{CLANG} The dull ring of a hammer slamming onto a nail echoed in the deep humid darkness. Blood splattered onto her head, it dribbled down her face mixing in with the water she stood on.
{CLANG} A grunt sounded out, echoing in the infinite darkness. Thick steel tore through flesh, bones and tendons. A scream escaped cracked lips. Jean’s figure appeared In front of Ru Shi. She craned her neck up to stare at the crucified man gasping for air as he crushed his lungs inside his ribcage.
{AAAAAAAAAAAH!! HELP! SISTER! GET AWAY FROM ME!} The muffled scream warped to a deafening horrid cacophony melting Ru Shi’s eardrums. The liquefied appearance of the young girl screaming for help as she was pinned down to the ground, woke Ru Shi up with a startle.
“AGH!” She shrieked, shot up, struggled in the dark. Atlas’ eyes opened wide, startled still.
“Woah! Ru Shi! Are you okay!?” He rushed to grab her. “Ru Shi?” Atlas asked bewildered, her nails dug into his skin. She struggled in the dark, the nightmares having gone silent.
She opened her eyes and found she was being carried on Atlas’ back, jogging through the forest, and the cracked, torn asphalt.
“Yeah.. When did I fall asleep?” She asked, releasing Atlas from the death grip she had placed on him. He cracked his neck, relished the new found freedom for half a step and kept on moving.
“Hours ago. We decided to not wake you. And thanks to Bi-Ran’s help we were able to rush through the Southern forest undisturbed by Mafia Cats or dogs, or mafia cats and dogs. Atlas pointed to Bi-Ran who was engrossed in his bothering Carius. “We doused ourselves in a special little ointment repellent he concocted from a mix of stuff he had on his bag.
As Atlas’ explanation ended Bi-Ran’s questions were the only thing left to hear.
“So you are saying that in this world… Water evaporates because of the sun? And then it floats up into the sky and forms those white clouds that look softer than any bed I’ve ever seen? Amazing…. Though still less impressive than the forest. I’ve heard many stories of these… congregations of plant and animal life.
“Wait till you see the river then. It’s really gonna blow your mind. Unless there is a waterfall feature open to the public in Eternal City.” Atlas chimed in.
“There wouldn’t be something like that. Everything comes with a direct cost in Eternal City. Unless its considered trash, that is when me and Al-Sen swoop in and take all their defects and present them to the Undercity, to our crafters who morph them into this mask that keep me breathing, or the communications crystal I used to inform Al-Sen of my safety, situation, Ru Shi and her actions, as well as to receive further orders to stay with her and Jean as she dealt with Atlas.”
Ru Shi calmed down hearing Bi-Ran’s light hearted tone. She motioned for Atlas to let her down, which he did. The two of them jogged next to each other for some time in serenity.
Eventually, now much closer to the Compound, but also nearing noon, they took a small detour and headed to the river passing to the west of the Clan grounds, to be rid of the horrible smell that’d been plastered on their bodies.
“This…. Is this all water!?” Bi-Ran bounced from giddiness. He run up to the banks of the river, only 6 meters wide at this bend with a relatively calm flow. He crouched down and brought a hand to it. He felt the cold water flowing in between his fingers and went ballistic. He Jumped up, took of all his clothes and dove head first into the river.
Ru Feng soon followed and half the river was displaced as he cannonballed into the cold waters. Bi-Ran swam down, following the wave and letting it pull him with it. “WOoooooooo~!” He howled in amazement. Eventually the wave stopped and he walked the rest of the way back to dry land, then he then ran back in a hurry. “Do it, One more time! No! Two more.” He could barely keep coherent thought in his mind. Ru Feng grinned with all his teeth and marched out the waters.
“CANNON~BALL!” He bellowed as he jumped higher still, splitting the river apart like a mosses did to the red sea.
Ru Shi waited for her turn in the waters, for the children to stop being playful and the waters turbulent. Atlas waited much the shame right next to her. They sat on the roots of a large tree, poking out of the earth in long curves.
Ru Shi only now thought of the fact that Atlas had been carrying her for hours on end. “How come you got better so soon? Why did the other let your for that matter?! You were clearly too injured and tired to be the one to carry me.”
Atlas chuckled. “To be clear, I am not 100% sure. But I think I became integrated with Qi. And that dizzy spell, my fever, my weakness, was a result of that process going underway. I saw the weirdest dream ever. I almost renounced eating both meat and veggies right there and then.”
“What? I don’t know if I’m more surprised at the first or the last part. Did you, like, feel some oneness with them?” Ru Shi tried to wrap her mind around the idea of not eating, period.
“Honestly… Almost. It was more like the earth itself had reconnected with me. It’ll happen to you as well, so look forward to it. It’s… A magical experience. Even though it now feels misty, vague, old. It’s also one thing I have that those fuckers from Eternal City won’t ever be able to have. It’s probably much harder for them to realize what they have, to feel it, as for them it was always there, like air is to us.” Atlas almost felt proud to one up the people of that horrid little city.
Eventually cleaning would actually happen. Once done with the waters they made their way back up the forested hill to the southern gate of the clan. The sky a bright orange, the sun’s light painting white gold on the dark black roof tiles of the Compound.
The Bell rang as they were spotted in the clearing and the gates were opened. Patriarch Ru Wai was there first thing. “Welcome back everyone.” He said hugging his daughter tightly, she reciprocated, with a seconds delay.
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“The Mission has been accomplished. Though there were some complications, otherwise we would’ve returned earlier.” Atlas commented. The rest of the group walked ahead, passing their bags and supplies to those tasked with storing and counting them.
“Did something serious happen?” Ru Wai asked, he looked to Atlas and Carius but before anyone could get a word in Ru Shi cut in. “There is one thing that I found out. I think the Patriarchs are going to want to here this.”
“Is it so important?” Ru Wai raised a brow, he saw a look in Ru Shi’s eyes.
“If we assume it is the truth? Then its catastrophic. The King Boar couldn’t be compared.” Dread trickled down her back as she imagined the future Jean had painted.
Carius poked Atlas’ side, wanting to speak but Atlas waved him off. “Private.” He whispered at a pitch only Carius would hear. If Ru Shi wanted to hide their escapades into another dimension from her father that was her responsibility, her choice. Nothing would be hidden from the missions debriefing, but that would be professional and in a secluded place.
Just as Atlas expected they were called to Archeseus’ office. Ru Shi would have to wait, her small hopes of hiding her guilt gone to the wind. The pair would explain all details they could remember to the Patriarch. From Old Man George to the Eternal City, to the Deals, and the Trade, the retreat and the sacrifice.
“Your actions can only be deemed as idiotic. You should have not gotten implicated, you should have pulled Ru Feng away, or disposed of your enemies. You Jeopardized your lives, and the clan’s lives because you did not stay on track, because you got implicated. Horrible performance from the both of you… Thankfully you managed to get back, and in time. Just imagine the deaths you could have caused for your failure. ” The Patriarch was clearly enraged. Rightfully so. These two men had been trained their whole lives for missions like these. It had been their first practical mission, but that was no excuse in the Laertis Clan.
Atlas contemplated these things. He knew what his father did not focus on, and that it was the heaviest burden he bore on this mission.
“You’re right, father.” Atlas bowed his head to the floor.
“No, Atlas wait. I was at fault. I was scared most of the time and only acted when I was in danger like usual.” Carius jumped in.
“While that is true the biggest problem is that I did not act on my biggest weapon. I used no Lethal Force, it did not cross my mind, even. On the other hand you managed it.”
“That is correct… You will be expected to seriously reflect on your actions, or in this case, the lack there of. You will be relieved of all other duties until your reflection has reached a conclusion.” Patriarch Archeseus ordered and left the office promptly. His robes flapping sharply as he marched away from his prostrated son. Silence reigned.
At the ground floor of the Central Building, at a small, sound proof tea-room hidden amongst its many halls now sat the Two patriarchs and the party of five.
Patriarch Archeseus first addressed the Guest. “It is nice to meet you Bi-Ran. I have been told about your actions to help my people during this time and I thank you for it. This is a debt that can only be repaid tenfold.”
“I Thank you for your hospitality. I hope that in the near future my people can take you up on that offer and roam this wide world just like I have today.” Bi-Ran bowed down at his waist. Sincerely speaking his feelings. All then turned to Ru Shi, who had called for the meeting in the first place.
“I will cut to the chase. Earth and humanity may very well lose everything in the coming months.” She said grimly. She waited for objections, questions, reactions. All she got was a scratch of the head from some and a cock to the side from others.
“Right… If you would please elaborate?” Ru Wai was the first one to point out what everyone was thinking.
“Many things happened during this mission, and one of those was my meeting with two people. One a traitor from the side of the otherworlders, and the other a soldier from the army of the New United Nations. An organization created and supported with what is left of humanities communication network. Namely the satellite that had been in higher orbits when the earth doubled in size.
“One was Jean, the other Joseph Carter. Everything begins with the Tower. The training Tower filled with honey traps that the Army is using to improve its chances against natural threats on earth. But that tower is a Lock, a seal. One keeping the cultivators on the other side of the Eternal Pavilions. Only one without cultivation can conquer its first seal. And once that seal is broken they may pass to the earth freely, unbothered. What better group of people to release them from their bonds than those that will be conquered themselves.
“This is all known, this is all planned. The army is being expertly obedient, and the moment they get to earth they plan on pillaging and burning and taking and never looking back. That much can be witnessed at the Crystal Palace. A faction to the South of Borsi operated by those that have turned to the Otherworlders.
“I understand now.” Archeseus let his head rest on his palms. “Finally the last part of the Prediction our ancestors had seen so many years ago makes sense. This, is the bloodbath that would wash the earth that they prepared for. It has come for us, during our age. Now that we have no hope of ever besting another cultivator. Without Cultivation, even us Clans that have great knowledge and discipline can barely last against a Spirit Beast, what about the rest of humanity?” The Patriarch laid the situation out plain and simple. In such dire times accepting what Ru Shi said as the truth was the first and best thing to assume. If they were to do so, there was no chance.
“Uhm. Actually. I would like to inform everyone here, officially that I may or may not have integrated with Qi and have unlocked my Path for Cultivation.” Atlas butted in. Both Patriarchs dropped their jaws to the ground as they fell out of their seats.
“What!?”
“Are you being serious!? Are you sure, Atlas?!” They shouted as they scrambled back up.
“Yeah. I am pretty sure of what I saw. I only need to test it now.”
“How did you do at a different time to the rest?” Patriarch Archeseus wondered.
“Maybe it has to do with were I went? The Eternal City had a pretty dense Qi Atmosphere. And the Chasm Clan base was even denser, albeit purely poison attributed.” Atlas stood up as he said. “I won’t keep you all waiting. I’ll be entering seclusion as ordered by father. Once I come out we shall know the answer. Will someone volunteer to supervise me?” He asked.
“I’ll go!” Ru Shi avoided his look. Atlas simply shrugged. It didn’t really matter who went with him, It’s not like this would be the first time he went down there. Especially in the last four years. But it would mean she’d have to stay in the dark underground for some time.
The two of them walked out of the Tea room, they filtered through halls until they reached the back garden of the Central Building. It was a very small garden with a stone formation over which water constantly flowed. Behind that formation was the secret entrance to the underground complex.
With Atlas going first they pushed the Stones aside and the door on the ground slid open, a heavy thick door more than two meters thick, of stone and metal and materials modern humans would not know. They walked down without any torches, the outer door closed behind them, guided by the ever flowing loop of water.
Blindly Atlas grabbed with his left hand and pulled out a torch from an indent in the wall, which he lit up by grinding it on the wall. Soft orange light pushed the darkness away. It was a few minutes later when the two of them reached another smaller room. Here they would deposit all their belongings and change into the training uniform. A small switch was flicked and lights popped on with a flicker all along the roof of the enormous gymnasium spreading out before them.
“Hm?” It was at that point that Altas stopped his movements when he noticed something right at the middle of the Movement Court. “…Mom?” He whispered as a shudder climbed up his spine and into his nape. His eyes flared open, wide, shaking.