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Solar Blood Masters (52)
🕑 Added 2024-10-24 22:12:56 +0000 UTCChapter 52 - Lu Pin’s Shattered Pride
BOOOM!
The golden trident hurtled downwards like a blazing meteor screaming towards its target! The Trident of Annihilation against the might of the Golden Buddhist Donkey!
It was a spectacle that could shatter realms.
The earth cracked and buckled. Crimson flames shot skyward as that massive weapon of a serpent emperor collided with those countless glowing palms.
Those fingers, emanating a brilliant white-gold energy, met the trident's points. A screeching metal-on-metal sound echoed across those desolate domain as the very air itself ignited with sparks of Solar Essence.
And yet...
It wasn't a clean victory for Lu Ignis, as he'd envisioned.
That trident, meant to annihilate, to judge, to pulverize those who defied his command, was being halted!
It was pushed upwards by those monstrous golden palms of a borrowed buddha.
“Fool, this is MY Domain!”
"SCORCHING JUDGMENT!"
Lu Ignis slammed his tail onto the end of the trident which propelled it forward with unimaginable force. And beneath, in that chaotic heart of the clash, another horror unfolded.
BOOM! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
From those cracks in that desolate world, from those shadows and burnt soil, he commanded. They came!
Skeletal warriors with their empty sockets blazing with crimson fire rose. A horrifying legion wielding axes, sword and bows advanced towards that glowing golden figure.
"HRAAAAA!"
"HISSSSS!"
They attacked with a terrifying ferocity.
"This... THIS IS CHEATING!” Raphael hollered in frustration.
He attempted to direct more force into the Golden Buddhist Donkey, “I need more strength! More power!” But his commands, they felt empty now. Those energies were fading.
Crack!
A terrifying sound had his focus snapping back towards those clashing energies. It was a subtle shift, but undeniable. That mighty trident… its points were slowly pushing downwards, piercing through his donkey’s golden palms.
A terrible crunching sound reverberated through that world, which caused even the bony warriors to pause in their assaults as if in awe of their emperor’s might.
The Trident of Annihilation shattered the Golden Buddhist Donkey's arms. Its momentum carried it forward toward Raphael!
WHOOSH!
"Oh, crap!"
In those fleeting seconds, as those embers of oblivion raced towards his golden hide, one desperate act came.
He slammed his hooves down, conjuring the last reserves of his powers.
“Golden Barrier!”
BOOM!
An iridescent dome, woven from those flames of his very essence exploded outwards as that trident struck.
CRACK!
It held…
Momentarily.
The barrier shuddered, cracks spider-webbed across its golden surface, every impact of the trident sent pain resonating through Raphael's form, and as it grew fainter, so too did his hope.
He could feel his Solar Essence dwindling.
"Damn that Devil Star Fruit… It’s power… its… fading!”
He desperately channeled his remaining strength.
"I… I can't…"
Blood trickled from his jaws. He gritted his teeth with an iron will that was more human than bull as his hooves scrambled desperately for a better footing, one that no longer existed in this reality.
Then as a deafening, bone-jarring crack resonated. He realized a terrible truth.
"Bones… they’re breaking!”
“This is it. I'm going to die.”
Above, Lu Ignis simply smirked and hissed: “Hmph! You're a pitiful creature bull. To think you could rival MY might, much less withstand my Judgment?"
With a final push of his essence, a terrifying wave of power flowed into the trident that was meant to erase this stain upon his pride, and end their clash once and for all.
BOOOOOM!
The Golden Barrier shattered, and Raphael’s vision was blinded. An immense explosion rocked the Scorching Veil Domain!
The impact, annihilated those skeleton soldiers. But for Lu Ignis, he remained unmoved. This was his domain. These powers, they belonged to him, and him alone. He’d simply allowed this upstart to taste a shred of its essence before the inevitable.
“It’s done now…" He watched the dust settle, searching for any evidence that the bull still existed.
There was nothing!
"Hmph! You should have known better than to anger the Bronze Serpent Emperor."
…
A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves of the trees surrounding a ‘Skybridge Dais’ that was nestled within a clearing. It was dawn! Regular sized birds were singing, those worms wriggled nervously beneath that moist soil as the sun’s warm rays gently touched Ho Eastern.
A group of snakes who were the last surviving members of the Venom Tail Viper gang, milled around the teleportation platform that was connected to their home, Hebikuni. It was their gathering spot.
One serpent with its golden stripes dulled by recent battles, couldn't hold back a comment, “The sun risesss… Such beauty. I wonder what today has in sssstore for usss, my friends.”
“Hmm, if I were to guess… our leader, that pathetic cowardly fart will return today bearing bad news and perhaps more punishments.”
“That isss truly your specialty isssn’t it, gloom and doom?”
“Silence, both of you. Let’sss be patient and await his return.”
Those whispers among the crew didn't need to be louder for they all knew who they were waiting for.
Their leader, Lu Pin, was supposed to meet with the Bronze Serpent Emperor. And upon his return, they would receive a full report detailing their punishment, if any. It was a tense moment, especially knowing the consequences their actions had attracted. They had failed miserably at avenging Lu Lingxue and had even lost their honor.
“It's almost sunrise. It's been over eight hours. Do you think he’s dead?”
"That wouldn’t be ssso bad. At least then those elders wouldn’t have another excuse to lash out against us. And those whips…"
"Shh, quiet!"
Just as their anxieties were being voiced and rumors starting to circulate about Lu Pin’s predicament before their Emperor’s throne, the 'Skybridge Dais' nearby suddenly lit up with a bright white light.
“The Emperor…” Those whispers carried a reverence those snakes couldn’t ignore, a show of respect and fear ingrained deep within their primal essences.
Then as that white glow dissipated, Lu Pin slithered out of the teleportation platform. His once proud posture was slumped as his tail dragged along the moist earth.
And those bruises. They marred his magnificent golden scales, as did those visible burns that he was trying to hide.
Seeing their leader’s dejected demeanor shattered their hopeful sentiments, the lies they’d told each other to appease their anxieties, that everything was alright.
"L-leader! W-what happened in there?"
"Yes, yes. Did you get punished? Are you alright?"
“And brother Lu Pan? The elders are still upset about his condition. Maybe they want to eat him as a snack for disturbing their peace? What a troublesome bunch of geezers."
As soon as their questions came pouring forth, one after the other. Lu Pin flinched. They fueled his humiliation, for it seems those he'd thought loyal were more eager to laugh at his misfortune than inquire about their gang’s fate, it disgusted him. He couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Shut up! You annoying farts! Every single one of you, get over here and bow!”
His tail lashed out angrily. Then, in a moment of terrifying silence, he recounted his recent meeting with Lu Ignis, and how furious the Bronze Emperor had been upon seeing his failures and learning that his beloved daughter Lu Lingxue had been devoured by a GOLDEN BULL, of all things.
“He confiscated everything, my treasured slaves! My golden palace! My Sun Cycle and that medicinal pond that amplified my meditation!"
He paused, took a deep breath, before unleashing the most dreaded words any crew, gang, group or gathering would shudder before:
“Father has dissolved the ‘Venom Tail Vipers’! We are no more.”
He continued with a trembling voice that revealed how close to madness he was: "It’s over. Father has stripped me of my privileges. I am forbidden from setting foot in Hebikuni for 100 years. And all because of those bastards!”
His crew surrounded him, offering comforting words and encouragement for their leader’s loss.
"We can still operate, sssure those resources are gone, but there’s still…"
"Those bastards who didn’t join us last time. They are the ones to blame, leader! If we had their help then…"
"Shut up! All of you!" Lu Pin was so frustrated.
But one suggestion had him pausing, "Lu Pin. Participate in the Great Divine Tribulationssss! You're ssstrong. Your tail strike issss deadly, there isss no ssnake that can deflect its power! You have a chance of claiming the Void Emperor’s blessings!"
"If you succeed, those elders would have no choice but to recognize your sstrength. Maybe then the Emperor will resstore your honor, and our gang.”
It was a good idea, he admitted. "Hmm, hmm… Perhapsss."
And while they whispered about strategies and hopes, that teleportation device flared into life once again!
This time, however, it wasn’t a brilliant, white light but a vibrant, pulsing, emerald green.
It was both mesmerizing and alarming. They all recoiled, and some even darted into the trees for safety as if anticipating something monstrous.
“Who could it be?”
WHOOSH!
They watched as a large, green serpent, carrying a golden bull on its hide, shooting out of the portal with enough speed to knock over those who were close by.
"W-what…" Lu Pin was speechless! That snake, it couldn’t be!
"Isn’t that the green bastard… Lu Jade? And… THE BULL?!" Someone shouted.
Lu Pin slithered closer to get a better view. And then he saw it, those green scales, they glowed brightly, but unlike those times back then when they'd mocked his appearance and color. Now, he saw something terrifying.
"It’sss that little Twerp, Lu Jade! And that bull! H-how?! Why were they in Hebikuni? They’re… they’re both injured! This…”
“What are they doing here?”
Those questions didn't need answers because for those whose honor and pride had been wounded. A truth was evident.
Lu Pin grinned wickedly. This was fate! An opportunity for vengeance! A path back to favor! He wouldn’t waste his words on the air, he would simply strike.
“NOW IS OUR CHANCE! They’re weakened. If we take their headsss and present them before my father! H-he’ll be pleassssed. Our gang… it won’t be disbanded!”
