Two spheres appeared in the darkness to Huxian’s left. Once was a sphere of deep blackness, the other a sphere of light. They coexisted together, complemented each other. This wasn’t just essence of light and darkness. It was the purest form imaginable, and the initiation mark Huxian could generate with it would be unmatched.
“On the one hand, you may choose this boon,” the Candle Dragon continued. “Essence of light and darkness, harvested at the birth of the universe itself. I was born beside it and kept it in case I needed a snack. That time never came.”
The Candle Dragon looked slightly to Huxian’s right. There, a gray portal opened. A force much purer than Huxian had ever experienced oozed out of it. Its presence altered the fabric of reality around the portal, which flickered like it would close at any instant. “Alternatively, you can take my trial. If you do well, you can obtain a Candle Dragon initiation mark, a time-based one, instead of a light and darkness initiation. Light and darkness are only minor elements of space-time. Being initiated with my mark will make you much stronger.”
Huxian swallowed. And if I fail this trial?
“If you fail, you get nothing,” the Candle Dragon said. “No light, no darkness. You will have to settle for something else on the weak mortal plane where you reside. Choose wisely.”
Huxian frowned. He sniffed at the light and darkness, sniffed at the portal. This experience was both surreal and confusing. Mighty figures like the Candle Dragon didn’t exactly waste their time on lowly beings like him and offer rewards, did they? Just what was going on?
This junior confesses himself confused, Huxian said. Why this offer for a trial? Why this unforeseen blessing? Did I please you in some way? Did I displease you? Sometimes, rewards offered by mighty figures were just veiled punishments. It was important to identify them and decide accordingly.
The Candle Dragon looked at him. It blinked once, then, surprisingly, it sighed. “There is a darkness. A deep darkness that surpasses that which I preside over. No light balances it. It consumes endlessly. It devours without limit. It eats away at the fabric of the universe itself. You have seen it.”
Huxian nodded slowly. I have.
“This blessing is to aid in fighting this calamity. I cannot do much, as direct actions by one like myself would shatter a mortal plane. If you take on my trial, and you prove worthy, you can gain a part of my power. It will aid you in fighting that creature, and perhaps we can save that small speck of a world before it vanishes for all eternity. While we’re at it, we’ll fix those eyes of yours.”
Eyes? Huxian said. These things? His eyes weren’t bleeding anymore, but they weren’t doing very well either. They stung when he blinked, and it was very taxing to keep them open and look around. Yes, his eyes were a problem. He’d forgotten about them in his excitement.
“Your eyes are filled with hatred,” the Candle Dragon said. “They seek to see everything and change everything. That’s too much strain on a body, Godbeast or otherwise. If you take my trial, I can help you channel that hatred into something more… manageable. It is lucky that you met me when you did.”
And my brother? Huxian said. Can you help him? Now that he thought about it, Cha Ming wasn’t nearly as strong as he was. He was powerful, yes, but a human body didn’t quite match up to that of a Godbeast. He only hoped he hadn’t done something stupid like kill a few hundred thousand ghosts like he had.
“I cannot,” the Candle Dragon said. “He will need to find his own way. Only a Godbeast can merge these eye techniques as I instruct.”
Huxian gulped, then looked toward the portal. I won’t die if I hop in there, will I?
“Only if you’re grossly incompetent,” the Candle Dragon replied. “And in that case, I can only express my condolences to your father for conceiving such a worthless son.” He blinked. “Time runs short. Choose now.”
That was a no-brainer. From his inherited memories, Huxian knew exactly how bad fighting a Taotie would be without serious firepower. He needed an edge, and he wouldn’t say no to a Candle Dragon inheritance. Besides, taking on another Godbeast initiation would really stick it to his old man, who had basically disowned him. He could already taste the vengeance.
With that thought, Huxian leaped into the gray portal and didn’t look back.
Cha Ming blinked as he looked at Southhaven Wall and the army stationed before it. The army was waiting, its cooking fires burning strong as the men prepared for battle. Here and there, Cha Ming could sense men sharpening weapons. Others sparred and practiced, while a few professionals crafted a few extra items for the upcoming conflict.
He sensed everything but saw nothing. His eyes could no longer see. “Why did it come to this?” Cha Ming asked Feng Ming, who flew up beside him. “They’re not all bad. So many died in Bastion, but very few deserved to.” The sin he’d obtained from his actions was a testament to that fact. Many innocent men had been blown away by the storm he’d created.
“Men live and men die,” Feng Ming said. “Who truly deserves death is difficult to decide.” He pointed. “Even this army. They’re all here to invade the North, but are they really to blame? Most of them probably signed up for the army when they heard about good pay and good treatment. Their governments told them it was their right and their obligation to serve their country, to serve the South in obtaining a better future.
“To them, the Northerners are nothing but spoiled brats. They have ample resources compared to the South, but they squander the luck
