Karni and Siduo got on the train and made themselves comfortable. The journey to Radiant City by train would take about two days. That meant they would have five days to find the hint of divinity.
There was a time limit as to when they would have to get to their destination after they are finished with the search for divinity. If they'd depart from Radiant City in seven day, they would actually be behind the others by two days. The earlier they can finish this the better. If they spend three days in Radiant City, it would be ideal.
"Do you think we'll get attacked on the way there?" Siduo couldn't help but ask.
"We're not Wulin. I don't think that will happen. Though… maybe on the way to Military Training, if we're on time with their own train… actually, we have to make it in time for that train. Dammit… the Guardian would have proven useful."
Siduo turned silent for a bit. "How many casualties?"
"A decent amount. We'll have to think of some plan." Karni realised. Three days would not be ideal. It was a hard limit. Not because of the limit the academy set, but due to the train incident that will occur.
"As much as I would like to think about that, we need to do one thing at a time." Siduo quickly refocused her mind.
"Agreed." Karni nodded. His ears twitched soon after.
Siduo sharpened her cat-like eyes. "Someone following?"
"Just the teacher." Karni chuckled. "It's Shen Yi."
"Isn't she a healer?" Siduo wondered.
"Yes. I think they really just want to survey us, so we don't use the money they gave us for anything but the trip. It's probably just a formality since we're a special case."
Siduo stretched at that. "Well, for now, I'll take a nap. We can plan how we'll reach the forest later. We have two whole days after all."
She said that and leaned on Karni's shoulder. She fell asleep quite soon, and Karni wondered who the sleepy Panda of the two of them was. She was really cute like that.
… … …
Karni and Siduo stepped out of the train. The train ride was calm and passed by surprisingly quickly. Karni was glad to take in the sights of Radiant City, even though they got out in the outskirts. It was refreshing scenery after their long ride. Karni did not enjoy not being able to do anything after another dream of his mom without a face. Radiant City was humongous; it had multiple big train stations and a giant metro system underneath the city. Despite stepping out of the train on the outskirts, the city still loomed over them.
They did not need to go to the very centre, as that would just waste their precious time. From here, the two of them were going without a ride. They didn't have much time to gather money in a meaningful way, considering the fact that the rest of the group would be going in less than a week to the Demon Island.
For now, they had to get out of the suburbs and orient themselves on where to go next. They were looking for a forest near Radiant City. The only well-known forest in what used to be the Sun Moon Empire, one that used to house an ancient Soul Beast, the Evil Eye Emperor, the Evildemon Forest, was not the forest they were looking for. The Evildemon Forest was far to the North.
The only thing that could be seen from this angle was the Ming Dou Mountain Range behind the city. In it was also the Great Ming Dou Forest, but Karni knew that that was not their location. He was thankful for it too. Stationed in it was the current strongest army of the whole continent. Central Army. And within that stood the War God Temple, where multiple Limit Douluos were present. Furthermore, somewhere farther west in that mountain range was also the Yin Yang Love Querying Valley, and the Federation likely had that under lock and key.
After they exited the suburbs and stepped truly out of the city and its outskirt, they stumbled upon flat plains which were heavily farmed. Farms as wide as the eyes could see. This was why Karni knew that the forest he saw was not in the mountains. The forest from his vision was greener, flatter, and farther away compared to the mountainous forest behind the city. Their direction was southeast.
Farther away from the city, they finally saw a forest spanning far and wide. Siduo turned to look at it at the same time and whistled.
Karni looked at her. "It's big sure, but it's not that impressive."
"Hm. I agree, but I remember the history of this place. Was it twenty thousand years ago? I'm pretty sure the battle that was fought by the Sun Moon Empire against the Raging Buffalo Horde happened there. This was the scary place before the Ming Dou Mountain Range even formed. It was on par with the Evildemon Forest in the North."
Karni turned to look at the forest again, then looked toward the skyscrapers. He definitely saw this side of the city from the forest, so this forest was their destination. The place where divinity lay. However, he only remembered this brief point of history from the classes, not from the books.
He looked to Siduo. Her face was one of those knowing ones. "What do you know?"
"Hmm. I'm not sure, actually. I know the place quite well due to my past life, but if that is the place where divinity is located, I clearly do not know much at all."
"Hmm." Karni thought out loud as well. "The Bonehorde Forest, right? The horde of buffalos was vanquished here and there are still bones there now. That's the reason for the name, I think."
"Yep. It was called the Elderwood Forest before that though. A place where ancient divine weapons were found."
Karni stared at Siduo for a bit. That was some big information, no?
She looked at him. "Allegedly. The weapons supposedly disappeared twenty thousand years ago. Long before the two continents formed into one. The teachers told us in Sun and Moon History class in the Intermediate Academy, back in Star Luo City. I think it was our third year?"
"Hmmm." Karni looked at her with suspicion.
"Kiki... I can barely tell you a thing about your past with you getting a headache, but to tell you why I know of this, I would have to include the Divine Realm. You really think I can tell you much? Besides. Even then, my information is surface level. I know who happened here, but not what happened. Or what is waiting for us for that matter. It is second-hand information."
"So, you're useless then."
"Oi." Siduo side eyed Karni.
Karni made a small smile and closed up to her face. His voice was soft. "Tell me I'm wrong."
"I, you… That's not fair! Don't use your charms to win an argument? Also, you are wrong. I am very useful, I will have you know!"
Karni backed up, thoroughly satisfied. "In that case, let's get moving. It's not that far, it shouldn't take us too long if we run."
"You little shit." Siduo complained but regained her calm. "But yea. It should take us an hour at most."
"Let's go then."
… … …
A lump of fluff and a shadow arrived at the entrance of the forest. Karni disabled his Royal Bamboo Panda. He was using the Royal Paw Pad and Flight into the River to travel at high speeds. Bounciness and strength were a surprisingly potent combo. And he only used around 5 percent of his Soul Power after around forty minutes of travel on top of that.
Before him, Siduo came out of her Hell Cat form. She had to slow her speed down by about half so Karni could keep up. But she had to admit that with this combination, if Karni wanted to, he could now easily surpass the speed of Sound if he used the two skills at full power. Though doing so would do a good amount of damage to the environment
The entrance to the forest was beautiful. They could see a lot of tall bamboo mixed with old, deeply rooted trees and grand bones sticking out of the ground… and this was just the outside. However, the place was guarded and put in a fence. There was only one place that Karni and Siduo could see where the fence was open. It was a monitored gate. A tourist stop.
The whole forest was a cultural heritage to the federation and to its roots as the former Sun Moon Empire. That being said, the security did not appear to be tight. The strongest person Karni sensed here was a Soul Ancestor, a woman who looked to be a manager… and she looked very bored.
Karni listened around a bit and found out that the process was quite simple. Technically, you could go in alone, but it was heavily recommended to go with a guide. Most people understood as soon as they heard what could happen. Apparently, those who went in alone, usually only showed themselves again months later after getting completely lost. That being said, no one was ever injured and all survived.
That was also why the manager was stationed here. She was quick to complain to some family how arrogant little Soul Masters who think they're "hot shit" like to ignore the warning and go in. That was why she was there.
"Hm." Karni thought out loud. "We will be stopped if we just tried to walk in. I think we should jump the fence. Avoid the trouble."
"Can't we have a bit of fun?" Siduo made a small smile.
Karni sighed. Her mischievous side was coming out again.
Karni explained the situation in clearer detail, trying to discourage her, but it seemed to have an opposite effect.
"Wouldn't she be surprised if people got stuck for months but we come out in a few days? I think it can be fun."
Karni sighed and stepped into the crowd. He purposefully silenced his and Siduo's footsteps with that last bit of hope that maybe people wouldn't notice them much. Siduo rolled her eyes at his attempt to ruin her fun, but let him be. The manager already noticed them.
Just as they got out of the crowd, they got called out.
Karni could not help but groan out loud while Siduo started laughing at Karni's annoyance.
The manager raised her eyebrow. She could already feel a headache brewing. Odd couples like those two were the worst types to face.
"Do you know what happens to youth like you when you enter that forest?"
"We do, actually." Siduo said before Karni could mediate.
"We will get lost for months," she said in a greatly exaggerated and dramatic voice. "Oh, we will be all… alone." She hugged Karni's arm. "Sounds like just what I need."
The poor middle-aged manager could not help but avert her gaze when she saw the girl acting like that. "Does the youth today have no shame anymore?"
"It's just her." Karni was not amused.
The manager decided to not try to prevent these two from going in immediately after Siduo's little "hint". They could get lost for all she cared. "Just sign your names and show me your ID. We need to keep a record of people who come and go."
Karni looked to Siduo with a face that said. "See what you did?" They couldn't reveal their identities. And even if they did, would they believe them without the ID? The Academy took it along with the rest of their possessions. They only got the cards for the train and nothing else.
Karni continued to stare at Siduo. "You take care of this, you caused it. We should have jumped the fence." He freed his arm from her grip and continued walking toward the forest.
Siduo scratched her head as she looked at the woman manager who deeply frowned at Karni's actions and words. "Sorry about that, but we can't really show you our identities. We don't have our IDs with us right now, because we are actually undergoing special training."
"Yea, sure. I don't believe you. Show me your IDs or scram. At that point, it will be trespassing on federation territory. You really should have jumped the fence, I would have at least had an excuse, but now I can't lie on my end of the day report."
Siduo snickered at herself. She really did let herself have a bit too much fun today. "I'm sorry, but we need to go inside. We're here from Shrek, and academy wants us to experience some troubles to grow."
"Pha. Yea, sure. And I am a spy from the Central Army. Grab your boyfriend and get out." She showed her four Soul Rings. Two Yellow and Two Purple. Decent configuration.
Siduo scratched her head again, she could almost feel Karni laughing at her from behind. "You see, we need to find something in there, so we cannot really go. Just write us down as Karni and Siduo. Explain that we were troublesome or something."
Siduo turned around, really, really hoping that the lady would not turn aggressive if she just ignored her.
But well, the woman was a manager for a reason. Her first Soul Ring shined, and a little leaf blade was released toward Siduo's legs, trying to trip her.
Siduo sighed and showed her six Soul Rings. All Black. The leaf blade bounced off without Siduo doing anything, since it wasn't meant as a serious attack.
The manager stared at those Soul Rings. "H-How… How old are you?"
"Doesn't matter. We're from Shrek. We'll be out of your hair in a few days. Good luck. And sorry." Siduo made a little bow and caught up to Karni.
Siduo frowned when she came close. "What are you laughing at?"
"You." Karni said without shame.
"You bastard, it's like you're not taking this seriously at all! We're searching for divinity over here!"
Karni paused and looked at Siduo huffing and puffing as she stomped into the forest, trying not to laugh. Then he just stared for a while, until Siduo looked back, her ears lowering a bit, and her eyes turning round. She said in a loud and dramatic voice. "Oh Gods, to not let me win a single time today. Why art though so cruel. Is this the power of being engaged?" She ended the woe is me play by looking at her hands as if she was cursed.
Karni could not help but chuckle at that. "Your shenanigans simply don't work all the time, my dear fiancée."
Siduo made a pretend gasp. "It cannot be. Impossible. It was foretold!"
Karni pretended to be in thought. "Indeed, the faceless mother spoke of the terrors of a married life."
Siduo chuckled. "What's that? The faceless mother? Sounds ominous."
Karni chuckled as well. "I took the inspiration from my dreams."
"Your dreams?" Siduo suddenly lost the giggles. "Are you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah, of course." Karni put on a smile as if nothing was wrong. "It happens, you know. I start to forget things here and there. Not much I can do about that."
Siduo watched as her man walked to the forest. His back was wide, and it seemed to carry a weight she could not see. She reached out to him and grabbed his shoulder. "Well, if you need anything. You know I'm here. But Kiki. Don't forget. Even if you forget the shapes, don't forget your story."
Karni stopped to look at Siduo. And he smiled, feeling a bit lighter. That was right. He had a life here now. He knew of his origin. If he forgot things… it would be ideal if he did not, but he could accept forgetting things with time. As long as he did not forget where he came from. "Thanks, Sisi. Now let's find this piece of divinity."
As for the manager, the poor woman was left behind, listening to their banter as if they did not care about their surroundings. Though she could not hear the last part of the discussion, it was like some force blocked her from hearing it. That was Karni blocking the Sound so she couldn't hear about Karni's troubles or their true mission.
The two went deep into the forest, leaving the entrance far behind, and were met with a more and more miraculous sights. The trees were completely normal, but old; the forest felt lively, but no matter when one looked, hundreds upon thousands of gigantic bones were inside the trees. The trees grew on top of them, sometimes the bones even acted as support for various vines.
Yet oddly, it did not feel like a graveyard. If anything, one could feel the scale of the majestic battle that happened twenty thousand years ago, before Sun Moon Continent collided with Douluo Continent. As if to embrace the majesty, sticks of bamboo grew here and there as well. They were in groups of up to four, but never more. Thick, deep green bamboos reaching all the way to the treetops.
Some of the trees that grew around the bones had peculiar shapes. One could see the history when it happened. Grand beasts which ran through an ancient forest and toppled it, only to be defeated and become the nutrients for the forest itself. Trees that survived and regrew themselves, leaving majestic scars. Karni could almost imagine it. The original Douluo Continent was not the only one with rich history.
Though, seeing these thick trees and the majestic bamboo that lived in harmony with the bones, Karni wondered. Siduo said that the Bonehorde Forest used to be called the Elderwood Forest right? "Hey, Sisi. Do you know why it was called the Elderwood Forest?"
…
Karni turned around. Why wasn't she answering him?
Then he looked around some more. She was gone, nowhere to be seen.
He sighed. Great. That must have been the work of the formation he saw in the vision. There's no way she could disappear without him knowing otherwise. The guides at the gate were there for a reason.
He thought a bit on what to do, Siduo might be close to him, but he didn't hear her disappear, so it was unlikely that he could hear her.
Just in case he focused through Still Harmony, letting hi sound travel, but no, that did not work either. Even his Sound seemed to be caught within the formation.
Well, it did not matter. The guys at the border said that no one gets injured in here, they just wander around lost for a few months. He might as well get the idea of how it works.
… … …
The place was weird. Karni expected some sort of a loop to happen or something, but no, if anything, no place he saw was like the other even after 3 hours of walking. It was an ever-changing environment, even when he went backwards. No wonder that people got lost when they went inside. If Karni had to guess, the tour guides either knew a certain set pattern that let them loop back outside, or they knew how to avoid falling into this magical formation.
But while this was interesting and all, Karni felt quite relaxed knowing that this place was safe even for normal people. The problem appeared with the fact he didn't know how to solve this issue in time to catch the train to the Demon Island.
He was on a time limit. On any other day, this would be only inconvenient. Right now, he actually had to succeed in his mission. He had to find the divinity that called out to him.
Karni paused as he thought of that. It called out to him. It affected him through the vision itself. It rejected Yun Ming, who was a Limit Douluo, the strongest man on the damn planet. If it was so, Karni should be able to find it!
He returned his mind to the vision and analysed what he remembered. The forest, the formation he was trapped in now, then the demons and a cave. That did not help him much. He didn't see any cliffs that he could orient himself toward the cave.
But inside the cave. Inside the cave was a piece of bamboo, was it not? That bamboo had to be the key.
He summoned his Royal Bamboo Panda. This Martial Soul had the one oddity that it shouldn't have. The Bamboo seemed to be external in some way. It did not connect smoothly to the Guardian; he had to isolate it. When he first discovered his bloodline belonged to the Royal Panda, Hu Jie commented that the bamboo had nothing to do with it as well. Either way, the bamboo was an anomaly. Was it a coincidence that there was a bamboo inside the cave?
No. Karni did not think so. The Bamboo was even within the forest.
He sat down in a meditative pose and poured Soul Power inside the bamboo. Ever since he joined powers with Tempest, he was much more sensitive to the bamboo being a separate element of him.
And wouldn't you know it, the bamboo reacted. It forced itself to the left side of Karni's mouth and pointed, as if it wanted to escape Karni's mouth, even though it stayed inside when Karni let go.
Well, a direction has been set. He should follow it. It pointed toward four gigantic bamboos.
… … …
Siduo was facing a similar problem to Karni, except she didn't have anythings to give her clues on how to progress.
She was sitting on the ground, knocking on her head, feeling frustrated. "Remember dammit!" She knocked on her head harder.
"What did Kiki say back then? What was it! Ugh, stupid past me, you should have listened more! He knew this would happen, why did you believe him half-heartedly!?"
She sighed. "Ugh. And he's already become more and more like I remember him, it will be hard for me to talk back to him soon. He is so damn adorable in this life!"
She was bouncing between frustration and admiring the love of her life, all the while she was slamming the ground.
"ARGH! Dammit! I can't remember!" She hit the ground, her hand lighting aflame in black and white for a split second.
The ground cracked, while hundreds of tiny golden runes and inscriptions spread around in the surroundings, before disappearing as if nothing happened. The crack on the ground returned to normal as well.
Siduo blinked. Those runes. "It's like the ones on the golden island… Solaria!" She shouted inside he Spiritual Sea. "I need a second opinion." Siduo called inside her Spiritual Sea and showed Solaria, the White Sun Tiger, what she saw.
"Those indeed look like the runes of Old Zhou. But why are they here?" Solaria was confused.
"Doesn't matter, but I feel like I know what to look for now." She stood up and punched the ground again, her Purple Demon Eyes activating to see the runes as in detail as possible.
"C'mon, see it." She talked to herself. "What was it again? It's right there somewhere." She felt like she was remembering but struggled to get the exact details.
The symbols disappeared soon after, and she punched the ground again, yet again looking over all the symbols. She saw one on the bamboo and her eyes widened.
"A bamboo? Rune the shape of a palm on bamboos? … Yeah, that was it!" She hit the ground again, taking a closer look at the rune symbols that travelled up the trees and bamboo.
"Right. Follow the palm on four bamboos. That's what he said." She looked past the four bamboos and walked forward, then turned around. The place she was at was gone. She hit the ground, and far on her right, she saw another rune resembling a palm on three bamboos.
"Not that one." She said, then punched again, seeing another palm symbol on the other side. This time on four bamboos.
"Bastard was so secretive back then, but now I feel like I'm learning about every small thing about him, hehe. I'm the secretive one now. Okay then, let's do this."
… … …
Karni's bamboo stick led him through variety of paths. One of which even led him backwards, where the bamboo went inside his mouth in an uncomfortable way to turn him around.
Karni did not make any sensible pattern from this, but the results spoke for themselves. It did not take him long to reach a sight he briefly saw in his vision.
There was a small clearing within the forest, a cliffside going high, but not above the treetops. There was a small cave entrance, and in front of it rested two people that did not look exactly like people.
They were humanoid, slightly demonic in appearance. Deep red and pale white. The two looked at him as he came.
"Ho. My lady. We haven't had a guest in how long?"
"My demon, I think it's been about ten thousand years. He looks quite similar to him as well, don't you think? Just like he said it would be."
"But where is the companion he mentioned? There should be a girl as well, I think."
"Good question. Young man, did you come with a woman?"
Karni blinked, a bit confused at their conversation. He'd been expected since ten thousand years ago? How is that… he shook his head. He had to greet these two first.
"Seniors. It's true, I came here with my fiancée… was I expected?"
"Of course you were. It seems me and my lady have finally reached the end." The man looked at the lady in white full of love.
The lady in white returned a loving smile. "It has been a long time, but it has been a pleasure, my dear demon. Now, let's not confuse the young on anymore."
"Indeed. Young man, you will find what you search for inside the cave. We will wait here until your companion arrives and tell her what happened so she will not worry."
"I…" Karni did not know how to react to all this. They were so nonchalant about it. "Thank you." He bowed and went inside the cave.
The cave, oddly, did not feel moist with a heavy air, like most caves would. It was clearly wet and dripping, but the air was fresh, and the ground was soft like fertile soil. It was also incredibly warm and cold at the same time. Comfortable, yet uncomfortable. It was an odd sensation.
In the middle of it, he saw a piece of bamboo. The piece of bamboo. Small and rich green, with golden striations here and there. He felt it calling to him. Reaching out to him.
He closed in and touched it. Soon, he felt a feeling overwhelm him. Reaching inside him, and suddenly, the world around him changed.
And a storm of four elements began.
… … …
Siduo finally saw the scene that Karni had described to her before. A cliffside not higher than the trees, and a small cave entrance inside it. She felt a storm of elements inside there.
In front of the cave stood the two demonic beings. She was taken aback.
"No way. A Yin Lady and a Yang Demon? Here? Why? How? Ten thousand years ago you guys…"
"Oho? I did not expect anyone today to still remember our species." The demon spoke.
"My demon, I am not sure. Tell us, young lady, how do you know of us. We are the last of our species. Have been for ten thousand years."
"I know." Siduo nodded, in thought. "It's why I was so surprised. I remember helping Karni save the last of you, but to think you ended up here."
Now the two demons were taken aback. "You were there? Then… You're the fiery one?"
Siduo blushed a bit when she heard that. "I was a hothead back then, yes."
"Quite literally." The Yang Demon joked.
Siduo covered her head once again.
The two demonic beings laughed a bit, before standing up. "Well then, my lady, shall we?" The Yang Demon asked.
"Yes, let us finish this." The Yin Lady said and looked to Siduo. "Miss, you can sit over there and wait. The successor will come out when he finishes."
Siduo sat down but was confused. "I was told there was something for me here too, though. Both from this Karni and the one before. He told me you could help me out?"
The two demons paused whatever they were planning and looked confused.
"I'm not quite sure about that," the Yin Lady said. "We were told that we can have our final battle in peace here once the cave was taken care of by the successor. So, I am sorry, but we must finish the way of our people properly."
"Eh?" Siduo frowned, not sure what was happening.
"Shall we, my dear demon?" The Yin Lady looked at the Yang Demon with a small, loving smile.
"Let us, my lovely lady." The Yang Demon bowed slightly.
The two stared at each other for a bit and suddenly exploded in power.
On one side appeared scorching hot power, and on the other, a freezing silver cold.
"Wait, what?" Siduo could not help but stand up, as the two demons clashed, each cutting a deep wound into each other.
"It is the way of our people. Do not interrupt our ritual." The Yin Lady said sternly and then attacked again. Claws of White appeared on her hands, becoming big, and slashed from above.
On the other hand, the Yang Demon's elbow turned into a great scythe and swung from the side. Neither blocked the other. They purely attacked.
Siduo was caught off guard and forced to sit next to the cliff wall. This was a clash she could not interfere in. The power these two were releasing was at least that of a Hyper Douluo.
More great wounds were created. Clash after clash.
Siduo was confused. What was going on? From the cave, she felt the intensity of the elements increase, while here, a world of demons, black and white was created.
Why were they killing each other?