Solar Blood Masters

Within the Golden Prism Citadel's magnificent courtyard, a small, circular table, crafted from polished wood, stood before the gold walls. Around it, four figures were seated: Raphael the bull, Lu Jade the emerald serpent, Qi Fenwei the Black Wind princess, and the elderly, yet imposing Thienika. Upon the table, an assortment of berries, fruits, and a silver pitcher that radiated warmth, rested invitingly.

Thienika picked up her cup, which was filled with a glowing amber liquid. She took a delicate sip.

"Sunshine Wine… Hmmm, it has been ages since I've tasted something this delightful." She placed her cup back upon the table before turning her weathered gaze upon Qi Fenwei. "Now then, you were saying earlier?"

Qi Fenwei snorted softly. She picked a juicy purple berry with a talon and popped it into her mouth. The moment the fruit touched her tongue, it melted instantly, releasing a burst of sweetness and a surge of potent energy.

"The upcoming Great Divine Tribulation. It… will be different, a bit… strange compared to previous ones." She wiped her talons delicately with a silk handkerchief.

"Hmm. How so?" Lu Jade inquired. He was coiled comfortably near the edge.

"You see. From what I've gathered… Void Emperor Sindoll has grown tired, she has decided to implement a change, this time around, a monumental shift to our understanding of Yama Yaguai."

She then paused for effect, for she also enjoyed being the center of attention, then continued, "She is allowing teams to participate to earn their share of the Blessing."

"WHAT?" Those around gasped! This news was truly earth-shattering.

"How can that be?" Lu Jade couldn't hold back. This proposition seemed so ludicrous, and yet It came from someone close to Emperor Qi Hawk. Could it be true?

Qi Fenwei grinned, "How indeed? Isn't this thrilling?" She then took a moment to compose herself as excitement surged through her feathers.

"This news is not yet public, but surely, it won't be long until those whispers make it to those gossiping vipers and those arrogant apes in their isolated mountains.

Previously, only a SINGLE victor was granted Sindoll's blessing. This is how those Great Divine Tribulations of the past have always been, a competition of bloodshed and destruction that only favored the strongest, leaving those with less might to weep for their dead, but now, teams will be competing, teams of no more than 5 members."

"That's not all. To reflect this change, Sindoll is amplifying her blessings. In past centuries, the victor received only 100,000 years of potent, divine energy. But now! Those that emerge victorious… they will earn a portion of 500,000 years!"

"Five hundred thousand…?" Lu Jade felt a shiver of delight! This news was as intoxicating as that Sunshine Wine. If this were true then… "This is fantastic! For ussss, I mean!"

His excitement was met with Raphael nodding, "I'm not gonna lie Princess, those years do sound amazing." He was tempted.

Thienika gently interrupted, "For those entering as a team, how will her blessing be distributed?" She had witnessed many attempts at fairness throughout her long life but those results were never what they intended to be.

"That's where things become tricky, venerable lady. The blessing… it will be divided EQUALLY among the victors. Therefore, fewer members mean a larger share for each." She glanced at the bull and the serpent before them, a sly smirk appearing. "Those foolish teams, eager to dominate will probably seek to fill their slots with powerful entities and spread their gifts thinly, hoping that strength in numbers will overcome skill. But a well-coordinated team with exceptional, skilled individuals has a chance of becoming the true victor, and savor more."

Her tone had Raphael tilting his head with intrigue as he began strategizing.

Lu Jade, however, was jumping up and down excitedly!

"It issss fate! Thisss newss…!"

"Settle down, Little Lu." Raphael tried calming his overly enthusiastic friend then directed his blood-soaked eyes towards QI Fenwei with a burning question: "Are all teams required to have five participants at maximum, no more, no less?" His tail swished slightly.

QI Fenwei answered, "No. The minimum is TWO, and those without full rosters simply risk spreading the rewards less. And so those teams that aren't confident in their ability or strength, they seek quantity rather than quality. Such fools! But then their blessings will be diluted. It is their choice after all, so who am I to judge their lack of skill."

"Hmm…" Thienika sipped her wine gracefully as she reflected on this new information.

"Your insight is quite revealing, young princess. Thank you." Her wrinkles and ancient silver eyes softened slightly. "Now tell me…" She glanced towards Qi Fenwei. "I assume you have a proposition for us, correct?"

"A… Proposition?" Raphael and Lu Jade repeated, confused. They hadn't considered the possibilities yet, but weren't they meant to be a team? It would appear as if their grand, wise and terrifying 'Grandma Thienika' had already formulated a plan.

"Well, little princess. Will you join our team?"

Thienika's direct question shattered their thoughts as their attention fixated on the princess, waiting, hoping!

Raphael couldn't deny her strength, they'd seen it firsthand. But her attitude…?

Lu Jade also couldn't help but dream for a moment. Those fears he harbored vanished. Such strength! She could protect them from… "If sssister attacks again, Princessss… You'll save me right?"

He'd seen how effortless her movements had been, and that blade of hers… It had a life of its own!

Their stares had the opposite effect as she simply snorted. "Join YOUR team? You… A BULL, that SERPENT… and HER?"

She rose from her seat, scoffing. "I appreciate the offer… 'Grandma Thienika', but I REFUSE!"

They watched in disappointment. Then as if those words and her dismissal hadn't cut deep enough, she elaborated further while pointing a sharp talon at each of them:

"The BULL! Hmmm, almost an Emperor, sure, but still too weak at only 1st Nightmare Calamity layer! He reeks. His ass fumes are truly potent. No thank you."

"My ASS FUMES?! Are they really that bad, Grandma?" Raphael's hooves pawed anxiously on the marble. Those insults, how familiar, how brutal they were.

Qi Fenwei ignored him then turned toward his friend who stared back in disbelief. "You… The Serpent. You're a Saint Ruler… 5th layer. Pathetic! And those sniveling noises every 5 minutes, I hate crybabies. It's unbecoming of a true warrior." She then added insult to injury, "You don't impress me, not at all!"

"That'sss not true! I am strong! Big Brother even said ssso!" He puffed out his chest in protest. "And you…! Princessss, I forced you to use your true powers! Remember!" He recalled that technique that had his scales turning pale.

Qi Fenwei merely rolled her eyes, "Tsk, that was fifteen percent of my power, snake, FIFTEEN! A mere fraction of my true essence." Her casual dismissal stung.

"And you… Grandma Thienika. Saint Ruler… 1st layer… the WEAKEST being that might enter the Great Divine Tribulation. You won't even last a minute. Hmm…" She paused, focusing her keen eyes that radiated a soft glow as if she were seeing something no one else could. Her expression hardened.

"It's far worse than I anticipated. You're essence is unstable. Unbalanced. Your strength is slowly draining." Her observations shocked Lu Jade who recoiled.

"You're… injured? She'sss dying? But how…?"

Ignoring his outburst, Qi Fenwei finished her assessment with a chilling truth.

"At this rate, she won't last another few months."

"Don't speak falsely, Princess. I'm aware of my predicament, young one, but my life isn't what matters here." Thienika glanced toward Raphael with a serene calm. "He wants me to live. Therefore I will endure."

This scene, this conversation, had a solemn, finality that hung heavy, it choked even those who thought themselves above compassion.

"Now you see," QI Fenwei interjected with annoyance and slammed the table. She watched as the bull nudged those translucent roots with a worried look.

"Clearly… your team isn't suitable… for someone… of MY caliber."

"You make it sounds as if you're the strongest! Perhaps in this tiny bird nest of yours, you are, however, what about outside? Now answer! What makes YOU… so GREAT?"

Raphael's snort came out a little too arrogantly even for himself, for it seems her insults, was bringing back his worst memories of suffering at Tajmani's hands.

"My strength? You want to see it? Well then. Prepare yourself for TRUTH, you ungrateful BULL!"

QI Fenwei's retort was fierce. She stepped forward with the grace of a dancer, every feather resonating with the might of her ancient lineage. Her aura intensified to a blinding yellow that had the nearby clouds parting with fearsome cracks.

She stood tall and her wings buzzed softly. Her eyes glinted like precious stones. And for a moment, the golden courtyard was transformed into her domain.

"My essence, its purity, has been amplified by the very winds that govern our realm. I am QI FENWEI, of the 5th Layer Nightmare Calamity Stage, for it is I who was destined to inherit the skies, I who command the Black Wind Lightning techniques of my Father!"

"My blades," she unsheathed them fully to reveal their true beauty, "Archon! Lullaby! They are weapons forged by celestial beings, gifted to my Father by the very gods themselves!"

"I'll have you know… my armor has withstood blasts even dragons tremble before, and my speed is unmatched! I dance between the cracks of reality, and feast upon the very fears of those who crawl!"

Those pronouncements, bold, arrogant and terrifying in their truth were truly frightening.

"And lastly…" she tilted her head with a coquettish tilt, "I'm quite beautiful… if I may say so myself."

Raphael couldn't utter a single retort as she continued.

"You see? You all pale in comparison. Now if you don't mind. I'll take my leave. Good luck… 'losers'."

And with a final, graceful flourish, she vanished from the Golden Prism Citadel. It was as if she'd never been there.