Chapter 24: A Dream

"Hey Hunter," Feng Biao said as he pushed open the door to their shared room.

"How'd it go?" Hunter lazily spoke under bedsheets.

"Not bad, Song Zhilan explained the situation pretty well," Feng Biao said going to brush his teeth.

"I'm a reasonable guy, explain it to me so I don't have to think you're a total retard," Hunter replied.

"Zhang Fang, we have an issue," Tang Ruolan said to a seated Zhang Fang.

"Hmm?" he said as he continued filling in reports.

"That combat demonstration between the HCF and the FSA, two members of the Steele family have been swapped in," Tang Ruolan said as she tore a paper off her PDS that held the relevant information.

"Then we'll have to be extra vigilant. Make sure you draft up a plan for how we make sure the FSA doesn't end up in any unfortunate incidents," Zhang Fang said still filling in reports that needed to be filled.

"More work..." Tang Ruolan sighed. She then reached for a snack, but upon seeing how pudgy her hand was looked down at herself. Once she had been skinny, and men had found her irresistible. She had enjoyed the attention but never focused on it.

Then work brought stress and she ate to alleviate the stress and then she noticed she was gaining weight, which brought even more stress. It was a never-ending cycle that she felt trapped in.

Could she change back to her previous self? Expensive procedures to make one skinny existed, but did she even want to? Eating the sugary snack that brought her no joy Tang Ruolan wondered what she even worked for.

"Well it still sounds like a terrible idea to continue trying to bang her," Hunter said after Feng Biao had finished explaining the entire story Song Zhilan had told him.

"I'm not trying to have sex with Song Zhilan," Feng Biao said as he glared at Hunter.

"Oh, didn't know you played for the other team. That kinda makes this whole setup more awkward for me," Hunter said as he pulled his blanket closer to himself.

"Fuck off," Feng Biao said as he continued to fire back, "if anything it's fishy that you were the one who asked another guy to bunk in your dorm."

"Haha, got me there. Yeah, I'm as gay as you. So let's both just forget about pretty ladies with husbands, huh?" Hunter said as he stood up and began making exaggerated kissing noises towards Feng Biao.

"Hands off!" Feng Biao screeched as Hunter had made his way to his bed and began grappling with him. The two began wrestling on the bed, smashing the wall as Hunter continued to make his dramatic kissing noises.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" a voice from somewhere across the walls that surrounded them resounded.

The two froze before they burst out laughing covering their mouths to stifle the sound of their laughter. When they calmed down Hunter whispered towards Feng Biao

"So why are you really talking to Song Zhilan despite all that baggage she's carrying?"

"Don't you think boys and girls can just be friends?"

"No," Hunter said as he shook his head, "unless you're an ascetic. Casual friends or co-workers, sure. I just don't think it's possible for a guy and a girl to hang around each other for a long time without somebody developing feelings."

"I don't think so. People can be more mature than biology," Feng Biao replied.

"Well, dig your own grave on that front, dude. Come on, let's get some sleep."

Which the two promptly did. Disagreeing on the fundamentals of a male and a female relationship. Still, upon awaking the next morning Hunter had quietly conceded he wouldn't run away if Song Zhilan tried to hang out with the two of them.

The following days were much the same, Feng Biao trained non-stop and paid attention to the lessons he was taught. It seemed like Song Zhilan had much the same schedule, although where she trained seemed to differ from his own location.

Hunter meanwhile seemed to be relaxing, or as he called it, "taking a break". Things had gotten to such a steady pace Feng Biao finally reached Ascending Mortal one evening after a month of training.

Hunter was there to witness the advancement and immediately showed excitement for Feng Biao.

"Hey man, this is a big fucking deal. Once you lay down your Divine Foundation stuff gets real fucking trippy, just sit down and let it happen."

"Yeah, Tang Ruolan said something about that, but she didn't elaborate. And the PDS wouldn't give me info, what happens when you lay your Divine Foundation?"

"Well-"

But before Hunter could continue a golden square formed in the corner of Feng Biao's vision. When he focused on it he noticed it grew, so he attempted to grab it. However, he couldn't find the strength to lift his arm.

His arm? Who was he? Looking down Feng Biao found his body was now that of an exceedingly fit individual who wore an absurd amount of gold jewelry. That golden square was now a shining golden floor.

He sat in on a giant golden throne. Surrounding him were people, thousands, all in a state of excess hedonism. This was their reward, they had been good in life and deserved to be rewarded. Occasionally he saw things that weren't people, gods.

It was easy to distinguish between the two. Humans did not shine as brightly as gods. Although, no god shined as brightly as him.

Looking up he saw the infinite expanse he had created. When he had created that marvel the people and the gods alike had questioned how. Truthfully he was unsure himself.

Him from before and him from now, were they the same? He had heard humans died when they slept. Or at least their sense of self did. Looking at his hands he held a golden goblet, if he stopped, could things be different? Could he be different?

Maybe, but he deserved to treat himself. Defeating the apocalypse over and over had grown stressful. His lips drank the liquid, his mind became more clouded than the very peak he sat on top of.

One day he would be as good as he used to be, but for now, he would enjoy himself. He was king of the gods, and that would never change.

Feng Biao awoke to Hunter's face. Looking around he found himself back in their shared dorm room.

"So how was it?" Hunter asked a groggy Feng Biao.

"Trippy."

"I bet, what was yours about?"

"I was Indra? I'm pretty sure. Umm, it's strange my memories of being him are fading like it was a dream..." Feng Biao said as he rubbed his temple.

"Better hurry and record em', that kinda info can be important."

"Yeah, I'll get to that," Feng Biao said he pulled out his PDS and focused on what being Indra had told him about Indra.