‘Logos, Pathos. Why is Jin Fang in my head now?’
<=If we had to guess? That trident in her hand is somehow getting her on the same wavelength as you and the kaijin.=>
‘It can do that?’
<Seeing as I helped Miavora make that sucker centuries ago after she ripped out the fang of an actual Leviathan, it had fucking better.>
‘Huh…Jin Fang…you doing okay?’
‘Well…my mother’s trident is telling me to bonk this guy in the head with it, and I can’t tell if it’s actually sentient or that’s just the violent impulses talking.’
‘Either or, probably don’t listen to it.’
‘But it sounds fun…wait, why did I think that?’
…
Feng Wei, and subsequently the crowd of civilians, were stunned silent.
This woman, Jin Fang, had essentially proven without a shadow of a doubt that she was the Storm Queen’s daughter, by virtue of wielding her trident, [Leviathan’s Crest].
[Leviathan’s Crest] was a strange weapon in that it couldn’t be categorized by the traditional methods used for aether treasures, due to being made primarily with [Chaos].
Evidently, this led to some weird interactions.
Normal aether treasures, could be nearly organized into several tiers of power and rarity in ascending order of Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Supposedly there are also Mythic and Divine tier treasures, but those are so incredibly rare and guarded that they’re basically untouchable by most people.
[Chaos] treasures on the other hand, and the power they projected, was incredibly dependent on the person wielding them.
It was often said a weapon should be treated as an extension of one’s body, [Chaos] treasures were that extension.
Already, Jin Fang could feel the [Leviathan’s Crest] becoming more and more intertwined with her person…to the point that she managed to dismiss its existence entirely and store it in her soul!
“Oh good gods.”
“Yup… definitely her daughter.”
She didn’t even notice doing it, she just did it.
All that aside, the Kaijin Lord and Imperial Princess couldn’t help but be amused at the sight of the stunned Aether Lord’s reaction to Jin Fang’s display of power.
However, now wasn’t the time for amusement.
[Well, I think my consort has already proven who she is to you and everyone present, so…would you mind?]
[Huh? Oh! Yes. My-my apologies, Kaijin Lord. Storm Princess.]
With his apologies made, Feng Wei proceeded to retreat with his tail between his legs.
…
‘Storm Princess? Really?’
‘Not a terrible title. Besides, you might not get the title of Storm Queen till later.’
‘Royal ascension is weird.’
[Do…do you want us to call you, Storm Queen?]
‘Nah…maybe later.’
[As you wish.]
‘Alright with that out of the way…let’s go and
..I guess celebrate? Patch wounds? Something along those lines?’
<=Wing it, the words you’re looking for is “wing it”.=>
‘Fair enough.’
‘Well, if we’re winging it…’
…
Shortly after causing Feng Wei to run, Jin Fang returned over to the Kaijin Lord’s side and proceeded to grab his other arm in a manner similar to the Imperial Princess’s action just seconds ago.
It didn’t take the crowd too long to realize some minor political implications from this relationship on display.
“Wait…so the new Kaijin Lord is literally in bed with both our lost Queen’s child, and a daughter of the Pearl Scale Emperor?”
“That appears to be the case, yes.”
“Does that mean we’ll have to make nice with the Pearl Scale Empire?”
“Maybe.”
“Wait a minute…what happened to those Zhen Clan warriors?”
What followed after this cute moment though was the painfully boring process of after-battle clean-up and bookkeeping.
Casualties had to be recorded, damage had to be noted for reconstruction efforts, medicine had to be redistributed, etc.
Especially since the defeat of the Fallen came with a sudden rescuing of a literal boatload of hostages.
Thankfully though, the people of Undertow didn’t have to do all this by themselves.
“Wait a minute…why are you Zhen Clan d-guys, helping us clean up? This ain’t your city.”
“Well, they were our blood enemies attacking us so, consider this an apology for that.”
“I…guess that makes sense…”
“By the way, is the glowing eel in currently holding your pet or aftermath from the tidal wave?”
“Dinner.”
“Nice.”
Matriarch Zhen Xun Tian had ordered her clansmen to help with the cleaning and repair efforts of the city due to most of the fighting being done between themselves and the Fallen. Evidently, this little action also helped to forge better relations between the two initially frosty sides.
On top of that though, there was one other group providing assistance.
[Hey, Nepherage.]
[Yes, Springerdermain?]
[Why are all these mortals looking at us?]
[I think it’s because we’re the first kaijin they’ve seen in years besides Tortallion.]
[I guess that makes sense…]
With their presence in the city now revealed, the Kaijin had been sent out by their lord to assist in the relief efforts.
However, this came with an unexpected consequence.
[Master Kaijin, I-]
[Please, my name’s Hurricroak. What’s the matter?]
[Can…can you bless my baby?]
[Say what?]
“Bah?”
Due to the near reverential status of Tortallion, the Kaijin were subjected to a surprising amount of public affection, of which they were not prepared to deal with in the slightest.
Mostly.
Razorstella and Hurricroak were actually enjoying the attention, what with the [Core] of the former and the personality of the latter.
But others were…not so used to people being around them.
[I am…starting to understand why the producer insists that we maintain an air of secrecy around us,] Screamira complained to Frosttusk as she felt the gazes of a hundred or so adoring eyes. [This is…weird.]
[Meh, you get used to it,] Frosttusk attempted to say in comfort as several children rode on his shoulders.
[Right…]
Evidently, the fortunes of the Zhen Clan, the Kaijin and Undertow were now intertwined with each other for the better.
And all it took was a war with a shared enemy.
As for the main participants and beneficiaries of it all…they were busy having a rather loaded discussion.
…
Meanwhile in the Storm Castle’s Throne room…
“So…I sense that you guys may have questions.”
“Yes.”
“Multiple.”
“Okay…where would you like to start?”
“For starters, do we really have to conversation while you’re looking that?”
“Like what?”
“That!”
At this moment in time, Zhen Hai and Zhen Feng were standing in the middle of the Storm Queen’s throneroom while having a conversation with the Kaijin Lord,their cousin, Zhen Liu. Technically, they should’ve been joined by Zhen Xun Tian and Cornileus at this time as well, but they were elsewhere at the moment.
Regardless, while this moment was a simple yet important exchange of questions and answers, it didn’t really look like that outside looking in.
Zhen Liu was currently sitting on the Storm Queen’s throne, at Jin Fang’s insistence.
While dressed in his [Taboo], at Jinju Ren’s insistence.
As his cousins were standing across from him like they were petitioners to a throne, since this was the most comfortable for them at this time.
On top of all that, Jin Fang and Jinju Ren were positioned in such a way as to appear they were concubines around the throne of an overlord…for some reason. Zhen Liu had asked why they didn’t just use the chairs of the councillors, but the response he got boiled down to, they didn’t want to.
Which, evidently, was the answer to Zhen Hai’s first question.
“They insisted on this, I don’t know why either.”
“What?,” Jinju Ren asked in mock offense. “I thought boys loved the idea of being a powerful overload while being flanked by beautiful women.”
“I mean…
“Zhen Clan family weakness,” Zhen Feng and Zhen Hai said simultaneously,”got it.”
It was a good thing Zhen Liu’s face was covered at this time, otherwise he’d be turning red.
But with all that aside, Zhen Hai and Zhen Feng started to ask rapid fire important questions.
“So we’re you able to cultivate [Chaos] before or after you got shot in the dome?”
“After.”
“Is that Library we’ve been to related to whatever it is you’re able to do?”
“Yes.”
“The Kaijin are how you cutlivate, but can you cultivate by yourself?”
“Been trying, still can’t, literally need them to do shit.”
“Now that we can use [Chaos], does that mean we’ll be invincible too?”
“Maybe? I have no idea to be honest.”
“Huh…”
“Are there any side effects to this [Chaos] stuff, because I swear there are.”
“A lot of cursing and irreverence to stuff.”
“That explains the Matriarch…’
“Nah, she’s just like that.”
“Ah.”
This question and answer exchange went for a solid five minutes before Zhen Feng and Zhen Hai were totally mollified.
After that, there was just one more question that they needed answering.
“So…what happened to the Fallen and their big ass weapon?”
“Well…the [Shadow Sovereign] is currently sinking to the bottom of the drink…we might grab it’s skull before it gets submerged.”
“Ominous.”
“As for the Fallen…I don’t know. Hopefully, they’re gone though.”
“Me too…so what’s the plan now anyways? You gonna stay here and be king or something?”
“Not exactly…”
