As I watched the city loom on the horizon, like a giant corpse lying under a gray sky, I thought: This is a prison shaped like a city. No matter how far I go, I will remain a prisoner here.
But at that moment, logic interrupted this emotional thought. I analyzed the scene with cold gray eyes that scanned the place like laser beams:
After the analysis, I despised this city once again. How could any rational being agree to live in this hole?
I paid no attention to the looks of awe and admiration from the soldiers as they made way for me as if I were a returning god of war, their shields clanging together in a faint metallic clatter in respect for my passage. My body, with a will that was no longer entirely my own, led me straight across the palace courtyards, toward the heart of this prison. Towards the jailer... Ling Gu .
I stood in front of his door, the dragon and tiger engravings on the door seeming to move in the shadows. I pulled the handle and entered without permission. He was sitting behind his polished desk, which reflected the candlelight like a pool of black oil, sipping tea from a simple clay cup, steam rising from it in twisted lines.
He raised his eyes, and an amused, calm smile appeared on his face, a smile that hid an abyss. He said in a voice that flowed like cold water dripping on a smooth rock: My dear friend... You're finally back. Come in, sit down, and have some tea with me.
The entity that took control of my body during the war... ‘404-Illusion’. How did you know it would take control of my body? How did you know about my ‘Soul Echo’ ability? How did you know about ‘Dio’ and that these were the required artifacts? Questions rushed through my head: How could this entity know everything about me?
you become smarter in the time I haven't seen you, my friend. Or have you always been like this and just hidden it?
Ling Go calmly put down his cup and said in a relaxed tone that exuded excessive confidence: Dream, every entity has its goals, and you and I share the same goals. There is no need for suspicion between us. I know, my friend, that you will not doubt me, and I know myself... that I will not doubt you.
He leaned forward slightly, and I saw my stony face reflected in his dark eyes: As for your question, How do I know?, that is a secret I cannot tell you, even to my friend. But know for sure that we are on the same side.
Strange. I feel... maybe... maybe he's not just a tyrant or a villain. Maybe he really is my friend.
He stood up from his chair, walked over to stand directly in front of me, and smiled: Thank you, Dream. You have shortened my plan to take over the city of Hili by years. And since you are my friend and eternal guardian, I will tell you our next step toward my and your ascension to heaven.
He looked at me, his eyes shining with a crazy ambition like distant lightning: Nippon Island.
I froze for a moment as I processed the word. A new island! A new adventure! A chance to escape this tomb! I thought with enthusiasm But in a split second, cold analysis crushed that excitement.
I said, the words coming out of my mouth with cold arrogance: This is impossible for you.
Ling Gu burst out laughing, his laughter echoing around the empty room: I were right! you become smarter! Or is it me who's become stupider?
I said coldly: It's you who's become stupider.
Ling Gu replied without losing his smile: And you've become more insolent too. Then he continued walking around the room, his fingers gently touching the old books: Since I've become stupider, I want to ask you a question, my advisor... Why would I occupy an island outside the continent of Murim ? In the ocean? An ocean that is considered suicide to reach in the first place? And what would I gain from occupying Nippon?
I thought about it. The island of Nippon... The island that the people of Murim had tried to occupy throughout their history, failing each time in circumstances stranger than the previous failure. It was said that the island was protected by people called samurai.
They subdue dragons and tame them. Why does Ling Gu want to occupy this island? It is clear that occupying it is impossible for a clan like the Go , which is considered, at best, above average among the Murim clans. What will he really gain? The journey from Chang'an would take at least three months, and on top of that, he would need the cooperation of the coastal city of Hui'an to use the gate.
As I was deep in thought, Ling Gu said, What's wrong, genius? Can't you think of a reason?
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I said, “No. There is no logical benefit to occupying it
He smiled and said, Wrong. You failed, genius. He went and sat back down in his chair, took a sip of tea, and said: I'll answer the question of Nippon's usefulness with another question: In your opinion, a medium-sized clan that is growing in strength at an alarming rate... what will happen to it here?
I replied immediately: It will be destroyed by stronger clans that see it as a threat to their status.
Ling Gu said: As expected of a genius. Now I will ask another question: What if this clan grows stronger and becomes equal to or stronger than other clans, but in a remote place... a place no one can reach?
The idea immediately popped into my head. This man does not want to occupy Nippon in the traditional sense. He wants to make it his base without anyone know. He wants to be inside it to increase his power and army without having to fear interference from other clans on the continent. It's a crazy idea in its genius. No one would expect it. But... that's only if he could set foot on Nippon.
I wanted to ask him: How are you going to set foot on Nippon without being wiped out? But he smiled and said: Okay, that's enough for today. Go on out and close the door behind you. I turned to leave, thinking, then he said: Oh, right, Dream... Next time, knock on the door.
I thought for a moment: Damn bastard. Is this a friend? I don't believe it. But he said he would help me find feelings.
I left his room, darkness enveloping me. I closed my eyes, trying to find a moment of silence. Instead of silence, I found a vision. A pitch-black sky, not a single star. Absolute cosmic silence. I see a hand holding a black sword, cutting through this void. Then I hear a voice, not in my ears, but in my soul. Cairo's faint, distant laugh: Don't die, Dio. Then a flash of Clara's face, her eyes filled with tears: I love you.
I opened my eyes and felt a real pain in my chest. The pain of longing. It was just a dream. Just an echo. But it was more real than anything else in this cold palace.
The next day, the Senate convened. The atmosphere was charged with electricity and tension, the smell of cold sweat emanating from some of the guards despite the cold weather. There were two empty seats for the Sheikh (Feng Lin) and the Sheikha Jin Yi, who remained in the city of Hili to organize control.
Ling Gu began to speak, his voice filling the hall with absolute authority: My friends, we have achieved a crushing victory over our eternal enemies. This is only the beginning of our golden age under my leadership, the eternal guardian of the clan, Enma. He looked at the elders one by one: I know that all of you fought fiercely and loyally... except for one man.
All eyes turned to Wu Ji, who remained seated coldly, like a statue of ice. Ling Gu continued with a cold smile: But I believe he will not refuse to fight next time. As for your problems with Enma as the eighth elder, I believe they have been resolved after what you saw in the battle.
Ling Gu stood up and opened his arms as if embracing the world: Today, I announce the opening of Chang'an City! Whoever wants to leave, leave! Whoever wants to enter, welcome! The era of isolation is over! Then he lowered his voice to a point where everyone leaned forward, his voice becoming like a snake's hiss: And today, I announce our next move! We will attack Nippon Island!
Whispers and gasps of shock erupted in the room. But Wu Ji's reaction was different. He didn't shout, nor did he stand up. Instead, his old face turned ashen. His eyes widened in genuine terror, not fear of battle, but fear of something deeper and darker. He looked at Ling Gu, then at me, and his lips trembled as he whispered audibly in the deafening silence: Nippon...? Are you crazy? Do you want to awaken the real demons?
Wu Ji looked at me as if he saw his end and the end of the world in my gray eyes, and said in a voice dripping with horror: You don't understand... That place is not for the living. It is the graveyard of the gods.
You fool!” Wu Ji raised his voice, trying to hide his terror with anger, his voice sharp as a blade. Did I hear you right? Did you say Nippon Island?
Yes, you heard me correctly. We will cooperate with the ‘Heavenly Demon Sect’, taking advantage of the existence of a gateway to the ocean in their territory, prepare a fleet, invade that island, and be the first to break its curse.
Wu Ji burst out laughing, but it was not a sarcastic laugh, but rather the hysterical laugh of someone who sees disaster coming and cannot stop it: And will the Heavenly Devil Sect accept cooperation with love or with scorn?
Don't be conceited just because your mother is one of them! And because you were raised with them for a little while! The Heavenly Devil Sect itself failed to conquer Nippon Island, and now you, a naive fool, come along and say you will do it? Don't be conceited, child, just because you defeated the collapsed Yu clan! That was nothing more than completing what your father started!
Ling Gu stood up from his chair and slowly approached him, the smile completely disappearing from his face. Wu Ji... Wu Ji... I truly consider you my grandfather. But you are making things very difficult for me.
Then he shouted, his voice like thunder shaking the walls: Are we less than the Heavenly Demon Sect?! Are we less than Nippon Island?! No! We are the strongest! My words are absolute! If I told you to kill yourself, you would do it! I give you the freedom to discuss the greatness of my words, not to oppose them! And you know very well what we do to those who oppose us!
His voice suddenly softened, becoming a terrifying, icy whisper: You are my family. If anyone dares to touch a hair on your head, I will burn them. If any of you dare to rebel... I will do worse to them. Because I love my family.
He looked directly at Wu Ji, his eyes shining with a strange darkness: I will forgive you this time because of your loyalty to me and your grief over my father's death. But there will be no next time. Now, go and announce the opening of the border yourself tomorrow in the main square.
As for Song Chen and Hu Ran, your mission is to fortify the Qied Forest. Now that it is possible to travel through it, our enemies may exploit this loophole.
I left the meeting with my mind still spinning in circles: How would Ling Gu set foot ?
i wanted to know if my sword is ready so l decide to go to the old blacksmith's workshop. Heat emanated from the open door, and the smell of burning charcoal reminded me of Arda. I entered to find Romel the dwarf hammering away at a glowing piece of metal, sparks flying around him like tiny fireworks. Oh, boy, he said without looking up, his voice hoarse from the smoke. You're just in time. I've just finished.
He turned and lifted his masterpiece. I froze in my tracks. It was no ordinary sword. It was a monster in the shape of a sword. It was an odachi, majestically long, taller than me. Its blade was black as the heart of a dead star, absorbing light and reflecting nothing, and its scabbard was an interwoven blend of crimson and deep purple, like a bloody sunset in a burning sky. It carried immense power and savage beauty.
Normally, swords this size need two hands, Romel said proudly, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his dirty hand. But you... you can hold it with one hand, or both. As you prefer.
I took it. It was heavy, a satisfying, reassuring weight. It felt right. As if a missing part of my body had finally returned to me, as if the cold metal embraced my stone hand in an eternal bond. It's called ‘Shakugo, said Romel. The glowing red staff. The judge's scepter.
I thought as I looked at the sword with which I would cut through my darkness and sorrow: How beautiful it is... and how thirsty.