[Palace of Supreme Dragon Glory]
(Taiyi Hall)
"When last did we see each other?" asked Jinhui with a look of interest. "I think it would be the day I left the capital to govern the Su City", said Jinhui, replying to his own question, and Taiyu looked at him, smiling softly as he remembered the time. "It seems you have been quite good in Su City", said Taiyu jokingly as he smiled, stroking his beard.
"Your majesty, you didn't just summon us here for us to have a little reunion," said Jinhui as he looked at Zhi'an, insinuating that he called them here for a reason. "Yes, I did summon you both here for a reason. Recent events have been alarming and concerning, not only for the Imperial family but also the Eternal Realm", explained Zhi'an calmly as he sat down.
"Your majesty, Lord Arceus' condition is quite concerning. If he continues to remain the way he is now, then I am afraid that stripping the empress of her title and placing her under lockdown wouldn't suffice the Imperial Court", said Jinhui, reminding Zhi'an of the situation before him.
"That is why I have….", said Zhi'an before he was interupped by a servant, "Reporting, Your Majesty", said the servant as he knelt before the emperor, "Lord Shangyu says Lord Arceus is awake" reported the servant, "What! Really", said Zhi'an as he was visibly shocked and relieved at the same time. "Your Majesty, we should head to Lord Arceus at once, then", suggested the State preceptor calmly. "Yes! Let go", said Zhi'an as he rushed from his seat and headed out of the room, and Jinhui and Taiyu also went with him.
As the news of Arceus being awake spreads across the palace, Monster Realm is experiencing something strange.
[Monster Realm]
(Roaring Beast Palace)
In the Monster Realm, the leopard guard has just arrived back from the Eternal Realm and is heading to the royal palace to report back to the Kaiser. As they reached the palace, they were greeted by the head servant of the Kaiser, "Captain, this way, please", said the head servant as he guided them to the Kaiser. As they were walking, they entered a huge hall with rows of columns, and at the end, there was a throne with a figure sitting on it.
"Greeting, Kaiser," said the captain and his soldiers, kneeling. As they knelt, the figure stood up and walked down the stairs from his throne. As he came into the light, a slim figure appeared with long black hair running down his back, with lion-like facial features looking rather stern and serious, with horns coming out at the top of his head, with a forehead crown. He walked up to the captain and took his arm, "Rise", said he to them, and lifted the captain slightly up.
Elsewhere in the Eternal Realm, Zhi'an, Jinhui, and Taiyu arrive at Arceus' private chambers.
"His Majesty the Emperor!" announced a servant, loudly and clearly.
"Where is Arceus?" asked Zhi'an concerning while looking around. "Greetings, Your Majesty", greeted Shangyu, who was standing by Arceus' desk as Zhi'an entered the room. "My father left a while ago", answered Shangyu as he looked at the people who accompanied Zhi'an, surprised. "Where did he go?" asked Taiyu, curiously.
"I don't know, but he went in the direction of the Bifrost", said Shangyu as he was about to exit the room, "Farewell, Your Majesty".
The State Preceptor then looked at Zhi'an and bid him farewell, "Farewell, Your Majesty". He then flashed off. Zhi'an and Jinhui looked on, very confused, and noticed something seemed off.
At the Bifrost, the gatekeepers were standing guard. At that moment, Arceus arrived at the Bifrost. "Greetings, My Lord", said the gatekeepers as they bowed, looking very confused and surprised.
"Rise".
As Arceus commanded them to rise and open the Bifrost, Taiyu appeared next to him, but Arceus was unshaken by his presence. As he appeared, Taiyu acted as if he just coincidentally bumped into Arceus, "Ahh, My Prince", said he with a surprised voice and expression on his face.
"Greetings, State Preceptor!" said the gatekeepers as they noticed that he had arrived. As the gatekeepers opened the Bifrost, Arceus and Taiyu stood next to each other, but Arceus seemed as if he didn't notice Taiyu. Taiyu smiled gently, and the two of them entered the Bifrost and teleported off.
[Monster Realm]
(Roaring Beast Palace)
"What have you discovered?" asked the Kaiser, with a stern voice as he looked the captain directly in the eyes. "Your Majesty, the Eternal Capital seemed rather stable, but things don't seem quite clear; there was a disturbing presence that felt familiar to me, almost like that from the desert sea", explained the captain as he seemed rather disturbed by the finding. "The Desert Sea, impossible that place has been sealed off", said the Kaiser, rather assured and certain that it wasn't the case.
As he was explaining himself to the captain, he suddenly felt a surge of energy that felt extremely familiar.
"His here", said the Kaiser softly to himself. "Come with me", ordered the Kaiser to the captain and his personal guard.
As Arceus and Taiyu arrived, they immediately flashed off in the direction of the Deserted Sea.
[Monster Realm]
(Deserted Sea)
At the deserted sea, a strange anomaly occurred when the ground that had been drained of its water started to crack open, and the ground around it started to tremble. A massive mountain arose from the barren seabed. As it reached its highest point, a large crack appeared, splitting the mountain in half, revealing a door-like opening. As the trembling stopped, Taiyu and Arceus arrived at the deserted sea.
"Ahhh, what a sight", said Taiyu, with a rather surprised look on his face, stroking his beard. "Old man, please, you know full well what happened here", said Arceus as he was insinuating that the state preceptor knew something about this place. As Arceus was reminding Taiyu of his role in the current problem, the Kaiser and his men arrived.
"Ahh, long time no see, your highness", said Taiyu as he greeted the Kaiser upon his arrival, rather docile.
"State Preceptor of the Eternal Realm, still as weird always", responded the Kaiser with a gentle smile, bowing.
"Greetings, Lord Arceus", said the Kaiser as he greeted him.
"The Kaiser of the Monster Realm, Mu Changhe", said Arceus as he looked at the Kaiser, "it seems you have a big problem at hand".
"Yes, I never thought this would happen", said Changhe, rather surprised and uncertain of the outcome of this event. "What do you suppose we do?" asked Taiyu as he appeared rather confused. "Old man, if you're going to play dumb, you can just leave", said Arceus, rather annoyed by the reactions of the state preceptor.
As they looked, a huge crack sound could be heard across the barren sea, coming from the mountain, and the sound of splashing waves rang through their ears.
"It's starting to break the seal", said Changhe fearfully. It was as if something was pushing to get out. "What is that?" asked the captain, curiously. "That is the Primal Sea", answered Arceus clearly. "What?" said the captain, shocked, "I thought it was gone, swallowed by the forgotten void".
"No, little captain, it still exists, and it was sealed long ago by the High Gods, and now something is causing it to stir", explained the State preceptor calmly.
"The Primal Sea, is not only the raging sea of the Monster realm but all so one of the many gate ways of the, Infinite Ocean", explained Arceus as he looked at the mountain with a face of concern, "we must contain the massive force of energy released by the Primal Sea to prevent it from overflowing into the Monster Realm and bursting into the other Divine Realms", explained Arceus further. "What is so special about this particular part of the Infinite Ocean that it's rushing here?" asked the captain, concerned.
"This is the only gateway remaining that leads directly to the hidden realm", said Taiyu as he stroked his beard and smiled. The sound started to get louder, and the energy force started to leak out of the cracks in the mountain gap.
"Hidden Realm, what hidden realm?" asked Xijang, one of the soldiers and a lieutenant of the captain. "The Mysterious, Shadow Realm", answered Changhe, assured. "The Shadow Realm, I thought it was destroyed", said the soldier, shocked and scared. "No, it was simply sealed off", responded Taiyu.
"Begin Formation!" shouted Arceus.
Taiyu and Changhe started a very special array,
As Taiyu and Changhe held the array, Arceus used his inner force, releasing massive flow of pure energy and directing it at the mountain gap, as he did so the ground started shaking again and the cracks in the gap of air grew larger until finally burst forth a massive wave of water so vast and in large quantities that the sear force of the break pushed both Taiyu and Changhe back, but they stabilized their footing and pushed back the force of energy of the Primal Sea.
When Arceus finished breaking the seal, he told Changhe to follow, "Captain, remain and aid the State Preceptor in holding the Formation", commanded Changhe sternly, "State Preceptor, hold the forth", instructed Arceus and as they flashed off into a small shadow hole in the gateway, the captain and the rest of his men aided in the formation.
"Let's hope they can find it", said Taiyu as he looked on.