36 Story Tunnel (1/2)

The never-ending darkness had disappeared and everything was bright and luminous. There were no light bulbs or light sources. The light seemed to come from nowhere. It was strange and fascinating that Fan Daiyu couldn't help but ogle at its radiance. She hadn't even had enough time to catch her breath before she saw all the treasures hidden there. There were jewels, gold, herbs, silks, and many other treasures. The underground room was long and expansive. Everything had a golden glow.

However all the treasures seemed to pale in comparison with what had caught her gaze. The rusty broken chains dangled at random ends. It looked so dull and dark in that muddy corner of dirt but it seemed to be the only thing that was in her sight. It plagued her mind and threw out all reason from her mind.

Slowly she walked closer to it ignoring all other riches.

As she walked through the expansive room, a small voice squealed in excitement. The hibernating Ercan smelled the treasures that were near and blasted out without permission.

{GOOOOOLD! SWEET GOLD! AAAAAAAAAAHHHH DIAMONDS! AISH, YOU DIDIN'T HAVE TO! I KNOW YOU LOVE ME BUT ALL THESE TREASURES ARE TOO MUCH! NEVERTHELESS, I WON'T BE RUDE! HAHAHHAHAHA!}

The small white dragon wheezed like an old windshield and his squeals resonated within Daiyu's head.

The small dragon began to dance on two legs and failed to notice the blank expression and silent response from Daiyu. She reached the small dull metals. It was a pair of ankle bracelets.

Chains within chains… They were like a painting, which was sad but captivating.

They were chains that had broken dangling chains hooped on them along with small silver leafs. They seemed dull but had no dirt or dust on them despite being in such a messy place. She was entranced by them even though they looked worse than any plain accessory ever made. Her knees bent and she reached out to put them on.

However, her shoes were in the way and it caused her mood to fluctuate as if something great was interrupted.

[Who needs these anyways? My skin is already tough enough to go out barefoot without feeling pain from the rocks I step on.]

Her hands flashed and her shoes and socks flew out and landed on a poor dragon's head.

{GET YOUR STINKY AS* SOCKS OUT OF HERE!}

The only sound in response seemed to be silence. He turned to see what was wrong but it was already too late to see what had happened.

*Click* *Click*

Fan Daiyu had already put on the ankle bracelets in a matter of seconds.

The rust from the chains fell off to reveal beautiful intricate designs on each chain and leaf of the bracelet. It shined golden and jingled as her legs moved.

Ercan had turned to see Daiyu glow and a brightness emerge from her ankles. It smelled like… BIG TREASURES!

He ran to her side and felt his heart tremble at the sight of those ankle bracelets. He could tell they were special but he didn't know why or how. All he knew was that she was lucky to have been chosen by it. He sighed and shook his head.

{I think I'm more worthy but whatever I guess.}

[What?]

Daiyu looked at her small companion in confusion only to be ignored.

{Can we keep all of this!?}

Seeing her question ignored she felt a bit irritated but quickly pushed those sentiments down as she looked at his dazzling hopeful eyes.

They both looked through everything. There were countless of treasures but how could they keep it all. Unknowingly they ended up in front of a wall. It had more strange markings but somehow Fan Daiyu could understand them.

”Chains chain down things but broken chains release them. Whether one is chained or not can only be decided by ones past and path. We walk, fight, and survive for a purpose but we also die for one. With broken chains you learned from being chained and caged and live for a changed will. The chained one was separated from freedom, rights, and life while the one with broken chains learns to live again and values life more than the chainless ones. Those who have been chained and fought for freedom have more potential than any other type of being.

Fight, live, and survive.”

After reading the words aloud, the letters on the wall glowed gold along with her ankle bracelets. They swayed and chimed as if they were excited. There was no wind but everything seemed to resonate and vibrated as her silver hair swayed and shined.

The wall collapsed and revealed a light up tunnel.

She steadily walked as her chains chimed with each step but with each advance, visions crossed her mind.

Screams, blood, pain, sorrow, hate, and anguish. She seemed to feel everything that was being felt. All the feelings clashed with one another and filled her heart with chaos.

She wanted to turn back but she seemed to be possessed. Her feet kept leading her forward and her mind was attacked by those visions.

She could see people crying and men fighting. They possessed an immense amount of power. She felt pressure even though she was so far away. She could hear screams filled with anguish screaming for fellow brothers and fallen comrades. She could hear the cries of women for their husbands and the children crying out for their parents. Above her, there was dragons with cuts on their bodies. They were fighting with the people against something.

But who where they fighting? Who could unite the two races that disliked each other?

The ground shook and everyone went forward. People screamed but she couldn't hear what they were saying. They mouthed a name.

Fan Daiyu…

That's when she saw it.

That silver hair. Those mystical eyes. Those golden tears. She looked just like her but something was different. That Fan Daiyu had everything the same including the ankle bracelets but the dragon at her side was black and the tattooed tear was under her eye. The dragon was Ercan but different. His red eyes glowed with viciousness and flashed in agony. They were both grieving.

She could hear them.

”Ercan. Fight. We shall get vengeance for him. The world hates us. Everyone hates us. They killed him because of us. They did it all because of fear. They are COWARDS! THEY ARE RUTHLESS! THEY ARE MONSTERS!

Especially HIM!”

Her tears fell as she pointed towards a man. He was tall and handsome. His black hair was messy and his dark swirling eyes were cold and empty.

”I should have listened to Wei. I should have… I should have listened. He was right. I was wrong. Now his soul is falling apart. He was meant for immortality. If it weren't for me this wouldn't have happened.

Wei I'm sorry. All of us could have been together for eternity but I ruined it.”

She pounded her fist against her chest in guilt as her tears fell.

She lifted her arms up slowly and along with them figures formed from all kinds of elements. Mud, ice, water, shadow, light, lightning, and invisible wind soldiers and beings. There were different types of beasts being formed along with them and standing at her sides.

She had formed her own army.