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Fifty years since Hoolay was defeated and slain. Despite the bloodshed caused by the borisin breakout just before the Wardance, the incidents was quickly suppressed thanks to the collaboration of the three Xianzhou flagships’ forces, along with assistance from the Nameless.
In the end, it was thanks to General Feixiao who devoured Hoolay’s crimson heart, that a massacre was prevented, the Wardance could commence, and the seven hundred year terror was put to rest.
Yes, it has been fifty years since then…
…and what’s left of him still remains in her mind.
“You’re still here.”
What stands before her now is but a faint shadow of herself. It used to represent what she would look like had she accepted her true strength, shed away her fears and doubts, and stand above all else as an unrivaled storm.
But now, it’s only a fragment. A fragment of the greatest enemy she has ever conquered.
“Don’t act so surprised. Your fifty years are but a moment to me.”
Indeed, a foxian could only hope to live half as long as the seven hundred years the shadow before her had spent shackled in the Forest of Swords.
Much less someone like her. A foxian cursed by Moon Rage, who will one day lose herself to rage and tear everyone around her into rivers of blood, before meeting her end by THEIR arrow.
“As long as the heart still beats… I’ll be here.”
Indeed, the gene of the borisin still lives in her. The blood of their hearts still flows in her. She was supposed to be their next Warhead.
Had she just nod her head, she would’ve continued the destiny of the borisin, and lead an army truly free, free of weakness and cowardice, to roam under the blood moon.
But it seems like she’s determined to end the pathetic legacy of the beasts with herself.
“How long will you continue to deny yourself? How long do you plan to shackle yourself to the feeble life of a foxian, and bury your ambitions and potential with your inhibitions?”
“I thought you’d no longer be a sore loser by now. Didn’t you concede defeat to a child fifty years ago?”
“You know why. That child won because he strived to be more than what he was, and achieve his victory with a sharpened blade. You chose to remain weak, and now the Merlin’s Claw has dulled.”
Indeed, she’s not as strong as she once was. She has reached the latter years of her lifespan. Be it silence by the shooting stars or death by age and fatigue, her end draws nearer with every passing day.
Yet the wind still roams, the thunder still roars, and the storm still rages on.
“There won’t be any more time for you to hesitate. Accept your true calling, or die subdued and tamed.”
“…”
She only smiles, and walks through her shadow. Fifty years have passed – what she wants to say has already been said long ago, so she thinks.
“…”
“…You know…”
“I’ve been thinking of going on a date lately.”
“…”
“…What?”
“I’ve been calling myself the Lacking General – lacking in worries, regrets, and rivals. But there’s much more I’ve been lacking. Like romance partners, for example. …Or even a family.”
“…”
“Hahaha – Do I really look that dumb when I’m confused?”
“Your complacency astounds me. First you deny your nature to rule the skies, and now you wish to settle down and have a family?”
“Why not? I’m no short of charm points. I probably already have as much admirers as I have enemies.”
“Do you think you can just run away from your fate and live a peaceful life? You have already thrown away your future, but you can never deny your past as a monster –”
“I was born for war, and I’ll die for war. Hah. I’ve heard that from you so many times now, and not once did I disagree.”
“…”
Silence resumes. Reassured confidence clashes with restless agitation.
“I’ve never said anything about running away. I walked on the warpath ever since I was a child, and on that warpath is where I’ll die. That hasn’t changed.”
“It’s just that, right now, I want to appreciate the flowers on the wayside a little more.”
“…”
“Hoolay, you said that we’re the same because we’re both monsters that will live and die for war. Our strength is revered by all, and our followers are ready to put their lives on the line to fight for our cause.”
“Those borisins died as puppets of a false savior. They had thrown away their courage and ferocity, their very pride as borisins, just to bring me back and play along with their scheme. Only by death did they remove their stains from our legacy.”
“And that’s why you and I will never be the same.” Feixiao concludes, pointing her axe at “herself”. “Within you is an inextinguishable pride. The pride of the beasts, unruly and unbound, to roam free among the stars and drink the blood of the weak is your greatest satisfaction. To you, the strength to hunt is everything.”
“Someone as strong as you… will never understand the “weakness” I have.”
“Hah! Don’t make me laugh!” “Herself” raises its axe in response. “Don’t you ever try to find dignity or meaning in your weakness! If you truly wish to continue that path, you’ll only die cursing your feebleness in the end! You’ll only lament your inability to save your people, as your life bleeds away!”
“Hmph. Too bad for you, I’ve already found the meaning.”
“My “weakness” is what makes me “strong”.”
Feixiao’s words only continue to confuse her reflection, but she will not back down.
“It’s because I am weak, that I am surrounded by companions and friends who will always have my back, who will follow me into battle without hesitation, and who will continue to carry on my mission long after I pass away.”
“It’s because I am weak, that I will spend what little time I have left, chasing after the shooting stars. I’ll save whoever I can, however I can, with whatever I have, as long as one more person doesn’t get silenced by THEIR arrows.”
“It’s because I am weak, that I will die young. I will die, with nothing left of me but my name and accomplishments. I will rest, knowing that the war against the abominations will continue, that everyone will fight on bravely, with or without me.”
“My weakness, my limits as a foxian, will allow me to die a dignified death. That’s why I will continue to live as one.”
“…”
She has said what needs to be said, what should have already been affirmed fifty years ago. Yet her weapon is still raised high. She knows that her shadow can’t hold its weapon any longer.
Unlike hers, its weapon fades away without a sound before it even touches the ground.
“At least let me grant you a dignified death. I’ll do it quick.”
“…”
Yet, it still smiles. It still laughs.
“Hahaha… Don’t show your pathetic sympathy to me.”
“My last chance of enjoying such death… was fifty years ago.”
It takes hold of Feixiao’s axe… and rams the blade against its fading body.
“My defeat was planned all those years ago. You were the one that denied it, by not turning back and finishing me off for good.”
“Now, my legacy – the borisin’s legacy – will live on with you. Our blood, our strength, our ferocity, will wait until the day it’s unshackled.”
“So go. Do as you wish. Live how you want to live. Surround yourself with your companions. Chase the stars for as long as you can move.”
The mirage fades away, revealing the fangs of the last Warhead one last time.
“Let’s see who will have the last laugh… General Feixiao.”
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.
This time, the General watches intently, as the fragments scatter into the air, before being swept up by the storm clouds above her head.
A storm that has raged on for nearly three hundred years.
Only when they disappear from her eyes completely does she turn around, and rushes towards the light of her consciousness at full speed.
At this rate, she’s going to be late again.