In a dark tunnel a woman wearing a white robe, tip toeing around with only the dim glow of a candle as her guide. Her fancy shoes muddled in dirt and sludge.
She stood in place, nervously tipping her head left and right. Her fingers crossed and her nails clicking.
Then the sound of feet clicking against the stone pavement could be heard. The woman wearing white turned towards the sound and saw a figure draped in a black cloak, with a white mask around his face.
The woman in white backed away a bit.
A hoarse voice sounded out, "Yuan'er there's no need to be scared. It's me."
The figure peeled the mask off his face and s black, burnt face with thin patches of hair appeared. Although it was hard to recognize the unmistakable features of her, Zhou Xin the resistance leader were apparent.
Yuan'er the former princess of Ying, her lips trembled as she fearfully mouthed what she wished wasn't true, "Zhou Xin is that you?"
Zhou Xin kneeled.
Yuan'er fell to her knees, dragging herself close to Zhou Xin inspecting her tattered face, Yuan'er and her white glass like hand touched the burnt spots that would forever burn, forever reminding Zhou Xin of those bloodied marshes.
Zhou Xin flinched. The very touch of another brought her pain.
Yuan'er asked with a stutter, "What happened."
Zhou Xin threw her head away, staring away in shame and fury.
Yuan'er said, "Zhou Xin tell me what happened and why you risked contacting me."
Zhou Xin thus painfully recalled all that had happened, her naivety and Won's cruelty.
Yuan'er leaned onto the wall, her eyes staring dazingly.
She knew what a person Won was. Simply hearing of his actions to those of Ito may be a great festival or a great storm of elation, yet to her it simply brought shivers and trembles and sleepless nights. Those sharp eyes were Continuously like a ghoul chasing her.
This fact only continued to cement itself in her heart the further Won soared. When he was called a God of Victory by Ito, he was the Greatest Demon in Yuan'er's heart.
She dared not move a single step out of place in fear of his damming words slaughtering her...
Zhou Xin Kowtowed, "I beg the princess to aid me."
Yuan'er was in a daze, and couldn't answer.
Zhou Xin slammed her head down, tears that burnt like fire fell down her face, she moaned, "Please Princess I need your help! To get revenge! To fight that man, I can't do it alone! I can't live like this, I can't die like this! I need closure! I can't be like this, so please Princess help me! I beg of you. You may be shivering in fright, but everyday of my life is a continuous reminder of my failure and my weakness, to the extent that waves of heat bite into me every night! I need to fight it out with him, to remove the scars in my heart and I can only do that with you."
Yuan'er gazed at Zhou Xin.
Zhou Xin's tears as they echoed in the silence, as her cries rang louder. Yuan'er felt her heart like a drum beat.
Was this life? Was living in fear and suffering even living? That question fell into her head.
Then she remembered something Won had said...
"It is the role of the strong to protect the weak and to put in place rules to manage them, but it is the role of the weak to question those rules and those motives. To live a life blindly following a set doctrine is foolish, should you find something out of place do your best to correct it whether it be considered wrong in the eyes of others. If you cannot solve it, that means you were in the wrong, don't regret, don't be angry, just know you did what you thought was right and what was the best."
This was something had preached aloud.
How ironic was it that Yuan'er was gaining a semblance and will from the words of the man who had taken everything from her. For the first time since she was born, she was really living as a human. A blinding twisting flame bore in her heart, and it was all thanks to that man. Those cold and sharp eyes now seemed more understandable.
Yuan'er laughed, "He claims to be a Cruel God yet here he is being foolish and showing kindness to his enemies. What a bastard!"
Unknowingly within the hate Yuan'er felt, the desperation and anxiety, she bore relief and strength as well as love. He was a good man, who simply did as he did to survive, although she could not forgive him she could understand him. She looked again at his words and realized the pain that was laced in them. She realized that there was no good and evil, simply those trying to live in this horrible world. She didn't blame him, no she thanked him for being genuine... She loved him because of how amazing he was.
Yuan'er grabbed Zhou Xin's shoulders and said with a gentle, contented smile, "Let us fight then, such that we do not regret. Let us live lives where we do our best."
(Some might have issue with what Yuan'er realized but I want to comment further...
Zhou Xin realistically did everything with a selfish motive, it wasn't genuine passion to revive her land more like a general trying to gain accomplishments. She didn't have the true fire and passion to fight a war against Won and Ito. Thus Won had to create that strength and genuine feeling that was needed in such battles.)
...
In Sangria...
Wang So looked at Prince Yangmeng.
Wang So asked, "Tell me why Sangria has fallen to such a state that it started a skirmish with a smaller Empire! Tell me why of all people foolishly declared an intent to attack! Do you truly not see the benefits that were available to us by biding our time and uniting with Ito! We could have become two twin Empires ruling the entirety of the East! With Ito's latent potential and their God of Victory who even I must accept his prowess and capabilities, we could have leapt to the sky in one go! Instead you showed them ferocity and when they responded back with the same ferocity you came begging to me! How foolish are you!"
Prince Yangmeng said, "Granduncle you are too away from matters of the Empire, you have lost the arrogance and dominance that a top Empire should bare!"
Wang So frowned, "What did you say!"
Prince Yangmeng said, "Us joining with that small Empire how foolish, we are beings far surpassing them!"
Wang So slapped the armrest of his throne and said, "I have Continuously taught to you that in this world there are no limits and having mindless arrogance will only lead to problems and unnecessary battles! Yet you and your brother, no even your father and my brother have renegaded from that simple fact! Had it not been for me and the Wand of YingLong who knows how quickly we would have crumbled to dust!"
Prince Yangmeng snorted, "You taught me some are meant to rule and some to be ruled!"
Wang So said, "That does not make forcing others below you to be right!"
Prince Yangmeng waved his hand, "Conflict was inevitable. During the Imperial Princes and that woman from Ying's wedding I used the Wand of YingLong against them on contract."
Wang So's Qi fluttered and the column's around them crumbled.
Prince Yangmeng scornfully remarked, "Just what right does that commoner bastard have to push me so far?! And you instead of killing of those insignificant ants you want to reprimand me for my behavior!"
Wang So said, "Mind your tongue boy!"
Wang So sighed and said, "You loved that woman named Yuan'er aswell did you not."
Prince Yangmeng shivered.
Wang So continued, "Your weakness and your inability to keep her, it angered and made you question yourself. You couldn't as Prince Yangmeng of Sangria show such weakness as to go to war over a woman and show such lack of competency, but you understood the weakness and tragedy that are the bindings of royalty. Yet you saw a commoner who was thought to be lesser do all this but more, conquering and obtaining Victory. Becoming a God and also the one who stole the woman you love. Your scared of Won, your fearful of his abilities and capabilities. I understand, I very much understand. I understand the sacrifice one must undertake to become Emperor and to rule over millions. Yet you let your demons consume you, you let them fester and morph you! I selected you as the next Emperor because of how you bared yourself yet seeing you now I realize my judgement failed me and I failed you."
Prince Yangmeng frowned his eyes glistening in a strange color.
He said, "Enough! Do not continue! Go and destroy Ito!"
Wang So looked at Yangmeng and said, "It's my fault for not properly guiding you. For teaching you only colorful expressions and for not bearing any way of comforting you such that the sacrifices you make hurt less. Yet I hope you will let go of this demon that grips to your heart."
Yangmeng walked away without a reply slamming the door.
Wang So leaned his head on his hand and sighed.
...
Won was sitting watching the orange sun hit the horizon, the blue and pink sky like a gigantic celestial river.
Won's eyes were drawn to the men, women and children who walked alongside the roads of Toko.
Their laughter and sadness echoed in his ears.
Their good and bad all of it fell into his eyes. A complicated feeling brewed in his heart.
His hand extended out as if reaching out hoping the catch them. Yet just then a coldness in his heart flashed. Won gripped his hand shut.
Slowly his hand fell and he could only sigh.
...
Ozaris barged into Won's room. The night had just set.
Won arose.
Ozaris said, "Master we have a problem."
Won frowned.
Ozaris continued, "Princess Yuan'er tried to assassinate Imperial Prince Roku and currently she, Zhou Xin and others from Ying and Suzaku have begun a riot and taken over the palace. Furthermore Wang So of Sangria according to what we know is also heading to the capital."
Won frowned. His eyes twisted.
He punched out angrily.
Won stood up and wore his robe.
Ozaris stopped him, "Your Majesty I implore you to think it through. Solider's of Sangria are moving towards Toko and to protect what is ours you must stay! Furthermore... Furthermore how can I watch you march foolishly towards death's door!"
Won said, "Ozaris..."
Ozaris said, "Your Majesty you have given me everything I have. You may not realize how Important of a person you are to me. At first it might have been the devotion that any demon would feel towards their Royalty, but later my respect and devotion towards you became more! You gave me strength and advice, you treated me like an actual person, you showed me a resolve and purpose! The name Ozaris was a hollow name before, but now I am the unbreakable shield! If I let you go and die, If I cannot protect you there would be no purpose left for me! You trusted me to cover your back, to hold you up should you fall! Then please don't go! Don't go fight for these Humans. You owe them nothing."
Won smiled, "You are my unbreakable shield and I realized... Just like you said I gave you love, purpose and a home, the same thing was done for me by Ito. Those cheers that held me up, those eyes as they stared me down, those hopeful hearts, they are all things I never had before. I have seen the worst of humans and the best. Yet when they all put their fate in me, when they bared their fangs for me, when they called me their God... How do you say I feel a need to protect them."
Won pat Ozaris shoulder as tears slowly fell from Ozaris's eyes.
Ozaris fell down and slammed his fist down.
Meanwhile Won sighed as he walked out.
Yet just then as he reached the entry of his palace he was suprised.
Kiyomi and his other attendants and staff, his soldiers and even the common people of Toko they all were outside Won's house.
Kiyomi said, "Master you should go. Leave Ito and stay hidden. You've worked hard enough, you've shed enough blood."
The soldiers said, "Lord while you are gone we will risk our lives to protect the world you've built! We will guard you against all external forces, so don't worry!"
Haru said, "Lord Won. Never forget, but never blame yourself. Instead hold that person in your heart and live your life for them and their dreams. Never forget, bare them and carve them in your hearts. Each and every one. Hold them and work harder each day. Never forget. We know you will never forget, but don't hurt for too long. We know if you survive this Ito will one day reach for the skies again."
Won was shocked, he asked, "What are all of you saying... That I should run away allowing you all to die, and doing nothing! Aren't you scared."
Yuna came forward, a smile on her face, "We are all scared. Yet you living is more important. Ito will survive, but if you die it will truly die. Today you are the heart of every single person of Ito. Did you think we were all silent. We've seen your pain and sufferings, even if we are silent about them. Every single person here wants to fight because they believe the world you spoke of. Our stagnant Empire which was heading towards suffering suddenly became so grand, how could we not understand. We hold deep respect and love for you."
Won replied, "As do I and that is why till my last breath I will not hesitate to do as I wish, and protect those I wish."
Yuna said, "Won... You must live. It might seem foolish and stupid to put so many lives on one man, but I can honestly say that you are Ito itself. My ancestors, my father no one could ever inspire and give strength to those of Ito as you could. So live and show us the world you talked about!"
Won gazed at all the warm eyes on him.
His heart trembled.
Tears fell from his eyes.
Won laughed, "You all are foolish! Firstly who says I'll lose and second if I were to abandon you I would not be worthy of being your Lord! I am the God of Victory Won, and as long as I live Ito shall stand firmly and not one person can shake that fact!"
Yuna reached out her hand, "No! Won!"
Won smirked brightly, "Take care of Toko until I come back. Yuna I love you."
Won passed something to Yuna and whispered something.
Yet Won turned into a flash of green light, dissapearing.
...
In the capital the civilians of Ito and the remnants of Ying and Suzaku fought, it was a hard and messy battle.
The echoes of children rang aloud, bellowing outwards through the twisted passages and columns of Ito.
Just then a bright light ignited in the sky! Everyone gazed up and found a gigantic Buddha acting like a beacon in the night. Inside the Buddha was a man.
His pinkish white hair flew in the wind and his steady and sharp eyes looked upon the capital torn asunder and broken apart.
Blood had fallen upon the capital and precious life had been needlessly and hopelessly robbed.
From the Buddha's outstretched hand one million golden palms fell and hit every enemy of Ito.
A low murmur turned into a loud echo.
"God of Victory! God of Victory!"
Won fell down and from his outstretched hands, from his finger tips beams of light shot into everyone injured.
{Magic circle of healing}.
Won didn't say anything simply walking with heavy steps into the Royal palace.
Won's eyes caught sight of burnt men and women cornering him.
Yet these ferocious beasts misunderstood that they were prey.
Won reached the Emperor's chamber.
The various ministers were either held at the neck with a knife or dead. Prince Roku was tied on the ground shivering. Emperor Sora had a sword on his neck.
Won gazed upon her. Yuan'er. Their eyes crossed.
Won said, "You were quite calm this whole time why did you suddenly choose to betray us. I'm sure the Prince didn't do anything horrible to you."
Yuan'er didn't speak for a moment, she seized up those eyes and that straight back of his.
Yuan'er said, "This isn't betrayal this is setting things right. Ito shouldn't have every come to this point, and it's only right it goes back to where it was supposed to be."
Won said, "I have total control over the situation nothing will change, simply different actors in the same play."
Yuan'er smiled.
Zhou Xin pointed her sword at Won, "Not everything is under your control! This man is the Emperor and one day you will leave this place or it will kick you out, in the end ones home can never be fit for another."
Zhou Xin said, "As fearsome as you are, Humans are far darker! This Emperor will never welcome you and thus this Empire will never welcome you! Thus an inept Empire like Ito without you their God Of Victory is nothing."
Won looked up and said, "Then all I need to do is simple."
A strange wind blew.
Won said, "I will become Emperor!"