The Creatures that We Are

Without thinking, Old Seven yanked the alarm trigger at his waist.

Ring—ring—ring—

The first-level alert blared through the base. Old Seven, First Firelord, Nomad, and Flower scrambled back, putting thirty meters between themselves and the elevator. They braced for a fight.

Amon appeared with other members in tow. "What's happening?"

"Possible invasion!" Old Seven's voice cracked. He aimed shaking fingers at the elevator, ready to unleash air bullets.

"Battle stations!" Amon barked. Everyone took position.

Gripping her boomerang, Amon's mind whirred. If it were the Nine Scions or Zodiac Signs, Madam Li would've sensed it. This meant either a false alarm or minimal casualties...

Ding.

The elevator doors inched open.

There, alone, stood Gao Yang—leader of the Nine Scions.

The lanky boy, not yet nineteen, exuded authority. His black trenchcoat and tied-back hair accentuated his sharp features and an icy gaze. At his feet sat a reddish-brown briefcase, filled with flyers.

He didn’t seem to be here to fight.

"Now!"

Amon reacted first, hurling her boomerang. She couldn't win alone, but she could buy time for the Union's heavyweights to arrive.

Others followed suit, unleashing a barrage of attacks.

Clink, clink. Clang.

Black Gold weapons, energy bullets, and elemental assaults crashed against a translucent golden barrier. Inside, Gao Yang tilted his chin. A gust ruffled his coat and hair.

Flap. The flyers in the briefcase flew into the air and filled the elevator. Gao Yang looked like a fallen angel standing amid scattering white feathers. He looked at all of them and curled his lips into a "friendly" sneer, which sent a shudder down everyone's spine and cooled their blood.

Two seconds later, Gao Yang vanished—it was, in fact, merely a double of his. He had sent his double into the base with Invisibility and Intangibility.

As soon as the double vanished, and the Absolute Barrier dissolved, the flyers flew out of the elevator and poured into the office hall like startled doves. Ŗã𐌽ỔＢĘṥ

Everyone gave the flyers a wide berth, not daring to touch any of them. However, the flyers seemed harmless as they fell to the floor.

The writing on them drew their eyes.

Old Seven was no exception. He looked down and read the flyer. It was a challenge.

"Here's Guildmaster!"

Only after someone shouted that did everyone in the office hall sigh in relief.

Qilin came over with his Black Gold cane alongside Surnamed Li in her automatic wheelchair. Trailing after them were Colorless, Qin You, and One Stone.

The others made way for them.

Qilin was calm. He had detected the flyers with his willpower. They were regular sheets of paper that posed no danger.

He lifted a hand and caught one of the flyers flying past him.

...

To all members of the Ocean River Union.

Your leaders Qilin and Surnamed Li have long turned away from what is just and committed great sins. While they retain the body of a human, they have long lost the soul of one.

Their crimes are as follows.

First, Qilin has long been in cahoots with a pride monster. Elder Yan Liang is Observer Sir Jiang in disguise with the ability, Pride Space. His answer is to destroy the Gates of Closure and eliminate the only hope for humanity's survival.

Second, Vermilion Bird, having found out the truth, met an unfortunate fate of being rendered vegetative at Qilin's hands. The Nine Scions are treating her at the moment.

Third, Qilin openly broke the peace treaty and initiated a sneak attack against the neutral party, the Twelve Zodiac Signs, destroying the Millennium Tower in an attempt to kill all members.

Fourth, to eliminate any discord, Surnamed Li had framed Gao Yang as the Malediction and used her closest confidant Chen Ying, getting the third team killed in the process. Moreover, she planned the attack at the Starcatching Pavilion with no mercy. Her cruelty is unimaginable.

The four crimes are all supported by concrete evidence. We stand upright and just, and we welcome anyone to look for the truth in any way.

We hope that you will come to your senses sooner rather than later and stop helping the villains in their wrongdoings. Stop going after your own kind against the will of the heavens.

Finally, we challenge those on the side of Qilin and Surnamed Li to a battle to put an end to their villainy and insidious ambitions. We wish to lead all fellow awakeners out of the mist to welcome the dawn.

The just will triumph over the wicked. The light does not fear the shadow.

The brave will forge a way. We make our destiny.

Qingying Bridge, early morning the day before the Lunar New Year's Eve.

What say you, Qilin and Surnamed Li?

Nine Scions & Twelve Zodiac Signs.

…

Qilin swiftly scanned the challenge, his glasses catching the light. His expression remained impassive.

As he read, others had retrieved flyers, either from the floor or mid-air. Their reactions varied widely: derision, shock, stoicism, skepticism, terror, concern...

Whispers erupted among close confidants, and soon the office hall buzzed with chaotic murmurs.

Surnamed Li, donning her reading glasses, perused the flyer Colorless handed her. Her calm demeanor betrayed the counterarguments already forming in her mind for each listed crime.

But a more pressing matter demanded her attention. She looked up at the man beside her. "Shall we accept the challenge, Guildmaster Qilin?"

Qilin let the flyer slip from his long fingers.

"Of course."

Adjusting his glasses, he raised his voice.

"The just will triumph over the wicked. The light does not fear the shadow. It's time we settle things with the Malediction."

Houseau3's Thoughts

The boy's got style.

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