Two days later, my whole family gathered together to see us off. All of us gathered in the dining room inside the Inner Palace and bid farewells during the breakfast.
-"It's awkward to see you off, Yue, as you still be in Hold."
-"Don't think too deeply about it, Tingyun."
-"The only thing left is to wish you a good time for those two weeks."
-"Thanks. You ready to leave, girls?"
-"Yes."
As everyone was ready and waiting, my main body went to the world that was our destination. I started my travel the day before, as the 'distance' between our worlds was considerable.
Arriving at the border of the world, I at first probed it with my power to gather more information about Laws ruling it, but the moment my powers entered inside, I was pulled into the world.
I instantly used my power to oppose power dragging me inside. Only using my full force, along with assistance from the [Crown], was I able to block the opponent. I also alarmed Xipe, Ena, and even Shen Meng about the situation.
~"Calm down, o Child of Eternity."
~"Calm down? You attacked me."
Xipe and Ena appeared by my side in their Aeon forms.
~"Yue!"
~"I'm all right."
We looked at being in front of us, or at least where its presence was, as it was immaterial, lacking even an avatar.
~"I apologize for dragging you like that, but if you were to enter that world, you would become corrupted."
~"Corrupted?"
~"Yes.
~"Let's de-escalate things. Allow me to call a few more people here, and we will talk then."
~"Wery well."
We waited for Shen Meng to arrive, and I also called for Terminus. Minutes later, Shen Meng arrived with Soaring Feather, while Terminus appeared as soon as I could contact her.
~"Now, can you tell us how to call you?"
~"I have no name, but one day, my children will call me Earth Mother."
~"I'm Yue, this is my patron, Terminus."
~"It's my honor, o guests from outside."
~"Can you explain more about the corruption you spoke of?
~"This world was born with six of us. We created existence and essence, but we also uncovered something else. Seventh, being the same as us, unknown to us but with power rivaling ours."
~"I can imagine the rest of the story. Thank you for preventing us from encountering that corruption."
~"No problem. I also have an interest in talking with you."
~"So you want us to help you with something after all."
~"I want to make a transaction with you."
~"Speak, Being of Life."~Terminus took over the talk from me.
~"I'll give one of my powers in exchange for helping this world."
~"That is not enough."
~"Then what do you propose as adequate reward?"
~"The world."
~"Impossible."
~"No deal, then."
~"Wait Terminus. Earth Mother, this world is so solid thanks to you, right?"
~"You may say so."
~"Then I'll agree If you give me the power necessary and teach me how to create a world as stable as this."
~"I can do that, but this power is something I was born with. If I'm to pass it on to you, Rebirth will be necessary."
~"Rebirth? I believe that it's impossible for me to undergo it."
~"Your existence is chaotic. Your power was gained from many sources, but you can't take the last step because you never started on your own Path."
~"Terminus, what do you think about this?"
~"It can indeed help you forge a Path, but it's not something I advise you do. Treat this as a method of last resort."
~"I see. Then, for now, we won't be able to reach an agreement."
~"I'll wait for a day of your return."
~"Terminus, can you tell me more about this matter later?"
~"Yes. I'll stay here for a while and learn more for the future."
~"Thanks."
In the end, aside from Terminus, all of us left the border of that world. In Hold, I gave an explanation of what had happened, and we decided to postpone our trip and change the destination to the world from where Kai'Sa came from.
Two weeks later, we again found ourselves waiting for my outside avatar to enter the world. This time, Kai'Sa was with us, and after being trained by Guards for those last two weeks, she became rather respectful to them.
-"Everybody ready?"
-"Yes, let's hope that this time, there won't be more surprises."
-"Sigh, don't remind me. Terminus explained to me some more details about Rebirth yesterday."
-"So it really entails starting the life anew?"
-"Not exactly. You enter hibernation while your soul reincarnates into the prepared body. With terminus assistance, this will look the same as my first trip to the Sect, meaning time won't pass for you."
-"But you will spend years alone."
-"That's why I rejected it before. I'll consider it only when something major happens."
-"Don't talk about those boring subjects, Yue, Ling."
-"Sorry, Nian. Let's go. My avatar arrived at the Runeterra."
I teleported them to my other avatar and returned to the Tree, where Terminus was waiting to continue our talk about the Rebirth.
On Runeterra, we found ourselves in a dense forest. The land around us was untouched by human hands. Even energy in the air was pure to cause plants to grow all around.
-"This... I think this must be Ionia. I only heard stories from my childhood, but this much pure nature can exist only there."
-"Ionia, huh?"
-"So Yue, what is the plan for our honeymoon?"
-"How about we look around for tubules, Nian?"
-"I like that idea."
Attuning myself to my surroundings, I tried to find some traces of other humans, but before that, I was able to find the troubles we were looking for.
-"Hou? How about a crusade against those who live in death?"
-"Something interesting is happening?"
-"Look to the sky."
All the girls turned their heads up, and between treetops, they could see dark clouds encroaching onto the land. In some places, those clouds would spill onto land, draining vitality from it and raising countless undead.
-"You truly can attract trobules."
-"I already surrendered any notions of peaceful travels."
-"So what are we going to do?"
-"My Lord, there is a city nearby. Can we lend them our assistance?"
-"I don't mind. Any of you are against Jeanne's suggestion?"
-"No, let's go there."
Kai'Sa decided to leave alone, as she wanted to meet a friend that she had met before falling into Chaos. I helped her by teleporting her to where her friend was supposed to be. She also received a communicator so she can keep in contact with us.
We moved through the forest, and a few minutes later, we entered the clearing and could see a wall of black clouds being blocked by force from the land.
-"I'll the fighting to you, girls."
-"Don't take our fun."
-"Go all out."
They rushed forward, only Jingliu staying by my side.
-"Not going to fight?"
-"Master, we both know that by staying here, I'll be able to meet the strongest opponent soon."
-"Sigh."-I shook my head and focused on the fight happening below.
In front of the city, some guards were fighting against the undead. They were being overwhelmed but continued to hold their positions.
Jeanne was first to rush forward. She stopped before the defense line and stuck her banner into the ground. Instantly, the mist and clouds were pushed back, making it easier to see enemies.
-"Fear not, brave soldiers! Stand tall and defend your families!"
-"Ha!"
Tomoe arrived behind the defense line, took out her bow, and started dispatching undead that were rushing at it. She trained her bowmanship under the Artemis so she alone could intercept most of the wraiths coming this way.
Hare walked to Jeanne's side and also took out her banner, manifesting specially made puppets that made an additional defense line in front. She made them form a phalanx and slowly push forward.
Wraiths continued to rush forward, but none could even strike Hare's puppets, let alone break their defense. The mist started gathering more and more, and soon, stronger beings emerged.
Shenhe and Sakura jumped over the defense lines and rushed into the mist. Moments later, the temperature dropped noticeably, and, from time to time, shards of ice would emerge from the fog.
When the situation seemed to become stable, the roars echoed from the clouds. Soon, a bunch of dragons rushed toward the town from above. Before those could even come close, Benares turned into her dragon form and flew into them.
To not be outdone, Ling, Nian, and Dusk showed results of their Cultivation, manifesting Battle Spirits that embody their Feranmut nature. Three oriental dragons rushed into the sky to enter the battle. Blue dragon would shatter space with its claws, white would burn everything that was in range, and black would create numerous shadow dragons to help in the fight.
To not be outdone, Ch'en also jumped into the fight, using dragons as footholds, she soon landed on Benares back and fought from there. As many of the girls were swordswomen, they trained with each other, thus making their techniques more refined.
Battle in the sky became one-sided. Even if the enemy dragons could regenerate from wounds and be reborn from the mist, they weren't able to approach the city.
Looking if the mist had anything more to show, Kiyohime, who was pouting in displeasure at not being able to fly, was getting impatient because she was too late for the fight. Cellinia stood next to her and also looked for an opponent.
Luckily for them, the sound of hoofs appeared from the fog. Kiyohime's face lit up, and she started running to where the cavalry started emerging. She covered her un-lady-like expression with a fan and manifested a giant white serpent that rushed at the charging horseman.
She unleashed her magic, making the green glow of wraiths overshadowed by her blue fire. The image of her creating an inferno with a manic smile made me happy that her yandere side was kept at bay thanks to our frequent nights.
Cellinia also walked toward the cavalry, her eyes fully on one figure who was leading the charge. Taking out both of her swords, she swung one of them, creating a rain of black blades, cutting every wraith around her target and creating an arena for their fight.
I looked at her fighting with the centaur-like creature. Both of their styles were rather tricky, exploiting every opening with feints in between. For knights, this style might be unhonorable, but in combat, all that mattered was surviving.
-"That mist reminds me about Abundance and Mara."
-"While its nature is entirely different, its effects are similar, after all."
-"Will any more surprises be emerging from the mist?"
-"Not now. But you may have a chance to fight soon."
-"I see."
As I was attuned to nature around me, I could feel mist corrupting the land, as well as the spirit of the land that was trying to stop it from happening. In the surroundings of a woman fighting against corruption, many wraiths were gathered, and a group of warriors defending her was being overrun.
-"You want to help some local warriors?"
-"Where?"
-"I'll teleport you nearby. Solve wraiths, but don't do anything to those people, even if they are corrupted."
-"Good, leave it to me, Master."
I teleported Jingliu into part of the forest that was dead from the mist. There, countless wraiths were rushing toward a group of people who wielded weapons made from white stone.
She manifested her sword and swung it, instantly freezing a big chunk of the forest. Wraiths were also frozen solid, effectively eliminating their regenerative powers.
She walked slowly, slashing from time to time, singlehandedly stopping most of the attackers rushing at the group. They were surprised by the arrival of a powerful warrior but focused on fighting off the wraiths rather than Jingliu.
When most enemies were dealt with, Jingliu kept her distance while the group started talking between themself. I listened to their exchange, but other than a story about the past, nothing important was said.
My focus left them when the mist intensified its corruption of the land. I was about to help the woman who was preventing the corruption, but she stopped her resistance against it.
Sighing to myself, I moved near Jingliu, looking at the now corrupted woman in the middle of the group. A fight ensued, but they soon disengaged and ran in our direction, telling us to follow them.
Signaling Jingliu to go with them, I stayed and looked at the woman, who was about to be surrounded by wraiths.
She looked at me, and after understanding what I was, her eyes widened in surprise. Moments later, she smiled and mouthed 'please', before disappearing with the mist.
Shaking my head, I summoned my Deer Battle Spirit and started using Path of Abundance to heal the land. A few minutes later, no more traces of the corruption remained.
I returned to the girls, who were talking with the group that Jingliu followed.
-"You are back, Lord."
-"Yes, how was the fight, Sakura?"
-"Enemies were weak. Only their apparent immortality was troublesome."
-"Those guys are?"
-"They call themself Sentinels of Light. They explained the origin of that mist and asked us to help with stopping it."
-"What do you want to do?"
-"Jeanne wanted to help, and none of us was opposed to it. We now wait for your decision."
-"Then let's help them."
-"Happy to have you on our side. I'm Lucian."
-"Call me Senna, nice to meet you."
-"I'm Yue."
-"So, are you strong?"
-"I'm. Why do you ask?"
-"You were only we hadn't seen fighting."
-"Olaf, he is our ally."
-"Heh, if he can't fight, what use can he be."
-"Sigh, sorry for him. I'm Vayne, by the way."
-"No offense taken, just don't let him talk too much near Sakura or Kiyohime."
-"Sure."
We talked as we waited for a woman named Irelia as she went to town. She returned to us after talking with the locals. She thanked the girls for saving her people from a dire situation.
She also decided to help the Sentinels, and as we were about to leave, one local guard ran to us from the forest.
-"Lady Irelia, the forest... The forest is alive!"
-"What? Catch a breath first."
-"The forest is green. Corruption is nowhere in sight."
-"What? But her Exceleny Karma is not here. How can it regenerate so quickly?"
-"It wouldn't be your doing, Yue, would it?"
Senna's words made me the center of attention. I nodded in acknowledgment. Irelia walked before me and bowed deeply.
-"Thank you."
I used my power to make her raise her head.
-"No need to thank me. I would do it no matter what, even just because I like nature."
Irelia was unconvinced by my words, but seeing that I didn't want her thanking me, she let it go. We followed the Sentinels to their stronghold and decided to rest and decide what next tomorrow.
There, I was able to find a library and read some things about the politics of the world and other knowledge that Kai'Sa lacked. I spent rest of the day with books, leaving only at night when Hare gave me some motivation.