The City was filled with misery, the destructive path of the previous Emperor had left its mark, bold and bloody. Bodies filled ravines and corridors, over a hundred thousand were dead when the counting ended. A City in mourning, those that survived had been told to meet the new Emperor.
Some brought gifts, most did not.
Although the ceremony was not long lasting, those who remained all felt a sense of relief. The New Emperor had made some promises and changes, the end of the City's slave trade for example had changed the minds of many about who to blame.
The Emperor, calling him the Esper Emperor seemed appropriate, much of the population agreed. None of the Rulers before had shown compassion, let alone compassion for those slaves.
In a room at the Tower, the Sect Elders, Ibuwere, Qu and the Emperor were making plans. The Time had ended, they were going to be busy. "I have to get our reinforcements from Zao City. Please wait here, prepare yourselves. When I return, we traverse the void." Wu Hai was getting tired of being a taxi, but it was better than the alternative. The Journey across the Ocean to reach Greensong was a long trip, it would take months for anyone to cross it on a ship.
"I'm coming with you." Kuzunoha latched herself onto the Emperor.
"Very well, we will return. Guard the City, we won't be gone long." Zao Wu Hai touched the teleportation ring with his hand and they disappeared.
"Anyone wanna have a drink while we wait?" Mu and Yu stood near the Tower entrance looking out at Greensong. Tipping their gourds to the sky, they guzzled their drinks.
A Moment later, Wu Hai and Kuzunoha appeared at the Castle of Zao City.
"Welcome back" Greetings came from the guards as they passed into the main foyer.
The Sect Leader stood by the center of a group, it looked like he was ready to head to Earth himself. "Father, you must remain. You have the Sect to watch over. I don't know what to expect on the other side. I came to pick up the reinforcements we talked about." Wu Hai shrugged and hugged his father. "So.. where are the volunteers?"
Patriarch Ooran was proud. His son was taking the initiative to be his own man, lead his people and become stronger through his own actions. There was no disappointment in his eyes. "I have 74 that can be spared. A large portion of them are our guards and the original transmigrated earthlings. You yourself asked for those that wish to return, your younger brothers desire to go along with you, don't look so surprised. They themselves had worked very hard to be a part of what is to come." Ooran Laughed at his children who were grimacing behind him. They didn't want to be left behind, an adventure to another world was something that didn't come along.
"Less than 100. Well, I worked with less the last time I went. I don't think I will welcome in some ways, but I have given my word that we would try to return for their families one day. Its time." Wu Hai and Kuzunoha joined the group.
A very short time later they were back in Greensong.
The energy in the Tower was intensified, everyone was excited. Wu Hai had a few words to say, "There are about 100 of us in total. This will be chaos, the world we're going to might not welcome us back. Humans are strange that way. Once we arrive we'll have a better idea of what we're dealing with. Brothers," Wu Hai looked at the Quartet, "Don't wander off and make sure to listen to the Elders."
"Okay, now that everyone understands." Wu Hai kissed Kuzunoha and walked out of the door.
Gathering everyone together, they made the jump to Greensong.
Wu Hai had Kuzunoha wait inside, the Tower shrank and was stored away.
He needed to be alone with his thoughts. He thought about a place, and teleported there. "This place is quiet, I won't be disturbed." Everything required concentration, so much so that any interruption would lead to a catastrophic change of events. The Forge he and Mike had built served a wonderful purpose in that moment.
Pulling the Ring that contained the Coffin sized teleportation crystal from a pocket, Wu Hai went over the details in his head once more. He had to be as precise as possible, the math had been done and everything was gathered.
Piles of crystal appeared around him, exact ingredients to replicate the original experiment that had brought him to Earth. "Recreate the gravity well, concentrate." Pulling the Coffin Crystal from storage and placing it in front of him, he channeled. An energy filled the room, encapsulated beneath the old forge. The Massive piles of materials inched closer. Wu Hai had to believe it could work. He intensified his energies and the process had begun. Dust swirled and bonded with the crystal. impacting it, compacting them all. The crystal shape began to distort as more materials were swallowed in the vortex. Wu Hai could feel the particles and shards slash at him when they passed. Just as they had slashed him, so did they bring his blood, his elemental essence to enter the Crystal.
A tint appeared. 'A Change? No. no... Shit..' The Emperor wasn't sure what had happened, but the crystal seemed less violent, more controlled. More materials swarmed about and thrust themselves into the liquid-like crystal mass.
It ended.
The materials standing had gone, the Crystal radiant. He put it away. Wu Hai wondered if it would remain, the red one from Ammuru had broken containment.
"I can feel it still." The Emperor couldn't stand around and wonder, the fact that energy was present outside of the ring meant that containment was likely impossible. "Here goes everything." The Zao Clan, his friends and family. The risk was immense. He channeled the Teleportation ring and prepared his mind, thinking only of his sister, his nephew and niece.
Like a spark leaving, his hand flicked against the teleportation ring. The usual scene of collapsing dirt on his exit was not present, all had been vacuumed into the Crystal's new form. The once coffin size crystal was had been refined to the size of a Dragon's Egg. It hummed.
Inside of the Tower, one of the Prince's, Zao Ho was trying his best to mimic his Older brother. He had been working on it diligently. A darkness ring compressed, a flat spell applied. Then slick. Turning his attention to his other hand he started to condense liquefied lightning. There was only one thought on his mind, getting the technique perfected. Placing two liquefied lightning orbs counter clockwise against the darkness ring he could feel a sense of change around him. Sparks flew.
Qu felt the initial phases of energy outside, he was unaware that Ho was duplicating the spell inside. A rumble in the tower was cause for concern. They were in a pocket space of sorts, they should have been completely immune to turbulence.
Qu's senses check the tower, there was a disturbance on the arena floor. the tower was in tact, Qu found the trail of energy that seemed like it was gone without a trace. It was familiar.
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