?Location: The Hall of Elders – Myriad Beasts Mountain (Summit)

  Time: Noon (The Day of Return)

  ?The Hall of Elders was a cavern carved into the peak of the mountain, open to the sky. Twelve massive stone thrones formed a circle.

  ?Eleven Elders sat in silence. The twelfth throne—belonging to the Earth Sect Leader, Iron-Fist—was empty. He stood in the center of the room, holding the shattered remains of his son's Soul Lamp.

  ?Kneeling beside him, looking small and pathetic, was Han Xiao.

  ?"The Puppet Sect has broken the treaty," Iron-Fist's voice was a low rumble that shook the dust from the pillars. "They ambushed my son. They used forbidden technology. They stole the Earth Essence Gold."

  ?He pointed a finger at Aris.

  ?"This disciple witnessed it all."

  ?[System Scan: The Council]

  ?Elder Sky-Reaver (Bird Sect): Level 92. ?Elder Venom-Heart (Snake Sect): Level 89. ?Elder Void-Whisper (Assessment): Level 85. ?Threat Level: Fatal.

  ?Aris didn't look up. He kept his forehead pressed to the cold stone floor.

  ?"Speak, Disciple," Elder Sky-Reaver commanded. "And if you lie, the wind will strip the flesh from your bones."

  ?Aris swallowed hard (audibly).

  ?"Exalted Elders," Aris trembled. "It was... a massacre. The Merchant Vex... he laughed. He said the Cultivators were 'obsolete.' He said... he said the Myriad Beasts Mountain was just a zoo waiting to be burned."

  ?A ripple of anger went through the room. Cultivators had massive egos. Being called "zoo animals" by a cyborg was the ultimate insult.

  ?"He used a gravity trap," Aris sobbed. "Senior Brother Iron-Mountain fought like a god! But... but Vex cheated! He dropped the weight of a mountain on him! And then..."

  ?Aris looked up, tears streaming down his face.

  ?"Then Vex used the hammer! He corrupted it with machine oil! He said he would melt it down to make... toilets!"

  ?Silence. Absolute, horrified silence.

  ?Iron-Fist's face turned purple. "TOILETS?!"

  ?"That is what he said!" Aris nodded frantically. "He mocked the Earth Sect's ancestry!"

  ?"ENOUGH!" Elder Venom-Heart hissed. "This is a declaration of war."

  ?Elder Sky-Reaver stood up. His wings unfurled, blocking out the sun.

  ?"The Council agrees. The Puppet Sect must be punished. Iron-Fist, you are granted command of the Punitive Fleet. Burn Sector 12. Retrieve the hammer."

  ?"It will be done," Iron-Fist bowed.

  ?He grabbed Aris by the collar and hauled him to his feet.

  ?"You have done well, witness. Come. I will escort you to... safety."

  ?Aris went limp. "Thank you, Elder!"

  ?As they walked out of the hall, Aris caught the eye of Elder Void-Whisper. The old assessor narrowed his eyes, sensing something... off. But the drums of war were already beating too loud to hear a whisper.

  ?Location: The Earth Sect Dungeons – "Guest Room 7"

  Time: 10 Minutes Later

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  ?Iron-Fist threw Aris into the cell. It wasn't a nice cell. It had bloodstains on the walls and shackles on the floor.

  ?The heavy iron door slammed shut. Iron-Fist didn't leave. He stood there, blocking the exit.

  ?"Safety?" Aris asked, dropping the act slightly. He stood up and dusted off his knees.

  ?"There are no witnesses in war," Iron-Fist growled, summoning a jagged spike of rock in his hand. "You know too much. You saw my son die. You saw my failure to protect him."

  ?"I testified for you," Aris pointed out calmly. "I gave you your war."

  ?"And now you are a loose end. A weak alchemist who survived a massacre? People will ask questions. Better if you died of... 'grief'."

  ?Iron-Fist stepped forward. The killing intent was suffocating. A Level 90 against a Level 71. It shouldn't even be a fight.

  ?Aris didn't back away. He reached into his robe.

  ?"Before you kill me," Aris said, holding up a small, glowing object. "You might want to check the delivery schedule."

  ?He held up the Void Key Shard.

  ?He had carved a corner off the Cube. It was now a diamond-shaped pendant, pulsating with blinding blue light—the "Star-Heart."

  ?"What is that?" Iron-Fist paused. The energy coming from the gem was immense.

  ?"Lady Bai's necklace," Aris smiled. "She is expecting it. Today. Within the hour."

  ?Iron-Fist sneered. "The Fox? I don't care about her jewelry. I will kill you, take the gem, and give it to her myself. She won't care who delivers it."

  ?"Are you sure?" Aris tilted his head. "Lady Bai is... particular. She hates the smell of blood. If you hand it to her with my blood on your hands, she won't see a gift. She'll see an insult."

  ?Aris took a step closer to the executioner.

  ?"And you know what she does when she is insulted. She eats mountains. Specifically... Earth Sect mountains."

  ?Iron-Fist hesitated. The threat was real. The Nine-Tailed Fox was the Sect Leader's pet. Angering her was political suicide.

  ?"I can wait," Iron-Fist lowered the spike. "I will let you deliver it. Then, I will kill you on your way out."

  ?"Deal," Aris grinned. "Escort me to the garden."

  ?Location: The Herb Garden – The World Tree

  Time: Sunset

  ?Lady Bai was pacing. She had been waiting all day. Her fur was groomed, her tails were fluffed, but her neck was bare.

  ?"Where is he?" she growled, clawing at the roots. "If he ran away with my favor token, I will hunt him to the ends of the—"

  ?The gate opened.

  ?Aris walked in, flanked by Iron-Fist.

  ?"My Lady!" Aris shouted, running forward (and putting distance between himself and the Elder). "I have returned! And I brought treasure!"

  ?He held up the Star-Heart Pendant.

  ?It was beautiful. The blue light swirled inside the crystal like a trapped galaxy. It hummed with the song of the Void.

  ?Lady Bai froze. Her pupils dilated.

  ?"Shiny..." she whispered.

  ?Aris knelt and fastened the leather cord around her massive neck. The pendant hung against her white fur, glowing brightly.

  ?"Perfect," Aris whispered. "It matches your eyes."

  ?Lady Bai ran to the reflecting pool. She admired herself. She posed. She wagged all nine tails.

  ?"It is acceptable," she declared, though she was clearly ecstatic. "You have done well, Han Xiao. You may live."

  ?She turned to Iron-Fist, who was standing by the gate, looking impatient.

  ?"Why is the Rock-Man here?" Lady Bai sniffed. "He smells like murder."

  ?"He... escorted me," Aris said, standing behind Lady Bai's front leg. "He was very protective. In fact, he insisted on walking me back to his dungeon for 'safekeeping' after this."

  ?Aris patted the Fox's leg.

  ?"I told him I serve you now, but he said the Earth Sect has authority over all disciples."

  ?Lady Bai's head snapped toward Iron-Fist. Her golden eyes narrowed.

  ?"Authority?"

  ?The temperature dropped. The garden froze.

  ?"Iron-Fist," Lady Bai's voice was a low growl. "Han Xiao is my stylist. He is my storyteller. He belongs to the World Tree."

  ?Iron-Fist stepped back, sweating. "Lady Bai, he is a witness to a crime! I need him for—"

  ?"You need him for nothing," she snapped. "He stays here. If you want him, come and take him."

  ?She bared her fangs. Behind her, the nine tails flared up, crackling with Fox-Fire.

  ?[Threat Assessment: Level 85 Divine Beast (Enraged).]

  ?Iron-Fist looked at the Fox. He looked at Aris, who was smirking from behind the safety of a god-monster.

  ?He couldn't fight her. Not here. Not now.

  ?"Fine," Iron-Fist spat. "Keep your pet. But he cannot hide in the garden forever."

  ?Iron-Fist turned and stormed out.

  ?Aris let out a breath.

  ?"That was close," Aris muttered.

  ?"You used me," Lady Bai said, not looking at him, still admiring her necklace in the water.

  ?"I relied on your greatness," Aris corrected.

  ?"Same thing," she swished her tail. "But the necklace is pretty. So I will allow it."

  ?She looked at him.

  ?"You have access to the Inner Sect now. You are safe here. But Iron-Fist is right. You cannot hide forever. What is your plan, little liar?"

  ?Aris looked at the World Tree. He touched his chest, where the real Void Key Fragment (the data core) was hidden.

  ?"My plan?" Aris smiled. "I'm going to get promoted. If I become a Core Disciple, Iron-Fist can't touch me without a trial."

  ?"Core Disciple?" Lady Bai laughed. "You are Level 25 trash."

  ?"For now," Aris sat down on a root. "But I have a feeling I'm about to have a sudden 'Epiphany'."

  Wiki Update:

  ?The Star-Heart Necklace: It's actually a high-yield battery. If Lady Bai ever gets into a fight, the necklace acts as a mana reactor, boosting her power by 50%. She doesn't know this yet. ?

  Political Status: The War has begun. The Earth Sect fleet has launched for Sector 12. This draws the sect's heavy hitters away, leaving the mountain vulnerable to Aris's snooping.