! I didn't mean to suggest-”

“No offence taken,” I insisted and motioned for calm. “Tell me more about these Transcription Techniques.”

Visibly glad for the change in subject, the elderly man dabbed at his brow with the hem of his long sleeve. “Transcription Techniques are rare, most often employed to forcibly take the knowledge of a Technique from a restrained enemy. However, there are less invasive Techniques that are employed by Beast Tamers to learn and share the Techniques of their Bonded Beast Familiars.” For a moment, there was a distant look in Oba Kei’s eyes. “Before our fall...our clan raised all manner of Beasts...”

“Why not tame new Beasts?” I had a fairly good feeling as to why but wanted to know for certain.

“Many of our most talented Cultivators have suffered damage to our foundation because of the backlash suffered from losing our Familiars...” Oba kei replied quietly. “The clan leader’s son barely survived... Others were not so fortunate...”

Backlash. That was another subject I was unfamiliar with. However, just from the context, I could assume it was caused by the Bond being broken in some way.

“Those who are strong enough and have an intact foundation are too few in number and too low in Cultivation to hunt for new Familiars, and there is no market to purchase eggs...” Oba Kei gave a helpless shrug. “In time and with your goodwill, our clan will recover. However, I doubt I will live long enough to witness such a day...”

“What would it take to repair someone's damaged foundation?” I asked, both to satisfy my curiosity as well as to safeguard against potential dangers in the future.

Shoji Kei was silent for several long moments, taking his time to seriously consider the question. “Minor damage heals with time and regular meditation. Recovery can be accelerated with generic Elixirs, so long as they are taken in moderation. Profound damage, from sources such as a backlash, requires Soul Balm. An Elixir made from rare ingredients that would bankrupt most minor sects...The greater the damage, the more Soul Balm that is required...” He was silent for a few moments before coming back to himself again. “While not the same, the foundation can be overdrawn and generate strain. If left untreated, it may cause damage. However, in most instances, rest is sufficient. Elixirs will abate the symptoms, but will not accelerate recovery. In extreme instances, the strain can be alleviated through the exchange of internal energy...”

Recognising what my children had done on my behalf, I nearly felt enough pride to outweigh the shame of my reckless actions.

“Can this strain be fatal?” I had to fight hard not to cringe over my past stupidity.

“It can be...” Shoji Kei answered sombrely.

“This Soul Balm Elixir, do you know how it is made?” I asked, eager to change the subject.

“Unfortunately, no, esteemed Monarch...” Oba Kei Apologised. “Our clan has not produced an Alchemist in several generations...And the guilds would never divulge their secrets willingly...”

“Is it a common recipe?” I pushed. “Something that is relatively well known amongst Alchemists?”

Oba Kei gave me a strange look and then seriously considered the question. “I believe it would be. Damage to the foundation is quite common amongst the impulsive youths of the clans, sects and great houses...The expense means little when compared against an uncertain future.”

Now aware that my stupidity was not as uncommon as I would have hoped, I made a mental note to begin recruiting Alchemists.

“What does it take to form a Bond with a wild Beast?” I asked, curious to see where I had done things differently.

“Strictly speaking, a willingness to accept the Bond from both parties is all that is required.” Oba kei gave a small shrug and smiled faintly. “However, it is common for wild Beasts to reject a Bond with those they deem inferior. Requiring a demonstration of strength to convince them otherwise.”

“So it wouldn’t matter if there is a significant difference in their levels of Cultivation, just so long as both parties are willing?” I pressed, wanting confirmation before taking things any further.

Oba Kei nodded, his eerily vibrant eyes narrowing slightly as if having guessed at my motives.

“This should come as little surprise, given my position as Monarch. I have recently begun expanding my realm and taking in new subjects. Subjects who have not yet been given cause to show respect that is due.” I was somewhat surprised by Oba Kei’s solemn expression and passive acceptance of what I was saying. Which made it difficult to maintain the proper tone and impart the gravitas I was aiming for. “My intention is for the Oba clan and the Farmer’s Union to take on a leadership role and guide the newcomers through their transition.”

Oba Kei’s eyes widened in surprise and he barely caught himself in time to avoid falling to his knees. Instead, he bowed low at the waist, releasing a host of arthritic crackling sounds as his spine bent further than it probably had in years, perhaps even decades. “The esteemed Monarch is too generous!” He cried emphatically.

After discussing the details further, Oba Kei provided me with a manual detailing a simple Transcription Technique and we took the opportunity to discuss the Iron Titan in more detail. Specifically, what I had managed to figure out on my own already and the common ground it shared with similar Techniques.

Using the Technique on Kwan proved disappointing, generating three words as the sum total of its instructions.

Fight. Feed. Dominate.

On a similarly disappointing note, Oba Kei was unable to suggest a more efficient or effective form of training to progress the Iron Titan Technique. However, after I explained how my Racial Ability would accelerate the healing of physical injuries of all subjects within my realm, without revealing its source, Oba Kei suggested training against the warriors of the clan.

The training would provide several noteworthy benefits. Foremost, providing the conflict the Iron Titan Technique required. I would also have the opportunity to establish myself as a genuinely powerful figure before the clan and could take the opportunity to learn a combat Technique without the expectation of already mastering the Technique. As a side benefit, the clan would have the opportunity to train their remaining warriors, most of whom were relatively inexperienced, against a powerful opponent.

Reminded that I still hadn’t committed to learning a Technique that could weaponise my Chi, I was inclined to agree. Furthermore, I was going to take things a step further.

Choosing a combat Technique was easier than I had expected it to be. After revealing my true form and confirming my Affinities, Oba Kei recommended a deceptively simple Technique named the Elemental Fist. Contrary to the name, the diagrams within the manual depicted a fighting style that included a variety of kicks and the use of straight swords and other weapons.

The Elemental Fist was an almost universal Technique designed to take advantage of available Affinities and weaponise them for offensive advantages in combat. It had derivatives specifically tailored to mimic or enhance specific elemental Affinities. However, I had so many Affinities that locking myself down with a specific Element would be an objectively stupid idea and a waste of my potential.

Especially considering I was capable of gaining further Affinities by learning new Spells.

Oba Kei had initially recommended learning a Movement Technique as well. However, he changed his mind after learning of my Spatial Affinity. Reasoning that I would be better off going without until I could secure a Movement Technique to take advantage of the Affinity.

While Oba Kei made the necessary preparations, I made contact with my ally Yi Gim.

Conjuring the token from where I had left it, I injected a small amount of Chi and waited.

Several minutes passed and I was beginning to think I had chosen a poor time to make the call when the connection abruptly established itself.

I felt a profound sense of weariness pass through the connection. <Heavens shine upon me!-> I felt Yi Gim’s concentration slip for a moment, followed by a flicker of pain. <My honoured ally, I require your aid!> The connection dropped for several seconds before establishing itself again. <-assassins and saboteurs! Hidden amongst the populace-> Another flash of pain. <-fight at full strength while protecting them. I beg, extend sanctuary to my family and you may name your pr-> The connection was severed.

Assassins and saboteurs.

Presented with the possibility of losing my only Monarch ally and means of circumventing mandatory Supremacy Challenges from the top rankers, I began to act before I was consciously aware of what I was doing.

Armour contained within my Storage Ring materialised on my body and a thick stone club appeared in my right hand.

The memory of a bedroom appeared in my mind and the space before me was torn asunder, replaced by an inky black void.

Stepping into the void, I was only vaguely aware of Kwan moving at my back.

As the void bled away, the image of the opulently furnished bedroom from my mind was replaced by splintered ruins, smoke and flames.

Pushing through the wreckage, I found myself standing on an open road riddled with the bodies of what appeared to be my ally’s servants. Many bore expressions of surprise, seemingly caught unawares by whoever had slain them.

Buildings up and down the road were burning, casting smoke, cinders and ashes into the wind, making it difficult to see more than a dozen feet in most directions.

Drawn to the sounds of battle, I looked toward the sky and amidst the smoke found Yi Gim desperately fighting for his life against a trio of dark-robed and hooded figures.

Forming a javelin from the broken masonry, I took aim, impregnated the newly formed projectile with MP and cast it at the enemy.

Despite the element of surprise, the enemy must have sensed the MP within the javelin, because one of their number broke away and attempted to intercept it with a small bronze shield.

A shimmering barrier of pale golden energy radiated outward from the shield, increasing its surface several times over in less than a fraction of a second. However, as the javelin struck the shield, both the shield and its magical barrier shattered. Torn apart by a deafening roar of thunder.

Like a puppet whose strings had been cut, the former owner of the shield fell. Tumbling end over end before crashing face first into the paced street below.

Kwan shrieked in warning, lashing out with his tail and demolishing a crumbling wall. Catching the dark-masked man behind it by surprise. Before the man could react, Kwan punched and caught him in his jaws.

With a wet crunch, Kwan bit down hard and tore the man’s body in half, spilling entrails across the ground.

Following Kwan’s actions I was nearly caught off guard as another dark-robed figure leapt over the opposite wall and launched himself at my back.

Alerted by the loose stones moving underfoot, I swung my club hard in a simple arc intended to drive the enemy back and buy me time to think.

My club connected with the curved blade of a sword and the enemy was thrown backward into the wall with an unsettling crunch.

Gasping for breath and trying to rise to his feet, the enemy raised his sword and pointed its tip in my direction. No doubt intended as a threat, the danger was undercut by how badly his arm was shaking.

Advancing, I ignored his sword, allowing it to scrape harmlessly over my armour. Swinging my club with a vicious backhanded blow, I tore the man’s head free from his shoulders.

Two more dark-robed combatants leapt over the wall. The first was split in two mid-flight, ripped apart as Kwan’s tail whipped through his midsection. The second managed to adjust his trajectory in time to tumble over Kwan’s tail. However, before he could move to safety, a spear of water condensed from the air and drove through his chest, killing him instantly.

Kwan howled in triumph, crushing the man’s body beneath his claws.

Extending my senses to search for more hidden threats in our vicinity, my attention was immediately drawn toward a powerful and complex source of Chi out in the smoke. Recognising the source of Chi as a gathering of Arrays or Formations, I spared a glance toward Yi Gim and his ongoing battle in the sky.

Now only outnumbered two to one, he appeared to be holding his own. Both enemies appeared to be directing as much of their attention toward me as they were toward him. Making them more cautious than they had been previously, preventing me from ambushing them again. However, it came at the expense of allowing Yi Gim breathing room he wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Deciding to trust that Yi Gim would be able to hold at least a little while longer, I began moving toward the active Arrays.

Bright flashes of light up ahead were accompanied by surges of Chi from the Arrays. The closer we came, the more aware I became of harsh voices cursing and shouting in a language I didn’t understand but recognised as being vaguely familiar.

Stepping out of the smoke, I found several dozen more of the dark-cloaked figures. Half their number were kneeling at fixed intervals around a multi-story pagoda, exuding a dark crimson Chi forming a living offensive Formation. The other half were hurling what looked like jars of burning oil against a pale silver barrier surrounding the pagoda.

Second, by second, the barrier protecting the pagoda was being drained of its strength, and each impact from the jars of burning oil accelerated the deterioration.

Gathering ym MP and Chi in equal measure, I raised five massive pillars from the earth and activated a Formation of my own.

Like the changing of the tide, the Chi powering the offensive Formation began flooding away from the barrier and toward my pillars.

Several of the dark-robed figures engaged in the living Formation let out cries of alarm while the majority of their number collapsed outright. Their bodies forcibly drained for all they were worth and unable to halt what they had begun.

The call to battle caught in their throats as Kwan barrelled out of the smoke and began loping towards them, jaws wide and bloody maw yawning wide in anticipation for the kill.

Several figures attempted to flee, scattering in all directions. Only to find that they were now contained within a second barrier.

The smart move would have been to stand back and wait them out. Starve them of Chi and move in only once they were well and truly incapable of defending themselves.

However, I had come to accept that I was not as smart as I had once thought I was.

Stepping over the threshold, my attention gravitated toward one man in particular.

Carrying two long curved swords, the man was tall, heavily built and incredibly broad in the shoulders. Making a show of waving his subordinate back, he pulled back the veil of his hood, revealing a dark tanned face and a large dark moustache. Far from upset, he wore a savage grin and appeared to be glad for the interruption. He said something and opened his arms expansively, but I couldn’t understand what he was saying.

Ignoring Kwan, who had closed the distance between us and was now hunting down his men, the man gave me a strange look and then exaggeratedly made a show of clearing his throat. “Many greetings to you, stranger. I am Aydin, an assassin of the Twelve Stars Order. May I ask your name and to which mercenary band you belong? We may be able to settle our misunderstanding without further bloodshed.” The last was almost lost as Kwan tore off a man’s arm, generating a gut-wrenching scream of pain and terror.

There was an opportunity to learn something here and dragging things out would only play to my advantage if we came to blows. However, there was a real possibility that the enemy was just trying to buy time so his companions outside of the barrier could kill Yi Gim without my interference.

“No,” I replied flatly and adjusted my grip on my club.

“No?” Adjin asked, his wide face thick with confusion.

“No,” I repeated and began closing the distance between us.

Adjin’s expression hardened and he nodded in understanding. “So it shall be.” He drew his veil back into place and charged. Wearing no armour, Adjin moved much faster than the other Cultivators I had fought in the past, closing the gap in less than a second.

Metallic shrieks pierced the air as his curved blades scraped along my right side.

Before I could react, several blows rained down on my back.

Staggering slightly as I was thrown off balance, the hits kept coming. However, my armour held, repelling strike after strike with ease.

Sensing Adjin’s mounting frustration, I bought myself some space by turning the surrounding ground into spiked stone caltrops.

Leaping clear before his sandalled feet could be impaled, Adjin was visibly trembling with rage. Both of his swords were emitting a baleful black aura that felt oddly familiar.

Recognising the energy for what it was, I smoothed out the ground and made a show of cockily waving him forward.

Adjin’s Chi flared and he raced forward with impossible speed, swords held back over each shoulder in preparation to scissor through my neck and separate my head from my shoulders.

I didn’t give him the chance.

Before he could realise what was happening, I directed the dark energy gathered in his swords down each hilt and into his hands.

Yelping in pain, Adjin’s charge went wide and he barely managed to keep his footing. Dropping his swords, Adjin howled in pain and fear as his hands withered into gnarled husks before his eyes. The baleful energy continued up his arms, stripping their vitality and leaving nothing but grey flesh and protruding bones in its wake. Aven after it stole his voice, Adjin continued his screams in silence.

Standing over the man who had thought himself my equal, I felt nothing but contempt and disgust. “Death is not yours to command...” I stated coldly and gathered the ambient Death Chi toward myself. “IT IS MINE!” With one push, I took what little of his life remained.

Confident that Kwan had things well in hand, I impregnated my armour with Earth Affinity aligned Chi and slowly willed myself into the sky.

Utterly inexperienced with flying, I barely managed a relative speed comparable to a brisk walk. However, as I came drifting through the smoke, one of the two remaining enemy figures locked in battle against Yi Gim abruptly disengaged and disappeared into a cloud of acrid green smoke.

The second figure made to do the same but was cut short as Yi Gim’s sword impaled the man’s chest.

Releasing his sword, Yi Gim cradled his abdomen with his right arm as his left hung limply at his side.

“You...You serve the Tyrant?” Yi Gim gasped, his lips and beard stained with blood, his skin pale and peaked.

Extending my senses, I found traces of Death Chi circulating dangerously through his body. Exerting my will, I overcame Yi Gim’s flagging defences and drew the contaminated Chi out of his body.

Yi Gim hissed in pain, reflexively reaching for the empty scabbard at his hip.

“That was Death Chi,” I explained tersely. “It would have rotted you from the inside out if I had let it be.”

Relief flashed across Yi Gim’s face, no doubt having recognised my voice. “I didn’t...Nnng!...Didn’t know if anyone was coming...” He panted, drawing a small brown pellet from his Storage ring with visible effort. “They have my...My family shrine besieged...” Yi Gim pleaded. “Please! I beg you! Lend me your strength to break the siege!” He gulped down the pellet and grimaced with pain, very nearly falling from the sky.

Catching Yi Gim by his good arm I wrapped it behind my neck and supported his side with my other hand. “I don’t think that will be necessary,” I commented wryly as we drifted through the smoke and in the general direction of the pagoda.

Despite the pain it must have caused him, Yi Gim turned his head to look at me. Not that it would have done much good with my helmet and visor concealing my face.

I could see the fear in his eyes. Fear of dying. Fear for the uncertain fate of his family. Fear that I would turn on him...

As we passed out of the smoke, I could tell that at least one of his fears was at least briefly alleviated by the sight that awaited us. Although it was worth noting that the others had probably grown considerably worse.

Watching Kwan manoeuvre a fallen assassin into his gullet and swallow him whole, I couldn’t blame him.