~It's the Final Countdooown~
Final stretch, moment of truth, etc. Not only are we carrying the hopes of this Age, but all of those who came before. Was anyone ever this close? Did anyone ever have the opportunity to strike against the Fates themselves? Can their servants, Overlords of a previous Age, watch us from on high? We are doing it, using the gifts of the self-styled Divinities to bring them down, to sate our Vengeance. It's time.
For seventy-seven days the Nameless One toiled, crafting a suit of armor as the world had never before seen. Deep in the fires of his man-cave he labored to forge a master-weapon, vessel by which Might itself could be imbued into a willing subject. Into this work he poured his sloth, his decadence, and his desire to procrastinate on all things...
But first, humorous narration! It's a shame we will never get one of those we make an actual Ring, it'd probably be an way better spoof. If only we'd actually pour Spoiled into it...
The elevation of a loyal ally to a realm even higher than his own would justify his indolence even as it bound them to his cause utterly.
Man, we are getting a real bad rep here. It's efficient! Elegant! Inspired! Not something that merely "justifies our indolence". Bah!
One suit to doom the Fates, one suit to find them, one suit to bring them all, in darkness forevermore confine them. In the land of his man-cave where the five-o' clock shadow lies...
Hey, we aren't using the Suit to find them at all! I demand a refund! I want a better Ring poem! Suit Poem? Whatever!
Nameless looked up from his anvil. "Stop narrating."
From insatiable teaser to frequent victim, married life has changed Nameless much. He finally has someone that annoys him just as much as he annoys everybody else! Truly a Tribulation for our intrepid hero.
Aurelia pouted. "You didn't like my impression?"
"I should never have showed you those movies. The books were better."
Good to see Nameless and Aurelia spending leisure time together. It humanizes their relationship a lot more and shows that they actually treasure each other's company. It's the sort of relationship Titanic Cultivators may never have, and sometimes willingly give up for more power. The privilege of not being bound to any one Way. All Paths may have been the best thing we purchased this whole Quest.
"But they're adorable, just like me!" She struck a cutesy pose.
"You're not Galadriel," he said patiently. "For one thing, she's even older than you are."
"Of course!" She exclaimed pertly. "That old hag can't hold a candle to me. I'm beautiful, wise, a natural genius & beloved by all!"
"At least Galadriel needed the Ring to go on an ego trip."
"Merely another point in my favor," She said haughtily, splaying fingers across her chest so that Majesty glinted in the forge-light.
Lol, Nameless forgetting she already has a Ring. And I agree with her, she's way better then Galadriel. She's actually useful and can actually use her supposedly awesome powers on-screen, for starters!
"I see a few weeks without my undivided attention has driven you mad. Is it grief? Worry not, I'm almost finished."
"May I see?" She peeked tentatively over his shoulder. "I wonder what my Dao shall be..."
Does the spiritual perfection of undiminished Elves affect their possible Reality Effects in any way, I wonder? It's part the reason why they can't Cultivate, so what would it do when forcibly elevated to a level beyond a Titan?
"Dao of ripping off Cate Blanchett?"
"Dao of making you a sandwich!" She crammed a sandwich into his mouth.
"Dwao ofh Narchichissm." He methodically chewed and swallowed. Truth be told, it was extremely delicious.
"Dao of being a wonderful & loving wife, princess, and (eventual) mother!"
"...You don't need a Dao for that."
Aurelia blushed. "Darling has been working too hard. Come here, I have a surprise for you..."
Nameless uses Compliment! It's super effective! Critical Hit!
More seriously, their banter is always very cute.
...Eventually, despite interminable distractions, the Nebula Battlesuit was finally completed.
Bow chicka bow wow.
Nameless gazed upon his magnum opus with no small satisfaction. Its thunderhead-grey surface was inscribed with tightly packed sigils of the Diagram, sharp menace apparent in every meticulously-calligraphed line and dot, and all but glowering with the blue of Truth, a subdual emanation more hum than glare. She who donned its mantle would be dystopia made flesh, the iron fist of his policy, her boot stomping on the face of the so-called Divines for all eternity.
Man, this really looks like the armor the Evil Overlord's chief underling. It makes anyone into the equivalent of our very own Darth Vader! With the looks to match, no less. Could we really have made any other choice? It's a classic for a reason, people!
He was famished, his essence depleted, mind and marrow entombed by weariness. His hammer fell from nerveless fingers and was replaced by the Scepter in a tenuous grip. He made his way to the staging area where Suizhen had captured innumerable Titanic beasts in preparation for this day. Their cultivation bases would feed him, restore him to the fullness of his power, and he never intended to work so hard again.
Come on, motivate yourself a little more, Nameless! You are so close!
In other news, Suizhen stronk. Herding a group of innumerable Titanic beasts like they are cattle. Man, she's grown so much. Also, the Scepter continues to be fucking amazing. Flawless transfer of essence is OP; imagine it with EFB Distillation! Unlimited Essence Works, people.
While the elven empire had experienced a renaissance under an aegis of unimpeachable might, the Empire of his birth was spinning out of control like a top knocked free of its axis. The meandering pace of disintegration, once so leisurely as to be almost unnoticeable, had accelerated to a precarious rate. Instability visibly frayed the exterior seams of empire; Overgrowth, banditry, and inter-sect strife claimed lives without surcease, and yet Yong Shen did nothing. Like as not the Emperor welcomed death, and the people cried out for a savior.
Wow, that was a quick escalation; not surprising considering the active efforts of Yong Liefang, but still. It seems that despite our culling of the Overgrowth, it's still a major problem. Even worse is that apathetic Emperor; how much easier would our job be if he gave even a single fuck.
One was forthcoming, but the Overlord would not countenance her rise.
Just Shoot them was clearly the more pragmatic option, one that did not risk defeat by playing a rigged game; I'm glad it won. Now, for Vengeance.
If an empire's strength was its cultivators, then the Labyrinth had already been gutted. Zang Kong slumbered, Yong Shen was silent, and the Emperor was a hollow shell of a man. None could save the nation if it plummeted much further along its current course, and only the Emperor was obligated to try. There was the titan of the Sects blithely conquering her rivals, but Nameless had little idea of her disposition and a singular stage I Titan was not power enough to stand against the Fates.
How petty does the affairs of the Empire seem from our lofty perch; people fighting and killing for the supremacy of a decadent Age, puppets in the strings of the Fates. It's tragic, and almost amusing. Even more so for it's frequency, for how many Ages had such turmoil, such bloodshed, before they were snuffed out? It's a surprising cruelty, to give false hope to another.
But he was not out of time yet. The Labyrinth Empire could, by virtue of its sheer enormous inertia, stumble on for two to three more years even if its collapse accelerated according to his worst estimates. The Dao Reserve of Yong would or would not move, but a Clan was more than its Dao Reserve. Even if the mountain stood still, to press against it was folly.
No such thing as too big to fail, sadly. Hope fully this last breath of the giant gives us enough time. Yong might just be the anchor of the Empire here, which makes Yong Liefang's machinations all the more concerning.
Nameless would not give the fates two years. He would not give the Heroine the chance to awaken with the nations of the world like punch-drunk servants toppled at her feet. One month to finish his preparations. One month to marshal all his powers, and then the forces of the Overlord would spring out from the West to bring earth and Heaven alike under his thrall.
Can't win a game if you are dead, a flawless maxim. Strike where and when they least expect it.
He found Suizhen in the training yards, practicing as she so often did.
"Sir!" She sprang over, alight with excitement. "Is it ready?"
He schooled his features into careful dejection. "Suizhen. I'm sorry... I failed. It was too hard. I gave up."
Now, Nameless, that's just cruel. It's like kicking a puppy, it's just so eager to trust you.
She gasped, dumbstruck. "S-sir..." Her blade fell from listless hands.
But before it could strike the ground, she'd already recovered, steely determination flashing in her eyes.
"Don't worry Sir, I will just train even harder! Titanic Ascension isn't far. I'll reach however many stages it takes to protect you!"
Suizhen's determination is admirable, really. When the might works of her charge fail, she doesn't even hesitate to pick up the slack herself; If she applies this diligence to other fields, I'm sure she could make an admirable ruler.
Nameless shook his head. "No, I truly have failed... in raising a bodyguard that can detect even the simplest of scams!"
He chortled, withdrawing the Nebula Battlesuit. "Behold, the solution to all our problems! Well, until someone tries to sell you a bridge..."
I guess we will just do things the hard way for once, eh Nameless? Imagine actually teaching someone the old fashioned way; I know it's hard for you, but we can manage it together.
Suizhen stamped the ground petulantly. "Sir, that is not fair! I have been improving, Sir knows it. I was just so worried about Sir!"
"And that is precisely when your enemies will strike," Nameless lectured. "Illusion and deception are two distinct things. Your eyes can pierce the former, but the latter relies on cunning alone."
"The latter relies on an open mouth," Suizhen declared confidently. "And my Sword shall solve that before they can utter a word. Speaking of which, who shall we strike first, Sir? Zang Kong, or the Heavens?"
So cute!
Also, Suizhen seems familiar with the classic murderhobo solution already, but it's far from flawless. You have to actually know they are an enemy, for one, otherwise you will remain completely oblivious. It's not always clear you need to roll Join Battle, you know?
Nameless pointed skyward. "I'd like to remove their interference as soon as possible. We also have to worry about people prematurely waking your Patriarch, which is why I'll be on alert as soon as you set off. Once my preparations are complete, I should be able to keep the Elven Kingdom alive even if he wipes out the rest of the world. Afterwards, we'll decide what to do with Zang Kong."
Yeah, stopping a premature awakening of Zang Kong is priority number zero; It makes our lives far more complicated. Good thing we truespelled Open the Way!
Suizhen shifted uncomfortably. "Sir already knows my feelings on the matter."
"Yes," Nameless nodded. "I'm strongly inclined to let you cut him down. But the trillions dwelling within him are innocent, if they exist as he claims. I'd like to avoid obliterating them. There's no telling what will happen if we take out the sky over their heads. He was a hopeful idealist once. If rehabilitation is possible, I'd like to attempt it."
Ah, the very annoying wonders of unverifiable hostage taking. If only I knew how to find that baby armor comic panel, you know the one I'm talking about. Very ballsy, in a sense.
Suizhen smiled sadly. "Now who is the one being scammed? The Patriarch of my clan is an idealist still. He has simply discarded every part of himself that is not the ideal. How many has he murdered in pursuit of his goals? Did he show them the mercy that Sir now extends?"
The perils of Titanic Cultivation; slowly becoming a mockery of yourself, increasingly bound, increasingly inflexible, until you can see nothing but your Dao. Ideal given form. And humans, humans are very far from the ideal.
Nameless nodded in resignation. "If his head is the price of your blade, then I won't stand in the way of your vengeance. Say the word and his life is forfeit."
She pouted. "Without Sir the prospect of my vengeance would be an empty dream. If Sir asks it, I will of course defer to your judgement in this. How can there be things such as prices and favors between us?"
"Ah, trying to get out of the money you owe me? Maybe you're not so hopeless after all..."
"As a bodyguard, I have to be a quick learner. It's because my boss is so lazy."
So, due to her loyalty, the choice is ours. To kill or to spare. To slay the greatest hero of the Age of Might or to preserve him for the times to come. To serve our friendship, or serve our morals, shriveled and meager as they are.
Also, it's a touching moment and a symbol of the evolution of our friendship that she is willing to do away with any price tags. She isn't doing this out of any sort of obligation anymore.
As for the Fates, their destiny is pre-ordained, extermination or worse at Suizhen's hand. Star and firmament alike yields to the Sky-Splitting Blade; your teacher's vengeance will be realized at last. Assuming you don't screw up at this final juncture.
Hah, to have the Fates themselves face an inescapable doom. How ironic.
But Zang Kong: once Hero of the Age, once a man you could easily have found it within yourself to admire, now twisted into the monster at the Overgrowth's center, the Elder Beast of Reason. Having seen both his past and present selves, there are perhaps none so qualified as Nameless to deliver the verdict: what must be done with Zang Kong?
Man, it really is just such a stark contrast, isn't it? Someone once so vivacious and with stars on his eyes reduced so such a sorry state; not a man, but a Elder Beast of Reason, abandoning any pretense to the contrary. how far one can fall in the pursuit of Might.
