To Save a World - Tenets of Eden [Parallel World Cultivation LitRPG]

A few days later, everything had been set in motion. Zinnic was ready to make their little public display, and we were gathered in front of a gate. All together, the only person we were still waiting for was Chris.

White Tiger, Black Swan and Eagleeye. Those were Zinnic's absolute top brass - but they had also brought a, heh, fountain of wellspring cultivators. They had a few groups of people at wellspring, both the lower, middle, and a few at the upper end. None as close to the precipice of ascension as me, Matt, or Ann, of course.

Olivia was with them, too. We didn't make any gestures at all, trying not to show even the slightest bit of involvement with her. Just treating her the same as any of the other cronies. All in all, there were twenty-three people with Zinnic's team.

For us, it was just me, Ann, and Matt. Chris, too, if they counted, and I was rather sure they did. Just the four of us. And yet, I was entirely confident we would make it back out. I didn't have even the slightest doubt.

Depending on how dangerous this was, I might even ascend, or get my gateway properly realized. It was fully done, of course, but it could always grow more powerful. Mr Henney, the CEO, was not here, though.

And this also, probably, wouldn't be our final clash with Zinnic. And hey, who knew! Maybe there was no trap. Maybe this was entirely safe and nothing bad would happen.

I had to hold back a laugh. Yeah, right.

White Tiger raised his hand, smiling. Black Swan held a fan in front of her face, wearing an elaborate, dark dress, and a large black hat. Her eyes gleamed with a slight purple, staring at us. Eagleeye was fiddling with her bow, taller than the other two, and wearing more practical clothing. Her head was entirely bald, and she wore a beanie, being quite a bit younger than the others. Only maybe half a decade older than me, rather than two.

"Greetings, lady Radiance," White Tiger said. He ran a hand through his hair, brushing it back. Gates were always a little windy. "I hope you found your way here without much trouble."

"Of course, lord Tiger," I say, wearing a fake smile. "We came as soon as we heard."

"Good to hear," he said. "Then the only person we still need is our dear spectator, correct?"

I just nodded in response, picking out a rather large, not too dirty rock to sit down on. We waited, not too long. After about fifteen minutes, Chris arrived.

The triz-adu was wearing a replica of the human shell they had in Eden. Long, raven hair, icy eyes, and a strangely inhuman smile. Though their smile had certainly improved, by now. I wondered whether they carried more shells with themselves, if they could take them from Eden back to here.

We'd confirmed it was the right Chris, of course. Emilia and Liam had also double checked in Eden, gotten confirmation from the divines. Yes, this legitimately was Chris. Yes, they legitimately did agree to this. Zinnic ended up footing the bill for them to come to Neamhan this way - not just once, but to permanently construct a shell on this side that they could inhabit.

Now, Chris could cross between the worlds at any time. That was, seemingly, worth it to them.

Slowly, Chris came out of the car, walking up to us. "What a strange chariot you have," they said. "Is it powered by horses? The driver said it had some amount of horsepower, but I struggle to imagine one could fit that many horses in such a small space, even with magic. And why hide the horses?"

I laughed. "Lovely to see you, too, Chris."

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Matt patted their back. "We'll show you the internet someday, and you'll be able to research as much as you like."

Black Swan approached us this time, looking Chris up and down. "Hmmmm," she hummed. "You are adequate, I suppose. Come. Now that we are all here, we should head into the gate, no?"

"Sure," Ann agreed. "Let us head off, then."

I grabbed my spear tightly, wrapping my fingers around it. There was static in the air, the tension thick. But I was ready.

- - -

We entered the gate, and for a long while, nothing special happened.

Zinnic began clearing it, extremely cautiously. They advanced forward, lured in some usurpers, and killed them. The gate was a forested area, with tall trees and thick undergrowth. A little jungle-like, even.

Eagleeye would often hang out in the trees, taking down threats before they even came closer. White Tiger wielded a spear, dashing forward as a blazing streak of light, annihilating the monsters. Black Swan fought sinisterly, conjuring gusts of wind that propelled dark feathers, piercing into usurpers by the dozen.

Despite the clear power, Zinnic moved slowly, warily, carefully. They had people in front of us and behind us to protect us, keeping a small bit of constant distance. Like a ring of bodies around us. Slowly, hour by hour, we walked deeper into the gate.

Of course, Zinnic faked exhaustion, faked difficulty, but I could tell. None of them were truly drained, even if they panted, even if they meditated to regain their Qi. It was pathetic, entirely false, but it was probably how they cleared gates. Each and every person currently in the gate with us was a profit above life kinda person.

I breathed, feeling the way Eagleeye watched us. Feeling the glances Zinnic members threw at us. Some eyed us more than the usurpers coming charging. And we walked deeper into the gate.

And then, finally, things came to a head.

White Tiger stopped, and turned around.

He looked at me, his face now a mask of calm. Everyone from Zinnic stopped. I could feel the way their muscles tenses, the way all eyes locked in on us. "So," White Tiger said.

"So," I replied.

The old monster didn't gloat. Didn't lean on his spear, didn't smile, he just looked at me, gravely. "Lady Radiance," he said, still using my "title". "There are mountains beyond mountains," he said.

I nodded. "Sure."

He nodded in reply. "We invited you here to make that clear. That Neamhan belongs to Zinnic. Mr. Henney is paying me a very large amount to teach you a lesson, yes?"

"A lesson," I snorted. "Sure."

At that, White Tiger sighed. "Yes," he said. "A lesson. Lady Radiance, you have three options, right now. You either walk out of here alive, with a soul-oath to never negatively impact Zinnic's interests again. Or, you walk out of here crippled, hurt, bleeding, and with us pushing a rather horrifying contract onto you. And finally, your third option." At that, he twirled his spear. "You die in here."

"You done?" I asked.

He nodded, gravely.

"Show me your hand," I told him. "Show me all your cards."

At that, he frowned. "Answer."

I lift my spear, taking its butt off the ground, and instead point the tip forward just slightly. "No."

"You are courting death," he spat.

His words made me smile. "There are mountains beyond mountains, esteemed elder. Surely you can forgive this junior for wanting to see Mount Tai."

"Junior has eyes but doesn't want to use them," he frowned, shaking his head. "The mountain is hidden behind dark clouds. The sky must cry if it is to clear."

Slowly, I nodded. "The esteemed elder can surely help this junior see."

A grim expression set itself on his face. Bright white light settled over his spear. He took a deep breath. "Junior Radiance. Your family will mourn your death tonight."

"Do you have family, elder Tiger?" I asked.

"Yes," he said. "Two grandchildren, and a daughter."

I nodded. "I will bring your corpse to them. What wood would you like your coffin to be made from? My treat."

"White oak," he said grimly, killing intent coming from him in thick waves.

"Expected," I say. "So few trees and yet, you want to cut another one down for a corpse."

At my words, his core ignites. His affinity is light. It spills forth, a torrent of extinguishing brightness, devouring the jungle. Leaves disappear as more and more power floods out of him. The sanctions settle, limiting him, and then…

They lift.

Category five. The gate we are in is not category four. It's a category five gate. My eyes go wide. All shackles are lifted from them.

"The tiger grows wings," he said. "And soars to the sky."

"The clouds around Mount Tai pour out their thunder. The heavens are angry, junior," lady Black Swan says.

A mirror-crack tears through the air, and a keeper's avatar steps forth. A glass humanoid full of pupils. An avatar of Perception, of Eyes.

Qi and Echo spill out in droves, and threaten to drown me. I wrap my hands around Astraeus, clutching my spear like a lifeline.

The posturing is done. All that's left is to fight.