A Battle Scarred Shogun...

In a clearing, at the foot of The Sacred Pillars he stands... His heart is calm and his face emotionless.. In one hand, lies the most feared weapon in all the Runiverse.. The Soul Harvester or what he refers to as Hell's Wind Staff...

In the other, below a tightly gripped fist, hangs the head of a once all powerful warrior General, Tien Ta, still leaking and face in a relaxed state of shock. Nearby, lays two severed arms and a still gurgling torso adorned with the finest armor in the land. Blood stains the ground...

He tosses the leader's head out forward. It bounces twice, rolls then skids to a stop at the feet of a once arrogant army. They pause for a moment in disbelief. Many wisely flee. Dozens steel their nerves and charge the lone man.

Calmly, the Shaolin Monk raises his scythe high into the air. In an instant, the sky darkens and screams, booming with thunder and lightning. Beneath him, on the earth, a golden glow in the shape of an ornate "W" can be seen. His eyes are now white hot and emitting a faint steam. Casting his spell he shouts... "BRING THE MUTHAFUCKIN RUCKUS!" then slams the heel of the mighty weapon into the earth. At the speed of sound, the shockwave hits the charging warriors. Their skin along with their flesh is instantly torn away and flung back in ribbons of crimson while their skeletons continue forward a half step before turning to dust and following suit. Trees, in every direction, are blown back and snap at the base, ivory pillars and statues crack, crumble then collapse. Slowly the monk rises while the sky clears and the rumbling settles. His weapon, still humming with power, now rests gently at his side...

It was only moments ago, before this battle,

that Archmagus Bolin of Avalon was resting against the base of a mighty willow tree studying his ancient scrolls while his companion snacked on an apple.

"Hey Bol, wanna hear a joke?" said the Albino Rat with a smirk, mouth half full of chewed apple.

Shaking his head "Absolutely not." Said the Shaolin wizard, not lifting his gaze from his reading. Although Wu was his greatest friend, he had heard his twisted brand of humor far too many times.

"What the fuck C'mon! Im bored! Just one... please?" Wu said begging.

"I'm trying to rest. The answer is no." Bolin said coolly.

Wu sighed loudly "Okay, okay fine. Forget it. I do have a question I've always been curious about.. is it true that being a Shaolin monk allows you to spit razor sharp darts?"

Prideful, the mighty wizard raised his head. "Yes. It is true. With eons of practice, determination, along with my passage through the thirty six chambers of death, I have indeed achieved this ability."

"Wow! Thats amazing!" Said Wu. "So you've been around a very long time then??"

Confused, the wizard responded "Yes Wu... You know that Im 10,304 years old..."

The rat stood up smiling... "Then tell me, old man, Is it true that you have also gained the ability to fart dust?! AAAAAhhhaaaa hahaha!!!" Now rolling on his back in laughter and satisfaction, Wu screeched "Aaaahahahaha Now that is a true super power! And if that's true, then yo mamma is so old she has a separate entrance for..."

"STOP! No more!" Slumping his head into his hands and hiding a slight smile, the wizard replied "Why... why must you torment me with such perverted filth? You truly are disgusting, my friend. There is something deeply wrong with you."

"Hahaha! Thats why you love me!" Wu said, standing and wiping away tears. "But seriously, lets talk some more about how old you are! Ahhhahaha... Huh?"

"BREEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOO... DONG... DONG... " Wu's voice was cut short by the sound of a warrior battle trumpet, accompanied by bells nearby. Slowly, the sound of marching boots could be heard.

"BOLIIIIIN OF AVALON! I KNOW THAT YOU HEAR MY BELLZ OF WAR! SHOW YOURSELF IF YOU DARE! WHEN I AM DONE WITH YOU, WE ARE PLANNING A TRIP TO THAT LITTLE SHAOLIN TEMPLE OF YOURS! MY ARMY CAN NOT WAIT TO VISIT YOUR VILLAGE!!!" A voice boomed with laughter.

Bolin rose. "General Tien Ta of Deaths Gate." He said plainly.

"I've heard a lot about this guy... and all of it bad." Wu said. "Supposedly, he's killed over a hundred wizards in single handed combat. What's worse, are the things he does after. This guys a sick fuck... and you think Im disgusting. Sheesh!"

The sound of war drums could now be heard bellowing a deep, violent medley, vibrating the foliage around them with their force. A familiar bass line known across the land as TRIUMPH. "BOOOOM... BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOOOM... BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOOM..."

"I need you to leave." Bolin says calmly.

"You think I'm worried about these clowns!? Im gonna bring the ruckus to these cowards!" Wu said, fists clenched, eyes glowing red and his body rapidly growing in size.

"No. I need you to go back to the village." Bolin said, now walking towards the source of the drums. Stopping abruptly, and looking back at his friend "Go home and pour me a mug of ale. I'll be there before it is warm. Oh, and tell my father, Ason, not to finish it all."

"What?! I'm not scared of these bozos!" Wu said with anger.

The monk sighed and said "Its not them you should be worried about..."

A look of relief and understanding flashed across Wu's face "Ahhh... your gonna do that whole FLASH! Blood and guts everywhere thing with your Hell Staff gizmo again? Okay, okay I got it. I'll pour ya a mug and I'll tell that Old Dirty Bastard not to touch it!" Now heading into the forest the rat yells over his shoulder "By the way, I have another joke for you when you get back!"

The wizard paused "...On second thought, maybe I don't come back this time." he said with a chuckle.

"See? Now who's got jokes!? Hahaha!" Laughed Wu, disappearing into the brush.

The Shaolin Monk turned, and with a stone face, continued his stroll toward the drums.

Louder now. "BOOOOM... BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOOOM... BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOOM..."

*Chapters to follow...

J.F.-1501

Entered by: 0x308D…Fda4 and preserved on chain (see transaction)