The world flashed with a bright light.

Calron squinted through his eyes until the light dwindled, and eventually, a new scene emerged before him. It resembled the previous meadow, but instead of the silver goblet in the center, there was a looming dead tree in its place.

He was still far away from the dead tree’s trunk, but despite the distance, Calron could tell just how gigantic the tree was. He twisted his neck to gauge its height. However, the top of the tree was obscured by the matte clouds, leaving Calron to wonder just how far its branches extended to.

He felt a comforting warmth on his cheek. In stark contrast to the dead tree, all life around its vicinity appeared to be blossoming. Calron raised his hands, feeling the pleasant breeze skirt through his fingers. The luscious grass stalks swayed with the wind, its earthy scent filling Calron’s nostrils.

“Welcome to our home, Calron.”

The Blood Titan remained silent this whole time. He watched Calron experience the wonders of the real Dao Geyser.

“What is that dead tree?”

Calron inhaled the air deeply. He could feel his dao circles tingling in response to the tree.

“You’ll find out soon. It’s where we’re heading. Let’s go.”

The Blood Titan smiled as he pointed towards the base of the tree.

“More secrets?”

Calron sighed as he switched to a brisk pace beside the Titan.

“No more secrets, young one. I rather the Nature Titan explain it to you, as I’m not the best when it comes to remembering its history.”

The Blood Titan chuckled as he held up his hands.

“Fin-“

Calron was mid-response when, out of nowhere, a boulder smashed into the back of his calves, eliciting a sharp cry. In reflex, Calron’s leg kicked out with full force at the object.

Calron was just about to summon his Blood Kingdom Domain, when he actually saw what had crashed into him. It wasn’t a boulder.

“I was only saying hello, you bastard!”

A squeaky voice complained, followed by a grunt, as the creature gingerly rubbed its snout against the grass where Calron’s kick had landed squarely.

It was a small black piglet.

“Huh?”

Calron stared dumbly at the piglet that seemed to be on the verge of tears. The last thing Calron expected was someone else in this dimension. He thought only Titans lived here. On the side, the Blood Titan laughed at seeing the piglet being kicked in its face.

“Calron, it’s my great pleasure to introduce my fellow Titan, the Martial Titan.”

The Blood Titan guffawed, knowing that revealing the identity of the piglet was only bound to further baffle the young man. After all, no one expects the revered Martial Titan to be a piglet.

“This piggy is the Martial Titan? I’m not that gullible, old man.”

Calron shook his head as he observed the piglet’s dark watery eyes, coarse obsidian fur, and its delicate topaz hoofs. No matter how many times Calron scrutinized the piglet with his dao, it was all telling him that it was simply a tiny pig.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“I’m a boar, you bastard.”

The piglet charged towards Calron’s leg and began gnawing on his heel. The soft teeth didn’t even pierce his skin.

“Stop drooling on me.”

Calron shook his leg once he felt the piglet’s saliva dripping to his soles.

“What soap do you use? Also, greet me with respect, you tasty bastard!”

The piglet held on to Calron’s ankle, mumbling out his words.

“Stop your games, Martial. We don’t have much time. Calron will need to exit the Dao Geyser soon or else the town’s guards will become suspicious.”

The Blood Titan glanced at the sky, as he then turned to face the piglet. His voice was now somber.

“Tch, both you and Star are no fun. Still better than Nature though… the grumpy fruit basket.”

The piglet let go of Calron’s ankle and trotted over to Blood Titan.

“He really is the Martial Titan?”

Calron was stunned. He thought the Blood Titan was joking until now.

“You a got a problem with pigs, you bastard?”

The black piglet grunted reproachfully, glaring at Calron.

“I thought you were a boar.”

Calron blurted out, recalling the piglet taking offense at being called a pig earlier. Of course, this only made the piglet even angrier.

Sensing the piglet on the verge of throwing another fit, the Blood Titan picked this moment to answer Calron.

“When the Primordials attacked our sector and tampered with the World’s Laws, they tried to destroy our link to the Grand Dao. They failed in part, but succeeded partially, and that’s why the four of us are unable to draw on our complete strength. It doesn’t mean we’re completely helpless, but only it’s not time yet to reveal our cards.”

“How is it that no one has been able to find you all these years?”

Calron inquired as the Blood Titan resumed on his path toward the dead tree. He joined next to him, while the little piglet hopped up over his back and perched like a bird on Calron’s left shoulder. Surprisingly, the Martial Titan weighed almost nothing, like he was made of air itself.

“Can’t you walk on your own?”

Calron tried to throw off the piglet, but the Martial Titan kept bouncing from one shoulder to another. By now, Calron was sure of one thing. This wasn’t the Martial Titan’s real body, it was more of a spirit form.

“It’s an honor that you’re carrying me, you ungrateful bastard!”

The piglet slapped the back of Calron’s neck with his hooves.

“Ignore Martial, Calron. He’s the youngest of the Titans, and now that he’s met someone even younger than him, he having fun goading you on. Coming to your question, the reason why no one can find is simple: we don’t exist.”

The Blood Titan answered in his deep voice. The Titan was moving faster now, as they got closer to the dead tree.

“That doesn’t make any sense. I can see you and hear you. You exist.”

Calron scratched his head while increasing his speed to match the Titan.

“That’s why I wanted Nature to explain everything to you. It’s been a very long time since I had to talk to mortals.”

The Blood Titan let out a bashful smile.

“Or maybe he’s just a stupid bastard?”

The piglet snickered on top of Calron’s shoulder while enjoying the free ride.

“Do you have to call me a bastard every time?”

Calron gave up trying to shake off the tiny piglet. The Martial Titan was like a cockroach.

“Nope, you deserve it. I hated the Lightning Primordial’s guts, and since you’re him, you get the same treatment… you bastard.”

The piglet harrumphed and threw in the insult towards the end as if it almost forgot.

“Lightning Primordial? Why, what did he do to you?”

Calron temporarily forgot about the piglet’s insults and became curious at the mention of his predecessor. It was his chance to find out more about his original self.

“He was a cocky fool, brainless, ugly and told terrible jokes.”

The piglet complained in a whisper into Calron’s ear.

“Don’t listen to him, Calron. The Lightning Primordial beat Martial into a pulp when this idiot challenged him, and he’s been sour ever since.”

The Blood Titan interjected cheerfully.

“He only beat me because I was caught off guard, Blood. Dammit, I’m leaving!”

The Martial Titan spat, and vanished from Calron’s shoulder. Calron spun his head around, but the little piglet was nowhere to be found.

“Leave him. He’ll be back after a while.”

The Blood Titan nodded at Calron.

“That was a strange reaction from him. What happened between him and the Lightning Primordial?”

Calron had an inkling that there was something amiss with the Martial Titan’s reaction. The little piglet didn’t seem that quick to give up.

“While it’s true that the Lightning Primordial beat up Martial when the kid provoked him, but after that, it was also the Lightning Primordial that helped train Martial improve his skills. Just like the Lightning Primordial, Martial’s dao followed a path of pure destruction. The Lightning Primordial mentored him until the final stages of his life.”

The Blood Titan exhaled softly as he reminisced from his memories.

“The Martial Titan was with him when the Lightning Primordial died?”

Calron grew quiet.

“Yes. That’s why it was probably hard for Martial to see you in the flesh. He blames himself for the Lightning Primordial’s death, even though we all knew he would eventually have to die to commence his reincarnation. We’re almost there.”

The Blood Titan commented as they approached the base of the dead tree. At this point, Calron could begin to make out the hollow entrance near the tree’s roots.

“So, that’s why he hates the Lightning Primordial?”

Calron raised his eyebrow.

“No, Calron. Martial never hated the Lightning Primordial. Including the other Titans, there was only one person Martial admired the most: the man who stood against his own kind to protect the innocent people of this sector. Even until the very end, the Lightning Primordial desperately fought both the Light and Dark Primordials to protect another life.”

The Blood Titan slowed down as they neared the tree.

“Who was the Lightning Primordial protecting from the Light and Dark Primordials?”

Calron asked, although he already had the answer in his heart.

“Without the Lightning Primordial intervening that day, there would only be three Titans alive today.”

The Blood Titan spoke with pride. They were now standing in front of the tree’s entrance. Calron felt a deep emotion swell inside him as he watched the expression on the Blood Titan’s face. It was the same emotion that was reflected in the Blood Titan’s eyes when he first saw Calron.

Hope.

“That’s why Martial couldn’t wait and had to see you as soon as you entered the Dao Geyser. To him, you’re his savior, Calron.”