The warship shuddered as it tore through the turbulent sky, its hull shields groaning as it traveled. The atmosphere inside was as heavy as the dark oppressive clouds outside. Li Yu, Jian, Khaos, and Lysander were gathered in the main command cabin with the disciples of the Forest of the Radiant Dawn. Two of their Elders, a stern, battle-scarred man named Corvus and a calmer, more analytical woman named Elara, had been waiting on the ship for them.

"We are heading for Aethelgard," Elder Corvus began, his voice a low growl that cut through the thrum of the engines. He didn't waste time on pleasantries. "It is the lynchpin of the entire Outer Wall defense and just as importantly a symbol that the alliance is here and in control. It was the first city our ancestors built on this continent, the site of the First Great Gathering. It is our heritage and it is the primary anchor for the entire defensive line. If it falls the effects will be disastrous.”

Elder Elara took over, tapping a glowing map of the continent that shimmered in the air. "Grand Elder Theron has been holding the city for three weeks. But the enemy is smart. They have stationed a very powerful enemy, a fifth-level Soul Formation expert known as 'the Blood-Hand Duke,' just outside the walls."

"Is he attacking?" Jian asked.

"No," Elara said, shaking her head. "That's the problem. He's waiting. The Duke isn't laying siege. He's just... there. Grand Elder Theron knows that if he leaves the city to reinforce the southern front which is about to collapse, the Duke will breach Aethelgard's defenses. If he stays, the southern front falls. He is completely pinned and the enemy is bleeding us dry everywhere else."

"So we're being stretched thin," Lysander summarized, his expression grim.

"Stretched thin? We're transparent," Corvus spat. "Our allies on this continent, the local sects and clans, are doing their best, but conflict is everywhere. It's not just that the enemy commanders are strong, though they are. The problem is their numbers. Dozens of towns, outposts and supply lines are being attacked or pillaged simultaneously. For every fire we put out, five more started. We are in a war of attrition and we are losing."

Elara pointed to the areas around the icon of Aethelgard. "The active siege is being led by two other Soul Formation experts. A first-level and a third-level. Their forces are a hodgepodge of our worst nightmares. The Beast Revolution Faction provides the powerful troops—massive mutated beasts led by cultivators who have mutated their bodies with beasts, through methods unknown. The Human Revolution Faction provides the numbers—fanatical human cultivators who believe the sects are tyrants. And directing them, in the shadows, are dark-robed demonic cultivators. It is chaos."

“A fifth, third and first level soul formation holding down Theron is a huge force anywhere on this continent. The enemy should be investing a heavy amount of their powers to get this city or to tie Theron down, that is the good news.”

The two elders looked at Khaos who was off in the distance not even listening, they had been informed of his role. "Grand Elder Theron is holding on, waiting for you Grand Elder Khaos. Once you arrive, you will replace him as the city's anchor. His presence is desperately needed at the southern front, across all fronts really."

Throughout the briefing, Li Yu listened with a deep, furrowed brow. His cautious nature was absorbing every detail, calculating the risks and every new piece of information made the knot in his stomach tighten.

This was a situation far more complex and desperate than he had imagined. Jian and Lysander were actively engaged, asking pointed questions about enemy troop strength, weaknesses and the specific techniques of the Blood-Hand Duke.

Khaos, true to form, seemed to care about none of it. He stood alone at the armored prow of the airship, arms crossed, staring out the viewport into the chaotic sky, his thoughts utterly unknown. He looked less like a warrior heading to battle and more like a bored noble waiting for his carriage.

Li Yu stepped back from the tactical discussion, needing a moment. He found himself near the small contingent of Forest of the Radiant Dawn disciples who were huddled by the railing, checking their weapons and armor. One of them, a woman with a sharp, steady gaze looked up and nodded to him. They had met before at the battle in the north, though hadn't spoken much then. Her name was Anya.

"Brother Li Yu," she said, her voice respectful. "We... we are honored to fight alongside you."

"Just Li Yu is fine," he replied, offering a small reassuring smile. "You fought in the north didn't you? Against the real demon."

A tall broad-shouldered disciple next to her nodded, his knuckles white as he gripped his spear. "Yes, Brother Li. We were there. We saw what you did during the battle. Knowing you and your companions are with us... it is a great boost in our forces."

Li Yu nodded at the man, his gaze drifting back to the ominous flashes of light in the distant clouds. "Stay sharp. Watch each other's backs in the battles to come."

As he spoke, his attention was drawn back to the front of the cabin. Jian had finished his discussion and was now striding purposefully toward Khaos. He stood next to the silent, aloof void-being. Li Yu couldn't hear a word over the roar of the wind and engines but he could see Jian talking animatedly, his hands swinging wildly. He seemed to be making some kind of passionate, excited pitch. Khaos remained perfectly still, his back to everyone, just a silent black-robed statue.

Jian's monologue continued for a while. Finally, he stopped as if waiting for a verdict.

Slowly, Khaos turned his head just enough to look at Jian. A faint almost imperceptible smile and an expression of dry amusement touched his lips. He gave a single sharp nod.

Jian’s reaction was immediate and explosive. He pumped his fist once with a look of ecstatic triumph on his face. He spun around and strode back to Li Yu, his entire demeanor transformed. The focused warrior was gone, replaced by a man practically vibrating with barely contained glee.

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"What in the world was that about?" Li Yu asked, raising an eyebrow. "You look like you just found an ancient supreme sword."

Jian clapped him hard on the shoulder, his grin stretching from ear to ear. "Just settling on some things, my friend! Big things! You'll see."

"Things?" Li Yu repeated, completely lost.

Jian's expression turned slightly more serious but his eyes were still blazing with a manic fire. "Don't worry so much, Li Yu. I know that your cautious nature is screaming at you right now. 'This is a bad idea, we're outnumbered, we're in over our heads, blah blah blah.'"

"It is a bad idea," Li Yu retorted, his voice low. "We're walking into a continental war we know nothing about. We are wildly outnumbered and we're about to put ourselves at the center of it."

Jian laughed, a loud, booming sound that made the nearby disciples jump. "That's what makes it fun! And what's to worry about? I'm here! The..." he paused, his grin widening, "the 'Crab God' is here!" He jerked a thumb at Khaos, who hadn't moved. "Worst-case scenario? We run! We're fast. We'll be fine."

This was the man who had traveled across the endless sea on his own. Without any special treasure. This man was fearless and craved adventure in pursuit of power.

Li Yu simply shook his head at the man's astounding recklessness. It was infectious but also terrifying. His worries did not leave him but he felt his resolve stiffen. He was here for experience and if he kept trying to hide away it was pointless to be here.

He was here to get stronger. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his screaming nerves. "Just... try not to get us all killed in the first ten minutes." as he chuckled a bit to himself.

"No promises!" Jian boomed.

The ship suddenly shuddered violently and an alarm blared. "We're approaching Aethelgard!" the person piloting the ship yelled. "Hostiles everywhere! Brace for evasive maneuvers!"

The city was magnificent, a sprawling fortress of ancient white stone and soaring, elegant spires that spoke of a long and proud history. But it was a city under duress. A massive multi-colored energy shield—the primary defensive formation—was blazing, flickering like a dying candle under a constant barrage of attacks.

Small-scale, brutal fights were happening all around the base of the walls. Flying cultivators clashed in the sky like swarms of angry hornets. People using their special arts and techniques to attack the formation, trying to break it sooner.

Elder Corvus pointed a finger. "There! A new wave is approaching from the east! That's their main assault force, led by General Talonscythed! The third-level Soul Formation expert!"

A massive group, thousands strong, led by a menacing bird-like cultivator on a giant winged beast, was approaching the eastern gate, clearly timing their push to coincide with the other forces attacking.

Before Lysander could even give an order, the airship's side hatch blew open with a shriek of metal.

"Jian, wait! We need a coordinated plan!" Lysander yelled.

But it was too late. Jian was already a blur of motion, a comet of golden energy leaping from the ship. "Let him go." Khaos's voice rumbled from the prow, the first time he even said anything the entire time on the ship.

Jian streaked across the sky, positioning himself directly in the path of the entire enemy army. Alone. He stopped, floating in mid-air, a single arrogant figure against a tide of thousands.

He flared his spiritual energy and his voice amplified by his cultivation to a god-like roar, boomed across the entire battlefield.

"Scum of the Beast Revolution Faction! Scum of the Human Revolution Faction! Scum of those who bow and traded their souls to the demons!!"

A momentary, stunned silence fell over the entire battlefield. Attackers and defenders alike, including General Talonscythed, paused their advance, looking at this lone shouting madman.

"If there is any other group here, you are also scum! There is no beast god, no human god or demon god! There is only ONE TRUE GOD! THE CRAB GOD!!"

Jian's voice rose to a fanatical crescendo. " I AM JIAN XUAN. We of the ABYSSAL CRAB CULT are here! Tremble in fear and bow before our might!! This city is now under the Abyssal Crab Cult’s control! Anyone who dares have eyes on it will meet one single fate!"

On the ship, the two Elders and Lysander were dumbfounded. "Abyssal... Crab... Cult?" Elara whispered, her face pale with horror, thinking they had just allied with a different band of lunatics.

Li Yu stared, his mouth hanging open. ‘Crab... God?’ Then it clicked. The conversation with Khaos. The secretive smile. The triumphant nod. Jian was pitching a new cult name to Khaos.

He was most likely trying to flatter the void-being, the monstrous crab-like entity. He had created an entire cult on the spot. Li Yu slapped his own forehead. "He's completely insane. And I followed these people here…"

Jian Xuan didn't wait for a reply. He unleashed his full aura. The power of a Fourth-Level Soul Formation cultivator exploded outwards, an oppressive spiritual pressure that dwarfed that of the approaching General Talonscythed.

"BEHOLD THE CLAWS OF THE ABYSSAL LORD!" Jian roared.

Thousands upon thousands of shimmering energy swords manifested in the air around him. It was a move Li Yu had seen him use before. But they weren't swords. With a complex, outrageously showy gesture, they paired up, flying towards each other and crisscrossing to form thousands of shimmering, golden scissors.

‘Claws!’ Li Yu thought, as he stared at the thousands of golden claws floating in the sky.

He was speechless. Then, a snort escaped him. A quiet chuckle. And then, as the absurdity of the entire situation washed over him, he threw his head back and roared with full-on, uncontrollable laughter.

Anya and the other Forest disciples looked at him in terror. "He's... laughing?" They backed away slowly, their terror of the enemy now competing with their terror of their new allies. "Are... are all three of them crazy?" one whispered.

Li Yu was laughing because he knew Jian's techniques and what it should be. He could feel the spiritual energy expenditure from here. Making the swords cross into a "claw" shape didn't focus the energy. It didn't make them stronger. It was wildly inefficient, requiring almost twice the spiritual energy for the exact same destructive result as a simple, direct sword.

Jian wasn't being strategic. He was being theatrical but the enemy didn’t know that. They thought those were his words and that is his true technique. He was burning his own energy reserves for the visual effect.

"That idiot, wait no… that magnificent idiot..." Li Yu gasped, wiping a tear from his eye. His mood was lifted, he didn’t know why. The strangeness and outrageousness of it all has made his feelings of worriness go away. Here was this fool in front of him, giving the performance of his life. ‘Let’s go on adventures!’ Li Yu steeled himself further, looking forward to what's to come next.

"TEN THOUSAND CLAWS OF THE DEEP!" Jian screamed, and the thousands of golden claws scythed down towards the horrified and utterly confused army.