RuffWriter
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Chapter 606
🕑 Added 2020-07-12 23:16:54 +0000 UTChttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1pcjEfRue7y3HPohNzcV3VYxJeaz-UvQtgJF5mE3joBM/edit?usp=sharing
In a world constrained by the need for Balance, thereÂ’s nothing like the uninhibited expression of joy you get when reuniting with a floof.
I could disappear for five minutes and Aurie would be excited to see me, but after spending twenty-odd days in a coma, my sweet wildcat is so besotted by my presence that he literally canÂ’t stay still. Zooming around the courtyard at never before seen speeds, Aurie makes three full circuits before finally feeling calm enough to come see me, but IÂ’ve already been swarmed by the other floofs. The bunbuns headbutt and hop about in sheer delight while Banjo and Baloo tackle me down to the grass, gurgling and nuzzling for all theyÂ’re worth, soon joined by Aurie who throws himself atop them. Sarankho brings me her favourite toy to play with while Jimjam comes down from his treetop perch to offer me a few friendly swats, and even Roc flutters down to nuzzle me a bit, but the chaos is too much for him to handle and he soon retreats to the rooftops to watch from afar.
As for Ping Ping, sheÂ’s been with me all this time, but that doesnÂ’t stop her from joining in on the festivities. Old and smart as she is, thereÂ’s a childish cast to all her actions as she mimics the animals around her, first chasing after Aurie to see where heÂ’s going, only to give up when he laps her, then doing a few test hops and spins with the bunbuns before ambling over to wedge herself under Banjo to receive her fair share of hugs and kisses. All the while, her rounded beak and expressive eyes remain wide and jubilant, so full of wonder and delight I envy her joyous and jubilant perspective. She is loving life as a tiny turtle and having the time of her life scampering to and fro with all her new friends, and I can see the other animals love her too. IÂ’m so happy for her, I could almost cry, and it hurts knowing how lonely she must have been for so many years, chilling by the river every day with no one to keep her company.
No one except Guan Suo, who is now dead and gone.
Well... maybe not entirely gone. At the thought of the deceased Divinity, my eyes are drawn to my cherry tree, looking beautiful in autumnal colours of red and yellow hues. There, within the sparse sprinkling of leaves, hides the chonkiest, grumpiest red panda I have ever seen, glaring at the proceedings from his perch high above. As darling as he is, I canÂ’t wholly appreciate his adorable expression or angry-cute mannerisms, because Luo-Luo ruined it all by telling me what everyone thought, and now I canÂ’t unthink it. From what I can piece together, after I screamed at Mila to go combat ready, she woke up, came to her feet, and the next thing she knew, she was standing over my unconscious frame, with the diminutive Ping Ping and cantankerous red panda beside me.
And no dead Guan Suo to be found.
So... what the fuck did I do? Was it even me, or did Ping Ping make a pit stop on her way to Divinity and bring her friend back from the dead? I remember everything leading up to it, but my memories of what happened after waking Mila are almost non-existent. Ping Ping was about to turn into a Demon, and I tried to save her. ThatÂ’s about it. I must have succeeded, considering sheÂ’s here now in her adorably Divine form, but I have no idea what I did or how I helped. I remember feeling good about accomplishing something in a dream, but now IÂ’m not so sure it was a dream. At the moment, my best guess is I brought her back from the emotional brink and from there, she figured out the Path to Divinity herself. She was close, and I suppose whatever the Spectres tried to do showed her how to get over that last hurdle, but there are problems with this theory.
First off, according to Zhen Shi’s notes, Demons bring their hosts to the Peak of the Martial Path, but always fail to ‘shatter the void’, which is the last known step before Divinity. Knowing this, we can speculate that Demonification is a dead end path with regards to achieving Divinity, which is a good thing since it means Zhen Shi can’t crank out Demonic Divinities like hotcakes. However, if this is true, how can a failed Demonification show Ping Ping the proper path to Divinity? Does this mean I did something to help her along? I mean, it tracks, right? I might have forgotten what I did, but I remember accomplishing something, something to do with... acid and Panacea? Then afterwards, while stuck in Zhen Shi’s illusion, I was suffering through insomnia, clouded thoughts, migraines, and apathy, all tell-tale signs of Chi over-exertion. I must have done something involving Chi or Heavenly Energy, something big, and what’s bigger than helping a turtle ascend to Divinity?
Bringing someone back from the dead, of course, which begs the question: is that red panda Guan Suo reborn, and if so, how do I feel about this?
Weirded out. ThatÂ’s how I feel. How am I supposed to cuddle that grumpy floof knowing he was once Guan Suo? God, how does Mila feel about her recently deceased father coming back as a cute floof? Then again, is it really Guan Suo? Luo-Luo told me the red panda hasnÂ’t shown any signs of having once been an Ancestral Beast and behaves like a juvenile red panda would. He likes clinging to Ping Ping, but heÂ’ll slip out to chase bugs, roll around in the grass, or nap in the trees when he thinks no one is around. HeÂ’ll even wrestle with the bunbuns and raid the kitchen for eggs and fruit when feeling particularly adventurous, which I canÂ’t wait to see. WhatÂ’s more, he doesnÂ’t even show signs of being a Spiritual Beast, as I discovered first-hand from his weak little love-taps, and for all intents and purposes, is nothing more than the roly-poly red panda he appears to be.
And yet, I canÂ’t get over the fact that Ping Ping or I may have inadvertently remade Guan Suo into a floof. I love animals, but thatÂ’s too much, even for me. If I really have this power, there is no way I would ever use it in a moral fashion. IÂ’d turn almost everyone into floofs, because people suck and animals are almost always better company. Stuck up noble? Floofed. Pushy merchant? Floofed. Cunning enemy? Floofed.
Oh god... what if I floof ALL the Defiled? Turn those crazed murderers into... well, house cats would be most appropriate choice. Still crazed and murderous, but manageable and adorable. See what I mean? IÂ’m not even sure if I have this power, and already IÂ’m imagining how IÂ’d use it. Irresponsibly, thatÂ’s how.
But think of all the floofs...
Mysteries aside, the most vexing part of this whole experience is the fact that IÂ’m still crippled. Attempts to enter my Natal Palace left me staring at the back of my eyelids, and my nightshirt was soaked in sweat after a brief, five minute Demonstration the Forms. If I did have phenomenal cosmic power for a brief moment, I most certainly wasnÂ’t omniscient, because I forgot to fix my Core and get myself back into fighting shape. This makes me think I merely assisted in Ping PingÂ’s ascent while she did most of the heavy lifting, because I canÂ’t imagine any circumstances in which I would leave myself as a broken shell of a Martial Warrior. If anything, IÂ’d have overcompensated and given myself bones of steel and impenetrable skin to help survive MilaÂ’s amorous advances, not to mention the stamina of a draft horse for obvious reasons.
And maybe like... five or ten more centimetres in height. Not too much, because then IÂ’d be too tall to properly hug Lin-Lin, but like... just a little taller so I can see over a crowd of normal people.
And bear hands, if I have some juice left over.
...Actually, letÂ’s flip those last two priorities around. Who needs to be tall when youÂ’ve got bear hands? Get maimed, motherfuckers...
A cursory attempt at meditation and a brief Demonstration of the Forms was all I had time to get through before Mom dropped by with Taduk to check up on me, and then the rest of my morning was spent narrating what I remembered and learning what IÂ’d missed. Not only are the Abbot and GangShu still recovering from their injuries, Defiled activity picked up all across the front lines only a few days after I passed out, so everyone is understandably on edge. Three large Defiled armies are moving out from the West, while roving warbands sweep through the areas between them, which means every fort on the front lines is under heavy pressure, including locations which hadnÂ’t seen action in weeks.
At first, I thought Zhen Shi was being stupid to take such a widespread approach, but then I spent a second or two thinking about it and decided it was brilliant. The Imperials would have never stuck around to fight a single, unstoppable horde of Defiled, and these widespread engagements favour the Enemy far more than the Empire. First, there are a shit-tonne more Defiled than Imperial soldiers, so even if every battle goes in our favour, we could end up losing in the long run due on attrition alone, because no matter how overwhelming the victory, good soldiers still die, and we donÂ’t have a vast pool of unwilling recruits to dip into, nor can our recruits go from joe schmoe to competent warrior in a matter of months. Continuing this train of thought, bloody, hard-fought encounters are conducive towards creating Demons and possibly even more Defiled, as Imperial soldiers come away from these traumatic experiences with unseen mental scars. Lastly, these battles are an opportunity for Zhen Shi to train his Chosen soldiers and generals, who are a lot like tradition Imperial soldiers than most people care to admit. This is a new chapter in the war against the Enemy, one which is designed not to quickly crush the Empire underfoot, but to bleed us dry and grind our spirits down ever so slowly.
To add more shit to a shitty sandwich, itÂ’s not just the Western border we have to worry about anymore. There have been reports of Defiled mustering in the passes south of Shen Jin, which guards the only known overland passage connecting the Northern and Western provinces. This means we might soon be fighting on two more fronts once Zhen Shi decides to push North, by land and by sea. While the West has a dearth of wood and other natural resources, they had plenty of boats and ships already docked when the Defiled first invaded, so if the Imperial forces werenÂ’t able to set fire to their fleets before the invaders arrived, then weÂ’re all in for a bad time. Mother help us all if the Defiled find a way through the Arid Wastes, because then the South is good as lost, since they have no fortifications built to hold against the Enemy coming from that direction.
For these reasons and more, Dad hasnÂ’t been by to see me, since heÂ’s busier than usual overseeing the withdrawal of the entire front lines. The call was made to give up ground and retreat to the second line of defences, but I fear the Enemy offensive has only just begun. Mom tells me there have also been numerous attempts on the lives of prominent Martial Warriors in the past two weeks, including half a dozen attempts on my manor. It makes me wonder if Zhen ShiÂ’s nightmarish scenario was just there to keep me in a coma, as a means to keep me helpless and contained while he tried to have me killed in real life, but that doesnÂ’t really compute. Why go to all that trouble just to keep me out of the way or have me killed? Sure, War Bonds did a lot of good getting money where it needed to be spent, but it takes time for my efforts to take effect, and with the war picking up steam, time is what I lack the most.
Then again, maybe he wasnÂ’t trying to kill me. Maybe heÂ’s trying to kill Ping Ping, which makes sense. SheÂ’s a Divinity now, and a much friendlier one than Pong Pong, which means she might actually fight to keep me safe. Not sure how I feel about putting her in danger for a cause that isnÂ’t her own, but itÂ’s an option, at least.
Ooh! ThereÂ’s another plus to my grand floofication plans. Powerful, adorable floofs to keep me safe from all the scary shit out there. Floofs canÂ’t turn Defiled, because theyÂ’re too pure for the FatherÂ’s bullshit, or something. I dunno. Whatever the reason, thatÂ’s a plus, right?
...
Yea, I really canÂ’t be trusted with that much power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. If anything, it should be Ping Ping with the Floofy Touch, because she would use it responsibly. Probably. Or maybe not. Maybe sheÂ’d floofify everything in sight, because as far as I can tell, she loves all things floofy. Currently resting atop BalooÂ’s bouncy belly, the little girl squeaks up a happy storm while rubbing her face in bear fur, which is both utterly endearing and oddly maniacal at the same time. Noticing my gaze, she shuffles over and lowers herself none-too-gently onto my chest, where she nuzzles my chin and sinks in for a snuggle with a contented sigh.
Yea, this is way better than human Ping Ping. ThatÂ’d be weird. What sort of animal traits would an Ancestral Turtle have anyways? Probably baldness, which I donÂ’t love, or a hard-shell back, which I hate. Ping Ping may not be physically floofy, but sheÂ’s floofy at heart, which is where it really counts. Even the floofiest lion is no good to me if heÂ’s too murdery to hug. ThatÂ’s just common sense.
Giving Ping Ping a kiss on the beak, I stroke her head and nuzzle my floofs in hopes of allaying all my fears, but alas, they still linger in the back of my mind. It doesnÂ’t take much to turn an orderly withdrawal into a massed rout, and from what IÂ’ve gathered, Hongji was the one who made the call. This means Sinuji was facing a serious threat, which in turn means Alsantset, Mila, Yan, and Huu are all in grave danger. Rustram and my retinue too, as well as the Sentinels riding with Alsantset and countless other people I know and care about, but thereÂ’s nothing I can do to help them. I need to come up with something brilliant to turn the tides of war, something so powerful even Divinities will have to think twice before making a move.
Mila’s spring-powered Spiritual Guns were a promising start, but she stopped making those because she didn’t believe their design was ‘optimal’, and she’s been waiting for Divine Inspiration to point her in the right direction ever since. Then there’s my whole endeavour with Runic Cannons, but the only things the Tyrant has given me thus far are bills and bupkis. Gunpowder is out of the question, since there’s no way to hold the gunpowder without giving Not-Gen and any other Fire-Blessed Defiled/Demon an inordinate amount fuel for their Chi-Fires. Chariots, crossbows, and catapults are about the only real weapons I’ve contributed, and those weren’t even unheard of. The Empire stopped using chariots because regular cavalry was more versatile and almost as effective, which meant wasting trained warhorses on glorified wagons was seen as a waste. Crossbows and catapults were already in use too, as I’d seen soldiers firing them off of the Northern Wall and village hunters wielding slings and longbows, but the mindset is that Martial Warriors fight in close combat, and anything else if for peasants.
I just canÂ’t think of any other weapon I could conceivably bring out to use against the Defiled. I know there are non-flammable explosives, but I have no idea where to even begin researching them. Steam powered engines might be useful, but considering any smuck with a Spiritual Weapon could turn a tank into scrap iron, IÂ’m pretty sure even I canÂ’t afford to mass produce steam-powered vehicles of war and come out ahead. What would they even do anyways? Run the Defiled over? Chariots can do that for much cheaper and are probably more effective once you take into account the angry bull or cow pulling it.
So where do I go from here? What other technological marvel can I pull out to help the Empire win this war?
...Maybe Zhen Shi has a point about my methods and mindset being flawed. I don’t mean the point he was trying to make about me weakening humanity as a whole, but a different, accidental, yet valid point nonetheless. All this time, I’ve been overlooking a vital weapon in the war against the Enemy, and that’s the Martial Path itself. Or Martial Dao. Whatever. The Dao is all-encompassing, but we focus on the martial aspects because that’s what we need, but our understanding of the Dao is dog-shit. Humanity as a whole is missing so many pieces of the puzzle that we don’t even know why 99% of the population fails at Core Formation. That’s literally the first step, which, if anything, proves that it can’t possibly be the correct path. If the Mother, in all Her wisdom decided that one percent of humanity would be responsible for defending the rest, then She seriously gimped us in the War against the Enemy, and I just don’t see it happening. If we put aside all the religious aspects of the Martial Path, then I have to think that the reason so many people fail at Core Formation is because we don’t truly understand what this first step entails. I mean, we can’t even explain how it happens aside from ‘find Balance’, because for most Martial Warriors, it’s as easy as breathing. One second, we’re normal, everyday humans, and the next, we’re channelling the Energy of the Heavens into our newly Formed Cores.
ThatÂ’s how it was for me, thatÂ’s how it was for the twins, and thatÂ’s how it was for almost everyone I know, except for Lang Yi and his fellow former slaves. They were all normal citizens of the Empire until Yo Ling and his butchers came along, and like most normal citizens, many of them also tried to Form Cores, but failed. Then, after months or years of torment and suffering at the hands of the Butcher Bay Bandits, Lang Yi and his comrades emerged as fully fledged Martial Warriors with only a modicum of guidance from Jochi and Argat. Sure, Lang Yi and co. almost turned Defiled along the way, but that doesnÂ’t explain why they were unable to Form Cores as children and succeeded in a matter of days or weeks after living through their horrific ordeals.
Looking at things another way, Imperial dogma states that if you find Balance, you can succeed at Core Formation. Does this mean everyone who fails is unbalanced? No, because if anything, unbalance would bring them closer to Core Formation like it did with Lang Yi. Given what IÂ’ve seen in this life and read in Zhen ShiÂ’s notes, thereÂ’s no fundamental difference between the Defiled Martial Path and the Imperial one. The Defiled just have the dubious benefit of Spectres helping them along, passing on Insight and Blessings with ease while driving their hosts to indulge their basest instincts. I experienced it first-hand myself, where IÂ’d easily comprehend the Martial Path when studying as Baledagh, yet lack any and all understand of what I did or how I did it.
ThatÂ’s the difference between comprehension and understanding. Even the greatest Martial Warriors of this time can only claim comprehension of the Martial Dao, because no one truly understands it. Maybe thatÂ’s where I should turn my attention to, unravelling the secrets of the Martial Dao to elevate humanity as a whole, much like Zhen Shi ostensibly tried to do before becoming public enemy number one.
I just... have to explain a deep, mystical concept which has remained ineffable for all of human history without being influenced by evil murder ghosts and going bat-shit crazy. Oh, I also need to hope that my explanation somehow allows the Empire to churn out Martial Warriors fast enough to throw back the Enemy, and I need to do it before the Imperial defences are overrun and the Defiled torture and turn millions of helpless civilians, while slaughtering countless more. Easy peasy, right?
...ItÂ’d probably be easier to develop a conventional weapon of massed destruction.
Still, it doesnÂ’t hurt to consider the possibility, since thereÂ’s nothing else for me to do. Mom is busy helping Akanai keep the Sentinel families calm while Luo-Luo headed out to her office for work. Grandpa Du is no doubt riding DadÂ’s ass for news about Yan, while Lin-Lin and Taddy are still in bed. I canÂ’t visit GangShu or the Abbot because their people brought them away, and the Legate is all the way in the Central Citadel, so I wonÂ’t be meeting with him anytime soon, which is good because IÂ’m not looking forward to that discussion. So instead of doing anything productive, I idly the time away with my floofs while pondering the nature of the Martial Dao.
That’s where Grandpa Du finds me several hours later, at almost eight in the morning according to my pocket watch, though it feels much later thanks to how early I got up. “Good news,” he says, beaming from ear to ear as sweet Kishi joins my cuddle puddle. “The withdrawal was a success. Brigadier Hongji took grave injury, but he will survive, and his forces are all safely behind fortress walls now. Even better, Yan performed above and beyond all expectations and has many well-deserved commendations in her future.”
Even accounting for Grandpa Du’s penchant for over-exaggeration, it sounds like Yan performed admirably on the field of battle and is now being heralded as the ‘Sanguine Storm’. A little derivative of Grandpa Du’s title, the Sanguine Tempest, but a well-deserved title nonetheless. Not only did she almost single-handedly cut her way through an intercepting force of Defiled, she even nabbed herself a bonafide Demon kill while also holding nominal command over the bulk of the retreating forces. That is a hat-trick of achievements if there ever was one, but she wasn’t the only person to excel. Apparently, Hongji sent back a list of heroes who went above and beyond the call of duty, a list which even now was making the rounds. Many of those heroes are now dead, names I recognize in passing like Xue Biqian, a stuck-up noble from the Society who Fung beat bloody during the Contest, or Ru Minsu, a kindly old warrior who presented Akanai with a written apology the day we first arrived in Nan Ping, one which acknowledged the wrongdoings his elders had perpetrated against her some five decades ago and offered remorse and recompense. There’s also Jin ZhiLan, the lovely, flirty, and ultimately kind-hearted Warrant Officer who I fought alongside in Sanshu, who even now might be lying dead on a funeral pyre which has yet to be lit aflame, never to laugh or smile again.
The list of dead continues, and I recognize every name there, because each and every one of them was a vaunted hero of the Empire whom I crossed paths with at some point. To my great relief, my loved ones on the list are not marked as deceased, so I am able to take great pride in their achievements. While Yan’s stands out the most, Mila and Alsantset are also mentioned by name, for their part in combating the Defiled cavalry and holding off a concentrated Demon assault. My fierce sister claimed three Demon kills of her own and is being recommended for a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, while my fiery wifey got a special mention for assisting in the deaths of seven Demons. It’s stated that while Mila didn’t kill any of the Demons, her ‘unique’ weapon was instrumental in tying them down, which allowed another Martial Warrior to deal the killing blow.
Huushal and Ulfsaar are also up for commendations, as are Mister Rustram, Chu XinYue, Wang Bao, Ghurda, Naaran, Tenjin, Tursinai, and more, but the most surprising name on the list is Siyar, who Condensed his Aura to fight off a lone Demon wreaking havoc amongst the Imperial lines, and held out until reinforcements arrived to save Hongji’s beleaguered force, reinforcements led by none other than Zian himself. Almost as an afterthought, Hongji closes out his list with, “And Lu Jia Zian, who has more than fulfilled the requirements of his provisional rank by single-handedly killing two Demons and assisting in the deaths of five more.”
As happy as I am for everyone, I canÂ’t help but feel like IÂ’m being left behind, though I disguise my despondent mood as concern for the dead. Of course, this makes me feel even worse since I should mourn the dead properly, especially considering the fact that HongjiÂ’s list only holds the names of those he deemed important. Who knows how many others died? Fifty-thousand soldiers were stationed in Sinuji, but many fell in the days leading up to the withdrawal, and many more during the withdrawal itself. It sounds like the fighting was bloody, and I hate myself for not being able to help, so the next few hours are spent wallowing in self-pity and worrying for the future.
Which is how Lin-Lin finds me, stilled curled up in my floof pile in the middle of my courtyard. Shrieking in delight as she throws herself atop me, my sweet wifey wiggles her way past Banjo and Aurie to slip into my embrace. “Hi hubby,” she says, after a long, wet kiss on the cheek. “Welcome back.”
And thatÂ’s it. There are no burning questions she has to ask or concerns she wants addressed, because sheÂ’s just happy IÂ’m awake again. I envy Lin-LinÂ’s outlook on life, so happy and carefree because she focuses on the good and doesnÂ’t let the bad bring her down. SheÂ’s probably just as worried about Mila, Yan, and the others as I am, but she doesnÂ’t let that affect her happiness in this moment, or any other moment. Some might think her simple, but nothing could be farther from the truth, because she is cognizant of all the same problems IÂ’ve identified and stress over, but to her, those problems just exist without affecting her in negative ways. She prepares for worst case scenarios without letting doom or gloom intrude upon her happy mindset, and that is something I wish I could do.
Sensing my inner turmoil, Lin-Lin flashes a mocking frown before breaking out into a grin, all while still scritching Ping Ping’s head. “Silly hubby. You’ve been awake for a few hours and you’ve already twisted yourself into knots.”
“I can’t help it. It’s in my nature.”
Giggling as Banjo rests his chin atop her head, Lin-Lin slips out from under the bear and reverses their positions, propping her head atop his big bear snout before taking my hand in hers. “Well, you should change, hubby. Whatever will be, will be, but we will face it together.” Poking me in the cheek, she flutters her lashes and peers out at me from behind her large, lovely eyes. “Now, why don’t we have breakfast, ya? Even if you’re gonna worry, you shouldn’t do it on an empty stomach.”
“...How’d you know I skipped breakfast?”
“Hehe. Luo-Luo told me.” Coming to her feet with remarkable ease, Lin-Lin pulls at my arm and fails to heft me up beside her. Not just because I’m laying here like a sack of potatoes, but also because Baloo is fast asleep and snoring, though Ping Ping heard the word ‘breakfast’ and is already scampering around my wifey’s ankles, no doubt eager for scraps. Unable to refuse either of their pleading gazes, I gently shift out from under Baloo’s bulk and make my way over to the kitchen with Lin-Lin on my arm and my floofs at my heels. She’s right about taking things as the come, as she usually is, but it’s not easy to keep my neuroses in check. Out of curiosity, I ask, “I’ve been thinking about Core Formation, and how no one really understands it because it’s really an all or nothing experience. Either you find Balance and Form a Core, or you don’t. Was it like that for you? Or were you more like Yan, and had trouble for a few years until it just... magically made sense.”
“I dunno,” Lin-Lin replies, without even stopping to think. “I don’t remember it. Daddy says I was four when it happened, but he also says that’s when I started walking and talking too, so I think that’s just the age he gives when he doesn’t remember the truth.”
Yea, that sounds like something Taddy would do. He probably celebrated her first step as much as he celebrated her ten-thousandth breath, not because he wasnÂ’t excited for her first step, but because he gushes over everything she does with the same level of enthusiasm. Honestly, I donÂ’t know how he does it, but I admire that about him, and I admire Lin-Lin more for not being a spoiled princess, because with a father like Taduk, that must have been supremely difficult.
Spending time with Lin-Lin is good for the soul as we eat and feed the floofs, while word from the front continues to trickle in. BoShui also performed admirably on the battlefield, albeit in a different clash some fifty kilometres north of Sinuji, but the news is pretty much all downhill from there. The bulk of the Imperial forces stationed on the front lines were able to make it back to the second line of defences, but the casualties were not like. A preliminary report which I should not have been able to access put the casualties at somewhere north of twenty percent, meaning one in five soldiers stationed on the front lines didn’t make it back to the second line. While we killed an absurd amount of Defiled and Chosen in the process, as I pointed out before, Zhen Shi can always make more, and most of the attacking Demons escaped alive, including one exceedingly dangerous Demon Hongji dubbed the ‘Dark Child’, an Esoteric Blessed monster responsible for killing eight Peak Experts and many more Demon Slayers. Who knows how many more powerful Demons Zhen Shi has in store? There are no Spectres needed to bring down my mood, because the bleak reality of the situation is enough to do that on its own. The Empire might be celebrating a successful withdrawal, but all I see is the impending downfall of civilization and a future in which humanity is ruled by a crazed, seemingly immortal monster in human flesh, one who sees survival of the fittest as his religion.
And like he said, if I am fateÂ’s champion set to oppose him, then Zhen Shi has all but won.
Author's note: Didn't cover as much as I'd hoped, and kinda got sidetracked by Rain rambling, but Imma keep it and just contiunue his PoV next chapter. I dunno, I feel like a lot of the points covered could bear repeating, as well as a bit of emphasis on Rains... Path :D Wink Wink Nudge Nudge
Comments
Lessthan
Spiritual steam engine locomotives. I'm just saying.
Gardor
Good thing we got this rambling check up on all the shit rain doesn't know. I was really hoping this was gonna be the plausible replacement for whatever convoluted scheme actually gets rain his core back, but reading about medieval economic reform is neat too. Also, aren't there always a bunch of super strong experts all over the place, who can sense a wife area, who would have noticed ping ping going dark and then rain yelling and stopping it?
Heraclitus
Never. He's going to get physically weaker and more crippled until his body wastes away and he turns into a omniscient hive-mind with his floofs. Just a giant head floating in a bucket of water.
Paween Hinmuangkao
Especially Mila and Huu. Yan had her... company? For a while and has been recognized as a promising officer. (Not a star, but a promising one.) She joined the fight and has been in the thick of it for a long time, so we can recognize that. Mila on the other hand... was just shoved into the forge. While we are informed that she's the strongest of the generation, she has no recognized achievement in combat. A duel with a demon? Famous enemy? Nope. And we don't get to see her works being publicly recognized either. All guns were made before the western invasion. Her works during the defense of the western defiled were not recognized at all. Huu has it even worse. He only gets the chance to appear AND do something just now... And he was supposed to be one of the competition within this generation of Bekhai.
Can you atleast give us an estimate on the number of chapters before rain gets his powers back
Rene Christensen
So Rain is finally getting around to really digging into the truth behind core formation? That could be interesting, instead of luck he could develop an understanding of what he is doing. Though if he can move the needle from 99% of people being unable to form cores, to 90% or less thats a whole lot of martial warriors. He already has invented the martial spirits to reside inside the natal palace.
Blah64
Mood.
I'll be frank. Rain has done more to help the Empire as a cripple than he ever did as a warrior, and I think that's pretty impressive. While his physical fraility may be offputting, I like to think it's all part of the journey.
Pacnether
Especially where it’s full on intelligent protagonist challenging existing conventions and forging a more innovative path. It’s a more interesting read than getting powers back and going through typical wuxia/xianxia smack smack level up smack smack world/universe domination
Pacnether
Thanks! I actually really enjoy Rain ramblings
Ah right, I should put his name in
SugarRoll
No honorable mention for Jorani? Soldiers were chanting his name at one point.
Tyrell Facey
Frankly, I'm happy everyone else is finally getting the recognition they deserve now they can stop being seen as Rain's followers instead of the party members they're supposed to be
thaughton2
I understand why he does it, but my gods Rain is annoying when goes on about absurd stuff like 'floofication' to avoid dealing with stress.
Joseph
Please tell me this means he's going to get his power back soon. As much as I still love this story, the main character has done nothing besides introducing paper money for the last 100? 200? chapters. It's getting to be a bit much.
