Chapter 57 - The Dragon

Khutulun was the first to move, making use of his speed to close the distance between him and their enemy, his spear cut the air between their enemy in an instant, but was deflected by a fist. The blow felt almost like hitting a rock. He turned the spear, intent on hitting their enemy with the other side, but the man moved incredibly fast, closing in on him and projecting a punch against his chest. He managed to catch it with his spear but was still sent flying backward a good six feet.

He landed with a roll and was on his feet again just as Urus’ mace came down on the man that had called himself Tngri. Again, Tngri deflected the downward blow with a fist and one of his elbows hit Urus on the ribs, eliciting a grunt of pain that made Khutulun raise his eyebrows. It was the first time he had ever heard Urus ‘the Giant’ demonstrate any kind of pain during an encounter.

But this was not a time to be reflecting on the past, Khutulun readied his lance and closed in on the two warriors in an instant, looking for an opening. He found one once the stranger kicked Urus away, mace and all, and the Giant fell on his back a few feet back. He stabbed his leg with the spear, but the blade ricocheted away from it, sparks flying from where the blow had landed. His surprise was short-lived however because the man grabbed the shaft and pulled him closer. Caught unaware, he came with the weapon but twisted his body away from the man’s attack by letting go of the spear at the last moment and rolling forward.

He rolled away from the kick that came crashing down on his position and was amazed by the small crater it created.

Urus came back into the fray then, waving his mace in circles above his head and screaming like a madman. The stranger barely had time to block the strike with his arms before he was sent flying against the sand but rolled back to his feet an instant later with a grimace. Khutulun inspected his arms and saw the bruises on them, but they didn’t appear to be broken, a common fate to all others that had received the same attack.

The man took a deep breath and met his eyes. “You two make a very dangerous combination.”

“And you are a very sturdy target” Urus gritted, making Khutulun look at him, one of his hands was supporting his left chest, and there was blood on his lips. “Who hits harder than a mule.”

“And you’re the one to talk?” the stranger smiled, “I broke at least two ribs, and yet you’re still standing.”

“I admit it hurts, but I wouldn’t miss this fight for anything, not even my own death.”

Khutulun shook his head, the two men were crazy.

“That would be enough, I think,” the stranger said and stood up straighter, Khutulun noticed that the bruises on his arms had reduced significantly. “Time to get serious.”

Both chieftains gritted their teeth and prepared, while their enemy’s body adopted a different guard from before. Instead of his hands forming claws, they were open one pointing to them and the other with the palm open to the heavens. For some reason, Khutulun couldn’t help but shiver. There was something strange going on, and the epicenter was the man in front of them.

“Khu” Urus whispered while his eyes were firmly on their enemy “I can’t move too much, so I’ll take the brunt of his attack while you search for an opening.” He frowned under his mask but nodded. The stranger they were fighting was unlike any other man they had ever encountered. Not only was he hard to hit, but his strength was also almost impossible to match. Urus wasn’t very mobile to begin with, but his attacks were strong and his body sturdy against most attacks; meanwhile Khutulun was nimble and fast, his attacks might not be very powerful, but they were always aimed at weak spots, causing critical damage.

He gripped his spear harder and lowered his stance while the pressure over their shoulders grew.

He looked intently at their enemy and was surprised when he noticed that some small rocks seemed to be floating around him, while the clouds began covering the sky above them.

“Do you remember the old legends?” Urus suddenly said, “Tngri often spoke of the path of cultivation that men could follow if they had enough discipline.”

The giant’s words echoed in his mind, reminding him of the stories he had heard as a child, of men becoming gods through a path of discipline and wisdom. He nodded, it would seem that Urus and he were of the same mind.

What they were facing was a man that had dedicated his life to reaching the fabled pearly gates… They were facing a man on his way to godhood.

“I hope to survive this fight… I’d love to see what this man is capable of.” Urus said before spitting a mouthful of blood.

The tension in the air seemed to reach a crescendo and Khutulun couldn’t help but swallow, as his forehead filled with sweat.

The man in front of them had achieved a transformation of sorts, his body was relaxed, but his eyes had turned from brown to gold, his long black braid floated in the air behind him, like the tail of a snake poised to strike.

The open palm pointing at them moved, beckoning them as he smiled. When they didn’t move from their stop, he spoke, and his voice echoed in the valley.

“Very well, here I come.”

Khutulun barely had time to step sideways before the man materialized at his side. True to his word, Urus took the attack, letting go of his mace and protecting his chest with his arms; there was a clap of thunder, and he was launched backward with the strength and speed of a charging horse.

Khutulun’s eyes widened, and he poised his spear to strike the heart of their enemy… until he disappeared from in front of him, and he felt something crash against his side.

There was pain, the feeling of floating on air, and then even more pain when his back impacted against the ground hard. He rolled to absorb some of the impacts, but he was left dizzy, and his chest was on fire.

He lifted his eyes to the man, who stood almost twenty feet away and saw him jump impossibly high, and he was forced to roll away from his spot. When he landed, the stranger hit the ground and it exploded outwards, creating a crater that was as big as five horses’ side on side.

“You are good, but you are only human.” The man said, walking calmly toward Khutulun, who struggled to rise to his feet. He used his spear as support despite the pain that racked his body.

“Who are you?” he asked through gritted teeth “Are you really a cultivator?”

The stranger stopped in his tracks and smiled at him. “So your people really do remember my kind. Yes, I am a cultivator. My name, in this reincarnation, is Shen Long Mu.”

“Reincarnation?” Khutulun asked, frowning. His strength failed him, and he fell forward, only to be stopped by the man he had been trying to kill before. Without any effort, he set him on his feet.

“Will you yield? I do not wish to further harm you.”

Khutulun bit his lip and took stock of his body: he could barely stand, much less present any kind of fight to this man. He shook his head “Yes. I am beaten.” His eyes rose to the man that was keeping him on his feet and saw him close his eyes for a second before they became forest green. He moved his head forward and exhaled right on his face.

He had expected to perceive something foul, but instead, his breath was like being inside a field of flowers in spring… a pleasure he had almost forgotten. The man let him go and he found, to his complete amazement, that he could walk on his own. He still felt heavy and tired, but the pain was almost gone.

His eyes met his and the man was smiling. He then fell to his knees, “My lord!”

“Stay there, I will check Urus now.” And just like that, he disappeared from in front of him and reappeared on the other end of the battlefield.

Urus opened one eye to look at his enemy.

“I think I fell asleep for a moment.” He smiled, showing a row of bloodied teeth. “Did we win?”

“No.”

“Pity. I really wanted to see the meadows from the south.”

“You will see meadows, but they’ll be your own.” The stranger knelt at his side and Urus sighed.

“If you’re going to kill me…”

“Why would I kill you? I aimed to defeat you… unless you plan to fight me again as you are…?”

Urus laughed and spat a mouthful of blood “I think I’ll pass.” He couched again before sighing “I can almost see the golden meadows where the dead are waiting for me.”

“Say goodbye to them, because you’re staying in this place for a while still.” The man breathed in front of his face, and he felt his spirit be plucked like a feather from the land of the spirits and returned to his body, where we watched in awe as his wounds sealed themselves, leaving nothing but unblemished skin.

He took a deep breath and was surprised when it didn’t hurt even a little.

“You have saved my life; you kept my brother safe… I am yours, my lord, as are my people.”

The man smiled and moved to a side to reveal none other than Delger, who was running to see his older brother.

“Thank you, great Tngri!” Delger bowed with tears in his eyes “I will never forget this great gift you have given us.”

Urus looked at his brother, before turning to the man that had defeated him and brought him back to the world of the living.

“Tngri…” he mumbled and bowed his head “I had almost forgotten that name…”

The man with the forest-green eyes smiled “go back to your camp and rest, I will see you and Khutulun tomorrow.”

“As you wish, my lord.” His brother helped him to stand, and he was surprised when he found that nothing ached. He was tired for sure, but nothing more.

Delger supported his weight with his shoulder and together they walked back to his army, who received them with relieved faces.

“What will happen now?” one of the men asked Urus

“We are going back to camp for now. Tomorrow we will return to talk.”

“Talk?”

“Yes, it is the wish of the man who defeated us. Tomorrow we shall speak with him and see where that takes us.”

“We could attack tonight…” another man proposed but he was immediately silenced by the glare he received from the chieftain.

“I will not go back on my word. We were defeated by one man, and he wasn’t even angry. Do you want to anger him by going back on my promise?”

The other man raised his hands in defeat “No, chief. Sorry.”

“Good, now stop having idiotic thoughts, and let’s get out of here.”

Delger helped his brother mount his horse and jumped on behind him. To his right, he saw the other chieftain mounting his own horse with the help of a woman archer, before parting at a gallop.

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When I came out of my heightened state, I immediately felt the difference in strength and my knees buckled.

‘I told you our body couldn’t take it for a long time.’

‘Good thing we finished things quickly.’ I smiled at myself ‘Now I know what Goku felt when he reached super Saiyan 3.’

‘You’re such a nerd.’

‘Says the spirit watching anime in my head.’

My other self fell silent, and I chuckled. Just then An and Fei reached me.

“Your majesty, are you alright?”

“Yes. Just… tired.” I looked up at the General and smiled “Would you mind terribly helping me up?” He passed my arm over his shoulders and helped me to my feet. “thanks.”

“That was amazing, your majesty!” An smiled and jumped like a little boy “Suddenly you went, BOOM! POW! SWISH! POW! Ancestors! I wish I knew how you did all that!”

“I could tell you, but first let me get some sleep.”

The General sustained my weight all the way to his tent, where he sat me down on his bed and bowed “Thank you for protecting our people, your majesty.”

“They will come tomorrow to speak,” I said with my eyes closed, tired beyond belief. “Make sure your men don’t attack them.”

“I will speak to them.” He bowed again and left pulling An by the arm. Finally alone, I sighed and massaged my head, channeling the energy of the dragon had been beyond exhausting, but it was also the easiest way to prove my point. I wanted the nomads to believe I was their god… it was the fastest way for me to stop the war.

I rubbed my eyes and stared at the cloth above my head until I fell asleep.