CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46: WAR PATH CONCLUSION — WE WIN

Within the dream cast, an intense battle was being waged—Melena flew away from the massive roots that Yuan sent her way and she retaliated with her own attack—sending waves of Neuro-Qi based photons which were repelled by the tree.

She hovered to Marquis and Cheng. "He’s a tough one."

The two recovering men looked at her and shook their heads. They had a single shared thought in regards to her statement which contradicted her proud, chest beating statement from earlier.

Cheng got to his feet first. "He seems to have all the angles covered, so I think the wisest choice here is to attack him all at once." His hands glowed and the forge created a gigantic axe which he held with little difficulty.

Marquis nodded to the provided suggestion and opened his suit’s helmet allowing the two to see his face. "We might have a chance at his defense." he brought forward his hand and gave them two rings.

Melena hesitated to take the ring, while Cheng took his and wore it—his eyes widened slightly at the change he experienced and he looked at Marquis. "Neuro-Qi enhancing ring? Not even Dravnel’s alchemic research has developed such a level of technology. You truly are one of the greatest minds."

Marquis sheepishly chuckled at the compliment—he cleared his throat and looked at Melena. "Gonna take this or?"

Melena blushed and nodded, she took the ring without a word and wore it on her hand—she too felt the increasing power just from wearing the ring and her lips slightly parted as she was taken aback by the discovery. The Neuro-Qi amplification made her Dream Cast stronger, she closed her eyes and her imagination was projected into the world they were in—multiple barrels of steel appeared from the pink clouds and they rapidly fired bullets at Yuan and the tree.

The first initiation was set.

Cheng charged at their adversary who was sending vines after them while blocking the bullets from Melena. He swung his axe, cutting through the thick trees in one swing as he opened a path to the center.

Marquis stretched out his hand—a blue beam shot from the palm of his hand, traveling the distance between him and Yuan. The beam struck the tree and an explosion was given life, with winds that pushed away the barks and some of the frail tree vines.

Cheng saw the opening Marquis made with his attack—he took a breath in and leapt forward—he threw his Axe at full force at the exposed core of the tree. "TAKE THIS!!!"

The axe cut through the vines forcing Yuan to catch the weapon in his hands but the thing he miscalculated was the force behind the attack and it flung him back, pushing him through the tree he was in, causing the structure of the tree to snap and the tree fell.

He skidded to a stop, and glared at the three—the dark miasma flowing around his body. "Why are you in my way!" He yelled in dual tones, as if he was fighting something within him. "Just die already!" his sporadic outbursts continued and Yuan staggered to the sides, the whiteness of his eyes was immediately overcome by a dark black color and he let out a scream which made all the vines shoot at the three fighting him.

Marquis closed his eyes and dropped the combat suit he was wearing—his fist glowed a bright blue color and he opened his eyes. "Can’t let you suffer like this my old friend..." He whispered to himself and channeled some of the Neuro-Qi to his feet augmentating his speed—Marquis flickered forward leaving a strip of light behind and he appeared before Yuan, having crossed the distance between them in a flash.

A smiling Yuan appeared in his mind with a bright smile. Marquis dropped a tear at the memory as he threw the glowing punch directly at Yuan’s heart. "Sorry old friend."

His fist connected with the source of the miasma and a blinding light consumed the two of them.

"Thank you."

Marquisʼ eyes opened and he saw himself surrounded by a white void—before him, was Yuan but in his younger and less defiled form. He was staring at him with a bright smile.

"Thank you Mars. You saved me, I can have peace now."

A lone tear dropped from Marquisʼ eye and the void disappeared with the fragment of Yuan’s soul.

Marquis stared at the sky as the particles of Neuro-Qi faded into it. "Goodbye old friend." He whispered just as the sky started to cry in mourning of the departed souls.

The great war that plagued Dravnel had come to a close with the alliance winning and thus the darkness of the Flame Emperor throughout the heavenly cities was put on hold.

Heaven Archive Sect

Juin slammed his hand on the table—his teeth were grinding so hard, one could mistaken them for an angle grinder.

It was not supposed to be this way, he was supposed to conquer the heavenly cities and use them as a weapon against the group he worked for—that damn Marquis had to get himself involved in the plan. He looked at Qingye, the only of the Scabbards he had absolute trust in—the man sitting on the throne wordlessly was close to being the most powerful pawn in his game of chess.

Yes... Yess... Why were you freting Juin. He questioned himself as he calmed down. The loss at Dravnel did certainly diminish most of his forces and power but the greatest force in his arsenal wasn’t the others, but the man sitting on the throne.

Juin retrieved a knife from his sash and cut his palm. He began drawing the pentagram with the blood and once he was done, Juin activated the seal and once again he was teleported into the room where the benefactors of his were.

"What brings you here Juin? Is the war successful?"

Juin knelt and shook his head. "No my lords, the invasion of Dravnel failed due to unforeseen circumstances such as the Nine Heavens."

The room went silent—if a needle were to be dropped, you could hear it loud and clear from how silent the room was.

"The Nine Heavens have taken a stand after all these years?"

"Endo, give him that."

Juin raised his head when he saw something glowing and levitating towards him—he opened his hands and held the item only for his eyes to widened. "Impossible..."

"Juin, that is an egg of a dragon, a creature that was once dominant in this world. Grow it, to obtain more power and defeat the Nine Heavens for us. Understood?"

Juin nodded and lowered his head.

"Yes. Your wish is my command."