~7200 years ago~ The never ending quest for perfection had drawn Genbu to a city a few days North of Wudang. A terrible dragon was terrorizing farmers in the area. At least, most called it a dragon, but it was really a hybrid monster a mad wizard had managed to create. Nonetheless, that didn't stop the fact that a beast that lived in the frozen mountains separating Wudang and Illisk was raiding the villages. It's raids were terrible and would ravage and nearly destroy any village it visited. The Jade Emperor had even sent soldiers to deal with this beast, but the troop never returned from the mountain hunt. Genbu didn't need to be asked, but instead wanted to go and help the people with this problem. He hadn't visited north villages yet, and there was always something new to learn in a new place. The trip was normally a five day hike, but it only took him a few days. The villagers accepted him eagerly with open arms. The first night they treated him to a feast and a traditional show. He tried to deny their gifts and told them he hadn't even helped them yet, but they insisted on giving them to him and that he would win. The idea of winning by destroying this beast didn't bode well with him. He learned that all things had some purpose and most were just misunderstood. There were times he was able to solve problems without violence. He always sought peace first. He slept well that night. The mountains were cold and during the hike up the mountain the temperature dropped dramatically. Everything felt... dead. There was no energy in the air or rocks there. The only thing that held energy was the raging blizzard. The first day of the hunt was seemingly unsuccessful. He was able to find a cave near a cliff face as the sun was setting though. He turned back to look over the cliff and saw the beauty that was Wudang one last time. He turned back to the cave and prepared to investigate it. This was to convenient and something would have surely made a home of this cave already. He wasn't surprised at all when the beast showed itself. Until now, he had believed every being had a purpose, but this one had no presence. It didn't have energy, but it still moved. It was just there and empty. Even overpowering negative energy could be helped, but this thing was an abomination. He no longer felt any reservation against destroying this thing. The fight lasted 2 days, but Genbu was finally able to defeat the abomination. He unfortunately sustained a plethora of wounds as well. Normally, the amount of wounds would be fatal, but he was able to protect his head and his heart and thus would be able to survive. It would just take some time to heal. He was able to drag himself to the frozen cave. A few days of sleep and he would be able to drag himself back to the village and a few more weeks and he would be completely fine. He never woke up the next day though. The cold temperatures of the mountain froze him in the middle of the night. The dark warrior met a frozen end. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Genbu woke up with a shocked breath. The air felt warmer than it used too. It was still cold, but there was much more energy. The sun's broken rays filled the cave. Whistling wind could be heard along brushing leaves. After a few seconds of regaining his bearing, he began to flex and fidget, expecting to be met with searing pains and sores across his body. Instead, he merely experienced a little bit of stiffness. [color=00a651]"I must have slept longer than expected."[/color] He said to himself. As he sat up, the first thing he found was his generals, still lying where he left them. They were covered in a dust that could have only collected over several years at least. [color=00a651]"How long did I sleep?"[/color] He looked down at his clothing to notice that he was barely wearing anything. The only thing that remotely preserved his pants was the cold, but as he continued to move, the waist snapped and the ragged pants fell to the floor. Wearing nothing now, he felt another cool breeze. He looked up to see foliage covering the entrance to the cave. What felt so dead the day before, now felt abundant with life. He cut his way back out into the open and walked to the edge of the cliff. He nearly couldn't believe his eyes. [color=00a651]"Oh Guanyin, what is this?"[/color] Wudang had tripled or even quadrupled in size. Something, struck him inside his head. This was Bervenia now. How did he know that though? He had to have slept for tens if not hundreds of years. It wasn't even a minute that he was on the cliff edge before an airship could be heard traveling overhead. He looked up in awe at the strange contraption. It certainly looked man made, but it was so large and... flying. What sort of amazing magic was required to power that thing? How much has the world changed? How long did I sleep? Was I actually dead? These were some of the questions running through his head now. [color=00a651]"Well, just standing around is not going to solve anything."[/color] He knew he needed to get back to Bervenia. Everything within told him to go. There was no path down the mountain, but that would only slow him a little. It was much easier than traversing the slippery frozen mountain he had climbed. He was worried about meeting people though. He was indecent and this would not be a good way for a hero to make his return, or for someone to make first impressions. About halfway down the mountain and much sooner than he expected to find any form of civilization, there was a small log cabin. It didn't feel like anyone was home at the moment, but the cabin was being used. There was a line of clothes hanging outside of it. He felt guilty while doing it, but he stole a pair of pants. He would surely repay them one day. They fit nicely and were very comfortable. [color=00a651]"This tailor must be amazing!"[/color] They were just average pants. He continued down the mountain another day, passing by what seemed like a myriad of buildings before reaching the North gate of Bervenia. The walls were so magnificent. [color=00a651]"The Jade Emperor has really outdone himself now."[/color] Genbu marched confidently to the gate. [b]"Stop!"[/b] Genbu halted to see a finely armored woman pointing towards him. [b]"Come here."[/b] Genbu looked slightly confused, but approached the woman still. [color=00a651]"Can I help you?"[/color] He asked mostly out of habit. [b]"I doubt it."[/b] She retorted. [b]"Let me see your papers."[/b] Genbu just looked back at her even more confused now. [b]"Your papers! If you're just going to be carrying weapons around, they need to be accounted for. This isn't anything new, so if you don't want me lock you up right now, turn around and get your weapons registered. We don't need barbarians causing trouble, especially now."[/b] Genbu was still confused and worried he'd done something wrong, but fortunately she pointed to a building. He began walking over and noticed that a group of men with matching armor and weapons weren't even questioned as they walked through the gates. He shrugged it off and continued into the building. There were counters manned with men and women who all looked equally annoyed with everything they were doing. [color=00a651]"Uhhh, I was told to come in here and get a paper for my weapons."[/color] The man just looked at him still annoyed. [b]"Yes, this is where you can register weapons. For what purpose do you carry them."[/b] [color=00a651]"Uh, personal protection"[/color] The man just stared at Genbu like he was an idiot. [b]"I can assure you sir, our city is very safe. You won't need your weapons."[/b] [color=00a651]"Well, I guess it's more for your protection."[/color] Genbu was referring to the fact that everyone in the room would have gone mad if he wasn't in control of the generals, but the man understood it as something else. [b]"If you are a part of the efforts against the dark moon then just say so. What's your name?"[/b] [color=00a651]"Xuan'Wu Shen"[/color] The man laughed as he filled out the form. [b]"Just because you take the name of a 7000 year old legend doesn't mean you'll be as good as him."[/b] Genbu laughed nervously. [color=00a651]"Yeah, that's true."[/color] With that Genbu took the paper and quickly left for the city. The guard from earlier eyed him as he walked past her, but this time she left him alone and said nothing. His first impression didn't feel very good, but at least he avoided jail narrowly. He still had a lot to figure out. He kept walking, but he was still trying to accept the time difference. There was also this 'dark moon' that was lingering with him now too.