Chapter 281: The Dead Are Here
A lone old man walked amid a mountain of corpses. The stench of blood and decay filled the area, illuminated under a single silver string of the broken moon. Wolves howled in the distance, lamenting the loss of their dearest, as monsters growled in rage. The lone man took small steps and turned his head left first, then right, as though he was afraid to miss some detail from the horrifying view surrounding him.
A crow, with feathers so black it melded into the darkness of the night, flew down and settled on the right shoulder of the lone man.
"All are dead! All are dead!" it croaked incessantly into his ear. "All are dead, and you're next!"
The lone man paid no heed to the taunts of the crow and continued to walk in a straight line, the line was easy to follow as on both of his side, as a mountain of corpses blocked his sight. He could only go straight ahead.
"The dead come looking for you! They wish for you join them!" The crow pecked the cheek of the lone man until he started bleeding. As the sudden sharp pain overtook him, he turned his head in a daze and caught a glimpse of what lay behind him. Dead men and women, adults and children, covered in blood and filth crawling ever so closer to him. Half a step separated him from the next body crawling towards him, and no matter how hard he tried, his feet couldn't walk any faster.
He tried to calm himself down by taking deep breaths and focusing on walking down his lonely road, but his head would always turn sideways, catching a glimpse of the horde following him.
However, much to his relief, he had finally exited the lonely road. The sky shone brightly all of a sudden, and the crow had turned silent. In front of him was a blue lake, the sun reflected on the water and green vibrant grass swaying at its side. The lone man dropped down in order to take a drink. He was thirsty, so very thirsty. He didn't know how long it took for him to cross the lonely road, but he was relieved it was over.
As he bent down in order to scoop the lake's water, he noticed ripples in the blue water of the lake. Taken aback, he stood back up quickly and waited to see what would come up.
Bodies, dead bodies, surfaced. It was the lone man's family, dead yet peaceful looking; unlike the bodies in the lonely road. However, their peaceful faces were no comfort to the lone man. His heart beat faster as his tears rolled down his chapped cheeks.
A white raven came out of the reflection of the sun; its feather wet but capable of flight. It settled down on his left shoulder and said, "Death is here, but so if life! The one who raises the dead and the one who heals the sick, he who controls both, holds the key to the world. The one who feasts on worlds and the one who rules the elements, he who controls both, controls the fate of men."
The lone man listened to the rabbles of the white raven until he felt a hand's hold on him. He heard the crow squeak into his ear saying, "I told you the dead are coming for you!"
He turned around and found a familiar face staring down at his, a scarred face and eyes filled with sadness and regret. It was a dead man as well, and it told him, "You took my wife, my daughter, and my son. I will take you with me." The dead man's hand released the lone man, and instead approached his face.
.
.
.
Ryuunosuke Nakamura woke up in a jolt as soon as the dead man, Erykytos, touched his face. He was drenched in sweat and breathed weakly. He was getting weaker and weaker every day, ever since the Battle of Generations. It was no secret that he was going to die soon, and it was a miracle that he held on for so long. The technique he had used on the day of the battle wore him completely.
"We thought we lost you, great-grandfather," Hayato called out to him.
Ryuunosuke looked around the brightly lit room, and his eyes landed on the faces of all of his family members, as well as his guest, Edward Avalon. Only after seeing their faces filled with tears and worry did he realize that he was on his deathbed.
"I see," he muttered. "The dead didn't get me yet."
Ryuunosuke squeezed out the little power he had left in him and stood up. His body was thin, all skin and bones. He wobbled around the room, giving each member of his large family a kiss on the forehead and a kiss on the forehead. The only ones he left were Hayato and Ed, whom he considered as his own son.
"Everyone, if you would be so kind, please leave us," he asked gently. Inside of his room, only the ones he didn't bid farewell to have remained.
"The world, our world, is in grave danger, my dear boys," he said. "Erykytos and Vortigern, those two didn't die killing each other, they died in order to…"
"We know, great-grandfather, or rather Ed knows," Hayato said with a warm smile.
"I don't know everything, but I plan on traveling to the Tower of Origin in order to find some answers," Ed followed.
"I see," Ryuunosuke's face lit up with a smile of relief. "Then, I have worried for no reason. You know. I'm not the only one plagued with knowledge. Oh, what a relief."
Ed and Hayato could do nothing except let the old man find relief at his very last moments.
"I'm sorry my dear boys, I won't be around to help you this time. You'll need to face it all on your own. I can only pray for you from the other side. I'll pray that you won't join me anytime soon."
Ryuunosuke went back to his futon and sat down cross-legged. His eyes suddenly turned hazy as his whole body relaxed at once. Ed and Hayato stayed by his side until his whole body shook and he stood up.
"I can see them," he said. "It's Vortigern; he's come to pick me up. Oh, Erykytos, can you forgive me, like you've forgiven this fool before me?"
Hayato could no longer hold his tears, as he realized that his great-grandfather was talking to his dead friends.
"A surprise? What surprise could you be hiding for a dying man?" he asked those only he could see. "Ooooh, Lina, is it really you?"
Ed and Hayato felt their hearts turn to mush as they listened to him. Lina was the name of Ryuunosuke's late wife, whom he lost over two centuries prior.
"I've missed you so much. Yes, yes, I'm ready to go. They know the young ones know. They're the ones who hold the fate to our world now," Ryuunosuke said as he extended his hand to hold something. His face was wet with tears, but a large smile was plastered on his face.
That day Ryuunosuke Nakamura, the founder of the great Ryuu kingdom, the Hero of the Great War, and the protector of the realms, passed away standing on his feet. The dead had come for him, and he left with them willingly. That day, the last Transcendent cultivator, and creature in the world passed away, leaving behind a rich legacy, and the keys to the future.
The next day, the whole world mourned in silence, until it was interrupted by the shattering skies above it.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Shigun
Shigun Hello everyone. Sorry for the long pauses that are taking place, I'm unfortunately very busy with my life, and the novel will probably keep updating this way until it is finished, hopefully during summer. I hope that you enjoy the chapter, though they are small numbered compared to the early days.
PS: Ed's father is dead, I did not make a mistake, and it will be explained why it was said that he was injured during the war.
PS 2: In one week the novel turns one year old!
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