{Start of Act 1}
"The Demonic Cult has already fallen…"
The wind howled at the summit of the mountain, icy and biting, but Mo Tianjue barely felt it. His gaze remained fixed on the inferno below, the once-proud headquarters of the Demonic Sect now reduced to a pile of smoldering ruins. The fires raged fiercely, devouring everything in their path, a fitting end to the sect he had inherited.
He had been too late.
He could almost hear the echoes of the battle, the shouts of his comrades and the clash of steel against steel, but the sounds were drowned by the flickering flames. The Justice Faction had come, just as they always did, with their righteous fury and unyielding conviction, intent on wiping out everything he had worked to build. The final clash had been inevitable, a culmination of years of conflict between the Justice Faction and the Demonic Cult.
Mo Tianjue sighed, the weight of the past years pressing down on him like a crushing boulder. Everything had been taken from him.
He had been the last heir to the Demonic Sect, rising to the position of leader after the untimely death of the former sect leader. His predecessor, the previous leader of the sect, had been a figure of great power. One who had fallen not in battle, but in a treacherous ambush by the Justice Faction. They had struck him down while he was attempting to protect his daughter, Mo Lingyue, the last of their bloodline.
And so, with the last leader's death, Mo Tianjue had been thrust into the position of sect heir. A life of training and hardship had molded him into the perfect candidate to take the reins. But it was not enough.
He had thought he could protect Mo Lingyue, his wife, his love. They had been married only a short while before the war had engulfed them. But in the chaos of the bloodshed, she had been assassinated. The very same hands that had struck down the sect leader had taken her life as well.
In the span of just two years, the world had stolen everything from him. The war had consumed the Demonic Cult, leaving nothing but death and destruction in its wake. Now, all that remained was the embers of a fallen dream, and a hollow man, standing alone at the peak of the mountain, his heart as cold as the winds that whipped around him.
Mo Tianjue's expression was blank, his features carved in stone. He had learned to show nothing, no grief, no anger, no hope. There was nothing left to feel. But as he stood there, staring at the devastation below, his hand instinctively reached for the pendant that hung around his neck. The pendant had once belonged to Mo Lingyue, a gift she had given him before the world turned against them. It was blue, the shape of an hourglass, symbolizing the endless flow of time.
She had told him then that their fate was immortal, that no matter what happened, their bond would transcend time.
Looking at it now, it reminds me that everything is temporary. Mo Tianjue thought as he gazed at the pendant, a rare flicker of sadness crossing his usually impassive face. He remembered the moment she had given it to him, her soft hands placing the pendant around his neck, her eyes filled with trust, with love. She had believed in him, had believed that together, they could overcome anything. But now, she was gone. The pendant, now a hollow reminder of promises broken, swung gently against his chest as if mocking his own helplessness.
His thoughts darkened as he turned his gaze back to the scene below. The Justice Faction was drawing near. He could sense their approach, the righteous energy of their leaders filling the air like a storm, ready to descend upon him and his fallen sect. The end was inevitable.
But Mo Tianjue did not fear it. If this was to be his fate, then he would meet it on his own terms.
The only thing left in his heart was the hunger for one final battle, one last clash worthy of his life's devotion to martial arts. He would stand against the Justice Faction's leaders, fight with everything he had left, and in the end, he would die in the heat of battle.
He had long since ceased to care for survival. All that remained was the legacy of the Demonic Cult, the art of the martial path, and the desire for a fitting end. If he could not have his revenge, then he would have the death he deserved.
In the distance, he could see the Justice Faction's army approaching, their banners waving proudly in the wind. They would arrive soon, their righteous wrath descending upon the last of the Demonic Sect.
Mo Tianjue stood tall, his heart cold and resolved. With one final glance at the ruins of his life, he whispered to the winds, as if speaking to the soul of his lost love.
"Lingyue… I will make sure our fate is immortal, even if only in this final moment."
Mo Tianjue's gaze drifted back to the pendant in his hand, its surface cold against his fingers. The pendant that had once been a symbol of hope, of promises made. But now, it felt like a weight, heavy with the memories of a past that could never be returned to.
He closed his eyes and let the memories wash over him, as they always did when he thought of her.
…
"Hey Tianjue! There you are!" The voice echoed in the quiet hallways of the sect's stronghold. It was bright, full of energy, and yet frail. A stark contrast to the cold, disciplined world he inhabited.
Mo Tianjue turned, his expression weary, already knowing who it was before he even saw her. His future wife, Mo Lingyue. Her presence was unmistakable, like a light that flickered and danced in the otherwise gloomy surroundings of the Demonic Sect's corridors.
Lingyue came running toward him, her delicate frame moving with surprising speed for someone so fragile. Her long black hair flowed behind her like a ribbon, and her steps carried a youthful exuberance that Mo Tianjue found both endearing and exasperating.
"Lingyin, you are not supposed to be outside. What are you doing here?" Mo Tianjue asked, his voice tinged with mild annoyance. He had been walking through the sect leader's abode when he had spotted her, and now, he had to deal with her once again.
She pouted at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I came to see you, of course! Here, take it!" she said excitedly, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small, delicate pendant.
Mo Tianjue raised an eyebrow, his exhaustion deepening. What now? He glanced at her, an air of suspicion forming around him. "Where did you get this? You didn't steal it from the sect's vault, right?" he asked, his tone skeptical.
Lingyue giggled, her expression unbothered by his scolding. "Just take it! You can't just deny a gift from your fiancé, right?"
Mo Tianjue sighed, rubbing his temple. Always so reckless, he thought. Despite his annoyance, he took the pendant from her hands. It was small, shaped like an hourglass, the delicate blue hue of its gemstone almost glowing in the light. He could feel the weight of it, not in a physical sense, but in the meaning behind it.
"Well, alright. But at least ask your father before you gift me anything from there," Mo Tianjue said with a resigned tone, already feeling the weight of responsibility settling onto his shoulders.
"Yeah, yeah… He doesn't mind. Besides, this is the first of many more gifts I'll give you!" Mo Lingyue replied with an excited gleam in her eyes, her enthusiasm undeniable. Her joy was infectious, and despite himself, Mo Tianjue couldn't help but feel a flicker of warmth in his chest.
"As long as you take good care of her when you marry," came the voice of the sect leader, a deep, commanding presence that made both Mo Tianjue and Mo Lingyue freeze.
The sect leader walked toward them, his face stern, as always. "Are you coming in or not?" he asked, his tone brokering no argument.
"Yes, Sect Leader!" Mo Tianjue said, standing up straight and offering a respectful bow before following the elder into the room. He cast a brief glance at Lingyue before stepping inside.
Lingyue waved him off with a bright smile, though there was an unmistakable sadness in her eyes as she looked at him. She had always been so open, so trusting. Mo Tianjue had never been able to fully match her in that sense.
…
The door closed behind him, and Mo Tianjue found himself alone with the sect leader. The room, usually a place of strategy and command, felt heavy with expectation. The sect leader, his face now serious and solemn, turned to him.
"You will be married by tomorrow. I want it finished before those of the Justice Faction start the Justice-Demonic War again." The sect leader's words were firm, filled with authority and finality.
Mo Tianjue stood motionless for a moment, absorbing the gravity of the situation. So this is what they want, he thought. Marriage, an alliance, a promise, a sealing of fate. The coming war loomed over them, threatening to tear apart everything they had worked for. But Mo Tianjue knew the stakes. His heart was already heavy with the burden of what was to come.
The only thing that had kept him going through all of this, the marriage, the war, the promises, was the thought of the future he could build with Lingyue. They were the last of their line, their union vital for the survival of the Demonic Sect.
But as the hours passed, and the war loomed ever closer, Mo Tianjue couldn't shake the feeling that it was all slipping through his fingers. The weight of the pendant around his neck, now pressing against his skin as it had on that fateful day, reminded him that in the end, nothing could be truly immortal, not even their love.
...
Now, with the world burning before him, Mo Tianjue stood alone. The memories of Lingyue and the promise they had made felt like distant echoes. Everything is temporary, he thought, as the winds of fate howled through the desolate mountain peaks. But I will make sure that our story endures, even if only in my heart.
*Sigh* sighs Mo Tianjue as he sees the Leader of the Justice League walk up the mountain.
He is lucky that he managed to advance and become a Transcendent Martial Artist like the last Sect leader. Now, he has to fight a Transcendent Martial Artist like the Leader of the Justice League after just ascending to the sect leader position.
The night was still, save for the howling wind over the jagged cliffs around the mountain peak. The moon hung high, casting silver light upon two figures standing in quiet defiance.
The leader of the Justice faction, clad in flowing white robes, held a slender sword. Mo Tianjue, dressed in black with a blade resting on his back.
"It seems you have not given up yet, Mo Tianjue." Says the leader of the justice faction. *sigh* "Why must you make this old man walk all the way up this mountain peak to take that head of yours off your shoulders."
"This seemed to be the best place for a duel…" replied Mo Tianjue with a cold glare on his face. However his eyes showed a lust for battle.
"It would seem so" replies the leader of the justice faction with a easy going smile on his face, while looking at Mo Tianjue as he unsheathes his blade.
Silence overtakes the mountain peak.
A single gust of wind swept past them, which signaled the start of the battle.
The leader of the justice faction struck first.
A silver shadow surged forward, sword flashing in a ruthless downward arc. The force split the air, sending dust spiraling into the wind.
*Clang* Mo Tianjue deflected the first strike by twisting his blade to angle the attack away. Sparks flickered in the darkness like the flames roaring within the demonic cult.
Mo Tianjue responded quickly with a strong thrust, aimed to end this battle with a single strike.
But the leader of the justice faction was already gone.
"You have become a transcendent." Said the leader of the justice faction with a heavy tone.
Mo Tianjue pressed forward. His sword was heavier, his strikes sharper, meant to overwhelm and crush.
The leader of the justice league danced backward, his footwork fluid as flowing water. His sword was lighter, faster. Designed to pierce through the smallest openings.
A blur of motion. Blades collided, separated, and clashed again in the span of a heartbeat.
The leader of the justice faction struck low, Mo Tianjue parried.
Tianjue riposted, The leader of the justice faction sidestepped.
Each attack was lethal, yet carefully calculated.
The battle seemed to be balanced on a ledge. Neither having an advantage.
Until Mo Tianjue saw an opening.
He feinted an horizontal slash to the left, then did a diagonal slash to the side of the leader of the justice league. "Take that old geezer!"
The leader of the justice league widened his eyes, but twisted his body just enough for the blade to barely miss him, slicing through his clothes instead.
Before Mo Tianjue could recover, A silver shadow whispered through the air. It was a silver sword, leaving a thin crimson line across Mo Tianjue's waist.
Blood started dripping slowly. He was wounded, but lightly.
"Not bad reflexes for an old man" says Mo Tianjue
He gripped his sword tighter. The real battle had just begun.
Blades collided, separated, and clashed again. It could only be stopped if one of them was dead.
Mo Tianjue lunged, sword blurring into a black arc of death.
The leader of the justice league sidestepped, then pivoted. His blade moved without hesitation and without mercy.
One perfect stroke.
A streak of silver steel.
Then, silence.
Mo Tianjue stood frozen. His sword slipped from his fingers, clattering to the ground.
A thin red line traced his throat.
The leader of the justice league exhaled, lowering his sword.
"Such a pity you were trained by the demonic cult." said the leader of the justice league.
Then he left the mountain without looking back.
If he had looked back, he would see a head with a blue pendant that was shining brightly like the moon for a few seconds and then slowly turn red.