《BLACK TIGER GOD (黑虎神)》Chapter 7
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Dai Wen is sitting still in his cage, overhearing Shogun's speach -- which is taking place outside. He pays close attention to detail.
Shogun starts with a long silence. Not an awkward silence, but more like a daring and suspensful silence.
"Two decades and four centuries ago, after the creation of earth and the heavens, the dragon god Shenlong created this very land you live in. The center of the world, Shojing City, is where your feet stand today. This country, despite popular belief, was BUILT off peace, balance, and love. But, there is a problem. This isn't a Shojing City problem. This isn't a poor people's problem. This is a national problem... I've learned a lot in the past few days. Things about the takers and the taken. The wolf and the sheep. The tortoise and the hare. The crow and the pitcher. To most people, these stories may seem like -- well, kid shit. And I thought so too. But a little friend told me the importance of--"
Then another, completely unexpected, long silence, followed by screams. Dai Wen's head is filled with anxiety and fearful visions of what the screams may be coming from --
Hattori rushes into Shogun's family room. He rests his hands on the cage's iron bars. "Hey, there's been a problem. I know you and your people don't like my people -- to be honest, we don't like yall either -- but we need your help." Hattori says, surprisingly politely.
"Shogun knows that I can break out of this cage at any moment. It's a given that I've chosen to stay with him. Why do you think that is, General?" Dai Wen says.
Hattori doesn't know how to respond. His mind races for an answer. I-I-I don't know."
Dai Wen laughs in Hattori's face. He easily breaks through the iron bars. "There's a time and a place for everything, General Hattori. Once you learn that -- you'll be unstoppable."
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Dai Wen begins to walk out the room, but Hattori tries to interupt him. "Where are you going?" Hattori asks.
Dai Wen looks back at the General and grins. "Making sure Shogun lives. I have a feeling about what might be going on."
Li Wei, Mei Lian, and Xue Lian continue to chase Shogun. Shogun leads them deep into a forest, and just stops running. The Shinobi, confused, stop too.
"I've lured you into an area where -- there's nobody around to stop you. If you must kill me -- then do it. I don't want to go down a villain, y'know. I'm trying to change." Shogun says.
Li Wei is hesitant to kill the tyrant, but Mei Lian and Xue Lian are fixated on his assassination. "Am I supposed to feel sympathy toward you?! If I killed you right here, RIGHT NOW, there would be NO FUCKING REMORSE!!" Mei Lian exclaims.
Li Wei intervenes. "Mei Lian -- it's not worth it. If we can change the Wushi Party's vision--"
"There's no way to change them, Li Wei. Shogun will either die a hero -- or a traitor. And that's that." Tears fall from Mei Lian's cheek. She is broken. She wants to kill Shogun -- knowing all the bad thing's Shogun has done -- but for some reason, Mei Lian feels that is the wrong thing to do.
Li Wei rests his hand on her cheek. He gazes into her eyes. "Mei Lian... If we're going to kill Shogun -- let's at least do it together".
Shogun, even though he knows he could easily defeat the three Shinobi, raises his hands in the air.
Mei Lian raises her bow to Shogun's head. Li Wei supports her. "Three..."
Shogun's mind races. "Two..."
Shogun enters his subconsious. His subconsious is very different than the others'. His subconsious is orange, with golden symbols lined across the wall. Jinshi, his beast spirit, a large tiger with metal armour, stands in front of him.
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Shogun... Don't let me die. Please don't let them erase me.
Shogun is conflicted. He wants to die. He knows he's a horrible person and he hates himself for it. But something just feels wrong to him. Jinshi continues speaking to Shogun, telepathically.
I don't want to die yet, Shogun. I'm too young to die.
Shogun wakes up. "One..." Li Wei signals Mei Lian. The arrow flies straight toward Shogun's head, but Shogun's body is engulfed in metal at the last second. Shogun smiles, with a new twisted -- newfound will to live.
Shogun grabs Mei Lian's neck and raises her into the air. He squeezes tightly, intensely choking her. The world around Mei Lian begins to fade. Li Wei and Xue Lian are screaming, but it's too late. Shogun grabs a knife from his belt and stabs Mei Lian in the stomach.
Blood drips from Mei Lian's mouth and stomach. "My blood... My sweat... Your tears".
Shogun closes his eyes for a moment, but opens them wider than before. The expression on his face isn't broken anymore -- he's lost his mind. "TEARS OF JOY!!" Shogun pushes the blade further into Mei Lian's stomach. She falls to the floor.
"MEI LIAN!" Li Wei calls out to her. He feels hopeless.
Mei Lian, even though she's about to die, smiles at Li Wei. "Li Wei... I love you. Never forget me, okay?" Mei Lian rests her head on the ground and bleeds out.
"MEEEEIIII LIIIAAAANNNN!!!!" Li Wei breaks down. He falls to his knees and cries. Xue Lian does the same. She closes her sister's eyes, and stares at Shogun with a furious look.
Li Wei stands up. His fiery, white and blue aura returns. His long, black hair shines in the night sky and flows in the wind. He wipes his mouth, and looks straight at Li Wei. His silver eyes glisten in the moonlight.
"Today is your last day on earth, Shogun. Remember this conversation in the afterlife."
Shogun conjures a steel sword. He grips it's hilt tightly.
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