Siduo wanted to stop them. She really did, but the energy these two beings released… they were both Hundred-Thousand-Year-Old Soul Beasts. Terrifying existences.
She had only encountered one other Yang Demon and Yin Lady who were Hundred-Thousand-Year-Old existences in her past life, but it wasn't these two. Despite it all, these two seemed familiar to her.
She could not help but grumble. In the past, she did not pay much attention when they encountered this species. Soul Beasts did not have the same status back then, there was a different status quo, and the situation she encountered the Demon species in was complicated. She wished she had remembered more, maybe then she would have been able to help now.
But despite her concerns, these two beasts were fighting. Fighting for their life, all while they looked at each other with love. What sort of dynamic was that? Why did they want to die?
Siduo might have status in the world of Soul Masters as a Soul Emperor, but she knew better than to interfere in a fight like this.
The Yin Lady and the Yang Demon were not holding back. The legs of the Yin Lady shined white like snow beneath her ethereal dress and all Siduo saw, even with her Purple Demon Eyes, was a blur of white crashing-
Wait no, missing, the Yang Demon. The Yang Demon made a single step as a response. Where he stepped, the ground scorched black, and then he reappeared on the other side. There, the ground also turned black.
But as he reappeared, the Yin Demon was already upon him, familiar with his habits.
Siduo could not help but gasp at the situation. It felt so familiar. Speed vs teleportation. Just like she and Karni's usual battle. More than that, just like she and Karni, she could tell that the two demons were intimately familiar with each other's battle styles.
The Yin Lady flared with light, then suddenly vanished. Siduo blinked. Where was she?
Yang Demon's scythe flared as well, and a terrifyingly large and sharp energy was let loose. Toward where the Yin Lady was standing before. Yet instead of the attack stopping around the place the Yin Lady was at before, it instead cut into the very space, just 2 metres in front of the Yang Demon. It was like another dimension was opened up.
And from that tear in space, jumped the Yin Demon, her claws shining, each claw in the shape of a hook, going straight for the Yang Demon.
Yet it seemed the Yang Demon expected that as well, as it started spinning before Siduo even saw the claw. The Yang Demon positioned itself in a circular shape, forming a wheel of scythes that rushed at the incoming claw.
The pressure of the clash forced Siduo further toward the wall, the cliffside was creaking and a few rocks fell from the top. The trees close to the battlefield also leaned back from the pressure. Despite the power, Siduo could tell they were still controlling themselves so as not to ruin the surroundings.
A screeching noise sounded as claw and scythe wheel collided. A screech of sharpening metal. Pieces of burning hot needles and cold debris littered the surrounding. Both the claws and the scythes were getting destroyed in the collision.
Yet Siduo's eye sharpened, as she slowly saw bits and pieces of life energy go from the scythe wheel, toward the Yin Lady.
As soon as she noticed it, the Scythe Wheel turned upward, jumping into the sky and revealing the Yang Demon hiding within. There was shrapnel all over his body. Ice cold shrapnel that was sending life energy and healing up the Yin Lady. However, the Yin Lady took more damage overall, with multiple deep injuries that were now trying to heal.
They were fighting recklessly. When Soul Masters on the level of Titled Douluos attempted to fight to the death and were on equal grounds, the parties always tried to survive, hence the battle could last ages, days even, if both were cautious. These two, however, fought for death.
The scythes on the Yang Demon's elbows elongated in the sky. And then they lengthened some more.
And more.
Siduo's eyes stared. How… how long was that weapon? It looked to be almost infinite. The weapon reflected its sharpness, and the Yang Demon slashed downwards in a simple but terrifying manner.
Siduo did not see a way out, but the Yin Demon did. She vanished yet again. By now, Siduo guessed that that was some sort of parallel dimension ability.
Yet with that attack, she wasn't sure that the Yang Demon could open up a hole this time.
And she was right. The nigh infinite slash hit the ground, parting the very forest in the distance, while the Yin Lady appeared soon after, on top of the scythe, rushing at the Yang Demon. Her legs turned snowy white, and she turned into a blur yet again.
They always predicted each other's attacks and now was no different.
A Deathly Silver Claw came to the Yang Demon, just as the Yang Demon's other elbow also become the infinite scythe. This time, the Yin Lady could not disappear in time. Neither put up defences.
Another crash ensued. Harsher than before. If before, it was both of them pushing each other off, it was now an all-out attack.
Siduo had to hold onto the wall to not be blown into the distance and become lost to the magical formation of the forest again.
The two creatures landed.
The Yin Lady's arm which had the claw was cut off, while the Yang Demon's arm which extended the second scythe was becoming dark and corrupted. The Yang Demon cut it off so whatever was corrupting him wouldn't invade further into his body.
Yet that was the only amount of rest they allowed each other. The crash started again in the next moment, without any of them catering to their wounds.
A scorching hot scythe faced hundreds of claw attacks.
The claws hooked themselves on the demon, cracking the knee and dislodging it, while the scythe cut deep into the lady's leg, to the point that bones were visible on multiple spots.
If half of their offensive was taken before, then their mobility was taken next.
But their intensity did not falter. They used their good legs to jump into each other, claw and scythe both crashing. It was only now, when their overwhelming abilities were less active, that Siduo sensed their intent, the comprehension of their chosen weapon in them.
Soul Beasts rarely got comprehension of their abilities, yet these two did it. They were both at the Soul Intent level. A Claw Soul and Scythe Soul went head-to-head.
Yet, the two attacks did not collide. They barely missed each other and went straight for the targets.
The intent of the Claw pierced the Demon, while the intent of the Scythe slashed at the Lady. Blood spurted from the injuries, and the two demons fell down, helpless.
Their blood was odd. The Lady's was golden, while the demon's was deep blue. In the Demon's case, it was meant to be silver, but the poison released by Yin Lady's attacks changed its colouring.
Siduo could finally breathe after the intense attacks. If these beasts were known to the world, they would definitely be considered a disaster. Ten Thousand years ago, they would be in the top 10. Of course, that begged the question about that intent. If they had been mixing their intent in all of their attacks, this whole area would have been destroyed.
They did not hold back when attacking each other, but they did when they knew their attacks would miss. The most important thing was to not damage the cliffs and the cave, and they succeeded at that. The rest of the forest… wasn't as well off. Specifically, because of the Yang Demon's wide attacks.
After Siduo was able to move again, she quickly ran over to the two creatures. They pulled themselves close while Siduo was recovering from the pressure. Now, they were contently holding each other's hands.
"What… What is wrong with you two? Why kill each other when you clearly love each other?" Siduo was completely baffled.
"It is the way of our people." Yang Demon said solemnly.
"As the last of our kind, we should give our culture a fitting end." The Yin Lady added.
"But… screw culture! You two were the last of your kind! You've been living here alone for so long, right? There was no culture left!" Siduo was breathing hard.
"Young lady, why are you taking this so personally."
"Because." Siduo struggled to breathe. "It's too damn similar to what might await me in the future. I refuse to believe people are content with such an end."
"Your story is not like ours." The Yin Lady was dying, but her voice was soft. She could feel the distress Siduo was feeling right now.
"Ours is a tale of endless war that killed our species. We were dying even before the humans truly started developing."
"Yet humans helped as well, using our wars to get Soul Rings."
"And we continued them anyway."
"Until we were the last."
Siduo blinked. "I… explain from the beginning."
The two looked at each other. And smiled in nostalgia.
… … …
A species of demons. Of demons of balance and endless conflict. Demons not through their ancestry, but of their nature and appearance. A name given by the humans.
And there, hundred thousand years ago, when humans still lived in tribes and caves and had yet to understand Soul Power and proper awakening ceremonies, lived two small demons.
Like all Yin Yang demons, the two were born during the period of peace. A ten-year grace period of no fights, of copulation, of birth, of happiness, and a time when the children, the future generations, got familiar with their society.
The two demons were born as middle children of the two rulers. The Yang Demon King and Yin Lady Queen. As part of the royal family, they were destined to be with one of the other middle children of the royal family.
These species of lords technically committed constant incest, yet it was how the species survived, it was how it was created, it was how their biology worked. Their bloodlines were compatible solely during copulation season, as they only inherited their powers from the same gendered parent.
They hung out from the very beginning, but they did not yet choose a partner at such an early age.
The first ten years of their life was calm and happy and without worries.
Yet the grace period was destined to pass, as it always did, and it was time to see their first war, and choose their war partner and rival.
As was the norm, the groups parted peacefully, before the war plans started. The youngest, those who would experience their first war were kept safe for their first time at the battlefield. To get familiar.
The war started, and the two young demons were not yet aware to the true scale of the disaster the wars brought on the environment. The wastelands it left behind in ancient times. For now, their battlefield of a few hundred children was grand already.
It was time to choose their lifelong rival, and their lifelong partner. A decision which would last a lifetime.
The two locked eyes on the battlefield. A young Yang Demon, a prince, and a young Yin Lady, a princess. And they battled their first battle. The first battle was not lethal, but it was no less intense for the young demons. The first experience of the feeling unique to Yin Yang Demons. A feeling of deathly competitiveness and uncontrolled love toward their partner.
The first victory went to the lady. In their battle, she showed herself to be exceptionally talented. An ingenuity in imagination.
In their second battle, the demon won, showing his unceasing determination to not give up, an ability to grow through constant battles. Immensely adaptable.
It was during their second war where they found out how the battle affected the future. Whoever had more wins, would instinctually overpower the other during copulation season.
Their first mating season was absolutely wonderful. Yet, it was here where the two discovered… they were slightly different than the others. For their feelings of love, perhaps for the first time in the species, overpowered the sense of deathly competition when the mating season ended. The two were the only ones in their third war who held back during battles.
The species was tragic. A partner was for life, yet deadly competition for life. When one of them died at the hand of their partner, the partner killed themselves as well, losing purpose in life.
The two slowly established their positions as heirs and were the first to become a change in the species. Evolution. Their own children were similar to them. The love overpowered the instincts of deadliness during wartime.
Because their descendants rarely died, they became quite a large faction. A big enough faction that dissent started among the species as a whole. For the first time in their existence, a short period of peace was established due to the change in the wind. The topic turned out to influence the rest of their history until their extinction.
The decision that the clans came to was… that holding back during wartime was blasphemy. Punishable by death, going against the natural ways of the world. The species would continue as was, yet perhaps, should have the decision then been different, the end would not be here today.
No matter the deep love of their descendants, they were forced to fight seriously, forever on, and then onwards, the faction of the descendants no longer grew.
But the two demons, as the progenitors of the change, were the smartest on the solution. They had a solid reputation among the demons of both sides. They continued to hold back secretly, not showing their true power until they were sure both could survive encounters. And so, they continued to live for thousands of years.
However, after thousands upon thousands of years of their culture, the development of humans had begun.
Their homeplace, a continent now known as the former Sun and Moon Continent by the humans, got taken over slowly but surely. Twenty thousand years ago, the humans started taking advantage of their wars. The impact was unnoticeable at first, as the humans had yet to truly rule over the land. Their devices only started appearing, they were unrefined. But the people of this continent had a different weapon, tools of the divine. A terrible set of blades. Among the people of the demons, they had become known as the Slayers.
It was then that heroes appeared and forever took the Slayers. It was the humans themselves. They slayed the King and Queen of the Demons, then promised that the weapon will never again be used to attack the Yin Yang Demons.
And the claim still held true today.
Yet the two were no longer heirs to the throne after their faction died out. Their older siblings came before them. Perhaps, could they have taken the reigns then, the end would have yet again been avoided. But it was not so.
Over the years, the humans grew. They became smarter. Talents appeared. Their older siblings died. It was only Ten Thousand Years ago that the two finally became rulers, but by then their species only numbered in hundreds, no longer thousands. Their wars turned to work against them.
It was too late to change their ways then. It would have caused a civil war as the tensions were high. The then Sun Moon Empire also hunted their species for medicinal pills extensively. And then they even made them into wraiths of Evil Soul Masters.
It was then, after the continents collided, that their saviour came, when the two, last of their species, were hoping to keep their species alive. But with humans hunting them for their abilities, they were on a constant run to survive. The great being offered them refuge here, to protect the two of them, as long as they did not fight inside.
He told them that they could choose to leave after it is over or fight to the death as was their way after the successor comes. Despite their love, after so many years of living alone, their decision was clear. They decided to honour their culture.
The Ten Thousand Years they stayed here were not in vain. They decided to go out with a bang. As the height of their species. The honed their weapons all these years and were the first to comprehend the ways of their weapons. A Claw and a Scythe.
The mightiest of demons then battled.
… … …
And now they laid here, nostalgic for their history.
"Child. After we die, take our bones. They should serve you well one day." The Yin Lady said.
Siduo was blinking with slight tears. The story only made her feel worse. "No. I refuse. This endless war. It is like my damn cycle. A predetermined thing to be followed. Fuck that. You are the last of your kind. Be different. And I will too." She stood up.
"You are dying. You have honoured your clans. I give you an offer. Become my Spirit Souls. Live and honour your culture at the same time. Don't let fate rule your lives."
She stood there, instead of persuasion, she used might. She used her full power, her understanding to show the two. This was who she was. Powerful. Sharp. Quick. Opposites joined in one person. Yin and Yang.
"I will defy fate itself to be with the one I love. I did it once, I can do it again. So please. Please, do not give up. You have honoured your culture. Now honour your love." Siduo looked at the two, her eyes showing wisdom hidden behind snarky remarks. But more than wisdom, she showed determination.
"As Spirit Souls, you will have died and be reborn in a new form."
The two finally came to, after having sensed her power and comprehending the deepness of her words.
"Child… are you sure you can handle our power?" The demon asked.
"Old Yang!" The Lady frowned.
"Think of it, my lady. She is right. We have shown our culture respect time and time again. It has never given us any respect in turn when there were those still belonging to our culture. It is time we give this respect to each other."
The Yin Lady looked at the man for a bit, then nodded to Siduo. "If my love says so, then so will I. I will do what he does." She looked from Siduo back to her demon. "I know you would do the same for me should I ask."
"Always." The demon said.
"In that case." Siduo's Yin and Yang Flames exploded. "I want your help. Focus all your energy into your Soul Bones. They will serve as your anchors until I can truly fuse you with my Martial Souls."
"Our legs." The two demons pointed. Left and Right legs.
Siduo sighed in relief. Her current Soul Bones were the kinds that were nigh impossible to switch.
She approached the two demons, as her eyes shone in a purple red hue. For the first time in this life, she was about to access a power she had not used since her reincarnation. Her understanding of Reincarnation itself.
With her Yin and Yang Flames, the two powers mixing, her Martial Souls forming a pseudo fusion, she could briefly access the power of Reincarnation. A Law of the Higher Order, of the Divine. Enough to make an anchor for the two beasts.
"Your souls will be attached to the bones, but you will sleep until I become a Soul Sage and get Soul Rings from you."
"We understand child… I suppose we shouldn't call you child anymore." The Yin Lady chuckled while spitting blood. "Siduo. Thank you for giving us one more chance at life… and at love."
"Of course. Love is worth fighting for." Siduo smiled. She felt the two souls be attached to the Soul Bones. The process was complete, but the two had yet to die, so the souls were still in their bodies for now.
The two demons decided to embrace themselves in these final moments, in pain, but happy and looking forward to the future. Slowly, their eyes unfocused and the bodies went limp. Because their Souls were attached to the bones, there were no Soul Rings which appeared.
Siduo breathed in deeply. Now she had to survive the fusion of those powerful Soul Bones.
She sat in a meditative pose. She took both bones at the same times. The two demon's powers cancelled each other perfectly. The characteristics of her Martial Souls and flames should help in the fusion.
Her body lit up in two perfect halves. White on the left and Black on the right. The bones went to the opposite sides. She would start with suppressing their power even before the fusion.
Her blood dripped. And the light of her flames intensified. But she was soon spitting blood. She activated her Soul Rings, strengthening her body. She spit more blood.
She had used 70 percent of her Spiritual Power instantly when she used the Law of Reincarnation. She was working with far less control than usual.
The pain was inside. The bones were leg bones, but the pain started to spread. Her other bones activated to fight back. Solaria helped from inside as well, helping her control the Chest Bone. To balance out the Yin Energy, even Siduo's Moon-Footed Cat Spirit Soul joined, despite usually being left alone due to its lower intelligence.
Yet it was still not enough. The bones were terrifying. The pain might have been suppressed below the chest, but the domineering aspects of the bones affected the rest of the body. The cancellation of powers was not effective enough.
Siduo blinked. She had never tried that… She never used her Hell White Tiger form to advance in her cultivation before, but based on her past experience with fusions… it might just work.
Her Martial Souls exploded, no longer partially fused. Her Aura grew, her body glowed, she grew. From the light came a terrifying Hell White Tiger. A different form than she once wore. Bigger, stronger, the contrast between white and black was stronger, and there were tiny wings starting to grow on the back of the tiger form. For now, they had yet to function. They would sprout once she reached the Soul Sage rank.
The bones were seen within the tiger form. Even here, they were domineering. It still wasn't enough, but it helped with balancing!
More. She needed more power. Her Soul Rings rose. Only four, because she could not handle more with the suppression she had to do. She fused the four into one, all of them focused on strengthening and change of her body.
The tiger stood deathly still in a stance, eyes closed.
The pose lasted 10 minutes.
Then an hour. Longer than she had ever been in a fused state.
Then finally, a whole day passed, yet the Hell White Tiger form persisted.
This was uniquely possible because she was absorbing the power of the bones for herself while absorbing them. The Hell White Tiger balanced out the two combating powers, while the two powers simultaneously held the Hell White Tiger in place.
And after the second day, the Hell White Tiger form finally vanished, and out appeared Siduo. Her eyes now of two distinct colours. White and Black. Yet her eyes turned to normal afterward, the power that filled her vanished.
Siduo collapsed.
… … …
She woke up, seeing a dark sky. She checked her communicator. Half a day had passed. She'd been here for two days and a half in total.
She looked around. No Karni. And the storm of elements she was feeling. Of a familiar… seasonal aspect. He was entering the crucial stages.
Her smile cracked up. Not only had she managed to save a whole species, a forsaken love, but most importantly… finally, Karni seemed to be turning more and more into the person she remembered.
He would come out a different man. Transformed in powers. A seed planted. A seed of powers she knew all too well.
The Seasons awaited.