Zi Shi Ying, most graciously, took them away again. Guo Liling climbed on the Fluorite Bird's back, Zheng Jo's soul latched onto the spirit's claws, talons meeting and grasping together. The metahuman had a confident smile on his face as the bird took off once more, this time sticking to the mountains and the storm. He did not climb above them, as he had before. This meant that the rain lashed against Guo Liling's back, stung her face, once more her body numbed over from the sheer cold, as though winter had come early to the Opal Hills.
And she knew that Zheng Jo – Cobalt Joe – was unaffected. Exulted in the rain, even. Laughed in the storm. He had Zi Shi Ying land them in the same spot that he had fought Tai Haoran at, Green Serpent Pass, thankfully on the other side of the bridge, so he could continue his journey to Golden Lion Mine.
“Thanks, again,” he said to Zi Shi Ying, “Seriously, I owe you.”
“Hmm,” Zi Shi Ying said, “Standard guild fare, then?”
Something twinkled in Zheng Jo's eyes.
“Sure,” he said, “I'll, ah, run it by my guildmaster.”
And the Fluorite Bird let out a cawing laugh.
“Ha!” he said, “I did not expect that to work. I was stringing words together.”
And he flew off. Zheng Jo shook his head good-naturedly, and Guo Liling watched his hand twitch.
(For Joseph was resisting the urge to flip the bird, at the bird.)
He turned back to look at Guo Liling.
“Alright,” he said, “I had him drop us off a ways, in case Wang Ro's blockaded the mine. I'd rather not chance anything with Zi Shi Ying, you know?”
“What should we do, Zheng Jo?” Guo Liling asked.
“We'll sneak,” the metahuman replied, “Get a lay of the land. It's rainy enough that it's hard to make anything out if you get far enough away. I can use my soul's eyes, they're a lot better than my, ah, fleshy ones.”
He started moving off. Stopped for a moment, turned.
“You can just call me Joe by the way,” he said, “Or... Joseph, that works too.”
“Joseph...?”
“My real name,” he said, “Most people call me 'Joe' nowadays. Either works. I'm kind of sick of hearing 'Zheng' all the time, though.”
It was alien to Guo Liling. Her brow furrowed.
“Very well... Joseph.”
It felt strange on the tongue. But he smiled at her, nonetheless, and they continued on.
***
Indeed, the front of the Golden Lion Mine was occupied. Joseph and Guo Liling stopped by the adjoining hill, and Joseph's soul peeled from his back, twisted upwards as though it were a bird holding a rope, and sharp eyes glared down at the mine's entrance.
“Couple dozen people, in and around the area,” he said, “Probably a few in the mine, as well. Armed with... knives, shovels... Jesus, whatever they can get their hands on.”
He looked concerned. A finger scratched at a chin. Guo Liling's heart began to drop.
“You aren't going to...”
“Kill them?” he said, “No, but it might get ugly. I might have to flex a bit.”
His eyes widened, as he noted something new.
“Oh, there she is,” he said, “There's Xiao Rai. She's at the front of the mine. She just walked out.”
“Xiao Rai,” Guo Liling repeated. In truth, she had never liked the second student of the White Flame Sect. Xiao Rai was one of the nobles, coming from the distant capital. She still carried herself as one, haughty and arrogant and acting as though the world should bow to her.
“Yeah,” Joseph said, “That's an opportunity.”
“You'll fight her?
“That's the thought,” Joseph said, “I'll face off against her, move the fight inside.”
“And what about the others?”
Joseph was already bringing the soul back down, and it dissolved back into his body. He turned to look at her.
“I'll scare 'em,” he said, “A bit of shock and awe. Literally.”
Lightning played along his fingertips. He started climbing over the hill, moving towards Golden Lion Mine. Guo Liling followed, a bit away from him now.
“Look,” he said, “You stay back for this part. Let me do most of the work. Get inside when you can. It looks like most of the leadership's in the mine itself.”
“Leadership...?”
“Wang Ro the Elder,” Joseph said, “Maybe a few others. Convince them, if you can. Or get them out, while I find the project. If you don't see anyone, get out.”
He stopped, turned to her.
“We'll separate here. Good luck.”
***
The entrance to the Golden Lion Mine was situated on an outcropping of stone, near the base of the mountain. It was guarded by fifteen of the twenty-five villagers that Wang Ro the Elder had taken with him, armed with makeshift spears, a few with bows, the rest with shovels and pickaxes. All of them gripped their weapons tightly, nervously, and they exchanged anxious glances with each other as the rain lashed and the storm intensified. They were not built for this, were not trained to stand and guard a simple abandoned mine, and not a few of them wondered if this was even worth it. Was Zheng Jo even here? Surely, he would have come out by now. Xiao Rai would have flushed him out.
But no, for the past several hours they had been here, as though an occupying force. The storm's orchestra was their company, for they dared not say a word.
Xiao Rai, the remaining student of the White Flame Sect, stood outside with them, watching the mountains. That was evidence enough to them that Zheng Jo was not within. Rather, he would be outside.
And, with that thought, as though he were a spirit drawn to them by thought alone, Zheng Jo appeared. He walked, as though on an evening stroll, from out of the storm, appearing out of seeming thin air. His first attack was on Xiao Rai herself. The Anri user's eyes widened, she breathed in, pulled in Anri-
But she was too late. A raised hand. A leap into the air. Zheng Jo threw a lightning bolt at her, an explosive boom following a split-second later. The bolt struck Xiao Rai head on, throwing her back, caused the townsfolk to scatter.
Xiao Rai leaped to her feet, white flame wrapping around her hands. Zheng Jo landed hard on the ground, rolling, lightning still coursing through his body.
Build-up, release.
He fired another bolt at her. But Xiao Rai, if anything, was faster than Tai Haoran. She at least had faster reaction time, for she could not take as much punishment as Tai Haoran had been able to. She dodged to the side, the bolt shattering against the mountain's wall.
“Get him!” she snarled.
Something in her voice caused the townsfolk to shake from their stupor. Zheng Jo grimaced as he looked at all of them. The townsfolk outside were grasping their weapons, ready to charge at him. Fear was etched into every line of their soaked faces.
So Zheng Jo gave them something to fear.
The soul realized, fully, sprouted from his back like a djinn. It let out a titanic screech, showed off its scarred and terrible form, its scythe-like claws, its hooked beak. It was enough to make the townsfolk pause.
“You don't want this,” Zheng Jo said, “Get out of here, before you get killed.”
They hesitated.
And Zheng Jo took the opportunity to charge, the eagle letting out another ragged scream as it surged, like a wave, towards Xiao Rai. Xiao Rai jumped, leaping over Zheng Jo's eagle, and the White Flame rocketed from her palms as balls of fire. They burned into the eagle's back, but Zheng Jo didn't seem to notice as he continued running forward, into Golden Lion Mine.
***
Golden Lion Mine had been made in the traditional way, as a series of long tunnels that burrowed deep into the earth. True to its name, it had been a gold mine, and it was rumored that during its heyday the rivers themselves were almost yellow with the mineral's flakes. It had been one of the most profitable and popular mines in the region, and as such the main entrance led into a wide-open space, where workers could take breaks, where foremen would organize, where people would sleep, even, for the workers would occasionally be stranded during periods of heavy storms.
And it was this wide-open space, this clearing, that Joseph ran into, full bore. He stopped in the center. The remainder of Wang Ro the Elder's group was in here. Tan Fa drew out his sword, let out a roar, and charged at the metahuman. The rest of them followed after him, emboldened by the veteran's courage.
But it was not Tan Fa who met Joseph's first assault. It was Guo Kenan, dagger in hand. The innkeeper was quick, rushing towards Zheng Jo, who spun and brought out a talon to block his strike. The dagger buried itself, to the hilt, into the back of the soul's hand. Joseph winced, and the reverberation came back through his body like ice. He looked at Guo Kenan for a second. The innkeeper locked eyes with him.
“You too, huh?” Joseph said.
“Stand down, son,” Guo Kenan said, “For all our sakes.”
But the metahuman shook his head. The eagle's hand flung outwards, carrying Guo Kenan for a moment, before the innkeeper realized he needed to let go of his old dagger. He did so, but he was nonetheless sent flying, hitting the ground with a wheeze.
Tan Fa's blade spun. He, at least, had some skill, realized that in order to face an Anri user one must be quick on their feet. He dodged past Joseph's guard, past the eagle's flailing claws, and he swung his blade at Joseph.
Who ducked beneath the slash, the blade flying overhead. The soul collapsed back into his body as he punched Tan Fa directly in the stomach. The veteran doubled over, and Joseph took that moment to grab the back of Tan Fa's head and slam it into the ground.
More of the townsfolk were streaming in from outside. They were emboldened now, the initial fear of Joseph's power disappearing as they rushed at him.
At the head of the pack was Xiao Rai. She cartwheeled through the air, kicking at Joseph's erupting soul, who blocked the strikes. Xiao Rai landed, the townsfolk moving around her, and she kept her distance as they began hacking at the eagle.
Joseph grimaced. He couldn't kill them. His soul's arms swept the townsfolk aside, battered them, bruised them, almost gently pushed them away. He was retreating now, taking steps back towards one of the tunnels.
“He's trying to make a chokepoint!” Tan Fa roared, though he sounded whining with his newly broken nose. Guo Kenan was helping him to his feet, “Cut him off!”
And they were moving, somewhat sloppily, as a single unit. They moved to cut Joseph off from the tunnel. Joseph, taking note, broke into a full run.
There were two bowmen in the caves with them. Li Bai and Lo Qiu. Li Bai occasionally hunted, though he looked uneasy with the bow in hand. Lo Qiu handled his almost expertly. They took aim as they saw Joseph run off, let loose arrows that burrowed into the eagle's back. Joseph winced, pushed townsfolk out of the way with his great claws. He got into the tunnel, spinning around to face the onslaught once more. The tunnel was small, sloped down, allowed only for one or two of the townsfolk to be able to go in at once.
And, due to Joseph being downhill, if they were to go down, they'd have to face the eagle first. The soul moved from Joseph's back to his chest, claws curled into fists, which it raised up in a boxer's stance.
He kept moving down, glancing back.
“What are you doing?!” Tan Fa roared at Xiao Rai, “Get him!”
The White Flame glared at the veteran. Tan Fa was being tended to by Guo Kenan, the innkeeper's brow furrowed at the blooming purple welt on Tan Fa's forehead. Zheng Jo was being gentle, but he was still leaving his mark.
“I'm waiting for my chance,” Xiao Rai said, “It's as simple as that.”
“He's going to kill someone,” Guo Kenan warned.
“What, did you think we would all make it out of this unharmed?” Xiao Rai said, “Be realistic, innkeeper. This is war.”
“War?” Guo Kenan said, “Against a single man?”
She was quiet at that. Chastised, by the frank anger in Guo Kenan's voice. He was rising now, glowering down at Xiao Rai.
“You, of all of us, have the greatest chance of ending this,” he said, “And yet you're allowing the others to throw their lives away. If Zheng Jo kills someone, it will be because of your cowardice.”
“I am not a coward!” Xiao Rai snarled, and fire wreathed in her hands. She pointed a finger beneath Guo Kenan's chin, a lit flame dancing on her fingertip, “Say that again, Guo Kenan, and I will take off your head!”
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Guo Kenan continued glaring at her. Tan Fa started inching away from that scene. All three of them heard a wretched scream, and a crack from the tunnel.
“...This is no time for arguing,” Tan Fa said.
Xiao Rai gritted her teeth, gave a savage nod.
“Take Li Bai and Lo Qiu,” Tan Fa said, “Go down another path. Intercept Zheng Jo. We'll do what we can to delay him here. Rough him up a bit. Then, you go in for the kill.”
“Agreed,” Xiao Rai said, “LI Bai! Lo Qiu!”
The old friends took to attention, twin bows in hand. Lo Qiu at once followed after Xiao Rai. Lo Qiu hesitated for a moment, hearing the screams and the awkward war cries below. This was all so…
Bestial.
It was not the Opal Hills that he knew.
After another split-second, he went after Xiao Rai and Lo Qiu, and the three of them ran down one of the side tunnels, one that would connect them to Zheng Jo.
***
They were getting beaten back. Joseph's soul punched at them, two at a time, bloodied their noses and made them think twice about getting close to him. Joseph was breathing heavily now, a dark grin on his face as the eagle battered the last of them away. He was almost halfway through the tunnel now. At the top, he could see Tan Fa and Guo Kenan glowering down at him. Between the three was a series of bodies, the broken forms of the townsfolk who had allowed their broken ribs, arms, and legs to overpower them. Joseph sincerely hoped that none of them were dead.
He had been as gentle as he had been able to.
Neither Tan Fa nor Guo Kenan gave any sign of pursuing him further. Joseph's soul returned back to his body to recuperate for the next battle. He didn't see Xiao Rai. Nor did he see the two bowmen who had fired off at him.
Most concerningly, he did not see Wang Ro the Elder, either.
Joseph spun on his heel, ran down the tunnel. He was done there. Hopefully Guo Kenan realized that, too, and stopped things before they went too far.
***
“Father.”
The innkeeper spun. As did Tan Fa.
And there, walking into the mine, looking around at the crumpled forms around her, at the injured folks down the tunnel, was Guo Liling.
Guo Kenan's brow furrowed. His voice was dark as he spoke.
“I told you to stay home,” he said.
“I know,” Guo Liling said, “But I couldn't.”
“How did you get here so quickly?” Guo Kenan said, “Did you follow us, all the way here?”
“Are you in league with Zheng Jo?” Tan Fa said, “Is he a trickster, along with being a murderer?”
“He didn't murder anyone, Baba,” Guo Liling said.
“And what,” Tan Fa said, “Did he tell you that himself? The guilty, saying he is not? Look around, girl, look at how he's hurt our village, our...”
The veteran felt a hand land on his shoulder. Guo Kenan moved in front of him.
“...How did you get here?” he said, “The storms are strong enough that we're cut off from the rest of the Opal Hills.”
“Zi Shi Ying carried me,” Guo Liling said, and her voice was as hard as her father's, “He carried Cobalt Joe, too.”
“Cobalt Joe...?”
“Please, father,” Guo Liling said, “Joseph. Zheng Jo. He told me that he's here for a project. One that Wang Ro the Elder was working on. One that was dangerous. He means to destroy it.”
She stepped forward.
“After that, he's going to leave. Please, Baba, you have to believe me.”
“He killed Tai Haoran,” Tan Fa said.
“He didn’t!” Guo Liling said, “Nor did he whip you all up into this… this frenzy. Look around you, Baba. Look at what we’ve turned into.”
“We have become protectors,” Tan Fa said.
“You…” Guo Liling glared at the old veteran, “You call this ‘protecting?’”
Guo Kenan gritted his teeth. He could hear the moans of the townsfolk behind him, down in the tunnel. One of them was getting up. Began to tend to his brother. The Feng twins. Well, that mark on Feng Cuifen’s forehead would turn into a scar. Would differentiate him from his brother yet.
Cobalt Joe had not hurt them as badly as he could have. Those talons had hardly carved through flesh. His swinging fists could have had more force applied to them.
This could have been a massacre.
“Tan Fa,” Guo Kenan said, “Attend to the people here. Make sure no one's hurt badly.”
The veteran looked at him.
“And where are you going, Guo Kenan?”
“I'm going to find Wang Ro,” the innkeeper said, “I'm going to see why he was so concerned about keeping us in this place. Why he was so confident that Zheng Jo would come here.”
He looked at his daughter. Who, he knew, he would never be able to control. Not anymore.
He could lock her in the inn. Forbid her from everything on the elephant’s back. And she would still find a way out.
For the multiverse, whatever it was, writhed in her mind now. Made her stubborn and hungry for her own brand of freedom.
“Come on,” he said, “If I can't tell you to stay put, I might as well make sure you're safe.”
Guo Liling smiled.
“Thank you, father,” she said.
“Guo Kenan,” Tan Fa said, “Take my sword.”
The veteran handed the old blade to the innkeeper. It felt awkward in Guo Kenan's hands. Unsteady.
“I don't need it,” Tan Fa said, “And I don't believe your daughter. You will need it more than me, I think.”
And he moved off. Guo Kenan and Guo Liling moved off, down the tunnel that Zheng Jo had taken, to find Wang Ro.
To find their answers.
***
The tunnel down led to further rooms. More clearings. Places where workers had carved away living spaces, or rest stops. Parts of the Golden Lion Mine were not artificial, and the unnatural tunnels gave way to natural ravines, runs in the rock, rivers that flowed deep in the earth and carved ecosystems of their own. The rivers held blind fish, preyed upon by leeches, or bone-white salamanders. Joseph stumbled by one of these rivers, moved across its shores, keeping an eye out for trouble. It was difficult to see. He found himself calling up his soul, realizing a claw to wrap around his hand to light the way. Cobalt glow shone across the glittering rock faces, which twinkled like stars as Joseph made his way through the mine. He could hear shouts from the townsfolk, the barked orders of his pursuers, echo off the rock. They were close.
And, leaping from one of the ridges by the river was Xiao Rai. She jumped between two of the outcroppings above Joseph, punched twice, twin balls of fire rushing at the metahuman. Joseph dodged one, batted the other away with his cobalt fist, winced as sparks of the White Flame bit at his arm. Xiao Rai landed in the center of the river, which only went up to her ankles, and she took a stance. Joseph glared at her. The claw disappeared.
A moment later, his soul fully manifested. The azure glow became a raging sun.
The two stood, facing down the other.
“...I didn't kill him,” Joseph said.
“If it's all the same to you,” Xiao Rai said, “I don't really care.”
And she flashed a suspicious, knowing smile at him. As though they were in on some sort of secret. Then she punched both fists forward, and what were embers turned into a white rush of fire. Joseph brought the soul's arms up in a block, and the fire parted before him like waves against a bulwark.
Too late, and Xiao Rai charged forward with her assault, leaping in the air, her kick landing cleanly against Joseph's electric wall. Anri surged through the sole of her foot, through her shoes, into the soul's arm, which erupted into a biting flame that made Joseph gasp, stumble back.
The White Flames were spreading. Joseph had to dissolve his soul, let it re-circuit into his body, to snuff them out. This made him vulnerable-
As arrows plinked overhead. The two bowmen were standing on the ridge above. One arrow missed. The other buried itself in Joseph's arm. He let out a cry. Charged up, aimed bluntly at them.
The bolt sailed, shattered the ground they were standing on. He saw them skid down with cries of their own.
And Xiao Rai was back on him now, letting loose a series of devastating kicks, strikes which Joseph barely blocked, bringing up his arms to absorb their blows. They were not wrapped in flame. They felt cold to the touch, for she had been doused in the cold river water.
It was only because of that he was alive.
The arrow stung. His left arm wasn't moving right. But he still had a right hook. And he took the chance to counterpunch one of her strikes, letting her get past its guard, twisting so a hand-formed claw merely grazed his ribs as he delivered a hook to her jaw.
She danced back. Teetered, more like, her eyes wide and stupefied.
And Joseph smiled.
Xiao Rai had a glass jaw.
He rushed forward now, using his weakened left arm to take her erratic strikes. Without her perfect poise, her graceful ambush, she was losing her composure. Joseph delivered two more good hits, one to the head, one to the stomach, finishing her off with a haymaker that spent her spinning. She hit the ground hard, coughing and wheezing.
But he was breathing heavily now. An electric claw curled around his finger, snarled around the arrow's shaft. He let out a grunt that twisted into a scream as he broke the shaft off, leaving the arrowhead inside. It was far more painful than he had anticipated, and it left him slumped against the wall, agony running up and down his arm and filling his brain with panic.
It took a few moments to master himself. He opened his eyes. Forced the pain down. Like anger. Swallowed, like a bitter pill.
Xiao Rai was rising again.
Joseph raised up his hand.
And she danced away, leaping away from the river and back onto the ridge. She gave him one last, fearful look, before she dipped into one of the side tunnels.
Joseph lowered his arm, glaring where she had been, before turning his attention back to the river.
There was...
Yes. There was something odd. He licked a finger, brought it out in front of him.
Felt cool air breeze it dry.
Yes. There was open sky, further down. He moved across the shore again, his footsteps unsteady, uneven, for the arrow and Xiao Rai's strikes had done a number on him. A few of his cuts from his fight with Tai Haoran had re-opened as well. But he was used to pain. Used to bleeding as he walked.
And so he pushed forward. Down the length of the river, to see what was on the other side.
***
The river disappeared back underground, into the depths of the earth. But the path itself continued. Joseph continued on it, noting the ground went from gravel to dirt, stone to loam. His eyes narrowed, for he did not know how far into the earth he had delved.
It turns out, he was still very near the surface. Enough that light could crack through, that fresh air could waft in. A crack was in the roof of the large, circular room that the path ended in. It opened, like a wound, to the outside world. On sunnier days, sunlight would be able to shine through. Because of the storm, however, water took its place, a small waterfall that splattered down into the soft dirt.
It was a good spot to hide the Darwinist project. For the Darwinist project was alive. It was...
It was a tree. A juniper, its leaves evergreen, thin and cone-like and bowed with berries. It stood, simply, in the center of the cavern, and seemed almost to hum as Joseph approached it. His brow furrowed at the sight of it.
And he realized, far too late, how stupid he was. To not check his corners. Pain had blunted his senses.
The gunshot rang out. He felt the bullet clip his right shoulder, and he stumbled back, soul arcing to life around him. He fell to the ground, letting out a groan, both of his arms hanging limp at his side. He could not even lift himself up. His soul glared.
Wang Ro the Elder stood with a smoking revolver in hand. He pulled the hammer back.
“...So you were the Darwinist,” Joseph said.
“Indeed, Zheng Jo, if that is even your name,” Wang Ro's voice was low. Somber. For despite everything, despite his allegiances, his hands were shaking as though the act of murder scared him.
“It was close enough,” Joseph muttered. He let out a ragged gasp as he pulled himself up against the wall, “Joseph. Of the Amber Foundation.”
And Wang Ro's eyes dazzled. He licked his lips, spoke as though he were speaking to an old friend.
(for, like Guo Liling, the multiverse writhed in his mind.)
“A guild I've heard of!” he said, “I always felt like Three Sons was a poor choice for a name.”
Joseph glared.
“How long have you been here?” he asked, “Twenty-five years?”
“I've been on Dà Xiàng since the war's end,” Wang Ro said, “Wandered it for a few years, before settling here. To make sure this plane was safe. A place where I could grow the tree in peace.”
“And you found it here.”
“I did.”
“Looks like you laid down more roots than you thought, huh?” Joseph said, and he shifted again. His soul moved down, placing itself between himself and Wang Ro. But physical bullets tended to snarl through the eagle's hide. It made for poor cover.
Through hawk-like eyes, Joseph saw Wang Ro's mouth twitch.
And he also saw someone approaching from the cave’s mouth. Two someones.
“...Sometimes it's an easy thing, falling in love,” Wang Ro said, “I had my son's mother. But I also had the tree. And, in the end, I chose my duty over my desire.”
“Poor choice,” Joseph said.
“Perhaps,” Wang Ro said, “But I will see my quest through.”
He was quiet, for a few moments, his eyes scanning the soul's form. He swallowed.
“Do you...” he said, “Do you know what the tree is?”
“It's a big fucking juniper.”
“It is more than that,” Wang Ro said, “It is a cutting of Methuselah.”
Joseph's eyes widened. Methuselah. The World of the Tree. A vast tree, of every kind, tied together to a single trunk and a single being. The home plane of Blue Sky Waiting, one of the greatest guilds in the multiverse.
“Did you know,” Wang Ro said, “Who Okuta Stone-and-Sky is?”
“The Manticore,” Joseph said darkly.
“And a thousand names between,” Wang Ro said, “Guildmaster of the Sons of Darwin. The Shapechanger Dragon. Ruler of Allworlds, by right of conquest.”
Wang Ro drew beside the tree. Put his other hand, which still shook, against its trunk.
“He is captured. Imprisoned.”
“I know my history.”
“But you do not know how he is imprisoned, do you?” Wang Ro said, “What sort of prison can hold the Manticore? What sort of prison can hold God?”
Joseph's brow furrowed.
“...The Manticore is encased in amber,” Wang Ro said, “The Blood of Methuselah itself covers him. Holds him fast. Makes his mind slow, his body slower.”
And the metahuman understood.
“It's a juniper,” he said, “You're growing a piece of Methuselah here. To study it. To study the amber.”
“So that I may find a way to free him,” Wang Ro said, “Yes.”
Movement from the path. Both of them turned.
Joseph's heart fell. Guo Kenan stood, sword in hand, the large man standing in front of Guo Liling.
“...We heard it all,” the innkeeper said, “Wang Ro, is it true?”
“Get out,” Joseph said, “He's got a gun, he's got-”
But they did not know what firearms were.
And in answer to Guo Kenan's question, Wang Ro raised the revolver.
“No!”
Joseph got to his feet, charged forward. Claw curled over muzzle, which flashed, and the bullet tore through Joseph's hand, went awry, only struck Guo Kenan in the leg, who doubled over and let out a gasp of pain.
“Baba!” Guo Liling said, “Baba!”
More shots rang out. Closer this time, tore through the eagle's head, ripped across Joseph's ribs. The metahuman felt blind, cold pain. The soul collapsed back into his body, and he stumbled back against the tree.
Wang Ro spun on him. He was breathing heavily, his glasses askew.
He pointed the revolver at Joseph.
And the blade erupted through his chest.
Wang Ro blinked. Looked down. A hand, shivering and scared, felt the blade's tip.
Then, he keeled over.
Guo Liling stood over him, her eyes wide and watering. She looked at Joseph. Looked back at the body.
The body she had created.
Guo Liling stumbled away, and retched.
Guo Kenan was rising to his feet, bleary eyed, breathing heavily and grasping his leg.
And Joseph rose. Winced at his injuries. Limped over to the innkeeper's daughter. Tried his damned hardest to put a hand on her shoulder as the retching turned to sobbing, as she twisted in on herself, rocking back and forth.
Then, after a few moments, the metahuman turned. Looked at the juniper, that cutting of the world. He moved up towards it. Pressed a palm against its trunk. It was warm to the touch. Full of life. He wondered why Wang Ro had chosen to bring the tree here. Why he had stolen away into secrecy like this.
Why he had dragged this little town into hell.
Lightning traced across his fingertips. He sent it coursing through the juniper, and plasma splintered wood, sparked against the resin within the tree. Caught aflame. With a crack, part of the tree exploded, and Joseph hit the ground hard, his entire body wheeling in sudden pain, as the entire juniper burned. Flame devoured leaf and berry. A great bonfire. A great torch.
It burned within the cavern.
With a grunt, Joseph helped Guo Kenan to his feet. All but dragged the sobbing form of Guo Liling away. The three of them left the cavern. Moved off, so they would not be suffocated by the smoke.
And the work of two and a half decades, the Darwinist project, died alone in the caves.