Dark Universe VI
-Year 2 in Dark Universe, Shangri-la, India-
Tie Ta, Reika, Ahmanet, and Lingyue stood before the eternal pool. They had found many things in Shangri-la, but cultivation techniques were not one of them. However, before the group ended their year-long expedition, Lingyue had a solid idea.
"You say that you have achieved equilibrium. But if you use just a little too much death essence, it will throw your body out of wack. So, I thought you could permanently balance the scales by drinking the waters of the eternal pool. It might be just the right amount of life essence you need." Lingyue explained.
Tie Ta looked at the nearly destroyed pool. Then he looked around the cave that housed the pool. He could tell that no one had been to the eternal pool since the Dragon Emperor had laid waste to it in the third Mummy movie.
Tie Ta slowly approached the glimmering blue waters and stood at the sandy edge.
"Tie! You aren't the only person to have good ideas. Step into the water. Hell, you may even turn into a three-headed dragon." Lingyue joked.
Tie Ta chuckled, then stripped naked. He walked into the eternal pool and submerged himself completely. He could fill life essence flooding his body. It was like fire melting the ice of his soul. Then the fire became too intense. It dulled his death essence, and Tie Ta promptly ejected himself from the pool.
When Tie Ta landed in the dirt, he rolled around as if his body had caught fire. When he finally settled, Lingyue asked him if it worked, to which he replied, "Too well. It burned away some of my death essence."
"Is that better or worse?" Reika asked.
"Better," Ahmanet answered. "Much better."
"So what happens now?" asked Lingyue.
"The tomb of the First Qin Emperor, But I need you to work with Tengyi. Kong was apart of this universe once. I need to know if he's still here."
"The Kaiju, Kong?" Lingyue asked.
"Yes. We are arguably the strongest people on this planet. And if the Kaiju somehow mingled with this world, a fight with them could be the key to unlocking the next stage of our genetic constraints."
"Every time you come up with a plan, you sound like a mad man." said Lingyue, "Fine. I'll talk to Tengyi."
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-Xi'an, China-
Tie Ta, Ahmanet, and Reika overlooked rivers of mercury, leading to the First Qin Emperor's tomb. Tie Ta twisted his hand, and the sand morphed to create a bridge to cross the river of mercury. The trio then started their journey deeper and deeper down the path until they reached the tomb's entrance.
The entrance opened up into an underground Chinese palace encircled with mercury.
"What the hell was wrong with the ancients? You know how many people must have died building this place," said Reika.
"Who cares. This is magnificent." said Ahmanet, "And just so you know, Mercury is also a substance the binds the soul. It's why I was placed in a pool of mercury. So make sure not to wake anything."
" Let's split up. I'll head for the Emperor's tomb," said Tie Ta.
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-Excerpt-
In the ninth month, the First Emperor was interred at Mount Li. Digging and preparation work at Mount Li began when the First Emperor first came to the throne. Later, after he had unified his empire, 700,000 men were sent there from all over his empire. They dug through three layers of groundwater and poured in bronze for the outer coffin.
Palaces and scenic towers for a hundred officials were constructed, and the tomb was filled with rare artifacts and wonderful treasure. Craftsmen were ordered to make crossbows and arrows primed to shoot at anyone who enters the tomb. Mercury was used to simulate the hundred rivers, the Yangtze, Yellow River, and the great sea, and set to flow mechanically.
Above were representations of the heavenly constellations, below, the features of the land. Candles were made from the fat of "man-fish", which is calculated to burn and not extinguish for a long time. The Second Emperor said: "It would be inappropriate for the concubines of the late emperor who have no sons to be out free", ordered that they should accompany the dead, and a great many died.
After the burial, it was suggested that it would be a serious breach if the craftsmen who constructed the mechanical devices and knew of its treasures were to divulge those secrets. Therefore after the funeral ceremonies had completed and the treasures hidden away, the inner passageway was blocked, and the outer gate lowered, immediately trapping all the workers and craftsmen inside. None could escape. Trees and vegetations were then planted on the tomb mound such that it resembles a hill.
— Sima Qian, Shiji, Chapter 6.
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The courtyard-style palace was estimated to be 690 meters long and 250 meters wide, covering an area of 170,000 square meters, which is nearly a quarter of the size of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The palace included 18 courtyard houses and the main building that overlooked the houses. Ahmanet had resurrected the numerous workers that were left for dead to lead her to 18 courtyards and the main house. She then resurrected the concubines for a second chance at life.
At the same time, Tie Ta had resurrected just one man to disable the security mechanisms in the Emperor's Tomb. When the mechanisms were disabled, Tie Ta looked into the Emperor's tomb and found him hugging a book similar to the oracle bones book.
Tie Ta looked at the worker and asked, "What is that book, 'Techniques From Heaven.' I have never heard of it."
"Lord, that is China's Royal Treasure. It was in the Emperor's family when they were known as the Shi clan. Handed down from the Yellow Emperor himself." the worker explained.
"Bullshit. You're telling me the First Emperor was an actual descendant of the Yellow Emperor?"
"Yes, Lord. Zhuanxu, the grandson of the Yellow Emperor, had a granddaughter named Nuxiu. She had a son named Daye. Daye's son, Boyi, is the first ancestor of the House of Ying. The House of the First Emperor."
Tie Ta stared at the book in the arms of the emperor and said, "70,000 points and an S-rank reward for one cultivation technique. And you were given a book of them for nothing."
Tie Ta sighed, "I have to know if they're real."
He then reached out and pulled the book from the emperor's arms. Upon the cover read: Techniques From Heaven. I have survived Tianlong, and now the gates of heaven have opened once again. To the mortal plane, I return with all the blessings of God.
Tie Ta suddenly became anxious, and the atmosphere became stuffy. All Tie Ta could think about was that Yellow Emperor had been a player, won his freedom, and returned home.
Tie Ta slowly opened the book, and the first title loosely translated read: Cold Flame Lotus Technique. Status 100. 70,000 Tallies and Status 1 reward.
"Cold Flame Lotus Technique. Rank 100. 70,000 points and S-rank Reward." Tie Ta repeated aloud.
A tear graced Tie Ta's check as he sifted through the book until he reached the Rank 1 and final cultivation technique. On the back of the book was a passage loosely translated read: Do not trust the gatekeeper of the 17 heavens. Find the Heavenly Steele, and you'll find the key to Heaven's Gate.
Tie Ta suddenly snapped his fingers, and the worker he resurrected had returned to the underworld. Tie Ta had a lot on his mind after reading the warning of the Yellow Emperor. And if it meant what he thought it did, Tie Ta had a lot to worry about.
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-One week later, Shanghai, China-
"Tie Ta, you need to tell them what you found," said Reika.
"No, you don't have to tell them anything," said Ahmanet.
Tie Ta laid on his back as he stared at the ceiling, toning out both of the women. A moment later, a slave opened the door and announced the arrival of Team China.
When Tie Ta entered the hall to see his team, he refrained from telling them details, but Heng was given a bow and arrows made of Pheonix bones and feathers. Ouyang Di was given a staff inscribed with incantations. Yinkong was given enchanted daggers, and Lingyue was given a storage ring.
Team China was confused by the sudden gifts of magical items.
"The first emperor was a descendant of someone like us," said Tie Ta.
"You mean a player?" asked Wutong
"Yes."
"How do you know for certain?" asked Tengyi
"I don't know anything for certain. It's just a hunch right now. But a book of Cultivation techniques has ranks and prices in the form of points and ranked rewards... I think it is time for us to return to GOD's Dimension."
Tie Ta didn't know what GOD would do to even scale on the next mission. Team China also hasn't made any progress in the last year. Besides regaining control over his power, Tie Ta saw no reason to stay in the Dark Universe any longer.
"We haven't even unlocked the second stage of our genetic constraints." Yinkong protested. "I'm close..."
"She has a point, Boss. If we go back now, that means we will have to face other teams. We need a few more stage two's." said Tengyi.
Tie Ta looked to Reika, and she gave him a subtle nod.
"Fine. But we do it my way. Then we go home. No questions asked." said Tie Ta.
Team China agreed, and Tie erupted with Reiatsu. His team fell to their knees and struggled to withstand the spiritual pressure.
"Get up! Now! If you want to reach the top, you must fight! Crawl, Walk, Climb! " Tie Ta roared, "You must do whatever it takes... Now get on your feet and fight me. All of you."
Tie Ta looked at Reika and Ahmanet.
"You all know the objective. So if you don't break through before it's completed, so be it."
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On Tie Ta's land, behind his mansion, Tie Ta had flash stepped, then kneed Wutong before landing a haymaker dead center of his jaw. Tie Ta looked around and saw his team bloodied and struggling to move.
"I thought you were all Stage 1 players. Show me something!"
Lingyue merged her Qi and Blood Energy. Yinkong channeled her nether energy. Wutong became a bipedal werewolf. Lightning charged around Tengyi. Di conjured up a magic circle. Zhuiyu pulled water from the pond. Reika channeled her Psionic energy. Ahmanet summoned the dead from the earth.
Tie Ta smirked to himself and began to mutter. The only thing the team heard was, "Rule Over All! Shi long di!"
Tie Ta released his Zanpakuto, and the battle raged again. Tie Ta dominated with just his Shinigami power. Zankensoki was displayed in all its glory as Tie Ta dismantled his team with overwhelming force.
Lingyue was hit with a strike from the Zanpakuto spirit and hurled into the air. Tie Te then flash-stepped and destroyed Yinkong's daggers before dispatching her nether energy with a kick to the head.
Reika was then hit with a 15 strike combo and a seizing migraine when Tie Ta destroyed her telepathic attack. Wutong then got his arm lopped off and back broke. This trend continued for a while.
Eventually, Tie Ta felt it. Reika had unlocked Stage 2, followed by Yinkong and surprisingly Tengyi.
Tie Ta then cackled as his spiritual power went up a level and soon combined with his internal energies of life and death.
"Good! Now I see improvement! But here's some advice, protect the golden goose."
For the first time since the battle began, Tie Ta actively attacked Ahmanet. Team China moved to intercept, but everyone was at their limit. Tie Ta secretly hopped at least one more would breakthrough.
The battle carried on for another day and night until Tie Ta's sword was about to decapitate Ouyang Di, and he broke through the second stage. But Ouyang Di's second stage was the most deadly yet. With his limiters released, he could perform magic at the level of ArchSorcerer.
Tie Ta hovered in the air like a tyrant. He watched as Ouyang Di started to conjure divine lightning. When the sky changed, and thunder roared, Tie Ta had seen enough.
"That's enough!" Tie Ta ordered. He pointed his finger at Ahmanet, and a searing pain burned into her chest. When it was over, Tie Ta said, "Admit defeat."
"I don't want you to leave," said Ahmanet.
"Do It!" Tie Ta ordered.
"I am defeated." Ahmanet stammered, and the world went dark.
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-The Mummy (2017)-
Mission Objective: Defeat Ahmanet- Complete!
Reward: Every member receives 2500 points and a B-rank reward.
Basic Survival Reward: 1000 Points
Newbie Introduction: Xu Lingyue receives 100 points.
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Sometime later, Team China appeared in GODs Dimension.
"GOD. Heal Wutong," said Tie Ta.
Wutong was then enveloped in light.
"If anyone else is injured. See Di. He needs the practice." said Tie Ta.
"But we have a new mage on the team now." Said Di.
The team turned to see Ahmanet feeling herself and looking around the lobby with wonder. She then looked at her wrist to see a black watch with her name, stats, and exchanges.
Tie Ta smiled and said, "Yeah. It was an experiment. I am Set, her master. But I didn't create her. So I wanted to know what would happen if I brought my property, which also happened to be a human, along with me to GODs Dimension."
"It made her a player," said Heng.
"Unexpectedly, yes," said Tie Ta.
Tie Ta told the newbies how the rooms worked, then sent everyone on their way to get some sleep. Reika and Ahmanet stayed together in Ahmanet's room. Leaving Tie Ta by himself. Reika was good at handling Tie Ta, and she knew that he wanted to be alone.
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Player: Tie Ta (24K CyberScythe)
Age: 21
Missions: 4
Exchangeable Rewards: 12372 points +SBBCCDD-rank
Upgrade: 1/3
-Stats-
1. Intelligence: 1500
2.Mental capacity: 1500
3.Cell Vitality: 2500
4.Reaction Speed: 1500
5.Muscle Density: 1500
6.Immunization: 2500
Genetic Constraint: Stage 2
- Exhangables-
1. Scifi Weapons: 16" Mini Machete (SM)
2. Magical Weapons: Zanpakuto, Amulet of Shezmu, Dagger of Set, Ring of Na, Belt of Beloth the Wise.
3. Support: Master level Telekinesis and Telepathy, Advance Life and Death Qi, Stage 1 Tyrant Ghoul, Zankensoki, Immense level Psionic Reiryoku, Enhanced Muscle Memory, Mental Palace, Total Recall, Speed Read Spell
4. Entertainment:
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'It seems that merging with Set has done me well,' thought Tie Ta, 'GOD, was the Set that I merged with real? It just seems like my stats should be higher after merging with a God.'
"Yes. However, since it seems that you have discovered the near truth of the dimensions, Set of the Dark Universe was just a sliver of the actual God. The collective humans manifest the dimensions. But Gods are the only beings bound to the original plane of existence. The Real World.'
'So, there's another Ahmanet and Set for another Team?' asked Tie Ta.
'No. Your theories are both right and wrong. Ahmanet and Set of the Dark Universe are here. For example, If another team was to go to a later resident evil film. They would encounter an entirely different world because of you and the changes you made in the earlier movies. I can choose the where and increase the difficulty of the mission. But every team operates on the same plane. Also, I can propel you forward in time, but I can not turn back the clock.'
'I get it... You select the mission accordingly. And I'm assuming that Resident Evil 1 and 2 are off the table for every team. Just like there's no way for us to back to the events of the Mummy (1999) and neither can other teams.'
"Correct. One timeline, one dimension, 17 teams. Only moving forward, never backward. And that is to be applied to every movie dimension.' GOD spoke almost as if he was reciting a command. This caused Tie Ta to raise an eyebrow.
'Tell me... What is our next movie?'
'Legion,' GOD replied, and for the first time, Tie Ta could sense a deprived enjoyment in its tone. Though, Tie Ta knew GOD was a vengeful prick.
'Should I be expecting an enemy Team?'
GOD remained silent.
'I've heard you give an Error Warning. Are you staying silent of your own volition?" asked Tie Ta.
GOD could feel Tie Ta's distrust and threat level rising the more he investigated. Tie Ta could feel GOD become a threat.
'All mission details will be displayed at the start of the movie.'
'You just made that up.' said Tie Ta.
'Legion. Mission objective: Protect Jeep Hanson and Charlie until the chosen one is born. The mission starts in 10 Days.'
'You son of bitch.' Tie Ta cursed.
'You started it, Tie Ta. That little scheme you pulled in the Dark Universe. All of your questions and probing. That primitive toddler of an AI, Jarvis, in the Resident Evil universe. You have brought Team China to a place that would have cost thousands of points and many ranked rewards. Now, you can keep everything from the Dark Universe. But you will hand over Xuanyuan's Cultivation Compendium or face the next mission in its entirety.'
Tie Ta growled. 'Xuanyuan. You mean the Yellow Emperor?'
'Yes, him and his seven primitive friends. They were nothing before me. And then they cheated me. Give me the book you found.'
'I don't think I will, Gatekeeper. You, these movies, the other teams. All of you will be the stepping stones to my hegemony. I like you, GOD. I really do. But let me run my team, my way. There are 16 others for you to fuck with.' said Tie Ta.
'But you're the best leader among them all, Tie Ta. Good Luck.'
Tie Ta shouted, and his energy crushed everything in his bedroom. "Fuck!"
There was nothing Tie Ta could hide from GOD. But what pissed Tie Ta off the most was that his team had to deal with the fallout of his actions and misjudgment. He now realized that GOD was beyond AI. GOD is an entity. A true intelligence created by supreme beings that he underestimated because of his arrogance.
For now, he was protected by the rules that he had yet to find. But as long as he was ignorant of all the rules. He was at the mercy of GOD, and every time he goes into a movie, it was a death sentence that he had beat.
'Find the rules, kick GOD's ass.'
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The morning after, Tie Ta told the Team everything about Legion and his speculations about the difficulty level and things to expect. He finished by telling them the truth about the movie dimensions and Yellow Emperor as a past Team China member.
He did leave out that GOD was a raging lunatic that wanted his head because he was scheming too much. But the team was already overwhelmed by the fact that Legion's mission was using Tie Ta's tactics against them.
"Fuck it." Yinkong finally spoke.
Her voice was a lot more mature, as were her features. She had grown taller, and her hair was below her ass. Once she had turned 18 in Dark Universe, it was like she had blossomed.
"Yeah. Let's keep doing what we do. Let's exchange some shit and then train in Resident Evil." said Wutong.
The team agreed with Wutong. Over the years, they had become daring and battle-prone. Tie Ta laughed to himself and wondered why he was worried for them in the first place.
"Well, I know I am new. But that gold Steele wasn't here last night," said Ahmanet as she gestured to the Gold Tablet in the middle of the GODs platform.
"Ahh, those are the Team Battle rules. And before I read them. I have a rule of my own." said Tie Ta.
"Kill 'em all!" the team echoed with smiles as they knew Tie Ta better than he would admit they did. It was the reason that not everyone broke through Stage 2 during the team battle. They knew Tie Ta wouldn't kill them, so the fear wasn't there, leaving them to only rely on willpower to break through.
Tie Ta chuckled with a happy smile, "Team China or bust. I'm glad you all made it to this team."