The World. Zao Wu Hai had read many of the books he had seen throughout the world, but in all of them, none of them referenced its name. On the trip to Earth, he couldn't even find the word to fit. Earth was a name for soil, a planet of dirt.
The World of Wu Hai's new life was filled with many things, and a word to describe it was non-existent. No one part or race had taken the time to name its celestial body.
A Promise, a world full of it and an oath between friends. The Prince of the Zao Clan rarely promised things but there was room for growth in all places of the world. Space was abundant. To find a place out among the lands where races converged was rare as well. The City, which still smoked from time to time was under new management.
"From this day forth, this City will be known as 'Greensong.' We must capture this City, and take it as our own. If we do not take the initiative, someone else will. The Stealth Corp will act as an emergency police force, the Elders will have full authority over their deployment. Right now, I want everyone to split up and check how many survivors there are. When you're done, report back to me. I will be in Qu's Tower." The Prince of the Zao Clan was anything but calm, the Rainbow Spot had done it yet again.
A Serious development had been either stalled or greatly complicated due to its involvement.
He was feeling like a puppet that got to choose the stage, disconcerting, he brokered for some quiet thought on his way back through the City.
He was torn, torn between the lasting effects of his Sect on Earth and the lives he had left behind in the other world.
It was something different, his concerns grew the more he thought about the dangers the other family members he had left behind were experiencing. The Earth was a complicated place before, and while the place never left his thoughts he had actually spent very little time thinking about them. The Waking dreams during his fight with Ammuru left him asking some deeper questions.
"I am hunting for reasons to go back and now this." A drumming kept going off in his heart, Kuzunoha could tell he was deep in thought and kept her distance.
He didn't have a question but an Exclamation. Then his pace accelerated, there was much deliberation within his mind.
Arriving in Qu's Tower, Wu Hai spent a few minutes cleaning out his storage ring.
The Coffin sized Silver Crystal however was left in the ring. Taking it from the safe room was a bad idea, its efficacy had dropped assuredly. The Prince called out for Qu to help distribute the items in his possession and grabbed another pile of fresh storage rings from the shelf.
"You're habits are costly. Those were to be for my assistants next month." Qu frowned.
"I will bring you more soon enough. Forgive me old friend, things have changed. I'm drowning in conflict right now. I must think. But I cannot have this in my hands." Wu Hai transferred the Silver Crystal into the best quality ring among the bunch, then passed it over.
"Hide this, I don't trust Ibuwere's intentions." The Prince tried to put the troubles behind him, there was no real reason to mistrust him, however some lingering suspicion was hard to shake.
The pointed lights of the first sun setting in the distance turned the sky to a light orange, Kuzunoha's silhouette was standing in the door. Her face hidden in the shadows like a pinhole, she saw the pupils of the Prince soften when he recognized her figure through his haze.
"We will shine, that's how we'll be." Grabbing his hand, she threw herself into his arms.
".." The Prince was unable to say a word, Kuzunoha's lips greeted his and brought his senses entirely to that moment, that place, that instant. His shoulders sank and he relaxed.
Wrapping her legs around his waist, Miss Nara took the token from his robes and teleported themselves to the roof.
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The Sect Elders were doing their jobs, searching the City would take the rest of the evening. The Prince could always opt to teleport back to Zao City for reinforcements, but the dangers had mostly passed. The Security forces for Zao City had come along, the Stealth Corp was quite good at their job. While the Sect Elders did their searching, the Stealth Corp watched their backs in the shadows. The Patriarch had been a very strict guide, and Guzhe's attitude after being taken in to the Inner sect as an Elder was anything short of demanding.
Their training was an important aspect of their daily lives, they lived their lives in full immersion. A Shadow force. They were fearful of LuSha, the Elemental's ability to control the element of Darkness was frightening. The Lightning-Shadow Phoenix Elemental Hybrid was an opponent they did not want to face.
Spending most of his time in the roost, the Prince would sometimes forget about him. He was forcefully thrust into the Prince's care. Since his arrival, LuSha had not found a reason to leave. A spiritual sense from a familiar person came to his attention. Darting through the entrance and ripping the street up in his wake, LuSha's piercing phoenix cry alerted the entire City of his intention.
"What is going on? Wu Hai looked up from his bed and out of the window.
There was a streak of debris headed to the north western section of the City. He could see the soaring black aura from LuSha at its front.
"I have to go" The Prince put his pants on and looked over at his bed.
"Hurry back." Kuzunoha covered herself up and fluffed the pillow.
Disappearing like a streak of white, the Prince flew toward LuSha's trajectory. The Stealth Corp was already following closely behind. "Your Majesty, What is going on with LuSha?" They were unable to do a thing to stop him, his control over the elements was much greater than theirs, he was after all one of their Teachers.
"It doesn't matter, get him to pull up. We don't want to destroy the area." Wu Hai matched LuSha's speed for a moment and tried to get his attention.
LuSha looked over, then back on his path. There was a seriousness in his eyes, like he was searching for something.
The Prince took a deep breath and tried to find anything with his spiritual sense, 'nothing.' Disappointment filled the mind of the Prince and then he took another deep breath, he could taste something, a smell. There was the smell of some strange herb in the air.
Wu Hai wanted to stop him from destroying things, but he could see the urgency in LuSha's eyes. If he couldn't convince him to stop, he could at least try to help. The Prince focused on the scent. it was closer to an all spice he had a vague memory of from earth. A mixture of spices, it was quite unique.
Honing in, he turned directions. LuSha noticed, abruptly stopped, sniffed the air and followed the Prince. 'He is a predator after all,' The Prince thought to himself then said: "This way!"
Like a Thunderbolt, they both sped off. At the edge of the City was a Shack, it was covered in frost.
"Master. I can feel my old essence from within but that is impossible. I am sure that my former Masters are within." LuSha was furious, he looked ready to strike.
Wu Hai had similar problems in his own life, conflicts. He could resolve them, but at what cost. "I don't think you should destroy them. You are not even you anymore, let those things pass or they will consume you like it did so many of their generations. I don't think its worth it. If you're looking for my permission, I won't stop you. I have my own killing to do. I hope I have the strength when the time comes."
LuSha began carving the ground from the base of the building, surrounding it in time with a small stream of liquid lightning.
Ballsing, the Pirion, descendant of the man whom LuSha was once indebted opened the door. He had been hiding, the Frost covering the building was a deterrent against most things that looked interested in it. Pirions could last a long time in the cold.
"If this place can change with a new name, then so can you." Wu Hai looked at LuSha then at the Pirion Ambassador. "Leave everything, absolutely everything. In the name of the Esper Emperor, Zao Wu Hai. I, Zao Wu Hai hereby sentence you to return to your country. Notify everyone that Slaves will no longer be sold in Greensong. This City is going to be run by the Dragon King in his absence." Wu Hai looked at Mike who had just arrived.
"^@%#&&!" Mike cursed under his breath, it was a device of his own making. He had forced Wu Hai into a title, and now he was stuck in the same bit.
"Don't act like that, won't you get your own Beastgirl Harem?" Wu Hai's words shocked Mike into a coughing fit.
"In the Name of the Dragon King; I, the Dragon King Mike Cardelli hereby claim these lands for the Zao Clan, and the Esper Emperor, Zao Wu Hai." King Mike sure sounded good to Mike, 'but king of what?' was all that kept running through his head.
LuSha landed and stood before the Prince, confused.
"Why allow him to leave. for Mercy?" LuSha asked with a cocked head.
"No. a Message. We don't have to kill them, its beneath us." The Prince turned back to the Bent Tower Pagoda in the distance, from his position he could make out Kuzunoha's figure slightly in the window.
Patiently she watched as he returned to her side.
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A building laid cold and covered in dust, it looked like it had not been used for weeks. Inside, a Man and his servant were doing their best to hold out on the rations they had remaining.
Cricks and splintering wood could be heard coming from the front.
"Manager Chou?" One of the intruders called out.
'it can't be' Manager Chou wasn't sure if it was a trap, he had barred himself up within the room because of all the missing business owners.
""Master, I don't think we have to worry. the noise outside has stopped. Ever since that last series of crashes, its been nothing. Maybe the fighting ended."" The assistant wanted out of the building, she had been locked in the same room with her insufferable boss for more than enough time to have earned a karmic reward.
More debris could be heard as it was tossed and cleared. Furniture was slid to the side and the door to the lower offices had been exposed. Even if there was a trap door for an emergency escape, the front door to his office still existed. All they had to do was get in.
The Stealth Corp came prepared for combat, a wooden door never stood a chance. sweeping from its hinges and flying across the room, the door crashed into a desk.
"Is anyone down here?" Rods of Glowstone lit the inside of the room, grabbing one from the wall the he saw a dagger and reflexively move to intercept it.
"HOLD IT!?" The Stealth Corp operative sank into the wall, pinning Manager Chou in an awkward spot between the dimensional shift.
"?.. Master. Please. Don't, we can pay. we can pay." The assistant didn't seem like she was lying, the Stealth Corp Operatives all stopped in unison.
"We are here to check for survivors, the Esper Emperor has sent out his first command. Rescue the Townsfolk. If you're not injured, we have other matters." Turning to leave, he noticed that the woman was clinging to his arm.
"PLEASE TAKE ME WITH YOU!" She didn't seem like she was afraid, instead gloom and despair covered her face.
The Operatives all began to move again, shirking off the assistant and passing through the door. There were hundreds of buildings to clear. Several of the operatives had good spiritual sense, making the search a bit easier but injured or critical civilians had to be taken to the Tower.
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Qu and Elder Jiang were doing their best to give help to any of the citizens who were in need. It was a makeshift triage in the lobby, Qu's assistants were great at sorting out problems. Separating the critically injured and setting up a priority, things were managed closer to the way the hospital had been at Zao City.
Old Man Jiang had taken over the administrative position for the hospital, Doctor Dibali needed to focus on other things and the 'medical students' that were available looked more like scientists trying out experiments.
Ibuwere didn't have a need to run, the feeling of being followed had passed. He was free to move about and made himself at home in the library while the Tower was still present in the City.
"These books are astounding." The Title read 'Calculus', Ibuwere had been spending a lot of time going over the material from Earth. He was curious how so many people survived on such a small piece of dirt.
"QU." Calling out to get his attention wasn't hard, just yelling his name would suffice. Ibuwere called for Qu and pulled the next book from his pile. It was a book titled 'Rifles Win Wars.'
Qu's body manifested, the wisps of energy gradually showed his disinterest. "What is it?" Qu frowned and looked at the book in Ibuwere's hands.
"Rifles. Gunpowder hasn't exactly been created here. Given the description of their effect on the Prince during his last visit, it is tactically worthless as a tool of battle once someone has any ability or movement speed.
For a few hours, the Two were deep in thought. Plotting.
Back and forth they argued.
"Like this."
"NO!"
"like this."
"Nope. What about this?"
"Not that way.
"Nope.
"Yes. that will do."
"No."
"THIS WAY!"
"Nope.
"You gotta be kidding me, that's an excellent idea. but how about we.."
"NOPE"
"YES"!
"NO!""NO!""NO!""NO!""NO!""NO!""NO!""NO!"
Qu disappeared from the room, fuming. He had read most of the books in the library and yet he couldn't have made the connection or improvised that way.
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Xuan Kim Li was still outside in the City helping the Stealth Corp search for survivors. His part in the battle was minimal and that was giving him too much credit.
Standing in front of a Storefront that looked inviting, Kim Li walked in. There were stools of different shapes all over the room. It looked like a small diner, only 10 seats were in the lobby. The kitchen in the back looked like it hadn't been used in a while. A clanging pot sent kim li into a flinch, but it was only a rat. following its path, he saw the severed heads of several Lupinians.
"This is grotesque." Holding his face, he stood up and looked at the wall behind the couple's corpses. A panel had been shifted, behind it a child was peering through the crack.
'Oh.' Kim Li thought about walking up to talk to the kid but called out instead. ""Hey, I have one in here. Its just a kid, I think he needs some help." Looking over his shoulder, Xuan Kim Li saw his backup come out of the shadows and approach the hole. The parents bodies were stored away immediately and then they took the panel off.
The boy was holding his younger sister, clutching her face in his chest. His eyes said he would fight.
"Come with us, the Devil is gone." Guzhe had been left in charge of Kim Li after LuSha had been calmed down. "Its fine, come on." Stretching his hand out, Guzhe tried coaxing the pair out of the wall. They were scared, it wasn't going to be easy.
The Girl was the first to change her orientation, looking over, her eyes trembled as she sobbed in her brother's chest. Then, he stood up with her in his arms. there was nothing to say, they were led from the house.
Guzhe came up to Kim Li and put the boys hand into his. "Take them to Master Jiang. Put them with the other Children. We have more buildings to check." Slipping into the shadows, the Stealth Corp spread out once again and looked for the living.
"Don't worry. Here. Try these." Pulling out some of the Candy that Harris and the Zao City foodies had crafted, their noses twitched. Neither of them had eaten in some time, and both of them had never tasted something sweet. It was an Orange paste ball that was cold and on a stick.
'Carrot Ice Cream' Kim Li winced, he had bought up samples of the ice cream every time Harris and the Alchemy Department started fooling around with flavors. He never expected that he would actually have a grateful party to receive it, its popularity was rather low.
The effects of the Carrot Ice Cream was the improved night vision, during the day it heightened the brightness and made everything shown with halos.
"T-ASTES GOO!" the Girl bit down on the Ice Cream and cringed for a second.
"Don't eat it too fast." Xuan Kim Li missed his little sisters and his cousin. They had been instrumental in helping motivate him as a child to learn mechanical and electronic theory.
The Tower was not far, the Second Sun was setting. the Violet skies turned a beautiful navy and the stars shown through more brightly.
Streaks crossed the sky.
"NO!" the girl finished her stick of ice cream and began to fuss.
"Here. Have Another."
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Rachael had finally calmed down, her nerves were spent. The loss of her children and the absence of Zhan had taken its toll, her hair lost some of its color. Khan Ni and Marcus had brought lots of well needed reprieve. Her wits were strung out to a point that she would have lost all hope in the news of another loss.
"Zhan will come come. I know it." She prayed. Khan Ni didn't know what else to do, praying before the World Tree Seed she whispered. '''Dear husband, keep your arrows true, divine, a trinity, love of thee, be safe beneath the World Tree.'''
A spark of gold and green came from the world tree seed, its shell deepened in color. Khan Ni's eyes perked up in excitement. The Bloodcost for the World Tree Seed was too high to attempt its cultivation. Any change whatsoever was monumental.
"This changes things." Khan Ni stood up and threw her shawl to the side.
Rachael looked confused.
"I must go." Khan Ni started picking things from shelves and placing them into storage.
"What do you mean you have to go?" Rachael was confused. Khan Ni handed Marcus to Rachael.
"Our Child. You will guard him. I must inform the Matriarch and Sect Leader." Khan Ni collected the World Tree Seed in her hands and rushed out of the door.