Chapter 45 Fear Me!

After finishing up talking with Earthlight and going over the plan and story, Mercury called Starlight to say that he was safe.

(“MERCURY! Are you alright!? I know that you went on a mission when this all happened.”) {Starlight}

(“I am alright. Clover as well. The problem is that the person I went on the mission with tried to kill us. A Dao Seeker was with them as well.”) {Mercury}

(“WHAT!? How are you okay!?”) {Starlight}

(“Well. Someone saved me. He said some things I did not know about. I have already talked with Earthlight about this and knows more than I do.”) {Mercury}

(“What!? Who was it!? You already know most people with a high Cultivation base there.”) {Starlight}

(“They never gave their name, but used and controlled blood.”) {Mercury}

“Is it that person again?” {Starlight}

(“Mercury, do you know where they are now?”) {Starlight}

(“No. I heard him mumble something about a tomb but that is all.”) {Mercury}

“WHAT!? Could it be that place?” {Starlight}

(“Mercury, thank you for telling me this. Just head back to Weaving Metal.”) {Starlight}

(“I heard that many Formations have been damaged so I will try to fix them as well.”) {Mercury}

(“Just make sure you are safe. I trust your judgement.”) {Starlight}

(“I will be fine.”) {Mercury}

Starlight disconnected. Mercury decided now was as good as a time as any and made a bird and controlled to fly away to the tomb. He told Clover about the plan and the Vampire.

“Merc… will it not take a long time to reach it?” {Clover}

“Yes. But there is nothing I can do to get it there faster.” {Mercury}

“…”

“Could you not just make a Formation to send it there?” {Clover}

“The problem is without a connecting Formation on the other side, whatever is sent though is subject to dangers and problems when coming out… but I do not need to worry about that… good idea.” {Mercury}

“Thank you.” {Clover}

Mercury controlled the bird to fly back and set up a one way Teleportation Formation. After Mercury finished making it, he activated it, but it did not work. After thinking for a moment, he created a new Formation out of his blood and sent the bird through it.

“Why did the first one not work?” {Clover}

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Whatever I did to you also caused a lot of problems for the world. We can talk more about it later.” {Mercury}

“Then what about the second one?” {Clover}

“That… I will tell you about it later.” {Mercury}

“Okay? Can you control the bird?” {Clover}

“Yeah. It is a good travel distance to the tomb. Controlling it is weird. It is like trying to run, chew, and use your hands at the same time. Two different points of view does not help. It is better to just control one body at a time.” {Mercury}

One of Mercury’s arm rose into the air without him moving it. Mercury quickly lowered it and stared at it.

“What?” {Mercury}

“I… um… I think that was me.” {Clover}

“How?” {Mercury}

“I do not know… I just thought about moving your arm like I would move mine and it just did.” {Clover}

“Neat. We will have to test this later.” {Mercury}

“You are not mad?” {Clover}

“Why would I be mad? New experiences are almost always enjoyable for me.” {Mercury}

Mercury cleaned up the Formation before he and Clover started walking back. Mercury controlled the bird to fly to the tomb. After a little while, Clover had an idea.

“Merc… has Weaving Metal not tried to contact you yet?” {Clover}

“Oh… now that you say it. She has not… Let’s take a small break from walking. I will do it now.” {Mercury}

(“Mercury, are you okay?”) {Weaving Metal}

(“Yeah, Ivy, Kindling, and some other people tried to kill us but we were saved by someone.”) {Mercury}

(“What!? The fact you are speaking right now means that you are fine… How are you handing that event?”) {Weaving Metal}

(“I am also fine from that. I am walking back now. I think if we move through the night, we can reach the city faster.”) {Mercury}

(“Good. Get back as soon as you can. I was worried but knew that you would contact me as soon as you could.”) {Weaving Metal}

(“What if I never did?”) {Mercury}

(“Then I would have to assume the worst. Assuming that you would not answer my contacts.”) {Weaving Metal}

(“Okay… I will not be heading back to your school but working on repairing the Formations. I heard that some got damaged.”) {Mercury}

(“Some did… I am busy dealing with this crisis so whatever you can do would help greatly. Thank you.”) {Weaving Metal}

Mercury and Clover walked for days, eating when needed. During this time Mercury’s bird form got to the tomb and found it being guarded by Starlight. Mercury flew down and recreated the form that Starlight met with already. Starlight watched it happen with a concerned look on his face.

“Greeting… I think Starlight.” {Mercury}

“Greeting Elder.” {Starlight}

“Please. Just call me… Hermes.” {Mercury}

“Okay. Elder Hermes, forgive me for being rude, but I know that this has not been opened. I do not know why Earthlight said that you killed the ancestor already, but I do not believe it.” {Starlight}

“I did not open it. I forced a little bit of my blood through the door and reformed from that. I can show you if you would like.” {Mercury}

“No. That is fine. I am more concerned about how you know about Firelight also being a descendant of the ancestor.” {Starlight}

“You do not need to worry about that… although if you think I am lying I have a simple why to prove it.” {Mercury}

“How?” {Starlight}

“Just wait. The proof will show themselves soon.” {Mercury}

“What?” {Starlight}

“Just hide when I tell you to. Or when you feel someone else coming.” {Mercury}

“Okay?” {Starlight}

Mercury and Starlight stayed silent for a while. Starlight was looking at and trying to read Mercury while doing so. That was until Mercury pointed off in the distance. Starlight followed and found a smalling flying ship coming their way.

“Hide.” {Mercury}

Starlight used his Dao power to blind into the background. Mercury turned into an insect and flew onto the wall above Starlight. After a few minutes, the ship landed and Refulgence walked out, and stored it.

“Refulgence? He should have been in the Radiant Mansion when it was attacked. Why is he here?” {Starlight}

Almost on que, Refulgence mumbled to himself.

“When will Father Firelight get here? I hope that weird event did not delay him too long. We need to do this soon!” {Refulgence}

Starlight revealed himself with scorn on his face.

“Tell me. What exactly do you intend to do here?” {Starlight}

“STARLIGHT!? WHY ARE YOU HERE!?” {Refulgence}

Refulgence tried to run. Tried. Starlight held Refulgence in place with his divine sense.

“Tell me. Why did you run?” {Starlight}

“I WILL NEVER TALK!” {Refulgence}

Refulgence tried to pull something out his storage ring but Starlight was faster and pulled off every storage ring he could find on Refulgence. Mercury reformed into his Hermes form.

“See, I told you.” {Mercury}

“WHAT!?” {Refulgence}

“This is bad for Firelight but we need more.” {Starlight}

“Let me check something.” {Mercury}

Mercury went around and looked at Refulgence’s storage rings before finding what he was looking for. A Technique Jade.

“STOP THAT IS MINE!” {Refulgence}

“Quite!” {Starlight}

“This Jade records a Technique to drain blood from people and use it in Cultivation or other Techniques. Is this enough?” {Mercury}

“No. They could have gotten it from anywhere.” {Starlight}

“Ah. In that case. Refulgence, was it?” {Mercury}

“WHAT ARE YOU!?” {Refulgence}

“That is not important, but I want you to think about how I knew that you had that Technique.” {Mercury}

“!” {Refulgence}

“I will take that as a yes. The answer is simple. You are useless without it.” {Mercury}

“WHAT!?” {Refulgence}

“You are useless. You are a failure. Trash. Less. Than. Dirt.” {Mercury}

“YOU KNOW NOTHING! I AM DESTINED FOR GREATNESS!” {Refulgence}

“HAHAHAHA! How can you possibly think that? You of all people thi” {Mercury}

“WHEN WE AWAKEN THE ANCESTOR, I WILL BE HIS VESSEL. AFTER HE HEALS, HE WILL BE GRATEFUL TO ME AND GRANT ME A CULTIVATION YOU COULD NEVER BELIEVE! KNEE DOWN AND BEG, AND I MIGHT FORGIVE YOU!” {Refulgence}

Starlight and Mercury were stunned.

“HAHAHAHA! YES, FEAR ME!” {Refulgence}

 Mercury quickly looked scared.

“NO! How could you and Firelight make such a great plan!? Were the attacks also you!?” {Mercury}

Starlight looked confused but soon realized what Mercury was doing.

“YES! WE PLANNED TO REVIVE THE ANCESTOR WELL YOU MORONS WERE DISTRACTED! NOW LET ME GO!” {Refulgence}

Mercury stopped acting scared and looked at Starlight.

“Is that enough?” {Mercury}

“Yes. More than enough.” {Starlight}

“WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT FREE ME!” {Refulgence}

“…”

“Wow. You really are just that dumb.” {Mercury}

“WHAT!?” {Refulgence}

“I was just playing to get you to talk.” {Mercury}

“WHAT!? NO! THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE!” {Refulgence}

“I honestly thought it would take longer, but wow. You sang like a canary.” {Mercury}

“NOOO!” {Refulgence}

“I almost feel bad for him. Do you want to tell him or should I?” {Mercury}

“TELL ME WHAT!?” {Refulgence}

“You mean about you already killing the ancestor or” {Starlight}

“WHAT!?! ANCESTOR CANNOT BE DEAD!!” {Refulgence}

“I was talking about the two souls in one body problem.” {Mercury}

“That was the other option.” {Starlight}

“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?” {Refulgence}

“You cannot have two souls without problems happening.” {Mercury}

“EXPLAIN!” {Refulgence}

“Fine. I will explain it so your tiny brain can understand it.” {Mercury}

“GO F*CK YOURSELF!” {Refulgence}

“Maybe later. The body and soul reflect each other. You should know this from being in Nascent Soul.” {Mercury}

“OF COURSE I DO!” {Refulgence}

“Then when two souls try to stay within the same body, the body cannot handle it. The body becomes stressed and would begin to break down.” {Mercury}

“WHAT OF IT!?” {Refulgence}

“You would be the vessel of the ancestor but you would not be around to see it.” {Mercury}

“WHAT!? EXPLAIN!?” {Refulgence}

“…”

“Firelight was planning to have the ancestor kill you to take over your body. Simple enough for you? Like seriously, I need to know.” {Mercury}

“wha… what… no… no… no… that can’t… Father would not… he loves me…” {Refulgence}

“NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!” {Refulgence}

Starlight forced Refulgence’s mouth shut.

“How soon can you have someone pick him up?” {Mercury}

“I have already contacted Daylight about this. Someone will be here soon.” {Starlight}

When Refulgence heard this, he knew that the plan was over. He no longer struggled to free himself. Only focused his divine sense inward. To the poison pill and emergency communication jade in his body and. Starlight quickly found something wrong.

(“FATHER! STARLIGHT KNOWS! THEY SAY ANCESTOR IS ALREADY DEAD! AVENGE”) {Refulgence}

Starlight found the jade and ripped it out of Refulgence’s body. Nearly killing Refulgence in the process. Mercury ran to Refulgence to try and keep him alive. Starlight just held the jade.

(“Firelight.”) {Starlight}

(“Starlight.”) {Radiant Firelight}

(“You know what this means don’t you?”) {Starlight}

(“That Refulgence is a failure.”) {Firelight}

(“That there is nowhere safe on this World for you now.”) {Starlight}

(“You do not need to worry about that.”) {Firelight}

The conversation ended there. Starlight looked over at Mercury standing over Refulgence turning to dust.

“You were not able to save him?” {Starlight}

“No. He took a poison pill. Even healing him would not have stopped the poison.” {Mercury}

“…”

“Are you sad about it?” {Mercury}

“Despite his faults, my grandson would not be here with him.” {Starlight}

Mercury turned his head to the entrance of the tomb.

“We still have this to deal with.” {Mercury}

“If you did kill the ancestor, what is there left to do?” {Starlight}

“I did not take out the ‘Will of the World’. I did not know what it was at the time. Only after talking to Earthlight again, did I find out.” {Mercury}

“So that means it is still in there?” {Starlight}

“Yes.” {Mercury}

“Then I need to contact Daylight.” {Starlight}

(“Starlight, what happened now?”) {Daylight}

(“Refulgence took a poison pill while using a communication jade in his body to contact Firelight. It is as we feared. Firelight did set up the attacks. Refulgence did not survive.”) {Starlight}

(“Then from now on we need a new Firelight. He is now only to be called Radiant Bastard, or Radiant Deadman.”) {Daylight}

(“We also have another problem. The ‘Will of the World’ is still in the tomb. What should we do about it? I do not want to risk Radiant Deadman to get it.”) {Starlight}

(“Starlight, you take the ‘Will of the World’ and merge with it.”) {Daylight}

(“Me. Really?”) {Starlight}

(“Your Dao is one of Light but also of Darkness. You should be able to use it. I trust you over anyone else. And when the time comes. You could protect the other one as well.”) {Daylight}

(“I do not know what to say. Thank you.”) {Starlight}

(“Do not thank me yet. From what you said we need to open that tomb. It will take time to gather everyone to do it. For now, just keep guarding it.”) {Daylight}

(“Understood.”) {Starlight}

Starlight turned towards Mercury.

“Elder Hermes. Thank you for your help with all of this.” {Starlight}

“What will happen to the Will?” {Mercury}

“I will be the one to take it.” {Starlight}

“Okay. How do we open it?” {Mercury}

“What?” {Starlight}

“I will help you open it. You take the ‘Will of the World’ away. Then go on to do… whatever you need to do.” {Mercury}

“Parden by rudeness, but two people are not enough to open it. We need at least five people.” {Starlight}

“I assume that is based on your Cultivation Techniques?” {Mercury}

“How do you know that?” {Starlight}

“Just follow me.” {Mercury}

Mercury started walking down into the tomb with Starlight following him. Most of the Defense Formations were deactivated so they could just walk to the end. The door was still closed. Mercury walked up the orb that felt like Lightspeed and Starlight Aura.

“This Orb feels a little bit like your Aura. I assume that five people who use the five main Light Techniques need to put their Aura into their respective Orb.” {Mercury}

“…”

“Yes.” {Starlight}

“Amateurs.” {Mercury}

“What?” {Starlight}

“I can think of so many ways to improve this. If you wanted to keep this locked, you should not have just have it clear how to open it. Even if getting the five people is hard, never mind. I am getting distracted. I will open it.” {Mercury}

“I already said” {Starlight}

Before Starlight could finish, Mercury created four other bodies and had each one stand before each Orb, copied their respective Auras, and forced it into the Orb. Starlight only looked on, too stunned to do anything. The door slowly opened into the space behind it. The other clones quickly became blood and merged back into Mercury’s clone.

“*Deep Breaths* Done.” {Mercury}

“…”

“What?” {Mercury}

“HOW DID YOU DO THAT!?” {Starlight}

“It is just something I can do. Come on, we need to get it.” {Mercury}

Mercury ignored Starlight’s reaction and walked to the coffin and removed the lid. Starlight ran up behind Mercury and looked inside.

“There is nothing here except this chain. You really did kill him.” {Starlight}

“Yep. Now take it.” {Mercury}

“Why are you just giving it to me?” {Starlight}

“This World is not my problem. I just do what I want. Tell Earthlight if you need me again. I would get your commination jade again… but I am not bringing this body back to my true one.” {Mercury}

“What… What do you mean?” {Starlight}

The body that Mercury made began to break down into dust, leaving Starlight all alone.

“What is he? Can he be trusted?” {Starlight}

Starlight looked down at the chain and picked it up. He felt it trying to merge with him.

“I need to contact Daylight again.” {Starlight}

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Thank you for reading.