Bonds of Darkness: Swordmen's Redemption

Chapter Fourteen: Unleashing Chaos

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The city of Xianzhou Luofu had weathered many storms, both natural and supernatural, over the centuries. But none had cast as long a shadow as the dark legacy of the Ambrosial Arbor—a cursed artifact that had plagued the land for generations. The Arbor, a creation of the dreaded Abundance, wielded the power to manipulate life and death, offering immortality to those who dared to consume its forbidden fruits.

Yet, the gift of immortality had proven to be a curse, as those who partook in its bounty were afflicted by Mara, descending into madness and emerging as monstrous abominations. It was a twisted fate that befell the ancestors of the Luofu people, turning their cherished immortality into a harrowing nightmare.

The Ambrosial Arbor stood as a testament to the malevolence of the Abundance and the suffering it had wrought upon the world. For centuries, it loomed like a dark cloud, a constant reminder of the horrors that had unfolded under its shadow.

But the winds of fate had begun to shift, driven by the relentless fury of one being—the Reignbow Arbiter, known to mortals as Lan. This enigmatic figure, an Aeon like no other, harbored an intense and unrelenting hatred for Yaoshi, the Abundance, and the horrors they had unleashed upon Lan's homeworld.

Lan's origins were shrouded in mystery, and their existence was defined by a singular purpose: to hunt down the agents of Yaoshi and put an end to their malevolent reign of terror. Their pursuit was relentless, fueled by the devastation they had witnessed and the unquenchable thirst for vengeance that burned within them.

Unlike their fellow Aeons, Lan possessed a profound interest in the affairs of mortals. They moved with a swiftness that defied mortal perception, leaving behind only the faint vestiges of Lux Arrows in the sky as a testament to their fleeting presence. It was a reminder that the Reignbow Arbiter, despite their divine nature, was not aloof to the struggles and destinies of those who inhabited the mortal realm.

Long time ago, Lan's existence intersected with the fate of Xianzhou Luofu in a cataclysmic manner. With their Sky-Shattering Lux Arrow, they severed the cursed Ambrosial Arbor—a symbol of the Abundance's dominion—leaving it as a mere stump, a relic of its former malevolence.

The Luofu people, once ensnared by the Arbor's curse, were freed from its nightmarish grip. It was a momentous turning point in the city's history, marking the beginning of a new chapter. But for Lan, it was just one battle in a war against an insidious foe that threatened not only Xianzhou Luofu but countless worlds beyond.

As the city's inhabitants went about their lives, oblivious to the presence of the Reignbow Arbiter and the dark forces they hunted, Lan's vigil continued. Their eyes, filled with an unwavering determination, remained fixed on the horizon, ever watchful for the next vestige of darkness that would demand their intervention.

And yet, amid their preparations for the impending war against the Denizens of Abundance, Lan felt a disturbance in the very fabric of reality. It was a sensation that transcended the physical senses, a spiritual tremor that sent ripples through their divine consciousness.

The arrival of Gogma, the ancient dragon, in the lands of Xianzhou was no mere coincidence. Lan knew that such a creature, bound by the mysteries of the universe, must have sensed something amiss in the world. It was a presence that defied comprehension, a force that existed beyond the boundaries of mortal understanding.

In the silence of their contemplation, Lan whispered words of concern to the cosmic forces that governed their existence. "The Aeon of Nothingness is here," they murmured, their voice carrying the weight of ancient knowledge. "O' my friend, Long, Aeon of Permanence, it is here. The darkness is coming."