Chapter Text
Everything hurts.
That’s all Jing Yuan can think as Cloud Piercer rips through his back, and disappears in an instant. He can feel the blood pouring out of him and soaking into his clothes, the wound itself being agitated as his armor presses against it. It's all he can do to make The Lightning Lord destroy Phantilya, her body turned to ashes as the agony pulses through his bones and tears through his clouded mind.
And then the bond between him and Phantilya is severed and Jing Yuan is falling, hurtling towards the ground. He hears the cries of his… comrades? He’s not sure what to make of them at this point, especially since he no longer knows how well his mind is currently working. The Astral Express’s members… are they yelling for him? Jing Yuan can no longer tell.
As he descends, time seems to stop in an instant. The world grows dark, the color drains and only shades of black and white remain. All the sound around Jing Yuan quiets, the cries of his allies muted. The sun turns ashen, and Jing Yuan can’t help but look around in panic, some of the first true panic he’s felt in a very, very long time.
Memories flash before his eyes, memories he has long since forced back, so far back into his mind.
His reflection in Jingliu’s ice-coated sword as it slashed through the air - with murderous intent.
Jing Yuan’s breath hitches, raw fear coursing through his veins and turning his blood cold. I should’ve done more…
Dan Feng’s once cold and guarded gaze, now full of fear and anguish as the abomination he created tore through everything .
Jing Yuan could never forget the look in his eyes, never. If only I had stopped him, If only I stopped everyone…
Yingxing’s terror as the spell backfired and he became… immortal . The blood coating his skin and soaking into his hair as he lay on the ground, his tears freezing on his face as Jingliu drew closer.
If only I was strong enough If only I was good enough…
And Baiheng’s fleeting smile as she sailed off in that Starskiff, never to return.
If I had been stronger, I could’ve saved them… I could’ve saved us all.
“What is this? What’s happening to me? Why… Why is this happening…?”
Jing Yuan can’t help but think he might have died, but then… then a voice rings out, impossible to place. It was harsh and broken yet also smooth as silk, reminding him of everything and nothing at the same time. It sounded right, but also wrong. It rang out loudly, all around him, as if from all angles. It was too loud, too quiet, too smooth, too rough, it was… otherworldly. Yet, it was the words the voice spoke that truly made Jing Yuan believe he had finally gone insane, finally succumbed to the Mara.
“ This is the only future I offer you… General of The Hunt.”
Jing Yuan's eyes scanned the area around him as a golden, near-translucent string of pure light and energy erupted from his chest and arced up to the now-dark sun, lighting up the landscape and washing everything in its soft glow.
“Who are you?”
Jing Yuan’s voice is steady, so much so that it surprises even him.
“I am The Finality. Your presence and your assistance will be required in the coming struggle, you are still needed.”
The Finality… Terminus. Maybe he is going insane, has Mara truly taken him? Why was Terminus glancing his way? What does The Finality need from him?
Jing Yuan stiffened as the gold string curved upwards toward the ashen sun. The golden hue of the string flickers, shifting in color from gold to an ever-changing ashen purple and blue. His voice turns from steady to hoarse from fear and now muted and dull pain.
“What– What do you mean?”
THEIR voice almost seems disappointed, as if tired of his questioning.
“You will help us all reach the Genesis of our world, you have seen much, and you will see much more. When The Archer Lord of Fate’s arrow strikes the final blow, you will help us reach the Genesis, Arbiter General.”
Before Jing Yuan can so much as think, the string snaps taut, as if tugged on by an invisible hand, and dissipates as THEIR voice fades into oblivion, THEIR final words spoken.
The wind rushes past him, and it’s all he can hear as the color snaps back into the world in a rush of light and shadow. He assumes the sound does too but he just can’t focus as everything un-freezes and his body loses the blessing that was numbness. The cruel, throbbing pain returns in waves as he plummets toward the ground.
Just before Jing Yuan smacks into the ground, someone catches him. The fall is still rough, and still painful. Especially since the wound in his abdomen is still spilling blood onto his clothes as it throbs horribly, the agony lancing through him as his armor digs into his wound. If he were less exhausted, he might have screamed.
Jing Yuan fights to keep his eyes open as the Vidyadhara who caught him –Dan Feng…? No, no, it’s Dan Heng now– fights to keep him at least somewhat upright.
“General! Jing Yua-!”
Dan Heng’s panicked voice fades from Jing Yuan’s perception as his eyes flutter, he can feel his consciousness slipping away…
“Dan F-Heng…?”
His eyelids are too heavy, every sensation dulls and every voice falls upon his now-deaf ears as he slips into unconsciousness.