RE: Deity - The Breath of Creation

Xing Wu, the first Dao Progenitor, the Greatest Immortal, formerly known as Dei, the founder of Manu Ti and the Celestial Empire, He Who Stood Against the Shadow, Cheifest and Greatest of Warriors, the one who Defies Heaven, was having brunch in the middle of an idyllic garden. A sandwich in one hand, dripping with juices from the succulent meat held between the bun, a cold glass filled with iced tea in the other, Xing Wu's laughter filled the garden, birds chirping and flitting about through the trees in response to his joy. So infectious was it that the very world itself bent to his laughter, the servants that called the Celestial Palace home joining in with mere smiles as they drifted away from the meeting between powerful beings.

They loved it when the man returned, only occasionally though it was. The power of the first dao progenitor, the first to have his dao recognized by the very heavens themselves as worthy, was one that influenced the world in a way similar to that of the gods. His laughter echoed in the wind. The plants brightened as the energy of his soul nourished their very roots. Food tasted better. Drink was more refreshing. People enjoyed his presence, even if they denied it. The energy he exuded attracted souls and spirits alike, for it was so pure and bright that others wanted to be around it. To absorb it as their own.

And a Dragon took notice.

"Easy now, Wu," Inesa, Goddess of Light, Dao Progenitor of Hearth and Home, said softly, raising an eyebrow at the fur-clad man. He grinned at her, mischief twinkling in his eyes as he took a massive bite of his sandwich, juices spilling down his chin to drip into his lap.

"No," he replied around a mouthful of meat, intentionally smacking his lips in the way he knew it would annoy her. Juices fell into his lap alongside the pickled veggies crammed into the oversized sandwich, all but staining the furs that hung from his body. Inesa frowned at him while his old friend, Alanna, chuckled, hiding her mouth behind the sleeve of her snow-white robes. Her own sandwich lay on a plate before her as they lounged in a circle of flowers, cut daintily into bite-sized pieces.

"Idiot," Inesa muttered, not unkindly, and Xing Wu's grin widened as he swallowed. She took a sip of her own tea, holding Xing Wu's gaze while Alanna watched them with a small smirk.

"You two are sickeningly sweet together." She said, and Xing Wu flashed her a wink to hide his embarrassment, no longer meeting Inesa's eyes. "Tell me, when is the wedding?"

At this, Inesa turned crimson and Xing Wu laughed awkwardly, shifting in his seat. Inesa's gaze was an intense one, despite her own embarrassment. He could feel her eyes boring into him, asking him that exact same question. They had been officially dating for a long, long while now. Practically ever since he had darkened her doorstep, after regaining his memories as Dei. But how could he tell her? How could he tell her that he wasn't ready yet to marry her – not because he was afraid of such a thing, he was certain that marrying Inesa would be the happiest day of his life – but for another, far stupider reason.

How could he describe to her that he felt inadequate? He was a powerful being…in the Physical Realm. But he couldn't climb the Life-Giving Tree. He couldn't reach the Heaven Realm. He couldn't descend to the Karmic Realm, and he couldn't swim the Spirit River. Not like her. She was a god, and he was just starting to understand what that meant.

Maybe it was insecurities talking. He didn't think it was. There was a rage within him that roared against the idea of marrying Inesa without being worthy of her – his own definition of worthy. He would not be the one to drag her down. And by the Heavens, by the weight of his own Dao, he could not allow himself to be drug up to the top by her, for all that she would be willing to. He loved her for that, but…he would not demand she sacrifice herself in such a way.

Some small part of him understood why he felt this way, but it was a part of himself he could not recognize, lest all the power said piece held be wasted. If he did not feel this way, he may never reach his greatest height. Inesa was what drove him now.

Oh, if Fang Xu and Celene could see me now. He realized, turning his attention away from her and taking a long draught of his iced tea. Part of him wished it was booze, but Inesa frowned upon the substance, so he resisted the urge whenever he could. The things I do for love. And they thought I would never find someone.

"Xing Wu, you need to listen to me." Inesa said with a shake of her head. "It's what I've been trying to tell you and Empress Alanna for the past few years. Statera Luotian brought guests –"

He sensed it, in that next half a moment. Before Inesa did, before Alanna did. The heavens stiffened prior to even the energy moving – he noticed when Statera Luotian had returned, for the world felt more…directed, with them present – skies darkening as fire streamed from above –

"FUCK OFF!" he bellowed, a spear of raw intent springing to life in his hands as he leapt skyward, attempting to bat away the fiery ball of death that hurtled toward the garden. Only, his spear met air. The flames he had felt were non-existent, the darkening of the skies a figment of his imagination.

"Xing," Inesa started from where she stood below, and he flinched, gaze flicking back and forth, teeth bared, spear held in one hand. The raw energy it was comprised of crackled and wavered unstably as his mind doubted his actions – but his instincts did not. His gut twisted and churned, promising him that there was something looming above him. Something powerful. Something dangerous. An existence to not only defy that which was the peak of this universe, but challenge it.

"All he did was sense me, and his first reaction was to attack?" a voice boomed, darkness swirling around every word. Each letter, each intonation, was wreathed in power, hatred, and a derision that only came from a giant looking down upon an ant that attempted to bite through its iron-hard skin. Xing Wu whirled, levelling his spear at the speaker, and froze in place.

Orange eyes glowed in a black mist, darkness heralding the coming wrath of a volcano.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"You were right, I do like this one." The blackness stated. "Let us see what happens when I…"

A claw struck. It was the size of a mountain and twice its weight, yet nonetheless Xing Wu's battle intent soared into the heavens as he swung his spear, muscles bulging as he struck with all his might – and found himself wanting. His spear shattered as he was sent hurtling toward the earth, his fall cushioned by Inesa's magic and the grace of something else. The skies themselves rumbled, divine power condensing in the skies above as Xing Wu surged to his feet spitting blood, his Dao Star shining brilliantly as he called upon its power. A thousand spears bloomed around him, ready for his use, his soul made manifest.

He had landed in a meadow, far away from the garden he had been in, sent hurtling miles through the sky from the mighty blow. Manu Ti was on the very edge of his senses, having suffered nothing from the clashing of powers. Such was the disparity between their levels. It could send him flying with even Alanna being none the wiser – save for his sudden disappearance.

"Xing Wu, calm." Inesa said, laying a hand upon his shoulder. His entire body remained tense and at the ready, his energies coiled tightly around himself and Inesa, daring anything to come closer. Despite her words, despite her attempts to comfort him, he did not calm. He could feel the being's interest. Its…rage. "This is what I –"

"Is this what they meant, when they said 'dragon amongst men?' He does not have the body, but he has the spirit of a dragon." The being mused, and even Inesa stiffened this time as the light of the Realm Sun began to fade. Xing Wu could feel his friend's rage at the concept – that something could blot out even Fang Xu's light, before its time to fade had come – even as the world vanished. The land itself disappeared into darkness and fire, a great dragon, very much unlike those he knew, letting its shape be known in the darkness. Its teeth gleamed like swords. Its scales were as dense and large as shields. Leathery wings loomed and four great limbs crushed the ground beneath its feet. Very much not the serpentine dragons he knew. And it towered over Xing Wu and Inesa both.

Xing Wu breathed. He could smell it. Shadow. But also strength. This dragon was everything he strived to overcome.

"Enough." Inesa's voice was gentle and calm as she stepped forward, holding up one hand to the skies above. Soft white light spilled from her outstretched palm, driving back the darkness and setting even the Dragon to wincing. Its gaze, fixated upon Xing Wu as it had been, shifted to Inesa – and Xing Wu could not allow that.

"No." He spoke, stepping forward to stand beside her, each step bringing down the weight of the world upon his shoulders. The Dragon's attention once more shifted to him, and Inesa frowned, her hair flaring out behind her head like a halo.

"Xing Wu, please, stop. This is not a fight." She said softly, then turned to the dragon. "And you, cease as well."

"Come with me." The Dragon rumbled, glaring at Inesa. Xing Wu's heart skipped a beat, his spear haft creaking beneath the strength of his grip. Lightning crackled about him as he stepped forward once again, as if to move in front of Inesa, but a gentle hand on his chest stopped him.

"Fine." Inesa said, turning to face him. Her expression was one of calm, and kindness, as she placed a soft kiss against his lips. "Breathe, my dear. I will be back soon. These are guests of Statera Luotian. They will do no harm, here."

And, just like that, she was gone with the darkness and the dragon. Xing Wu's breath released from his chest as birds began to chirp once again, bugs buzzing in his ears, none the wiser for how close they had come to death. How near to destruction they had been, from that dragon's mere presence. Xing Wu grit his teeth and turned his gaze heavenward.

He didn't inherently trust Statera Luotian, but he did trust Inesa. That didn't mean it didn't gall him to once again be reminded of his relative powerlessness. Sure, he was the greatest cultivator in the entirety of the Four Realms, but what was that to the gods? He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a shaky breath, attempting to force some of his tension to flee his body.

...nope. His adrenaline was still spiking through his system. He needed to do something about this. Where was Fu Hao when he actually needed her?

***

"That was not very nice. You could have just come to fetch me." Inesa complained, riding atop Alexander as she was as they flew to the Heaven Realm, where Statera Luotian was waiting. Sehuyun snorted in amusement, glancing back at where the dragon amongst men shouted his defiance to the sky. There was such anger in him. Such resolve. She adored every inch of it, but she was starting to understand Statera Luotian's point of view as well.

The idyllic picture of him in the garden was what gave the warrior such power. The peace gave him the drive to end war. His so-called dao was one of the Warrior, and when battle called, he had to answer. So she called him, as was her nature.

"And miss the opportunity to antagonize him?" She rumbled, teeth bared in amusement. "You should thank me. What do you think he'll do? And when you reunite, it will be oh so sweet, will it not?"

"I only agreed to this because he was stagnating." Alexander muttered beneath his breath. Sehuyun snorted out a laugh, knowing the dragon knew exactly of what she spoke. His own transformation was not complete – he had swallowed his divinity, returning to the Truth that was the essence of a dragon, but had not yet fully assimilated it.

"I don't care. You should let me go clear this up. It's unfair to him to keep creating these misunderstandings. He was on such a good streak, too, having calmed down so much…" Inesa complained, hiding her face in her hands.

Sehuyun did not reply, though Alexander did. Instead, she turned her attention to the young goddess of light, whose personal domain was quiet and understanding, yet stronger than any bedrock. Originally she had been after Xing Wu, the great warrior Alexander had claimed to exist within the Realms. But Inesa intrigued her. The strength within her was no lesser than any dragon's.

She was beginning to understand what Statera Luotian's obsession with their children was.

Alexander and his creations were the only true Dragons in the entirety of the Four Realms. Everything else only had pieces of it. Moments where they ascended to become the ultimate being, more than Fae, more than mortal, more than god. Just like Statera Luotian had done.

But that was the point. That was the point. Every person in these Realms, be they the direct children of Statera Luotian or grandchildren, had that little shard within them. Even Alexander had shards of the other beings within him – he was not just a dragon, just as the mortals were not just Fae.

But they had the capacity to become that.

"I have to wonder," she mused, teeth bared in a feral grin of excitement as they breached the barrier between the Physical and Heaven Realms, holy power washing over her scales even as her wings darkened the ground below. Immediately her shadow was countered by the entirety of the Four Realms – Inesa, illuminating, the Realm Sun, burning, the Lunar Star, guiding, and even the individuals themselves rejecting her darkness. It pleased her to no end. Statera Luotian had made a world of warriors and poets, a world of mice and dragons – where dragons could become mice, and mice, dragons.

"Wonder what?" Alexander asked.

"If this is what Statera Luotian can create, if this is what the children of the highest Heaven can do," she elaborated, a possibility occurring within her that had never occurred before. Her power shifted with the realization. "What could my own children be?"