kaidoakario

Once every 10,000 years, the heavens open, and the Mortal Realm is cast into turmoil. The Great Reset begins—a cosmic reckoning where empires fall, beasts awaken, and only the strongest carve their names into eternity. For those who survive, the path to the Astral Realm and the right to claim divinity awaits.

Raikai, a warrior forged in storms, wields the power of the Celestial Iron Body Cultivation, his flesh tempered into living steel. His Death Arms—twin scythes bound by chains—dance like a mythological dragon, crackling with lightning, capturing and tearing apart those who stand in his way.

Beside him stands Shinryu, swift and precise, blessed by the Celestial Tiger. His Death Arms, a pair of white leather gloves with retractable claws, strike with divine speed—every slash a whisper of the heavens’ fury.

Together, they ascend the path of blood and power, bound by brotherhood yet tested by fate. Their bond is their greatest strength, but in a world where the Death Arms grow with their wielders—feeding on their victories and failures—power often demands a terrible price.

As the 10,000-year Reset begins, ancient titans stir, forgotten sects rise from the shadows, and primordial beasts long thought extinct awaken. The heavens will bear witness as Raikai and Shinryu defy the gods—or die trying.

In an age where flesh is reforged into iron and weapons evolve alongside the soul—two brothers will challenge destiny itself!

imperial celestial

The weight of the Great Collapse loomed over the Phoenix Cry Council Chamber as the final decisions regarding the empire's alliances settled. Yet, just as the meeting seemed to reach its conclusion, Minister Zhu Yifeng cleared his throat, his expression dark.

"There is… one more matter that requires our attention, Your Majesty."

The chamber fell into silence as all eyes turned toward him. He hesitated for a brief moment before placing a frost-covered parchment onto the table. Even in the warmth of the Phoenix Cry Palace, the chilling aura of the document did not fade.

Huo Shenzhou frowned as he picked it up.

"This… is ice-cursed. A message from the far north?"

Zhu Yifeng nodded gravely.

"Yes. Reports have come in from our scouts—entire northern clans have been wiped out overnight. The survivors speak of something unnatural, something… autonomous in the way it moves and destroys. It does not conquer for resources, nor does it enslave. It simply eradicates all in its path."

The room tensed. Even the battle-hardened General Yan Feilong furrowed his brows at the implications.

"Who leads these forces?" Huo Feng asked, his golden gaze sharpening.

Zhu Yifeng exhaled. "They march under a banner of frost and bone. The name they carry is—Frostborne."

The name sent a ripple of unease through the council.

Strategist Lin Zhuoxian adjusted his sleeves.

"Frostborne… Their motives remain unclear?"

Zhu Yifeng shook his head.

"None who have engaged them in battle have lived to tell the full tale. The only thing we know is that they are not demons, nor men, nor beasts. They are something else entirely."

Silence once more blanketed the chamber.

Huo Feng's expression did not change, but his voice was low.

"Then we must act before they reach our lands."

The Phoenix Cry Empire had prepared for the Great Collapse, but this was something far beyond what they had anticipated. If this unknown force was already crushing entire clans in the north, it was only a matter of time before they made their way south.

"We will assign our fastest messengers to reach the White Tigers and Azure Dragons immediately." He turned to his ministers. "They must be informed. If these Frostborne are truly a rising calamity, we will need all three of our forces prepared for war."

The officials nodded, their urgency renewed.

The Death Knights' Role

As the Frostborne threat settled heavily over the room, Huo Shenzhou spoke once more.

"If we are to prepare for an unknown war, we must also consider… the Death Knights."

A hush fell over the chamber. The Death Knights were a force separate from empires and clans alike—an ancient warrior order that had existed long before Phoenix Cry's founding. Their true goals had always been shrouded in secrecy, but their training grounds, the Death Nights, were among the most infamous in the land.

Huo Feng leaned forward, intrigued.

"You believe they will have a role in what is to come?"

Huo Shenzhou nodded.

"We have already decided to send our prodigies to train there. But I fear… they will not just be sharpening their skills. The Death Knights always prepare for grand conflicts—if they are making moves now, it means they foresee something far worse than we do."

The emperor remained quiet for a moment before nodding.

"Then we must ensure our young ones grow stronger before they arrive at Death Nights. We cannot afford to be unprepared for what awaits them."

The council murmured in agreement. With the Frostborne rising in the north and the Death Knights moving in the shadows, it was clear—the true trials of the Great Collapse had only just begun.

The Private Council (part 2)