"Do you not fear death?" the monster asked curiously, taking interest in this peculiar human. At the same time, his lack of action right away displayed his confidence in the situation, as if the human before it could not escape its fate.
Ainsel's eyes seemed to become unfocused for a brief instant, as if he were thinking of something, before clarity quickly returned to them.
"I already knew I would die when I set foot into these lands," Ainsel replied, his words causing slight surprise to appear on the monster's face. The monster inspected Ainsel's clothes, and a knowing expression appeared on his face.
"Ah…the Heaven Scrying Sect…I suppose your mystical arts are capable of scrying your own deaths," the monster said, "but if you knew you would die, why would you enter? Why not stay away?"
It was truly something the monster didn't understand, as it would never throw its life away like this. Life was far too fun and thrilling to just throw it away, at least in the monsters eyes.
"Because, I also scryed that my death would have meaning…meaning enough to justify walking blindly into certain death," Ainsel replied, his voice still calm. "I wondered how my life could have meaning in such a secluded realm, but I now know the answer."
"Oh? And what is the meaning your life is going to give? Are you going to kill me and the others before dying?" the monster asked mockingly.
"Others? It's as I suspected," Ainsel sighed as a jade item appeared in his hand for the briefest of moments before vanishing once more. The monster's eyes narrowed as it noticed his actions, and a malicious smile formed on its face quickly after, revealing its sharp bloodstained fangs.
"Sending word to your friends?" the monster asked mockingly, seeing through Ainsel's actions. "If that is the meaning to your death you are searching for, then your death will have no meaning at all. No amount of warning will stop what is to come."
"That is not for you to decide," Ainsel replied calmly, as if there was no terrifying monster standing before him. "And I'm afraid that the only deaths with no true meaning will belong to you and your allies, for you have made the gravest of mistakes."
"Hmmm? The gravest of mistakes?" the monster asked, his mocking tone still clear. "What mistake have we made?"
Ainsel's calm gaze hardened slightly as he stared straight into the creature's eyes.
"You have stepped into a land that you cannot freely escape from. A land containing someone you cannot possibly hope to defeat. All you and your kind have done is throw their lives away, as you will not escape these lands alive once he emerges."
"He?" the monster asked, and a knowing smile soon returned to its face. "Ahhhh, you must mean 'Asura'. I heard he's from your Alliance, and is within these lands. I can't believe someone like 'Asura' comes from your patiable Alliance, but if he does, I'll take great pleasure in cutting him down myself, or watching him ripped to shreds by the others."
"Unfortunately for you, you will not live to see that day," Ainsel replied as his aura erupted, flaring out with a mystical might as if the stars had descended on the land. A sword appeared in his hand as he dashed forward towards the creature, his face determined and eyes calm.
A sinister smile appeared on the monster's face as it slashed out towards Ainsel with its sharp claws. The peaceful valley soon fractured as a battle between the two broke out.
…
"There is no reply from him, despite it being several hours since his last message," a depressed voice said, causing the other Heaven Scrying Sect members to sigh deeply.
Ainsel's message had been sent a while back, and had confirmed the worst for them. The monster race had somehow invaded the trial lands, and they were not alone either. They had tried to reach back out to Ainsel through the jade communication pieces, but had received no reply at all. They all knew what that meant, and could only sigh deeply at the loss of losing a brother.
"We must not let his death go to waste," one of the members spoke up after the long silence amongst them. "Spread this warning to the jade maps, and replace the Jade Dragon List with words of warning."
"Replace the Jade Dragon List?" one of them asked curiously.
"The enemy will no doubt obtain a list themselves from killing an Alliance member. If they have the list, they can target our strongest geniuses first, and eliminate them in a coordinated effort. Once that happens, we will have no chance of fighting back."
The others nodded their heads in agreement, and one of them took out a jace piece and gazed at their leader, who used to be Ainsel, but was now the one who had spoken out.
"What do you want it to say?"
…
"Hmph, it seems as though they've noticed our arrival already," a chilling voice sounded out, while a creature held a jade object in its gray hands. Beneath them were the slain corpses of several humans, most of them no longer in one piece.
"So what?" a nearby creature replied. "That only makes things more exciting, as these hunts were starting to become a bit too easy."
"I finally found some of you," a cold voice of hatred sounded out behind the monster race youths, shocking them as they had not noticed the arrival of the other. They turned around to see a lone human standing behind them, holding an awe-inspiring sword in his hand.
"Who are you?" the two monsters asked coldly. They could tell the human before them was strong enough to threaten them, and there were a few youths within the Honorable Alliance they needed to avoid, as only the strongest of their group could challenge them.
"Remember this name when you arrive in the underworld, as it will be the one who sent you there" the youth said as he pointed his sword at them. "I am Luth Chaster of the Honorable Alliance, and your miserable deaths will satiate the ghosts of those you have slain."
…
Several hours after their battle had started, the monster race creature stood before Ainsel as it stood amongst fractured land.
"Miserable human," the creature scoffed in angered displeasure as it stared at Ainsel, whose eyes and face remained calm and at peace, but those eyes were glazed over, as life no longer lingered within. Blood stained his purple robes, and an arm had been torn off, exposing torn muscles and broken bones, revealing that their battle had been incredibly brutal.
The monster withdrew his hand, which had pierced directly through Ainsel's heart and had been the blow that had killed him. The monsters gaze of hatred lingered on Ainsel's lifeless face for a short moment before he collapsed to his knees. Blood trickled down from the monster's mouth, and he fell onto his side soon after. Blood seeped out of his chest, as a sword had been plunged directly into his heart, ending his life as well.
