Going the Distance
"Fall back, Fall back, they broken the first line", shouted a merfolk commander.
After the two flood dragons collided with the defensive shields and broke them, the soldiers assigned to that region that survived swam towards the second line.
The other three regions of the frontline continued to fight against the incoming enemies. As the soldiers made their way to the next line, they spread thousands of talismans into the area. As the troops of the enemy army moved toward the secondary line, huge explosions and large cavitation bubbles erupted, killing swathes of adversaries. The cannons of the first line had finished killing the other two flood dragons when five more appeared and swam towards them.
"Don't worry about energy, fire the cannons at full blast", the commanders ordered, "Once all cannons can't fire anymore, rig the line, retreat to the secondary line, and mine the retreat."
Even more powerful beams fired from the cannons of the remaining positions and four more flood dragons fell before the last one crashed into another shield.
This happened a few more times before the frontline collapsed and all the survivors had made their way to the secondary line.
Sect Master Kong stood in front of the participants from the White Tiger alliance, "By now, you've all had more combat experience than any of your peers, thanks to the QR pods. But don't let it go to your head, and be prepared for anything."
"Yes, sect master", the White Tiger sect members replied.
"Yes, Alliance leader", the others responded.
Here are your opponents for the first match and the schedule. Remember that fist and weapons have no eyes, so avoid getting hurt, and leave your opponent face."
Everyone nodded and looked at the information provided by Kong.
"Everyone follow me, it's time to enter the arena", Kong announced.
He brought the group into the arena before heading towards the box meant for the leaders.
"How are your cultivators fairing today?", Zheng asked Kong with a smug smile.
"They are in excellent condition, Sect Master Zheng, I should think that your group will hit a wall today instead of being one", Kong replied in a joking manner.
Zheng still smiled but wrinkled his nose, "I guess we will see how effective this new method of training is."
"As someone who personally experienced it, I can say it's very effective", Kong confidently stated.
"That's enough you two", Sect Master Lu said, "It's like this every time we do this."
Sect master Liang and Han stood up before Liang spoke first, "Welcome all to the Four Divine Beast clash, you all have worked hard for five years and were chosen to represent your alliance. If you prove exceptional enough, we might even consider extending an invitation to you to join our ranks as a first class sect."
"All contestants number one through one hundred", Han spoke next, "make way to your assigned arena and prepare for your battle."
The first one hundred made their way and as they looked around the notice the audience was filled with disciples of the Boundless Yang and Immortal Yin sect members.
The merfolk soldiers looked out in front of them, countless bodies of soldiers from their side and the enemy littered the water.
"Commanders, what is the current situation?", King Zeng asked the merfolk standing in front of him.
"My liege, the frontline is gone, and the secondary line will fall soon. We have used all the talismans, and the numbers they send don't seem to lessen", the commander reported.
"Alright, it seems they have taken a pause before sending the rest of their troops in to crush us", Zeng surmised, "Prepare to evacuate all remaining soldiers and guide them to our families at Sun & Moon island. Those snakes won't attack that island considering their loses. Have our forces take whatever resources are left and leave."
"Understood Sire, who shall escort you out?", another commander asked.
"I won't be leaving", Zeng replied.
"Sire, if you stay, how can any of us retreat?", the first commander inquired.
"This is my responsibility and the consequence of my actions", Zeng stated, "I did the unforgivable by killing my kin, and then our soldiers are paying with their lives for a petty act. I'm not fit to rule, but that Senior has agreed to help us, once you reach the island, ask Daoist Wei to locate Zeng Meirong. As the rightful heir, she should be leading you, take this crown and trident and give them to her when she is found."
Four out of five of the commanders stayed quiet, but the last one spoke up, "King Zeng, I will do as you order, Thank you for your service."
He took the items and left the command center, swimming back to his people. The other four sighed and saluted King Zeng before leaving as well.
Zeng Meirong had just arrived as the examination center and checked in with the evaluation section. After months of runes, formulas, and calligraphy classes, she was ready to take the Class 1 Talisman apprenticeship qualification exam. According to the instructions, other than an identification card, no other items could be brought into the pod. She had to lock her stuff into a locker outside the testing room, before she entered. She entered the pod assigned to test her, and placed the card in the normal place to login. The opening screen for the test appeared as she took a deep breathe to relax and pressed the start icon.
Kong Chun was all smiles as the first three rounds had concluded. Every disciple he had brought had won their match convincingly, and the level of skill they displayed had the other sect masters peeking at him or stewing at the lose of their own representatives.
"Sect Master Kong certainly fields many good seeds", Sect Master Lu said.
"I can't take all the credit", Kong laughed, "The artifacts and methods at Sun & Moon island are very effective."
Sect Master Yuan, who hadn't said much, finally spoke, "In what way could this be the most effective form of training?"
Everyone quieted down as they looked at Kong, "Well, the two methods that improve anyone's performance is just by using the pod. Since you don't fight with your real body, the threat of death is removed, and you can push yourself harder. The other thing is the mirror mode in which you fight a perfect copy of yourself. That training is so powerful because not only does the clone fight you with everything you do, but with everything that you possibly could do. And since everything that happens in the 'virtual' realm is absorbed into your real self, you aren't missing out."
The leaders went into deep thought about this, 'how would I defeat myself using my own abilities?'
"I would love to brag, but I haven't defeated myself yet", Kong scratched the back of his head, "But I have learned so much of my potential, I can't wait for our artisan to return from training, so I can enjoy the same experience at my own sect."
"What do you mean Sect master Kong?", Liang asked.
"Daoist Wei isn't like other cultivators, he doesn't hide good things, and will teach and share his things with others", Kong explained.
"Even that killing array you showed us on the 'vijeo'?", Han curiously asked.
"Oh", Kong was embarrassed, "Let me correct myself, he doesn't share everything, just knowledge that will improve the quality of life, which is how he phrased it."
"His ways are very different from the normal way, but I'm even more curious to meet this disciple, that he could attract the eye of that Senior", Liang said.
"King Zeng, all arrays have been deployed, and all the remaining soldiers have been evacuated", the head commander stood in front of King Zeng, "Are you sure you don't want to leave at this time, sire?"
"I've made my decision, commander", Zeng replied, "I won't doom my race anymore, follow my last order and leave now."
"Yes, sure", the head commander bowed, turned around, and left, quickly catching up with the fleeing forces.
"Jiahao, look at what you did to yourself", King Zeng spoke to himself, "I always thought father was wrong to give my brother the throne, but it appears my father was correct and now I'm the sinner of the merfolk race."
Explosions could be heard as the advancing army were breaking through the array formations in the distances. Some were starting to sound close, but Zong Jiahao continued to sit on the throne. The commanders of the enemy army eventually made their way to the throne room and walked towards King Zeng, "Traitor Zeng, surrender immediately and await a quick death, before we capture your people next to suffer the consequences of your actions."
"A quick death, commander I believe for once, we agree about something", Zeng said before pulling out a talisman and breaking it.
Envoy Nyzinth was sitting in his tent enjoying delicious food and drink, while waiting the news.
"Head commander, what is the situation? Haven't we captured the capital by now?" He questioned the other man outside the tent.
"Envoy, I just received word that our commanders have surrounded the palace and were about to apprehend the king", the head commander reported.
"Excellent, I want him groveling at my feet, begging for his life before…", before Nyzinth could continue, the earth shook and everything in his tent shook. He even fell from his chair before quickly getting up, and exiting the door. As he looked on a giant explosion had enveloped the entire capital city and the shockwave was still heading their way.
"HURRY YOU FOOLS, ACTIVATE THE SHIELDS", he shouted at the few people in the camp.
The shockwave continued to expand until it reached their position and when it met the shields they held on as the wave passed until the shield broke and the camp was thrown backwards a few hundred feet. Nyzinth popped his head from the sand a few minutes later and crawled out, "Thankfully, I had an earth escape talisman on me."
As he looked at the direction of the capital, he saw nothing except the epicenter of the blast and magma rising out of the new deep crater that had formed.
He stood there trying to understand for several minutes before it dawned on him, "That crazy bastard, he detonated the spiritual vein! The vein, the resources, the army, they are all gone", he said aloud, "What am I going to do? I have nothing to show for this? They will kill me if I return to the empire."
Unable to decide, he stood there until he was grabbed.
"Envoy Nyzinth, it's your good fortune to be safe", the soldiers holding him said, "We will ensure your safe return."
The competition was finished, the White Tiger alliance had taken five of the top ten spots. While it wasn't the first time that asecond class sect got into the top ten, it was the first time they took half the spots.
There was an awkward moment during the recognition ceremony when Sect Masters Liang and Han attempted to recruit the disciples from the top fifty who belonged to second class sects. While the disciples from the turtle, pheonix, and dragon sects accepted the offer, all the White Tiger disciples rejected. As everyone gathered together to prepare the leave, the sect masters were meeting one last time before their departure.
"Sect Master Kong, I believe we will be coming to visit you in the coming season. I hope we won't intrude on your region", Liang announced.
"Sect Master Liang, it's our honor to welcome you. If you do plan on visiting Sun & Moon island let us know and we will make reservations for courtyards and hotels. Just please be aware that recently beastkin from Zhuo continent and merfolk from the nearby kingdoms have been visiting and the island will not tolerate conflicts", Kong explained.
"Of course, have a safe journey", Han replied.
Kong and the disciples entered the flying ship and took off, heading back to the Xian region.
Zeng Meirong was ecstatic! She had passed the exam and now her Identification Card reflected her status as a class 1 apprentice Talisman crafter. She invited two of her friends to the Pearl of the Sea she had reservations at, and later that evening the three of them were enjoying themselves as they ate many delicacies and drank the spirit wine. They were celebrating and discussing the events of the day when one of the glass walls that showcased the sea life was interrupted as merfolk soldiers poured through the pipes.
She stood up and ran to the wall, "What's going on?"