Chapter 23:
9 hours 32 minutes ago before present time, daylight hours at the crash site outside of The Vermillion Forbidden City.
Out in the open fields laid a burning wreckage. Outside the main walls of The Vermillion Forbidden City. A groan echoed off the mangled corpse of the aircraft. Scattered remnants of debris shifted and unveiling several figures emerging out of the wreckage. "Statues~!" Yang Yansi's voice strained out of his lungs. Taking deep gulps of air as he spoke breathing back out the air which was being denied to his lungs.
"Captain Liu Feng Huang and Sergeant Min Lee are dead." The closest surviving trooper to him shouted in response.
"And we lost our pilots too." Another voice further deeper into the aircraft called out shortly afterwords. Yang Yansi grimaced at the new but held firm in his resolve, calming his nerves before giving his commands. "Grab their tags and their ammo, be ready to move. We cannot stay here." He retrieved his belongings those he could and stepped out into the fresh open air. Looking over his surroundings he could see that he was in another perimeter field, a few hundred miles far away from the massive walls of Vermillion Forbidden City.
The proud Capital Fortress city of Shenzhou. Within the inner province known as Luoyang. The top fortress city of the nine within the territories of what had once been known as China. Looking back toward the other portions of the field opposite of the wall lay ruins of city scape and roads. Overtaken by mass seas of massive trees. Allowing with various types of flora. Once all these lands were covered in similar manmade structures. Humanity controlled all corners of the world before the Earth retaliated against humanity itself. A period known as the Great Collapse, no records can tell how or what had started the disaster that befell mankind. Some say it was a virus, others a weapon that devastated the world. All were still theories; however, the result was the same. Great bastions of humanities cities were destroyed overnight, mass habitats of greenery were restored and overtook those lost areas. Not just nature, even the creatures of Earth were mutated and altered, becoming larger, more ferocious than before.
These series of events happen so suddenly, and rapidly. Humanity was driven off the lands they had once conquered. Reclaimed by the forces of nature itself. Many had died to this catastrophe, for over three fourths of the entire human population had perished. The lucky ones retreated into underground and mass aerial shelters. However, even that was all but a temporary solution. Even these shelters were threatened by the growing disaster. It was due to the heroic sacrifices of humanities bravest warriors and desperate measure that humanity survived. Pushing back against the overwhelming tide of beasts.
The shelters slowly but surely, became more fortified. These bunkers expanded its borders and into the nearby territories. Forming the last few bastions of today's societies of the many bunkers created prior to disaster, for few refugees during the war of the mutant beasts. Or rather the Night of a Thousand Sorrows, as some people like to poetically describe it. Only nine base bunkers survived along with six sky bases in the lands once known as China, now renamed Shenzhou. Thus, the metropolises of Shenzhou were formed, among those metropolises is the capital, whose great walls stands before Yang Yansi's sight. Whose majesty is rivaled only by the sky city Neo-Huaxia, high above in the clouds above. Along with the second largest base city Neo-Daxia. A new phase of human history began, the birth of a new civilization, from the ruins and rubble of the old world, civilization was reborn, and humanity regenerated ... returning stronger than before, but still disaster struck once again.
A chain of events that lead to the great miracle and another disaster. The resource discovered known as Nectorcite, that led to the One Year War over this scarce material back in the late 21 century. Then the "Xianglong Crisis" occurred at the original base city of Neo-Hong Kong. Where, one of the largest Quantum Reactor plant facilities detonated, causing another worldwide catastrophic event. Once again changing the course of human history, bases cities lost, sunk by earthquakes, leveled by storms and landscapes shifted. Resulting in the further loss of life, even more than what was lost during the war, the world forever changed from this tragic event. The effects of such were still felt even today after nearly two centuries later.
What was it like to have lived in such an age? An era of such peace and prosperity? The populace living in such bliss with no fear of the outside world or the looming threat of global conflict. The thought that always lingered within the back of Yang Yansi's mind, once again resurfaced seeing the ruins before him. It was by no means his first time seeing such historical pieces. Yet it continuedly mesmerized him being within the presence of such relics. He could feel the history emitting from these structures, being in the proximity of these ruins. He felt as though he suddenly was teleported into another world, to become a part of it. Then with the pin prick of reality sweeping through, like popping a balloon. The imaginary world vanished, and he was back into the present.
"Do we have an exact location of where we are?" Yang Yansi recollected his thoughts as he turned and questioned survivors, who now exited the burning wreck of the vehicle. Gathering around him, upon his questioning his specialist Lan came forward. tapping away at his vambrace. Before it projected a holo map in front of the survivors. "We're within the miracle mile between the final wall and the second wall of The Vermillion Forbidden City. No signs of any signals in the area, or beasts for the most part however we shouldn't stick around to find out."
This drew an ire sensation from Yang Yansi who then tapped at the Tacom device activating the sensory device, confirming the information relayed to him.
"Sir I suggest we get to a more secure location we're too exposed out here in the open like this."
"Agreed, Lan continue to monitor the comms net and broadcast a signal for help, we have a long walk ahead of us." Yang Yansi replied as he checked and readied his equipment.
"Affirmative." Receiving his order, specialist Lan continued with his duties. At this point, his second in command walked up to Yang Yansi and spoke in a hushed voice. Careful not to speak above a whisper.
"Sir this doesn't seem strange to you? We were shot down within the inner borders of the Vermillion Forbidden City, and the fact that we can't raise anyone on any quantum wave frequencies. That can be explained but not the communication network that can never be severed unless someone deliberately tampered with it to hamper us. This isn't natural someone wants you dead sir."
The words resonated with Yang Yansi. He knew what Lei Wu was saying to be correct, the combined factors indicated that.
"I know Lei Wu just keep your head calm, no good debating on things outside of our control. Let's focus on surviving first, we're a way from society still. We can seek retribution whenever we can once back within the walls." Yang Yansi reassured his subordinate, place a hand on Lei Wu's shoulder. His finger tightening around the thin yet sturdy armor plate there, yet still the emotions were conveyed through to ().
"Yes sir." Lei Wu said. As the duo moved toward the nearest ruined building the others followed after them.
"Danny how's that comms looking?" Turning his head around while still walking Yang Yansi asked.
"Still nothing yet over the network yet sir but I-" his voice was cut short as a flash of light came through, Danny's head bob backwards before tumbling down to the hard unceremoniously to the ground with a hard resounding thud.
"Get down sir!" Lei Wu pounced on Yang Yansi bearing him to the ground. Shielding his body with his own. The last few hovered on Yang Yansi, as they formed a perimeter looking for the source of the ambush.
"Where's the shot coming from?!" Multiple pairs of eyes now swimming around, looking for the source.
"There, it's right there up in the ruin tower! 1:00 O'clock!" Pe shouted back pointing toward the direction with a single digit before his head disappeared in a puff of blood and gore.
"Suppressing fire!" then came the booms of fire from the soldiers own personal firearms.
"Smoke out~!" another voice screamed out, as a several canisters were lobbed overhead. Soon the area was engulfed in pure white chaff smoke hindering their visons.
"We have to move!"
Without a skip of a beat, the surviving party rushed out of their makeshift barriers toward the nearest refuge.
Once inside they stop for a quick break. Hanging by the open doorway just slightly to gauge if they truly were safe.
"Tai find us a way out of here!" Lei Wu cried out.
"Sir I'm getting a signal on the scanner! Its close by!"
"Another ambush?" Yang Yansi questioned his weapon at the ready pointing towards one of the openings.
"Not sure there too many to be certain and much too large to be a human. Wait hold on I'm getting a second signal."
"Too large to be human?" Yang Yansi thought on it then the realization hit him.
Before the booming roar of something else echoed through the ruin around them.
Back to Neo – Xianglong Base City.
Bang-bang. Brt-brt-brt-brt-brt-brt-brt-brt, the rapid shots of gunfire echoed within a luxury mansion. Unheard by the outside world as even the location of the property was secluded from other habitat units in the area. Unaware of the miniature war that was happening within. Yang Yanzhao ducked and weaved. Evading the streams of bullets that would have taken his head if he was but just a second late. Before answering back with a stream of his own heated metal slugs at his aggressors.
Then once again ducked back down behind the cover a pillar wall within the living room quarters.
The G-47 Dian let out a soft chime, signaling the situation that Yang Yanzhao was keenly aware of. He didn't need the chime to know that he was spent, the weapon was deprived of its ammunition, and was now just deadweight to him. He didn't have any more rounds to feed the weapon. Yet he still didn't discard the steaming hot weapon, even as vapors of steam and smoke emitted from the secondary barrel under the main barrel. He ducked back behind the pillar where he took shelter, from the hail of gunfire aimed towards him. Realizing the state of the crumbling state of the stone pillar. Yang Yanzhao knew it didn't have long, so he rushed out admis the fire to a new shelter.
Only to come near face to the opposite end of another barrel aimed at him. As a shadow burst forth from his side. Weapon raised, sight down ready to fire, this would have spelled the end for Yang Yanzhao had he been an amateur. Far from defenseless however, through his anticipation and training honed from years of his childhood. He too was ready for the killer, having his weapon at the ready at the same time. He pivoted on his heels, angling his back just enough to avoid the fire toward his direction. On reflex having pointed his own weapon at his aggressor. Though the G-47 Dian was double barreled, the secondary barrel didn't fire any rounds. It had a different purpose; this he was finally able to put into use. Leveled and aimed in the same direction, instead of pulling back on the main trigger his pinkie squeezed a secondary trigger built into the handle of the weapon.
Sending forth a concussive blast of heat, originating from the secondary barrel underneath. Blowing the would-be killer off her feet, cartwheeling into the wall adjacent to his current position. The impact wouldn't have been to kill but was enough to incapacitate. As the body fell limply, crashing down hideously upon the ground having been rendered unconscious.
Redrawing his custom A-22B Chao Smart Pistol, firing off a shot to the down body. Towards the head, ignoring the spray of gore matter, he rushed to the next cover. Peeking around his cover firing off a shot. The round found no true mark but completed its task. As fire answered back in response. He waited a fraction of a second for his handgun still pointed at his aggressors. Ducking back down under cover, he then discards the now useless G-47 Dian rifle. While still clenching onto his trusted sidearm.
He ran towards his new objective. Duck and rolling behind some furniture. Each one being torn to sherds. Before he found himself in front of his goal. A painting on the wall. Though it wasn't the painting he wanted, he casually tossed aside the frame revealing the treasure behind it. A weapon he retrieved it just barely avoiding the storm heading his way.
The weapon in hand he now held was the DB-4L-13 Zu, a Smart Shotgun outfitted with a Smart targeting system and a heavily modified barrel. Smart capabilities give it an edge over other double-barreled shotguns, loaded with four cartridges that contain 8 Smart projectiles each, that are fired simultaneously in a rectangular pattern. Each projectile can lock on to its own individual target. It can be loaded to fire 9 smart rockets per barrel at a time. The ninth being attached to the main frame just above the other cartridges. This can only be done with a special attachment.
Unfortunately, he didn't have the attachment though he judged he didn't need it. The weapon came to life the moment his hand had a firm grasp on the handle. Reading his genetics through palm scanner to identify him. The sensory detail flooded his senses, targeting array, ammunition count and types etc. None of that truly mattered as he leveled his gun, already preloaded with his eyes, he scanned the area. His now enhanced senses picking up the opposing opposition in mere seconds. Locked and located he lifted his weapon seeing the racing paths to his targets and squeezed the trigger.
In rows of two at a time, the gryojet smart projectiles shot forward each having preselected their targets. Propelling themselves on built in mini thrusters, they quickly gained on their targets. The said targets released this responded with no delay of uncertainty or fear, trying to evade the incoming danger. However, they were already marked for death, and there was no evading death. Punching through the makeshift shelters of concert pillars or even walls with ease. Before connecting with the soft tissue of human flesh.
Within second of burying within them the round then exploded. Repainting the surrounds with a fresh coat of bright red. All expect one. One singular soul who was torn to shred like the others. But was sent flying across the room. Yang Yanzhao saw the cause, a slight sheen of ethereal energy coating the frame of the opposition. He discards the DB-4L-13 Zu, judging that reloading the weapon would take took long before his opponent would get back up. Instead opting to retrieve one of the loose articles on the floor. He instantly recognized the article he picked. It was one of his. How it came into their hands was unimportant to him. It honestly didn't surprise him if they had taken one of his toys that he stored throughout the house, such the A-10 Might shotgun he now held.
The A-10 Might is a cheap, 12-gauge pump action shotgun, capable of holding hold 8 shells with 10 projectiles each. It is a powerful weapon but suffers from a slow fire rate and reload speed. The one used by Yang Yanzhao however is a heavily modified version, modified with higher quality material equipped quick reloader mechanism, with the shells being fed through the under-mounted magazine. The main difference is the electromagnetic barrel allowing shots to be charged and penetrate objects and walls. Redesigned by using components of a different system, developed specifically for low-gravity close-quarters engagements. The kinetic energy produced when fired in low gravity can severely unbalance the wielder. So, it also incorporated a muzzle velocity dampening system which mitigates that energy and greatly reduces recoil. Along with a special pattern of texture grips for not only stability but also for wet situations.
Lucky for him it was fully loaded full, with an additional nineth round already in the chamber and was ghosted loaded too. After confirming the functionality of the weapon, pointed its muzzle toward the downed foe. Whom had tried to rise back on their two feet. This didn't slide with Yang Yanzhao as he unloaded upon them. Each step he took closer to the down figure he released a shell. The pounding of the shell impacting against the invisible shield covering the figure dimmed. Guarding losing its sheen with each impact. He came up empty just a few feet from the target. He then tossed the A-10 Might aside and redrew his A-22B Chao Smart Pistol. Quickly he reloaded the pistol and fired it rapidly. The shield surrounding the down foe's body still held stubbornly. Even as he was firing near point-blank range.
'This is getting nowhere.' Yang Yanzhao thought to himself. He then drew a combat knife tucked in his suit. Aiming the tip toward the chest where the heart is in the human body. Thrusting downward the sheen of the shield caught the tip pushing back against his blade. He didn't relent placing both hands on the handle as he pushed down slowly but surely the blade inched closer to its intended target. Putting his whole-body weight down as leverage. All the while the poor soul below. Having recovered enough cognitive thought tried the feeble attempts to stop him. That was all for not, however. As those attempts were easily brushed aside. Swatting aside the limb aiming to push him off or hinder him.
Before finally he was through the shield plunging the blade to its hilt into the soft tissue. Hidden underneath the bodysuit, despite the toughness of the material to shrug off bullet rounds, the special design of his combat knife. Its edge being honed to that of a monomolecular edge, along with the high frequency engine built into the hilt. The blade passed through like a hot knife through butter. Blood slipped through the opening gaps opened by the blade.
Yang Yanzhao let out a gasp of air that he subconsciously held. Breathing heavily, taking in huge gulps of air, he had been denying his lungs. Still leaning in on the body below him. Holding himself up with his other arm, once he felt rested enough, being mere seconds. He hauled himself up retracting his article of death from its product, though not truly dead. However, that fate wasn't too far off. The body beneath Yang Yanzhao, only had a lifespan measured in breathes now. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he reached for the mask covering the identity of his dying assailant. He doffed off the mask and recoiled still despite having already expected what he had anticipated. The face revealed underneath was one of the maid sisters of the manor. There was no mistaking that, he knew all those adopted children that the Yang family have taken in over the many years.
"Amanda, why? What the hell is going on here? Just why?" Yang Yanzhao questioned his tone concealed his troubled emotion. He didn't know what to make of the situation, he may not even want to know the answer.
"You-lo-ah-yo-" Amanda was speaking though a blood-filled throat, the words came out intelligent and broken. Yang Yanzhao leaned in close but not too close. "What?" He questioned yet again, though was doubtful if he would even get a clear answer.
"You lose~." Her head then fell to the side as her life faded away. That was it. Those were her final words. Yang Yanzhao couldn't make any logical sense of it. What did she even mean by those words? Why is she telling him that he lost? He was alive, he thwarted the attempt on his life. She and the rest of her sisters were dead. Yang Yanzhao was the last one standing amidst the carnage.
This only resulted in more question than answer. The answer to his question, however, was irrelevant now. His curiosity could wait, he needed to contact his brothers and the BLADEs to dispatch a team and find his mother. He knew that his mother was in trouble, he didn't have time to waste. Before he could formulate any other thought, a shadow fell upon his sight and darkness claimed him then. All thoughts ceased then and there; none will surface again after for a long time for Yang Yanzhao.
Out in the street, a man was walking with his child down the neighborhood. His field of view was filled with massive manor homes with equal expansive land. Many have been converted into gardens and other forms of unique landscapes. The man truly admired these housing properties. At long last after so many years of hard work, he was going to have a proper home for him and his beloved child. No more will they have to suffocate in the tight narrow unit housing.
Today he was looking to buy such a home in a better area of the city. A city worker was showing him the way, detailing the homes around the man. Information such as the features, materials, etc. Most of these flew over his head, as a larger majority of his attention be focused on the beauty of the properties before him. thinking to himself just how he would live out the rest of his days with his child. Suddenly, without warning something ripped him out of his fantasy.
A thundering boom roared out to his side. Accompanied by shockwave that swept over the surrounding. Without a thought the man rushed and fought to shield his child with his body, planting his child under him. Dirt and other forms of debris fell all around him. Winds sweeping over him like an ocean tidal wave. It felt like the end of the world, time felt still the man didn't know how long he had turtled in the same spot for. Then just as suddenly the blast wave came, it ceased. For a time, there was nothing. No wave aerial tidal wave, no sonic boom, no debris falling or tumbling or movement nothing. The world itself has stilled. Yet still the man didn't move. He didn't know if he could move, or if it was safe to move. So, there he stand, his child in hand under him he stood still as stone. Slowly but surely, there were sounds of pain, moans and movement that slowly filled the air. This was a sign for the man to lift his head to observe his surroundings.
"Help! Someone call for aid! That manor exploded!" One of the surrounding bystanders who recovered exclaimed, screaming out loud. Many who had also recovered to their feet did so, reaching into their pockets and bags, retrieve their communication device. The surrounding area soon dissolved into a loud commotion and other cries for aid echoed in the air around the man. His whole body was tense, his nerves tightened, it took him a while to freely move his limbs. He couldn't truly comprise just what was being shouted, he could hear anything aside from the constant ringing in his ears. His child was still in his arms but didn't know if his child was fine, his vision was beginning to blur. It was beginning to become harder to keep his eyelids open. Something wet trailed down his cheeks. He could make out the shadowy form approaching him before he fell into deep sleep.
Nighttime hours early midnight hours, location unknown.
It was dark. Was it always so dark? He didn't even know anymore. His vision was failing him. His limbs were failing him, he couldn't even feel his arms and legs let alone try to move them. His breath came out of his dry throat dry and hag. It even hurt to breathe now; the stall air surely didn't help his condition. He was fading, he didn't have long in this world, and he knew it. It would be a lie if he didn't have any regrets. There was one too many, they were overflowing. Yet there was nothing he could do.
"General Yang." A voice came through the darkness. Soft and low yet still enough for the old man hidden within the darkness to hear. Even with his failing hearing, that was also clear to him. his whole body was apparently shutting down. However, that wasn't enough to cloud his mind to the identity of the voice calling out to him. He knew this voice. General Yang was more than familiar with the identity of who speaks. Then as if a light bulb went off in his mind. Clarity cleared it all, plots and theories running in his mind all connected.
Ha-ha~! General Yang laughed out loud. The strength in that laughter that shouldn't be present in a near dead soul like himself. Yet still like a young lad he laughed; the vigor still present there as if it never left.
"So, this was all within your plan then? I assume hm?" He wasn't laughing out of scorn or hatred. He was truly in his still beating heart impressed. This was something he would have expected out of them after all.
"There was no saving you general, nor your sons even I failed to notice it until it was too late." The figure shrouded in shadow let out a breath of air, pausing before it continued.
"No, this fate was long reserved for some like me for ages for what I have done to you and the others."
General Yang cut off. "Perhaps this is karma for my deed, but I accept it all the same."
The figure then spoke with then the rhythm of their words flowed as smoothly as when they started.
"But if it will ease your mind one package has been secured safely. Though I would have liked to purge the poisoned roses that lead to your current predicament.
This drew a ire from the old man. Ah~, it too clicked in his mind so that's what it was huh who would have thought? The flower by his side all these years had been a disease.
Yet this didn't seem to afflict him as much as he thought it should have. That was good, it was irrelevant now.
"Any others?" This question he asked drew a dreaded sensation in his heart. He almost didn't want to hear the answer.
The figure in the darkness whose outline barely shone through shook its head. "In process not favorable."
"Ah~, I see." General Yang sighed. Hope for the worst and you will not be disappointed.
"So then why are you here you cannot break me out without that guy knowing?"
"A chance, as well as my only way, at least what I can do for you to send you on your way." The figure causally strode softy towards General Yang's immobilized form.
"This will sting a little."
The figure's fingers reached into General Yang's mouth and pulled out his tooth with relative ease.
"I do not need to tell you what you need to do. Just make it count. Take as much of them down with you." The figure showed General Yang the object in its hand, before inserting into place of the tooth that was just extracted.
"Ah~, ha-ha I'm proud of you my boy, Take care of yourselves ok kiddo." General Yang spoke while testing if the object was settled in right.
"Affirmative...…. Give them hell old man."
The figure stood a foot away from General Yang standing at attention before giving a proud honorary salute to which General Yang replied with a nod his limbs stilled chained. The figure then strolled out the door no one even knew about its existence as if the figure never excited in the first place. However General Yang knew he didn't need the stinging sensation of the false tooth in his mouth to tell him of his reality that was how they were that was how they were meant to be. He now knew what he had to do and was not itching for it. His once dead limbs burned with a passion he longed to reach out, toward the one soul he sought. He didn't have to wait long as then a blinding light shone through.
The object of his desire had come.