by Mark Swaine
“Dragon, you know not what some of these 'people’ are capable of,” says Yu-Huang.
“Nor do you, you know not the evil that threatens every life under your rule. You are not yet strong enough to defeat this deity residing within Hisako-Hisa. You must pass the three trials if you are to become stronger. There is a war coming Yu-Huang, and you are not prepared," says the dragon.
“Just how much time as a mortal do I possess to complete the second trial?” asks Yu-Huang.
“'Tis only the divine spirit within you that causes your slow ageing state, but as your divinity withers away, so shall your vessel. Your vessel of flesh and blood is over two-hundred years old, without the divine light to maintain your youth, your physical state will deteriorate much faster than that of a born mortal,” says the dragon.
“How will I fight? I will bleed, how am I...”
“The strongest of the forces of Diyu will crush the walls of the Huanghua City. Hisako-Hisa's army is large enough to end everything on this world. There is no stopping the apocalypse Yu-Huang, but you can save your people. You must cage this Darkness once again, forever. You must complete your trials before your mortal vessel succumbs to its aging end. Gather your armies, ready your forces and prepare for war,” says the dragon, with urgency.
“I have doubled our defences. We have the Jade Army, Samurai, and I have formed an alliance with the trolls,” says Yu-Huang.
“The Jade army, the Samurai, and the trolls cannot defeat the beasts of Diyu that will soon be upon you. You need more armies, even your cowardly Ministers shall be called to arms when the time comes,” says the dragon.
“We are not warlords dragon; but for the clans and the brave townsfolk that would surely take up arms, there are none other to speak of,” protests Yu-Huang.
“There are, if you look. Seek out Yeman Ren, tell him you know about the Legion of Shāshǒu (Killers). Round up the scattered clans, recruit the surviving marauders, have every Minister of the Brotherhood take up arms,” says the dragon.
“Marauders?! You suggest I ally myself with the same rogues that pillaged and murdered my people?” exclaims Yu-Huang.
“‘Tis not a question of preference Yu-Huang, ‘tis a matter of necessity, we need fighters. They are merely contractors Yu-Huang, so give them contracts. They will pay for their misgivings in Diyu or redeem themselves in combat, just as my imprisoned trainees will,” says the dragon.
“My Mother and Father, my fore-fathers, the Ministry, and the Witch have all placed many tests before me, and now you,” says Yu-Huang with a pained expression.
“Nobody said this was going to be easy. You face a unique opponent my friend, this Darkness is your parallel,” says the dragon.
“I sense many will attempt to sabotage my efforts.The day before last, Hisako-Hisa exposed my weakness before the High Priests,” says Yu-Huang.
“Be careful my friend, trust those instincts, trust in your companions,” says the dragon.
“How has it come to this? I put my faith into them, the Ministry; I not once gave up on them. I gave them everything,” seethes Yu-Huang.
“Not everything,” says the dragon, referring to the spell of immortality. “Watch them closely, my foresights are indiscriminate and often fail to reveal the complete picture, the question of their loyalty remains blind to my foresight,” states the dragon.
“I will trust Chung Denshi to be my eyes and ears within the Ministry, should they give me any reason to doubt them, those few loyal to me will inform me so,” says Yu-Huang.
“What other preparations have you made?" asks the dragon.
“The Jade Army and the Samurai are now Masters in the arts of Wushu, Kendo and are currently being trained in the art of Magic. General Arachie and Kamui Li have proved themselves formidable in the arts of war, King Kao Lu the Troll King is now our ally, his people watch our backs atop the Kunlun Mountains,” says Yu-Huang.
“The Samurai, they fought well?” asks the dragon.
“Fought and sacrificed,” replies Yu-Huang.
“But without the Samurai, we would surely have been slaughtered,” says Yu-Huang.
“The Samurai Kamui Li, he bears his shame well,” says the dragon.
“Yes, he is a brave and wise soul, though troubled he was by the events surrounding Emperor Kazuko's death,” says Yu-Huang.
“I speak not of these events,” says the dragon.
“Of what shame do you speak?” asks the Emperor curiously.
“Of what other shame do you imagine I speak of? The same blood coursing through the veins of Wing Shin is shared by Kamui Li. They are cousins; did he not speak of this?” asks the dragon.
“No dragon, he did not,” replies Yu-Huang, less than surprised. “Kamui Li possesses a very ill habit of keeping secrets from his Masters,” says Yu-Huang annoyed.
“Were you in his position, would you have revealed such shame?" says the dragon.
“It no longer matters. Should the Ministry discover the truth of Kamui's kinship to Wing Shin they will attempt to overthrow my rule and seize the throne,” says Yu-Huang.
“They are your Ministry Yu-Huang; they were intended to serve you, and only you. That is their purpose and you must take back control,” says the dragon.
“I have not lost control,” corrects Yu-Huang, “but their resolve can no longer be trusted, I know this now," says Yu-Huang.
“Yet you allow them to continue carrying out misdeeds in your name, you allow them to mock your rule. You allow them to mock one the few sources of goodness that exists in this world, and it pisses me off,” growls the dragon. “Yu-Huang my boy, you are a dear dear friend, but it is time to shed this weak facade and show them power,” says the dragon.
“Weak? How dare you. I merely express the will to present rationality, gratitude, humility and honour,” protests Yu-Huang, annoyed at the dragon's judgement.
“You must abandon these virtues if you are to achieve balance. ‘Tis time for you to get your hands dirty,” grumbles the dragon.
“There must be balance, Black Dragon. Surely you with all your centuries of wisdom can see this. Balance is what keeps the chaos of mortals at bay and the Ministry aid in enforcing this system of balance,” explains Yu-Huang.
“I remember when it was not always so that the Ministry ruled with such arrogance toward their fellow man. High Priest Yama knew not the mercy you bestowed upon him, in branding you a traitor on the night you released him from his immortal bond, he only succeeded in revealing the deepest and darkest secrets of those that would succeed him,” says the dragon.
“King Yama made his own choice. I do not believe the entire Ministry should be held accountable for the words of one treacherous Priest, I will not allow these Priests to destroy what my true Guardians have worked so hard to build. I will give up on them yet, not all of them,” stresses Yu-Huang.
“The Brotherhood mistakes your kindness for weakness. Unsteady is the path you walk my friend. The Ministers crave for the curse of immortality and that craving will soon spiral into desperation. You must not inform them of your trials Yu-Huang, not under any circumstances, tell not a soul,” warns the dragon.
“Tell me more about what I should do as a mortal man,” says Yu-Huang.
“Who would know better than yourself? Do as you please, achieve inner peace as a mortal, experience life as a villain. Choose a path, or do not, just know the hour glass fills with the blood of your life with each passing sun,” says the dragon.
Yu-Huang feels the pressure of his new responsibilities bearing down on his chest as the Black Dragon unperturbedly offers suggestions.
“Embrace the life of a villain?! My life is devoted to that of peace, trust, and giving,” says the Emperor, his voice full of panic for the first time in his life.
“You will not be alone during your quest Yu-Huang; you have more allies than you know. They will reveal themselves to you in your most desperate times. Do as mortals do, love and hate; feel as they do with their emotions of
happiness and anger, jealousy and greed, desire as they do,” suggests the dragon.
“Why, why do you regard these matters with such a casual tone? You sound almost… content with this knowledge, and it flows with such ease,” says Yu-Huang, who can barely comprehend the dragon's tranquil and laidback attitude.
“I am a dragon. Should you seek further advice regarding the behavioural traits of a human, seek out human companionship,” says the dragon.
“Very well,” says Yu-Huang calming a little, “dragon, the Undead, how has this come to pass? Why are there no records in the Tower of Guang of such past occurrences?”
“It has never happened before. The dead are rising because the courts of Diyu have reached full capacity. Fortunately, there are many courts,” says the dragon.
“Diyu, these Wandering Dead originate from the realm of Diyu?" asks Yu-Huang.
“No my friend, the souls of the dead have been rejected from Diyu and have returned to their lifeless vessels on Earth. Their souls will remain trapped in their rotting corpses whilst infecting others with Diyu's contagious evil, and when the infected fall, they too will rise in kind. One day, the entire realm of Diyu will reach full capacity, and when it does we will need the Demi-gods,” says the dragon.
“Diyu's occupants will be set free upon a distant battlefield, to create room for more, to reset the realm of pain and suffering,” says the dragon.
“This battlefield being Purgatoria, where the Trail of Light resides! Why must everything be so complicated? ‘Tis the complexity of man that is to blame, yet again! I thought, I thought I knew mortal man... I know nothing, after all this time,” says Yu-Huang, feeling hopeless.
“You know the best in man, and now... you will know the worst. The journey to enlightenment is long and arduous; to fill one's soul with light is a lifelong challenge that only very few are able to achieve, and many do succeed,” says the dragon.
“Truly?” asks Yu-Huang.
“Yes, truly, and they have earned their eternal peace, ‘tis why you must journey to Purgatoria so the Supreme Sentinels shall defend its gates with their lives,” says the dragon.
“If Diyu is so flooded, and is truly the cause of the rising dead, the path to glory is a broken one if so few have achieved it, I see that now,” says Yu-Huang.
“Then you are blind: ‘tis not the path that is broken, but the spirit of mortal man, but it can be repaired should one be so willing. The path to glory is a challenge worth undertaking and much more rewarding to achieve. But is also a much harder road to follow, should an easier path be laid before one’s feet…”
“The easier path?” asks Yu-Huang.
“…is the road to damnation. Those who choose this path risk fating their souls to the realm of Diyu and the Eighteen courts of punishment when their spirits depart this world,” says the dragon.
“Mortals have not occupied this realm for little time Dragon. Diyu is not filled, that is not possible,” says Yu-Huang, “which means the Darkness is interfering with the works of Diyu,”
“What you speak is true, meditate on this question I will. Perhaps Yama is corrupting the works of Diyu by manipulating this deity of Darkness. This is why the Deity of Darkness must be caged, but not in Diyu,” warns the Dragon.
“Then where if not a domain of pure evil?!” snaps Yu-Huang.
“Somewhere, somewhere guarded by the light,” replies the dragon.
“I will defeat this Darkness,” says Yu-Huang.
“Do not underestimate the Darkness. Even now it surrounds us, it hides in the shadows of every corner, lurks in the minds of the fearful. The world is its domain, inside the hearts of the weak and wicked it finds sanctuary, and now it has the power to possess those of the strong of heart,” says the dragon.
Yu-Huang takes a step closer to the dragon, fearless of what may be listening in the shadows. “I will do whatever it takes," says Yu-Huang.
“What you face is the manifestation of unimaginable evil, ‘tis the purest form of evil. ‘Tis the curse of the mortals, every act carried out in hatred, jealousy, treachery and anger. All the dark matter that must be taken with a mortal’s soul through the gates of Diyu. You have fought many enemies Yu-Huang, but none as powerful as this deity. Through its minions it will wreak havoc across the entire realm. You were quick to discover the means to defeat the Darkness by using the twin blades, do not allow her to claim them,” says the dragon. “Why do your hands quiver so?” asks the dragon agitatedly.
“Forgive me, I have never feared for my own life before, ‘tis a new and unnerving sensation. If only I knew how it truly feels to fear for my life, perhaps I might better control my anxieties. You know not of the dread I speak,” says Yu-Huang ashamedly.
“I remember how it feels to fly faster than you can in your dreams, to dash to the summits of the quiet blue horizon and soar the red skies at the peak of dawn. To glide peacefully below the stars during the magic of night and choose one that would decide my course of flight. A journey that would guide me to an unknown location more beautiful than the last. Tell me Yu-Huang, do you know what it feels like to have your wings ripped from your back? Perhaps it feels similar to having your arms and legs ripped from your body!?” hisses the dragon wildly.
“Calm yourself dragon, I meant no offence. Remember who you are addressing!” barks the Emperor.
“I will show you what it feels like to have your arms and legs ripped from your body,” snarls the dragon.
“Dragon, what wrong was done to you is out of my power,” says Yu-Huang, slowly backing away.
“Done to me? DONE TO ME?!” shouts the dragon with its eyes glowing wildly. “HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT MY BELOVED HAS 'DONE' TO ME, HAVE YOU SEEN?” bellows the Black Dragon, rearing up on his back feet. “I LIVE IN FEAR IN THE DUNGEONS AT THE MERCY OF THE MORTALS BECAUSE I DARE NOT VENTURE BELOW THE SKIES,” growls the dragon. “I LIVE IN FEAR OF HER RETURN AND YOU DARE MOCK ME!” rumbles the dragon, with its top lip rising.
“I would never,” swears Yu-Huang.
“I WILL NEVER FLY AGAIN! FOR YOUR INSOLENCE, YOU WILL NEVER WALK AGAIN! ” screams the dragon furiously.
The Emperor's nerves freeze, and he stares motionless and unable to take his eyes off the jagged and symmetrical black head rising upward. The four solid feet of the Black Dragon pound against the solid bronze floor and its talons create streaks of sparkling light. The dragon raises its thick tail from a waste hole in the ground and displays its sharp triangular end and directs it at Yu-Huang. In a steady coiled motion, the large shimmering spike hovers momentarily, poised in an attack position. Yu-Huang's eyes track the twisting movements of the dragon's tail and he suddenly rolls to the side as the black barbed appendage shoots down with swift and rapid force. A startled Yu-Huang recovers from the surprise attack and successfully leaps over a follow-up attack from the dragon's tail thrusting sideways. Recovering once again he runs as fast as his entire body will take him as his legs guide him to the exit. The Black Dragon extends its scarred and savaged wing arms and roars a deep shrill scream at his prey. The Emperor's lungs burn as he breathes heavily and out of rhythm, and his legs are weak and wobbly as he hears the beast behind him lunging its body into a gallop. He doesn't look back, yet doesn't need to; he hears the grunts of persistence gaining on him and dives to the floor as the dragon leaps over him blocking his exit. The Emperor scampers backwards on all fours as the dragon advances slowly toward him, head lowered with his front and back legs coiled ready to pounce. The dragon opens its mouth revealing its four layers of incisors and its back fangs grinding together, creating a shower of sparks dripping from the corner of its curved lips.
“Dragon, why are you doing this? I beg of you, whatever you are going to do, please do not,” pleads Yu-Huang, getting to his feet.
The dragon inhales deeply and exhales a petroleum liquid igniting the sparks bouncing around its mouth. Yu-Huang covers his face with his arms as he sees the orange glow at the back of the dragon's pink gullet, and then he sees what
will end his life. The dragon exhales a powerful rush of fire and directs it at Yu-Huang, and as he screams wildly he turns away in protest of being roasted alive. The booming explosion of fire separates into two streams divided by the dragons forked tongue, and as the two jets of flame pass harmlessly beside the trembling Emperor, he stands rigid as the flames recedes to a few spatters of heavy fuel burning on the ground. The dragon inches closer toward Yu-Huang and lowers his head to the terrified, whimpering man.
“Yu-Huang, Emperor Yu-Huang, open your eyes. I am not going to hurt you my friend. I had to see for myself,” assures the dragon softly.
“I, I cannot stop shaking; why can I not stop shaking?” asks the Emperor, observing his quivering hands.
“Well done my friend. You are one step closer to your mortal self. Now you know how it truly feels to fear for your life, perhaps time is all you need to gain control over your anxieties,” says the Black Dragon staring at the shaking man. The Black Dragon notes the Emperor’s silence and is unsure as to whether he is still in a state of shock. “Forgive me, warning you would not have achieved the same effect. I must have given you quite a fright Yu-Hua…”