Fei Wu had always known that he was special.
Even now, as he stood atop a fractured observation spire overlooking the ruined expanse of the Artisanship Commission, that truth remained unchanged. It had been evident from the moment of his birth, from the way his mother had said his eyes gleamed with intelligence, from the way elders had commented on the steadiness of his breathing, the firmness of his grip. Talent such as his was not something that could be cultivated. It was something that simply existed, undeniable and self-evident.
He had become a Master in his fifties.
A few decades later, he remained one of the most accomplished cultivators among his peers. While others stagnated or fell to Mara, he had endured. He had refined himself. He had remained loyal to the Denizens of Abundance, that grand and righteous alliance that spanned countless worlds in devotion to Yaoshi's eternal blessing. He had been entrusted with this mission not because he was expendable, but because he was reliable.
Because he was exceptional.
And yet, as he watched from afar, his confidence faltered for the first time in many years.
The Ambrosial Arbor's roots had dominated the battlefield only moments ago, their endless vitality spreading outward like veins beneath flesh. The Transcendent Tyrant born of their power had stood as an immovable guardian, its presence alone enough to deter even the most reckless of enemies.
It should have been invincible.
Instead, it died.
Fei Wu's eyes remained fixed on the distant figure standing amid the aftermath, his pupils trembling despite his efforts to steady himself. He had seen it clearly. Every impossible moment. Every violation of reason.
A Master.
A mere Master.
And yet that individual had fought the Transcendent Tyrant head-on.
He had seen the roots lash out with catastrophic force, each strike capable of reducing Ascended beings to ruin. He had seen the deer regenerate wounds that should have been fatal, its endless vitality sustained by the Ambrosial Arbor itself.
And he had seen that same vitality torn apart.
A massive winged serpent had descended from the heavens like divine judgment, its presence suffocating and absolute. Its jaws had clamped around the Tyrant with undeniable authority, carrying it away from the protection of the Arbor's roots. That alone had been enough to shatter Fei Wu's understanding of reality.
But it had not ended there.
The arrow.
That arrow.
Fei Wu swallowed, his throat dry.
He had seen it streak across the battlefield, crossing an impossible distance in less than a heartbeat. He had seen it pierce through the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor, destroying in an instant what had taken years of careful cultivation to grow.
Years gone.
Just like that.
His fingers trembled as he reached into his robes, retrieving a jade abacus etched with intricate golden runes. His hands fumbled briefly before he activated it, Essence flowing into the artifact as he initiated a communication link.
The device hummed softly.
A moment later, a voice answered.
"Report."
Fei Wu opened his mouth, but no words came out at first. His mind struggled to reconcile what he had witnessed with what he believed to be possible.
"There was… an attack. The Ambrosial Arbor's growth was interrupted."
A pause.
"What do you mean, interrupted?"
Fei Wu licked his lips.
"The Transcendent Tyrant was engaged by a Master."
Silence filled the connection.
"…Repeat that."
Fei Wu's grip tightened on the jade abacus.
"A Master fought the Tyrant. A winged serpent descended from the sky. The roots were destroyed. The Tyrant was slain."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"That is impossible."
"I know."
Fei Wu said quickly, relief flooding him at the validation.
"It should not have been possible. But I saw it. I witnessed everything. The serpent carried the Tyrant away from the roots, and then an arrow—"
Something wet struck the ground nearby.
Fei Wu froze.
Slowly, he turned his head.
One of his coworkers stood several paces away, their body rigid and unmoving. A black arrow protruded from their neck, buried to the fletching.
Blood poured down their robes.
They collapsed.
The jade abacus slipped from Fei Wu's fingers, clattering against the stone.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then panic erupted.
Another arrow flew.
It struck someone through the eye.
Another pierced a chest.
Another severed a throat.
Screams filled the air as Masters scattered in every direction, their composure shattering under the sudden and incomprehensible assault.
Fei Wu remained rooted in place, his mind refusing to process what was happening.
The arrows came from impossibly far away.
From where the Ambrosial Arbor's roots had stood.
That distance was insurmountable. No Master possessed such precision. No Master possessed such reach.
Another arrow struck someone beside him, punching through their skull with effortless finality.
Fei Wu's breathing became shallow and uneven.
This wasn't possible.
This wasn't—
Something grabbed him.
They emerged from his own shadow, wrapping around his limbs before he could react. A sterile membrane sealed itself over his mouth, cutting off his scream as he was dragged backward into suffocating darkness.
His heart pounded violently in his chest.
He tried to summon a Memory.
He tried to fight.
Something flashed through the air.
Pain exploded in his arms.
He looked down.
They were gone.
His hands were gone.
Blood poured from the stumps as shock overwhelmed his senses.
The arrows outside continued.
One by one.
His comrades died.
A voice whispered beside his ear.
"Come on, come on… won't you try harder?"
It sounded amused.
Mocking.
"Imagine a pretty lady walked by and saw you in your sorry state. Is that really the kind of performance you want to put on?"
Fei Wu tried to breathe.
He couldn't.
Darkness swallowed him.
***
When he awoke, the world had changed.
He lay on cold metal, his body restrained by black chains that bound him completely. He could not move. Could not struggle.
Panic surged through him.
Before him sat a figure clad in onyx armor, their posture relaxed as they sharpened a ghostly stiletto against a simple rock. Their mask was unmistakable — black lacquerwood carved into the visage of a three-horned demon.
Mongrel.
The Stellaron Hunter.
Fei Wu's heart nearly stopped.
The masked figure paused, tilting their head slightly before speaking.
"Who do you work for?"
The voice was calm.
Fei Wu did not hesitate.
"I serve the Denizens of Abundance. We worship Yaoshi, the Aeon of Abundance."
The masked figure was silent for a moment.
"I know. Did you have anything to do with the Ambrosial Arbor's growth?"
Fei Wu swallowed.
"Yes."
Another pause.
"I knew that too."
The figure rose, stepping closer.
"I am omniscient. I know all there ever was, is, and will be."
Fei Wu's fear intensified.
"Hand over your Memories. If you want to live, of course."
Fei Wu hesitated.
Then he felt a hand press against his head.
Contact.
He complied.
Memories flowed outward, leaving him hollow and diminished. He gave away half of them. The ones he no longer needed. The ones he could afford to lose.
When it was done, Mongrel nodded.
"I will honor my promise."
Relief flooded Fei Wu.
Then the stiletto moved.
Horror filled him as he activated his Aspect, diamond skin spreading across his body.
Mongrel tilted their head.
Then stabbed.
The blade slid through diamond and bone as if they did not exist.
Fei Wu died instantly.
Raising a hand, Sunny removed the mask, revealing his pallid features. Shaking his head, his hair returned to its usual position, returning to its usual color as well as he used the Autumn Leaf to change it back.
He looked toward the rising sun, its light illuminating the silent dock.
He watched it for a moment.
Then, placing Weaver's Mask back on his face, he disappeared.