Unsealing Emptiness

Chapter 480: Aftermath.

On the ground, even though he was miles away from them, Ozul noted the subtle glance Old Gu had thrown in his direction.

"...I embody wrath."

He felt it was a warning to him, even when he hadn’t given that old man a reason.

As someone with the ability to sense emotions, he was quick to catch on to the immense anger sleeping within the old man. He had at least confirmed one thing; Old Gu was anything but jesting.

But it still didn’t make any sense to him that a man with such hatred would come to stop the Celestial Phoenix and Jidu.

He had nothing to gain, yet he intervened before they destroyed more terrain and ended up killing each other.

’Was he protecting this Realm or them?’

Amidst his musings, he made his way toward the Celestial Phoenix and Ember.

"You knew he was here the whole time?" Ember questioned the giant black phoenix next to her.

"Does it matter?"

"It matters to me! You could’ve told me that your plan was for another crazy old man to help us!"

No one could read the Phoenix’s expression as she tilted her bird head, staring deeply at Ember.

"Was I informed when you rushed here by yourself?"

"I am an Emp-"

"Yes, you are an Empyrean now. You do not need to tell anyone anything," the Phoenix pressed on, "Do you forget that I’m the Celestial Phoenix?"

Even Ozul in the distance was a little stunned, much less Ember, who had no retort to that.

If she, as an Empyrean, didn’t need to be mindful of others, then what about one of the only four Celestial Beasts?

The Celestial Beasts were all elusive beings and even as a Phoenix Lord who had spent so much time with her, Ember was witnessing this side of the Phoenix for the first time ever.

"Why were you so sure that he would stop you?" Ozul arrived and didn’t hold back his curiosity.

"Old habits die hard."

’So she was just sure of his nature?’ He thought, but quickly let it go.

The Phoenix didn’t stay for long, with a loud screech, declaring her presence to the world, she flew back toward her nest.

Ember shook her head helplessly before following her with Ozul.

"Why did you come here? How did you even convince her to bring you along? You could’ve died!" She asked with a sense of annoyance.

But he shrugged, "I was curious. I asked her and she didn’t reject it."

’The world would be a better place if only you two learned to communicate,’ Ember cursed in her heart, her eyes twitching as she watched their backs.

’Well, it’s not like I’m any better...’ Another round of memories of the past surfaced in her mind, as she followed after the Phoenix in a daze.

. . .

The news traveled fast and reached all ears on the continent.

No one knew what had happened, but it was a cause of concern for everybody that a whole snow mountain range had been destroyed and the surrounding settlements erased as well.

However, the scale of this incident quickly made them realize that Empyreans were involved.

It had been ages since they had heard of the Empyreans taking any action. A battle of such scale only spelled disaster in the coming days.

As such, a wave of unease spread throughout the Realm, a fitting atmosphere for the impending doom of war.

The Elders of both the Immortal Sect and the Wilderness hurriedly made their way to their Leaders, hoping for any answers.

Meanwhile, the said leaders were in a meeting with the Heavenly Virtue Jidu.

"Next time you hesitate, I will have your life!" Jidu was shouting at Hakuja, who took it with a blank face.

To his side, however, Kai stood bemused. There was a hint of tease in his eyes as he glanced at his old enemy, but his own state was far from good.

Having taken a direct hit from the combined force of the Celestial Phoenix and Ember, he would have been crippled for life if not dead. In his critical condition, he was lucky enough to douse himself with all the elixirs he could summon from his Spatial Ring.

But even then, there were internal injuries that could only be healed with time.

Glancing at the huffing man, Kai thought bitterly, ’He underestimated the Phoenix and I had to pay the price.’

Sighing, he controlled his emotions, knowing full well that if he were to say anything, it would only cause him more annoyance.

"What now?" He asked, dwelling on the past was not his thing. Even now, he was wondering if he should’ve stayed in his cabin.

"Since we failed to eliminate the Beast, the plans will have to change," Jidu replied with a frown.

"Prepare your forces for any possible retaliation from them. Wait for me."

He said that before opening a spatial rift and stepping inside. He would have to report everything to God’s Son, Kami.

Another reason for his irritation was because he knew that thousand years younger brat was going to give him an earful.

After he disappeared, irritation quickly surfaced on Kai’s face.

"You almost got me killed. I guess that would resolve your grudge," he almost spat in Hakuja’s direction before leaving as well.

Meanwhile, the man who was being blamed for inaction sighed and took his leave as well.

It already weighed too much on his heart that he was betraying the trust of his cherished disciple again. But now he had resolved himself.

"I have to do this for all the Beastkin... I hope you forgive me, my dear."

. . .

Back in Phoenix City, Ember arrived at the estate with Ozul.

She was in a worse state than even Kai.

Her appearance attracted all eyes to her as every Transcendent present surrounded her, vigilant that there might be an ambush.

The trio also appeared, looking concerned for her and Ozul.

Ozul seemed perfectly fine except for his battered clothes which couldn’t handle the pressure he was able to endure.

Meanwhile, Rai appeared nonchalant. He knew the Phoenix had returned as well, and it appeared there was no more immediate threat. So, he was relaxed.

"My Lord, If I might remind you, we really don’t have any elixirs that would work on you."

But with just a simple glare from Ember, he didn’t speak again and instead pretended to give orders to his subordinates to secure the parameters.

"What happened?" asked Raven, looking at Ember instead of Ozul. The latter wouldn’t give her any details anyway.

They knew something bad had happened when the Celestial Phoenix came out of the crimson obelisk and screeched at the sky, but she needed more explanations.

"Walk with me," Ember answered and led them all to the training ground where they occasionally trained.

There, she gave a brief explanation of how Jidu wanted to join them against the Phoenix and as she refused, they attacked her, the Phoenix arrived, and they continued to fight until Old Gu intervened.

"Wait, if that old man is also a Heavenly Virtue, why did he not help this... Jidu?" Zier asked the question that was on everyone’s mind.

"And it turns out not all the Virtues are on God’s side."

Ozul spoke, "So it is not set in stone that God would win."

Ember nodded her head. With all the information available to them, they could put together bits and pieces to at least reach that conclusion.

If they were so indestructible, no one foolish enough would stand against them.

And from what he had seen of the Celestial Phoenix today, she was anything but foolish.

This discovery had given them some hope. After all, from today’s events, Ember had effectively positioned herself against God.

"He was sent specifically to eliminate the Phoenix if she didn’t join them and from his words, it turns out that the other Celestial Beasts had also refused their offer," Ember stated.

"So the Celestial Beasts have picked the Demonic Emperor?" Raven muttered to herself.

"After what happened today, so have we."

The trio threw concerned looks in Ozul’s direction, who shrugged and leaned back on the sofa.

After his talk with Old Gu, he had already prepared himself for such a scenario.

Ember sighed and said, "I will not force you into this. If you wish to leave, I won’t stop you. I know how stupid it sounds to have picked the opposite side of... well, God."

Rai stayed quiet, watching the trio’s eyes falling on Ozul. The opportunity to leave wasn’t for him. He would die with her, and she knew that.

"We will stay for now. It doesn’t seem so bad here."

Ozul answered, thinking that it might be the quickest way to reach this so-called God.

"Well then, it is time that I complete the preparations," Ember spoke, taking a seat as well.

Rai smiled, it was finally his time to let off the steam he had built for so long.

"Whoever is with the Wilderness or the Immortal Sect must be purged. Whoever joins us, will be welcomed."

"I suggest we clean up the house first?" Rai questioned, excitement twinkling in his eyes.

"I will first have to discuss with the Phoenix..." sighed Ember, knowing full well that the matter about Ryujin must be solved first.

At this point, she was even willing to let go of her past with him if he submitted to them.

Now that the Realm of Abezan would be divided into two factions, Ryujin would have to reconsider his options and decide if he still supported the Celestial Phoenix.

"I love War..." muttered Rai, receiving odd looks from the trio.