Pre-War Arc pt. 2

"That movie was pretty good. If I hadn't grown up in the zombie apocalypse, I would have found it disturbing." Said Amber.

"Why do we always need to fight God factions?" asked Tengyi, " Bughuul, Set, now the God of Abraham and all of his fucking angels."

Lingyue placed a hand on Tengyi, and he took a deep breath. "How do we kill the angels?" she asked.

"The lower ones that possess humans, kill their host. But the higher angels... we need to take their weapons. Only their weapons can kill them. " Tie Ta explained.

The Team groaned in response.

"That's an absurd fucking cheat." said Yinkong "do they have light powers too?"

"They have angelic magic. Warriors tempered since the beginning of time. And they are ruthless against lesser creatures like us." said Tie Ta

"So kinetic weapons for the lesser angels. High energy weapons against the higher angels, along with strong melee weapons." Yinkong analyzed the situation.

" Nearly 8 days left. You all know what you need to work on. You will be following my orders, but when the siege happens. There won't be much room for formations."

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Things were pretty tense in the GOD Dimension after the last team meeting. Lingyue had gone into closed-door training. Yinkong, Ouyang Di, and Ahmanet were training together and working to use synchronized magic. Tengyi had a secret skill he was training as well.

Tie Ta took the time to make arrows for Heng. Though Tie Ta used his telekinesis and it wasn't much work at all. When he was finished, he went to his room to find Amber and Reika training. Reika had been pushing herself after Tie Ta shattered her Psi attacks back in the Dark Universe.

Tie Ta decided to leave them be. He created another lower level and designed it as a cultivation room. He then pulled the Yellow Emperors' book from the Pendant of Shezmu.

'I have spiritual power, life and death energy, and body essence of a stage one Tyrant Ghoul.' thought Tie Ta, " I can disregard the ghoul, but it would help if the later stages would cultivate the soul.'

'Four Guardians Sutra'

'Blood Moon's Lament.'

'Nine Revolving Suns'

'hmmm. This looks promising. The Hymn of Ypdona.'

The Hymn of Ypdona was peculiar. It was composed of 13 sections. Dropping to the lotus position, Tie Ta read through the first sections with laser focus. The first section, like most cultivation manuals, was comprised of body transformation.

To undergo body transformation is to refine the body through Qi, meaning that one has to endure the screeching pain of refining one's organs and bones to the point that it becomes tough and thoroughly washed.

Body transformation consisted of three realms. The first realm consisted of seven stages: Strength Training, Flesh Training, Viscera Training, Altering Muscle, Bone Forging, Pulse Condensation, and Tempering Marrow.

When Tie Ta started, he wasn't surprised that he was already at flesh training. Reciting the Hymn in his mind, Tie Ta's Qi came to life and danced to the rhythm of the hymn. The hymn guided the qi along the pathways and refinement of the flesh.

The beginning was soothing. Tie Ta felt as if he could breathe from all of his pores. The sensation soon ended and was replaced by a stinging pain. But it was pain far below Tie Ta's tolerance.

Tie Ta soon jumped from one stage to another. Only to be held up at Bone Foraging. His Qi storage was low, and due to his identity as a battle-hardened stage 1 tyrant ghoul, his bones were damn near metallic and required lots of Qi to refine.

When Tie Ta stopped his recitation of the Hymn, his Qi settled down, and his eyes gently opened. He took a deep breath then his brow furrowed.

He looked at himself and noticed a thin layer of pungent impurities that were pressed from his pores during cultivation.

After a hot shower, Tie Ta wandered his room and stepped out into the lobby to see that everyone had gone to bed. Tie Ta sighed and decided to continue his preparations until he was too tired to do so.

He spent four hours storing energy into the belt of both the wise. He then ate meat that he had in storage until his stomach wouldn't take any more.

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Sometime later, Tie Ta had lumps of Uru in his lab, along with drawings of weapons he was preparing to create. Tie Ta figured now was as good a time as any to make magic tools for his team.

With tomes from the Dark Universe, Tie Ta found the most suitable enchantments and used Alpha Stigma to understand the magical constructs within the tomes.

"What are you doing?" asked Reika.

Tie Ta looked up with scrutinizing eyes. He then glanced at the time and noticed that he had lost hours of time.

"I'm trying to teach myself how to construct magical items. I have magic that I don't use in battle. So I figured it was time I found a use for it." Tie Ta explained.

"Well, I made breakfast for everyone. So, come join us, please," said Reika.

"Of Course, just give me a moment to finish up," he replied.

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-Team Breakfast-

"There he is!" the team called out as Tie Ta arrived.

Tie Ta flashes a small smile as he finds his seat. But to everyone's surprise. He pats Wutong on the shoulders then moves him to the head of the table.

Once Tie Ta is seated, he pulls meat from the platter made for the Ghouls.

"What's happening, Boss?" asked Wutong.

Tie Ta cut a piece of meat then forked it to his mouth. He then shrugged his shoulder with a faint laugh. "Eat," he said.

Tie Ta had to carry the conversation until the team loosened up. When breakfast was over, Tie Ta kept to his nonchalant ways and told everyone that Wutong would be leading the next mission.

"Bullshit, he isn't even a stage 2 player," said Yinkong.

"So, what? It's what I have decided," said Tie Ta.

"Boss, I think Yinkong is right on this one," added Wutong.

"tsk. Tsk. Tsk." Tie Ta shook his head, "All of the suggestions and now that you have a chance to lead, you doubt yourself."

The air went cold, and everyone became nervous. Tie Ta tapped the table methodically. "fine." he said.

The team looked at each other in confusion.

"Zhuiyu will lead the next mission. Study hard and plan for everything." Tie Ta put his napkin over his plate and stood up.

The moment he walked down starts the table exploded with conversation. Some looked to Ahmanet and Reika for answers, while others told Zhuiyu that she had to go tell Tie Ta that she couldn't do it.

Reika rolled her eyes as she grew annoyed at the bickering of the children. She raised her hand, and the room went quiet.

"Zhuiyu?" asked Reika.

"Y-yes, ma'am."

"Tie Ta went through two missions and 100 days in resident evil before he met everyone here and fought Bughuul. He then survived and managed to get us two years in Dark Universe, where everyone has trained. Lingyue, Yinkong, Wutong, and Ouyang Di, all held leadership positions in their perspective factions. So, are you, an inexperienced green player, ready to lead us into a mission that might be all-out war?"

Zhuiyu thought of the question, and she wanted to say no. But she was an ambitious woman. Ahmanet and Reika were queens. Amber was already treated like a Princess. She wanted to be treated the same.

Zhuiyu knew her appointment was to spite Wutong for turning down Tie Ta's offer. But she had no idea when she would get a second chance to show her abilities.

"I am," said Zhuiyu with full confidence.

Reika glanced at Ahmanet, and the two women left the room together. Wutong then instinctively told Yinkong to help Heng clean up as Zhuiyu now had other responsibilities.

"No, Wutong." said Yinkong, "You help him clean."

Yinkong smacked her plate, and the uneaten food scattered across the table as she left the room. Team China was now tense.

"Brother, I know you don't want to seem ambitious. But, Tie likes you. And you disappointed him, this time. And honestly, I don't think he'll give you a second." said Lingyue as she got up. She then reached out, and Tengyi took her hand.

Lingyue led Tengyi to the door and called out before she left, "You better hope that girl succeeds."

"Xu Yinkong admires her older brother. She wants her man to be like him. She did not protest for you or because it was you. She wants opportunities, but she wants to see you fighting for opportunities, as well. Opportunities we all know you deserve." Said Ouyang Di.

"What should I do?" asked Wutong.

Ouyang Di looked to Zhuiyu then back at Wutong. "You should help her. This isn't politics. You can't undermine the winner in this line of work. You do that, we die. So you have no choice but to help her. Or you can go tell the boss that he's made a mistake."

Wutong sighed, and Di patted him on the shoulder. Di then looked at Heng and gestured for him to start cleaning.

Qin Zhuiyu rose from her seat and then went to find Tie Ta but was stopped on the second floor.

"What are you doing?" asked Ahmanet.

"I-I was going to find the Boss. I wanted to see if there was anything I should know before planning this mission." Zhuiyu replied.

Ahmanet stepped closer to the girl then sniffed her. Zhuiyu was so nervous that her body trembled. She then flinched once she felt Ahmanet's warm moist tongue lick the side of her face and tasted her lips.

Ahmanet hummed at the taste. She looked Zhuiyu in the eyes, then said, "You understand your Boss, but you do not understand the man. Keep it to business. For your safety."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Ahmanet then gestured and told Zhuiyu to go on. As Zhuiyu made it to the fifth and lowest floor, she saw Tie Ta quietly cultivating as a cauldron of Uru was being melted down.

Not wanting to interrupt Tie Ta, Zhuiyu took a seat and waited. Hours went by as Tie Ta grew a cacoon of impurities as he stepped into the Pulse Condensation stage and began refining his meridians.

When Tie Ta was finished, he showered then checked the cauldron of Uru. It was nearly completed melted. Tie Ta reworked the magic circle, and the flame became more intense.

"Patience is good. You hone that skill. Even when your people are in danger, that patience will ground you and help you think. So why are you here?" asked Tie Ta.

"I want to know why you're having someone else lead the mission?"

"Why do armies have multiple ranking officers?" Tie Ta asked in turn.

Zhuiyu seemed to understand, and Tie Ta was pleased that she did.

"Next mission, more newbies will arrive. Only this time, we have to bring them into the fold for the same reason I wanted Wutong to lead."

"The enemy team," said Zhuiyu.

"Yes, you will need to handle the movie mission. I will handle the enemy team. So tell me what you need to plan for." said Tie Ta.

"Ummm, protection. Newbies and movie cast. First Aid guarantees survival. Ummm."

Tie Tainternally groaned because of the idiot Wutong. "You need to plan locations. At least what you can without being in the movie. You need to plan event sequences, cause, and effect. Canon plot and ways to skew the plot to our advantage. What else?"

"U-uumm." Zhuiyu stammered.

"Start with what you have. Once you get started, it'll all flow. Lingyue and Tengyi take care of assets. You leave them alone. She is cultivating, and Tengyi is working on a project for me. You will go learn everyone else's jobs and plan accordingly."

"Yes, Boss," Zhuiyu replied, then she was shooed away.

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The following days, Zhuiyu scurried to and fro. Planning and learned everything she could for the mission.

Meanwhile, Tie Ta worked diligently to construct magical items. When Tengyi had finally accomplished what Tie Ta had assigned, Tie Ta was better able to inscribe enchantments based on the Enochian inscriptions seen on the Archangel Michael's blade in the movie.

"Are you sure this is what you saw?" Tie Ta asked Tengyi.

"Positive, Boss," said Tengyi " They use Enochian as a base for all of their religious effects. And surprisingly, it's not a bunch of jibberish."

"What do you mean?"

"Liber Logaeth and the Mysteriorum Libri Quinque. Two Enochian books. The inscriptions on the blade are composed of both books." Explained Tengyi.

Tie Ta thanked Tengyi, then sent him on his way.

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-Day of the Mission-

Tie Ta was sitting alone in the lobby, having a mental conversation with GOD.

'Haha, you don't have to be a bitch about it." said Tie Ta.

"Huh!? You're just an ungrateful little swine!" GOD replied, "And if you want those heavenly herbs, you'll have to pay my price."

"Tsk, you're so petty. If I didn't know better, I would think you were a child." Tie Ta chided it, " Has Lingyue asked for any heavenly resources, yet?"

"No, she hasn't. I've been watching her. The Technique you gave may be a little too hard for her."

"What do you mean?"

"She is still at Bone Forging stage. The intensity of the body transformation is beyond torture," said GOD.

"She can handle it. As a vampire, people will know her bodily strength and act accordingly. So she needs an even stronger body to protect her neck and heart. And what did I say about my team? Mind your business."

GOD scoffed, "If you weren't a scheming prick, we could have been friends."

"No, like Jie. You're hiding things from me. The only difference is, I can't kill you yet."

"Hmm. I guess it's time that I tell you about the Enemy Team... Team North America. I thought it would be fitting since you'll be in their territory."

Before Tie Ta could reply. GODs automated voice sounded through the Dimension.

"Enter the beams within thirty seconds. Target locked. Beginning teleportation to Legion..."