Last Breath

Gu Erin looked one last time at his opponents, each one of them preparing for the onslaught that only a cornered rat could muster. Gu Erin smiled thinking of that image as he aimed to burn each and every one of their faces into his mind. So that if his soul were to ever be reborn his hatred could live on. Gu Erin noted the one feature that primarily led to the downfall of humanity, or at least the humans of Earth. Some would blame demons or devils for the destruction of Earth or perhaps corrupt angels seeking to purge the world of heretics. If that were the case humanity would have been far more united. But, in the end it was not the angels or the demons, it was another faction of humanity who slaughtered the people of Earth and enslaved the somewhat useful survivors.

Gu Erin fueled by his hatred sent boundless amounts of qi to his legs, not caring about the backlash his meridians would suffer. The ground exploded underneath him as a small crater was all that remained where Gu Erin once stood. In the sky the countless cultivators brought themselves within a formation during the small instant it took for Gu Erin to reach them.

The void shuddered as a barrier made of pure qi blocked Gu Erin's path, yet the smile on Gu Erin's face never faded for a moment as he swung his estoc. The blade flashed out faster than any cultivator could keep up with, the only thing visible was the pale blue flame that formed its afterimage. The barrier made of condensed qi instantly broke like an egg being smashed by a rock, the backlash causing a few of the enemy cultivators to cough out a mouth full of blood.

Before any of the opposing cultivators could react or reform a defensive formation Gu Erin was already amongst them. Each swing of his estoc sent a blade of sword qi that made the void collapse in its wake. However, Gu Erin did not stop as his aura exploded burning his own cultivation for every last drop of power he could muster, not willing to allow his enemy a chance to breathe.

The dark clouds above that once threatened to rain, as if the very world was about to weep instantly dispersed, Powerful gales swept across the battlefield that was once a small city. Yet with each swing of Gu Erin's sword a stray beam of sword qi would divide the city below causing even further destruction. Gu Erin's aura increased to another level as he used a martial art to break through a major realm not fearing the backlash.

The crazed smile on Gu Erin's face made a few of the enemy cultivators wish that they had refused this mission, as they felt they were staring death in the face. However, just as Gu Erin was about to bisect another cultivator who was still trying to comprehend the barrier had been broken, a flash of light intercepted the blade. Although it managed to intercept the blade it was not enough to stop the overwhelming momentum as the sword qi managed to mortally wound the dumbstruck cultivator.

Gu Erin traced the qi and found its source. It was one of the elites, Gu Erin no longer wasted his time on the fodder and formed a small qi platform under his foot as he seemed to blink towards the elite. This time the cultivator was able to react, at least barely as Gu Erin was now at least two major realms above him. His very aura was making most of the enemy cultivators feel as if they were in a quagmire. Only the truly strong could move let alone react and counter his blow. Gu Erin sniffed these individuals out like a rabid dog finding the only prey for miles.

Only a few seconds had passed since he had kicked off the ground. But, Gu Erin's smile only grew wider as he only became more crazed as the blood kept flying around him. Staining his armor and face a terror inducing red, like he was the incarnation of a bloodthirsty asura. With each second dozens of cultivators fell, all of them primarily elites, however, Gu Erin notice that the front lines primarily consisted of the traitors of Earth. As much as he wished he could stay and cause a blood bath that even the devils of the underworld would nod in approval of, he had to move on to better targets. His only and last goal in this desperate assault was to make the despicable faction of invading humans suffer a loss.

He knew that the Earth would be swallowed, but Gu Erin refused to go down without taking a few teeth and making their guts turn green with regret. His smile turned manic as he imagined the elders and leader of the faction spitting out a mouthful of blood when they read the report of the losses.

This very thought fueling him Gu Erin channeled absurd amounts of Qi through his movement technique as he made a blood path towards the strongest sources of qi. Ones that even rivaled his own. The enemy cultivators realizing this tried to hastily stop him. Those who weren't able to catch up with his speed tried to barrage him with ranged techniques, as those in his path tried their best to delay him.

Gu Erin laughed at their futile attempts to stop him, although he just broke through to the core formation stage he was emitting the power of a golden core stage cultivator, of which there were only two others on Earth. Each one of them being saint sons of their faction.

With that very thought Gu Erin estoc finally met a force that contended with his own. Erin looked in the eyes of the boy who looked no older than him. However, Gu Erin knew that he was far younger, factions would use countless priceless herbs and treasures to raise the innate talent of the heirs of their faction. This in turn led to remarkable growth speed, these children were never given a childhood as they were immediately thrust into the fire to be tempered. Gu Erin however, could not give two fucks how old these cultivators looked. They took part even if it was a minor role in the destruction of everything he had known and held dear.

Faces flashed past his mind, momentarily distracting him from one of the counter attacks from the saint son. Gu Erin felt the wound immediately close as the overwhelming qi repaired his body, but it caused a little bit of his qi to run rampant and escape his control. Gu Erin ignored the pain in his meridians as he blasted the saint son with a lightning technique of his own creation at point blank range. The technique caused the skin on Gu Erin's face and hands to blister, yet the saint son faired far worse as it looked like he had just come out of a lightning tribulation.

Gu Erin sensed a strong burst of qi behind him, unable to properly react and only relying on his own instinct Gu Erin dodged to the side. The burst of spear intent made Gu Erin frown as it tore a long gash on his side, that pierced right through the armor as if it was tofu. Gu Erin immediately turned to face the other saint son of the invading faction. He almost looked identical to the previous saint son, twins perhaps? Though Gu Erin wasn't given much time to contemplate as a crushing spear intent was sent his way in the form of a dragon formed of wind.

Gu Erin channeled his profound movement technique to dodge the spear intent, however as the dragon passed the very void collapsed causing another deep wound to appear on his chest. Gu Erin's smile was completely replaced with a gloomy frown. He had temporarily broken through to the golden core stage by using a martial art, burning his own cultivation, and fueling it with his own life force. Yet what was a fake golden core compared to the real thing? Let alone one, he was facing two and Gu Erin could sense that the saint son he had blasted away with lightning was already fast approaching. Gu Erin realized this was the end.

Even the opposing saint son whom expertly wielded the spear knew this as well, even if Gu Erin was talented the foundation of your backer was the most important under the Heavens. A victorious smile appeared on his face, yet….

Gu Erin returned it with one of his own as he started to do something that was beyond taboo, a technique that would have all of your descendants hunted down and erased from history, though Gu Erin didn't care at this point. He wanted them all dead, all their prodigies, their saint sons, those traitors, everyone.

The saint son's eyes went wide seeming to realize what Gu Erin was doing, he screamed in panic. "Stop!" His voice boomed as his spear darted forward with every ounce of power the saint son could muster, even resorting to burn some of his own blood essence to reach Gu Erin in time.

Yet as the spear pierced Gu Erin, his smile at the saint son only grew wider, his grin was beyond manic going into the realms of madness.

"See you in Hell, Situ Faction." With those final words Gu Erin combusted his divine soul, the very essence of his being and existence. The explosion that followed would have put nuclear bombs to shame. Yet there was no sound, only a blast of light that had vaporized everything into ashes. There was only desolation for a hundred miles with the previous small city as its epicenter.

The world once again turned to an eerie silence.

***

In a place where time or existence had no control over-

A being of unimaginable power cultivated the pure chaotic cosmic energy of a universe yet to be born, he had spent a few epochs finding this little treasure trove yet he was being disturbed. Granted it wasn't like cultivation was beneficial to him, it was more like an unbreakable habit at this point. As he had reached the peak, there was only one more step to the absolute pinnacle of existence and he had yet to find it.

Bored, the entity looked into the future of this universe his mind combing over the countless planets that were yet to be formed as if he were browsing goods at a market stall. Stopping the entity smiled as he focused in a particular direction.

"It seemed this universe will give birth to another human clan hmmm?" The entity paused as his voice shook everything that has been and ever will be, his aura trying its best to keep reality from breaking apart.

His eyes finally opened looking like the endless cosmos were bound within them, his vision pierced time itself as he watched the battle Gu Erin had just fought. He chuckled at the youth's choice to destroy his very existence to kill his enemies. It brought a breath of life within the almighty entity as it reminded him of his youth. It was something he would have done; he would have rather self-destructed then let himself face defeat. It was this very mentality that had brought him to the peak.

The almighty being paused, "perhaps?"

Yet to answer his questions the very fabric of reality twisted and warped in response to the being's questioning intent, as if it knew that he was about to mess with the natural order… again.

The being lifted an eyebrow. "Oh come now Heavens, Fate wouldn't mind now would she?"

The fabric of reality twisted again far more fiercely this time, as if it was trying to answer how much Fate would very much mind.

Yet the being only laughed, "ha as if I would care what that controlling bitch would think!" the being laughed as he grabbed. When he opened his hand a bright ball of light appeared in his grasp and he was holding it so gently, like it was the most fragile existence, after all he had just reformed this soul, trying to make it withstand his existence required it to be strengthened beyond what was normal. It still took an immense effort on the being's part not to accidentally snuff out the little soul, there was only so much he could do to reinforce it before it quite literally imploded..

The fabric of reality folded in on itself as if exasperated with the being's actions, it would have stopped him if it could, yet this being no longer fell under its jurisdiction. He was the only being on his level and only one step away from becoming his own Origin Source.

When the soul was misplaced a majestic and grand web of fate was revealed, but in the next second it shattered. A soundless screech phased through the metaphysical. If Fate had hands and a mouth it would be beating the being senseless as it cursed him up to the tenth generation.

The being however, only smiled as if Fates tireless efforts meant nothing to him, which seemed to aggravate Fate even more. The fabric of reality seemed to deflate as if depressed, not looking forward to the absolute shit storm that was about to come next. Only the almighty being was happy with his acquisition.

"I think you're the answer I've been looking for little soul." The being said as he looked at the small formless orb of light.

Everything stopped, the fabric of reality otherwise known as the Heavens and Fate seemed to go absolutely still as if they were never a metaphysical existence in the first place. Apprehension filled the beings as they realized where this was going, and found that their very concepts restricted them from interfering. Making the being only smile wider.

"Yes, I choose you to prove my Dao and concept. Cause chaos little one, prove that chaos has its place within existence." With that the being let the little soul go, the being's Dao and concept marking his soul. The being then replaced his soul in the flows of time.