Inside Lu Jade’s secret cave and sitting atop the smooth, polished Jade Stone bed was the massive form of the Golden Bull Thork. His eyes were closed, his colossal frame still, and his legs folded beneath him in a meditative posture as wisps of emerald light flowed into him. This light was helping to stabilize his troubled consciousness and rejuvenating his monstrous form.

Beside him, a far tinier figure was hard at work.

Lu Jade hissed softly as he channeled his fire essence from his belly to conjure a stream of emerald flames from his jaws. It licked hungrily at a pile of dry wood he’d gathered, causing them to erupt into a merry blaze beneath a spit.

And impaled on that spit, slowly turning golden brown above the dancing flames, was a familiar, yet grotesque sight.

It was Lu Lingxue’s corpse.

Her once vibrant golden-bronze scales were charred. Smoke billowed from those punctures where Shao Jin’s ‘Gold Press’ had pounded her with terrifying efficiency, leaving black scorch marks across her serpentine form. This visual assault, it both horrified and pleased Lu Jade.

Never had he imagined he would one day be roasting his own sister, but those feelings of betrayal, those endless mocking laughter and beatings he’d endured, they demanded retribution, didn't they?

His eyes become tearful while looking at the burning logs. “Big Sister… Is this truly what you wanted… to end up as a late-night snack?”

However, his sorrow soon died.

The aroma of roasting flesh was starting to permeate the cave, thick and savory. As soon as a powerful scent entered the bull’s nostrils. It snapped him back to reality.

The imposing golden bull that had protected Lu Jade was awakening. His gaze drifted towards that motionless beast atop the Jade Stone.

“What awaits now…?”

From those hooves and horns, golden tendrils of pure energy were moving outwards. Then something else happened. The air around that enormous form suddenly popped with yellow electricity. It was violent, fast, and truly, truly horrifying.

Lu Jade recoiled when he saw a pair of magnificent wings unfurl. Their color remained black, but now they sported bronze scales and crackling streaks of lightning. It seemed the bull had fully assimilated Lu Lingxue’s essence.

His tail whipped about and elongated, leaving streaks of sizzling light in its wake; a whip capable of splitting mountains in two.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

With a simple flap of its wings, one hundred Shadow Bats erupted from his shadowy appendages, populating that cave like never before, which caused Lu Jade to quickly hide behind the Jade Stone for safety as hiss of discomfort escaped.

Some hovered in the air while others landed with a thump upon the cave floor; those crimson eyes glowed brighter, and a newfound arrogance radiated from them as if they were just granted the most prestigious title.

"Those armors… their made of Sister's scales!” Lu Jade exclaimed in shock before retreating to a safe distance as the bats continued buzzing with awed excitement.

Their previous, tattered leathery wings had expanded. Their claws now had sharper points, and Bronze Scaled Armor enhanced their might. It was as if they'd been reborn into more powerful beings, and they all knew it.

“Master is generous!”

"Master has blessed us with power!”

“All glory to Master!”

These cries and compliments, it was truly terrifying to listen to, especially knowing how powerful those things were, but before those anxieties and those pleas for appreciation died off…

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“Sizzle… Sizzle…”

A familiar scent washed over them all that stopped those flapping wings and salivating mouths. They stared with predatory fascination towards the sizzling Serpent Calamity that rotated slowly above those dancing flames.

"HMMM…”

Their emperor's low growl echoed through those jade walls, causing them to tremble in sudden fear.

“Silence!”

This single word carried an unquestionable authority that had Lu Jade straightened his spine, waiting anxiously for the judgment that loomed before them.

Who was this being who had awakened from that ancient stone of power?

Was it Shao Jin or…

"Lu Jade…" This clear and crisp voice was unmistakable. It wasn't Shao Jin's deep baritone. This was something different.

“Yessss, Master!” Lu Jade blurted out the words instinctively, for even in death, fear of those greater had been beaten into his scales and bones. Such was the way of Yama Yaguai.

“Don’t call me ‘Master’. Raphael is fine.”

Lu Jade was so shocked he couldn't reply for a full minute as chills danced upon his spine and tail. Then, those words of fear escaped those tiny jaws:

“Big Brother Raphael. Is that really you? I… I thought…" He trailed off because those echoes of the beast that had mercilessly crushed his sister into paste and forced him to cook her. Those memories wouldn't vanish.

"Thanks for your help, Little Lu," Raphael's response carried genuine gratitude. He hopped off the Jade Stone and approached the roasting meat. A strange mix of emotions washed over him. The aroma was mouthwatering, yet tied to a gruesome act. He remembered Shao Jin, during their fierce mental struggle, commanding the serpent to prepare the food. Now, he was in control, and the deed was done.

"No sense letting it go to waste," he mumbled, more to himself than Lu Jade. "Truth be told, I'm famished. That aroma..." His massive head dipped towards the roasting serpent, and a low growl rumbled from his chest. "It smells delicious."

Ignoring his previous concerns about those bats that hung ominously from the ceiling and those standing below with expressions of envious desires for the meat that oozed with flavor, Raphael took a bite from Lu Lingxue’s charred flank.

“It taste metallic. Salty. But the spice is alright." He devoured more. “This truly is better than chicken, a bit tough though.”

Those flapping, chattering sounds were getting louder. “Is… Is our Master going to… share…?” One of those armored bats asked another who promptly replied with his fangs bared, “Silence! We wait, and observe."

Before those anxieties turned to chaotic bloodshed, Raphael used those claws on his wings to rip off a large, meaty chunk before casually tossing it towards those drooling, armored insects.

“It’s MINE!”

The scramble was ferocious but controlled. In their hierarchy, any creature above could easily decimate those beneath without much effort. Such was the privilege of power in their brutal reality.

"CALM YOURSELVES! There’s plenty to go around!" Raphael watched the bats’ wings flapping wildly as he sat comfortably beside Lu Jade with his hooves crossed. This image of peace and dominance wouldn't leave his memories.

Lu Jade expressed fright upon seeing the bat’s ravenous behavior, but Raphael told him, "It’s ok, Little Lu. Let’s eat." He gestured to the remaining portion of meat that was still over the spit.

Both parties began feasting on aromatic flesh.

And while Lu Jade ate in horrified silence, something kept gnawing at his ancient heart. "I’m eating my sssister alongside this bull. How could I ever allow thisss to… no… it’s for the best. For now, I survive. For now, my vengeance is being appease.”

A tremor shot through his being as another realization slammed into him.

“What if Father ever finds out about thisssss? Will those punishment he meted out to those disobedient children be my reality? What if I am burned alive and turn into ash?!?”

He shivered uncontrollably as those morbid thought gripped him like a vise. Even though Lu Ignis, the Bronze Serpent Emperor, had over a thousand children, he was ruthless and swift at dispensing punishment, especially on the behalf of those of his favored lineage, those he considered future rulers of their territory.

Lu Lingxue was one such favored offspring, perhaps that's why she was so bold, so arrogant.

This meal was becoming less and less enjoyable for Lu Jade. His gulps were audible.

Raphael heard those fear-laced sounds and thought back to those many nights in his tiny room, eating cold scraps and swallowing his anger, his fear at the sound of Tajmani’s approaching footsteps. He understood those desperate thoughts all too well, how those meals lost their flavors when surrounded by dread.

"I wish we had something to wash all this down.”

As these words came slipping out of his massive jaws, Raphael noticed a loyal subject standing before him, bowing low.

“I will fetch some, Master! It will be my greatest honor!” And without speaking further, it rushed into the night towards those Fire Pool that now belonged to his emperor.

Within moments, it returned, holding a wide bowl made from bronze scales, now overflowing with bubbling liquid fire.

Those other bats recoiled in fear of getting splashed. This loyal subject however was ecstatic to be so close to their target. This image of dominance, respect, authority and envy wouldn't fade, how delightful.

"At your service, Master.”

“Leave it there and enjoy yourself.” Raphael's response was a casual dismissal of the creature's devotion.

After that armored bat scampered to join its feast, Raphael grabbed the bowl and took a large gulp. He savored the searing heat and potent essence that energized his form.

"Damn, that hit the spot!" He then offered the remaining liquid to his now-quiet guide.

"Here, Little Lu. Have some.”

“Oh, ok.” Reluctantly, Lu Jade dipped his mouth into the molten drink and took a tentative sip out of fear of offending his big brother.