[Ten Minutes Ago Before Mirh met Kiel]
Mirh was cutting through the forest mounted on a Silver Great Hawk. She was searching for one person, and one person alone, Kiel Zarta.
“That bastard, not only did he steal my Tiger but he even dare house a murderer of the innocent? He is tarnishing Martial Sister Ame’s name!”
Mirh was an arrogant woman on her younger years, though she’s not completely out of that pace yet. However, after spending time together with Ame in many life and death situations, Mirh had learned a lot of things since then.
It was funny realizing she learned from someone seven years younger than she was but now that she’s twenty-seven years of age she could only say that Ame had truly changed her for the better.
Mirh owes Ame a lot of things and she would have loved to help Kiel if he had asked, but she need to teach him a lesson from stealing from others and allying with murderers.
‘I only saw him once but I didn’t think he was an actual fool. He used to be someone who sacrificed his happiness for his sister, why is he doing this now? For power? If so then Ame was wrong.’
Mirh only knew Kiel from what Ame told her previously and what she initially saw of him. Kiel was a non-cultivator; he had a pretty good build but he had no Spirit.
Ame once said Kiel was stronger than her if he tries and cultivate. Mirh called it lip-service but Ame jested.
[Eleven Years Ago]
The time when Ame just got accepted as a Core Disciple and was about to visit her brother in Lily Town.
“Martial Sister Ame I saw a Grand Spirit Collection Pearl that you wanted at the Dragon Thorn Auction House, it will be auctioned about three months from now, don’t you think you should head home after securing the treasure?”
“Hmm? Why would I do that?”
“Aren’t you going to give the Spirit Collection Pearl to your brother? Most of the time it is use to give Non-cultivators the chance to be more intimate with the Spirit Energy correct? Why else are you going to buy a Spirit Collection Pearl if not for helping your brother become a cultivator?”
Ame stayed silent. Spirit Collection Pearl was indeed what Mirh described it to be, an auxiliary item used to help those without talent to sense the Spirit Energy of the world. It was created by the esteemed Rune Scholars to help others.
However, when Ame was asked if she was buying it for her brother or not, she simply laughed.
“Why would my older brother have use for such a thing? He can cultivate just fine, he just doesn’t want to do it.”
“What? Why not? So many people can’t hope to become a cultivator and he has the chance to tread the path so many envies. He’s wasting such a gift.” such was Mirh’s reaction.
Ame shrugged her shoulders, “Well, what can I say, that just how he is. He doesn’t pursue power, rather, he pursues the idea of trying to live a normal life with a normal family, though he had to scratch that idea when me and parents left… I really need to apologize for him about all this. Anyway, long story short, he doesn’t want to cultivate, but I can tell you, that if he does step into our world, wish that you do not antagonize him.”
A wry smile then came from Ame.
“Surely, you must be kidding me. That guy has that much potential? No offense, but he doesn’t seem like someone who can…”
“Fight?”
“Yes, he seems, fragile, he was bleeding when I last saw him.”
“Well, I did witness him kill a Stone Python with a stick before.”
“You should stop lying when you’re ahead, you know?”
Mirh’s words only prompted Ame to laugh.
Back to the present, Mirh was much aware that Ame, was wrong. From what she could see, Kiel should have joined that murderer for power, what reason was there?
However, after taking a deep breath ‘But, this could possibly be just a misunderstanding — tsk, and I just had to encounter fucking bastards.’
Mirh cursed as she jumped off the Hawk’s back as she saw a group of women and children kowtowing before a young man whose entire attire was dyed red with blood with tears streaming down their faces.
Taking the sword tied to her waistband, Mirh dove down and did not utter a word. She wanted to finish this as fast as possible and find Kiel.
Mirh got closer to the young man group and just as her sword was about to touch his neck, the young man turned his head and looked her dead in the eyes, “You should have done better. Keep this in mind after you reincarnate.”
For a split second the young man seemed too fast and without her realizing, the stick was raised in front of her and despite it being nothing more than an ordinary and mundane object, when it was pointed at her head, she felt death had crept onto her neck.
A flash of white light happened and Mirh searched her mind for a way to survive and without any hesitation she moved her body to the side, initiating qi deviation.
If it was any ordinary time, it would have been a death wish but thankfully she managed to pull herself out of the way just as the young man said the word, “Pierce”.
Mirh lived, but she failed to keep her right hand.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” she screamed as she flew into a tree, making a loud crashing sound.
She was screaming in pain but her voice stops after seeing the young man dashing towards her with killing intent. The stick had already turned to dust and he only had one outstretched finger and a killing intent as deep as the Ocean of Death Region.
“Die.” He uttered in a cold and apathetic voice.
Mirh drowned in a red world and she stopped breathing for a moment and just as she was force to accept her fate, death did not arrive.
Mirh opened her eyes and saw the young man looking at her with tilted head. He was left preoccupied and Mirh saw this as an opening.
She gritted her teeth and readied her blade—
“Move and I’ll take your head, now do not make a commotion else I will take your life. Give me time I am trying to remember something.”
“Don’t worry you and I had no past or future.” She quipped trying to save any face.
“Yes, and you will also have no life if you open that mouth again.”
Mirh shut her mouth, there was no torrent of Killing intent this time, only a simple fact — he can kill her.
“Those clothes, I should remember it… is it perhaps a variation of some kind?” the young man said.
“Sir benefactor may I offer you information?” one of the women raised her head.
“Speak.” The young man let her speak up.
“That uniform belongs to a Core Disciple of the Celestial Phoenix Mountain… I managed to see one such person when I was young, saying they will give us protection but ended up abandoning us when we needed them.”
‘Benefactor?’ Mirh was confused but as enlightenment dawn upon her, Mirh turned to look at the young man again, ‘He’s no bastard… I messed up.’
The young man finally remembered and as he looked at the woman, made some mental adjustment, he finally recognized who it was, “Blink once if it is a no and twice if it is a yes, understood?”
Mirh was silent for a minute, confused and offended by his words and the woman’s description about her sect. She wanted to speak but her fear stopped her from doing so. In the end, she couldn’t even step up to protect her Sect.
She was ashamed.
The young man looked down upon her and spoke once again, “Miss, I told you, to blink once if it is a no and twice if it is a yes, understood? Do you get it now?”
Mirh blinked twice.
“That is good, then, do you perhaps know, my Sister, Ame? She was a member of the Celestial Phoenix Mountain before going through Ascension.”
She blinked twice again and Mirh made another realization, ‘He’s the brother…’ she then looked to the side and saw a woman in purple holding a Zither, ‘…and that’s the murderer — I still do not get it.’
Mirh wanted to speak but she couldn’t as she knew that she made an awful mistake… and also absolute fear.
She was just about to plead for life when Kiel realized who she was and even apologized for — cutting her arm.
“Oh, it would appear there has been a terrible mistake, I did not recognize one of my sister’s friends…”
Kiel looked at Mirh dead in the eyes and apologized, “I apologize for not recognizing you quickly I have been rude to one of Ame’s friends — oh yeah, I also apologize for the arm.”
With a broken smile, mirh looked at Kiel, “No, it’s fine, I’m fine, really, I’m fine.”
“Oh, good, then — I see that you spoke with sarcasm, hmm, why though? If I’m right only people who has the high grounds can speak in such a manner?”
Mirh clicked her tongue and lowered her head, “…….” she stopped talking and simply grit her teeth to bear the pain.
Kiel noticed this and with tilted head, he asked her, “Why are you still acting for mercy? The thought of killing you is already out of—”
“I’m not acting, this is really painful! You cut my arm for gods’ sake!” Mirh raged at the insensitive oaf who time and time again rubbed her at the fact that she lost!
Kiel shook his head, “Oh, why didn’t you just say so? I can’t exactly heal you completely by I’m more than capable to alleviate your pain.”
Using his fingers to push pressure points on Mirh’s body Kiel stopped the bleeping and even cut off the pain receptors.
It was as if she never experienced any pain at all.
“You know medicine?”
Stolen novel; please report.
“No, but I know the body enough to kill a humanoid being.”
Mirh was left speechless at his words.
Standing up, Kiel noticed how she was looking at him, “What? Is something the matter? Do you want me put the pain back so you can temper your mind?”
“Are you rubbing the fact that I had my arm severed?”
“No, what I just said is a simple fact. Spirit cultivates your strength and pain cultivate your mind and will. Also, you act in such a manner when I almost just killed you earlier? You’re strange.”
“I’m sorry, I just didn’t think I’d get my arm severed today… I’m currently weighing my choices other than becoming a cultivator.”
“…is that sarcasm again?” Kiel honestly did not know if she was joking or not.
“No! I’m not being sarcastic, what makes you think I’m being sarcastic?”
“Because, you asked me something so obvious?”
“Something obvious?”
Kiel was confused, he didn’t know what the hell this woman was on about. She had talking nonsense since earlier, “Come here.”
“Why?”
“I think the spirit deviation got to your head and made you stupid.”
With those words, Mirh finally snapped, “Dammit! I just lost my arm, my veins are destroyed and my future as a cultivator is over! Don’t you get it!? I just lost my future because I mistook someone as an enemy!”
Her anger… was unjustified and Mirh knew this herself. However, the fact that, Kiel, someone she didn’t even consider a proper fighter, almost killed her, took an arm, and humiliated her to such a degree was something she could not take.
Kiel heard her words and that alone made him incapable of understanding her even more, “What are you talking about? If nothing else, a new door opened to you with this event — I would love to tell you more about this, but we are out of time and I need to take care of something.” He said while walking towards the captives he just freed.
“The nearest town is two weeks of walk from here, come with me, I’ll bring you somewhere.”
He said as he motioned to Mirh and follow him. The injured Mirh groaned making Kiel sigh in contempt and was just about to help her up when Risha intervened, “I got this, Darling, do what you must.”
“…is this about the no touc—”
“Yes, it is about the no touching other women rule. My mother told me not to let other women hang around my husband like a fly, so I am making sure all the flies are squatted.” Risha said proudly while helping the fly that was Mirh.
Mirh took offense to her word, but she didn’t have it in her to contradict this slaughterer. She could only grit her teeth.
After Risha saw her expression, she came a realization and proceeded to speak, “I was ordered to be his wife — he’s taken.”
Mirh was seriously considering the idea of being wrong that this woman was indeed the one who massacred two guilds.
The walk was led by Kiel, on his back were seven women and three boys not counting Mirh and Risha of course.
After an hour of trekking through the forest they finally arrived at their destination, a waterfall — a cave behind the waterfall to be exact.
Mirh and the rest entered the cave and what they arrived at was a gathering of people cooking meals for the night.
“Ah, Master Kiel, welcome back!”
A woman around the age of twenty or so bowed her head before Kiel who looked around and saw the soup being prepared.
The young woman noticed the ten people entering with Kiel, “Ah, did you save more people Master Kiel?”
The ten he brought with were all pleasantly surprised to see so many people gathered at a time like this, Kiel didn’t care about that fact though, “Miss Lela, can you give these kids blankets to keep themselves warm, we should also start a fire soon, night approaches.”
“Yes, Master Kiel.”
Mirh watched from the side, and observed this little haven of theirs. There were a total of 39 people in total and Kiel were taking care of them all – well, the woman named Lela, seemed to be taking care of it.
“Are you protecting them?” Mirh asked when Kiel approached her.
Kiel nodded, “Until the Blood Moon passes. I want to send them off, but, the nearest town is at least a couple of weeks from here, they won’t make it. It makes you wonder why slave traders still go hunt in such a time, huh.”
Kiel shook his head and looked over at the people he had saved, “So, why have you come here? If I’m not wrong the Celestial Phoenix Mountain should already be making preparations to face off against the Beasts on Fire Ridge. The Blood Moon’s coming, you know?”
At this time, Risha excused herself, “I’m going to get you some food, my Darling.”
Mirh’s brows twitched as she motioned to Risha’s direction, “I’m looking for her.”
“Is it about the Massacre Incident? Just so you know they were the ones who tried to “touch” her and when she “refused”, they tried to take her by force, it was self-defense.” Kiel said to start the conversation.
“She killed a total of 479 people, she disrupted the power system of two Towns under our command, many deaths will happen because of her.”
“Don’t lie, you’re not worried about the people, you’re worried the face of your Sect, stop spouting nonsense just say you want to punish her to save your integrity.”
He then coughed before raising his voice in indignation, gathering the ears and attention of everyone in the cave, “If you really cared about the lives of those under you, then I wouldn’t be saving people like them! I saved 143 people and killed over 200 bandits and over 150 slave traders. Many would have died if I didn’t intervene, many would be put in whore houses if I had not stopped them and you dare say you care about the lives of people? Do not make me laugh, from what I can see the Celestial Phoenix care more about how I look at you and your people compared to lives.”
“No, you’re wrong!” Mirh shouted.
Kiel ignored her outburst “Okay, I believe you, but do they?” he pointed to his left where the dozens of children and captives.
They didn’t wish to show it, but, their glares were too fierce for them to hide. They were under the Celestial Phoenix Mountain.
These people were all good people, even with their hard lives they give their offerings to the Sect to ensure the safety of their lives, but, despite all those sacrifices, tragedy still struck.
Some of them knew the Celestial Phoenix Mountain could not possibly protect them all, but some of them were young and naïve, and could not understand such a fact. But even then, some of the older ones still held a grudge on the Mountain for their incompetence.
They wish to yell at her — “My family died because you didn’t protect us!”
Some wanted to berate her — “You haughty people claim to be protectors yet the only thing you did was abandon us.”
But most of them — cried.
They could only weep their sadness and push them down to the depths of their hearts,
Mirh saw this and was at a lost for word. She could only look at Kiel whose expression had not wavered since this first exchange.
‘He’s more cunning that I thought.’
Mirh’s eyes slanted, she didn’t know Kiel was someone like this, a person whose words cut as deep like his attacks. This man before her was similar to Ame, his sister, but different in a way he’s far more unpredictable.
Ame was more carefree and loves to mock those who goes against her, but Kiel, he simply wish to get things over with while still being able to take the benefits. It did not matter if Risha killed hundreds of people, in the eyes of these captives, Kiel was in the right.
‘He’s ruthless with his means and with his words, he’s not hesitant despite my connection with Ame. If I know any better, even if I was a friend of Ame, if I step out of bounds — he’ll kill me. Keep silent, let him win, stop pursuing the matter. That is the best I can do… I can’t win against him.’
Not only was her life on the line but if they went on, Mirh could faintly tell that Kiel had means to thoroughly destroy the Celestial Phoenix Mountain’s credibility as a protector and hegemon. He’s a formidable person to say the least.
Mirh only had one way to resolve this matter.
“Okay, I’ll drop the matter, I’ll stop pursuing her and convince the Elders that the Sects were in the wrong.” Admit defeat.
Kiel smiled, “I’m thankful for that, but I should let you know that Risha is a friend of Ame’s, I don’t know what you can do with that information—”
“Such a thing is helpful; the Sect owes a lot to Ame. She helped us sanction the Heaven Ridge Sect and grow to this size because of her, after all.”
“Oh? I see… how was my sister when she was a part of your Sect?”
Kiel asked an unexpected question with a soft gaze. This caught Mirh off-guard.
She did not expect him to show such an expression.
“I’ll tell you, but it will take a while to finish the story.”
“It’s fine, I have the time.”
Kiel said as Mirh proceeded to tell him how Ame spearheaded the Celestial Phoenix Mountain’s rise to prominence.
“She helped open a new era for us…”
Mirh only knew Ame for a few years, the child was young but her talent allowed her to usher in a change, “She help us create a better environment for the people and cultivators alike, sadly, we are having a hard time upholding the changes she implemented because of the Blood Moon’s irregularity.”
“I see… so Ame had a side to her I did not know.” Kiel did not understand why he’s so sad when he learned of Ame’s secret endeavors and her desire to better the lives of others.
‘She always only talks about her grand adventure, her battles and the like, but not once did she speak of political strife and how she changed a hegemon… is this jealousy?’ he was at a lost for word, he felt like he didn’t even know his sister anymore.
But, she was also proud of her, “She’s a good child, Mother and Father would be proud of her.” He whispered to himself before standing up, “Miss Mirh, if you would please excuse me, I am going to take a walk outside. If Risha ask me where I went, tell her I went out to meditate.”
Mirh watched Kiel walk out of the cave and then she remembered something and looked over at her missing arm, ‘I forgot to ask him about this.’ The pain was so nonexistent that she forgot to bring it up.
Kiel took a walk outside and as he looked at the moon, he sighed… he could not wait for the Blood Moon to come.
===
[Night of the Blood Moon]
Days quickly came to past and Kiel went to hunt for bandits only to find nothing.
‘The Blood Moon is today… it would be best if I make preparations.’
Kiel decided and head back.
In the cave, Kiel found the young men and women not even worrying of what’s to come. They already saw how strong Kiel and Risha were, they had nothing to worry about.
Kiel also could not care less, though he had not seen a proper [Devil] before, from what he heard, Risha would be able to handle it.
On one side of the cave, there he found Mirh meditating.
Kiel already said he’ll help her fix her future as a cultivator after her qi deviation passes. She’s in the process of calming her spirit and soul, aligning them with her Soul-Beasts to avoid getting devoured.
Today, Risha was give the order to kill every being that possesses any killing intent towards them, she happily obliged with this request.
‘I have already secured food that shall last for them for the night…’ he now had nothing to do other than make preparations.
Kiel excused herself from everyone else, he moved swiftly and got on top of the waterfall where Risha was standing on top of the water with Zither on hand.
Risha looked at Kiel with a surprised expression, “Are you hear to check up on me?” she asked, her voice being colder than when she puts on the façade of a lovestruck fool.
“No, but I need protection with what I’m about to do.”
“Is that so? Then stay where you are, with how thick the Spirit Energy here, no one would be able to stop me.”
Kiel raised his brows at her words, “You seem excited being ordered to kill.”
“…I am not.” She said with a passive expression.
Kiel laughed at her childish behavior, “I like you this way better.”
“Good, I won’t have to act anymore…” Risha said as she massaged her jaws, “I don’t think I’ll be able to do that again.”
“Why did you even do it?”
“Nothing, I just remembered what Ame told me about being proactive with you and claiming you for myself. But do not worry, I won’t be doing that again… though I should warn you not to cheat on me.”
“We are not in a relationship, Miss Risha.”
“I have been given an order and I will fulfill this order… just don’t.”
Kiel did not know why but it felt like his life was being threatened. But he was aware that he currently didn’t have any interest in women.
The two continued to have a conversation, and Kiel found himself listening to her words without feigning interest. Risha was a friend of Ame, and that was the only reason why Kiel took her under his wing.
But, now, he appreciated having her a companionship on the road, ‘She’s not noisy either.’ That was at least a win. She makes things more interesting.
When midnight drew close, however, the two of them stopped conversing as the moon was dyed with blood. The skies turned crimson and the atmosphere grew heavy, and as Kiel saw this he looked at Risha, “I trust you can keep everyone safe?”
She nodded her head without so much as a hesitation.
When Kiel saw her seriousness, he just let all hesitation go.
Risha watched as Kiel floated up with his legs crossed, his eyes glowed and then, she saw his body glow with a black light.
‘Interesting…’ she thought but didn’t paid him much attention because right in front of her, a giant the air was torn asunder as an eye shaped crimson void opened.
A giant hand slowly
Everyone sees the Blood Moon as the time when the pillars of existence crumbles. It was a time when Rifts from a mysterious world opens, when never seen before monsters invade this world and wreaks havoc — all of those assumptions were correct.
The fabric of existence does indeed weaken when the Blood Moon rises, however, what the scholars failed to understand was that, the Blood Moon weaken for a reason, and this reason was the connection of the [Great Beyond] to [Mortal Reality].
Inside a mortal body, there stood Kiel and the Ouroboros who carried the Magical Core.
Kiel stood inside the Universal Bead he created within his body and somewhere in this Cosmos, was the Blood Moon that the Magical Core connected with.
From its connection, a single vertical line appeared and from that red line, a rift opened leading to a single Black Door.
A 100-step flight of stairs was connected to a single platform where the door hovered,
The door was not adorned with anything, it was tainted with nothing, and had no distinctive feature other than it looked old.
“So that’s the Door.”
Kiel stepped onto the stairs and just as he reached the hundredth step, he stopped. A flickering blue flame floated in front of him, this blue flame wavered and upon sensing Kiel, it burst into a might blaze before appearing as a humanoid being whose entire body was made of fire.
This being held a black and white scale and as its azure void looked into Kiel, it spoke in a deep voice…
“My name is Abaddon, the bearer of the Keys, and the wielder of the Scales of Balance, I commend your ability to find the Doors of the Great Beyond, but I must ask you to turn back and come back after reaching greater things… you cannot challenge a Law Maker with that level of strength. If you insist to go on, I would be force to erase your—.”
Swoosh!
Kiel simply waved his hands and summoned the strength he could not show on the outside world. Abaddon’s flame flickered as it felt the absolute wind pressure coming from Kiel’s existence, “I am not here to challenge anyone, I am simply here to visit the land of the dead. You cannot erase me, but I can erase everything in this world if you do not stop wasting my time.”
Abaddon felt a tremendous power coming from this human who had not even ascended, his words spoke volume and then, his eyes fell onto Ouroboros and when it did, it finally came to a realization.
Falling onto its knees, it kowtowed before the two, “Forgive this Devil for daring to look you in the eyes, Great Fathers.”
Kiel and Ouroboros, the Creators have arrived in the world where they were supposed to rule the world over.