The Last Breath Before Storm

Xao Chang and his army were standing near the entrance of the Blood temple, looking at the temple. Xao Chang looked at the red stone on the top of the temple and said, "That red stone is the gateway of Xao Lin's release. We have to take the Blood Spear and break it with it. As soon as the stone breaks, Xao Lin will get released." Kenchi and Assayah looked at him and nodded. Xao Chang said, "Destroy everything. There should be no sign of the Blood temple after we are finished." Everyone roared and ran towards the Blood temple. The priests looked at the enemies and took out their swords and shields.

They ran and attacked them. Assayah took a priest and teared him into two pieces and threw him on another priest. Kenchi swung his sword and cut a priest's ear and threw another's head on the ground with another slash of his sword. A priest jumped on Kystion and threw him and then was about to thrust his sword when Kavana chopped off his head. Kystion rose and hugged Kavana. Kavana smiled and then blocked the attack of another priest and kicked him in the chest. The priest fell down and Kavana chopped off his head. Three priests jumped on Hilda and Camilla, but they easily killed all three of them with a single slash of the sword. One priest looked at the horrible scene and ran towards the prayer hall and hit the big gong bell. The whole Blood temple heard the sound and ran towards Xao Chang and his army. Xao Chang pushed both of his hands and a river of lava came out of his hands and melted the young warriors. Xao Chang took out some of his daggers and threw them on the floor.

The daggers formed a star-shaped lava formation and the priests who were around the ring instantly melted. The priests ran and some even tripped on each other. The head priest, Sao Chang woke up from his sleep and walked towards the battlefield. He looked at Xao Chang and then took out his beads and closed his fists and pushed a wave towards him. The wave was so powerful that all of them flew quite a lot of distance and fell on the ground. Xao Chang looked at Sao Chang and clenched his fists. Sao Chang smiled, "So, you are the person for whom I was created from Xao Lin's blood?" Xao Chang said angrily, "You don't deserve my face or Xao Lin's blood. You are just a reflection of me and not even near to the strength and greatness I possess. Today I will destroy you and reclaim the long-lost power of mine."

Xao Chang chanted some mantra and a huge sword appeared in his hand. He took the sword and ran towards Sao Chang. Sao Chang closed his eyes and a huge shield appeared in front of him. Xao Chang couldn't break the shield. Sao Chang smiled and pushed the shield forward and it threw Xao Chang back. Sao Chang threw his beads and then said, "Why don't we fight with bare hands? You claim to be better than me but you still haven't proved that yet." Xao Chang smiled, "Fine. If that's your last wish." Xao Chang ran towards Sao Chang and threw a punch towards him, but Sao Chang easily dodged it and threw Xao Chang on the ground. Sao Chang took Xao Chang and then continuously hammered him on the ground with his heavy fists. Xao Chang kicked him and then punched him in the stomach. Sao Chang rose and smiled. He took a rock and threw it towards Xao Chang but he punched and broke it into several pieces.

Sao Chang took the opportunity and kicked him in the stomach. Xao Chang coughed some blood and then fell on the ground gasping for air. Sao Chang kneed him on his face and then stomped on his leg. Xao Chang somehow rose and tried to run but Sao Chang caught him and threw him on the ground. Xao Chang crawled on the ground and slowly tried to walk away but the brutal Sao Chang caught him by his horns and broke it. Xao Chang screamed in pain. Sao Chang laughed, "You are no match for me. I am far more superior than you." Sao Chang took his beads and was about to push it inside Xao Chang's body when Xao Chang headbutted him on the chin and then took out a dagger and thrust it inside Sao Chang's stomach.

Sao Chang fell on the ground and then Xao Chang took the opportunity and took the bead from his hand and pushed it inside Sao Chang's eyes. Sao Chang started to scream. Xao Chang took the string of the bead and strangled him to death. The priests looked with horror as a terribly injured and bloodied Xao Chang chopped off Sao Chang's head and threw it inside the temple which hit Mother Manaca's idol and made it all bloody. The priests stayed silent and kneeled down on the ground. Xao Chang slowly walked towards Mother Manaca's idol and then kicked it down from the pedestal. He smashed it with his feet and said loudly with all the strength inside him, "From now onwards, there is only one God. ONLY ONE GOD! XAO LIN. XAO LIN. XAO LIN. And anyone who defies the rule will meet the same fate as Sao Chang. He opened his zip and urinated on Mother Manaca's broken head. He slowly walked outside the temple, leaving dark red footprints behind. The priests looked with horror as the temple and idol they and their forefathers were worshipping and protecting from ages is now in shatters and the whole temple is corrupted by the evil Xao Chang.

Aliyah and Elgin were eating coconut ice-cream and were sitting on a wooden bench when Mother Manaca came to them with a worried face. Aliyah looked at her and asked grimly, "Why are you sad, Mother Manaca?" Mother Manaca looked at them and said, "Xao Chang has taken over the Blood temple and also defeated Sao Chang." Elgin said grimly, "Sao Chang was just a reflection of Xao Chang and he would have eventually been defeated by Xao Chang. But, the capture of the Blood temple is a bad omen. We have to do something before he makes the temple fully corrupt." Mother Manaca said, "He is waiting there for us to go. He knows that Aliyah and Alice will go there. He must have put dangerous traps there for us. We have to tread carefully if we want to win the battle." Aliyah said grimly, "He has played a very clever tactic. He knows that we will have to be there if we want to win the war. He has openly challenged us."

Mother Manaca said grimly, "You are correct. I also think that. But, going there without a proper strategy would be a bad idea." Vexana walked by and overheard their conversation. She said, "We should go there. There is no point hiding here forever. Xao Chang perfectly knows that he doesn't have much time and resources to wait another five centuries. It is a do or die situation for him now. The same goes for us too." Kayuba also joined the conversation and said, "Vexana is right. Xao Chang is weak now. Without the Monastery, he has no place to retrieve his power if he becomes weak now. He used all his power and transferred it to him and his army." Aliyah asked, "Army?" Kayuba smiled, "Yes. He finally used his power and resurrected your old friends. Hilda, Frostbite, Abigail, Camilla, Kystion, Kavana and Ryder." Aliyah asked, "Ryder and Camilla?" Bayu walked towards them and said, "Yes. Ryder and Camilla. He has the power to resurrect dead people who are connected with sin. Ryder and Camilla died because of sin." Elgin asked, "What about Krymon?"

Bayu said grimly, "Krymon's soul was trapped when Alice killed him. But, Tammy and Jammy are resurrected." Aliyah clenched her fists and said, "Now, it is time to fight the ultimate battle of the century." Alice and Daina walked towards them. Daina said grimly, "I have 10,000 men in my army and the neighbouring hill tribes have promised to back us up with 40,000 more men. We have a total of 50,000 men now who will be further joined by the elves and Shinigano and Shuken people who are roughly 15,000 altogether. Kavana and Kystion killed many Shinigano and Shuken people during the raids and they are now raging for revenge." Aliyah said grimly, "The Blood temple is big enough to have a war of such magnitude but the instability of the mountain is going to be a major problem if the weight increases over ten tons. We will have to end the war in three days before the Blood moon disappears." Mother Manaca said, "Xao Chang will also be eager to end the war in three days as Xao Lin has to be released before the Blood moon disappears." Aliyah said, "We will march to the temple at the first break of dawn." Aliyah walked towards her room.

After several hours of plundering and breaking idols of God and Goddesses, Xao Chang and his army came to the royal room and sat on the table. Xao Chang looked at Sabi Xavan, the second in command after Sao Chang and smiled, "For centuries you protected the temple and now when I demolished all of it and stained its glory. How do you feel?" Sabi smiled, "You are a fool to believe that you won't meet your end after demolishing the holy Blood temple. Soon, the divine warrior will come and end you and your army and free this world from your evil reign."

Xao Chang smiled, "Of course. In fact, I am waiting for your divine warrior to come and slay me and my army. But, have you forgotten what happened five centuries ago? What makes you think this time it will be any different?" Sabi smiled, "The fear in your eyes is the proof of the difference. Your Monastery was destroyed, you had to run for your life and you had to resurrect most of your most elite warriors who failed to take the Blood Spear from Alice. The difference is quite evident." Xao Chang smiled, "Good. Now, it will be too much fun to prove you wrong." He looked at Gayumb and Kavana and said, "Kill his fellow priests in front of him but keep him alive. He will die after he sees Xao Lin in front of his eyes." Sabi smiled, "You are a coward, Xao Chang. You are afraid."

Gayumb took Sabi and forcefully opened his eyes. Kavana took a sword and started beheading his fellow priests in front of him. Sabi silently endured the pain but didn't even flinch. Xao Chang smiled, "Good. Show this bravery when Xao Lin is standing in front of you." He walked outside.

Aliyah, Elgin, Vexana, Rachel, Safi, Robert, Alice, Trisha, Maester Jovelinus, Kayuba, Bayu and Daina were all on their horses. Aliyah was silent and was looking at the flag of Xao Chang's Monastery waving on the top of the Blood temple. She grunted and galloped forward. All followed her. All stopped near the mouth of the temple and surrounded it. Aliyah took out her binoculars and looked at Xao Chang and Nakamura standing in the room, talking about something. Bacca was also there. Aliyah smiled and then said, "All of our enemies are here. We are going to avenge all of our family and friends." She looked at the sun setting and slowly galloped towards their tent, as the sun slowly hid behind the horizon....