Chapter 10: Unexpected Counter
The revolt had begun in full force.
The combined might of the Pillar Clans descended upon the Stargazing Fortress with the fury of a thousand storms. The ancient stronghold, nestled into the steep mountainside, was known as the heart of the FOM, and it was here the rebellious Pillar Clans aimed to strike the final blow. After months of clandestine planning, this was their moment to bring down FOM's iron grip on the martial world.
The Pillar Clan leaders—Kazuki of the Iron Wolf Clan, Takeda of the Thunder Serpent Clan, and Kaede of the Jade Phoenix—marshaled their forces outside the walls, knowing they had to break through the first line of defense: Geng, the most feared elder of FOM.
Geng stood on the high wall of the fortress, a towering figure with arms crossed, his long, weathered face impassive. His presence alone was a reminder of FOM's immense power. Known for his near-impenetrable defense and mastery over earth qi, he had withstood countless battles. His command over the earth was said to be second only to Ron himself.
The Pillar Clan forces launched their assault with every ounce of strength they could muster. Thunder rumbled as Takeda summoned lightning from the stormy skies above, unleashing blasts that crackled and danced, hitting the stone walls of the fortress. Sparks flew as his qi-infused attacks struck the ground, each hit shaking the earth.
Kazuki charged ahead, his blade gleaming as he hacked at the rocks with unyielding fury. The Iron Wolf Clan's warriors followed suit, their weapons flashing in the dim light as they tore through the outer defenses.
"Push forward!" Kazuki roared, his eyes focused on Geng, who still hadn't moved from his perch.
Suddenly, Geng raised a single hand. The mountain itself seemed to obey his command as the ground quaked beneath the rebel forces. Massive slabs of rock erupted from the earth, cutting through the ranks of the Pillar Clans with terrifying speed. It was as if the mountain had come alive, serving as Geng's ultimate weapon.
"Is this all the Pillar Clans can muster?" Geng's deep voice boomed as the earth shook harder.
Takeda, his hands alight with electricity, met the oncoming wave of stone with a devastating blast of lightning. The rocks shattered mid-air, but Geng was far from finished. He slammed his hand down, and an entire section of the mountainside gave way, a cascade of boulders crashing toward the Pillar Clan warriors below.
Kaede stepped forward, her jade-green qi swirling around her like a protective aura. With a sweeping motion, she called forth flames that surged high into the sky, countering the avalanche of boulders with an inferno of her own creation. The earth hissed as fire met stone, and smoke filled the battlefield.
Kazuki saw his chance. "Now!" he shouted, signaling for his forces to advance. He knew Geng couldn't be defeated by brute force alone; they needed to wear him down, break his focus.
With a roar, Kazuki leaped into the fray, his sword swinging in a deadly arc. He charged toward Geng, dodging the shifting earth beneath his feet, his blade cutting through the rock walls as if they were paper. Behind him, his elite fighters surged forward, a blur of steel and fury.
For what felt like hours, the battlefield raged with qi-infused attacks that could level cities. Fire, lightning, and stone clashed in a brutal display of power. Geng, for all his might, began to falter. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he summoned more and more of the mountain to fight for him, but even his immense reserves were not infinite.
Kazuki closed in, his sword glowing with a fierce qi. "It ends now!" he shouted, bringing his weapon down in a deadly strike. The blade cut deep into Geng's defenses, finally breaking through the elder's control over the earth. With a final, defiant roar, Geng fell, blood splattering the ground as his body collapsed.
The rebels stood victorious, but barely. They had breached the first line of defense, and the Stargazing Fortress loomed ahead, its ominous gates now exposed. The soldiers of FOM scrambled behind the walls, panic in their eyes as they realized their greatest shield had fallen.
Takeda breathed heavily, his lightning fading from his hands. "Geng is down. We did it."
Kaede, flames flickering around her fingers, nodded. "Now we press on. There's nothing left standing between us and Ron."
But just as they began to move forward, an unexpected ripple of energy filled the air. The wind seemed to change direction, growing colder and more oppressive. The battlefield, which had been filled with the sounds of battle moments ago, fell eerily silent.
A figure appeared from the shadows—Hadius.
The demi-god of the West, known for his terrifying qi and unrivaled power, stepped forward with deliberate calm. His silver hair shimmered in the moonlight, and his piercing eyes surveyed the Pillar Clan leaders with an unreadable expression.
Kazuki froze, his hand instinctively going to his sword. "Hadius?" His voice was tight with surprise. "What is he doing here?"
Takeda exchanged a confused glance with Kaede. Hadius had always remained neutral in the East-West conflicts, his allegiance sworn to neither side. His sudden appearance on the battlefield was a shock, but what made it even more unsettling was the look in his eyes—he wasn't here to fight.
Hadius's voice was low but carried over the battlefield with an undeniable authority. "That's enough," he said, addressing the leaders of the revolt.
Kazuki, his instincts screaming at him to stay on guard, narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean? We've broken through FOM's defenses. If you're here to protect them—"
Hadius cut him off with a simple wave of his hand. "I'm not here to fight for FOM. I have no interest in their downfall or their survival." His gaze grew more focused, and for the first time, the leaders of the revolt saw a glimmer of something they hadn't expected—calculated intent. "I'm here for Ron."
Takeda blinked in confusion. "Ron?"
Hadius stepped forward, his presence commanding the attention of everyone on the battlefield. "Ron has something I need—potential." His eyes hardened. "He doesn't realize it yet, but he has the makings of something greater. I want him as my disciple."
Kazuki's jaw tightened, disbelief flashing across his face. "You're going to mentor Ron? After all of this?"
Hadius nodded slowly. "The revolt, the destruction, the chaos—it means nothing to me. But Ron's talent is unique. I'll take him under my wing. And once he reaches his full potential…" He didn't finish the sentence, but the unspoken implication was clear: Ron's future power would dwarf anything they had ever seen.
Kaede stepped forward, her voice wary. "And what about us? What happens to this rebellion?"
Hadius's gaze flicked toward her, cold and indifferent. "Your fate is your own to decide. But if you try to harm Ron from here on out, you'll answer to me."
The leaders of the revolt exchanged uneasy glances. The battle with FOM had been brutal, but the thought of facing Hadius—an entity far beyond anything they could handle—made them reconsider their next move.