Chapter 5

In a vast wilderness void of living things, a dark gaping shaft with an endless void cut across a large distance.

Its edges were jagged like the open maw of an ancient prehistoric beast ready to chomp down on anything or anyone that dared fall through.

A bald Monk donning black robes floated cross-legged in the air beside the shaft.

His face was carefree and he looked just like a depicted picture.

His bald head reflected the hazy light that surrounded him.

His posture had a detached feeling and only the long fingers counting beads on a long chain affirmed that he was not a lifeless statue.

A dark rift suddenly opened beside him and the Faction Master walked out of it.

He stood beside the Monk but did not speak and only stared into the wilderness.

The monk continued counting his beads and took no notice of his existence.

" Monk Agdol".

A sound echoed in the empty wilderness, but the Faction Master's lips stayed shut as he looked into the distance.

Monk Agdol stopped counting his beads and they started disappearing one by one from the last one. His eyes remained closed as he turned to the Faction Master and said in a low voice.

" Eugene".

The white-robed man looked back at him.

" You being here is unexpected. You do know the invitation was just a formality right? Or weren't you in closed cultivation till you crossed that step?".

" It surely has not reached a point where we cannot complete this matter in your absence, right?".

Monk Agdol opened his eyes and stared at Eugene. A dark gold luster shimmered within and a soft chanting resonated in the surroundings.

" Amhitaba, this one was still in closed cultivation. But, the divination of the dao requires me to be here". He talked slowly.

A loud thunderclap suddenly sounded, and an incomparably thick lightning dragon roared in the sky. It dove towards the ground and charged straight at Monk Agdol, its monstrous aura distorted the space as it came crashing down on him.

Eugene looked at Monk Agdol in slight surprise.

" How much does this dao secret affect? for the punishment to be so strong?".

" The secret affects the life and death of this universe. You can understand why the heavenly punishment is this strong".

Monk Agdol said as he waved his hand and the figure of a massive Buddha appeared behind him. A golden sheen covered its explosive muscles and its body covered the sky.

The Buddha stretched its large hands and grabbed the lightning dragon.

Immediately lightning wreaked all over its body and large cracks started appearing. It ignored the damage and opened its mouth wide. It trapped the rampaging dragon and stuffed it into its mouth.

After doing that, it went back to its former state and slowly disappeared.

Eugene looked at the Monk expectantly.

" So what's the information?".

Monk Agdol made a complex hand sign and formed a seal. In the next instant, a large symbol appeared above his forehead. He closed the seal and the symbol fused into his body.

"This expedition will be a failure".

He dropped the bombshell.

There was no change of expression in Eugene's face and he even smiled slightly.

" Even with that news, there's nothing to fear. Your presence means we have a way out of this situation. Even the worst favorable outcome is acceptable". He said with confidence.

Monk Agdol stared for some time before a wide smile broke his indifferent expression.

" Benefactor is as impressive as always". He said.

" You speak the truth. It would still fail if you consider the kind of failure from our perspective".

" If we can prevent some things and perform some actions, we might be able to bring this to a desirable finish".

The smile faded from his face and he went back to his silent meditation.

Eugene still had a confident look on his face, but the slight traces of worry in his eyes could not be concealed.

A failure from their perspective would mean they failed to prevent Kores from awakening.

He trusted the Monk, but he was clueless as to how they could turn a situation in which Kores was awake to a desirable outcome.

He sighed and said.

" After all these years, Kores is going to be awoken. Looks like the future is not going to be peaceful".

Images of Kores running free in the universe flashed through his mind, but he cleared his thoughts and a determined look entered his eyes.

He glanced at Agdol.

" If we are to sacrifice ourselves to save this universe, then we shall face death with an unshaken heart ". He declared resolutely.

Monk Agdol opened his eyes and looked at him helplessly.

" Quit those thoughts of death. Death shall come to those fated with it. I do not see any one of us being fated with death".

" Thanks for saying that Bald Monkey".

A voice suddenly echoed from nowhere.

"That clarifies things for me now. I would be a thousand worlds away from here if there was any inkling that this was going to be a suicide mission".

Monk Agdo'l smiled slightly.

Eugene stared at an empty spot on his side with a cold face.

" Fellow Daoist Efel, you dare ignore the summoning of the main palace?".

" Well I'm here aren't I? I was just saying what could, remember I said 'could' have happened if this was one of those suicide expeditions you seem so keen on attending". The voice objected.

"Then stop your sneaky habits and come out in the open. We all know where you are. What's the point of the concealment".

" You pretentious bastard! What are you lecturing me for?". The voice exploded.

As the voice spoke a tall thin man with bony features suddenly appeared behind Eugene.

" And like always, you're too bullheaded to notice open tricks". He sneered.

Eugene did not lose his composure but continued looking at that same spot like he was just randomly staring at places.

Efel stared at him in disdain.

" You arrogant bastard! You and your righteous facade. Don't have any foolish misconception of the fact that if this was truly a suicide mission, you would go there".

" Stop having righteous notions and know that you are just as selfish as the rest of us".

Eugene closed his eyes and ignored Efel who was smirking.

They stopped bickering at this point and the three of them waited in their positions silently for a very long time.

After a while, some figures started joining them, but everyone stayed quiet and just stood there while ignoring every other person's existence.

Very soon, the number of people reached a point and Eugene opened his eyes.

He coughed softly to draw the attention of the group then stood with his hands both in his sleeves like a sage.

He cleared his throat and started speaking.

" Greetings to everyone here".

"Some of us have still not arrived, but because of the urgency of the situation we must begin immediately. We know the matter at hand".

"The issue with the dark coalition and Kores' dead body".

" What we do not know, is the current situation over at their side. A duty I presume had been assigned to fellow Daoist Devon?".

Eugene turned on his heels to look at an inconspicuous man in the crowd. Something about him made everyone automatically ignore him.

Devon looked at Eugene with a placid face.

" My spies in the dark coalition brought me some news recently". He said.

"The Dark Coalition has acquired the universe origin stone and plans to use it to assist the awakening".

"They presume, I guess, that since Kores's body was the Dao origin body it might increase their chances during the awakening since they are somehow related ".

Devon suddenly had a devilish grin on his face. His placid look broke in an instant.

He stared at Eugene provocatively.

" Eugene, Eugene, Eugene."

"I always hated that arrogant and confident smile that is constantly plastered on your face".

" I've always dreamt of the day when I would get to break that smile. Now that the situation is not in your expectations, do you still feel so confident about yourself?".

He saw that Eugene was still expressionless as he stared at him, and a vein jumped in his forehead.

He clicked his tongue and continued speaking.

" You love having long meetings before you do anything, but I'll have you know that the only thing slightly delaying the Dark Coalition is that the universe-origin stone is not so easy to move".

He paused for a second.

" And also the premeditated 'accidents' caused by my men".

Hearing that, Eugene turned around immediately and addressed the crowd with an air of urgency.

" We heard the man. The Dark Coalition is already ahead of us. Let's move out".

He stopped and took a look at everyone.

He then bowed before them and said.

" We all know what would happen should he be allowed to awaken".

"Everyone would bear the consequences".

"Not just us but the whole of the multiverse".

" We all know what we have to do".

"Good luck everyone. l hope we all come back in one piece."