My eyes opened, revealing the celestial spectacle before me. The sky, tinted in shades of orange and yellow, resembled a constantly evolving painting. The sunset in that place was breathtaking, with the reddened sky spreading crimson hues throughout the surroundings. When I shifted my gaze downward, I encountered two elders and Sun Hao, as if they were awaiting my arrival.
A deep sigh escaped me as I stared at the trio. Sun Hao, bowing his head, uttered simple words after opening his eyes, 'The council awaits you, fallen from the sky.'
It was curious to note that one of them, perhaps through some magic, could communicate in my language. A smile escaped my lips as I stood up, brushing my hand over my mist-made attire, and began my path through the garden towards the imposing council chamber.
I returned to the small amphitheater, dissipating my mist as usual when leaving the place and especially as it spread across the ground. Complete trust in them still did not exist within me.
"The Council welcomes the Fallen from the Sky, Hei Feng," announced Sun Hao, and I observed the elders and the patriarch turning towards me.
Internally, my mind worked again on constructing the facade of a celestial being. My face remained calm, but the possibility of my lie being uncovered hung over me. If necessary, escape would be my next option.
The door behind me resonated as it closed, locked by heavy bolts. The spacious amphitheater was now annoyingly crowded, and I closed my eyes, smiling. Regardless of my fate, I would not accept passively.
"Hei Feng, Fallen from the Sky, we have deliberated about you, and it has been decided that you pose a threat to our people. For the death of Zhang Jie, you cannot be deemed trustworthy," proclaimed one of the elders, as more guards positioned themselves around.
"If I am truly guilty of his death, what exactly do you intend to do?" I questioned with narrowed eyes, controlling my mist that spread across the floor, filling the base of the room.
"Boldness! You claim to represent the heavens, yet bring disgrace to our people, killing one of our own. You should know that, thanks to our sacrifices, you are obligated to help us," replied another elder, raising his voice.
"I'm obligated, huh?" I felt my veins becoming visible, and my mist sank deeper, expanding around the space.
"Yes, you are obligated. You are obligated by this council to share the celestial origins of your abilities, given all the sacrifices we've made for you in the last 100 years." The elder spoke with gravity, believing he had control over the entire situation.
"I'd just like to know, who exactly is going to force me, you?" My eyes opened, and smoke emanated from them. All this talk was deeply irritating me.
"You are courting death. You can do nothing against us. In fact, I have a theory. You're not an envoy; you were banished from heaven, weren't you?" he said with a smile on his face.
"Yes, exactly that, old man. I was banished from heaven. Want to know the exact reason?" I widened my smile, staring at him.
"I was responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of celestials, destroyed paradise. By the hands of the Seraphims themselves, I couldn't be killed. The only way to contain me was to cast me out of paradise." A distorted version of the truth emerged. I told the truth, but the truth Blackwell shaped. I was no longer Aidan Winters; I was Hei Feng, the Banished from Paradise.
"So, what exactly are you going to do with the one who, alone, was responsible for the destruction of the higher plane?" After the revelation, I used all my mist to shake the foundation of the sect. Quickly, it enveloped everyone in the room. I felt my energy being drained, but the facade persisted. I trapped the elder in mist and walked toward him.
"What exactly are you going to do?" I whispered, challenging.
My laughter echoed through the room as I watched the elder's surprised face now shrouded in my mist. A sinister smile adorned my lips, revealing the true villainous nature hidden behind the celestial mask.
"What I will do, I will now explain to those who dare to defy me." My voice was a mixture of disdain and cruelty. "The answer is simple, my dear. I will show everyone here what it means to face the wrath of a banished from paradise."
The mist around me danced ominously, contorting like black serpents preparing to strike. The room trembled under the sway of my distorted energy, and whispers of fear grew among those present.
"You, who consider yourselves the keepers of truth, deserve only the darkness that envelops you," I declared, slowly approaching the elder entangled in my mist. Each step was a reminder of the power I held, a power fueled by betrayal and the fall from paradise.
"You, who dare question my celestial origins, will feel firsthand the punishment for defying those who once dared to cast out a god." My voice hissed, laden with millennia-old hatred and a thirst for vengeance that emanated from every pore.
With a gesture, the mist tightened, coiling around the elder like a venomous snake. His eyes reflected terror and helplessness as I revealed the true extent of my power. Others in the room watched, paralyzed by horror, while the patriarch and other elders witnessed my tyrannical unfolding.
"You, who dare judge me, have forgotten that there is no redemption for those who dare challenge a being that has walked the celestial halls." My voice echoed with a dark tone, reverberating in the amphitheater's walls.
The mist continued to constrict, suffocating the elder whose face was already losing color. The power, now completely unchecked, emanated a darkness that contrasted with the apparent beauty of the surroundings. It was as if the shadows of my past were materializing to consume all who dared stand in my way.
"You, insignificant mortals, deem yourselves worthy to judge a fallen god. But I will show that the only judge and executor here is me." The malevolent laughter echoed again, filling the space with a sinister aura.
The other elders and the patriarch, despite being horrified, dared not intervene. It was as if they were petrified in the face of the manifestation of the power I represented. The room was immersed in silence, interrupted only by the anguished sighs of the captured elder.
With one last disdainful look, I released the elder from my mist, letting him fall to the ground, gasping and trembling. The room regained a semblance of normalcy, but fear lingered, impregnated in the walls as a grim warning.
"Let it be clear to everyone here. I am Hei Feng, the Banished from Paradise, and none of you will have the slightest understanding of the price you will have to pay for opposing me." My voice was a menacing whisper as I returned to my place, surrounded by mist that seemed denser and more sinister than ever.
The violent expansion of my mist echoed through the hall, like a storm of darkness manifesting and retracting within me. The density of my power reverberated, making everyone around me feel the immense weight of my presence. My mist returned to me, like a whirlwind of shadows, and my eyes regained their characteristic hue.
"The purpose of my presence here remains unchanged. I demanded the best, and if you, fools, cannot provide what I need, then you will face death, just like Zhang Jie." My words cut through the silence, echoing through the hall as I walked towards one of the central thrones. I ascended the stairs with determination, each step resonating my warning to those present.
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"This place, this sect, will be my temporary domain, and from now on, each of you will serve me." I pointed directly at the Patriarch.
"To achieve this, I need to eliminate you, or will you accept the inevitable?" My voice remained steady, although the truth was that I was exhausted. A large-scale attack like that was not easy to sustain.
"I cannot accept that, Hei Feng." The Patriarch's response was an unwavering affirmation of his leadership position.
"So be it." I halted my ascent, turning to face the Patriarch. The battle was inevitable if I wanted to conquer what I sought.
"You possess extraordinary abilities, but you underestimate the challenge you are about to face." The Patriarch positioned himself for the battle, ready to defend his leadership.
"I know the heights of the heavens." I responded, facing the Patriarch from above, observing him from my elevated position. All the elders around prepared for the imminent conflict.
"Be it as it may." I muttered under my breath.
My energy, although insufficient, could not be abandoned. I would not allow history to repeat itself, refusing to become submissive to anyone else. The need for power pulsated within me, a growing urgency that cried out for satisfaction. I extended my arms, allowing the mist to envelop my body. The energy began to be drained once again, but this time, I felt revitalized by the urgency. With my feet firmly on the ground, I advanced towards the Patriarch.
The darkness emanating from me formed an intimidating aura, covering every step toward the imminent confrontation. The Patriarch, facing me with determination, unleashed his own abilities, creating a barrier of energy that cut the space between us.
The moment our powers collided, the hall seemed to tremble. The clash of opposing forces created a wave of energy that made the torch flames dance in frenzy. The elders watched, caught between fascination and fear, as the Patriarch and I faced each other in a battle that would determine the fate of the sect.
Each movement was a dance of power, a struggle between darkness and light that would define the leadership of the temporary realm I was determined to dominate. My mist undulated in response to the Patriarch's attacks, creating ethereal shapes that challenged his defense.
"You do not comprehend the extent of my will." I whispered as my mist transformed into sharp blades, cutting through the air toward the adversary. The Patriarch responded with controlled strikes of energy, seeking to repel my onslaught.
The battle continued, a chaotic symphony of powers colliding. I channeled every fragment of my being, every drop of energy, to overcome the sect leader. Fatigue threatened my strength, but urgency burned like an internal fire, propelling me beyond my limits.
The walls of the hall seemed to whisper, absorbing the intensity of the contest. The onlookers' gazes fluctuated between admiration and fear. The atmosphere was saturated with the tension of the fight as the Patriarch and I strained to claim supremacy.
Amidst the chaos of battle, a certainty solidified in my mind: I would not allow my quest for power to be in vain. If those who opposed me wanted a leader, they would have a ruthless leader, forged in the shadows of the celestial past.
The impact of the collision reverberated through the floor, shaking the hall and creating temporary fissures in the walls. The truth was clear: those I faced were skilled, but I, having witnessed only a fraction of the Seraphims' power, knew they were far below what I had faced with the Black Jackets.
The temperature around us plummeted noticeably. The Patriarch unleashed his frigid abilities, each strike leaving behind a trail of ice that extended across the floor. My responses, on the other hand, left a tangled mist trail. His movements were a symphony of agility, surpassing my perception. As the battle unfolded, a cruel truth emerged: each blow that penetrated my mist slowly froze the very vaporous essence that composed me, solidifying my misty form.
Every punch I threw was met with an unyielding ice barrier. It was a manifestation of raw, resistant, and unrelenting ice. Despair threatened to set in as my mist, my life force, was slowly being frozen and neutralized. However, refusing to give up became my only option.
I faced the desolate chill spreading across the battlefield, while the Patriarch, with his calm expression, continued to deliver ruthless blows. Each collision was a dance between the warmth of my mist and the freezing cold emanating from him.
In an effort to break through the icy barrier, I focused my power, attempting to heat the area around me. The mist radiated intensely, creating swirls of heat in contrast to the surrounding coldness. However, the ice resisted, challenging my attempt to reverse the inexorable freezing.
Vision began to blur as I fought against the growing paralysis of my own frozen mist. Every movement was like a struggle against invisible chains trying to imprison my essence. Determination was my strength, but facing an opponent who could freeze even the most volatile mist tested my limits.
Every breath became a challenge, but I persisted. The ice, however, was not just physical; it was a symbol of the challenge I faced. As the mist froze, I realized that the answer was not just in trying to warm the environment but in finding a way to transcend the ice itself.
I awakened a forgotten part of my being, a connection to the primordial essence of my mist. In an instant, the mist around me began to vibrate with a different energy, one that could not be frozen. It was as if the very essence of the mist, beyond the physical form that composed it, was being unleashed.
The Patriarch, surprised, momentarily stepped back, sensing that something had changed. I continued to advance, leveraging the newfound understanding of my mist. Each step was now a dance between warmth and cold, between resistance and transcendence.
I delivered a concentrated blow, not just with physical force but with the inner essence of my mist, now manifesting as a burning flame. The ice yielded under the impact, disintegrating into an explosion of particles. The battle took a turn, and the ice that once dominated began to melt before the inner warmth of my transcendent mist.
The Patriarch, now less confident, redoubled his efforts, but the new manifestation of my mist resisted his control. A crack opened in the icy barrier, a gap through which I advanced with renewed determination.
The fight persisted, a chaotic symphony between antagonistic elements. The ice, which once seemed invincible, began to give way to the transformative power of my transcendent mist. The hall was immersed in a duel of opposing forces, and I, with a newly discovered confidence, advanced with the conviction that the transcendence of my mist was the key to victory.
The Patriarch's expression transformed into a mix of surprise and determination, a sign that he recognized the shift in my approach. I saw his fingers dancing in the air, shaping arcane symbols as he chanted ancient words. In an instant, he lunged towards me with renewed ferocity, but this time, the ice converged on his fists, resisting my melting power. My fatigue became more evident with each passing moment, the burden of the battle weighing heavily on me. Nevertheless, I persisted, exchanging blows with the Patriarch in a frenzied dance.
However, it was inevitable. My limit was rapidly approaching, and I knew it would be imperative to resort to my core ability, even if it meant revealing my ace in the hole before the ideal moment.
Exhaustion weighed on my limbs, but my focus remained unwavering. The mist around me began to lose its density, as if the very ether that composed me was dissipating. It was a clear indication that my energy levels were reaching critical levels. Still, I advanced for another clash, facing the Patriarch with stubborn determination.
Faced with the escalating battle, I hesitated no more. I dissolved my body into ethereal mist, a strategy that would allow me to overcome the physical barriers of the ice. I advanced, hoping that my mist hand would pierce through the icy resistance and reach the Patriarch's interior.
To my surprise, my hand found only emptiness within the Patriarch's chest. A sense of bewilderment mixed with my growing exhaustion. He was not only skilled in the arts of ice; there was something more, something that had escaped my initial perception.
"You need to learn how high Mount Tai is, Fallen from the Sky." The Patriarch's voice echoed, a blend of warning and challenge. Suddenly, my mist fist, which seemed about to solidify in his chest, found itself trapped in an invisible barrier. The ice around solidified, imprisoning my ethereal form in a frigid jail.
My misty body was useless against the force of the ice emanating from the Patriarch. The ice's relentless resistance became more apparent with each passing second as I struggled to break free from that frozen prison. My energy drained, my determination remained my sole defense against the challenge unfolding.
The room was silent, except for the faint hiss of ice solidifying around me. The elders watched, eager to see the outcome of this battle between opposing forces. The Patriarch, still steadfast, displayed a smug smile of superiority in the face of my apparent defeat.
However, within my imprisoned mist, I was not ready to give up. A spark of determination burned in my being, despite the almost inevitable defeat. It was as if Mount Tai itself was challenging my understanding, and I, weakened but not defeated, could not accept surrender.
With a final burst of energy, I compelled my mist to vibrate intensely. The icy prison began to quake, and microscopic cracks formed in the ice barrier. Every drop of my vaporous essence resonated in harmony with my willpower, defying inevitable defeat.
The ice yielded, and the mist started to escape the clutches of freezing. My misty form emerged, vibrating with renewed resilience. The Patriarch, now surprised, stepped back in the face of the unexpected turn.
The battle was not over. My determination, a flame that stubbornly burned even in adversity, continued to challenge the limits of my being. Mount Tai might be tall, but I, the Fallen from the Sky, would not be defeated so easily.
I stepped away from the Patriarch, allowing myself to breathe deeply, even if my breath was scarce. The situation was critical; my energy had been drained during the last confrontation, and exhaustion manifested in every fiber of my being. My eyes, forced to close, sought temporary relief, while my stubborn smile persisted on my face. It was time to elevate the performance, to expand my narrative. I no longer had cards up my sleeve, but I had the ability to weave a compelling story.
"To those who listen, to those who understand, to those who can forge their destinies, heed this call from one who was once deemed a child of the heavens. Return to me." My words echoed in the hall, intoned like a mystical summons. My mist-shrouded body began to draw symbols in the air—symbols that seemed to carry deep meaning but were nothing more than random scribbles. Everyone's attention turned to me, curiosity and uncertainty reflected in their gazes.
With the mist still swirling around me, I began reciting disjointed names and phrases, as if summoning something transcendental. In reality, I was just improvising, invoking in my performance the name that first came to mind: Blackwell.
The remaining energy in me dissipated quickly, and my mist began to fade away. I faced the Patriarch with an ironic smile, intensifying the theatricality of the moment.
"You, mortals, are fascinating at every moment. And for that, I will face you with my bare body. Come, let me witness what a mere mortal is capable of doing." My words, laden with cynicism, echoed through the hall. My clothing began to gradually disappear, while the Patriarch's gaze alternated between surprise and disbelief.
"So, allow me to demonstrate the superiority of a true Elf," the Patriarch replied, rolling up his sleeves. In the next instant, I realized the truth: we were not of the same race. His features were distinct, revealing that he belonged to a different lineage. A sense of revelation spread through the hall as I, now partially undressed, faced the Patriarch with a challenging expression.
The hall plunged into a momentary silence before murmurs and sighs filled the void. The elders and other members of the sect watched the scene with a mixture of perplexity and fascination. The confrontation, once centered on physical battle, now became a symbolic struggle between two beings of different origins.
The tension in the air was palpable as, stripped of my mist and with only traces of clothing, I confronted the Patriarch in a display of strength and determination. The Patriarch, in turn, represented his own race with confidence, rising to the imminent challenge.
The battle now took on new nuances, transcending mere physical combat. It was a clash between two lineages, between what I represented as the Fallen from the Sky and the Patriarch's pride in his heritage.