Chapter 42: No Future

"How would I know? I don't keep track of that kind of stuff." Shuten-Douji said incredulously.

'He's really laid back...'

"You did want to go up the mountain, right?"

"Huh?" Feng Biao replied.

"I took you up the mountain. That's the direction you were running in originally."

"Yeah, that's great actually."

'Huh, no way!'

Looking around Feng Biao realized they were at the peak of the mountain. Shuten-Douji had carried Feng Biao all the way up to the top of the mountain.

"Friend, you have a serious problem."

"The Black Oni? I know, I'll have to deal with him somehow."

"No friend. I'm talking about your Mark. It's empty," Shuten-Douji said looking sympathetically at Feng Biao.

"What does that mean? You've said that before."

"I couldn't really remember how that happens when I saw your Mark. But after you fell asleep I remembered," Shuten-Douji said scratching his head before continuing.

"Friend, have you made your Divinity mad?"

"I don't think so," Feng Biao said confused.

"Well, that's how you get an empty Mark. If your Divinity abandons you."

'I've never read about this...'

"Go and talk to your Divinity friend. Ask for forgiveness."

"Thanks for telling me about this. And thanks for helping me out," Feng Biao said as respectfully as he could.

'He's not human, but he doesn't seem like a bad guy.'

"You did good, friend. I'm glad we met."

Saying that Shuten-Douji departed. Feng Biao watched him go down the mountain in giant leaps.

'Is he buying me time?'

The Black Oni would have to deliver the cups to Shuten-Douji. The farther it was from Feng Biao, the safer he would be.

Looking around for anyone Feng Biao found nobody.

'I'm the first to make it to the summit?'

It seemed possible if Shuten-Douji could move faster than the Black Oni then perhaps he could reach the summit in less than a day.

Feng Biao decided to hide before he looked over his Contract. There was a large rock formation next to him at the peak of the mountain. Climbing into it Feng Biao felt he could relax here.

He wasn't sure what he had done to anger Indra, but maybe his Contract held answers.

Divine Contract System

True Divinity: Indra

Divinity: 60/60

Rank: Divine Mortal

'I'm a Divine Mortal now? How? When?'

Feng Biao guessed it must have occurred while he was asleep, but he wasn't sure what had completed his Rank Up Quest.

Unaware the liquor he drank was the culprit Feng Biao decided that wasn't the most pressing matter.

'It's not there.'

Directly below his Rank should have been his next Rank Up Quest, but it wasn't there.

Feng Biao assumed this is what it meant to have an "empty" Mark. He would no longer have a Rank Up Quest. His advancement would end here.

'I don't know how to fix this, and without my PDS I can't ask about how I should...'

Deciding to check to what Divine Ability he had gained Feng Biao was pleasantly surprised to see the new addition.

Divine Active: [Vajra (Dadhichi)] (Grade C) - Divine Armament.

'A Divine Active?'

Reading through its description Feng Biao thought it was a pretty decent Divine Ability.

'It's not perfect, but it's a major upgrade over what I currently have.'

Feng Biao wanted to test it out but decided against it.

'If it breaks in a stupid way then I'll have to wait a full day to use it again.'

It was nice to have some good news.

Feng Biao began to think about what came next.

'I doubt I was asleep long enough for the test to end, at least I hope not.'

Disregarding the worst-case scenario, that meant he had to stay on the mountain likely not much longer than before he encountered the Black Oni.

Which meant likely around two weeks. Two weeks on the summit. Shuten-Douji had been kind enough to carry his luggage, so food shouldn't be an issue.

'With the Oni-no-Ochoko I just need to find a stream and fill it with water. If I do that I'll bet set for water.'

Feng Biao opened his PDS and looked at the map imprinted on its surface. A stream wasn't very far from his location.

Walking towards it Feng Biao thought something that gave him a bad feeling.

'What if the Black Oni comes to the summit?'

It wasn't a guarantee, but a possibility. Still, if it occurred he would certainly die. The Vajra seemed strong, but Feng Biao doubted he could physically hit the Black Oni with it.

'It's too agile and too strong.'

He remembered how it had tossed a rock with the power to kill a Marked casually. The sound the rock had made as it cut through the air made him frown.

If he couldn't deal with it alone then the answer was numbers. He would have to wait on the summit and warn every Marked who reached it about the Black Oni. Hopefully, they would be able to form a group to stand against it.

Until then Feng Biao would focus on training his body. On the summit of the mountain, he engaged in the fundamental combat practices Hunter had taught him.

A week later the first person to make it to the summit appeared. Feng Biao was happy to see another but disappointed at their response when informed about the Black Oni.

"Sorry, I have no intention of risking my life. Please don't hate me, I'm just not strong."

Saying so they walked past Feng Biao and dug deep into the mountain. Feng Biao watched as for the youth dug furiously deep under the ground.

He then brought a hose out from his belongings and placed it above ground. Feng Biao then watched the man hop into the hole he had dug holding the other end of the hose. Suddenly the ground twisted and he buried himself in a moment.

'Is that his Divine Ability?'

If that was all it did then it truly did not seem good. He didn't seem to have full control over the earth like Song Zhilan since he had gone through the trouble of digging the hole himself. Feng Biao did not blame the man for not helping him.

It was after all his new Divine Ability that gave him the hope to fight. Without it perhaps hiding would have been his primary concern too.

The man had hidden it beside a rock behind some grass. Only someone looking for it could spot it.

'I guess that's where he's breathing from?'

Wishing him the best Feng Biao continued to move in silence. But an hour later another person reached the summit.