Ascension of the Immortal Asura

John felt an icy chill crawl up his spine, while the rock garden fell deafeningly silent. No one uttered a single sound, not even the Grand Abbot, who had a heavy look on his face.

John grit his teeth with hopeless frustration. It was too soon. He was not strong enough yet to do anything to the Asura, and yet it had decided to make its move. The day he had known about for a long time had finally arrived, and had arrived long before he would be strong enough to fight back.

"What do they want with John?" Lilian asked, breaking the silence. Although she already knew the answer, she wanted confirmation.

Laia glanced at Lilian, her face heavy with worry.

"They both want his life," Laia said gloomily, "my father wants to retrieve the soul-seed I gave him, while the creature...the Asura, wants to consume him. The Asura said that consuming John had a good chance to fully heal his wounds, and so he will stop at nothing to get to John."

And if that happened, there was no doubt that both Laia and Lilian would be captured as well. The room grew heavy with silence.

Before anyone said anything, a transmission disk appeared in Lilian's hands, and she instantly crushed it, sending a message to another transmission disk elsewhere. John noticed her actions, and gave her an expectant glance.

"The plan has been activated," she said heavily.

"What plan? Do you have a way to stop my father and the Asura?" Laia asked hopefully, her hands clasped before her chest.

Lilian's face remained heavy as she shook her head lightly.

"I doubt we can stop them," Lilian said, trying her best to maintain her composure. "According to John, even the Jade Dragon Emperor was unable to defeat the Asura. Even if he was weakened during their recent battle, his strength cannot be underestimated. At best, the plan will stall the two of them long enough for John and myself to escape."

"Escape? Escape where?" John asked curiously. "How can we possibly hide ourselves from the Asura?"

John was sure that now that he had been seen by the Asura, his aura felt by the Asura, that the creature would be able to find him wherever he went. It was just a guess, but his instincts were telling him that was the truth. There would be no hiding from the Asura.

Lilian ignored John's question, as if even she wasn't sure of the plan being a success. But it was the only route forward. The only sign of survival. He no longer asked about the plan, as he knew Lilian and the others would have done their utmost to come up with the best plan possible. He would trust in them now, giving the same trust they were giving him.

The trust that should he continue to grow, he would be able to drive back the Asura and save the world from destruction. Thunderzen had planned his entire life for that to happen, and John knew Thunderzen would do his utmost to ensure John's survival, no matter the cost.

John sighed heavily, falling silent. In all his battles thus far, he had been center stage, commanding everything with his overwhelming power. For the first time in his life, he would be a side character, helplessly weak, relying on others to keep himself alive. The powerlessness enraged him, but there was nothing he could do.

"I'm coming with you," Laia said, breaking the heavy silence, her worried gaze locked onto John. She was trembling lightly, making it obvious that she was terrified, but remained steadfast, fully committing to helping John.

Lilian shook her head to the side.

"No, you cannot join us," she said.

"Why?" Laia asked. "I cannot fight, but surely my healing will be useful."

"It would be more than useful," Lilian said, "but you cannot come for a singular reason. The soul-mark."

Laia's eyes went wide with surprise, replaced shortly after by a heavy look.

"Our bastard father will be able to detect your location at all times, and so if you come with us, he can track us without any problem at all," Lilian said. "I'm sorry."

"I...I understand," Laia said, her face downcast with hopeless worry. "When are you going to leave?"

"Now," Lilian said firmly, "the pieces to the plan have been in place for quite some time now. We anticipated something like this eventually happening, and thus have been ready to act at a moment's notice.

"What about Laia?" John asked, his voice tinged with obvious worry. "The Astral Emperor no doubt knows of her actions by now. We can't just leave her behind to suffer his wrath!"

A conflicted expression appeared on Lilian's face.

"It's fine," Laia said, causing John and Lilian to look at her with conflicted expressions. She smiled, feeling warmth at their obvious concern for her.

She walked forward a few steps, appearing directly before John. The two were just a foot apart, surprising John. Lilian raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

From this distance, he could feel Laia's breath, smell her intoxicatingly sweet scent, see her crystal blue eyes staring deep into his own, as if staring into his soul. His heartbeat sped up rapidly, filling him with emotions he had never felt before.

"My fate is linked with yours," Laia said, smiling at him radiantly. "Should you be captured, the Asura will have no more use for me, and we both shall meet out end. But when you escape, its need for me will remain, and it won't dare to harm me until I grow strong enough heal it."

John's heart continued to beat loudly in his chest, like thundering war drums.

'When you escape,' he thought, repeating her words. Laia had not said if he escaped, but when he escaped, revealing her full confidence in him. It was as if she was saying, 'you will escape, and I will wait for your return. When that happens, all will be right once more.'

John was stunned at her confidence in him, and didn't know what to say in response. He was almost never at a loss for words, but this was one of those rare moments in his life that he did not know what to say. Even life and death battles didn't make him feel this way, this lack of control over himself and his emotions.

Laia suddenly leaned forward, causing John's eyes to go wide. Her forehead rested against his, her soft warmth increasing his heartbeat once more. Without warning, a vibrant energy beyond compare flooded into him where their foreheads met, filling his body and soul with an invigorating vitality.

The vital energy continued to flood into him, filling him with an energy that made him feel invincible. The process continued for some time before the energy faded away, and Laia leaned back slightly. Her face was slightly pale and breathing slightly heavy, revealing she had expended a great deal of energy to do what she had just done.

She studied John's surprised face, and then smiled lightly as if she found it both cute and amusing.

"The life Qi I just gave you should last for the next several days before it fades away, and should allow you to heal from all but the most grievous of wounds," she said softly.

John felt Laia's warm and vibrant life Qi coursing through his body, filling him with an incomparable sensation. After inspecting the vibrant Qi, his gaze focused on Laia once more. She was so beautiful he thought, unable to controls his swirling thoughts. Her lavender hair fell down past her shoulders, lining her flawless face. Her eyes were like crystal blue waters, shimming in the sun, her small nose and delicate lips both perfect. Her beauty was truly capable of toppling nations from wars fought over obtaining her hand were it ever offered.

His mouth opened slightly, about to thank her for everything she had done, from revealing the Asura's intents, to giving him this wonderous energy.

Before he could do so, he saw Laia' cheeks redden slightly, and without warning, she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his.