Steve’s Short Story Warring States
Warring States Part 2
The fall of the famous great general brought a major change to the situation as all the suppressed kingdoms rose up to the surface like shark smelling blood. Although the other generals in the targeted kingdom attempted to hold off the invaders, it was futile without the deterrence of their great general. No matter how watertight the defenses were, it was eventually broken through and war devastated the lands once more. Although the many suppressed kingdom’s target were the same, they were unfortunately a pile of loose sand. Unless there was a super power to suppress them, even if their targeted kingdom were to fall, war would still continue to spread through the lands.
The flames of war swept the kingdoms; however, it seemed that one XXX kingdom was determined to stay out of the mess as they quietly withdrew their army to defend their borders. There were no signs of their ambition even after their glorious victory over the famous general. At first the other kingdoms were wary, but as time passed, the other kingdoms gradually sunk into the quicksand of war against each other.
After a year of war, just when the conflicts reached their peak and the others’ kingdoms forces were weakened to some extent, the cold calculating XXX kingdom that everyone believed to be a cowardly bunny turned into a ferocious tiger who had sharpened its claws. Multiple kingdoms fell rapidly as XXX kingdom swept the war zones by storm. The remaining kingdoms shivered in fear as they hurriedly concluded an alliance to resist the ferocious beast. Alas, XXX kingdom continued to sweep one kingdom after another. The alliance had no choice but to congregate all their forces for a final battle. Although they were a pile of loose sand before, after they have gathered, the army formed was by no means small as it was at least three times the size of XXX kingdom’s army. Even if XXX kingdom were to win the battle by some fluke, the alliance expects that the win would come with a formidable cost.
The day of battle came, and the army of XXX kingdom did not show up. In its place, a single individual stood facing the entire army of the alliance. The wind gently lifted her blazing red hair as she calmly stood there with her eyes closed, one hand on her sword, the other on her scabbard. Just when the alliance wanted to capture her for intelligence, an intimidating aura suppressed the army as the girl pulled her sword out of her scabbard. She raised the sword straight up into the air. Her eyelids fluttered open revealing glaring red eyes as she swung her sword swiftly downwards.
“Annihilation.”
As if the heavens abide by her commands, the sky turned red hot as flames materialized into an enormous flame dragon which gave a resounding roar. The flames then dispersed and came crashing down upon the alliance army like a tsunami. With that one strike, most of the army was melted into oblivion as ash fluttered down from the sky like snowflakes. That was the end of the battle and the resistances of all the surrounding kingdoms. Even after reaping so many lives, the girl remained emotionless from beginning to end, earning her the title, Demoness of Ashes.
XXX kingdom continued its conquest on the continent as its army marched unimpeded into new territories. Any resistance was futile against the Demoness of Ashes, and it seemed that XXX kingdom would conquer the entire continent, bringing an end to this warring states period.
Alas, the continent was vast and XXX kingdom eventually met its match. After conquering almost half of the continent, XXX kingdom finally clashed with YYY kingdom. Similar to XXX kingdom, YYY kingdom has marched unimpeded into many territories and conquered the other half of the continent. Now, the tiger has met the lion and only one would live.
The Demoness of Ashes used to solve all resistance with no efforts, but she has met her true enemy. YYY kingdom’s forces were led by a famed general. Although he was only around the age of 20, he was already a great general. However, what he was much more known by was the title, God of Ice.
The clash of the two armies brought about great casualties to both sides. When the Demoness of Ashes fought the God of Ice, the heavens would tremble as the opposing powers of flame and ice clashed against each other. The land where the Demoness of Ashes and the God of Ice fought would end up being barren, devastated lands both scorched and frozen. Lives of both allies and enemies were reaped mercilessly by the duo’s clash; however, both individuals remained emotionless throughout.
XXX and YYY kingdom both knew that this cannot go on, but neither wanted to give in, especially since war brings about progress. Hence, they could only resort to scheming in hopes of a break through. After all, although the emotionless slaughter machines could guard against the enemies coming on the battlefield, they cannot guard against the ones lurking in their own homes. It was now a race of who will succeed in their schemes first.
As fate would have it, XXX kingdom was a matriarchy. The female rulers held absolute power with no dissent possible from the male population; however, with the support and temptations provided by YYY kingdom, the greedy, shortsighted males in XXX kingdom revolted. A rebellion was started causing XXX kingdom to recall its soldiers from all over to suppress the rebellion.
Unfortunately, there was no way for the front lines defending against YYY kingdom to withdraw its forces. They could only grit their teeth and continue their fight without fresh blood for the army as the support that were supposed to be sent to them were recalled back to fight the rebellion. As the fight raged on, the difference in numbers became overwhelming as XXX kingdom’s front lines eventually collapsed. With no soldiers to hold off the enemy soldiers, the Demoness of Ashes was besieged on all sides as soldiers from YYY kingdom laid down their lives to wear her down while the God of Ice suppressed all her attacks. Pushed to the edge of a cliff, the God of Ice came to deliver the fatal blow as the army of YYY kingdom watched the Demoness of Ashes fall into the ocean below.
Everyone thought the Demoness of Ashes has perished. However, fate has hidden secrets away from prying eyes. As emotionless as the God of Ice and the Demoness of Ashes were, a bond of kinship still had formed after the many battles they had fought. After all, they were the only two of their kind, monsters in human skins. A blow that looked fatal at a glance to ordinary soldiers may not actually be fatal.
When the Demoness of Ashes’s eyes fluttered open once more, she was resting on a luxurious bed inside a palace. The one who greeted her was the God of Ice. The one who took care of her while she recuperated was also the God of Ice. The duo stared at each other emotionless every day, yet there was a smell of something blooming in the air.
The girl named Xiao Ruo lived her days in peace like a normal girl. The boy named Han Bing spent his days doting on the girl who he treated like his other half. Although they believed the measures that they took to disguise Xiao Ruo were sufficient and the loyal guards would keep their mouths shut, a simple secret can easily be leaked through the temptations of desires.
Albeit unneeded, Han Bing was suddenly summoned to the battlefield, leaving Xiao Ruo behind. The God of Ice set off to the battlefield leaving behind a promise, “Wait for me.”
Alas, fate waits for no one. Not long after the God of Ice left, the schemes were put into motion. Troops surrounded and stormed the God of Ice’s palace in an attempt to eliminate Xiao Ruo. With no other choice but to fight back, Xiao Ruo could only become the Demoness of Ashes once more.
A path of destruction was carved as the Demoness of Ashes fought her way out of the encirclement of soldiers. Many innocent lives were laid to waste as the lives of soldiers were reaped like crushing ants. Just when the Demoness of Ashes thought she has finally escaped, facing her was the God of Ice.
The God of Ice silently looked at the trail of destruction left by the Demoness of Ashes as he asked calmly, “Why?”
The clamors of the soldier encircling the duo rang out, accusing the Demoness of Ashes of assassinating the royal family and destroying the city as she fled. Exhausted, the Demoness of Ashes ignored the noise and stared back at the God of Ice while meekly asking back, “Will you believe in me and let me go?”
The God of Ice coldly looked at all the soldiers demanding revenge for the innocent lives lost in the capital. It was a choice between his duty and his future. The God of Ice wanted to keep both. He believed he could resolve this issue by going back and atoning for the crime together. So, he stated, “Come back with me to atone for the crime.”
The Demoness of Ashes asked calmly, “And if I don’t?”
The God of Ice responded, “Then, I will bring you back after I defeat you.”
The Demoness of Ashes’s eyes dimmed as she stated, “If it is a fight that you desire, then so be it.”
With that, the Demoness of Ashes and the God of Ice clashed once more. As the fight continued, the strikes became fiercer and fiercer as wounds opened on the duo’s bodies. Eventually, the fight hit the pinnacle as the duo charged up their ultimate moves that would drain most of their energy. A demonic flame dragon materialized on one side while a heavenly ice dragon crystallized on the other.
It was then that the Demoness of Ashes noticed a recently invented siege equipment, the ballista, located at the God of Ice’s blind spot. It was with good reason that it was there for the ballista was not aimed at her but at the God of Ice. Emotions were not a thing that the Demoness of Ashes was familiar with, but Xiao Ruo’s heart took control and changed the trajectory of her attack towards the ballista.
The attacks came down. The ballista was burned to pieces. The sword pierced the heart of the enemy and froze her heart. Han Bing opened his eyes wide in shock as he stared at his sword piercing through Xiao Ruo’s heart. Xiao Ruo’s sword aimed at the ballista slowly slipped out of her hands and stabbed into the ground. With a soft vibration from the sound of the sword drop, the brittle frozen heart of Xiao Ruo shattered into tiny crystallized pieces.
Han Bing held Xiao Ruo in his arms as his eyes shook in fear, an emotion he never felt until this day. Xiao Ruo gently smiled back at him as she asked, “Will you believe me and let me go?”
“I believe you … no … don’t go!”
Alas, with a tear rolling down her face, the brilliant eyes of Xiao Ruo closes for ever, leaving behind an empty shell with an empty smile.
The God of Ice held his lover as he howled in grief. Thousands of miles were frozen and turned into a frozen land of ice as he burned his life force to convert the land into one of eternal rest.
“With war there is progress, but I would rather the world be frozen with no progress if it means losing what is important to me.”
Is It Credible? 