Chi Myst'wing

"Is it a compliment or mocking?" Benevence smirked. "Lord Xin, I know you"re smart. How about if you help me to retrieve the treasures of Draven? I would spare you and grant you a great t.i.tle."

"You must be thinking I"m a fool," said Lord Xin as she swung her sword hard at Benevence. "n.o.body would share his hard-earned world with someone else."

Benevence countered the sword without much difficulty and directed his sword back to Lord Xin. She raised her palm and with her force, she shoved Benevence away.

Benevence was pushed back several feet and was unexpected to see that she had power like those of Ziwo Amo. But it did not cause fear in Benevence, and he leapt toward Lord Xin at high speed. Ziwo jumped into action with his palms raised, targeting Benevence and he swung his sword to deflect Ziwo"s attack. Lord Xin and Ziwo fought several rounds with Benevence, and Benevence seemed was in the losing side.

Without any warning, Benevence shoved sands to ward Lord Xin as she covered herself from the debris. Seizing the chance, Benevence spun himself like a drill, whirling blades toward Xin… Ziwo was quick to push Xin out of the way, but it was too late. Benevence had sliced through Xin"s abdomen.

Chi and her friends gasped when they saw Vera had been attacked.

Xin shrieked in pain and was about to fall, but Ziwo managed to hold her in his arms. He was relieved that the wound on Xin wasn"t deep. As Ziwo held Lady Xin in his arm, he looked into her eyes. Which then, their eyes glinted with tears.

"I"m sorry, Ziwo," said Xin. "I had no other choice to make. I had to oust you from the Solluna… that"s for the sake of Solluna… Please forgive me… Ziwo…"

"It"s alright, Vera," said Ziwo as he leapt away from Benevence and placed her as gentle as he could on the ground. He pressed some acupuncture points on Xin"s body to stop her blood from flowing.

Once Ziwo had finished aiding Vera, he stood and swivelled to Benevence. "Luckily, Xin"s wound isn"t deep. Otherwise, I will make you suffer that you wish yourself death!"

Benevence seemed to have no regret in injuring Lady Xin and he showed no fear when confronting Ziwo when he gave Ziwo a broad simper. "Well, you guys with petty mindset would not even comprehend the big dream…"

"How many more you wish to kill to fulfil your dream, Fax Benevence? Hadn"t you had enough? Jing Myst"wing, Vertucour Imperiare, Yexin Bobo, Rouge Ti…"

Chi was shocked to hear her papa"s name; her shock doubled when she heard Rouge Ti was mentioned. She took slow steps toward Ziwo. Her friends noticed her and gave way to her; Ziwo and Benevence turned to Chi when they saw her coming.

"Sir Amo," said Chi. "What is my papa have to do with Benevence? And Chief Rouge too?"

"You know, the fight between your papa and Rouge Ti was instigated by him, Fax Benevence! Your papa"s death was caused by him!" said Ziwo, pointing to her father"s killer. "When he failed to instigate Rouge Ti and me, he decided to do it himself. Your papa was killed by this the benevolent lord... or hypocrite lord!"

All the sudden revelation brought a horror atmosphere in the tomb. Chi was unable to fathom the truth of her father"s demise. With glittering eyes of tears, she turned to Benevence. "Why did you… do it... why?"

"Chi? Isn"t that obvious?" said Benevence. "I expected you to understand but, never mind. It"s is for the unified rule and peace in the Eastern Land. Too many tribes, too many warlords ruling the land. There is no single rule. It has to be done, Chi. Finally, peace and unity brought would justify my actions."

"To bring peace?" said Chi. "With the lives of many Cyaians? Including my papa and Chief Rouge? And my mama…"

"I"m regretted I have to do it," said Benevence. "But for the greater good, it has to be done. Now the Eastern Land is unified, and soon, it will prosper. Why can"t you just accept it, Chi?"

Tears flowed down Chi"s cheek. "For the greater good? Killing for the greater good? There"s a better way without all the killings."

Benevence looked unmoved. He looked a little fed up, trying to explain to the naïve and innocent Chi.

"Enough!" said Ziwo. "I shall kill you today to avenge Brother Jing!"

Ziwo sprinted, pa.s.sing by Chi and with his force attack coming for Benevence. Benevence ducked, countering Ziwo"s force with his sword, blasting the red wave with force so strong dragging Ziwo along the stone ground and he crashed at the stone wall. Benevence marched forward and swung his swords, but Ziwo swerved, lowering his head under Benevence"s sword and with great force, he pushed Benevence"s sword away. The force is so great that Benevence was dragged feet away until he slammed at the stone wall with a loud thud. Again, with another force, Ziwo concentrated his power and launched at Benevence. Benevence, with all his strength, gained the control of his sword and swung with all his might.

POWWW!!! CRACK…

Ziwo"s force blasted toward the stone wall, breaking through several layers of a stone wall, exposing another chamber of the tomb. Inside the dimmed chamber, no one could mistake a tall statue of a warrior. Ziwo and Benevence stepped into the chamber. Chi and her friends were mystified when they saw the chamber, and they followed Ziwo into the chamber.

It was the stone statue of Draven of ten-foot-high, radiating an aura of might and grandeur. Everyone was filled with great awe when they gazed the figure from its" head down to its" feet. And they looked upon the two-feet high marble platform with two legendary weapons planted on it. Heaven"s Grace, a gold and silver sword, thin and elegant as it represented the heaven. Next to the sword, was Dragon"s Rage, jade and golden sabre with a crescent blade which lookup close, looked like a dragon"s head. There was an ancient-looking cryptic script carved on the base of the platform. Since Chi knew no one but her could understand the text, she read it out loud.

The treasure is not what it seems,

Only to the one who grasps it;

With the treasure one is l.u.s.trous,

l.u.s.trous is conquering one"s heart.

"Another cryptic message," said Benevence. "When I had two pieces, it also gave the cryptic message!" Benevence felt delighted and put his swords back into sheaths as he quickened his steps toward the weapons. "I shall be the most l.u.s.trous in the world." His steps brought him nearer the treasures of the heaven and the dragon, leaving Ziwo behind who was still filling with awe.

Benevence, in his leisure manner grabbed Heaven"s Grace with one hand. While his hand on the hilt, his eyes were so l.u.s.trous. Those present were terrified when seeing Benevence laid his hand on the sword. There was no more hope to defeat Benevence.

It was a great relief that Benevence couldn"t pull out the sword. He tried again with more strength on his hand. Yet he couldn"t pull it out. This time he used both hands to pull his favourite kind of sword; there still no slight movement that the sword could be pulled out.

"This is just a fake one, I think," said Benevence with total confidence. "Real treasure wouldn"t be displayed here. Maybe it is underneath the statue."

Since Benevence couldn"t draw out the sword, that meant he hadn"t yet to grasp the hidden meaning of the message. Perhaps Benevence was not l.u.s.trous enough the grasp the treasure.

"Let me shall destroy the statue!"

Hearing what Benevence was about to do, everyone was alarmed.

"No, please," said Chi.

"Die, Benevence!" Ziwo roared as he raised his palm to use force pressure on Benevence. But Benevence evaded with his swift move. Instead of hitting Benevence, the statue of Draven exploded and crumbled. Chi and the other ran to safety while protecting themselves from the falling rocks. Benevence drew out both his sword as Ziwo directed huge rocks from the crumbling statue toward Benevence…

As Benevence had years of experience in the art of the sword, he whirled both swords to parry the incoming rocks. The whirling blades were swift and crushed all of Ziwo"s rocks. Benevence then darted toward Ziwo with full speed with an intent to kill. He swirled like a horizontal tornado and cut through Ziwo –

Ziwo fell on the ground, shaken. His black robe now wet with blood.

"Papa!" Violetia shouted in agony when she saw her papa lying with blood on his body. And from outer chamber, Xin was shouting in Ziwo"s name and not long Xin and Violetia was at Ziwo"s side.

"Papa, please don"t leave me," said Violetia, crying out loud.

"Papa… so sorry," said Ziwo. He then turned to Chi and said, "Chi… sorry… it"s me… who informed Benevence… our location… just want to avenge… your papa."

No word came out from Chi. She couldn"t comprehend why Ziwo would do something like that. She shook her head in disbelieve. Something like black vapour appeared and evaporated from Ziwo"s body. Chi thought she saw something unreal that she kept shaking her head while closing her eyes. And when she opened her eyes, she saw nothing.

"Benevence, stop!" Xin shouted when Benevence was readying his final attack on Ziwo. His swords were animating to multiple blades.

Ziwo trembled at the sight of Benevence"s whirling blades in a circular motion; all the tips pointing toward him, together with Violetia and Xin.

Chi had snapped out of her disbelief. She swirled her hands and launched a golden orb toward Benevence. At the same time Zhanshi, Vincere, Zhu Ming and Mirai, simultaneous launched their attacks toward Benevence.

Benevence had sensed all the incoming attacks that he redirected all his blades to counter all the attacks. A loud bang followed. Ziwo, with both his loved ones, let out a relieved breath.

Then, Benevence switched his direction toward the Chi and the heroes. "Well, well, well. You all wish to die here?" said Benevence as he reanimated his swords to dozens of blades, and launched the blades toward each warrior.

With the blades sped fast to them, they used their skills to deflect Benevence"s attacks, but as there were too many blades, they managed to deflect most of the attacks. They had countered with their skills and abilities: Chi"s strength-deflecting skill and orbs; Zhanshi"s dragon conquering skill and his sabre; Vincere with his strength deflecting skill and sword; Zhu Ming"s self-reloaded guns and Mirai"s reinforcing Zhu Ming"s attack. And Violetia sprang into action with her magical attacks.

Benevence could, without any difficulty, counter all the attacks and threw the warriors away. Still, the warriors could spring up and continued to fight. None of their attacks could force Benevence to step back or hit him. Benevence was either too powerful or too fast for them. The warriors fought until they showed a sign of exhaustion. Only Chi, Zhanshi and Vincere could still fight Benevence though they were exhausted.

"Papa, please help us," said Chi as she evaded Benevence"s blade, but nothing happened.

With Benevence thrust both his blades at Zhanshi and Vincere, the force threw them at Draven"s statue, and they fall right at the marble platform with a click. The platform opened full like a sliding door, revealing a smooth surface inside.

Benevence was dazzled at the newly appeared surprise; so were Chi and everyone there. Benevence was the first one to speed himself to the platform to see, but he got himself disappointed. "What? It is just a mirror with nothing on it?" He then swung his sword hard on the mirror, breaking it.

Chi had grasped, meaning that she nodded to herself. There was no treasure. She even noticed Zhanshi and Vincere were nodding too. It seemed that the three of them had comprehended the meaning of the poem and the mirror.

"Benevence," said Zhanshi. "Don"t you understand? It is hinted at the poem. The treasure is not at the material weapons. The treasure is an idea. Those who grasp the meaning will have it. Once you grasp the essence, you can conquer yourself and your destiny."

"What do you mean?" Benevence looked defeated.

"The treasure is actually within every one of us," said Vincere. "It"s just a matter of time before we grasp its" essence."

At that moment, Violetia and Xin wailed out loud. Everyone shifted to them, seeing that Ziwo was static, lying on both Violetia and Xin"s arms. He had died from his grievous wound and yet at his face, carved a peaceful smile.

Ziwo"s body glowed all of a sudden. Everyone thought it was Chi who had prayed for Ziwo, but when they stole a glance at Chi, it wasn"t her. Ziwo had found peace at his death that his body glowed and disintegrating into millions of sparkling ent.i.ties. "Rest in peace, Ziwo." No one could ever mistake that Chi had spoken that even in her soft voice.

Something had appeared from thin air before Zhanshi and Vincere. The golden light appeared, animating in shapes like a sword and sabre. A gold and silver sword, elegance like those belongs to an angel appeared before Vincere, and a jade-and-golden sabre with the blade that shaped like a dragon head appeared before Zhanshi. Both of them seemed worthy to their own legendary weapons. Vincere had learnt Chi"s supple skill which made him the best suitor for the graceful sword; Zhanshi was strong and direct, and thus he was suited to wield the dragon sabre.

Zhanshi and Vincere both grabbed the sabre and the sword.

Chi had sudden enlightenment. She knew her papa and mama would always protect her. Yet, she couldn"t just depend on their protection. She must defend herself too. And then, Chi saw her surrounding glowed with golden light. Her body became warmer, and she felt an acute heat piercing her back shoulder. She thought she saw her papa and when she turned to her right, she saw her papa was smiling at her.

"Yes, Chi-dear. It is," said Jing.

��Papa, me love you," said Chi.

Chi heard her friends shouted, "Chi, you have wings!" Only that she knew the heat on her back was her wings. Her pair of misty wings was back – the white misty wings.

"So, three of you have grasped the treasures!" Benevence growled in rage. "If I can"t have it, neither shall you!" With that, he dashed forward to Chi, Zhanshi and Vincere. He stopped when Zhanshi and Vincere swung their sabre and sword together. The energy force launched from the sabre was strong and forceful in nature, and it travelled in a straight path.

In contrast, the energy wave from the sword was supple and graceful that it travelled in a curved path. Though Benevence was a distant away, he had to protect himself from the sabre"s force and the sword"s wave. The three of them were locked in like the sword"s tug of war as Zhanshi and Vincere forcing the dragonic force and the graceful wave on Benevence.

Chi saw her opportunity. She whirled her hand and integrated a golden orb on both her palms and she kept enlarging the orb with her hands. Only when the orb was as significant enough to cover Benevence, she blasted it toward Benevence.

"Thank you, papa, for everything," said Chi as her eyes closed.

With no more arm left to defend himself, Benevence received the full blast of the orb on himself. BOOM!!! The energy from the sabre and the sword pushed him many distant away, and he flew out to the outer chamber.

CRASH!

The cavern wall broke his fall, and he landed on the ground. Flinching, he could hardly pull himself up, he looked as he had lost his sanity when the heroes sped toward him. His robes had all torn.

Benevence stood up so fast –

And the heroes were jolted that he might launch another attack. Instead, he just laughed, laughed like there is no tomorrow. "I"m the most l.u.s.trous, I"m the most l.u.s.trous! I have conquered myself! Every one of you shall kneel before me!" It seemed that Benevence had really lost his sanity.

Sometime after, Chi"s golden wings had disappeared into thin air. And she saw Zhanshi and Vincere"s legendary weapons had gone too. Why had the three treasures disappeared? Will it only appear when they were in dire need?

There was no more fight worth launch to Benevence. Violetia pulled Xin to her side as the heroes walked out, leaving the insane Benevence to laugh alone. When they had reached the tomb"s entrance, they couldn"t hear anymore laughing.

White snows fluttering around the air like dandelions. The winter breeze blew the moment they were out of the tomb.

Poor Benevence, they thought. He had spent almost two decades of his life to unified the whole Eastern Land. He had done everything including eliminating his rivals and opponents: Jing Myst"wing, Rouge Ti and everyone who may possess any threat. With that, peace and prosperity gain would justify all the bad and sufferings. But would it really be worth it?

"Chi, I thought Draven"s treasures are only two," said Zhanshi. "How come you can have it too? That makes three."

"Me not really sure. When me was a redragon, me had wings that look like misty vapour. My mama said my papa had that too. And Sister Nuwa said that she had begun training my papa before papa had his wings. Probably my papa grasped that treasure too. In my sudden realisation, me thinks me can"t always rely on my papa or anyone, but instead must have faith in myself."

And Chi glanced at Zhanshi for his explanation.

"Well, I realized Ziwo wasn"t so bad after all when he loved Violetia and," said Zhanshi, and he stopped when he noticed Xin blushed with her head looking down. "He was the brother of my deceased master. He lost himself when his loved one and my master died. And he had finally rediscovered himself. Perhaps it"s the power of love that can redeem even the wicked."

"Ziwo was rather a victim," said Vincere. "Or perhaps, Benevence"s p.a.w.n. Though he was the one who had attacked Imperiare and caused the death of my papa, he was not the mastermind. It was Benevence. At the moment I forgave Ziwo, the sword appeared."

"But why the treasure has three?" said Mirai. "I thought it has only two? Even the legend said that Draven has two legendary weapons."

"Wings isn"t even a weapon," said Zhu Ming.

"Me don"t think my wings is one of Draven"s treasures. Maybe it is a gift from my papa," said Chi though she looked uncertain.

"I wonder how is Sister Nuwa now?" said Violetia as Lady Xin was looking as though she feels Nuwa is somewhat familiar.

"Sister Nuwa…" Chi had almost forgotten of her mama and Sister Nuwa. In a sudden jolt of energy, she hastened toward Nuwa"s siheyuan, leaving her friends with bewilderment in their looks.

- THE END -