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Ren was about to finish his proposal on his laptop in the Student Council office, until he sensed something bad will happen when he glanced at the window behind him. He narrowed his eyes, before he stand up and stared at the gray sky. "What happened?" Kaizo asked from his laptop, seeing his best friend having a bad hunch that will happen soon. "Something's not right... I don't know what it is, but--" he trailed of, looking at the cloudy sky for a moment. Izumo was chilling like usual, Hakuren glared at the screen as she also having a bad hunch coming to her. "Yeah... do you think it's--"
The thunder roars loudly from outside the office, almost scaring them but the vibe isn't a nice one. "I thought Kuran is already dead, that God of Pledge... I prayed to fucking destroy them both," Ren muttered in a bitter tone, turning to his friends with the concerned look. "But I... I just have this bad feeling that the gods aren't happy by it," the raven haired teenager murmured, his expression turned grim. Kaizo narrowed his eyes, before he stand up from his seat. "Well, time to find out the reason. Let's pay a visit to the Heaven Palace. One last time," the wavy-haired boy said.
While the remaining of Scions of Narayana and SHANGRI-LA are holding a meeting to plan their next move, something unexpected happened that shocked the heavenly officials around them. Sadana was anticipating for the next move, he observed the surroundings from the Floating Sanctuary belonged to Ren after he gave him the permission to check what happen outside. "Uhh... I think we had a problem," he interrupted the meeting--everyone also has the same expression as Sadana did, observing the calm and dark ominous feeling appeared. "This isn't a Phantom energy, but a strange celestial aura," the leader of the Scions stated, his voice becoming stern.
They thought they already defeated the Emperor of Heavens, turns out there's more than a hidden threat in order to seek the downfall of the three remaining regions--one will spread tragedy, while the others will try to establish new gods to take their place, but also have a doubt. Ren was tempting to unleash his Samsara Blade and Cosmic Wrath so bad, so he can slice them with a powerful slash--without even caring much about his opponent's fate. After all, he been pissed off by their antics. The citizens of the other realms are on edge, when a presence of malicious and powerful God of Pledge manifests in the palace. "Child, it's been a while."
His aura... isn't gold-amber when Ren sensed it for the last time he encountered a god-like man. Now, it has turned into a different color. Ren gritted his teeth, glaring at him with fury as his eyes glinting with blazing colors. "Riyanda Tjahyana, you have grown into a stronger and powerful warrior. Seems we are wrong, when you and your clan seeks to end my reign. But, I only arrived for the unfinished business," the amber-brown haired man replied, standing a few meters away from Ren. "Well well well, you've become more courageous and reckless like a true warrior," he smirked, as Ren can be seen having a golden aura.
He's not in the mood of messing around with a fucker like him, now he has lost a love of his life from earlier events. Ren remained determined and composed, clenching his fists as a sign of his determination. "It's getting better now..." he smirked. But the other god scoffed, annoyed by Ren's reaction. "Thought you'll be nervous, uh-huh? Like a coward, then you are," the other male said, who happened to be another version of him. Similar appearance, almost like having the same clone of him, but mostly an evil version; but his brown hair is longer to his shoulders, olive-blue... and fair complexion. However, there were pair of dragon-like horns on Kuran's head--not to mention with the pair of black dragonic wings. His outfit consists of black and amber changshan with a white sash on it, also a jade earring in the form of Chinese Dragon. He still possesses a polearm on his hands, and Ren can't tell that it's some sort of forbidden artifact... but he can tell it is almost the same type as Cosmic Wrath.
"Kuran, no... Lánzhōng," Ren addressed him by his real name, making Kuran fueled with anger. "So, where's your companion, Oracle's Eye... White Swan?" he asked. Kuran laughed with a grin and sadistic expression, they were outside on the beach of an island in Bintan. "Oh right, they sacrificed themself to stop your enemies and the fake Heavens... you'll pay for killing Nanda, my beloved wife... the God of Wealth. You really had the guts of messing with us," he growled.
Ren widened his eyes a little, before he shook his head. "It was her fault for trying to torture me through my nightmare, she always think of me of you--it is true... but she need to know the difference of us!" Ren answered him in anger and frustrated voice, Kuran laughed. "She have every right, and you don't have to agree to her on trying to convince us--both of us to return home," the deity said. His friends listens intensely, knowing that they were angered at what Kuran did--but they have to let Ren speak on his own without interruption. "I have principles, Lánzhōng. I may be your reincarnation, but that doesn't mean everything is about you just because I am you," the teenage boy said.
'I have pride that belongs to both of us, you arrogant prick. I learned from you both; the good and bad ways, everything...'
"And she died because she was wrong, because you're foolish."
Kuran was enraged when Ren was daring enough to give him a look, the young man's eyes seemed to spark more. He needs an excuse to slaughter him, an honorable death. Yes, his pride was wounded from that point onward. "You know, I know something that you don't..." Ren said with a smirk, remembering the conversation with his ancestor. He stared coldly at the god, not even caring about his dark expression and demeanor. Kuran was shocked at how developed his present life has become, an exact opposite to him. How come Ren has becoming a brave fellow? Was it because of all the tragedies he's endured and learning from? He can sense that Ren seems no longer consumed with darkness, but filled with a strong resolve to change himself... and do whatever it takes to protect his loved ones.
'Why the fuck did Nanda tell us we aren't meant to live together...'
Ren nodded at Sadana who eyed him which says 'you're our trump card' in his eyes, he have been guiding him to fight well in the place that not even the gods ever entered. Then, he turned to face Kuran and closed his eyes--summoning his two dual rod-like weapons; the Cosmic Wrath and Samsara Blade--before he chanted the mantra in Chinese: "(In the name of Vermillion Bird, grant all powers in this earth and all dark places)--!"
"By all means, this will be an interesting scenario."
Within a sec, Sadana observed the spectacle; seeing Ren wearing his black, white and red changshan with batik patterns of Vermillion Bird and robe with a shawl around him, his eyes are slitted as his pupils are olive-blue in color and gained a burning wings similar to the Vermillion Bird and his feet changed into burning talons. There were eight Yin and Yang catalyst-like drums around him, having the colors of maroon and deep orange respectively. He then entered the chanting stance, as he was staring back to Kuran with glowing eyes and narrowed his eyes fiercely. The young man is surrounded by flames and ashes, he looked around him as the fire slowly covered the entire area. His friends were on the floating platform, before they began their attack towards the incoming Phantom Beasts--even activating the Primordial Jade Ballistas; blasting a lot of piercing shots with power of sacred energy.
"Enlighten your mind, soul and heart for I--Xie Ren-Hao, Riyanda Tjahyana will rise your foes!"
Ren roared, before he chanted the Wheel of Dharma in his enlightened mind; recalling what Fenghuang, the god of the Vermillion Bird chanted on the day of his death to kill both Kuran and Nanda, almost disintegrated the lands and sky. Kuran roared as he transformed into a demonic version of himself, clashing his blade against the Cosmic Wrath that Ren wielded in his hands. The teenage boy closed his eyes, letting his true self comes to surface.
And they engaged into a battle.
Ren used his Cosmic Wrath to release many energy-slash bursts against Kuran, having a slash duel as they can feel the friction coming on between their clashes--fiercely that a single spark occured, but they were blocked by Kuran's blade. So, he used the Samsara Blade to blast Kuran on the ground while he sent one of his catalyst weapon to the sky, waiting for his actions. Ren glared, narrowing his sharp eyes with a stern expression. "(Destiny returns into shape, a blessing will be kept and a curse that will be re-wield.)"
He chanted, standing at the middle and preparing his counterattack for the incoming attack of Kuran, who happened to slice the catalyst--only for it to be broke and repaired itself when the dust reappeared on the catalysts, without Kuran noticing a thing. Ren hissed in pain when Kuran slashed his hand with his weapon, before the enemy grinned viciously at him. "You underestimated your opponent, that's very foolish of you."
Ignoring his painful injury, Ren jumped out from the ground and snapped his finger--summoning four of catalysts right behind him, with a power of red Vermillion Bird feathers surrounding him. One catalyst fired a powerful burst beam at Kuran, who can't really do any action and was pushed back into another catalyst. It was very fast that he couldn't even say a single word. "Shit, he's so fierce..." Xanadu exclaimed in surprise but excited expression, feeling how pumped up he is when Ren entered the fight. "Fenghuang blessed him, so in addition with his powers... Kuran really did something that made the world disastrous... although we don't know what he did is right or wrong."
Ren growled to see the Vipralopa-class Phantom Beasts coming out from the portals again, until he saw Sakura and Ruanyi sealed them and the mishappen form of Kuran before he can attempt to try to leave. The duo did their quick attack and cast their seal spells within a few seconds, making sure he can't go anywhere before Ren finish him off. "Huh, you're quite powerful," Ren snickered, before he grabbed a huge Chinese spear from another catalyst and hold it while he stands beside his allies. Wulan's eyes stared the god in the ground that caused him so much trouble, before she chanted the scrolls from the scroll-wind.
"(May this fallen man, as punishment for his crimes and evil--should be locked for all eternity, and we'll never return him to the blessed realm. Should he show his impure heart once more, that is the last sign. May the judgment upon this one is made.)"
He recalled what she chanted the spell, he must have seen worse things than she did--after seeing the future and prophecies, that's what really matters. "Haha, good to see you again, Kuran! Too bad, I'm disappointed to see you like this!" Faylan shouted, spinning her polearm which has a flag of Merlin's Claw on it, forming a whirlwind effect around her. Kuran was only barely recovered after falling on the ground twice, when he managed to get on his feet... he hissed in pain by a slapping bash of flames from Xanadu by his feather fan on his hand. "My my, even you have no respect for a god?"
"Well, we have the right to know about you. Who manipulated the Venerable Jade Emperor's mind?"
'Those sly little bastards, never mind. At least the ritual is almost done...'
Sadana was praying and chanting mantras to maintain the barrier within the newly reformed Floating Sanctuary, he turned to Ren and the others who waited to initiate the second stage of the final battle with Kuran. Ren told his friends and everyone what could happen to the Underworld, the Overworld... and Upperworld when Kuran unleashes a weapon he's holding. He might be keeping a true reason why Kuran and Nanda was having an argument all this time, while saying that Ren have the resolve to stop the prophecy in order to prevent anyone from any chaos.
Ren hissed as he obtained another injuries, gritting his teeth as he dodged and swung his blade to finish it off with the Cosmic Wrath--shattering his weapon in the process, before he combined the Cosmic Wrath with Samsara Blade in order to create an extremely powerful attack and blow. He was panting with blood all over his head and entire body, but he was absolutely terrifying... and that made Kuran shudder in fear. "Damn you, brat...!"
Xanadu then combined the strength of his power with the form of a wave of energy, the speed is really fast that it was fatal. "(You shall not fool us, you are a living embodiment of us! Through and through!)" Ren yelled in Chinese with a loud, fearless voice. Before he watched Kuran roared and transforming into his final form as his enemy did the same and clashed their attacks. Suddenly a huge clash of fire occured, but Ren was not giving up to the fight; knowing he's capable of doing the most courageous acts to save the realm.
He watched Kuran's final form, a huge oriental dragon made of gray ash-cloud and dark blue lightning that emerged from the ground and sky, the air feels cold. But, before it can break through the circle, Ren dashed in a fast speed and manages to burn its path with the Samsara Blade and Cosmic Staff that he combines two items together to have a one-hit attack that will destroy his opponent. They are forced back to their human forms, now they will battle with the powers of spirituality. In his mind, the young man then managed to recite the true spell of the Prophecy of Wealth:
"Let the wrath in your spirit unleashed, consuming your body but you won't remember... the time has come, and we bestow a parting blessing of hope, so that when you ascend the Realms."
Ren uttered, he know Kuran have the 'hidden' blessings for him and everyone--but it was actually created by some of the past Vidyadharas so they won't carry grudge. Xanadu realized the god had nothing left to lose, but Ren won't let him find out when did. Ren fled into the sky and made Kuran followed him, Sadana immediately created a fake human world so the human world won't be affected by their war. "Let's finish him once and for all..." Ren muttered, his voice faltered into a whisper. Wulan nodded, leaving Xanadu and Faylan were anticipating for Ren's final move to determine who will fall to eternal death.
Ren created a 'falling sky' technique to 'fall' through the Sky World so Kuran would follow him, he stopped in the dark and light gold sky with dark gold clouds and golden sun above the floating giant mountain. Kuran stopped as he faced Ren above him, not aware that Ren jumped back from the Sky World just to catch him and returned back into the Earth World. "Hey, up here you prick!" Ren yelled, Kuran growled as the teenage boy raised his two dual rods and formed a large amount of dust and sand of glowing Vermillion Bird from the Spirit Realm and Celestial Realm. "Kuran... thank you for all of your teachings, I am forever thankful," he thanked him and sent him a smile that shows his true character.
It was a moment he never taught in a long time; that someone would thank him.
At this time, his words meant 'Thank you for all the hatred and memories, everything that shaped me to become a young man like you, who will never stop until everything is safe,' to him. Ren could feel the tears ready to fall as he remembered his father and he even missed his dead grandparents.
Then, everything went white as they were in different place--Ren was standing in front of Kuran who's no longer in his demonic form--he was in his normal form as a deity. He wondered why did Kuran do this to himself, was he being influenced with spite towards other gods, the humans and the Phantom Beasts? He didn't care about that anymore. "So, here we are... we finally talk in person," Ren started their 'talk', which turned out to be a chit-chat between them. His aura is not anymore the dark red-brown-orange mixed color, but more vivid and fierce but have a fire-like aura.
Kuran remained benevolent and calm, closing his eyes as he silently appreciated to tell Ren anything he want to say, or ask. The God of Pledge is speechless, staring blankly at Ren as if he felt regretful for having conflict with Nanda. "In the first place, I always wanted to live as a young ordinary human," Kuran started, smiling a little and sighed. "And yes, I regretted everything. I will never forget about you, kid. You're my only reincarnation I have that left in the universe."
Ren is surprised, what is he up to now? Ren gritted his teeth in anger. "Not manipulate, or use me to revive yourself," he was about to insult him in any way possible, but Kuran simply shook his head. "I wanted to forget everything in my past life, because living with immortality... is not the same as living with a life," he explained. "We... are not satisfied of living as a deity. That's why, we wanted to make humanity realizes that living, dying is a natural process that God won't expect them to fight our creatures, or protect themselves from the danger. Besides, I'm not entirely happy with my life... yet Nanda remained miserable while trying to gain a balance by controlling wealth and that is a pity, isn't it? She might be powerful... but never truly brave," Kuran sighed in melancholic tone, closing his eyes.
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"No matter how many times I reincarnate, she always finds me and I can't flee from my fate."
The wind brushed over Ren's strands, making the wind caused his hair waves slowly as the atmosphere changed. This time, they can relax after seeing him without a soul of malice and vengeful thought; his attitude is still there, but his true self just rises to the surface. He gasped, before realizing a cruel truth of why he always do the wrong thing... is to reunite them both after death. "Before I met Nanda, I was just a lively young deity," Kuran said, frowning a little with a small smile.
"I enjoyed my life back then, but my father wants me to be a powerful ruler that can predict everything and see the future like yours," he continued, reminiscing about the happy days when he was a young god that never be burdened with duties of seeing the realm balance and stability, until Nanda came into the picture. "I became a God of Pledge to succeed my father's role, I fought a lot of enemies and enemies... I'm on the 'good' side. But... I ended up losing myself in the wars, they were ruthless. I have no one to even guide me... I was also saved by Nanda..."
Hearing this revelation made Ren feel pity for him--since Kuran never spoke of his life and experience, as it is an emotional tale. It would be hard to speak, to let the emotions be held and be released after Kuran managed to hold it for almost 30 years; trying to be brave and remain himself during his dark years of immortality. He doesn't have someone to love or understand him, only someone to share his secret and hopes. "However, after I regained my memories when you're born. I realized I have someone whom I love more than Nanda, it would not be easy when I knew about you. That's why, I was relieved when you killed her because that will free me from all my lies and pains. Nanda may said that I loved her, but... deep down, she was just a tragic woman... and yes, I can't let my heart decide everything!"
All the years when Ren was on his childhood to his teenage years, he suffered from the same dark emotions--but he can save everyone from Phantom Beasts and balance the ancient force that the gods and mortals is destined to be his responsibilities, knowing his experiences would let him find someone who truly understands him--to remind him what's inside Kuran's heart. "Nanda took the 'bad' part of my soul when she revived me through your vessel, and the Vermillion Bird beast took the 'good' part of my soul which is planted into you, Ren--so you can resist against me that time. She doesn't understand when she lied that my soul will be split. I had another side that I must redeem--and..." he trailed off, staring at the golden sky.
"Ren, the reason that Nanda can't see me despite reborn as you... is that I intentionally did that to my soul in a powerful piece of orb, if she ever wanted to take your soul--she has to find and shatter that orb, and I don't think that's gonna work... you did the right thing to kill her."
Ren was shocked by the revelation, he turned his head to him and asked. "Then, why did she think she succeeded... were you working with them?"
Kuran nodded slightly. "Killing me is not a hard thing, because I lived with solitude. I hated it, I wanted to hear someone call out my name like before," he replied. "I can't choose which side I am in, I don't know if I already made it... because I feel like dying every time. Until I realized, a part of my soul will live within you..." Kuran said, having a hope that he can fulfill his intention to bring the old past days back and balance the realm back. "But I don't like myself, that's why I want you to become my new reincarnation... and finish this unfinished prophecy from long ago."
Ren frowned, now he began to feel bad for killing Nanda. Maybe that's why she didn't lost her memory, she did love him. They have a relation, but these are Kuran's words. Ren wondered if this was true... maybe it really is. "I don't love Nanda, I just... can't love her like I used to love her in the past before we got married," Kuran said, no longer hiding his 'true feelings' for the deity. She really reminds him of the deity, but not on the same level as him. The young Vidyadhara was surprised by the sudden burst of frustration of admitting his real emotions, then his demeanor changed from rage to distress, sighing with disappointment. He has become soft and can't feel rage on the spot. "You're not a bad person, but an unlucky child. Turns out, she can't treat you fairly for this is not your faults!" the other deity growled with disdain towards Nanda and her intentions of keeping his 'soul' split in half because the result will let the poor soul suffers.
"And that's what you're gonna do, Ren. Complete my mission..." Kuran stood up, staring at him with strong determination. "Please protect me... the last piece of my good side before Nanda splits it, did you kill her?"
"Uhm... I did, but it was like a spirited version of her--"
Kuran's eyes widened, before he clenched his fists--glaring forward. "Ren, you were tricked...!" he exclaimed, the wind began to grow violent a little as he snapped. "Nanda would never show up like that, someone must've revived her--it breaks the law of nature," he whispered. 'I... Is this real, you're serious about it?' Ren questioned in his mind, gasping in surprise that someone manipulated his action--or the act of tragedy and crime... when everything was finally at peace, that someone is the one who truly planned everything. Ren sighed, gritting his teeth. "Damn, fuck. Now what?" he shouted, Kuran shook his head. "There's a way to stop her, she's powerful but not yet on my level--besides I choose to move on from her because I hate her," Kuran said.
And... something unexpected happened to Kuran's body.
"When the seal breaks... because what I discovered, she's coming for us," he stated, before he took a step closer and transformed into lights and some of his fragments from his power slowly merged into Ren's weapon and body. "You must create a new prophecy using your own powers... and cast them away, and make them never return... and finish this once and for all!" Kuran exclaimed, making Ren nodded with determined gaze. After his fragments and the orb of good disappeared into light when a huge gust of wind sweep them, Ren knew everything that came out of his words; they were truthful and truth--not another false words.
'Good luck, Ren. Live a full life and forget about the pain, please live... and keep making them so proud to see you even being their bright hope, okay?'
Kuran's soul spoke in Ren's mind, the teenage boy can feel his foe's anger turned into gratefulness. "You should be happy, you said I was a good boy... and I did do everything to prepare myself to finish you," Ren replied softly and gently, remembering what he said years ago. He's gonna end him, after watching him a lot about a lesson of being a good person but turn him into a fucking terrible and cruel monster in the end. It's like the enemies he defeated all his entire life and in the future; they'll let their family or allies take over the reign when they passed.
He has to protect the world of its downfall, so this battle will finish everything forever. "Kuran... may you and Nanda be at peace, I finally felt the spirit have the courage to accept it with open arms. I understand if you weren't aware of the hatred inside of you, after all... that is what he fears," Ren spoke, forming the power of wind and light above him. "Not all of the prophecy was foretold, how would we know the good from the evil? How would you choose from that, when it is all blurry as clear?"
He chanted the mantra in order for Fenghuang, the holy God of the Vermillion Bird to give him a power that will kill Kuran. He cannot trust him, nor be trusted with them--since they did manipulated Ren, using him for a pure purpose of defeating Kuran. There are too many lies and secrets that hidden in the shadows, there are no true peace... just a false peace. "No more... I don't want to see both of you suffering! So, as a sign of farewell!"
"Lightning will strike in a flash of brilliance, burning souls in the way,
Fire will rise upon the fanned wrath--creating a spark of determination!"
Ren roared when he swung down his rods and joined the blast of electric shining light against Kuran who was trapped by the power, burning his opponent with electric fiery light of red and orange to release the burning beam and the huge star-like yellow aura before ending his life with his burning arm and crimson dark feathers spread all over him. Ren hugged Kuran's burning soul with all his might, allowing his tears to fall down. Kuran's eyes reverted back into his normal olive-blue colors as his arms wrapped Ren's body, along with the sound of beating heart, singing birds and rainbows when he exhales his final breath.
'Child, show us the path by defeating me... for we are all tired, thus it is the time to rest. Some of my fragments will be entirely part of your past in the realm of living, a young innocent youth who never knew the difference between a world... and the unknown secret. You are far from the innocence I grew out, and show the bravery against the gods,' his soul speaks within Ren's mind, before it dissolves into lights as Ren could feel Kuran's presence in his heart--although Ren need to accept the fact that the part of him have dissolved entirely for good and accepting his pure heart. He's finally done.
Ren sobbed as he felt a cold, lonely void and darkness in his heart... before he felt his friends' warm embrace as he let himself drown in an ocean of comfort and security.
'Finally, you did it. You have saved the world again.'
Ren grinned with a smile, he hummed after his best friends expressed their honest emotions and left the battlefield with the Scions. Rihan hugged his son Ren to comfort him, watching Sakura and Ruanyi purifying the palace and the skies--restoring the realm. He saw that Ren was closing his eyes with a sad expression, making him knew that Kuran have to die in order to appease his hatred. "Perhaps... this is what Kuran wanted... more like you're not related to him in the first place!" Rihan finally says it out loud, staring at his son with sorrowful look, not wanted him to inherit a dark part of Kuran in his heart. "Yeah... thanks for taking care of my crazy ass! Because I used to see him sometimes in my heart..." he muttered, holding his fists as his knuckles tightens in a firm grip.
Ren felt Kuran's embrace and soon manifested his humanized form behind him, now he was seen by Sakura and Ruanyi as the gods were glad to have him back. "Woah, Kuran! You returned!" Sakura greeted the God of Pledge, while Ruanyi plucked the strings of her yueqin. "Kuran, you have returned. Where have you been this time, hm?" she asked calmly, watching him floated in the air--fighting skills are more enhanced than before with almost no different skills; only new set of skills, because he can teach Ren a bunch of things and he would need that.
Meanwhile Ren was puzzled by how he is standing in the front of the gods, he gasped when he watched Kuran landed down after restoring his body back and purified himself thanks to Sakura's help. Rihan whistled at the presence of his ancestor-god, which Sadana was glad to see Kuran has returned and restored his vessel back. "It was nothing, I just came back from a dreamscape," the black-haired deity explains his thoughts, now no longer resembling Ren and regained his original form.
Sakura was annoyed from deep down, but also glad when Kuran was finally given a chance to restore his honor by 'killing' his evil self. Besides, he was given a redemption by Ren himself. Kuran glanced at the teenage boy with a smile, Ren held a confused look. "Thank you, Ren. Because of you, I can now have my redemption," he thanked him for releasing him from that evil soul. Sadana smiled as Ren managed to have a short chat with Kuran, the God of Pledge. 'I see he's happy enough to be free from his madness,' the Vidyadhara thought in his mind, smiling while observing them.
Rihan noticed his son Ren was getting angry because Nanda got revived, he patted his son's shoulder to assure him about Nanda's fake last words. "Hmph, looks like she sent that fragment just to annoy me in my dreams huh..." Ren grumbled, clenching his fists as Sakura patted his shoulder as well, giving him an idea to write the message for his dead enemy... even for his 'reincarnation' that he killed without realizing that it was a different side of Kuran, his 'soul' from his personality. "There was a cult for the God of Wealth, it is known as Dust Memories which mainly worship the deities in the Cult of Wealth and the Cult of Three Worlds.
"Another enemies, huh..." Kaizo muttered, standing beside Ren, Izumo and Hakuren when the other Scions gathered with them. Faylan stared at Kuran for a moment, how come he still look so young like Sakura and Ruanyi? "By the way, I expected Kuran to be all wrinkly and all that oldies when he was defeated thousand years ago--but you looked so young as fuck!" she mocked, before turning to Ren with a prideful and excited look. "But, Riyanda and his dad Rihan is much handsome than your last reincarnation!" the Zetian yelled with a grin, Kuran was startled at what she said before he sighed. "Enough about that..."
Kuran wanted to rest in his temple, he just wanted inner peace. But...
"Oh right, Riyanda--you have a task on the Cult of Wealth, because it's time for you and Rihan... to visit the Imperial Library that was discovered earlier," the Zetian ordered, making both Ren and Rihan jumped in surprise. Kuran and other gods are only looking at them as Ren is baffled by what's going on. Is the mission over? Oh no, it was just another mission! "You guys too!" she pointed out at the other six Vidyadharas, making Farlan rolled his eyes when Shenlan whining like a bitch she was and Dinda laughed nervously. "Oh no... this is going to be a long series, isn't it?!"
Rihan chuckled, knowing that their tasks have already started and their adventures is not gonna end yet. He's pumped up for new mysteries and adventures awaiting them--as well for the Scions. "Anyways, I forgot where's my temple was supposed to be now?!" Kuran cried out in confusion, not knowing the area until Ren informed the location to him. Ren have to make a mess in the palace to make sure the Scions manage to heal every one of the victims, knowing the three Vidyadharas used a healing magic as well. "Well... your temple just got destroyed by Nanda and..." Ruanyi uttered.
Yup, it pissed him off but not in the same level as when he fought Ren. Kuran had a red vein marks on his head when he saw his old temple got destroyed, before he stomped his foot on the ground and restored his temple with his powers that the debris and crack resurfaced into solid stone. He was pissed at Nanda's part, not at his friends. He glared at the Scions, clicking his tongue in frustration. "Thanks for telling me, but next time... why didn't you repaired it and tell me that the temple is destroyed? Shit!" he reprimanded, his tone is filled with irritation and his patience is thinning out as he wanted to just ditch everyone... after his battle. "How the fuck should I know, if you can do my work I'll appreciate it--" Xanadu scolded, but Faylan cut him and convinced him to 'simplify' the solution to make Kuran calm the fuck down.
After restoring the originality of the temple with some decorations, some people began to go to the Chinese temple architecture in Surabaya where Kuran resides as a God of Pledge. He listens to the prayers of all of his worshippers, although most of his worshippers were mostly from the former God of War itself; after his loyal people already worshiped and believed in Ren due to his kind, brave and dedicated heart and him being a great champion of the realms. Ren let him rest and perform his godly duties like Sakura and Ruanyi, his energy got drained after defeating an evil version of himself that was a part of him. The 'rage' within him disappeared entirely, leaving him to be himself with his old memories he gained back during the fight.
Kuran was seen sitting in his room, listening to the people's prayers and wishes while the rest are there for fun activities and sightseeing. He let a sigh, his dark-olive green eyes stared in the small pond with koi fishes swimming around. Ruanyi, the God of Creation was playing her yueqin like usual, while Sakura watched the two servant gods playing a mahjong. Kuran would grant his worshipper's wish if they deserve it, until he can't control his deep-buried anger against Nanda and throwing his polearm that luckily missed his enemies. Then, he saw Ren who visited his temple. "Child, you came..." he muttered when he was about to perform his duties, his mind still have a shadow lingering at the bottom of his conscious.
Ren is too tired to believe the entire conflict has begun in Surabaya City, but the news have said that the attack on the bank ended in Bintan and they have to rest before dealing with those cultists. So, he just let the news played in his head. "Kuran, sorry for... insulting you back then... when you got 'revived' with the bad part of you," Ren decided to apologize for slapping him, but it was kinda harsh because the word 'little' made him felt like a small child. There were many things in his mind, when he battled with someone who happens to be his previous incarnation was... different.
Ren's attitude didn't change, but his maturity increases through his experiences in every realms. But, he and the SHANGRI-LA Scions has received a new task from the Narayana's Scions to investigate a group called the Cult of Wealth and the Cult of Three Worlds--which combined into Dust Memories. Kuran smiled at him and placed a finger on his lips as a sign to keep it silent, he forgave him for the insult. Rihan came as well with his son, which means both of them were his descendants now. "So, Kuran has really returned. But you must've known that you have the fragments in your heart, huh."
Rihan asks him that, and it was true. Ren does have Kuran's soul and shard in his heart, so Sakura casted a spell and the scars were removed entirely as well the lost side of Ren was regained back. They were satisfied when Ren is going to complete his life as he wished and live happily with his family and friends, as if all of his happiness came back into a good thing. "You two have my fragments, the one you can't remove--but my old side. It was me who was taken away and that soul was part of your heart and it's impossible to separate it," he explained, his voice was relaxing and gentle. But of course, Ren wasn't relieved at all because he have to take the remnants. "So, I'm merely just a split soul and I have to receive my sentence. I thought I get to live a long life with no eternal banishment..."
The fallen God of Pledge reassured the teenager, patting his back when the teenager finally came back to his senses.
Ren is a former vessel of Kuran after he became a Vidyadhara like his father Rihan, which means Kuran is just a fallen deity who lost his own self after getting tricked by Nanda in his first life... because of an original prophecy lies that 'only Kuran and his descendants have a 'true' inheritance to gain another powerful relic in order for the seal' and a prophecy have revealed the most important meaning--but Kuran cannot even realize that the latter prophecy have the real meaning about destroying something and creating another relic that can't be found.
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