It was nice seeing the city going back to work again with clear criteria. The refugees and survivors regained their motivation after the first public budget bill went public. It had been a couple of hours after a fulfilling lunch. Julius had walked down the stairway, arriving in district one. As part of the Moon Reform’s initiatives, the stairway was renamed the Moon Plateau Stairway. Many of the government and national locations are under the renaming process. And it would take at least a week for all to be official.

He continued down through the busy main street. The vibe he felt was like back at his home and the suburban neighborhood, walking anywhere without having to be bombarded by the hyper-fixated or any cameras. In an influential position, Julius felt agitated. He never made peace with the inferior emotions, but masked it. To his surprise, the environment here was more respectful. Somehow, being in a prominent position gave him some personal space. In perspective, the main street was about as wide as a two-lane, and all buildings occupied the sides of the street.

Julius continued downward, passing the roundabout and intersection leading to the House of Kang. Instead of going counterclockwise, he went clockwise to the first detour on the left and entered a different region of Longyue. A sign stood up high, written as the entrance to the second district. The traffic eased as he walked further into the region. The pathways are much wider and the lack of high-rise buildings. From the first street were all the vendors with up to four stories of residential above per building, providing the shade from the glazing sun above on a clear blue sky. Hence, the sunlight shone through the second district. Most of the places here are like apartment buildings. It was more spaced out between each block and had fewer interactions on the street compared to the first district. All the sounds of movement simmered as most of the noise came from behind.

Almost there. Julius thought. He pulled out a piece of paper from his inner pockets. The last two lines directed him to the second district. Before arriving at the destination, he detoured from the street and took a break. There was a wooden pole at the spot where he leaned his back while facing back to the street.

< Can you hear me, Licht? >

<< Of course, I’m always with you. I heard about the letter…Don’t you think it’s safe to bring some company? >>

< If hell breaks loose, having you around is enough to deal with this. My restrained strength might have been learned, but it is not enough if I have to trigger my darkness. >

<< I could try…>>

< What? >

<< Since you did the restrained strength training with Empress Cai and Qiang, I felt I gained some benefits from it. >>

< So, we are linked? > Julius’s mood raised.

<< It appears to be. I feel better after that day, so I’m sure I could control more of it. But…only one way to find out, though. >>

< Oh, not now. Wait until an emergency. Plus, I got my own restrained strength to test out first. >

Julius’s mouth dried up. Winds picked up, dragging the hot air with it. As a result, he summoned a bottle of water with only five left in his virtual inventory.

--

Beep!

--

Out of the blue, Skoltor sent a verbal warning. Woah! Julius didn’t expect that alarmed noise, as if it was that bad. For a moment, it did. A tiny red logo appeared on his side, demanding liquid. That’s very weird. I’m suddenly thirsty. He reacted before twisting the cap from the bottle. The alarm quieted when all the water entered his mouth. Very odd, considering he never had a moment of dehydration or to the extreme. Today was extreme. He wasn’t sure if it was an error or if there was something wrong. The gut feeling came terribly, and Julius leaned up from the wooden pole. The rest of the distance was only a couple more blocks away. Having the directions memorized, he continued looking around, making sure he was not followed. Licht also offered his help, dispersing a bloody red aura around the greatsword.

Finally, he saw the spot. There was a tall brown-themed flag fluttered in the warm wind. The street’s concrete ended. This is probably the original second district. Julius looked down as his feet touched the end of the street. Looking back up and far ahead in the distance, there was a wide dirt cul-de-sac. To his left was the brown flag. It was in an enclosed lot, where a house-like structure stood within. The lot was the only structure beyond the concrete street. On the opposite side was an open plain. Nothing to be focused on.

He continued to walk, and somebody came outside from within the enclosed lot. The entrance walking space where the flag was located had no enclosure or walls. Therefore, that person went from within the enclosure to witness him coming to their property. As he reached closer, that person, Míngyuè, surprisingly expressed an attempting smile, waving from a distance. Julius paced towards the property while looking to his left and right until his foot finally stepped on the stone tile perimeter.

Her smile faded away, but she was grateful that he had come. “You read the letter?”

“Of course I did. I heard there's a lot of company there?”

“Many people are in that house. And please, no violence as much as possible. They don't trust any royalty, but they trust me, and I know them. If you can do anything to subdue them, that would be the best for everyone.”

“I’ll try, but remember this is a risky offer, so I can’t promise a peaceful interaction,” Julius said while looking at the entrance of the house.

“I beg you. At least please understand.”

Julius turned to her. He wasn’t pleased at her begging for it. His mind juggled all the possible bad outcomes that could happen in the house. For now, he’ll play it out. “Fine…fine. Happy?”

Míngyuè’s begged expression turned. Her sense of worry was overridden, and she breathed consistently before walking Julius into the house.

He observed the house’s exterior features. The first non-oriental architecture in Longyue. The tall and wide pillars surround the whole two-story house, giving a balcony. Another balcony was on the second floor. And a lady sat above on a rocking chair, viewing the entrance. She saw him and Míngyuè walking right to the entrance. When she called up to her, the lady happily waved. While Julius didn’t return the wave, rightfully he didn’t. A tiny glare to him was enough to goosebumps his insides. He wanted to fist his hands.

< Don’t do it. > Licht said.

<< I’m trying to. >>

Julius shallowly breathed until his boot touched the stairs.

Míngyuè heard his last breath, which sounded like a gasp. Her face then grimaced.

When the two reached the door, she told him one more thing. “Once we get in there, follow my lead and don’t get lost.” Her voice was direct and clear.

“Yinhai, how many people are there? It sounded like a tavern would be,” Julius said while his ear picked up the inside noise.

“If they seek your attention, don’t make any suggestions and remain focused on me.”

Julius nodded many times, expressing his annoyance. “I get it, okay? I’ll follow.”

She pushed the door handle, followed by a slight thrust inward. The door creaked with a dull humming. Her boots thumped on the wooden floor as she walked into the house. Julius went in, revealing his tree-like height. His head was barely a few inches from the ceiling, and that wasn’t the awkward part of it. Every living space was occupied by at least two to three people holding their brewery in a hand-sized glass. The whole place, as the further he walked in, smelled bits of earthy and comfortable smell that soothed a bit of his worries. Strangely, it was relaxing.

Nobody looked at him strangely yet. Julius walked through the hallway that led to the open kitchen. Arriving, Míngyuè cheerfully greeted a group of three at the scene. They reacted to her presence like a family reunion of sorts. All hugged and exchanged a pattern of hand gestures, one at a time. While Julius stood silently and stared at them. Okay. This might not be bad after all.

A little observation only to find all three aren’t human. They are by facial and humanoid body, but each has animalistic physical characteristics that the standard robe can’t hide completely. The reunion gestures continued and dragged, and all four were going in circles. Julius didn’t bother and continued observing. Going around the circles gave him a clear view of each of the three, and that made them recognizable. Moving counterclockwise, two ladies with phantom-like wings presented and hovered on each of their backs. A glare caused Julius’s eyes to twitch. A dried allergic reaction was immediately blocked by Skoltor, overriding the effects. There was one thing that left him hanging off the rails, which he’ll come back to.

The third person was fine. Her fit was slimmer, but the wide, rocky thighs amplified her leg strength as Julius’s ears heard the heavy thumping on the wooden floor. It all seemed normal until the kitchen area shook. Julius wasn’t fazed by it, but everything around him was a little abnormal.

< Uh…Licht? >

<< You gotta stop this. >>

Licht took control of Julius’s hand and summoned the greatsword. The blade’s tip pierced and cut the wooden floor, exerting bloody red qi. The qi generated its own vibration to counter the earthquake-like pressure from the four. Julius isn’t in control right now, but he noted the bloody red qi as it wasn’t his. Licht took a piece of Feng’s power, and this was the result. How grateful I am.

He remained still and towered over the four, who suddenly stopped and collapsed on their knees to the wooden floor. Their attention turned toward him, realizing they screwed up. Míngyuè’s face was in absolute horror despite what she had told him before entering the house.

“Who the fuck are you?!”

The vibration from the blade stopped, and Licht returned control to Julius, who nudged back. There was a bearded man wielding an enlarged hammer and aimed at him from the hallway that led into the kitchen. The hammer’s sole face partially struck the hilt of his greatsword, shattering the metallic part. Don’t kill them. Julius reminded himself and grabbed the hilt, lifting the greatsword out of the floor. He then went for a forceful push with his hilt, slamming it right into the guy at his chest. An audible injury echoed in the hallway as Julius watched him fly upward before collapsing on the floor.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Julius put his greatsword on his back and went right up to him, checking his vitals. Not dead. Good.

“Stop!” Míngyuè yelled from the kitchen. Unfortunately, she was late as more from upstairs sprinted down, alerted and armed with their weapons.

I knew this was going to happen. Julius had a bad feeling about this. His quiet assumption was correct when one of them yelled, “Krieg!”

He didn’t go for his greatsword and switched to the melee.

The first one came down the stairs. Julius smacked him at the temple, swirled him over the stair rail, and crashed on top of the bearded man headfirst. The attention got worse when more showed up from the second floor and the ground floor other than the kitchen. Julius remembered the one move from the park. Immediately, he boosted himself right on the other guy, performing a speeding front kick right to the abdomen, causing a domino effect up to the second floor. Restrained strength. Cool shit.

Bang!

“Have enough?!” Julius asked after shooting a big guy in a robe, who screamed like a maniac. The bullet struck the center of his right shoulder, disabling his right arm.

Julius descended the stairs while maintaining his pistol at the big guy. Others who were behind him that came from the other part of the first floor stood like a twig, expressing their embarrassing fear that they could be next. “Sit down!” He ordered. “If you are alive, sit the fuck down on the floor!”

With his head nearly touching the ceiling, he walked right to the ones that sat on the floor in the living room. He glared at the kitchen, also ordering the four to sit down; Míngyuè wasn’t free from his orders either.

Counting everyone present like a teacher, the whole first floor was packed. More and more came from the other regions of the first floor. Julius had to shoot at another one for being aggressively disruptive. When it was certain, he strolled back to the entrance part of the house.

“I’m not impressed. I don’t know what Míngyuè tried to point out to me here, but the fact this man attacked me only because I was stopping this house from collapsing is fucking barbaric. If I have to come back here one more time, I’m destroying this place! Do you understand?!” Julius expressed his anger with his handgun drawn. Nobody responded, enraging him further. “I heard nobody answering!”

“Yes,” they all said.

Julius rambled and swore in English, suddenly confused by everyone, as they looked terrified, not knowing his mind could go on an insanity tangent. Once his handgun was shoved back into his holster, things calmed down. A near bloody introduction, especially for someone who took the appearance of his mother, who has a Kriegshan heritage, entering a hostile zone. “You are lucky that this wasn’t Emperor Cai V. He would have all of y’all executed since you attacked the royalty.”

“You are royalty?!” One spoke.

“Who said that?” Julius asked, looking around. “Show yourself.”

The person raised his hand, and Julius took a moment to make sure who he was. “Yes. Empress Cai handed me the ascension almost three weeks ago,” he said while shaking his head in disappointment, interpreting the naivety among the house except Míngyuè.

“After today, I’m not even certain I want to recruit you.”

“Please do!”

Julius turned to the kitchen and saw Míngyuè standing at her spot. “What do they have to prove?! They’re rebels.”

“No! They are not, but my friends. I’ve known them for years, and we hang out almost every night doing drinks and storytelling…Look, I’ve never seen them fight like this, ever!”

“You know what? To prove your worthiness, all of you who live or hang out here will have to try out Level One in the Merit Universe. I’ll have somebody to monitor the entire session. If at least a few of you made it through, I’ll ignore and discard everything that happened today.”

Míngyuè grimaced, almost like she was about to experience a meltdown. “Are you insane? They won’t make it.”

“You and the Tang Family weren’t the first ones that came in. Me, the House of Kang, and others from the palace all did a session before you guys did it. We had a harder time. We got three hours, while you did five to ten minutes with a harder setup,” Julius said. He wasn’t buying her comment. “So, I don’t believe that none will pass.”

Smack!

What the heck? Julius felt lost for a moment. His mind fazed out momentarily. He knew something impactful struck him but on the jaw. It was unprecedented that he didn’t even sense it coming. In fact, he was shocked because his mouthplate formed, covering his mouth. Skoltor didn’t even read any danger at an immediate alert, now beeping red.

“Hey, I got a full bleeping red alert. What the hell is going on?” Hu asked in a rare, treble voice.

“Can you…give me a…second. My mind is not…at the right…shape,” Julius telepathically stuttered. He doesn’t feel safe in the house, prompting him to release his aura. The sudden release opened cracks and peeled the walls like paper. His vision fogged, and instead of standing there, Julius went for the squared pattern, blurred by his distorted eyesight. He boosted his left leg and gave a back right kick, resulting in a loud wood-like crack when a bit of force reacted to his foot. The bright light overwhelmed his sight as he lifted his eyelids. Both of his feet landed safely on the ground. Hence, he rubbed his eyes and luckily regained some of his vision.

Julius strolled to a pole at the house’s front patio. He leaned on it and resumed telepathic conversation with Hu. “Call everyone…to the second district.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Sorry, call the Skolritters to meet me as soon as possible. It’s an emergency.”

“Alright, give me a second…”

Julius’s head throbbed as he waited. It felt like hammers were constantly pounding his head, being the latter like a hanging nail struggling to get in place. Both of his hands massaged his forehead while he hyperventilated. The pain reminded him of the first six months in the underground tournament. A bad time of the day for its recollection. It returned with no mercy and haunted him as he underwent distress. “I need help now.”

He went crazy as the patio fence broke when he lunged back, moving away from the house.

“I’m sorry!” He heard the phrase repeatedly while jogging backward, further away from the lot.

The aura volcano erupted from his back, forcing his body straight and arched back with a screeching yell.

----------------------------------------

Celeste bolted out of her room, sprinting to Julius's residence within the palace complex. She jumped up onto the roof and knocked on the closed window. “Empress!! Are you in there?!” she yelled.

A loud thud came from inside. Celeste nudged a little away when she heard the toggle of the lock from inside.

“What’s the matter?” Empress Cai, with her messy red hair hung over her face, appeared through the window.

“We got an emergency. It’s Julius.”

“How bad is it?”

“Red. Very red.”

Empress Cai grimaced aggressively and pulled her hair all the way back. “Oh shit. Call everybody! Let’s go.” She then leaped out of the window, barefoot while still in a casual white shirt and black pants.

“I called. They are running to the second district.”

The two leaped off from the roof and flew into the sky, unloading a trail of colored qi in the air.

“Second district?! Oh my god! Why is he there?!” Empress Cai asked. Her aura overwhelmed her body, changing her casual clothes into her battle fit.

“Nothing?! It must be something personal,” Celeste guessed.

A swarm of cultivators appeared in the air ahead and from behind. Solomon ascended from below, along with Feng.

“I heard the alert from Hu. Something happened?” Solomon questioned.

“We are heading to the second district. Julius is currently there right now, and I can feel his qi getting stronger as we get closer,” Celeste said with a hint of pessimism. Damn it, why didn’t you tell us? Please be okay. She prayed; a rare act for her.

Everyone was on high alert as they descended into the sole wide street of the second district, not that far from the roundabout. Mr. Kang arrived at the scene on foot and wondered what was going on after Yang gave the information. He walked up to Empress Cai and demanded answers. “I received some bad news. What the hell happened?”

Empress Cai shrugged, turning to Celeste. “I’m here to find out, too. Celeste told us about the emergency…”

“And we’re in the second district…Gosh, it’s that time again, is it?” Mr. Kang aggressively rubbed his scalp, expressing his anger. “We should’ve got rid of them years ago!”

“I regret not doing it in my time,” Empress Cai said. “But enough of that. We do it now.”

Boom!

Celeste turned to the source of the rumbling. “There’s his qi pillar. Let’s go!”

It took them only a couple of sprints to witness Julius out of control, screaming in agony as tremendous bursts of sky-blue qi left his body. Celeste knew what to do and saw Míngyuè to her left, standing at some lot in front of a large white house. “You guys handle her and that place. I’ll deal with him. Go!”

Everyone went with their task as Celeste departed from the rest, running to Julius. She summoned shield protection all over the surface of her body. As she reached closer and before grabbing Julius, a thin layer of violet qi generated above the shield’s surface. She entered through the qi pillar like passing through a waterfall. The heavy pressure altered the gravitational force within the limited space.

“I’m here!” Celeste called, going for his arm, and subsequently hugged him from behind. “Relax,” she whispered repeatedly.

Vesper, the name of her platform and also her Skoltor system, alerted the dangers of strong qi. Celeste exhaled slowly of her breath, releasing her internal qi. The violet color turned colorless, like water, cooling her throat. Her lungs expanded, which allowed her whole body to release gallons worth of liquid for a long period. She watched as the top of the liquid blast transformed into a mist. The pressure from her mouth accumulated the mist in the air and hovered above the two momentarily before descending. When the droplets reached Julius and Celeste, the damp and cold sensation masked the former’s face. His screams and pain slightly simmered, but it wasn’t enough. Celeste didn’t expect that outcome as it worked before. That brought the realization that he was significantly more powerful than ever before, which technically made him more resistant because of the sudden release of qi.

Rumble!

Celeste had to think quickly because Julius was still out of his mind. The drowsy and relaxing effect of her healing mist was no use. Vesper alerted her again, signaling the dangerous pressure from his qi. It whiffed away the violet layer of qi from her, leaving only the shield left to protect herself. She let go of her arms around him, leaping away from him. With her one hand up high in the air, she summoned her platform Vesper, and her palm folded, leaving her middle and index finger pointing in the air. An abrupt articulation of her hand then pointed at Julius, prompted Vesper to speed upwards to generate all potential energy. Celeste would leap out of the zone of Julius’s qi and watch the bright platform going for the strike.

A circle of light flashed from the site, cutting off the source of energy, which disabled the rest of the pillar. All the sky-blue qi in the air faded into nothing. The flash resulted in a thunderous shockwave spreading through the entire second district. All the buildings that stood ended in rubble. One blink of an eye and they were all gone. It should be over by now. She waited, and a blare of explosions summoned a shielded tower containing all the energy released within. Celeste covered her eyes as it got too bright.

Once it dimmed, she lowered her arm, and the shield tower slowly dimmed from the top, layer by layer as it was structured like blocks. Celeste descended while looking at her arms and legs. She got lucky because her body shield nearly shattered as fractures were everywhere. If she stayed within the qi pillar seconds more, it would have inflicted damage on her. Tens of feet in the air, she exerted her aura, wiping out the hot smoke. To her shock, Julius stood and didn’t tumble to the ground.

“Julius?” she called.

“Ugh…” he let out a voice before he tumbled towards her.

Celeste’s arms reached under his arm, grabbing his body and lifting him right up to her chest. Oomph. You are really a bulky man. Good for you. Turning right to the spot of the large white house, there was Empress Cai, unfazed with her eyes expressed frustration. Next to her was Míngyuè, lying on the floor with a bloodied head.

Solomon walked out of the house, also bloodied. His entire clothes were soaked and too, his battleaxe. “Is he safe?”

“Yeah, he’s asleep,” Celeste said while holding him.

In reaction, Solomon pointed to an empty spot and helped her pull Julius to the flat lawn of the house. They laid him on it, and Celeste quickly went to work, healing him back up. He looked charred in a layer of burns with the mouthplate intact. Solomon forced it open, revealing no wounds and being the cleanest spot on Julius’s body.