Chapter 23: The Past or Future.

The ship Crule took from Warden Brandon had a med bay. It wasn’t anything fancy but it had a bed and first aid tools. Crule pressed the button on the key and the door opened. They quickly went in and closed the door. Shin carefully placed the cocoon on the bed.

[Crule]: Let me take a look at her condition.

He placed his hand on the cocoon and scan it with his energy without his attribute attached.

[Crule]: This doesn’t seem good…

[Shin]: Shit, give it to me straight, can you save her?

[Crule]: *shaking his head* My attribute doesn’t have capability to repair this kind of damage, but it doesn’t mean she is un-save-able. We just need to find the right person.

[Shin]: Do you know anyone who can?

[Crule]: …I don’t know.

[Shin]: What do you mean you don’t know?

[Crule]: I know a guy who can help…but I do not know where he is or if he can yet.

[Shin]: *panicking* What do you mean YET?!

[Crule]: Let me explain…

Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

[Crule]: Shit, did they find us?

Crule went to the cockpit and looked at the monitor. There was a single man standing at the door of the ship staring at the camera.

[Crule]: Shin, you know this guy?

Shin went over and looked at the monitor.

[Shin]: That…he was a candidate of the Antagonist Games. He was with me at the tests.

[Crule]: This aura…

Crule opened the door.

[Shin]: What are you doing?! Isn’t he an enemy?

[Crule]: Not exactly.

______

The man who walked in was a silent tall man. He was the clergyman Shin saw at the meeting.

[Crule]: I assume the white rider sent you.

[Clergyman]: No, but I assumed I though talk to you.

[Crule]: *sigh* So you must be Chun Qin.

[Chun Qin]: So you know of me.

[Crule]: Sort of. Where is the white rider right now?

[Chun Qin]: In hiding.

[Crule]: Looking at your aura I assume she took you under her wing?

[Chun Qin]: I owe my life to her. Being her disciple is my honor.

[Crule]: Well since you’re here you might as well listen to my story too. We are going to need your help. Shin come here I will tell you guys my story.

______

[Crule]: I was born on a prison rig on the moon of Gluttony. At the age of twelve, my group got into an accident and were taken by hostile insects. We were almost all wiped out, only I remained. Being chased by the bugs further and further down, I found a person. She offered me a deal. She would save me and in return I would free her. Due to the situation, I accepted the deal. In order to free her, she lend me a portion of her power. I escaped the prison and came to Noxia.

On Noxia I wandered a while before I found a place to call home. I worked a few years at a local restaurant. That restaurant was yours Shin. There you taught me many things including how to fight and to control the power I was given. But I noticed how you were always depressed, as if you have lost all hope. Somehow in me you saw a child you never had. Then I learned about your wife. As the year pass by, your depression turned into anger. You wanted revenge on your wife’s killers.

We participated in the Antagonist Games in order to get close to your wife’s murderer. There we learned the actual purpose of the Games. We tried to stop that asshole Grimly but we were far too late by then. He succeeded and seemed to disappear for a few years.

We kept looking for him everywhere but he couldn’t be found anywhere. Few years passed and I met the woman I loved. We were together for only a short time as Grimly returned as a monster beyond all our imagination. I manage to free the person who helped me all those years ago and she bestow upon me all her powers. The rest of the riders also passed on their full powers to their successor. Together we faced the monster Grimly. But we have failed again. We waited too long and his power far surpasses the power of the four horsemen.

So as a last ditch effort, the Sage of Time gave me one last chance. He allowed one person to go back in time, to warn everyone.

I had to finish the fight between Grimly and us in the original world, so I send the one I loved with the concentration of my memories and power. She came back in time to the twelve year old me and I received my memories and a large portion of my power.

Sadly she couldn’t stay with us as time travel always have its consequences and she passed away after giving me her own crystal. So now that I know what’s going to happen, I came to gather all my friends once again so we can stop this apocalypse before it got to the point of no return.

This is why I call you teacher, Shin.

[Shin]: This…this is a lot to take in.

[Crule]: At the very least we were able to prevent Kate’s death. So, so far we are doing alright.

[Chun Qin]: I see…I believe you since a disciple of a rider wouldn’t lie to another.

[Shin]: A rider? What is that?

[Crule]: If I remember, the pale rider escaped from his seal years ago. I think he took in a disciple and that person is your father Charles Wu. After Charles died, he made a deal with the pale rider to make you his new disciple. This explains why you have his power.

[Shin]: But I have never met the rider.

[Crule]: Which is why your power is far below me and Chun Qin. You only inherit a small portion of the portion that Charles got from the rider. Only receiving a percentage of a percentage, naturally it’s not as strong as our aura which is more pure.

[Shin]: Buts it’s still stronger than everyone else.

[Crule]: You think you can compare the power of an ancient personification of bane with that of normal people?

[Shin]: I see…So I have to meet this pale rider to get stronger.

[Crule]: Yes, to protect Kate, you need to get stronger. But first, Chun Qin, since you inherit the power of the white rider, do you think you can heal Kate?

[Chun Qin]: For telling me such a story and warning me about the future, I will gladly help.

He walked over the cocoon and placed his hand on it. He infused his attribute with the energy released and the black cocoon seemed to turn white from the light.

[Chun Qin]: This is quite difficult, she is really close to death.

[Shin]: Can you save her?

[Chun Qin]: I cannot guarantee I can fully recover her but I can say I can get her out of the critical zone.

[Shin]: That’s good enough, as long as she’s still alive.

The cocoon kept on giving off light. Twenty minutes later, Chun Qin was covered in sweat and seemed incredibly fatigued. He lift his hand up and sighed.

[Chun Qin]: I have done all I can.

[Shin]: Thank you, thank you so much.

[Chun Qin]: Anything for a fellow disciple of a rider.

[Crule]: She’s awake.

Crule opened the cocoon and Kate lifted her head out of it.

[Kate]: What happened, where am I? Shin, Shin where are you?

[Shin]: Kate! I’m here, I’m here.

[Kate]: Shin, what happened, where am I, who are these people?

[Shin]: These people saved you honey.

[Kate]: Oh…I remember, I got shot…

[Shin]: It’s ok now honey, you’re safe.

Shin hugged her and was crying. Kate patted his back.

[Kate]: There, there, I’m here now.

Crule and Chun Qin left them to themselves and walked out of the med bay.

[Chun Qin]: He is an emotional man. I’m amazed he kept his emotions even after accepting the pale rider’s powers.

[Crule]: Teacher is a strong man. I respect him no matter how he is currently.

[Chun Qin]: So what are you going to do now?

[Crule]: I’m going to wait till those two settle down and go find my loved one.

[Chun Qin]: Ahaha, so you’re a man of emotion as well.

[Crule]: Maybe I am…maybe I am.

Crule stare off at a distance. He remember Ming’s face before she died.

[Crule]: I’m coming Ming, wait for me.