Solar Blood Masters

"Ahhaha. Truly a beautiful story of triumph over hardship, and how fate had its way with those brave souls. But enough about the past!" Lala Zhen clapped his claws together with a thunderous BANG.

It had Raphael covering his ears as more tremors shook the arena.

"I, Emperor Lala Zhen, formally introduce those who have ruled Yama Yaguai since before that very first Great Divine Tribulation concluded, those whose might and cunning have shaped our lands! Those we call EMPEROR CALAMITIES! Those whose Solar Consciousness exceeds TEN million years! Our MIGHTY guardians of those territories!"

"First…"

He gestured towards the eastern peak of the arena.

"The ruler of Ho Eastern, the most brutal serpent this land has seen! The one whose tail can shatter the heavens! He is the Bronze Serpent Emperor… LUUU IGNISSSS!"

BOOM!

A geyser of fire, crimson and orange, erupted from the platform as a chilling sound of ancient magic being unleashed reverberated.

The energies were potent and deadly, so much so that those who'd thought themselves accustomed to the scorching heat of Yama Yaguai's Fire Pools were scrambling for water to appease their now parched throats! It was truly a mighty display of power.

Then, as that fiery energy began settling…

"Hmmm…?" The flames receded after a figure slithered into view. It was Lu Ignis.

His imposing form was coiled around his magnificent golden trident which amplify his aura. His eyes had an intense ruby glow, and upon his chin, his beard swayed, as if in contempt for those beneath him.

Such arrogance, those whispers confirmed.

He surveyed the arena with a chilling smile. His eyes lingered upon Raphael for a second. Those who saw it couldn't help but gasp as the bull shivered, feeling his hide tingling. It was a glare that promised a gruesome end!

Lu Jade coiled tighter around his Big Brother's horn, "It seems Father isss still unhappy about ssssister's demise… Big Brother! We're going to be dead soon."

Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept through the stadium, quelling the searing heat with freshness. It had those who'd been sweating wiping their brows in relief as they exclaimed:

"Another Emperor Calamity has arrived!"

"Second…"

Lala Zhen's introduction had their attention focused on the opposite side of that platform where a swirling vortex of ice and frost was forming with a sound they couldn't articulate, a hum that froze those nearest to it.

"From the icy peaks of Yunyin! A ruler whose cold gaze is said to freeze even the most potent flames of desire! She is… SILK YUNE!"

WHOOSH!

A radiant white light engulfed the audience close by the frozen gates, and when the icy gusts of winds had cleared…

"Wow!"

"She's…"

"Beautiful!"

Even Raphael, whose heart couldn't be swayed by those seductive snakes and bird maidens of Black Wind gasped.

Stepping through the now-shattered gateway was a woman unlike any he'd ever seen.

She resembled a human.

But behind her, flowing with an ethereal grace that made the wind dance with envy, were nine massive, translucent tails that rippled as if she were swimming in an ocean of frozen air!

And at the tip of each tail?

"Is that a Silver Ice Fox?!" Lu Jade couldn't believe his eyes. They were legendary creatures!

Even those who'd lived in Yama Yaguai for millennia hadn't encountered one before, and to have nine growing from her tail?!

It was a display of power that had them mesmerized.

Those foxes had bright eyes like a thousand tiny stars as their white fur danced. Each possessing a single glowing, silver horn upon their foreheads, they were a magnificent sight.

Silk Yune herself, though a Calamity of immense power, was even more breathtaking!

She looked as elegant and graceful as a snowflake, with delicate, porcelain-like skin and a flowing gown of white silk that flowed with an iridescent pink hue. Long, silver hair cascaded down her back like a frozen waterfall.

She glanced towards those frozen figures below with ruby red lips that had even the mightiest beasts, and those who'd thought themselves immune to such mortal emotions, blushing! Truly a goddess, a being of absolute elegance and power.

She glided past them to a spot beside Lu Ignis as ice crystals showered the arena floor.

Their Solar Essences were polar opposites!

"Oh, how exciting! FIRE and ICE, truly something, ahaa!"

Lala Zhen's laughter had the audience sweating even more, some even wondering if they'd picked the right attire to impress their Emperor that day.

Then a wave of warmth washed over them. This new heat canceled out the chill and left a humid fog that intensified the concerns of those who feared getting their furs and feathers dampened.

This display, however, was simply a prelude.

Silk Yune and Lu Ignis were ancient enemies, a truth they both acknowledged with a chilling silence and the occasional hissing or snort.

"Third…"

As Lala Zhen was about to introduce the ruler of Kongming Mountain, a playful voice came echoing, "Hey! You're looking sexy today, Snowy! Those silver foxes are a nice touch. Perhaps I can spend a night or two at your mountain?"

WHOOSH!

Julian Ringtail appeared beside the Emperors' platform. He was already helping himself to a platter of snacks that had the nearby servers backing away. "Hmmm. These deep-fried beetles are divine! Why didn't I consider dipping them in oil earlier? Hmmm." He glanced at Silk Yune.

"Boboboboho! Do you want a taste, my snow white? Here, I'll feed it to you just like old times."

"Stay away, Monkey! Your smelly ass won't set foot in MY domain! I'll freeze you solid and hang you as a warning to those who dare to touch my tails, you hear me?!"

Silk Yune's response was as cold as the ice she commanded, but beneath that anger, Lu Jade detected a hint of fondness. The elders in Hebikuni had spoken about how those two Emperors had a unique relationship, and it seemed that those stories were true. It was a scandal.

"Hmmm…." Lu Jade's amusement was cut short by a realization, "But wouldn't that be good? If those two joined forcesss. Their alliance would be unstoppable."

"Let them be. Such ancient loathing cannot be appeased so easily. We must be vigilant. This event is about survival, not romance and gossip." Thienika's words carried a truth even Raphael acknowledged.

"Fourth…"

As their attention returned to the center, a ghostly chill swept through the arena, for even the very sand grains seemed to tremble.

The platform above rippled, then a dark portal, laced with a faint purple hue appeared. And those unfortunate souls watching saw skeletal hand materialize.

"He's coming." The whispers were hushed.

This was death, and that entity was here!

"From that forgotten land where souls silently slumber, where even the light of the day does not shine! We call this place… The Undying Valley. And within that decaying realm, there exists a ruler who commands a legion of the UNDEAD!

He's a creature of pure necrotic essence… He is… ANAKIN VADER!"

As the name echoed and the black mist pouring forth, a figure emerged from the shadowy gateway with the very creatures whose deaths were mourned following him. A truly gruesome sight.

It was a man in black, flowing robe that resembled a shroud. Upon his face he wore a helmet that was a skull of ancient rhino! His dark gaze peered down upon the crowd and frightened those even with the strongest wills.

There was no mistaking it. This was death, the bringer of eternal slumber, and even those arrogant Emperors now had their aura's dimming, for who dared to challenge such a potent power, not even their own children were safe from his gaze.

"If you cherish your dead, do not bury them within his domain, for he will resurrect those corpses as HIS, to fuel his ambitions and to appease the worms that wriggle in the very soil of HIS reality." Lala Zhen's warnings resonated as he watch Anakin Vader gracefully glided to his spot beside those icy tails of Silk Yune.

Then another wave of potent energy had the audience sweating, but this wasn't heat nor cold they felt. It was something wet, accompanied by a wave of salty air.

"Fifth…" Those drums were beating!

"From the churning depths of Jingling Ocean. A creature whose song can lure any being into his watery realms, even those whose lungs aren't meant for the ocean's embrace… he is… MERMAID MERLANDO!"

SPLASH!

The shouts and roars of their leader's introduction were drowned out by the sound of rushing water and a display so grand.

A gigantic wave crashed over those who stood before that gateway before them, they were soaked, some even coughed salty water as it dripped down to the floor and formed a pool.

Then from its heart a majestic figure emerged.

He had a magnificent turquoise tail swishing within a bubble of water. His upper body was that of a young and healthy man; his broad chest was bare. His skin was a vibrant blue adorned with black tattoos, and upon his brow rested a single white horn.

His blond hair flowed gracefully around his muscular shoulders. His piercing blue gaze swept across the crowd and settled on a familiar serpent.

"Lu Ignis."

"Your time has run dry, snake. You promised to return my trident after the last Great Divine Tribulation ended. It has been 10,000 years. Are you simply going to ignore my pleas or are you going to hand it over?"

"Perhapssss your memory isssss waning, little fish." Lu Ignis casually adjusted his position on his golden trident that glowed with embers that had Mermaid Merlando's watery domain evaporating.

He then arrogantly hissed back.

"Let'sssss simply sssay… that YOUR magnificent weapon hasss served well as my bed. After all, these sharp edges are a perfect deterrent for insects who'd want a taste of a slumbering Calamity'sss tail? I dare sssay those nights, I slept soundly indeed upon these comforting bronze pointssss." He smirked wickedly, and those who witnessed it shivered, for even those who called themselves Emperor feared the Bronze Serpent's wrath.

"If you want it BACK, MERMAID, then… You'll have to take it! By FORCE! Ahahaha!"

Mermaid Merlando didn't bother with any more words, he simply snorted as another vortex of water materialized around his tail fin, which then carried his imposing form to a throne opposite his nemesis. Those energies had many backing away, especially those unfortunate souls with thin hides. Such a pity.

"Sixth…"

"From underground depths of Subterranean Gorge… Elux Badger!"

Lala Zhen continued his boisterous proclamations as the next platform glowed with anticipation and then with a guttural growl, something burst forth that caused a minor earthquake!

Dust billowed outwards, blinding everyone who'd forgotten to bring along their protective eyewear.

"He's messy!"

"He also brought his wife?!"

"Truly, a powerful pair they are!"

From that chaotic cloud came two figures.

One, massive and imposing with dark-grey furs that rippled, was Elux Badger. He seemed annoyed with everything around him, but his gaze was focused on one thing only, those platforms that host the victors of the Selection Trials.

The battles! Such a magnificent event to come, he'd thought.

Beside him, slithering sensuously was a gigantic centipede, Worchilla. Her exoskeleton was radiant red, each segmented plate was studded with onyx gems. Her numerous legs, adorned with golden bracelets, moved rhythmically. Her beauty was undeniable, it had many of those lesser scorpions gazing on with awe.

She wore an elegant gown of translucent black spider silk, held in place with a ruby clasp.

Upon reaching his throne, Elux Badger promptly tossed himself onto it and grunted, "Hasn't this DAMNED thing started YET?" Then he extended his claws to pull that sexy creature onto his lap, ignoring her amused laughter as he buried his snout into those curves he adored.

"You old grump! We JUST arrived! You need to learn some patience, Elux, even for events like this, hahahaha." She chuckled.

He didn't bother replying, only squeezed those jade bangles tighter with those dark eyes.

"Seventh…"

"From lands where colorful winds howl! Whose lightning bolts can shatter the thickest hides… he is… QI HAWK!"

As Lala Zhen's words were being swallowed by the cheers and waves, the air crackled. And a familiar figure had many of the contestants bowing their heads.

It was Qi Hawk.

His arrival was nothing short of epic, for he didn't need a portal, nor an announcement, nor fanfare. He simply soared into the arena. His black and white feathers were so massive that they blotted out the sun briefly. He'd arrived from the heavens above! He then settled gracefully into his assigned corner.

"Brother Hawk!"

Julian's jovial greeting was met with utter silence and a stony glare that had the Lemur sighing.

"Such bad blood between friends, it truly does dampen the festive mood." His whispers were barely audible, even as he tried again, "Hawk! How's that…?"

Qi Hawk ignored him entirely, those attempts at conversations were meaningless, for he was now observing a certain serpent coiled smugly on its trident across the arena. His gaze, burned with an intensity that only those who'd tasted betrayal could truly understand.

Lu Ignis, watched his nemesis with a chilling smirk and thought, 'Tsk, so THAT'S how you do it, you feathery bastard! Wait until I wrap my tail around your neck and squeeze so hard that… Huh?" He glanced at Qi Hawk's single, milky-white eye. "Why is he's still wearing that damn eyepatch? Hmph, damn pretender, I know that Void Eye has already fallen into your socket.'

"Hmm, that snake." Qi Hawk didn't have to read his mind, he could sense exactly what Lu Ignis was thinking.

Finally, it was time for the last territory ruler to be announced.

But unlike the other eight emperors, this entity's entrance wasn't a blaze of fire, nor a flurry of snow, but a calming blue glow that descended upon the arena.

"Lastly…" Lala Zhen bowed his head; his mandibles brushed against his chest.

The other emperors who'd been glaring at each other or stuffing their faces, paused their shenanigans to mimic this gesture of submission. They all trembled.

"And finally. From the very heart of Yama Yaguai where balance is maintained, where even the wind must obey her whims. We humbly give our salutations and reverence to the ruler of Skydom… Void Emperor SINDOLL!"

BOOM!

A beam of pure sapphire light, thin yet potent, descended upon them through the opening above.

It expanded and then shattered into thousands of delicate, iridescent butterflies with fairies dancing on their backs. Their wings sparkled with starlight.

Even from this distance, Raphael felt a chill and warmth, for he'd glimpsed this phenomenon briefly before. That time when his life was being hunted by Lu Ignis.

"Such magnificence! To think those mere specks hold this much power?" As powerful and arrogant she was, Qi Fenwei couldn't contain her awe.

"Those are merely extensions of her will, young one. Sindoll rarely reveals her true form, choosing instead to watch from the sky."

Lu Jade looked up at those dancing butterflies. They flitted across the arena. It was a show of beauty and power that had even the most cynical of the spectators mesmerized.

They circled the massive platforms.