1 Prologue: The End of the World.

If one could see from a bird's eye view. There was a portion of a certain world that held an interesting sight. A sight that looked to be divided in half.

On one side was serenity. Lush green grass under a clear sky. With a group of men and women standing together. Dressed in pristine white robes with embroidered clear clouds.

On the other side, the sky had a hole in it. Allowing one to see straight into the darkness of space, despite it being noon.

In seemingly random locations, of this side, were rivers of several different colored flames and pillars of ice. Patches of barren lands and emaciated bodies. Not too far from them were streams of different colored water.

Some distance from the divide was a colossal humanoid Shadow pierced by trees, weapons, and a massive pillar of light. With tiny motes of shadows slowly bleeding away from it.

Several thunderstorms carrying boulders the size of a human raged on. Going to and fro with no sign of stopping.

Not too far from the colossal Shadow. There was a gigantic beast of ice filled with holes. Tied down by ropes of light and trees it was slowly melting, as it laid in a pool of lave.

And in the center of all this chaos was a mountain. Its peak was high enough to reach the clouds, but that peak was gone. The rest of the mountain was filled with holes. And a large chunk as if a titanic creature had taken a bite out of it was missing. From this hole leaked crystalline water that seemed so pure it tempted one to drink.

Away from this devastation, at the border of the lush lands was a man in a black robe. His hair gray and his skin wrinkled. The exhaustion evident as he knelt, with vacant eyes. His body so still he seemed almost dead.

Flickering in and out of sight. There were 11 massive spikes impaled through his back. Revealing then hiding a destroyed symbol three youths had spent many nights thinking of.

Stranger than these seemingly illusionary spikes was the fact that though he had more wounds and injuries than most would bother to count. Not a drop of blood could be seen.

"He was your brother and the two of you are the last of your Clan. Do what you will but remember we will not tolerate you sparing him."

With those words, there was movement among the white robes and a youth stepped out among them. And if one looked closely he was the only one without injury. Or even a mark on his robes.

In one graceful gesture, he bowed to his comrades and his long loose black hair swayed with his movements. Rising from his bow, Qing Ruo Xuan Yi turned his gaze to his brother.

And though his eyes were filled with sorrow and a sad smile crossed his lips. His steps were steady and firm. Yet they did not press down a blade of grass. Watching him walk one would think it was the world moving and not him. And though each step was "slow" he reached his brother faster than a mortal's eye could follow.

Standing before his brother, he frowned. Then reached out and plucked a spike from his brothers back. Xuan Yi was forced to jerk the rod back and forth, but finally, it was free. Then he crushed it in his grip.

One of the white robes stepped forward with a scowl, but the man who spoke to Xuan Yi stopped him.

His gaze fixated on his brother, Xuan Yi pulled out the 10 remaining spikes. Then the vacant gaze finally left his brother's eyes.

Qing Ruo Xuan Yu looked up and the two brother's eyes locked. The air began to stir as power started to fill Xuan Yu.

Several of the white robes immediately drew a variety of weapons, but once more their leader gave a sign and they stilled.

At a visible speed, Xuan Yu's grey hair began to turn black. Slowly, from the roots. The wrinkles along his skin begin to fade and his face was slowly looking more youthful.

Till, a haggard cough racked him, and black blood spewed from his mouth.

When he raised his head once more, he looked monstrous. A twisted fusion of a youth and an old man. From his scars leaked black blood like ooze. With the 11 large holes that allowed one to see straight through his body leaking the same fluid.

Seeing that, Xuan Yi frowned and took off his outer robe. Kneeling down in the ooze he wrapped it around his brother's shoulder.

Then letting his hand linger on his brother's shoulder. A faint aquamarine glow surrounded his hand.

A soft sigh escaped Xuan Yu's lips and the transformation continued once more. Slowly but steadily he took the appearance of his youth.

Revealing a face just like Xuan Yi's. Though they were not born the same day. The only difference between them was their expression.

Xuan Yu cold and arrogant, while Xuan Yi was expressive and humble.

"Big brother," Xuan Yi said. A deep smile etched on his face. The joy was evident in his voice and eyes.

They had not seen each other for over a thousand years. But seeing that Xuan Yu had changed to the appearance he had when they last saw each other. Xuan Yi was elated, he thought there was hope for reconciliation. To interact as they once did. Of course, he had to ask the Elders to change the sentence first. But after he could-

Then for a moment unnoticed by all those white robes present. The world seemed to still and a change occurred.

Xuan Yu's eyes grew confused and he tried to speak, but all he could do was cough up that ooze like blood. As his body shook with pain.

Concern and sorrow filled Xuan Yi's expression and he immediately hugged Xuan Yu. And Xuan Yu could do nothing but fall into him.

As Xuan Yu's breath grew weaker and weaker. Tears began to form in Xuan Yi's eyes.

"Foolish little brother," Xuan Yi scolded softly.

His words entering only Xuan Yu's ears. And those were the last words the latter would hear before he died. With his confusion, regret, and fear evident on his face.

With an expression of sadness, Xuan Yi closed Xuan Yu's eyes. And with a soft chant and a hand gestured called the crystalline water from the broken mountain. Under his directions it coated Xuan Yu's body washed it clean and held it above ground.

With a fresh stream of tears falling from his eyes, Xuan Yi kissed Xuan Yu's forehead and then closed his eyes.

The waters that held Xuan Yu vibrated and the body quickly was liquidized. With another direction from Xuan Yi, the waters fell deep into the earth.

Seeing the burial was finished the rest of the white robes approached. Their movement a confusing display of slow yet quick.

"Xuan Yi, your heart is truly too good. Your brother chose his path and you chose yours."

"The burial you gave him was more than any of the Demonic Sects deserve. You gave him too much honor."

"Our world is at an end; such labels are meaningless. We ourselves were willing to accept them into our alliance."

"And they rejected our offer. Even though we face mutual destruction."

"They proved themselves fools, other members of our alliance will gather their knowledge. We have dallied enough."

"I'm sorry to have halted us for so long, venerated seniors, brothers, and sisters."

Xuan Yi bowed to the Elders who had gathered. His power, his talent, his potential, and his humility. Left even the most antagonistic members without a flaw to pick. So, no one continued complaining.

"It is fine, it is but a moment to grieve."

"Thank you," Xuan Yi replied to their leader and then lifted his head facing them with a firm gaze.

"Then, let us return our attention to the true threat."

The others nodded, and they took to the air. Some took to the air on their favored weapons while others did solely with their own mastery.

Leaving the battlefield with an enemy at their head.