After The War

10 minutes later, at the spot Heian Ciemnosc was left alone to eat a Fauna while recuperating with theriac pills.

Whoosh... "E- cough," Heian Ciemnosc was just lifting his head to look at Shuna when he couldn't help but cough. He didn't spit blood or feel hurt from within from that cough. It was as if he became sick as if he were a civilian. Shuna looked concerned as she landed her feet on the ground and helped him up. Heian Ciemnosc had already finished his snack, so he did his best to stand up, but his head rested on Shuna's breasts as she held his head dearly.

“You’ve become all bruised up. Now, what am I gonna tell Little Ishikyy when we return? She’ll eat me alive,” Shuna murmured into his ears, making his head vibrate with her caring sound waves. Heian Ciemnosc held her wrists, barely able to do that, and questioningly said, “You daughter? Why are you afraid of her? Oh. Does this mean you are not blaming me?”

“Hmm,” Shuna let out a relieved, small sigh before whispering in a crispy voice, “Of course not. How could I? I’m not my daughter. And I could tell you’ve fought, giving it your all… Not just right now and for my Empire. What else can a woman ask from their man?”

“Well, I could think of a few things. For starters, I haven’t been able to, waah, to visit you. Don’t you feel bored alone at home while the rest of the Region is moving for war?” Heian Ciemnosc asked with a grin, yawning in between as he felt too tired and wanted. Shuna shook her head lightly and said without worry and playfully to lift the mood a little. “Worry not, I had Arla. Mn, if only she could stay a little longer. I never thought I’d see a woman like this…”

“...” Instead of feeling pity for his woman, Heian Ciemnosc felt pity for himself. To think he had missed hundreds of scenes where two kitties entangled, bit, and suckled on each other… This is what pain meant. Not even a hundred Kali Guras could compare to what Heian Ciemnosc felt at these moments. It nearly broke his unbreakable heart. He shook his head, became dizzy and hurt in the process, almost falling, before grabbing onto his woman and softly spoke. “Let’s go back. We’ve fucking won. It’s time to announce it. Lest some others think it’s a good opportunity to attack. Because it is.”

“Your Ornament…” Shuna said, not wanting to say it, as she knew how much it meant to Heian Ciemnosc to have his little baby. However, Heian Ciemnosc shook his head and let her know it wasn’t necessary to tell him. Shuna once again marveled and shook her head at this monstrous Spirit Sense only Third Step cultivators would have after a few realms of cultivation. Shuna then enveloped their bodies with her Neutral Energy at the peak of the Spirit Magna realm and half a step into the Blossoming realm.

Pshiiiift~! Click, click, clack, click! Whoosh- peeeew~! Shuna’s skin emerged with scales as her arms embraced Heian Ciemnosc like a baby, under his armpits and holding him from behind. Heian Ciemnosc couldn’t escape her grasp even if he wanted to. He felt too comfy and at ease in her hands to want to move away from them. Feeling Shuna’s warmth, those scales only felt slightly colder but were better-feeling to his bare torso.

Heian Ciemnosc felt his body covered by her Neutral Energy, and as she employed a Water Art technique from the Azure Dragon’s Bloodline’s innate Art, his open wounds stopped bleeding, and his dark blood was kept inside his body. At that moment, before Shuna took him to the skies and they zoomed in the distance, he heard Sara speak into his mind while wearing puppy eyes.

“Goddammit, Heian Ciemnosc! I thought you would’ve died! Why did you fight like that? Gosh! Vocón Link and your Elemental manipulation didn’t even have a chance! Your body tempering is not strong enough. Your use of your dark claws is too bad! And- and- and you don’t even fusion your body with your Elemental manipulation! You have to learn your method to merge your power sources asap! How could you be this vulnerable to someone just a stage above you?!”

‘Pipe down, little girl. I’m fine. Besides, I just wanted to feel what a Spirit Link cultivator with their Spirit Aspect could do to me when trying to kill me. Shuna often lets me be, is not the same.’ Heian Ciemnosc thought inside his head, grimly smiling as he shook his head. Shuna became used to the seemingly mind-chatter he had every now and then. But Sara wasn’t as carefree and berated Heian Ciemnosc some more.

“Bullshiaaaaaat!” Her voice seemed pretty damn angry, and it nearly stunned Heian Ciemnosc to fall unconscious. She continued this time with a slightly less thunderous volume. “If your Master saw you right now and knew your cultivation base has been lagging behind because of your mission and nearly died because of that, how do you think she’ll react?!”

“She’ll be proud,” Heian Ciemnosc mentally smiled confidently. ‘I have seriously advanced through my professions and can always make an Earth grade weapon along its armor set in a week. If I prepare enough, that is. Besides, I’m really close to merging my power sources, so don’t babysit me like I’m your child.’

“I’m not treating you like my child, but as my man! Yet, you committed such stupidity out of nowhere! How can I let that go?!” Sara’s eyes, wholly pink with pitch-black twirls surrounding her pupils, which were a cross on each eye, trembled seriously like a mad little wife. She was, after all, a 1.50 m tall queen. Heian Ciemnosc’s eyebrows calmly jumped, and he thought, ‘That was the issue? I haven’t visited you as well? Aish~.’

“I can read your thoughts!!” Sara shouted to the top of her lungs, giving no room for escaping her wrath. Heian Ciemnosc cringed his neck hard from the impact inside his inner being as the tenant where his Spirit Bosom should be thrashed around like an uncaring human being. But the man had to defend himself, so he rapidly comforted the lolita-sized Changes-old lady, ‘I will come to you while recuperating. I’ll tell you more stories then. Alright?’

“Hm, now we talkin’.” Sara crossed her arms as her pale green hair with strong verdant pink strands fluttered backwards, caressing her little face into a cuter one. Heian Ciemnosc returned his attention to the road ahead as they traveled slower than only a SC Fighter but then heard Sara murmur in a pout and bratty tone. “Now you’re going to that little girl and will molest her again, tsk. And you say you don’t search for pleasure… you’re just like how I was, hmph!”

‘Hey, I like the Races’ bodies. They are fascinating.’ Heian Ciemnosc defended his saintliness. Sara swagged her head sassily before commenting, “You’re fascinating.”

. . .

On the same day, 1 hour and 20 minutes after the last forces of the top 5 organizations were destroyed and the sudden enemy was obliterated by the Empire and its vassals. Blauw Empire’s Palace, and everywhere in the Small City island, island Cities, and inland settlements.

Meanwhile, inland… Digital screens appeared in every settlement below the level of a town. While holograms were ejected from the central building of any city, from civilian to the Cities with cultivator governors and forces inhabiting them, with or without previous relations with the top 7 organizations. Each of these screens or holograms showed the same thing. The Palace’s rooftop, where the pillar was already erected, and the Empress, royal princess, and assigned supervisor had stood for 3 minutes while the Empire’s people converged to watch them from afar or around the Palace.

In the beginning, while the Small City island and island Cities were ready to listen to what the Empress had to say and were expectant of such a commotion since the war against their old enemy had re-started, the inland settlements remained unconvinced. It wasn’t until the 2nd minute after the announcement, and these images were broadcast over the entire Region, that a change occurred as multitudes of civilians in each inland settlement were willing to exit their homes to observe.

“People of the Blauw Empire,” finally, Empress Shuna spoke as she clasped her hands. Her dress was of an incredible style, wearing a long back on the lower end but a decent front where it only covered her shoes and the floor she stepped on without the skirt itself being too broad or pompous. Her top was slender and had floral slats flowing down her sides with a pale golden color. Her head wore an energy crown. One that took the golden color and looked marvelous but didn’t take away attention from her even more marvelous self.

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When she spoke, the aboriginal Empire’s people became so silent they could cause cultivators to become deaf. On the other hand, the others from inland became astounded at the Empress’s magnificence. This was the first time in their lives to see such aura, such presence, and such mighty innate authority! They became awed, and when they woke up, the Empress was already continuing on with her speech.

“The war is over,” the Empress said. The Empire’s original Cities crushed the silence with endless cheers! “Is it over?!!” - “Oh my gods! We won just like that?” - “That’s what I’m talking about!” - “We’re that good? Really?!” - “Hahaha! The top 7 organizations are gone! The Empire is one, the entire Region!! I can’t believe it… I have to tell my children!” - “Dad, we’re here…” - “Agh, you’ve grown so old. Just sit and relax, let the rest to us…”

Incredulity and thrilling excitement flew everywhere as the Empress spoke those 4 words alone. The Empress waited 5 seconds before continuing, but even then, the inland settlements at or near the shores could hear the thunderous clamor coming from the sea. Her voice was majestic, “The Clashing Dust Cult, Feathered Valley Pavilion, Blue, Green, and Sand Emirate Grottoes, Wyrm Lord Nation, the traitorous True Dragon House, and the traitorous Blue Starreye Clan have been eradicated.”

“Their time has finally ended, and the Azure Dragon’s Bloodline has risen again!” The Empress didn’t wait for her people, new and old, convinced or not, and continued. “My Blauw Empire is a place for anyone to inhabit. But whether it is the throne or the principal power in this organization, I confidently believe my Bloodline will rule over this throne’s legacy until we are no longer apt for the world. You might think of ascendency or transcending something higher that has been refused by our current world’s leaders, but this is just our distant goal.”

“...” Empress Shuna fell silent, but this time, her people didn’t grow crazy and just looked at the screen or hologram in awe. Empress Shuna’s voice turned solemn… and rageful. “While this war had cost us what hasn’t before in our history. And our improved changes had brought unprecedented might like never before. We have now seen how our home planet looks at us. We have gained a new enemy…”

Clamor, murmur, chatter…~!!

It wasn’t hard to imagine this would happen, but it still made Empress Shuna knit her brows a little when she saw her people’s response. Their eyebrows sank, and their faces showed concern and uncertainty. But it was expected. She continued, “This enemy is stronger and more ruthless. Sending their strongest forces right away while we were in the middle of a last battle against our archenemies. Yet, we have not only successfully defended against this enemy, we even lacked someone to bring back this news!”

CHEEEEEERRRSS!!

The Empire’s people rapidly went on in the chorus, taking the lead to boost their response to the horrible news. The Empress lightly nodded, and even before she spoke, her people became silent. Her strongly determined eyes seemed to draw anyone’s eyes to admire them, to admire her. “Now, they will hear it. Not from their survivors, but from ourselves, from our Empire, from my lips… from our heart!”

“HUAAA!!” The Empire’s people roared. The Empire’s army also roared… and even the Fauna inside the Palace roared. The whole planet could have started shaking if they weren’t so far away from any other Region. Heian Ciemnosc looked at these people calmly, and Blauw Ishikyy held his hand from behind, with only the Imperial Prosecutors noticing it but taking it as excitement from the young royal princess about her Empire’s rising. They comprehended how one would feel one was the direct successor of such power, let alone now that they held second, second-highest status after the assigned supervisor.

“But now is not the time!!” Empress Shuna surged with emotion, too. Even the Empress couldn’t help feeling attached to the loveliness of an entire Region’s heart beating under an organization, her Empire. “It is now time to mourn our fallen! Those who fought but were taken away from the Empire. Those who cannot see this day but have dreamed of it! If we must, we shall dream of them back! Show our loved ones what they’ve accomplished, and hope their next turn in this world is soon enough to rejoin us!!”

“Long live the Empire!!”

“But hear this well,” Shuna’s eyes became damn serious as she added amidst her people’s answer. “Prepare. We need to heal these wounds, but we must also sharpen our blades! Raise up. The time for the Blauw Empire’s rising starts here! Be it the new Change or our time for grace, only we can be responsible for securing it. Nobody else! And only we can fail. Nobody can destroy us…”

“This year, the Empire will focus on the restabilization of the Region’s interconnection. All settlements that are too far from reach that the previous organizations’ territories did not bother about, and those important ones belonging to the same. You are now the Empire’s people. Your homes will be taken care of by the Empire. These matters will be gradually implemented Regionwide, but before that…”

The Empress turned to look at Heian Ciemnosc, who was slightly humping and looked nearly falling unconscious. Only then did the spectators feel their assigned supervisor looked different from before and even somewhat haggard.

“At the time our navy had finished the last moments of the last battle, our assigned supervisor personally intervened and beheaded the heads of our enemy leaders.” Empress Shuna’s words weren’t as shocking as the Empire’s people thought they would react like, but they did feel excitement as their eyes widened and their fists clenched, especially those from inland. The Empress wrapped up with a thankful glint crossing across her eyes.

“He fought not only against them but killed them effortlessly. He was besieged by the hidden hand behind the enemy’s sudden source of wealth to afford their new navy and deal damage to our Empire! This wasn’t just some rich merchant cultivator group. This was an enemy whose hands were trained offExistence!” The Empress’s words became a shocking truth to the world, and although only the Far East Region heard about it for now, they would quickly spread everywhere in the world.

“Unfortunately, this enemy leader was too strong. If I hadn’t arrived…” Empress Shuna gazed at Heian Ciemnosc and heavily nodded at him with her right palm on his left shoulder. What everyone would do to be in his place just to receive this honor! But her words caused some tension in the expectant Empire’s people. Yet, the following words were even more impactful.

“That Spirit Magna realm 10th stage cultivator might’ve further harmed our venerable assigned supervisor, possibly doing worse. This is a warning to everyone, not only in this Region, this Kingdom, or this Galaxy. But the entire Existence. We, the one and only Warlord organization in the entire world, nearly fell to an unknown enemy’s hands!! It could be the same for you or worse. It could be the end of those organizations whose heads are too high.”

“It is a new Change, one that hasn’t seen the light since Archeons ago, and whose last victor put a toll on our world where we only received suppression. Let’s not allow another such power to rise again! If you can’t defend yourself against the unknown, you don’t even deserve to look at the sky!!” Empress Shuna radiated an authority Heian Ciemnosc had only seen in her, not just because of her Bloodline or nature. She was just… made for this path.

“Now, I wish we could grant our Region’s assigned supervisor a warm gratitude for our part. He has made the Empire we are now today… thank you.” Empress Shuna suddenly said before bowing at him. It wasn’t a simple bow, and she deeply bent her back, shocking every living being who had just seen her as the most majestic living being in their lives! When she straightened her back, she nodded at him with a polite smile and turned to face her people.

The skies were imminently obscure, making it seem like it was already evening when it was just past 12 PM. Heian Ciemnosc hid his dizzy state as he also looked ahead, where several digital screens appeared before the Palace. The spectators could barely see them, but they knew what they were looking at. Immediately, under the Imperial Prosecutors, royal princess, Empress, and Heian Ciemnosc’s eyes… they slowly raised their cheers… after a little inconvenience.

“Hurrah! Little black mon-” - “Shut the fuck up! Black monster! Yeah, black monster! Black monster! Black monster! Black monster!” - “Black monster! Black monster!” - “Black monster! Black monster! Black monster! Black monster!” - “Black monster!!” - “Black monster!!!”

“...” Empress Shuna smiled proudly. The left corners of her mouth exposed her sentiment, and she knew she couldn’t erase the moment anymore, so she just smiled and nodded at the camera. The Empire’s people began shouting, clamoring, and cheering louder. They even became furious, startling Heian Ciemnosc. On the other hand, Heian Ciemnosc felt weaker and weaker in his spare, dark coat but felt strange notions as he stood before billions of motherfuckers clamoring for his name… his given and self-given name…

‘Oh, this feels really… something,’ Heian Ciemnosc thought as he managed to tweak the corners of his mouth, and his darkest eyes enlarged a little when looking at all these people who were granting him this sensation. It was something else entirely, unlike before when he was respected for his achievements under someone else or recognized as being good for one thing or a couple. They just… respected him.

And while he could smell some fear from each of them, wherever they were, close, slightly far away, or the fuck away… Heian Ciemnosc saw their eyes bearing… acknowledgment.

‘Why, if I still do not feel from them something… I somehow get this sensation? This is… rare.’

…