Chapter 767

Chapter 767

Every second counted in a battle of attrition and every spear a welcome addition here in Meng Sha, but Mila was reluctant to join the fight until she was absolutely convinced Papa wasnt going to charge headlong into the fight as soon as her back was turned.

While her fears might seem drastic to some, she knew her Papa was liable to do as he pleased, regardless of the consequences and repercussions. Li-Li was a sweet and trusting daughter who thought Papa was a saint who would do no wrong, but Mila knew better. He was a good man and a loving husband and father, but he was still a man. This meant he had his manly pride, which for some reason meant he had to act out in the stupidest ways possible from time to time as a show of masculinity. Coming home drunk as a fish in a barrel of wine was one thing, but this was Papas life they were talking about, so Mila had to make sure he would behave. Having yet to wholly recover from his injuries, he was a prime target for the Enemy elites, and she could never live with herself if he died due to the wounds he took defending her.

That was the real reason Mila was so loath to join the fight, because she was afraid to put Papa in a position to risk his life again. He would do it in a heartbeat, trade his life for hers and call it a bargain well struck, a prospect which terrified Mila to no end. He thought it a heroic sacrifice, but it would be a nightmare come true for her, because she loved her Papa so and could never forgive herself if she was the cause of his death. He didnt see things that way, so she had to make sure Papa would stay put, and she would do so by any means necessary. If I hear about you taking part in the battle today, she began, gazing up at him with the most threatening glare her tear-stained eyes would allow, Ill tell Mama what really happened to her prized Osmanthus tree.

Now now, lets not be sayin anything yer gonna regret, Papa whispered, his eyes going wide with panic as he leaned in and scanned the surroundings for eavesdroppers. That was ages ago, ancient history even, so why dig all that up?

Ill do it, Mila replied, wishing she would stop crying so she could look him in the eyes and show him that she meant it. And Ill tell her about the hidden stash you keep under the floorboards of your forge too, and the flirty butcher who slips you fatty cuts of meat which you cook in the forge.

Flirty? Why I never. Little Chi is just a kind soul with a smile fer all her customers, one who understands that sometimes a man needs a little extra grease in his gullet.

Well, try me and well let Mama be the judge of that. Sniffling as she rubbed her eyes, Mila hiccuped and pushed Guai-Guai into Papas arms. Here, hold him, she said, smoothing out the red pandas whiskers as he grunted in quiet protest. Hes young and scared, so you need to keep him safe and away from all the noise and bloodshed. You cant give him to anyone else either, because hes shy and doesnt like strangers. He didnt much like Papa either, seeing how he kept squirming about, but Mila wasnt giving either of them much choice. And dont feed him any fruit or Spiritual Plants. Hes getting too fat and round from lying around all day.

Sighing in defeat, Papa nodded like a chicken pecking grains and said, Yes, yes, no fruit or Spiritual Plants. Just dont tell yer Mama about the tree or fatty meats, yea?

So long as you stay put. Doing her best to put on a brave face, Milas courage fled as she looked her tired, weary Papa in the eyes, and she threw herself into his embrace. And stay safe, okay Papa?

Wrapping her in a one armed hug, Papa squeezed her tight and just held her close for several seconds without speaking. Taking a deep breath before breaking the silence, he rumbled, Sorry fer scarin ye lass. I just figured yed handle it fine and well, seein how at ease ye are with yer Mama fightin all the time.

But thats Mama, Mila whispered in reply, burying her face in Papas shoulder. Shes the Chief Provost with all the heroic war stories. Youre Papa, the blacksmith who stays home to drink and play chess. Youre not supposed to go out and risk your life, especially not to save mine.

Thats where yer wrong, girlie. Lifting her chin so she was looking him in the eye, Papa smiled and said, Its every fathers job to do everything they can to keep their daughters safe and sound. Holding up a hand to forestall her arguments, he continued, I know, I know. Ill stay here where its safe and sound, dont ye worry about a thing. You just be careful out there. Shield up and spear ready, got it?

Got it Papa. Glancing over at her sleeping husband, Mila knew shed wasted enough time as it was already, and yet she couldnt help but wander over to bid him farewell. Both arms were resting on his belly and strapped down with padded restraints to keep them from flopping about, and it was the same with his feet, knees, shoulders, and head. A ridiculous sight to be sure, and yet all she could see was her handsome husband resting from his ordeals as she slipped her hand into his. Sweet Lin-Lin was right there with him, kneeling on the docks with her head resting on his chest as if trying to catch up on some much needed sleep, even though shed been napping even more than usual of late. Mila thought it might be because she missed Rain more than she let on, but Lin-Lin hardly seemed put off when she was awake, and in fact seemed more lively and spirited than ever.

Coming to as Mila knelt down beside her, Lin-Lin hid a dainty yawn in Rains chest before flashing her charming smile, as sweet and innocent as always. Hi Mi-Mi, she chimed, without lifting her head from Rains chest, blinking sleepily until the sounds of battle pierced through the haze of lethargy and brought her back to reality. Furrowing her brow in concern, Lin-Lin sat up and absently gathered Tawny One into her arms, the sweet rabbit forlorn over having been separated from Blackjack nestled in between Lin-Lins ears. Are you leaving to go fight?

Mila nodded, and had nothing else to add, so she fell silent and leaned onto her best friend in search of solace and comfort. For several long seconds, Lin-Lin merely cuddled in close, and the two of them absently acknowledged the animals coming over to greet them. The bears, wildcats, and rabbits were all gathered in close, scared by the unfamiliar chaos and scent of blood in air, so Mila did her best to reassure them. There were a few exceptions who didnt need any comforting, like Mama Bun, who was snoring fitfully at Rains side with her head pressed under his chin, or Blackjack perched between Lin-Lins ears as always. Then there was Rakky, seated proudly on the docks with an indifferent air as he watched the proceedings, though his lashing tail gave away his concern and agitation. Lastly was sweet and dutiful Ping Ping standing stoic guard over the rest, placing her body between the Defiled and her furry friends in what Rain liked to call Siege mode. Legs posted, neck stretched, and beak open while scanning her surroundings for threats, ready to fire off a water ball at a moments notice. Sweet and affable though she might be, Ping Ping knew how to defend herself against would-be hunters and assailants, but it pained Mila to think about how the gentle girl mightve come by this hard-learned lesson.

Stretching over to pat her head, Mila whispered, Dont you worry about a thing, Ping Ping. Papa and the others will keep you safe. So long as he didnt go out looking for trouble at least, but Mila could hardly blame him for fighting if trouble came looking for him.

As she moved to stand and leave for battle, Mila felt a tug at her sleeve and turned to find Lin-Lin looking more sombre and serious than ever before seen. ...Do you have to go? the sweet girl asked, and for a moment, Mila was at a loss for words. Though Lin-Lin was far from ignorant and knew well the dangers of war, shed never shown any sign of fear or concern beyond the usual. It was almost as if she simply assumed the people she loved would always return unharmed, and truth be told, Mila had been the same way regarding Mama until just recently. Though she knew there was always a chance Mama might not return from battle, itd always seemed like such a remote possibility that it wasnt worth worrying about, like an inevitable earthquake or forest fire that might not come for years, decades, or even centuries later.

Except now, in light of Papas near death at the hands of the Exile Half-Demon, Mila had no choice but to accept that the death of her parents was a very real possibility, the very thought of which left her frozen with fear. It seemed like sweet Lin-Lin was facing those same fears, perhaps because Rain still had yet to wake. Reaching over to hug her sister-wife close, Mila held Lin-Lin tight and said, Yes. I need to go. And it was the truth, because she realized she was looking for an excuse to stay and keep an eye on Papa, because she was terrified hed up and die if she ever took her eyes off him. There was also the fact that Papa wouldnt send her away if he didnt truly think her help was needed, which meant the situation was dire indeed, all of which neednt be said because Lin-Lin already knew the answer before even asking her question.

Okay Mi-Mi, the half-hare replied, so wistful Mila wanted to stay just to cheer her up. Glancing around, she asked, Did Yan-Yan and Li-Li leave too? Mila nodded, though she was rather concerned given how this meant Lin-Lin had been sleeping the entire time, but this was a discussion which could wait, while the battle would not. Huffing a small sigh, Lin-Lin puffed her cheeks and hugged Mila tight before whispering, Just remember. If things get too scary or difficult, all you need to do is survive. There will always be taller shoulders ready to hold up the Heavens, so dont be too proud to run, ya?

That was it, however, for what came next had been forever ingrained into her memory so many years ago, when Papa lost his temper and killed a young Warrant Officer in Shen Huo for threatening to enslave and rape her.

Descending with a keening warble and the force of a hammer, Paragon pulped the Wraiths head like a rotten melon as Mila executed Standing Fury, or as Rain liked to call it, the patented Papa Smash. The Wraiths body collapsed under the weight of her attack, and she used the momentum to shift back into a seated position on Zabus back as the quin turned to face his foes. Yet another decision made by the clever beast, for he saw his pursuers had fallen behind and sensed Milas confidence to end this. Cheeks aching as she flashed a grin of pure delight, she gave Zabus midsection a light squeeze with her calves and set him to pouncing upon the closer of the two remaining Wraiths. Holding the cane out like a spear, she cackled as she activated Paragon once more to turn it from cane into bladed lance again, the segments shooting out faster than the eye could follow and piercing clean through her targets heart before he could even blink, much less defend against her charge. This was the exact reason why she named her weapon so, for Paragon could be used at almost any range and in any position, so long as she possessed the requisite skill to wield it as she envisioned.

It would probably be years, or even decades before she felt confident enough to say that shed mastered Paragon in all its forms, but it would be well worth the effort. Raw strength was meaningless without the skill and ability to properly utilize it, as evidenced by Milas inability to put up a fight against anyone even slightly stronger than she was. Paragon was the answer to a dilemma she hadnt even known would plague her when she crafted it, for it forced her to do more than rely on brute strength to overcome her foes. That being said, when properly utilized alongside with her natural brawn, she would be all but unstoppable, hence why she named it so.

Others might think her arrogant, but as Mila so ably demonstrated here today, at least she had the qualifications to behave in so domineering a manner

Carving her way out of the second Wraiths chest, she activated Paragon once again to transform it back into a chain whip, which she promptly sent whirling towards the last surviving Wraith in the same motion. So shocked by the sudden reversal of fortune, he was unable to muster a defence as the chain smashed clean through his chest and threw his corpse a dozen metres through the air, but Mila barely gave him a second glance as Zabu carried her into battle once again. With the Imperial soldiers supporting her, they pushed the Enemy back into the sea and raised a rousing cheer as they secured the beach, for now they could simply sit here and pick off the stragglers one by one as they emerged from the turbulent sea.

Having learned her lesson well, Mila did not let her guard down and set Zabu to patrolling up and down the shore line. The Enemy continued to stream into the fortress, but in drips and drabs that were no match for the ready and waiting soldiers, nor was she inclined to give the Enemy a chance to regain a foothold on the beach itself. Every now and then, she directed Zabu into the crowd of soldiers so as to keep her route from growing too predictable, weaving in and out of battle as she pleased and unleashing hell whenever a suitable target presented itself. As an added bonus, staying in constant motion gave her an excuse to avoid stopping to speak with the officer in command, who thankfully had decided it would be best to pretend hed been working with her this whole time rather than publicly argue with the Warrior who pulled his ass out of the fire and won over the hearts of his soldiers.

Soon, the trickle of Defiled slowed to a crawl, though Mila could still hear the battle going in full force atop the wall. Oddly enough, she thought she could also hear the sound of Li-Li reciting the Classics of Poetry in her tranquil and emotionless manner, which was very different from Fungs passionate renditions filled with waving arms and nonsensical gestures. Li-Lis poetry readings were more formal and aloof, which lent weight to the words and lyrical rhythm of the prose itself, and Mila found that she much preferred her sisters style to anything Fung presented. That being said, why would she be reciting poetry in battle again? Li-Li had done so before, supposedly to help clear her thoughts and focus her mind, so if she was doing it here and now, then there was a good chance shed encountered a formidable foe indeed.

No matter though. Unlike Mila, Li-Li was fighting alongside soldiers trained by Rain himself, so while they were far from the finest Warriors in all the Empire, they would have her back and support her no matter how poorly the odds were stacked against them.

Something Mila couldnt count on here, a thought which flashed through her mind as her world exploded into a searing blaze of heat and light. Raising her shield on reflex, she knew it would not be enough, because even though she was resilient enough to endure this attack, she knew poor Zabu would not make it out alive, which was absolutely unacceptable. Though Rain clearly favoured Mafu over the less affectionate Zabu, he still loved all his pets and would be inconsolable if one of them died, and Mila refused to be the reason for his sorrow. Had this been some fiery projectile launched by an Enemy war machine, there was little she could do besides accept her fate, but she knew without knowing how that she was not embroiled in a true blaze of fire and heat, but merely a working of Chi mimicking the properties of Earths Fire.

Which meant she could counter it with her own Blessing, for what blaze could ever hold a candle to the radiance of the Sun?

Before the sudden blaze could singe a hair on her head, an incandescent glow billowed out from Milas Core to negate heat and flame alike. Zabus panicked shriek stopped short as the clever quin realized he was no longer in danger, but he was still too spooked to act just yet. A good thing too, for this exchange was far from over as Mila intended to pay her foe back in full. Though his attack was formidable indeed, it was a short-lived conflagration meant to raise the temperature in the area to a staggering degree, but only for a fraction of a moment. In contrast, Milas response had been to unleash a steady and constant source of Radiant Chi, one which billowed out from her body and bombarded everyone and everything in her surroundings to strip away their Concealment and protections.

There he stood, so ugly and misshapen with his half-melted body and face frozen in a wretched cry for help, a twisted, molten remnant of what he once was yet still wholly unmistakable in presence as his wicked metallic talons glimmered in the light. Slouched and misshapen, the Demon that had once been Gen was unimpressive at first glance, a lanky, wounded creature that was easily overshadowed by the Fathers more monstrous miscreations, but a more discerning Warrior would note the power radiating from its wiry frame. Hopping off of Zabus back, Mila put Paragon away and drew her spear instead, for it was far more familiar in hand. The Imperial soldiers withdrew without need for orders once they saw they were outclassed, leaving Mila and the Demon Gen alone on the beach. Mila radiated luminescence as she advanced upon her foe, and Gen glimmered with a dark and unholy heat as he readied to unleash the power of his Blessing in a decisive blow.

Shield raised and spear readied, Mila took a moment to gaze upon the creature that caused her loved ones so much pain and anguish. It was Gens fault Rain returned from Sanshu a half-broken man. It was Gen who led the Firebrands to the city, which led to Huushal losing his Uncle Kalil in battle. It was Gen who turned Sanshu upside down in his foolish bid to prove himself better than Rain, ruining countless lives in the process. It was Gen who refused to die when Li-Lis sabre struck him down, shattering her Core and causing her to suffer so much pain.

For these crimes and more, Gen was deserving of death, but in truth, Mila had a different reason to kill him today, one far more personal and petty. This was the man who burned half her face and ruined her hair in Sinuji, forcing her to show Rain an ugly, half-healed face for so many weeks until her skin and hair grew back. Though seemingly a minor crime in the grand scheme of things, Milas maidenly heart could never forget just how disgusting and self-conscious her wounded appearance made her feel at a time when she had yet to truly come into her own, so today, she would exact vengeance for his crimes with interest.

There were no words needed as she charged into the fray, for words were wasted on a Demon, but for some reason, as she marched into battle and delivered the first blow, Mila could not help but think back to Lin-Lins warning.

If things get too scary or difficult, all you need to do is survive.

The half-hare had always had her secrets, and considering everything Mila had learned in recent months, there was clearly more to Lin-Lin than meets the eye, but surely even she couldnt have foreseen this encounter, could she?

A most distressing thought, one Mila could ill-afford at the moment, so she cleared her mind and gave herself over to the fight. Victory or defeat, only time would tell, but if she lost, it would not be because she didnt give it her all.

Chapter Meme