The air was heavy with ash the wind seemed restless, the remnants of a bygone calamity still clinging to the world as if refusing to let it heal. Somewhere beyond the jagged peaks of the Kaemorran Bastion, the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the molten rivers of Ignis Infernum. The fiery plains pulsed like a living heart, each beat echoing the fury of the one entombed beneath( Lord Infernaus Rho'thar).
Lian Xue, the Eternal Bloom and ruler of the Everlasting Lotus Empire, stood at the edge of a crumbled monolith deep in the Aurathis Expanse, her golden robes rippling like water in the wind. Before her lay a broken statue—a relic of the Great Dusk War( statues were once used as pillars for barriers and seals ) . The figure's features had long been eroded, but the essence it exuded was unmistakable: this was a monument to Zenyara, the embodiment of perfect balance, now a forgotten shadow of history.( due to the lack of official records within the archives )
Her fingers brushed the cold stone, and a faint vibration rippled through her. Something had shifted.
"The seals are weakening." The voice was low and resonant, carrying a weight that made even the air seem heavier.
Lian Xue turned, her serene composure betraying only a flicker of alarm. Standing behind her was King Tian Long, the Azure Sovereign. His sky-blue armor shimmered faintly, like a storm on the verge of breaking.
"You feel it too," she said, her voice soft yet commanding.
Tian Long nodded, his sharp features set in grim determination. "The southern winds carry whispers. The flames of Ignis Infernum burn brighter. Something stirs beneath the surface, something ancient."
Lian Xue's gaze returned to the statue. "The Great Dusk War left scars that we barely understand. The Embodiments were sealed, yes, but… they are not gone."( referring to the peak of the war )
"Vorathia's hunger gnaws at the northern winds," Tian Long continued. "Sylvara's whispers are carried on the eastern mists, and the golden peaks of Aurathis shimmer unnaturally. Even Kaelos's Bastion trembles. The balance we've struggled to preserve for millennia is beginning to falter."
"And yet," Lian Xue replied, her voice hardening, "Zenyara remains silent. If the Balance itself does not intervene, it falls to us to act."
A sudden tremor shook the ground beneath them. Both rulers braced themselves as cracks began to spiderweb through the earth. A blinding light erupted from the base of the statue, forcing them to shield their eyes. When the light faded, a figure stood where the monument had once been.
The figure was cloaked in shadow and flame, a terrifying presence that seemed to suck the air from the surroundings. Its voice was deep and resonant, reverberating through the earth itself.
"You meddle in forces you cannot comprehend," it said. "The seals were never meant to last. The Embodiments will rise again, and this time, there will be no balance to save you."
Lian Xue stepped forward, her voice unwavering. "Who are you?"
The figure's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "I am but a herald, a fragment of what once was. But know this: the Eclipse of Eternity approaches, and when it does, even your celestial might will crumble to dust."
The figure dissolved into ash, carried away by the wind.
Tian Long's grip tightened on the hilt of his blade. "We must summon the others. If the seals are failing, it's not just our lands at risk. The world will burn."
Lian Xue turned to face him, her eyes filled with determination. "Then let us gather the rulers and the gods. If the Embodiments return, we must be ready. The Dusk War may have ended, but its echoes still haunt us. This time, we will not fail."
As the two rulers departed, the ashes of the figure swirled in the wind, carried far and wide across the lands. The first embers of a new conflict had been lit, and the world stood on the precipice of another descent into chaos.
Deep beneath the volcanic plains of Ignis Infernum, a single pulse of flame erupted, its power felt in every corner of the realm. Lord Infernaus Rho'thar stirred, and his unyielding flame burned brighter than ever.
________________________________________
A few days Beforehand
In land with 7 walls, shrouded my guards and military possittioned firearms and cannons a palace brimming with jade there stands the elegant and graceful beauty of South known as the Queen Mei Ling of the Laminating Jade Dynasty stands before her new recruits or rather children she considers as her own whom she sheltered for there entire lives,
she sat down gracefully her silk dress flowing like the wind as she sits .
" Kaelion, Lyssara, Arven, and Zarya as you all know I adopted you all when you were all still young, I've trained you all to be wonderful fighters and I believe your all ready to go out in the real world as you said but first I want you all to participate in the yearly test of our Dynasty to prove to me that you are truly ready for the world outside of our walls( the Laminating Jade Dynasty has 7 main walls ) " The Queen said to what she considers her children in truth she does not want them to venture out of the walls yet,
But she also sees that they need to experience the world outside the walls to grow as adventurers and fighters.
" We understand that you want us to first prove that we are ready but is our display of courage in the exam of Xershire not enough?" Kaelion said looking at Mei ling, his eyes longing for an answer.
( Xershire is the best academy for fighters in the Dynasty )
Mei ling looked at them with her face filled with a hint of worry but tried her best to conceal it "What you displayed then was truly astonishing but I want to see you use your abilities in combat, to see if you are truly ready" Mei ling said looking at them hoping that they take this answer as is.
The group looked perplexed and stared at Mei ling
Mei ling spoke once more and said " I know you might be puzzled why I want you to participate in the competition but someday you'll get why I asked you of this" she looked at them as she did she moved towards them and she hugged them as a whole, again she spoke "Please believe me when I say I truly believe you are all amazing in your own ways but I still want to be assured that you are truly ready." She said with a hint of worry
They hugged her back and said as a whole that they believed her and agreed to what she said.
As they left Mei ling looked at them longingly reminiscing about the time they were still little.
● 18 years ago ●
A young Mei ling is with ling Xue discussing about the rumors of the seals weakening,
Ling xue spoke up and said
" Is it not ridiculous after almost 3000 years of care and protection are people still have doubt in us" she said with an annoyed face
"You know even I have doubt, it is something that we as people naturally have, afterall its one of the reasons we survive in this cruel world filled of trickster" Mei ling said exuding an aura of wisdom.
"You known even though were both the same age you always seemed more mature than me" ling xue said jokingly
As she said this they heard a loud boom it was one of the seals in the Southern Territory both looked at each other as they rushed towards the explosion.
The explosion was caused by terrorist and followers of the Embodiments of Greed those who are greedy and look for more wealth and are not content with what they have, had with them explosives and infants/new born.
Mei ling and ling Xue looked at them fiercely as they figured that they were planning to use the babies as sacrific, they lunged at the terrist and the believers of Greed and swiftly dealing with them, Mei Ling used her famous jade cutter to elegantly sweep through the enemies, while ling xue used her fan known as lotus Bloom that created swirls of chi and vital force that sweeped through and supported Mei ling.
Now that the enemies have been dealt with Mei Ling and ling xue released a flare to signal guards to come and cuff the criminals.
After they both turned there attention to the babies, Mei ling felt guilty to leave them there and she felt compelled to take them in and so she did along with ling Xue.
The years passed by and they grew and ling Xue would occasionally come visit but as the years kept passing more and more problems and political conflicts occurred and both Mei ling and ling Xue were bombarded with paper work and so only mei liwas left to nurture the kids.
○Present day○
Mei ling sighed as she turned as she could only speak with them for such a short amount of time before having to have to go back to her paper work.
□With the group□
They looked determined to prove themselves ready and so they head to the training grounds training and practicing there techniques and abilities since the competition is being held in 2 days at the central region of the Dynasty the Martial center.