PtM 18 - Chapter 43: What Lies at the Center

Ink and paint mixed with the blood of demons as they fought and sacrificed and killed. Eventually, even the strongest of them could no longer endure, and joined their brethren as corpses on the battlefield.

Carnage was right at home in such a setting and had no problem throwing the seemingly endless troops he commanded to their doom. While demons of the four clans died, he stood back and collected the spoils in the form of Dao origin fragments and used the blood of the fallen to supplement his grisly paint stores.

Cha Ming felt for the demons and was also beginning to empathize with his paintings. They had started off as inanimate creatures but had slowly begun to gain awareness. They were now at the threshold where they could be considered people.

But he sent them into battle regardless, only occasionally lifting a finger to interfere. Most of his attention was concentrated on the precious fragments that dropped whenever a nightmare or demon was slain, which he then incorporated into his inner world to grow his increasingly vast authority.

His inner world was in a state of flux. It now contained tens of millions of transcendent life-forms, and this number was growing by the second. Materials poured in from the Central Inkwell Sea without limit, such that the five wills residing in his inner world could barely keep up.

Slowly, but surely, their worlds were achieving perfection.

“It won’t be enough,” Scriptorium said to Cha Ming. “We’re lacking in key materials.”

“What are you missing?” Cha Ming asked him.

“Mostly general materials that can act as go-betweens,” said Scriptorium. “But the main shortage is in high-quality materials. There must be enough of these for a transcendent demiplane to evolve. Typically, this takes a long time to harvest from the void. We can do some of that later, but for now, we need a foundational amount as a catalyst.”

“Hold that thought,” said Cha Ming. He stepped across the battlefield and appeared beside the Iridescent Ancestor. She was currently engaged in battle with some Inkwell Clan elders and was at an elemental disadvantage.

He didn’t even try negotiating anymore. There had been too many disappointments. A few strokes of bloody energy were all it took to buy her an opening.

“The situation is dire,” said the Iridescent Ancestor. “We’re losing too much ground. It won’t be long now before most of this place is claimed.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Cha Ming asked.

“No,” said the Iridescent Ancestor. “Just keep fighting with your life on the line. My sisters and I will lay down our lives to restrain our sister and buy you the time you need to end this.”

They were about to leave to assist the Clockwork Ancestor when suddenly, the world shook. Cracks appeared in the endless sky, and a furious howl could be heard from the very core of the world.

“Dear heavens, he actually managed it,” said the Iridescent Ancestor. “He’s a coward, that tiger, but he followed through with his promise.”

“What happened?” asked Cha Ming.

“Something good,” said the Iridescent Ancestor. The world shook a second time, then a third, then a fourth. “Something reallygood.”

“I don’t see how a bunch of my authority vanishing is a good thing,” said Cha Ming.

But the Iridescent Ancestor ignored him and pulled on his arm. “Come with me. Let’s ignore these stupid turtles and hit them where it matters.” She pulled him onto her back before transforming into an iridescent phoenix that shot across the planar core’s cracked skies.

Four more giant figures joined them—they were none other than the Star-Eye Ancestor, the Runebound Ancestor, the Clockwork Ancestor, and Silver Fish. Silver Fish was the most conspicuous of the lot, as he had taken the form of a giant silver carp. His scales were red and black and covered in mysterious runes. Simply looking at them hurt immensely.

“Where are we going?” Cha Ming asked.

“To the center of all things,” said the Iridescent Ancestor. “Melody has been critically weakened for a short time, which gives us a precious opportunity.”

They crossed endless swaths of nightmares and Inkwell Clan members that stood about, confused, as though they’d lost all direction. None of them made to pursue them as their group entered the depths of the planar core.

Soon, a large sphere appeared. It was identical to the core in the outside world, but unlike the other core, this one’s surface was ever shifting and radiated huge amounts of energy.

“This… this is primal chaos energy!” exclaimed Cha Ming.

“Every plane requires primal chaos energy to survive, and this plane is no different,” said the Iridescent Ancestor. “And since Melody is wounded, the chicken coop’s door is open, so to speak. We’d be fools not to help ourselves to a little chicken. Oh wait, I forgot who I was talking to. What a completely wasted metaphor.”

The five ancestors pressed their hands on the sphere’s surface. Primal chaos energy began to pour into their bodies.

“Well, don’t just stand there,” said the Clockwork Ancestor. “Dig in!”

“This is a wonderful opportunity,” said Scriptorium from inside his inner world. “Take in as much as you can. These materials will serve as the foundation for your five complete planes.”

***

Outside the planar core sat a handful of peak saints who were frantically recovering energy and healing their wounds. Only two individuals were relatively unbusy. Huxian was one of them, and Mr. Mao Mao was the other.

“I wonder how long she’ll be gone for,” said Huxian. “It’s been what, half an hour?”

“Miao!” said Mr. Mao Mao.

“Yeah, I get it,” said Huxian. “Better not talk about her. It can only end badly.”

“Actually, you were right to wonder,” said the Crystal Monarch. He rose up from his meditative posture and cracked his back. “It’s about time she returns. Her wounds are great, but most of her power was concentrated on the Central Inkwell Sea to begin with.”

The Crimson Lotus Emperor rose as well. “It’s time. Are the two of you ready? How about you, old tiger?”

“I’m ready,” said the old tiger.

“South Sea and I have been ready since you first got here,” said Elder Ling. “Little fox?”

“Yeah?” said Huxian.

“You’re our last line of defense,” Elder Ling said. “Stay put until you’re needed.”

Last line of defense? Huxian thought. You underestimate me. He might only be a second-level saint, but his space-time laws were no joke.

It was for this reason that he felt a pang of fear exactly three seconds in the future. One… two… three…

A brush stabbed into the Crimson Lotus Emperor from the void, destroying his treasured Dao Fuse Cauldron and striking him straight in the core.

Huxian felt another premonition, but before he could warn anyone, Melody had already whipped her brush toward the others. Multiple overlaying waves of ink shot out at the Crystal Monarch to form a cage. He only lasted three seconds in the prison of whirling ink before his divinity was completely exhausted, and the Nine God Blades he wielded were worn down to powder.

“Sometimes, it’s impossible to do much more than buy a few seconds,” Elder Ling said from beside Huxian. “I thought you could be of use, but in the end, it doesn’t matter. Just go. Run!”

“You think I’m easy prey?” the old tiger said to Melody. His began to fall apart as a stream of ink pierced his chest. Millions of paper slips shot toward Melody, only to explode as soon as they made contact.

“Looks like I’m next,” said Daoist South Sea. He picked up his broken sword and charged. His sword collapsed first, and next came his arms. Finally, he detonated his core to attack Melody with one last explosion.

“Tell Cha Ming… I wish him well,” said Elder Ling.

“Miao!” yelled Mr. Mao Mao. He tossed an item to Huxian before charging forward with Elder Ling. Less than a second later, the man and the cat were gone from this world. Only Melody remained in the same space as Huxian.

Huxian looked into his hand and saw what Mr. Mao Mao had given him. It was his collar. His food storage treasure. The ultimate gift from an arrogant cat.

Only now did Huxian’s inability to affect the general situation sink in. “Why did this happen? It wasn’t at all like this in the vision!”

“What vision?” asked Melody as she walked over. “Can you tell me about it? All these fellows wanted to do was fight, fight, fight! You’re different, though. I can tell. Perhaps I can spare you if you provide me with sufficient entertainment.”

Huxian throat trembled as she took step after pounding step. His blood seethed, and his mind raged. He wanted to fight, but he knew that doing so wouldn’t benefit anyone in the slightest.

“Oh? Is that a mark from the Heartforge Realm? It would be troublesome if he found out,” said Melody. “Well, no matter. You’re only a transcendent, so you’re not exactly the most useful pawn he has.” Her eyes flashed to the planar core. “Oh, I see that the other little fellow has a mark as well. No… this one’s a bit different. Wait! It can’t be! Is that Sun Wukong’s mark?”

“Mind your own business,” said Huxian. “If you want to kill us, kill us. If you want to spare us, spare us.”

“I most certainly can’t spare you all,” said Melody. “I’ve already thoroughly offended you, and the Monkey King bears a grudge.”

“Then get it over with,” said Huxian.

“Patience, little fox,” said Melody. “It takes time to unravel Bagua Hushao’s protective seal, you know.”

Bagua Hushao’s protective seal? Huxian hadn’t known such a thing existed. But then again, it made sense. His ancestor had not so secretly been guiding him down a different path than his own.

“Ah, finally,” said Melody. “It was a bit troublesome, but ultimately, he’s restricted by transcendent laws.”

Huxian suddenly felt naked. The feeling of invincibility he’d felt his entire life was suddenly stripped away.

“You wouldn’t dare,” Huxian said to her. “Whether it’s Patriarch Heartforge or Bagua Hushao, you can’t deal with either of them.”

“You know nothing of the chaos in the immortal dimension,” said Melody. “Forget the fact that Bagua Hushao, the only one who might save you, has sworn never to leave the outer reaches for as long as he lives.” She took up her brush of stone and bone once more. “Any last words, little fox?”

“He won’t be dying anytime soon, I’m afraid.”

Melody frowned and quickly retreated as five powerful figures shot out from the planar core.

“Sisters,” Melody said cautiously. “Other half. I see that your hosts have grown quite a bit stronger.”

“Strong enough to restrain you for a few hours at the very least,” said their leader, the Clockwork Ancestor. “We even had time to teach Silver Fish here the Five-Point Restriction.”

“That was our technique,” Melody spat.

“Don’t you dare pretend to be her, you hateful little thing,” said the Runebound Ancestor.

A stream of inky energy peeled off from each of them, revealing their original appearances. Silver Fish now had silver-and-red armor, while Clever Dusk had wispy green fur. Graceful Twilight’s hair and armor now contained every color in existence, while Drezil’s body glowed with hundreds of thousands of golden runic patterns.

Serrendil was the most resplendent among them. Her armor was a work of golden art, and her twin blades were equally impressive.

“I’m confused,” said Melody. “Are you not going to be contesting me for the remainder of the plane? It’s impossible to do without all that quintessence.”

“We’ve already reached the limits of the realm,” said the Clockwork Ancestor. “That little bit of energy and land doesn’t interest us in the slightest. Then again, that little fox looks to be in his growing stage. Even your brother is in the chicken coop, so what are you doing out here?”

Huxian didn’t need to be told twice. He used Space-Time Devouring to assimilate the plane’s quintessence they’d tossed to him and jumped onto the planar core. Thanks to the quintessence, he was able to forge an instant connection.

The last thing he saw before entering the world within the core was a five-on-one match between Melody, her sisters, and her clone. And unfortunately, the sisters were losing. It was only a matter of time before they, too, were defeated.

***

Deep at the center of the planar core, Cha Ming was absorbing primal chaos energy with everything he had. It wasn’t just him—Luther, Coral, and Disaster were also taking whatever they could lay their hands on to grow their little moons.

Cha Ming’s control over the planar core was now quite extensive, so it came as no surprise to him when Huxian appeared before the ball of primal chaos energy.

“Hey,” said Huxian.

“Hi,” said Cha Ming.

The atmosphere was awkward, but the fox thickened his skin and sat beside Cha Ming. He formed a devouring vortex with one hand and began pulling out sandwiches and coffee. Extra strong, just the way Cha Ming liked it.

Cha Ming sighed and picked up a sandwich. “Stasis sandwiches. The aftertaste really is the worst.”

“I made them months ago,” Huxian said. “I knew I wouldn’t have time to worry about cooking when everything started to go to crap.”

“What about your friends?” Cha Ming asked him.

“In my tails, unconscious,” said Huxian. “They paid a heavy price to get me here on time.”

Cha Ming didn’t really know what to say to that, so he kept his silence, ate sandwiches, and continued absorbing primal chaos energy.

“If you could choose to do it all again, would you?” Cha Ming asked Huxian.

“I did what I had to,” said Huxian. “In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t have much time left.”

A year, from what Cha Ming could see.

“I don’t blame you,” Cha Ming said. “I never did. Some things just can’t be avoided.”

“Yeah,” said Huxian. “Life sucks sometimes.”

The duo worked in silence with the knowledge that soon, the fox would be leaving, and it would be a long time before they could meet again.