Chapter 0267 - Hopes and Prayers

Explosions rocked the City of Zarevo, Russia had learned its lessons about defying the Empire. When it happened, the Demon Race was quick to respond. Roads outside of the City were few, technically only three exits were available, east, west and south. All routes were blocked. Truthers had already begun to spread out, they were able to feel the emotional states of everyone around them. The Demon Race wouldn't feel fear, certainly not on Earth. Except for the Sacred scrolls of the Onmyoji, which the Empire had kept secret, nothing on the planet could cause them harm.

That is, until an outsider, a Vishnan arrived. It had attacked and without warning.

Qingchi and Ho had successfully thwarted its opening attack but the being had disappeared under the waters and into the depths of the Ocean. Neither of them had any idea where the next place to be attacked would be, Earth was more than ½ water.

There was panic in the new world senate, Russia was demanding assistance. With as big a land mass as the Siberian Tundra to search, human efforts seemed worthless or unwilling.

In Japan, at the Tower City Courtyard, a large ship appeared.

The backdoor opened and the Crimson King, Igenzo walked out with Zao Hanahaksu.

"Welcome back to Tower City, your rooms have been prepared. We are at your majesties command." Three members of the Zao Priesthood arrived quickly.

"Take us to King Ho." Hanahaksu walked with Bazingah and Igenzo. They had spent the majority of their time away from the sect and empire. The Devil's of Hell would not stay idle while they were away but by special request, Hanahaksu had been summoned by her Grandmother and Uncle.

The Priests didn't bother to answer, they turned and walked fast. When they arrived, the three priests pulled the doors open and all of them bowed.

"Ahh, dear niece, it is good to see you."

"Good to see both of you, Grandmother." Hana acknowledged her Uncle, King Ho then her Grandmother. "You couldn't solve this? I can do this but won't it be a bit overkill?"

"These people will resent you, for what you represent. You are, in their eyes, evil. Not because of your actions or even your bloodline but because you are in command of Devils. We already face problems because some people view the Demon Race as evil beings, they see Devils the same way. Its been engraved into every Culture on this Planet, Demons and Devils are things they fear across all of their kind." Calistown was human until Ooran had nearly died the first time.

"I understand the risks, so do my soldiers. However, it won't be pretty. Uncle Ho, Why can you not handle the Vishnan?" Hana was worried, she paced around the grand hall. "Were you just not its match? I don't understand, please help me."

Ying Ho's lips twisted as he made a duck face and scratched at his cheek, "My blackfire won't burn water, boil it..sure, evaporate it even.. but not burn. Lightning has no effect while he's in the water. To that end, Qingchi and I are unable to do battle with it and our forces are not up to the task, the Vishnan is at least as powerful as the both of us."

"That powerful?" Qingchi's blank expression made Hana feel the unease while she asked the question.

"We don't know when or where the next attack will be but it will be on the seaboard and once the attacks begin, it will be chaotic. Vishnans will enslave everyone, robbing them of their free will." Qingchi tossed a communications device over.

"Oh? Is this Munju's work?" Hana liked the new design.

"No, that's made by a company in Africa, we've got them cranking out a hundred thousand units a month." Qingchi seemed happy with the progress of the Humans of Earth but it was disheartening when the bombings couldn't be resolved with peace talks.

There were about a thousand companies worldwide that were splintered into researching the uses for materials. They had a limited scope of what was available so most of the work was reconfiguration of already theorized ideas and materials would be supplied as needed. The new communication devices didn't employ a crystal, they absorbed power from the wearer, which was very little and freed up resources. The yellow crystals used for communication exchange were the same material used for data storage.

"I want a group of your fastest fliers to accompany me, their only job will be to not lose sight of the Vishnan." Hana was about to finish her statement but there was a lot of noise coming from the courtyard. Nodding to Ho, the two of them locked arms and vanished from sight, teleporting the Courtyard to inspect what was going on.

A second ship, slightly smaller than Igenzos had arrived. It looked very familiar but there were signs of battle damage and stress fractures all over its exterior. The damage was out of place because none of the other ships in the Empire had damage, it was a selling point of Munjus, he based their reputation on it.

The Backdoor came down and Qingchi had already flown out, "UNCLE!" She didn't have her psychic abilities anymore but she would never forget Wu Hai's Aura.

Standing in front of her was a woman wearing white. "Qingchi! Its good to see you."

Qingchi's face tilted to the side, Wu Hai came from behind her, then Vector led Vira, Kuzunoha, Mursayade and Cheonquq out. "Wait.. What?"

"Aww, you've gotten a new body! Kuzunoha came over to Qingchi and inspected her. "Its good work."

"I'd say the same thing, what happened?" Qingchi saw the three of them, they looked like sisters, Vira's appearance had changed the most. Her skin was originally a brilliant red, now, all three of them carried a lush, soft, and slightly pink body.

The Priesthood of Zao saw Wu Hai and then Noyuki, they began to flood out of the buildings and bells rang throughout the City. Thousands of them knelt down and began to pray.

"What's with them?" Wu Hai pointed at the priests who had gathered around them.

Ho put his hands up in confusion, "They've had this idea that you're going to be the savior of men. I oversold your persona a few thousand years ago, this is what its become. Don't worry, its harmless. Moreover, why have you returned? We were not expecting you."

"We've all just broken through. We came to celebrate and see our family before it changes too much for us to recognize." Vector stayed on the ground, he felt his strength. The restrictions of the Ultinian Heavens were gone and it was winter. "I'm going to go, I'll be back."

Vector left and Mursayade remained.

"Prayers? To me?" Wu Hai looked out, he spread his wings and so did Noyuki. Kuzunoha, Vira and Mursayade lifted themselves into the air behind them.

"What are you doing?" Kuzunoha was prepared to fly away but she was waiting on Wu Hai to make a decision.

"I just wanted to see if the prayers would change." Wu Hai blinked a few times, there were a lot of voices filling his ears, it wasn't exactly a voice but a feeling a strong desire and most of them had the same plea. "Bombings?" Wu Hai looked confused, he looked over at Qingchi.

"We were in the middle of discussing everything, please, come back inside with us." Ho came up to greet his brother and saw Noyuki. "Who's this?"

Noyuki looked at Ho and laughed. "Would you believe me if I told you it'd be simpler to just call me Sister than explain?"

"I don't get it." Ho looked at Wu Hai, "Looks like you've changed.. I am not sure I like the appearance and this look won't help dissuade the Priesthood, its likely that even now they are foaming at the mouth about your arrival."

"Its okay, I think it's okay for them to do that not, not that I want blind servitude in people who believe in me." Wu Hai was about to walk in side when Ho put his hand on his shoulder, grab on to me.

Everyone put a single hand on Ying Ho, they teleported back into the grand hall. Ho sat on his throne and Qingchi beside him, "Please, have a seat. We have some pressing issues."

"The bombings?" Wu Hai asked.

"How did you know?" Ho returned a question.

"The Prayers of the Priesthood, most of them were praying for me to stop them. I could only hear them just now.. its strange, I've had this nagging feeling that for the last few months." Wu Hai spoke slowly but he really didn't know how to express what he was feeling in words. "I can hear their prayers, some of them more loudly than others."

"So you're really on it.. that path to godhood is real?"

"Parts of it, there are some details I'm not so certain of. Something is definitely there and something is definitely wrong about the whole thing." Noyuki sat down on Wu Hai's lap, it made Wu Hai stop what he was saying for a moment. "Now, tell me about these bombings. What the hell is going on?"

"Well, you came so, lets start this all over. A group calling themselves HRMM has been bombing buildings around the world, at least once a week. Their top demand is to meet you personally, we've captured one of their members, he's not only confirmed it but told us that they plan to kill you. I don't have more specifics, they don't belong to a single nation but most of the members are former citizens of China. They are extremely pissed about the destruction of their homeland." Qingchi listened as Ho reiterated everything once more.

A knock came on the chamber doors, it was one of the Priests and he was followed by Ying Wu. "Mother, the attackers killed themselves to avoid capture." Three bodies appeared on the tiled floor.

"Do you have a way to contact these terrorists? I mean, they've asked for a meeting, did they give a place to meet?" Wu Hai questioned Qingchi.

Ying Wu burst into rage and flew toward Wu Hai with a blade in his hand, "Don't ever interrupt the Matriarch again. Next time, it will be your head."

Wu Hai laughed, he put his hand up, silencing Qingchi. He knew she was about to interrupt. "You have spirit, but I'm afraid you're small potatoes compared to your Mother." He winked at Qingchi, she shook her head in grievance and knew that her Uncle was playing with Wu's emotions.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" The sword pushed into Wu Hai's neck but no matter how hard Ying Wu pushed, he couldn't draw blood. "What are you?" Withdrawing, he stood and looked to his mother. "Who is this?"

"You don't recognize me?" Wu Hai laughed.

"Should I?" Ying Wu pointed his sword at Wu Hai's eye.

Bazingah looked to Hanahaksu, "Mother, what is going on? Who is that?"

Wu Hai had already caught the tip with his fingers, "I am Zao, Founder of the Empire." Wu Hai stood up, he still had the tip in between his thumb and forefinger. "Is this how you greet all guests?"

Ying Wu put his sword away and scoffed. "Why have you come?"

"Wu, sit down." Qingchi shared her embarrassment at Wu's actions and told him to take a seat.

"These bombers, can you contact them?" Wu Hai waved the conversation just then away and sat back down, releasing Wu's sword. "If so, we should get to it. I don't like the idea of people dying under my protection. If I have arrived at time when I am needed, I will face it head on."

"We have the projection system in place, but.." Qingchi paused. "We have more pressing matters, a Vishnan has appeared on Earth."

"Vishnan?" Wu Hai knew about them, he even had the ability to become one, when he thought about what it was going to do, he stood up again.