In the deep, dark emptiness of Hei’s storage space, Onyx floated there in silence.
He was thinking about the events of not long ago.
He had run into someone he didn’t have the stomach to face.
One of many he had let down a thousand years ago.
If only I hadn’t been so complacent, we could have all…
He sighed.
The past was the past. No matter how much he regretted his inaction, there was nothing he could do to change it now.
But I’ve met some interesting new people.
First was the one who saved his life. The enigmatic entity who couldn’t remember his own name. The one they called Leader.
And the second, the new King of Kings, Shao Hei.
Those two will surely change the world.
Though, he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.
He had watched as Leader amassed a small following of twelve. Twelve unparalleled talents from all across the realm who, when gathered together, could rival even the Fire Nation.
He could see similar behaviour in Hei.
They place a lot of emphasis on martial prowess. Wanting their followers to be the strongest in the world.
It was a different approach to what Onyx had taken.
He had been of the mind that, when shown the path to peace, all would lay down their weapons. That aggression could be soothed by kindness and compassion.
He had been sorely mistaken.
Yes, there were those who fought only because they felt they must. They were the ones who would lay down their weapons and join their brothers and sisters in harmony.
But there are others.
Onyx’s body trembled in rage.
Those! Those! Damnable wretches!
Those curs who weren’t content with mere peace. The scoundrels who sought to have more than others. To be more than others.
As long as they existed, no, as long as their goals were achievable, there could be no peace.
I was a fool. A believer of an idyllic world in which all could walk hand in hand. Such was my folly. But I see now that I should have used my forces to suppress them. To so thoroughly oppress them that they could hardly breathe.
If only he had cut off their paths for advancement. If only he had crushed their greed-fueled hopes and dreams.
If only I had done that instead...
Then perhaps this calamity could have been avoided.
***
Onyx continued in his rumination, his distaste for his enemies thickening.
“Onyx.”
“Hm?”
He heard Hei’s voice and sent out his spiritual perception, finding him in another area of the spatial fold.
He travelled to where Hei was and was surprised to see him lying on the floor, his breathing shallow.
“What in the?”
Upon Onyx’s arrival, Hei sat up.
“I need you to knock me out.”
“What’s going on here? Weren’t you just-“
“I’m in a great deal of pain right now, Onyx. It would be much appreciated if you would save your questions for later.”
Onyx was at a loss for words.
Was one supposed to assault the injured?
“Hurry.”
“Alright, alright.”
Onyx used his sword-like body to strike Hei squarely on the back of the head.
He watched as Hei’s body fell limply to the floor.
“For you to have retreated into the spatial fold…”
There could only be one reason. He was facing an opponent he was no match for.
Onyx decided to take a look for himself.
It would be catastrophic if this had been the action of the Fire Nation who had discovered Hei’s presence.
“Nothing.”
It appeared Hei had managed to shake his persuers, opting to retreat into his spatial fold after turning a corner.
He looked at Hei whose body was convulsing.
“… Wasn’t he just meeting some girl’s father?”
***
Over the course of the next week, Hei would occasionally wake up from his unconscious state, only to request that Onyx send him right back.
It was only on the seventh day that the pain became tolerable.
“How long have I been recovering?” he asked.
“This is day seven.”
“I see.”
He closed his eyes for a while, recalling his schedule. He took a moment to factor in his six-day hiatus, adjusting his short-term plans.
Onyx watched as he got up and straightended his clothes up, ready to head back into the outside world.
“Aren’t you going to tell me what happened?”
“I underestimated the consequences of using a certain ability.”
“What ability?”
“That is none of your concern.”
“…”
“Is that all?”
“What caused you to use such an ability.”
“Su Yuying’s father turned out to be a member of the Fire Nation. I needed a way to demonstrate to him how detrimental it would be to interfere in my business, hence the use of the ability in question.”
“A member of the Fire Nation?! Did he recognize you?”
“He was the same person who lead the attack against me on transit to the Crimson Moon sect and was also the merchant who supplied the blueprints for the life-style movie jades. I suspect he discovered my identity through his daughter’s tribulationless breakthrough.”
“Curses! And you said you only threatened the man? You didn’t kill him?”
“Putting aside the question of whether or not I could accomplish such a thing at my current cultivation level, one, I don’t kill, and two, what has he done that is deserving of death?”
“It’s not about what he has done. It’s about what he could do. Hundreds of thousands could die if he triggers a purge. Leaving him alive is grossly irresponsible.”
“Killing him isn’t necessarily any better. It could trigger tighter surveillance, resulting in the same outcome.”
“We have no other choice. Place a drop of blood on the shield. With access to my full power, this world is-“
“Save your breath.”
“Shao Hei! This is not the time to be prideful! There is no shame in accepting external aid.”
“You are mistaking something.”
“And what would that be?”
“I have no problem with making use of others.”
“Then-“
“However, there are things that I must consider when it comes to enhancing my strength. These are things you cannot conceive of.”
“Why not?”
“Because they are born of my other self’s insanity.”
“What are you-“
“The Heavens have already confirmed that my presence here is causing things to change. These changes seem to be shifting the world in such a way as to more closely align with my other self’s conceptualization. Naturally, I am most intimately familiar with the way he views the world, and as such, I am most capable of navigating the shifting currents. Accepting your strength at this juncture would most definitely come with seismic repercussions.”
Onyx sighed.
“If it’s not one thing, it’s another.”
“Relax. I am confident that Su Ozan has been sufficiently deterred.”
“What makes you think so?”
“I was quite insistent.”
Onyx looked at Hei’s neutral expression.
It was extremely hard to get a read on the guy.
“Whatever you say, man. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”
“To be completely honest, I’m just making it up as I go.”
“…”
“Relax. It was a joke.”
“Jokes are supposed to be funny.”
“Noted.”