The revolver felt heavy in my hand. It felt monstrous with its black steel frame, heavy hammer, and solid ivory handle in my hand. The gunsmith filed the bone from a spirit beast down for the handle and used steal that greedily drank my qi.

This wasn’t my first time holding a gun. My old .357 magnum was lighter than this heavy tool already fully loaded. In my hand, the revolver felt like a vampire ravenously sucking away at my qi. A revolver was both a familiar weapon and an alien to my senses.

Holding it made me realize why guns were still used in a cultivation world. The large .50 caliber rounds in the gun’s cylinder could drain the qi absorbed by the gun. It doubled as a sacred treasure able to hold my qi and use it later. The bullets themselves were jacketed in metal qi and perfect for piercing shields. By using it, I would develop gun qi.

“It gets easier when you reach the coalescence realm,” Emily said.

“I’m going to have to kill people soon,” I said and placed a silver piece on the gun smith’s counter. The gun fell heavily on the side of my buckle. “Next, I’ll lead men on raids. Do you have any advice?” I asked.

“Show no mercy, kill everyone who resists and let the Prophet sort them out. This city should have been purged a while ago.” Emily said.

I nodded and looked up at the glassy-eyed ancient sitting on a bench. The man reeked of death and would pass soon. Every man in this city was the same. If they weren’t dead, then they were dying with arms like twigs and sunken eyes. A pale horse had come to town and reaped half the population already. Strangely, I hadn’t seen an old woman yet either.

“Was Panama this bad?” I asked.

“Not even close, we’ll part ways soon, and you’ll lead men. So be wary of any pretty face no woman can be trusted, especially not one that will sleep with you for free.” Emily said with a smirk.

I smirked at the jab. With the draining of my qi, I felt different. “You know I could use another round just to take the edge off. Do you think we have time?” I asked.

Emily snorted. “You’ve had enough fun for one day. Get your ass to the castle. I have holy houses to search.” Emily said.

On that, we parted ways. “The revolver is sucking up too much of our qi unless we coalesce; we won’t be able to restrain your other nature.” Glory said.

I froze at the steps to the castle. “Already, I thought we had more time,” I said.

Rubix rumbled as I took the steps to the castle two at a time. An old man lurched forward to stop me, and I pistol-whipped him away. My steps didn’t slow as I moved further up the stairs. The guards moved in slow motion as I crossed the distance to the top of the castle. Each of them felt like bags of skin and bones. The meat within had already been picked clean, leaving the rest to bake in the sun.

“You just killed a man in cold blood.” Glory said.

“He was already dead. Can’t you sense it, they’re scarecrows placed in front of the gates? They only appear dangerous from a distance.” I said and pulled open and gate and shut it without much preamble.

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Glory tried to stop me. “Please, we must advance, or you’ll become a demon.” Glory said.

I glared at her with all my might. Didn’t she understand I put off advancement for her? Once we advance, there is no going back. She’ll join with Rubix inside me to form my vessel of spiritual energy.

“There is nothing wrong with me,” I said.

My battle form crept into my psyche, and I knew I shouldn’t activate it here, but what would it matter. These flesh sacs were worthless.

“Then let us become one and forget about everything else. Together we can do anything. Don’t think about it as losing us; once we merge with you, no one can separate us.” Glory said.

“Ah, there you are. Unfortunately, there isn’t much time I found some supplies to assist your advancement.” Logan said.

“I, is it really for the best?” I asked.

Glory placed a hand on my shoulder, and Rubix warbled beside me. “It’s what we want.” Glory said.

Logan took me to a room covered in glowing formations lining a pool of red liquid. “Normally, this room is reserved for the nobility, but our current hosts aren’t in their right state of mind. So, we’re seizing the initiative for the inquisition.” Logan said and winked.

“What is it?” The red pool radiated water qi but also something else I couldn’t quite identify. Its coppery smell was somewhat disconcerting.

“Rubedo is its proper name; it’s a pool of life outlawed by the Astro Monarchy but overlooked by the inquisition with the right bribe or favor.” Logan gave me a smug look. “This is one of those favors. As for the pool’s creation, it isn’t by common means. Vast amounts of water qi and new life are required to produce even a drop of this miraculous liquid. But, you can fill in the blanks.” Logan said.

“Do I need this?” I asked.

“Most don’t get the opportunity to baptize themselves in a pool of Rubedo for coalescence. This pool was prepared for the Count’s heir. If you don’t want it, I can call him in instead.” Logan said.

I narrowed my eyes. “If it’s going to be used anyway, I might as well take it,” I said.

“That’s the spirit,” Logan said.

“An interesting choice of words baptism. Is that how everyone coalesces?” I asked as I stepped down into the red liquid.

Logan laughed. “Some use the open air, bathtubs, or flowing rivers. None of them can compare to submerging in Rubedo.” Logan said.

“How do I merge with my spirits?” I asked.

“Let them in but don’t lose yourself,” Logan said.

I took another step, but there was no bottom. “The baptism should always be a leap of faith.” Logan shoved me into the depths of the pool with telekinesis.

When I left the pool stairs, I fell hundreds of feet or maybe only a few. I never touched the bottom, and red light consumed my vision. Rubix and Glory were there with me, but I couldn’t see them anymore. My vision faded.

I saw a ship as it sailed the sea with a crew of explorers. Every time it docked, damaged parts were repaired or replaced. Over hundreds of years, this happened with better newer wood; new nails were hammered in until the ship had been replaced several times slowly. Yet the spirit of the ship remained until a storm swept it up in its waves one day. A piece washed up to shore, where it was turned into a box until eventually even that was discarded. Time exchanged its materials as it was calcified. Eventually, the box gained awareness, and after being replaced so many times, it gained an identity that endured. No matter how much it changed or what form it took, its identity was the ship of exploration and advancement. Within its box was the desire to explore and create.

With the spirit of Rubix within me, I’d carry on his desire to create and explore. He wasn’t truly gone; I could feel the warbling spinning box inside of me.

I opened my eyes and met gold and silver orbs. “Rubix was easy to merge with; there was no part of you that clashed with his desire to explore and learn. With his influence developing new techniques with qi will come naturally.” Glory sighed as she turned around and pushed her back against me. “I am the ashes of winter, a frozen lake in the summer, and the fire of hatred mixed with the cold desire for revenge. Logan wasn’t wrong; I’m a memory of an unjustified execution; if you accept me, then the triad can never be an ally. You will always resent them and plot to destroy them. By accepting me, you take up the mantle of my hatred.” Glory said.

“I will not hate them irrationally,” I said. Glory sighs in my arms, but I refused to let her run away. “Instead, I will find my own reasons to hate them. I want to explore and learn about the world; they were always going to be my enemy.” I said.

She dissolved into three motes of light, one gold, another silver, and the final one sky blue. They merged and twisted into a flowery pattern before flying into my chest. I would never forget the innocents the triad burned to maintain their hold on the hysterical masses. I would never forgive the masses for bending the knee to hysteria. And I would never forgive the nobility for profiting from it.

I felt the pool of Rubedo crash down upon me as Glory and Rubix formed the vessel form my cultivation. Combined, they formed the foundation for a process that I didn’t understand. Now within me, they absorbed massive amounts of spiritual energy, and I floated up to the top of the pool. I used dragon flight, a part of my skill I hadn’t used before. With greater reserves of qi, I could do more.

From the pool, I shot out and landed on edge covered in red liquid. I saw the triad on Logan’s badge and felt an overpowering urge to crush it.

Logan blocked the badge from my sight with his jacket. I restrained my growing qi and smiled. Someday I would destroy it all. But, for now, I’d be on my best behavior. My goals have been reshuffled, and the need to get out of here and reinvent myself grew. I could only see my current path ending in disaster.

“I think you’re ready to lead your first raid,” Logan said.