The war between Three Mountain Peaks and Yang Blazing Sect continued. The war became a training ground for the elite but a hell for the mediocre. It became a sharpening tool for geniuses to sharpen and polish their skills but a scythe pointing at the necks of those at the bottom of the ladder. Some became heroes standing above their peers, however most became the foundation supporting the limelight of those who shone. A situation that showered the top of praises however a cruel reality for those at the bottom.
Many names resounded at this chaotic time, "The Refined Cultivator", Ray of the Three Mountain Peaks, "Three Mountain Guards", three Hu brothers of the Three Mountain Peaks, "The Dominating Sun", Khael of the Yang Blazing Sect, "Young Empress of Yang Fire", Olive of the Yang Blazing Sect and many other disciples gained hear catching titles and aliases. However, will this situation that allowed the rise of those geniuses continue? Unknown to those geniuses, that at this moment a storm was brewing, a storm that would drag them from top to bottom, a storm that would swallow their limelight until, nothing was spared, a storm that would bring them facing a cruel reality.
***
"It's been several days since Fiel went and met with Graus. Why until now, he was nowhere to be seen!?" said Sect Master Yang angrily as he slammed the thick table in front of him. Along with his anger, the heat rose inside the tent.
The elders inside the tent were quiet and avoided meeting the eyes of their Sect Master lest they became the target of his anger.
"W-We are still doing an investigation, however, we still haven't heard and seen him. However, knowing him, he would make sure to take a different detour to avoid being trailed. However given his speed. he should be fast enough to arrive in our tent in the earliest three days and .at the latest five days, however it's been a week and we still haven't hear anything from him, I am afraid–" the elder paused at this moment because he felt that the temperature inside the tent kept rising and sweat kept flowing out from him..
"S-sect Master, please calm yourself."
"Calm!? Do you think I can calm myself!? When there's a possibility that I lose one of my tools after I lose one from the hands of those Three Mountain Peaks bastards, while the possibility of Graus being a traitor!? Tell me how can I calm down my anger!?"
"Traitor?" The elders were shocked by this sudden realization.
"HAHAHAH." the Sect Master Yang couldn't help but laugh hysterically while looking at the fools. "Why do you think I sent one of my strongest tools? To gain information? To check the safety of Graus? No, the reason I sent Fiel is to test and check Graus, if he saw any anomaly, I instructed him to kill Graus. Ever since I have learned the death of the vice sect master, my suspicion of Graus being a traitor was born! I know Edward, he was not reckless, he would plan out things. Then why do you think he was found out? Because of coincidence? I don't believe such things! It's clearly because of some rat!"
"Prepare and call our strongest force, we will now enter an all out war!"
***
"H-How?" said weakly the disheveled old man. He was facing the Sect Master and elders of Three Mountain Peaks Sect. His body has multiple grave wounds, he looked at them, seeking for an answer as he knelt in a pool of blood.
"Hmmph." harrumphed Sect Master Hill as he looked down towards the old man. "Do you think that I wouldn't know about your meeting with one of the Yang Blazing Sect? Do you think I am a fool, Graus?"
"Why now? Why not act the moment you realize I was meeting with one of the Yang Blazing Sect?"
"Your guard was up after all, I wouldn't act that moment, but when your guard was down."
"I see, then please tell me. The vice sect master Edward. Did he die in your hands?"
"No." The moment Sect Master Hill said this, he gave a signal and a sword slashed towards Graus neck that took his life.
Thud. Graus head fell and rolled. He died staying loyal to his sect yet unknown to him he was branded as an eternal traitor of the subject of his loyalty. Fortunately, he died with his mind in peace not knowing this fact.
"It looks like an all out war is inevitable anymore." muttered Sect Master Hill.
***
The next day the declaration of an all out war shook the disciples of both parties, because an all out war means the scale of war wouldn't be limited by the disciples. The higher ups such as elders and vice sect master would join the fray, at worst both of the Sect Masters would clash head-on.
After the declaration of an all out war, both sectsent their powerful force, protectors, elders and vice sect master joined the war. The already chaotic battlefield became even more chaotic, to those who were mediocre, the war was already past the word "hell", while the geniuses who treated this war as their sharpening tools were slapped hard by the cruel reality that they were far too weak. They realized that they were not the protagonist of this war, they were nothing but a slightly bigger background. The war has no eyes, ears and no heart, whether you encounter a weaker or stronger opponent, it depends on one's luck. Some of the protectors and elders even used this opportunity to target those geniuses to cut the future foundation of their enemy. Some survived and were able to seek protection from their elders, alas most were unlucky to meet their ends without even realizing their potential. The former shine that they were proud of, greatly diminished and lost its luster. The former praises that showered them, have now ceased to exist. The cries and screams that they only heard in the past few days from their peers, now they were one of those who cries and screams.
***
From a few kilometers away the main battlefield, Ray leaned to a tree as he struggled with his breathing. He looked at his two brothers who stayed with him till the end. Their former lively fighting and jesting were nowhere to be seen, what's left was their lifeless and cold shell, lying on the earth's dirt mixed with their own blood. Tears couldn't help but form in the corners of his eyes.
Ray's former elegant and refined stature was now erased by this war. His hair was disheveled, his clothes were torn apart, and blood of his enemy and his own marked them permanently. His left arm was missing. His clean face was now swollen, dried and flesh blood can be seen on his mouth. and his sharp eyes were buried under those swollen flesh.
"Huff, Huff." breathing became even more difficult, and each mouthful of air he could breathe was considered as luxurious. His eyes grew heavier as his heartbeat became less frequent. He didn't doubt that his life was about to end and any of the air he breathed could be his last.
His heartbeat became duller, until it stopped, his eyes finally stopped struggling and permanently closed, thus, his life ended.
At this moment a couple landed and looked at the three lifeless bodies.
"Being isolated after your master was discovered as a spy, even at the times of predicament no one was willing to help you but, these two stayed at the very end, even after swatting them away, huh." said the young man.
After saying this the couple left the three bodies. Some even see this as a heartless act, but these two couples already saw countless deaths from their countless years of experience, seeing such death was not new to them.