(Author: Hello! So far as the map Agemo found, it will be after the training. That's the best estimate I'll reveal. As for the single wing in the bead....expect it to be revealed a lot sooner than the demonic core with the wings in his soul lake. Agemo has made his decision to live under his old name and continues his journey and training. He and Meng Ce have joined a caravan headed to the capital of Kasara. Meng Ce intends to have Agemo join the tournament there. Enjoy.)
-------------Chapter 11: Capital of Kasara------------------
"If you're going to keep staring at it, Agemo, then just hatch it," Meng Ce said as he saw Agemo admire the green dragon egg.
"It just comforts me. I've always wanted a dragon," Agemo said as he put the egg away and drank some lion wine. "How did you manage to steal the egg during the commotion?"
"Ah, right. I never told you. The true form of my Spirit Pulse is that of a spear. Liight is just one of the elements I chose to learn, a privilege of the weapon spirit. However, I cannot teach you darkness as I cannot use it myself. If I had an armor spirit, I could learn any element and teach you as such. The light spirit techniques I learned are suited for speed, not power. I do know some healing techniques though," Meng Ce answered. "Have you been studying the mages during our travels in the caravan?"
"Yes, master," Agemo nodded. "Mages specialize in long distance fighting. They use their magic to keep out of range of the enemy and bombard them with hard hitting spells or a wide area attack spell. Some have golems and magical beasts to protect them. Others use puppet magic or summoning chants to acquire assistants to fight them from close range while they cast spells from afar."
"Very good. Remember, you must be wary of Practitioners of the third stage and mages who are apprentices," Meng Ce said. "Mages of the third rank can manipulate their element. There is a chance that one of the Practitioners of the third stage has acquired an Archon body. I told you about it before. They are called Archon life forms. As for mage apprentices, they are mage novices who have chosen their path and have begun learning it. An example would be a white mage, a mage who specializes in holy, barrier, and healing magic. They are people who have truly begun walking the path of immortals."
"Archon life forms. White mage," Agemo brooded.
"Yes. Archons can also manifest their spirit. You have a beast spirit. You will attain spirit techniques based on your spirit instead of spirit manifestation. If you meet someone with an armor spirit in the tournament, expect a tough fight. Their body will be protected based on the size and location of the armor and also wield Practitioner weapons. Close in on mages immediately. Do not give them a chance to cast their spells," Meng Ce said. "It has been five weeks since we have been on the road in this caravan. It will soon be time to see the fruit of your training. Just be careful. Some will already have joined sects and academies. Expect those people, and those from powerful clans, to use magical items to assist them in battle."
"What do I do then?" Agemo asked.
"It is unwise to use many magical treasures unless you have experience. Some formations actually use several magical treasures. Do not use your flying moon blades unless you need to. Never use the Dragon Monkey Bracelet as it is your trump card in life or death battles due to the sudden increase in strength. Fight bare handed for as long as you can. You have the tyrannical strength of the lion wine. Use it and take advantage of it. It is best to keep your true fighting style hidden until the need arises," Meng Ce said. "Your Eclipse Indestructible Body technique is near invincible to those of your cultivation stage and below, as you well know. However, those above you and those who use attacks and weapons with special properties can still harm you. Do not depend on your breathing technique every time."
I understand master. I will do as you say," Agemo said and looked outside the carriage to see the capital of Kasara.
"Halt. Your caravan approaches the capital of Kasara, Korgar. State your business!" the captain of eighty three guards roared. He was a Practitioner of the fifth stage of Spirit Knight! A Spirit Knight, the very stage after Spirit Shaman! The eighty three guards who followed him were also Spirit Knights!"
"That's a lot of Spirit Knights," Agemo said.
"Of course. Even the capital of the Yan empire has tens of thousands of Spirit Knights. Just because Spirit Knights can't fight in the army, it doesn't mean they can't guard their homes. Unless it is a mortal army, they can defend and kill those who trespass against the law. Our Yan Empire also has a few dozen Spirit Masters. That is why no one threatens our empire. We're small, but it is only because we consolidate our power and are a relatively peace-seeking nation. Your father cares not for how much land he rules. He only cares about the people and our Lu Clan," Meng Ce said. "The Kasara Kingdom is also powerful, but is more battle-hardened due to a possible threat by the Hyperion. However, another country blocks the Hyperion from this land. So long as they send aid to that nation, Kasara will never be threatened by the Hyperion. Some countries are jealous of the many resources of Kasara. That is why so many Spirit Knights guard the capital."
"Hmm? You came here to trade? What's with all these Practitioners and mages? Don't think that we cannot defeat martial art sects or academy disciples if you try to force your way in" the captain warned.
"Oh no, no, no, no," the caravan leader blurted, waving his chubby hands. "My men are merely escorting them as they paid for passage. They have come here to take part in the tournament. Beyond escorting them, my caravan has no relations with them."
"Those who seek to join the tournament, step aside. The caravan and the merchants will be inspected first," the captain roared and the guards appeared, almost instantaneously, next to every carriage to ensure that the order was kept.
Agemo and the rest of the participants and their guardians left the carriages of the caravan and stood to the right side as the caravan was inspected and let into the city. The guards stood ina straight line to face them. Each of the guards wore shining white armor and had a three foot long round shield mounted on their left arm with their right hands on the hilts of their long swords. Their armor bore the insignia of a crimson phoenix on fire with its wings outstretched as it faced the sky.
"I am Guard Captain Grey of the City Guard of Korgar and Keeper of the Gate. I take it that the children here are all below the age of thirteen. Am I correct?" the guard captain asked, the only man who wore a bright crimson cape instead of a black cape.
Seeing them nod, Grey said, "Good. Participants must be below the fourth stage if they are Practitioners. Only mage apprentices and mage novices are allowed, among mages, to participate. Not just any one person can participate. The trials for mages and Practitioners are different. Once you pass, if you pass, you will be randomly assigned a number. Note that there are five trials for the selection process. Furthermore, you will be required to fight in elimination matches if too many people have passed. Only sixty four people are allowed to participate in the main tournament."
Pausing to ensure that they understood what he said, Grey continued, "The spectators and the people who escorted you will see how you fare through the crystal mirrors that will appear above the stadium. Note that each of the sixty four participants will receive a hundred spirit pills. As you advance per round, more awards will be given. People from across the land and other nations will be attending. I expect you all to respect our city's laws during your stay or find your head upon the many pikes above our walls."
"Those who came as guardians of the participants will follow me to the seats in the city's stadium," one of the guards announced as he stepped forward.
"Those participating will follow me to the selection area. So long as you are in the city, fights are only allowed in designated areas on pain of beheading and pike decorating," Grey said, glaring at them. "Guards, return to your posts."
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"Yes, Captain Grey!" the guards replied and cleared the area in front of the gate.
"Good luck," Meng Ce said as he pat Agemo's shoulder and followed the other guardians into the city.
"Alright you lot, single fine and follow me. Tomorrow is the selection trials. You'll sleep in the barracks tonight. I don't trust you nor do I care to know you. You are just here to compete, not to live here. The trials are not life threatening, but weaklings or fools do die during the elimination matches. We only need sixty four of you. Practitioner or mage. Male or female. Beggar or noble. We only need the best," Grey said and walked inside the city and showed them the barracks.
Agemo was meditating in his room, his mind completely absorbed on his soul lake. Over the past few weeks, something was forming above his soul lake. He didn't know what it was. He thought that people were supposed to have only one spirit. As he read some books he got from the vault, he learned that it was possible to obtain another spirit. This was possible if a person died and came back to life, thereby bringing the death energy into his body.
The White Ocean Tiger was the spirit from the golden pearl he swallowed. How did he know? The body of the former Lu Shu had no talent for spirit energy and was supposed to be a mage. Agemo was also, formerly, a wandering soul looking for a body. He took Lu Shu's body when he died, thereby bringing an deathly energy into the body as he brought it to life.
Agemo was alone in his room and kept staring at the second red spirit energy that was condensing into something. He heard rumors that one of the Practitioners had dual spirits as well, but was affirmed as he was at the third stage. The White Ocean Tiger's outline had already formed. He was sure that he would be at the third rank once the outline of the other spirit had finished forming. Right now, it was like a red-colored black hole, absorbing spirit energy instead of matter. People with two spirits had Mutated Souls, Mystic Stones with more than one spirit inside.
"It's not abnormal for people to have two spirits," Agemo said as he laid back on his bed. "Are they like me or did they have some secret cultivation technique to obtain a near death state to create another spirit?"
"Not like you, corpse stealer," a voice rasped as the room became pitch black.
"So you found me. You're too late. I already found a fresh body," Agemo smiled cruelly as he leaned up and stared to his left.
What he saw a man completely covered in a ragged black cloak that covered his whole body. It wore a hood with shadows seeping out like mist where the face should be. Instead of eyes, there were four, slanted eyes of crimson with one pair over the other. Chain appeared from where the ankles and wrists would be which looked corroded and black. What Agemo was staring at was the exact existence that he desperately tried to escape from: a Keeper of the Dead.
"So what now? Are you going to snatch my soul out of this body?" Agemo grinned.
"You already entered the world of the living. People believe the body to have never died. Taking you away to the Nether Fields would be violating Heaven's Will," the voice rasped with anger. "Considering your past life, I don't understand why the Heavens have allowed you to attain a new body. Agemo Miura, what you did on Earth is unforgiveable. What you did on Earth allowed you to get away from us."
"And what exactly did I do on Earth that would make me get away for so many decades?" Agemo asked. "I thought I just messed with human genetics."
"You demon. You didn't just mess with genes, tampered with it and gave it a new body," the Keeper of the Dead roared. "Your knowledge on human genetics and advances in prosthetic limbs allowed you to create a brand new body and life form. You created a new life form, a genetically enhanced cybernetic human known as homo superior on Earth. Only the Heavens are allowed to create life or variants and evolutions of an existing race."
"Too bad my memories are fragmented. I suppose you stopped a repeat from happening. Besides, this planet is not a technologically advanced planet. Your worries are meaningless here. What do you want?" Agemo asked.
"I came here to verify that you can no longer be taken. Do not tamper with life again. Your soul has already changed. The demonic core in the bottom of your soul lake doesn't belong to a magical beast or a Hyperion. The same goes for the wings on the demonic core and the single wing in that bead around your neck. You have already made yourself a target for obtaining the bead and its power. I can't take you away, but you already have many enemies. That will suffice. Your name is now stricken from the Book of Dead Souls. Try to live a more humane life. Not that you can. Your abominable project, Project O was a success. That is why your soul was able to escape me," the death dealer advised and started fading.
"What did I do? What is Project O?" Agemo cried.
The Keeper of the Dead smiled and whispered something into his ear, making Agemo's face pale as he said, "It can't be. Is that why they wanted me dead? For my research?"
"You're better off not thinking about it. Good luck, Agemo Miura. Keep that bead safe. Doing so protects Heaven's Will. Same goes for that map. Mortals were not meant to have the power of the gods. This tournament has interesting participants," the death dealer said as it faded into oblivion, returning the moonlight into the room.
"Fuck. Just what did I do?" Agemo sighed as relief settled in his heart. "I was right to take this bead and map. The Hyperion, I might need to study their history in more detail. I also need to study the bead. The demonic core in the darkness of the soul lake has wings from the bead, but it hasn't done anything yet. If the map, bead, and demonic core, is so important; did I make a mistake in not taking the Practitioner weapon and staff? Hopefully, the Hyperion did not find the one bead necklace I hide in the root wall. Once they realize they are missing two beads, they'll probably start trying to find them."
Agemo sighed as he stared at the bead necklace on his neck. A single left wing, as white as snow, swirled within. He didn't see what was so special about it. Magical items were used in formations all the time. Because of studying formations, he knew that the five beads were components of a dangerous five-point star formation. He sipped a cup of lion wine and went to sleep, putting his worries out of his mind. He had the selection trials tomorrow. He would handle tomorrow first and deal with what came next later.
"Alright, get up you lot!" Grey yelled the next day. "Time for you to head to the selection trials. If you're hungry, you should have packed some food before you came here. This isn't a playground, it's a battlefield. You're not here to make friends. You're here to compete and get those rewards. Hop to it. Other people will be arriving there soon. A total of seven thousand stand between you and the top sixty four spots. Beat the trials, win the elimination matches, and you just might get what you came here for."
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(Author: Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I hope you like the current flow and connections. The next chapter will feature the trials. Hope you liked the blast from the past. I wanted to bring up Agemo's past slowly and not all at once. After all, he only has fragments. Feel free to speculate what kind of spirit his body has. Note: only one beast spirit can exist. I also don't plan on having him learn anymore elements. Too much you know. There is a lot you can do with one already.)