Black Onyx - Phoenix Resurrection

A couple of guys were having a conversation near me while we waited around for our next assignment.

“Well… That was a disappointment.”

“Huh, tell me about it. I didn’t even get to land a single hit on those bastards.”

“It was all that guy’s fault, I bet he’s trying to hug all the glory.”

“And it’s not even like you get paid more for killing, we all get the same, which is not much, honestly.”

“Yeah, the pay is pretty shit.”

“And this place sucks. There’s nothing to do here.”

Listening to their conversation was quite entertaining, even if I was part of the reason they were feeling annoyed. Having an idea, I opened my eyes and stood up, storing away a Spirit Stone I just filled. [You fellas looking for some fun?] I asked.

“No thanks, we don’t swing that way.” One of them immediately answered. I ignored the jokester and turned to the others.

[The Drow are quite tricky opponents, wouldn’t you say? We should train to be able to fight them better. I have a few ideas I want to test out. Who’s with me?]

“Eh… I don’t know.” One guy hesitated.

“Sure, I could use a good scrap. Been itching to crack some skulls!” A big dude stepped forward with a grin.

“Aren’t you the guy with that golem? The one who took down the fortress? You are the reason we didn’t get to fight in the first place! Why should we help you?”

“Yeah! You don’t even look that strong, who do you think you are?”

“You don’t know who he is?” Some random bystander joined in. “He’s the shapeshifter!”

“Who?”

“You know, the big Dragon during the attack?”

The guy stared back blankly.

“Never mind, you were probably crying in a corner when the killing started, it’s understandable that you missed it.”

“Hey, screw you! I had indigestion!”

The gathered group erupted in laughter and arguments, compelling others to join. The place was turning chaotic fast.

[Guys, guys! Please! We all know how vicious these gray-skinned bastards can be. You all remember how they tried to infiltrate our ranks, right?]

“Ye, those sneaky worms. They have no honor.”

“I say we find them all, take these cannons those bastards left behind, and shove them so far up their-!”

“Hey, woah, buddy! Calm down, no need to get so worked up over some gray-skinned losers. They don’t even dare to fight us head-on. Always using fake bodies and possessing others and shit.”

[And they are right to be doing so, even if it’s quite annoying.] I said in agreement.

“What do you mean?! Explain yourself!” A guy shouted aggressively. He probably thought I was on the Drow’s side or something.

I shrugged. [It’s simple, right? They suck, they are weaker, and can't even take a hit. Would you dare fight yourself in their shoes? You would lose, right? So even if they do use underhanded tactics, it’s only logical. It’s because they are ugly, and we are better than them.] I said, adding some random bullshit to rile up the crowd.

“Oh, that’s right.”

“Hell yeah!”

“We are the best!”

“Okay, okay, I agree, but what do their boots have to do with it?”

Ignoring the last comment, I continued. [We need to prepare ourselves so that next time we meet, we can crush them! Who’s with me?!]

“Woooh! Hell yeah!”

“Kill the Grays!”

“Crush the worms!”

“Drink their spine!”

“Tear out their bloo-! Wait, no… that’s not right.”

With the excitement of the people at its peak, I gestured for them all to settle down.

[Alright, anyone got a suggestion on how we can guard ourselves against their curses? Those things seemed really effective and difficult to block.]

“Can’t we just use the talismans we received?” One guy shouted over the crowd.

[Nah, those things are garbage. I wouldn’t even bother with them.]

Surprisingly, there came a chorus of disagreement. As more people were gathering, more opinions were getting added, creating arguments. Still, the majority thought they were sufficient protection.

[Okay, since you guys think the talismans are so great, why don’t we have a test? Do we have any volunteers?]

Immediately a few people voiced their willingness to participate. They stepped forward, and after confirming they all had the proper talismans, we decided to test their defensive capabilities.

“Do your best, hit me!” The first guy shouted confidently and activated his talisman. A thin barrier formed around him, yet despite its apparent lacking form, it was quite resilient.

The big guy itching for a fight first delivered a few powerful blows and then even used a Martial Art on it, yet it didn’t break. That seemingly served to embolden those saying that the talismans were more than good enough.

[Wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong.] I shook my head and placed my fingers on the barrier. [Any second-rate barrier could block such weak attacks.] As if to demonstrate my words, I flicked my finger. The barrier shattered instantly like thin ice.

“Hey, that’s not fair! I already softened the barrier up for you!” The large man protested.

[Okay… Let’s try again then.] I suggested.

A second volunteer came forward and activated the talisman. I flicked the barrier once and it shattered just like the previous one. The crowd stared dumbly.

[As you have just seen, the results speak for themselves. Now, it might be that since the Drow are so weak, the barrier might hold two or three strikes before it shatters, but can you really say your body is strong enough to resist the continuous assault? You have all seen the bombardment they are capable of. Is such a flimsy barrier really going to protect you in a real battle?]

People began murmuring among themselves, some agreeing with me, others calling bullshit and insisting there had to be some trick. But it didn’t matter as my meaning was clear. The talismans were not enough!

[We are brothers in arms now. While we might have come from different backgrounds and serve under different Clans, we are a family now, forged by blood. We should share our knowledge with each other so we can better work together against our common enemy!]

There was more murmuring, more disagreement, people arguing knowledge was sacred and couldn’t be blindly with strangers.

[Friends, now it’s not the time to be selfish.] I spoke over the chorus of voices. [If anyone has a skill, a technique that could help us against our enemy, I implore you to share it with the rest, so that they too may learn and become strong.]

“And how do you suggest we do that? Learning techniques is not easy, nor is teaching them simple. Not to mention the time needed to master them, this is all nonsense!”

I cleared my throat and spoke. [You are correct that we are short on time, and that learning it all is not possible. But, if we work together as one, we can do it! I have here a Memory Orb. Each person can copy a technique they deem worthy of sharing, it doesn’t have to be your deepest secrets.]

Before too many arguments could be thrown against me, I continued. [Be it movement techniques, short-range teleportation, energy manipulation techniques, cloaking techniques, long-range attacks… I will collect them all, and then distribute them back to you. I am willing to sacrifice my Soul Essence to share this knowledge with each one of you. Give one, and receive a hundredfold!]

I held out the Memory Orb, looking at the people present. Wherever I would point it, people would take a step back or lean away, avoiding it like vampires would holy water.

[Come on, don’t be shy, share your knowledge with the rest.] I shook the orb at the closest man.

“Eh… Well, I…”

“You can do it, man!” Some random guy shouted from the back.

“Show that prick you are not a coward!” Said another.

With the first few giving encouragements, the dam was broken, and a wave of cheers flooded out. I let the excitement build for a moment and then turned to the man whose eyes were wide from so much attention.

[Come on, man. It’s for the greater good.] I smiled at him.

Mine.

“Fine!” The man finally caved. He grabbed the orb and stuck it to his forehead. A few moments later he handed it back. “Here, my Arcane Mantle. It’s a cloaking technique to conceal Qi inside the body.”

[Thank you.] I nodded and absorbed the memories. [Next? How about you?] I offered the orb to a youngster.

“Eh, well…” He hesitated.

[What’s your name?] I asked.

“I’m… named Che.” He said.

[Everyone!] I shouted, hugging Che across the shoulders, and turned to the crowd. [Give a big applause for Brother Che!]

People quickly realized what I was doing, and there came a roar of cheers and encouragement, urging the new guy to use the Memory Orb.

Under the pressure of the peer pressure of the crowd, and being singled out as he was, the man caved too. Soon he handed over the Memory Orb with a new technique inscribed inside it. I absorbed that one quickly as well and went to the next person.

With more and more people donating one or two of their techniques, the resistance on the others quickly diminished, and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, everyone donated something. Such a large event drew in many curious bystanders, and soon the other Cultivators wanted to join us as well, not just the combat division.

By the end of it all I gathered more than a hundred new techniques, some of which were familiar, others completely foreign. Then came the real work, redistributing all the techniques back to the people.

[Alright, form a line. I’ll be giving out the techniques now.]

Free techniques were something every Cultivator desired, so of course there was a bit of arguing about who goes when. Elbows were used and people pushed each other, but eventually, a hierarchy formed, and everyone was patiently waiting for their turn.

Strongest at the front, weakest at the back. Not that it mattered since everyone would get the same, the only difference being how long they would have to wait.

It took a while for everyone to receive their share, and I used up quite a bit of Soul Essence, but in the grand scheme of things, that little I used up was more than worth it for the immense amount of knowledge gained.

“What… What is going on here?!”

All of a sudden three Elders appeared behind the crowd, old men with gray beards and dressed in distinctive robes of the three Clans.

Deep blue robes of the Misty Shadow Moon Clan

Crimson robes of the Blazing Bloodstone Thunderbolt Clan

And lastly, the yellow robes of the Verdant Ironwood Willow Clan.

“Who’s the one responsible for this?”

Instantly a hundred pairs of eyes turned to look at me.