Part 1
Storms gathered but the rain came not yet.
The ships heading for the capital took a detour sensing the immense presence of a monster.
"Saintess, do you think they are planning to destroy the kingdom just like they did to the Moon kingdom?" King Arthur asked the lady who was tearing up as her body shined with light.
"The people ahhh. The people are becoming different, awfully different." The translucent wings behind her grabbed the air like an object raising her body as she stood there but her surroundings kept on changing as her translucent wings were grabbing the air like swapping through imagery as the scenery changed.
Prior to leaving, she told King Arthur alone to head for the king of this land, while they would catch up to him afterward.
And as such a lone ship separated from the other two heading for its previous destination.
Similarly, while the saintess and her soldiers were coming to the county there was a red gas that covered the whole county.
This gas came slowly until it was in every house and every corner of the county making all living beings who inhaled it fall asleep as their presence and body changed.
There was only one place that was protected, and that was the orphanage, which was enveloped in a brown aura.
This brown aura became stronger as its owner awoke taking the shape of an unseen tortoise creature.
In the harbor where the phenomenon was taking place something was making its way out of the body of the serpent.
Two huge arms with claws came out but they were made of aura not having physical form for the thing that was making its way out was a bird.
A bird entirely made of hair forced its way out of the body of the serpent.
The body of the serpent in no way could be this weak but what was coming out wasn't just normal hair.
The hair was burning hot and had the appearance of a bird, it looked like a flaming bird, but it was normal hair infused with an aura that was hot and looked like a flame.
Hiss Hiss Hiss
The serpent went with a wide mouth wanting to bite the part which the being was coming out from.
Coming close to biting its own body the huge arms made of the aura came out wholly and it was a tiger close to a humanoid being if not for the huge arms with the bulging upper part it would be just another tiger.
The tiger roared a soundless roar.
Even in the distance, the tortoise creature roared as the skeleton dragon aura roared, along with the hair bird that was coming out.
Taking the chance when the opponent was distracted King of Gold combined the scraps of the ships and all other metals in the surrounding into liquid gold.
Transmuting the gold into himself becoming a giant golden man, he ran to the serpent pinning down its head into the water.
Even the ronin took this chance as the time the serpent's head was down he unleashed his strongest attack.
"Sound Breath of Vengeance Inochiryoku Separētā" (Life Force Separator)
Shing
With the draw of his cursed katana, he struck but the blade only came closer to the serpent's body not slashing it as something else was the target.
With this unexpected move of two individuals Diane's whole body came out of the serpent, and her hair which had the form of a bird flew down to lend.
On her hands was the Viking princess, her bird hair was flapping its wings while a huge armed tiger stood on both her shoulders with its hind legs, and behind her, the skeleton dragon floated in the sky.
Hiss Hiss Hiss
The snake's body wriggled, creating waves, and the two men fled, the ronin standing on the giant's palm.
And the little hole Diane made came together as it completely recovered.
***
Part 2
It's a mystery how long humans have lived in this world but if anyone can come closer to the time humans have lived it would be the over-watchers who maintain the balance after the disappearance of the guardian.
Due to their intelligence, the five legendary beasts who succeeded the guardian and did not abuse their power stand between the fog wall that separates mankind from the forbidden land of monsters.
50% of the world is one continent the land of monsters while the other 50% is shared between four oceans and continents.
2d Map
On the north stands the Dark Continent a forbidden place for humans and this land covers from east to west taking 50% of the planet.
This continent has a land that tails from it which is not covered by the fog wall.
This tail land is where the legendary beasts live.
There is a dark sea that is in between the forbidden land and the continent of the Sun from the north to the east.
Three nations border this dark sea and they are from the union faction Narwhal, High Academia, and Long Dynasty.
These three nations have the strongest force within the continent for a reason as they face the force of nature at their doorsteps.
And thousands of miles to the northeast of the Long Dynasty, out of their sea territory swam millions of sea monsters with ferocious looks.
There would be no man walking on the continent if these were land creatures since they are all more powerful than blue-leveled monsters, and some even pose orange-level threats.
There is not much distance between them as it will take a time of about one week of boat travel.
On the shores of this land tail lay a huge monster carcass.
In heights alone, it would be about 800 meters and the length was three to four times that.
This creature is king level monster of the reptile family and from the wounds that killed it, it could be said that it died from the slashes of monstrous claws.
Into the distance beyond the shores were mountains.
Several of the mountains were beyond the clouds while others were close to them.
This tail land is of the size of 4,780,400 km square.
In a place close to the wall of fog there were two huge creatures one was a white tiger and another was a monstrous tortoise that was brown this one was in a weird position.
This tortoise creature was standing on his tip claw while one leg was hidden in the shell as well as the rest of his limbs.
And the white tiger was licking his claws which were covered with a red substance.
-Name: Guardian of West The White Tiger of Rage
Species: King Tiger
Overall Size: 1.36 kilometers, height 360 meters, and length 1 kilometer.
Diet: Carnivorous
Threat Level: Purple
One of the oldest beings, a king of battles.
Finishing the cleaning of his claws the white tiger looked at the tortoise saying. "When will they arrive?"
"They. Are. Here." A voice replied coming from the tortoise.
-Name: Guardian of North The Sage Mountain Tortoise
Species: Galapagos Mountain Tortoise
Overall Size: 10 kilometers
Diet: Sky Fish & Fruits
Threat Level: Purple
Oldest being in the world, Sage of ever-library.
"Then they better hurry 'cause I'm getting bored here." Said the white tiger feeling bothered about something.
Coming from the south was a fiery bird flying so fast wisps of fire was left in its trail.
Caw
The bird was vermillion in color with long beautiful legs and neck as well as five flamed feather tails of different colors.
"I have arrived." The bird breathed fire splitting the clouds.
-Name: Guardian of South The Vermillion Bird of Death Wing
Species: Vermillion Bird
Overall Size: 1.2 kilometers
Wingspan: 840 meters on each side
Diet: Sea Monsters
Threat Level: Purple
One of the oldest beings, Death Wing.
Far, far into the sky above the atmosphere.
In the mesosphere of the planet, a dragon was climbing higher to reach the end of the fog wall.
"The sky is the limit when you say it is." As the dragon spoke he's whiskers which were as long as 400 meters flattered.
"I have no equal in this world and one day it will surely be in my hands."
Roar
His roar echoed in the empty space where no one but him was.
-Name: Guardian of East The Golden Emperor
Species: Gold Dargon
Overall Size: 1,000 Kilometers
Diet: Fruits & Sea Monsters
Threat Level: Purple
Self-proclaimed emperor of the world, if not for his big brother the world would be under his foot he believes so.
After a long time of climbing, he switched backward descending, this time he's speed was faster than a meteorite as no gravity stopped him from going down.
Meanwhile, in the area, he was headed to the three other legendary beasts who were discussing and noticing the incoming dragon they laughed.
"Wah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, little sister do you see that he still wishes to crossover the wall what an arrogance… ha-ha-ha-ha-wah-ha-ha-ha." With the white tiger's laughter, the vermillion bird followed.
"Shi-hi-hi-hi-hi-hi-hi."
"I. Agree. With. That. But. I. Do. Not. Like. This. Kind. Of. Language." The tortoise which was inside his shell said.
The dragon arrived but did not descend below the clouds as thunderbolts flashed showing shadows of his figure in the dark sky.
"I answer your summons, big brother…" Said the dragon making many of the sea monsters who heard his voice go deep into the ocean to not be affected by the pressure.
And they were right to fear as the presence of kings does not require insignificant beings to hear it.
"Brothers. And. Sister. You. Are. The. Protectors. That. Maintain. The. Balance. I. Called. And. You. Came. Thank. You. Guardians"
While saying that mysterious energy came out of him projecting the four legendary beasts that were present in an illusion world that was silent from the outside.
Inside the illusion world.
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"Thank you for not resisting fellow guardians, before I begin I must say that the time has come as a new warrior arises to face evil and this time it was not of our will either but herself, she is no dragon warrior or vermillion warrior, nor the white warrior, and she doe not carry mine." Said the tortoise.
"First of all this mind ability of yours is terrifying but aside from that we respect your authority in doing things as we have been away from each other for a long time let us reunite first before this human issue thing." The white tiger said not sounding happy about how things started.
"I agree with the little one big brother." Said the dragon grumblingly.
"Hey, hey hey just because you came before me does not mean you can belittle me you little lizard." The white tiger snorted at the dragon with a fierce look.
"And is it insulting that your big brother calls you little, little kitten?"
"That does it come down you puny lizard I'll show you how these claws of mine work."
"You know you two have things for words but do not forget how that dragon you called fake made you look like fools almost two thousand years ago."
"Shut it birdy this has nothing to do with you…" Both the dragon and the white tiger yelled at the vermillion sounding angry.
"Hmh, and whose fault would it be since you made this mess." The vermillion bird retorted.
"What mess?" They asked simultaneously.
"Ah, the mess that trillions of serpents carrying that blood exists today and are destroying everything that mess… right sage brother?"
"Indeed." Said the tortoise.
"Then this topic will be closed, just for now little one."
"You bet it is and keep calling me that as you will end up just like that lizard who claimed to be a dragon."
"We'll see little kitten…" Before the dragon could continue the vermillion interrupted.
"What kind of enough don't you get, you're in the presence of a sage show some respect."
The three finally calmed down not saying a word for minutes as they watched each other.
"One must let go. One must observe. One must obtain inner peace. For that is the state of a calm mind."
"As I was saying, a warrior of legendary beasts aura has risen to claim her destiny but her path does not match with that of her ancestor the dragon warrior."
"Big brother, you mean to say a progeny of my student lives and I do not know about it I thought her bloodline was cut off." The dragon said as confusion struck him.
"Yes, how is that possible?" Even the tiger was shocked.
The vermillion bird only watched not saying a word as none of it was an interest to her.
"Yes, when the humans killed their hero it was cut off but…" Said the sage tortoise while telling the story of the dragon warrior.
1,840 years ago
Humanity, as it was, was in the 2 billion population overall the giants, winged humans, and ordinary humans combined.
And in the Sun continent, was a land where the law of jungle ruled.
There existed the kingdom of Jade the most powerful nation ruled by an empress who knew no defeat in battle.
When a group of people who came from a far land thought they were the first of their kind humanity once again learned that there existed more unexplored lands and they are descendants of giant humans.
Some refused this actually but there were old records testifying their claims and thus started a new age of adventure to claim new lands, but the only land that was unclaimed was the land of the winged human clan which is in the south but they didn't know as they started another war that was short-lived.
Because blood rained due to the battle between the legendary beasts and the dragon that wished to become an overlord after collecting all the emerald gems which contained the powers of the Sky Dragon.
And because of this serpents rose making humanity unite for the first in ages against a common foe.
Humanity fought well at first but due to the large reptiles their numbers were decreasing fast and this became worse when the flesh of the dragon fell down.
During that time it was only sea monsters who were able to evolve in the human world but after the dragon's fall, other monsters evolved making everything worse.
As for the empress of Jade kingdom seeing her people and humans fall in peril made her take a journey to find out whether the legends were true, the legends about the protectors of this world.
However, crossing that dark sea which was forbidden to all made her see how small humans were in the unknown world they lived in.
What do they say, you are better off not knowing the unknown.
Before she ended up in the maws of hungry sea monsters a force pulled her towards the land of the legendary beasts.
She saw folklore come to life as her world changed.
There she was made to train under the dragon emperor but she lacked Ki which was essential to her growth.
She could not break the limits but that did not stop her from using kung fu to its utmost as she needed not a strong body.
But the will to stand and hold her name and responsibility.
She received the title of dragon warrior becoming the first human to learn about the Ki and the energy the world held.
When she met the barbarian king and taught him about Martial Arts and Kung Fu, he made the Beast Ki Art.
He radiated Ki and because of it she taught him what she learned but seeing that he gained something while she did not he unlocked her aura which she accumulated over the years.
Thus the dragon warrior brought peace to the continent while the barbarian king got rid of the reptiles that caused humans to regress back a few years.
In the year 1020 after the end of the serpent war.
The jade kingdom was no more as the empress let the people govern themselves while she trained warriors, star warriors.
People who broke their own limits and swore to fight for humanity all over the world.
In the year 1213, the dragon warrior was betrayed by her disciples.
Her jade palace was erased from history and her name was forgotten except for the title of dragon warrior which was shrouded in mystery.
In the year 1290, a descendant of the dragon warrior was born in a land far from the land which her ancestor called home.
Retraising her origin she became a servant of one of the families that ruled Long Dynesty.
But later on, when she fell in love with a man from the land of Tani Valley of samurais their offspring was like a taboo making her an object of hatred.
This child had a strength that was unmatched and the skills of an experienced warrior, she suffered despite her wishes to make everyone like her.
When going to other lands as a wandering warrior she was drugged and gave birth to a child that she had no recollection of.
Leaving a child behind without even knowing she had one she was sold into slavery in the motherlands to end up in the hands of those humans that wanted the blood of longevity that ran through the veins of the serpents which once ruled them.
Just like her ancestor, she became a hero for the people she was destined with the Amazons.
In the year 1822, another descendant of hers was wronged by the people of this world again.
It was a family of 7, they were burned unjustly but only one survived and that survivor is the new warrior who wealds an aura similar to ours.
She carries the fury of vengeance, the hatred that will burn this world someday, and the heart to set those in cages free.
They call her the Beast of Freedom…
"My fellow guardians we are siblings who share the same birth and origin, I fear that she may one day surpass us and the worst is what will become of this world."
The tortoise said with a deep voice but he seemed kind of excited.
"Sage brother, are you saying she poses more threat than those who carry the gems?"
"Yes, little sister she will become that much more powerful." Replied the tortoise.
"Big brother I respect your wisdom but why did you do nothing or even tell me about it?" Asked the dragon not sounding happy.
"Yes, big brother we could have changed all of this, why?" The white tiger asked also not having a good feeling about what he is going to hear.
"Because it was meant to be." Said the tortoise.
The tiger was shaking in anger but held in, this time even the vermillion bird was puzzled.
The dragon was saying this is why I despise you, inside his head.
"Big brother first a dragon escapes the dark continent and steels the emerald gems that were under your watch and goes into the moon to become just like the previous Sky Dragon while you did nothing. We had to step in when you said we shouldn't and defeated the dragon who absorbed 4 gems, resulting in the chaos we are in but despite that, we stopped a tragedy from happening. But then again you threw the emerald gems alongside a bone dragon into the south making the humans fight a worldwide war for decades. Even not long ago another monster escaped the dark continent through your watch and you did nothing. What game are you playing that amuses you to do such things?"
"You should all know what the role of guardian means don't you?" He asked, it was as if he was looking into their heads as they felt something dangerous that made them shiver in fear.
"Because there are beings who can kill you in this world, so take your jobs seriously and do not intervene unless I say so."
Rumble
Gold thunder flashed everywhere as the rage of the dragon resonated in the sky.
"Is that a threat?" The dragon roared angrily.
The tiger and the vermillion bird looked at each other and then between the other two observing silently.
"Why of course it is, but not from me." Said the tortoise in a sarcastic tone.
"Then who, who has the power other than us? The humans or the ones behind the fog?" He asked not backing down.
"Oh, brothers and sister have you forgotten the fifth guardian who was there in the cocoon stage with us, we were supposed to be the five guardians and now there are only four why do think that is?"
***
Part 3
The waves swept the harbor making the fighters retreat.
Diane felt troubled as the princess who tried to save wasn't waking up and had some of her skin melted by the serpent's acid.
The serpent started shooting water pressures that could pierce hardwood in half.
In a high-momentum flight glade, Diane jumped back.
The area where she left was shot down by the pressured water that looked like mambas.
To the left and right the ranch of its attack was getting close to hitting and more accurately even the golden giant was having difficulties.
The ronin who was being held in the palm of the golden giant deflected some waters but his expression was down.
With one big flight, Diane wrapped her aura around the princess just like she did for the Moon Princess but it was the bird aura, it flew in the direction of the tortoise aura field.
While performing the process of aura transfer this time the tiger aura was in a defensive position as every water that came her way was dodged without even looking because she was being guided by the tiger aura.
Whoosh
The flaming aura bird flew to its destination with the princess inside it.
This brighten the places it flew by and below it sure was full of snakes.
Some followed the bird but to no avail.
Inside Diane's head was a way to fight the serpent without losing her stamina as all her aura depended on it.
And utilizing all those aura beasts was draining her.
Thus she thought of a new way.
The skeleton dragon that was floating behind her as she went everywhere without being of any use was slowly dissolving and the tiger aura was becoming one with her.
This kind of looked like a transformation but it was not, the aura covered her body like a layer of invincible armor.
It then further went on to go into areas where she releases her physical strength when attacking.
She ran to the serpent ignoring the water.
The ground where she passed by had a crater of her footprints and they were a distance apart as she jumped sometimes avoiding hard attacks.
The serpent, on the other hand, seeing that the ants that challenged it hadn't fallen yet and were coming closer and closer to it as they dodged its attacks changed tactics.
The black scales shined before becoming shadow particles and appeared from above.
The whole body which was 2.7 kilometers long descended destroying the ground and nearby buildings.
But this was not the end as a swift bite went to the golden giant.
The golden giant was twenty meters in height and had rough movements making it sloppy to dodge quickly when the serpent attacked all he was able to do was put his hands together creating a round shield by transmuting most of his body parts which made the giant smaller.
The serpent's bite completely destroyed the shield with one bite and went on to wrap itself around the golden giant also destroying it.
Thankfully the king had already thrown the ronin and focused his defense on himself rather than blocking the incoming damage to the giant and thus when the body was strangled by the serpent the king had to make sure he wasn't done for.
Coming to his rescue was Diane as she punched the head of the mamba.
Bam
Normally a punch like this would come from her when she infuses most of her aura into one hand but this time she found new ways.
When the serpent was in the waters it was hard to get close to as it shot out water but coming out and doing this made it easy for her to land a hit.
Unfortunately, this punch only pushed the head back a little doing nothing else.
Yet, this was enough time to give the king time to escape from the encirclement.
He shot himself out as all the gold turned to liquid following behind him.
The serpent's mouth opened yet again, but Diane caught his fangs bringing the head to the ground with force.
Coming down from above was the ronin who aimed his blade at the serpent's eye.
The blade was facing down with no Ki following it because the ronin was almost out of juice making him use the blade normally.
The cursed katana was like a hungry beast wanting to suck the Ki out of him but it never passed his fingertips.
Ki which is the second life force of all humans surrounds their lifeforce like a membrane glass in the form of energy when using this energy it is channeled through their veins and blood.
Unless a stronger will forcefully take the Ki from the body, the Ki cannot leave the body.
The ronin controls the doors and when he opens it the cursed katana can take how much it wants so the only way is to not succumb to a situation like Sakuna when he got possessed by the blade he must hold in the Ki that is flowing through him.
With each second the blade was coming closer to it the serpent's eye did not move while the other eye rotated looking in between the King of Gold and Diane.
The huge body of the serpent turned to the side overturning the woman that was holding its fangs and releasing its venom at her.
"Watch out!!" King of Gold screamed but it was too late as it engulfed her whole.
The sudden attack was point blank hitting the target as her screams resounded because it was acidic venom poison and the color of it which was black made things worse.
"Ahhh…" Landing at the area where the serpent dodged the incoming attack the ronin who postponed the attack since the target moved repositioned for another attack this time not caring about the target moving or whether he will lose his Ki.
"At first I had nothing against you but you stood in my way now I realize none of that matters."
"I did not become a samurai so I can't scar a monster whose only strength is its body, my blade will cut you and I will have my vengeance."
His eyes were on the huge serpent that circled them and the screaming woman whose skin was unhurt despite her feeling pain.
"This will be my last King of Gold take care of the rest."
"Huh?" The king looked puzzled but before he could speak the ronin had run to the serpent with his cursed katana held in two hands at his eye level.
The serpent's head rose looking down at the puny human that was coming with a strike to cut its body full of tough scales.
To make the humans despair it purposely stood there not moving to give them a chance at striking it.
The sound of vengeance is a unique style developed by a crazed samurai that longs to end the lives of his enemies with painful strikes.
It has no base foundation only attacks to slaughter.
Yes, swords are made to kill but a sword master longs to achieve the state of one.
Becoming the sword and the sword becoming you.
This man the ronin is long away from any goals a sword master wishes for, only longing for the death of whoever stands in his way.
Now that he is met with an opponent that can't be slain, he desires something he never had before.
As he ran to the serpent his mind was becoming clear of all thoughts except for one, "slay the serpent".
His breathing became silent, his footsteps became silent, his cursed blade became silent, and the world around him became silent only one thing mattered.
Slay to reach higher heights.
Break the chains that hold hatred.
Release the fury and turned it into a weapon that obeys.
Clash
Something broke something inside him.
A glass membrane that had dark murky water broke.
He was now climbing up the serpent but his eyes looked only up at the serpent's head as so did his mind.
The woman screaming down below as she experienced pain stopped and stood up with one flip as if nothing happened and damn right something was back to her from afar which erased the acid venom an aura that danced like the lonely flame in a quiet night, but aside from all that she stared at the man who was experiencing something new to her, so did the king but he knew what was happening.
The man's body had no sweat no fatigue and his eyes were clear as a blue sunny day, he looked completely different compared to the man he was before.
This man whose Ki had been consumed was refreshed anew with an overwhelming desire.
"Honor was left in the hands of dishonorable people, yesterday I sought to serve an honorable master today I dream to slay you."
He wasn't even close enough to land the needed strike and thus the ronin decided to jump off the serpent's body using it as a foothold to jump higher.
Now he was at a distance of five hundred away from the head after he jumped, and started rotating his body to strike whatever part his blade came across.
"Sound of Vengeance Sāpentosureiyā-Fū Nōkattosaundo" (Serpent Slayer Style No Cut Sound)
A soundless strike that was followed by a quiet blade.
Shing, the blade revibrated coming into contact with the scales of the serpent.
Following it was Ki energy coming from the body of the ronin.
It started from five places inside him, first, the brain as it traveled down like strings of veins stopping at the shoulder when other strings came from the heart making contact in the shoulder with other strings from above another two came from the legs traveling with lightning speed as they were joined by one string from the abdomen.
All these strings had one thing in common their fury to slay a serpent as all of them rushed in two directions left hand and right hand going out of the fingertips to the hilt of the cursed katana which at the time was revibrating due to coming in contact with the scales.
This Ki of fury stopped the katana's shaking becoming silent.
After it stopped revibrating the blade was still as the water when it is alone.
The battlefield was descended by silence as nothing happened with all the changes he went through both the serpent and the spectators were kind of disappointed because of what they thought didn't happen although the serpent did kind of anticipate this outcome.
But as soon as the serpent moved to finish them all off since they had no chance of satisfying its appetite it happened.
A ripple.
Just like when water is disturbed by a ripple effect the place that was struck had some new changes to it a crack appeared on the scale which was unbreakable.
End of Chapter 16