Solar Blood Masters

"Thank you, Big Brother Raphael." Lu Jade slithered over to his savior. "That Black Heaven Ripper! I was almost turned into minced meat back there, truly dreadful, however, truth be told… I was eagerly anticipating facing her full might. That sword is a terror. Perhaps I could incorporate some of its energies into my Phantom Willow Grass technique… if only…"

Raphael laughed at his friend's rambunctious spirit and gently patted him on the head with a massive hoof.

"You did well, Little Lu. You're more skilled now. Stronger. Just be careful. Don't try those risky things alone, next time!"

"Right, right." He giggled as his tail flicked with delight. Those compliments! They truly did wonders for a soul that used to get scolded and beaten.

"Skill, my feathers!" Qi Fenwei interrupted their joyful reunion. "Damn BULL! Step aside! I'm not done punishing that SNAKE!" Her violet wings fluttered. Archon was still aimed at Raphael and glowed menacingly.

Before Raphael had a chance to respond or even take a breath to calm down, a voice with such a gentle tone yet potent power echoed through the courtyard.

"The duel is over, why not lower your sword child?"

"HUH? Who said that?!" Qi Fenwei's gaze darted around, trying to locate the source, but saw only shattered tiles and quivering bird-creatures in the distance.

"Up… here."

She looked up and her pupils dilated.

There, perched upon the back of the golden bull was a figure wearing a simple, yet elegant robe that had her feathers rustling. Her silver bark skin radiated untold strength.

"You! WHO do you think YOU ARE to scold ME?! Get down HERE, before I cut that BULL to PIECES!" Qi Fenwei's voice came out loud, fueled by her pride. This arrogance and disrespect wouldn't stand!

Her words caused Raphael to snort. "How DARE you speak to GRANDMA that way?!"

His shadow wings unfolded.

But just as a wave of energy was about to be unleashed, Thienika placed a reassuring hand on his head.

"Calm yourself, Raphael, there's no need for bloodshed, for that girl merely echoes her father's flaws, and rightly so."

Thienika hopped off his back with a gentle grace that contradicted her lanky form and landed elegantly.

Turning her ancient gaze toward the defiant princess, she spoke. "Your haughtiness, it is familiar. You must be one of Qi Hawk's daughters. Hmmm, you share his aura from back when he was still a hatchling."

"WHAT? You… You profess to know my Father?" Qi Fenwei glared and aimed her blade at Thienika.

This old lady, this grandmother the bull called her, there was a subtle pressure of a Calamity permeating her. But this didn't make sense.

"Who ARE YOU?!"

Thienika shook her head in disappointment. "That brash arrogance, so much like your father. That poor hawk, he hasn't trained his children in manners, it seems."

"You DARE berate MY father! YOU… a mere… Saint Ruler?!!"

"Tsk, she's even bolder than Tajmani!" Raphael couldn't help himself. It seemed boldness, arrogance and stupidity, they were truly universal emotions.

Qi Fenwei, seeing that this stranger, this 'grandma' the bull so dearly protected was merely a Saint Ruler, didn't hesitate. Those fools deserved to be punished!

"DIE, YOU WRETCHED TREE!"

With a scream, Qi Fenwei thrust forth with Archon. It would appear, death by blade was their new visitor's welcome. But just before the blade hit…

BAM!

She stamped her staff against the marble platform.

"Wha…" The world itself, the clouds, even the very air itself shifted as Qi Fenwei found her body frozen mid-flight. Her attack was halted mere centimeters from Thienika's nose.

"How…?" Her wings buzzed frantically! She struggled against the invisible force but couldn't break free. This was power she hadn't felt before. It was terrifying.

"What just happened?" Raphael's hooves pounded anxiously against the ground as he watched the scene unfold before him.

Lu Jade hissed, "That tree just stopped a Nightmare Calamity? Her technique is truly something."

The implications of seeing Qi Fenwei immobilized were terrifying. His body instinctively wanted to bow in submission.

"How is this even possible?" He couldn't even articulate his conflicting emotions properly now.

But alas, as the seconds stretched and Qi Fenwei's struggles intensified. The unseen chains that bound her movements began to fracture.

"She's breaking free!"

And in a blink…

CRACK!

She broke the restraint. Her Archon blade slashed towards Thienika's face!

BOOM!

A colossal gust of wind erupted outward. The nearby balconies groaned and a few even chipped from the sheer pressure!

They'd all thought the old woman was dead, but as the winds subsided, they witnessed something even more shocking!

Her majestic blade had connected! It rested upon that wrinkled, silver face and didn't even leave a scratch. It seemed she was indeed, laughing at those efforts.

Qi Fenwei stared in disbelief. "H… HOW is that possible?!" Her wings flapped nervously. "I've never encountered such resilience, such strength! Archon can cleave even a mountain in half, and yet… this woman's face is tougher than a mountain!" Her heart hammered. It wasn't fear exactly, but she'd never been so humiliated before. This was a side she'd always kept hidden.

Qi Fenwei quickly flipped back, putting a safe distance between herself and that stoic grandma. Then seeing that no attacks came, nor those blood-red roars she'd anticipated, she sheathed her blade and cupped her fists.

"Who are you, venerable master?"

The shiver in her voice had Raphael smirking.

"It's wise of you to recognize true power, Princess Fenwei, for some battles are won before the first strike." Then Thienika's ancient, weathered face stretched into a delicate smile that had both Raphael and Lu Jade shuffling their hooves and tail nervously because never had she display a semblance of joy so openly, and what did it mean for them?

She continued in that soft tone, "That haughtiness you so eagerly displayed has been quelled, and your spirit, it is ready to accept new knowledge. That pleases me, it truly does. Your father? Is he present? I would be very interested in renewing old acquaintances."

"My father? He's unavailable at the moment. He's currently engaged in… secluded meditation. He has great things to prepare, for the Great Divine Tribulation. Surely you…"

She then noticed a raised staff and knew better than to question. Qi Fenwei then bowed her head with a hint of annoyance.

"It is a… pity." Thienika nodded sadly. She'd been hoping to see how that fledging she'd met eons ago was doing.

"Very well. Then, I bid you farewell… Grandma."

She cast a fleeting glare towards both Raphael and Lu Jade before turning around and spreading her wings. Then as a flash of blue light echoed, she was gone.

This time, it was permanent, or was it?

"Finally some peace." Raphael muttered with a sigh.

Thienika smiled as her youthful energies slowly began to drain once more. "Seems your feathered friend has inherited some of her father's impatience. Hohoho! But such are those traits that make ruling, a thrilling adventure.

Now then. Tell me about this 'Little Lu' you keep mentioning. You haven't introduce us."

"Oh, RIGHT!" He then turned toward the emerald snake, who was still slightly trembling.

"Grandma Thienika, meet Lu Jade. He's like a brother to me."

"Lu… Jade? That name… it's familiar…" Thienika narrowed her eyes. She could sense a potent energy deep within this serpent. It was a well of untapped potential, brimming with ancient strength. But from this little runt?

Lu Jade hissed respectfully, "Blessing upon you, Elder Thienika."

He was observing them, 'Why does he… Big Brother Raphael… calls her 'Grandma'?'

He'd been hiding and meditating in this Citadel, eagerly seeking the peace those treasures had offered and refining his essence for the upcoming battles that demanded his true potential be unleashed. He'd hoped to finally stand shoulder-to-shoulder with his 'Big Brother' and together, they'd carve a path of greatness through Yama Yaguai.

And now his brother was here and he wasn't alone.

"Where wasss Big Brother all thisss time?"

Raphael began sharing his adventure since he left Nestoria a few days ago. As he narrated, his gaze fixated on his companion. He watched with dread as those emerald scales paled to a ghastly green as his pupils dilated. It was as if he were reliving that ordeal with them.

Then, the tears came.

"Hooooow…? BIG BROTHER! YOU… YOU…" Lu Jade couldn't finish his sentence.

The terror of losing his newfound family was painful. He quickly slithered over to Thienika. He then wrapped himself tightly around one of her lanky legs and began crying profusely, his tears now raining down on her silver bark scales.

"Thank… Thank… you! Y-You SAVED… him…" His words choked him.

Thienika gently patted him with a calloused hand. "There, there little snake… No need to cry. That ordeal has passed. Look! Your brother is safe. We are family now."

Lu Jade sniffed and wiped his tears away with his tail before looking up with eyes that radiated something more ancient than the years he'd walked these lands. A silent understanding bloomed between him and Thienika.

"Family…" He whispered in awe before looking towards Raphael.

"Lu Jade. I… well… she…"

Raphael stammered.

"She's a Draconic Star Lumber. Even the Void Emperor has to show her some respect. And most importantly. We've made a promise. She's gonna participate in the Great Divine Tribulation with us, and I'll give her my blessing when we win!"

"What?"

"You… I mean, WE will enter the Trials TOGETHER?"

Lu Jade couldn't comprehend.

"Grandma! W-we…"

He was cut off by a terrifying bellow: "FOOLISH!"

Qi Fenwei's violet figure came rushing towards them with her blades sheathed! It seemed she'd returned.

"H-huh? Why is she back? Didn't she just leave?" Raphael was puzzled.

The princess landed with an impact that caused the floor to crack, and without a greeting nor a polite salutation, strode over with fury blazing. A spectacle worthy of her Emperor father.

"You are truly a FOOLISH bull! Who in their RIGHT MIND would go through all that… those horrifying dangers and… earn… Sindoll's… blessing… only to give it… AWAY?!"

She'd observed them from afar. And the sheer absurdity of what she'd overheard had her bleeding rage.

This recklessness! This stupidity! She had to scold him before her father found out, for if he ever hears about what Raphael planned to do with that blessing, his fury would surely rain upon their entire territory! Such a thing was unprecedented in Yama Yaguai, a dishonor of epic proportions!

This was unforgivable!

Such a reckless fool this bull!