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Rating:

Teen And Up Audiences

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Graphic Depictions Of Violence

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Fandom:

Parahumans Series - Wildbow

Relationship:

Alexander/City Building

Characters:

Rebecca Costa-Brown | AlexandriaDragon (Parahumans)Director James TaggEmily PiggotColin Wallis | Armsmaster | DefiantBastion (Parahumans)

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Self-InsertCYOAEndbringerA man finds his hobbyThe rest of the world is terrifiedCausing major wars by accidentTeehee~Misunderstandings

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English

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Published:2025-02-16Updated:2026-02-25Words:229,706Chapters:83/?Comments:559Kudos:1,455Bookmarks:363Hits:86,657

(End)Bringing You A New Home! (Endbringer SI)

10moorem

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Renovations

Summary:

Everyone point and laugh at this man!

Chapter Text

Chapter 58: Renovations

-Alexander POV-

With the inclusion of plasma wiring -should I think of a better name for that?- I had finalised my work and set down the current dimensions of the main chamber.

To call it massive would be underselling it, the chamber made any sight I had previously seen -in either dimensions- seem quaint by comparison. The ceiling stretched upwards into a cavernous darkness, the height so vast I couldn't even see the top.

The same was true in any direction I looked, regardless of how well lit the chamber was.

Scale was an odd thing, events tended to work differently at certain extremes of them. For example, at the furthest reach of my power, I could feel harsh winds being whipped up and the faintest hint of condensation. The wind bit harshly into the sides of my chamber, and I observed the minute weathering the surface underwent as it was beaten by fierce gales.

'A storm. There's a storm happening within my base.'

A giddy smile was upon my face. Despite the vast knowledge of climatic sciences endowed to me by both SolarPunk and TeslaPunk I hadn't expected such a thing, yet it was a happy accident.

Already I was musing on ways to incorporate this weather into my future designs of this place.

Yet, there was something missing.

I glanced upwards and frowned.

'Weather with no sky is just plain weird'.

With a grin I lifted myself skywards, shooting up at terrifying speeds. Despite my sheer acceleration the time it took to reach the top made my ascent seem almost ponderous, so vast was the scale of my creation.

When I reached the top I looked around, nothing but basaltic grey as far as the eyes could see. Bit boring that.

A drone was spun into existence, then another, then another and constantly more until my little corner was buzzing with drones, the clicks and chirps becoming thunderous under their sheer mass.

A flipped switch here, a change in programming there, and they took off. Some remained where they were, beginning to etch angular runes into the ceiling. I watched them for a time, admiring their inhuman precision, before beginning to descend back down – pinging Renji with a notification to head into the chamber.

Given how far he is from the chamber it should take him about four minutes to get here, if he walks so there should be-

Wait, was Renji the type to walk if I called him?

A second later I realised the answer was an emphatic no, and decided to once more message him with an addendum - telling him to take his time.

My feet touched the floor, the ceiling above once more indistinguishable to the naked eye and far out of the range of my power. Yet I knew my drones were once more doing as they had done in Jinzhou.

The decision to use magic, despite being unknowing of it's origin, was not one I had made without some deep thought.

Firstly, Jinzhou was already a wellspring of magic by this point.

So, regarding the Shards, the cat was already out of the bag. Despite that, I wasn't too worried. Could the Shards learn to manipulate magic? Sure, I wouldn't be surprised. However, the thing is, it would take time for them to understand it – especially the magic of Jinzhou. All of the magic used there was from the SilkPunk specialty after all, a type of magic that was capricious, focused and laughably illogical at the best of times.

Even normal magic would have taken them a while to figure out. That type of magic will definitely take at least a decade, if they devoted all of their processing power to it.

To top it off, all of them attempting to figure out SilkPunk's brand of bullshit would likely slow down any attempt to figure out other kinds of magic, because other than running on the same energy they do not behave similarly at all. So a bunch of bad assumptions would likely poison their attempts until they figure that out, if they ever do.

Secondly, at this point it was too late. Even assuming magic had some hidden drawback, I could no longer pull the plug.

Why?

Because Renji ran on the stuff.

The man was literally forged with magic and metal to be the perfect ideal of what people imagined a samurai to be. Taking out the magic would be like ripping out a piece of Renji's soul, he wouldn't be able to exist without it.

So yeah, not killing my friend.

Finally, I just plain needed it. And not just 'in the future', or some other tripe. I needed it in a pretty immediate sense.

Because, as it turns out, I couldn't block the vision of the Shards without it.

According to the information in my head, woefully out of date information at that, A Shard's scan wasn't any one thing. It was a series of waves that constantly bombarded the planet, scouring for information. Gravity waves, neutrinos, higher dimensional mapping, quantum fluctuations, and a dozen other methods were employed.

So, that method I used to talk with Renji before? It probably wouldn't have worked without a certain factor.

The magical reactor within Renji's chest.

According to the, very rough, calculations I've done, the introduction of magic into the mix should have scrambled their attempts to see through my veil. Rendering our talk into meaningless gibberish to them.

Once again, Renji had come in clutch. This time without even meaning to.

So, yeah, needed to add concealment wards before doing any dangerous research into killing Entities.

"You said you needed me?" Renji walked into the room, before stopping to stare at the daunting size of the room he was in. "Well you don't see that every day," he muttered quietly.

Oh, Renji!" I greet him with mock surprise, pretending I couldn't track his location from hundreds of meters away with my matter manipulation. "You're just in time, come watch the stars with me!"

I pat the ground next to me in excitement, gesturing for him to sit beside me.

One of Renji's eyebrows rose, likely questioning why we were attempting stargazing underground, but didn't protest – taking a seat next to me.

He sat in a perfect seiza, eyeing the rock beneath him in mild disdain -likely for its lack of fanciness- before gazing up.

"Okay. In three…two…one…and now!" My finger extends, pointing upwards in dramatic fashion.

Nothing happens.

"And now!"

Renji stifles a quiet chuckle as nothing continues to happen.

"Okay, did one of them somehow break up there?" I glance away from the concealed ceiling and down at Renji. "Hold on I'll just go-"

Naturally, the drones chose that exact moment to activate the runic sequence.

Lights begin to flicker on. One, then two before dozens and hundreds more join them. Stars twinkled in a place that had long forgotten them.

It wasn't just stars either, the magical illusion was not blocked by pollution or an atmosphere – so even the smallest details of it could be clearly seen. Nebulas drifted silently upon the colourful vistas, lit by the countless suns they had nurtured.

Even the black background of space had subtle gradients, lighter in some areas where distant galactic arms dwelt.

I glanced back over at Renji, whose jaw had almost imperceptibly dropped. In his eyes I could see the wonder of the cosmos in full, the same wonder I had felt when my father took me stargazing under a cloudless winter night.

I could remember the wonder I had felt, glancing through my telescope and seeing wonders I had only ever seen on television.

Absentmindedly, one of my many arms reached up to brush a tear that had gathered in the corner of my eye. The liquid sat perched upon my hand like a dazzling jewel, gazed upon by a being who hadn't even known they could cry.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Runes had been spread across the outer layer of my newfound home. Those on the outside covered the pillars, their magic designed to misdirect perception and warp information.

Both AetherPunk and SilkPunk had been utilised to the greatest extent possible. The five pillars now oozed crimson, the arcane words written upon them seemed to weep red energy outwards like a sickness.

If a normal human crossed the boundary that these pillars created they would begin to hallucinate. It would be subtle enough, at first. Whispers, figures in the corner of your eye, phantoms touches but would quickly escalate the longer you remained present. Soon they would be unable to tell fantasy apart from reality, and would be left as little more than babbling wrecks.

Precognition, and other forms of Shard information gathering, would be similarly affected. The data returned would quickly become nonsensical, and while I had no delusions of driving a Shard to madness with this it would certainly be frustrating for them.

It was a defence mechanism half chosen out of pragmatism and half out of spite towards those crystalline voyeurs. Also it fit well with the Lovecraftian aesthetic this place had going on.

It was only the most obvious form of protection we had.

The interior bore minuscule icons and sigils relating to gods of trickery, great acts of deceit and secrets never uncovered.

These were more subtle, on the occasion the pillars were destroyed these magical protections would not completely hide what was within my sanctum. Instead they would make a few choice edits to the information acquired.

Which changes were made would depend entirely on the intent of whoever was attempting to plunder my secrets, and how it might benefit me. A Shard assessing if I was a threat would find only non-threatening technology present, or perhaps attempts to kill an entity so laughably off the mark that I couldn't even be considered a threat.

With those protections set up, the last of my preparations had been completed. Now it was time to begin work on the interior of my new home.

I wiped my brow, wiping off imaginary sweat as I stared at the last of my pillars to undergo a magical makeover, the faint screams of the damned I'd added to the matrix was a particularly inspired choice!

I looked upon my creations proudly, the dark ominous pillars scraping at the sky contrasted wonderfully with the wide and open plain of snow. There was just one problem…

"Should I add something to the centre? There's nothing there."

Indeed, most of the infrastructure of our new base was underground. So, besides the pillars and a few cave entrances, there wasn't much present. Perhaps it could be considered beautiful in a minimalist sense, but when there was enough space between the pillars to fit an entire city then it was going a bit far.

Perhaps I could add a pentagram? Lines of magical force reaching between the edifices? Then again, wouldn't that give off a more satanic flair? There wasn't anything wrong with that, of course, it just wasn't what I was going for.

A ritual circle still held some merit, however. But, combined with the red of the pillars it would definitely give off a demonic feel. Maybe if I changed the colours I had given the pillars? Green was definitely gave off a more eldritch vibe, so I could use that.

"But I already used green on black when I made Jinzhou's walls," I moaned – not wanting to be derivative. God, what other colour would be better? Purple? Eh. Blue? Nah, not scary enough. Pure white? No, that's stupid. There's already way too much white in our surroundings.

Yellow?

Yellow!

How could I forget yellow! Very eldritch! Much Hastur!

Maybe I could add some tentacles around the base of each spire?

Oh, the possibilities are endless!

I am in such a good mood right now, nothing could ruin this!

The universe, as it tends to do, chose that exact moment to shit on my day.

It began subtly at first, minor quantum fluctuations. Then they began to build.

My head jerks sharply upwards, now sensing immense pressure building within the intersection of the five pillars, atoms moving erratically and a static charge intensifying - causing arcs of lightning to form around the pillars.

I froze, mind racing.

'Oh fuck that's not natural, what the hell did I do this time?! Oh shit did I actually summon an Elder God just by thinking of them? Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit!'

As I began freaking the fuck out analysing the situation, I noticed an odd reaction in the magic present in the area.

This reaction, whatever it was, was drawing in the ambient magic in order to fuel something.

Which did not help calm me down.

'AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH, WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING?!'

The world slowed to a crawl, as my mind sped up to deal with the problem before me. Okay. This was clearly magic, magic was being used to facilitate whatever was going on, so what could be causing it.

My mind came up with zilch.

None of the Paragons should be capable of teleportation. Renji definitely isn't.

Shit, was it Wukong?

Well, that wasn't something I could dismiss out of hand but it didn't seem like his style.

So, someone I didn't know?

Um, okay fuck!

Why would they be coming here?

My eyes flew to the pillars, to the sigils that invited misdirection.

Could that be it? Did they mistakenly think this was their destination because I had sent up the magical equivalent of a signal flare laced with LSD?

I cursed, the expletives particularly foul as I began breaking the sigils with my matter manipulation.

The pressure did not relent, clouds beginning to form – black and thunderous. Whatever it was, it was still coming.

Okay, so that didn't work.

Was this actually their destination?

Or could their translocation no longer be stopped?

Should I reapply the misdirection sigils? Let them taste madness the moment they arrive?

Did I have anything to stop them?

Wiznock's Ward might help, if it wasn't so time consuming to apply. A Void Barrier would require exotic material that I don't have. A Sky Skipper required extensive preparation.

Time! The one thing I didn't have!

Calm down! If you can't prevent them from appearing then do the next best thing! Prepare a surprise that will make them regret coming!

Missile launchers began appearing by the dozens, and then by the hundreds. Fusion missiles, fission missiles, cobalt bombs, gamma burst missiles, bomb pumped lasers. I was truly applying my AtomPunk specialty well as I began preparing my opening salvo. If those didn't work I would add in more exotic armaments.

Light began to bloom outwards, a pale blue that seemed to swallow everything. Silence broke as wind began to howl outwards, fleeing away from the centre point. The pressure wave met a wall of still atoms I threw up, the force completely negated by a single use of my power.

I readied myself, the machines around me beginning to rumble to life as V.I's began to seek out a target amidst the blinding light.

Finally, the glare of blue light broke apart, scattering upwards into faint motes as the invading force arrived. Snow buckled and heaved as an enormous structure suddenly manifested above it, sinking deep into the frosty substance.

Black was the first thing I saw, a bulwark clearly designed to protect against my first attack. No matter, I would-

I stopped, blinking for a second.

Hold on, was that…

Above the walls, rising higher than even the five black spires I had constructed around the new foreign objects suddenly occupying where I was building my new home, were massive chrome towers.

Familiar chrome towers.

I blink in surprise, my mind trying, and failing, to comprehend the sheer unlikeliness of what was in front of me.

"It's Yà lì shān dà!" A voice suddenly cried, and my jaw dropped as my suspicions were confirmed.

More cries rang out. Jubilation, praise and worship flowing from the battlements like water flowed down a stream.

My disbelieving form flinches slightly, as I look upwards to see figures gazing down from the walls of New Jinzhou.

"PRAISE BE! PRAISE BE! PRAISE BE! PRAISE BE! PRAISE BE! PRAISE BE!"

'What? What the hell are you guys doing here?! I thought, with a cloying mix of disbelief and slight horror.

As I stared dumbly at the distant figures singing my glory, all I could feel -beyond a sense of bafflement- was a strange assuredness that the universe was laughing at me.

AN:So, I forgot to post this update to AO3…whoops. Not sure how I forgot to do that.

Yeah, that's right. The place Jinzhou got teleported to was Antarctica. Alexander, for his part, is massively shocked. He didn't forget about the emergency teleport he gave the city but the odds of them showing up right in front of him is miniscule. There is, however, a reason for it. There should be enough information within this chapter, and others, to piece it together.

Though, needless to say, this isn't going to help with his reputation as a 5D chess master.

In other news, the main room is done. All it needs is some actual stuff to go in said room. That may be on hold until Alexander figures out the whole Jinzhou situation. Taizong interlude is next.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment! Or don't, I'm not your mom.

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Entire Work ← Previous Chapter Next Chapter → Chapter Index Comments Share Download

Work Header

Rating:

Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning:

Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Category:

Gen

Fandom:

Parahumans Series - Wildbow

Relationship:

Alexander/City Building

Characters:

Rebecca Costa-Brown | AlexandriaDragon (Parahumans)Director James TaggEmily PiggotColin Wallis | Armsmaster | DefiantBastion (Parahumans)

Additional Tags:

Self-InsertCYOAEndbringerA man finds his hobbyThe rest of the world is terrifiedCausing major wars by accidentTeehee~Misunderstandings

Language:

English

Stats:

Published:2025-02-16Updated:2026-02-25Words:229,706Chapters:83/?Comments:559Kudos:1,455Bookmarks:363Hits:86,657

(End)Bringing You A New Home! (Endbringer SI)

10moorem

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Still Contemplations

Summary:

Taizong: Sasuga Yà lì shān dà-Sama!

Chapter Text

Chapter 59: Still Contemplations

-Taizong POV-

He flicked through pages on his computer, the images barely having time to load before he went to the next. The lightning-fast machine Taizong called a brain flawlessly sequenced each byte of information and stored them perfectly.

The battle against the unknown entity, temporary code name: Thanatos, had ended roughly ten minutes ago. Shortly after he had activated the emergency teleport the creator had left for this city.

It was unfortunate. Acclimating to a new environment would be difficult. There might be new rivals to contend with.

Creator forbid they end up in Africa.

…Assuming they ever reached their destination.

Taizong looked up once again, this marking the third time he had done so in the last minute.

Chenyu, his secretary, was still there. He had hired her a week after the departure of the creator. He hadn't needed a secretary, not truly. However the position allowed him to mentor the young woman, who he had seen a glimmer of potential within.

It wasn't every day an ordinary Chinese peasant uncovered information the C.U.I. would have preferred to never see the light of day by way of discarded receipts and word of mouth.

When Taizong had heard of this woman, who had operated an ad-hoc spy ring under the very nose of that tyrannical regime, he knew he had to nurture that talent.

He had been right, of course. The girl was the right mix of inquisitive and intractable in the face of pressure that made her ideal in his eyes. That same bullheadedness had also caused Chenyu to clash with him over various decisions, which he had viewed as an acceptable whetstone for such a sharp mind.

Mostly it was about insignificant things.

Warehouse storage standards, regulations regarding farming and other such trifling concerns. The only issue she had truly seemed incensed on was the treatment of the foreign prisoners.

It was an altogether baffling line of reasoning.

They were given adequate rations of food and water. Books were provided for them when requested. They were taken out for the occasional walk. Even the prison cells they were given were decently furnished.

Taizong genuinely didn't see the problem.

There were many, across the globe, that would beg for such standards of living.

Yet, she had shouted and railed against him. Asking, red faced, if they were even going to open negotiations with the United States to ransom them back.

Taizong, personally, saw no need and had told her as such.

The fury on her face had been a cold thing, and the resulting argument had tested his patience in a way it never had before.

His eyes lingered on her still form.

He wished she was currently that unbridled now.

However she, much like every other human in Jinzhou, had frozen still the moment the teleportation engaged. Her open mouth was a question never delivered. Her tense shoulders refused to fall. Her skin a pallid, desaturated grey hue that seemed so at odds with the woman herself.

The sight pained him, much as the sight of the other frozen did.

He had already tasked the other Paragons with investigating the phenomena, and the sciences had never been his area of expertise. Thus, he was left to pour over what had allowed this disaster to take place. How had the barrier of his creator been circumvented?

At 17:06, at 3 seconds past the minute, the Protectorate cape: Shuffle had seized up and started convulsing.

At 17:06, at 6 seconds past the minute, the subject began to expand. Unknown material began to be disgorged from her orifices and beginning to cover her body.

At 17:06, at 23 seconds past the minute, the cape exceeds the dimensions of her prison cell. Alarms are called and guards begin a staged withdrawal, as they were commanded to in the event of a parahuman threat.

At 17:06, at 54 seconds past the minute, The displacement by the expanding frame of Shuffle causes the underground prison to collapse. Six guards and the remaining Parahumans of Shuffle's squad are buried alive.

At 17:06, at 56 seconds past the minute, it is presumed the six guards died of blunt force trauma and blood loss. The Parahumans remain unaccounted for.

Taizong stared at the number for a second. Six deaths. The first to have ever died under his rule.

A profound sadness washed over him once again, and he had to blink away the slight residue in the corner of his eyes as he continued.

At 17:07, at 5 seconds past the minute, Shuffle completes her transformation into Thanatos. The first on scene was Lu Bu.

At 17:07, at 6 seconds past the minute, a dimensional anomaly is created 50 meters away from Thanatos and Lu Bu.

Between 17:07 and 17:13 Lu Bu managed to drive the creature away from populated areas and inflict minor damage upon the entity. During the battle he was forced into using his overclocking mode.

During this time Several assets, the chrome androids and Jing Ke, arrived on scene. The latter was held back as reserve while the former was given permission to engage. The androids only served as minor distractions at best, and eventually Lu Bu was bested.

During this fight Lán sè was roused and made aware of Operation: Current.

At 17:13, at 23 seconds past the minute, Jing Ke was given orders to engage.

Taizong leaned back slightly. His plan to force Lu Bu into a weakened state had proven to be successful. Given that he hadn't anticipated Thanatos, it had to be planned on the fly. Nevertheless, he had succeeded.

In his unconscious state Taizong had snuck more than a few explosives into Lu Bu's body. Should the known back stabber ever even think to harm them, he wouldn't live to regret it.

The thought brought a small, content, smile to his face. He understood his creator's choice, truly he did! Jinzhou was a single city state against a sizeable nation and Lu Bu, despite his many flaws, was very powerful.

Yet, despite the restraint placed upon the man, Taizong was not content to allow the man to run amuck. Contingencies were needed.

Shaking his head, he banished the thought of the brute and continued.

Between 17:13 and 17:17 Jing Ke led a running retreat against Thanatos, bringing it closer to the borders of Jinzhou. The first minute of the fight was characterised by a complete inability for Thanatos to adapt to Jing Ke's homing bullets. However, in the second minute, Thanatos formulated a method to nullify Jing Ke's advantages and proceeded to hunt the asset down. The last two minutes are a desperate chase towards the borders of Jinzhou.

At 17:17, at 10 second past the minute, Operation Current begins with Lán sè dragging Thanatos beyond the borders of Jinzhou.

At 17:18, 2 seconds past the hour, Lu Bu's body is recovered. Initial difficulties were met by the temperature of the man's body, requiring specialty equipment.

At 17:23, 26 seconds past the hour, Lán sè is forced back into reality. Thanatos proceeds to maul the Paragon over the next twenty minutes.

At 17:24, 45 seconds past the hour, a preliminary study is made on the dimensional anomaly within Jinzhou. The study would remain incomplete due to Jinzhou's relocation

At 17:45, 48 seconds past the minute, Thanatos -presumably realising the futility of attacking Lán sè- begins to instead strike at the barrier itself.

At 17:46 exactly, the barrier falls. Lán sè and Thanatos are deposited near a contingent of C.U.I. observers.

Upon realising the scope of the disaster Taizong prepares to initiate the emergency teleport, only waiting to allow Lán sè to retreat back to Jinzhou.

At 17:47, at 30 seconds past the minute, Jinzhou's emergency teleport activates.

Taizong rubbed his eyes, a purely human reaction that he had no need of – yet still found comfort in.

It had been an hour since the activation. Yet, they had not reached their destination. Instead they had been dragged into some odd liminal space. At first glance it might not even appear that they had moved at all.

The landscape beyond Jinzhou was the same as it had been, the same trees and rocky hills still surrounded their walls. Yet the colour had been ripped from the land, the sky swelled and bulged in odd patterns and the humans -as previously mentioned- seemed to be frozen in place.

Those weren't the only oddities either.

Taizong was no expert when it came to magic, but simply by having a beating heart of the phenomenon allowed him to pick up bits and pieces.

This place, whatever it was, was positively soaked in magic. Taizong wasn't sure if this…place had atoms, or anything tangible at all despite its appearance, instead of pure magic acting as them.

Then there were the things inhabiting this land. Taizong had not personally seen them, but the Paragons had spared no detail on the beings they had encountered beyond the borders of Jinzhou.

Anomalous entities roamed the hills beyond the city. Metal, silent, things that marched in orderly rows, the only sound they made being the clinking of vast chains that stretched far and away from them – never entangling despite the impossibility.

Thankfully these beings weren't hostile. In fact they seemed to show no regard to anything besides their mindless marching.

Perhaps, if they continued exploring, they would find other entities, more malicious things than these hollowed out automata. In fact, following the chains that stretched to the horizon, Taizong was very sure he knew where one such entity was.

But that wasn't his concern.

Not yet, at least.

Because the pieces still didn't line up.

The dimensional anomaly that might have allowed for the continued use of Parahuman abilities had only appeared after Shuffle's transformation into Thanatos.

It couldn't be the catalyst for all of this.

He thought back to the creator's words on the barrier, and what it was meant to hold back.

"Parahumans are funny, y'know? They have all sorts of inbuilt corrections to them. The Manton Limit is only the most obvious. Another is the fact that Parahumans can't go past the orbit of the local moon without losing their abilities. That's why this barrier, that distorts space to create an impossible distance, works. It takes advantage of the rules of the game."

Taizong had always believed that words held multitudes within them. Hidden secrets you could dig out if you observed them for long enough. These words were no different.

For example 'inbuilt corrections' was an interesting choice of words. As if parahumans were designed somehow. Then there was the mention of a 'game' going on.

Before this Taizong had not taken too much interest in Parahumans, beyond the basics. He was meant to lead a nation that was incapable of creating them, after all.

In hindsight, that was the first clue. Why would the creator set up such an all encompassing barrier instead of giving them the means of dealing with individual parahumans that pop up, unless Parahumans themselves were part of the problem?

He had begun to study them after that realisation, and everything he learned only served to unnerve him further. The 'Manton Limits' the creator spoke of were a well-documented phenomena first observed by Doctor William Manton. In-built controls to stop the power from hurting the parahuman.

Parahumans, he had decided then, were most definitely artificial.

Which implied the existence of creators.

Beings with technology, or magic, far beyond this world's understanding.

Alternate humans? Aliens? Magical beings? Gods? Too little data to tell, but whatever they are Yà lì shān dà views them as a clear and present danger.

Was Yà lì shān dà one of those beings then? They were clearly not human and held the capability of creating empowered individuals, he himself was an example. It would explain the knowledge they had, the impossible technology and magical techniques.

Were they the ones behind the sudden disaster?

No, unlikely.

If they were so capable, enough to construct every ability currently on Earh Bet, then they likely could have taken the barrier down as soon as it first appeared.

So who?

Taizong amused himself with these hypotheticals as he searched the city's CCTV network. Typically not something he liked to do. Governments that relied on surveillance were sloppy, in his opinion. They took the easy way out instead of using their brains, attempted -in vain- to grasp at absolute control.

Yet, there appeared to be few options left. He knew Sanzang held some skill in reading the past with magic, but until they were done investigating the strange realm they currently occupied, he would have to make due.

He stopped, finger hovering an inch above the interactive holograms that made up his interface.

The recording before him showed an empty street, one of the ones yet to be occupied by residents. Yà lì shān dà had built this place with room for population growth, so there were plenty of areas just like it.

His cursor hit the rewind button, his eyes peeled for what he had seen – what had attracted his attention.

He allowed the recording to play, before rewinding again to repeat the process.

There! From an origin just beyond the sight of the camera, luminosity had suddenly increased by 3.1%. Hardly noticeable, unless you were as augmented as him.

He tapped away at his interface, fingers a blur as he typed in his request.

A copy of the city's maps was pulled up, and cross referenced with the location provided by the CCTV network.

Taizong frowned. Where the location of the luminosity, according to his calculations, there was nothing – simply an empty street. No neon lighting, no bioluminescent vegetation, just nothing.

Could it have been a citizen of Jinzhou exploring an unoccupied section of the city, possibly with a flashlight?

Possible, but then the luminosity would be higher. Not to mention most of his citizens were still traumatised by what they had gone through at the hands of outsiders. As much as he wished to believe that one of the people he was responsible for had that bravery, it was unlikely.

The vast majority of his braver citizenry had signed up for what passed as Jinzhou's military, dedicated to striking back at the C.U.I. and freeing their prisoners.

And all of them were accounted for.

So an outsider was most likely, but who?

Well, Taizong could immediately point out one likely suspect. The Americans had already proven their ability to enter Jinzhou once already. Perhaps they had managed it again, with less incompetence this time?

They would have sufficient motive too. They had operatives captured within the city, and that was before it was acknowledged that Jinzhou was a city crafted by an Endbringer. The same Endbringer that killed so many of their capes in Hyderabad.

Which had been a surprise, actually. Taizong hadn't pegged his creator as the violent type. But then, he didn't have the full picture – so speculation was rather pointless.

Then there was the C.U.I. They made for another likely suspect. As sworn enemies to Jinzhou they had more than a motive, destroying Jinzhou would have been necessary if they wished to ever regain their image of untouchability.

The only reason Taizong believed them to be less likely was that their attention was currently occupied by the invading forces and rebels ravaging their country. Because of that the Yangban had contented themselves with observers and the occasional subversion of Jinzhou military. The latter was thankfully being countered by Sanzang.

Beyond those two countries the likelihood of others being responsible dropped significantly, and somehow he doubted any minor country would have the means or inclination to carry out an operation of this scale right in China's backyard.

There were even those like Russia, who outright benefitted from their presence. Their strikes against Yangban bases and their theft of assets weakening the rival nation that shared Russia's borders.

So no, Taizong was reasonably certain it was either America or China who had allowed Shuffle the opportunity to regain her powers.

To which he could only reluctantly applaud. With a single act they had planted a potent force of destruction within Jinzhou's very own walls and brought down the barrier that had kept the city free of reprisal.

If it weren't for Yà lì shān dà's forward thinking the city would be in truly dire straits.

He turned, his swivel seat turning with him as he gazed out the window. Below he could see the frozen figures of his citizens standing in place. With his enhanced senses he could see a little girl frozen mid-run, eagerly chasing an equally frozen canine.

The sky above swelled, clouds shifted and breaking apart before reforming again. The grey city flecked with only the golden colour of the hanging crystals that dotted his home.

In this realm of magic, only those that seemed to share an origin with it could prosper.

Not like…

He shook his head.

Those crystals, that had been imbued with protective magics through the tireless work of the Paragons continued to shine. The protectors of Jinzhou themselves were the only ones capable of moving In this frozen place.

And that fact made his teeth clench, despair attempting to claw at his thoughts before being brutally driven back down by his will.

Taizong wasn't a pious man. Even the one he rightfully viewed as a creator, Yà lì shān dà, he didn't see as anything close to a deity. Still, observing this dreary dimension with all that he swore to protect trapped like flies in amber, he offered up a humble prayer and closed his eyes.

'Please don't let things end like this. For them to go from one form of imprisonment to another would be too cruel.'

He bowed his head slightly, allowing himself to do so in this moment of solitude. He prayed for his subjects. For clever Chenyu, who still had so much potential. For wrathful Liu Min, who still needed time to put down his anger in order to live happily. For all of them.

'Please.'

"-and I genuinely think…sir?"

Taizong jerked. Turning around he found himself met with the puzzled and concerned face of Chenyu.

The suddenly moving and alive Chenyu!

"Sir? How did you suddenly move a foot to the left, and why are you looking at me like that?"

Taizong couldn't help it, a mad -relieved- laugh left his throat.

He could tell that wasn't helping her confusion, yet he couldn't stop himself. He was just so glad!

"It's nothing," He waved off. "The translocation had a few unexpected side effects, but it appears those have passed."

Chenyu's eyes darted to his face, searching for a clue as to what he was talking about. She quickly averted her eyes however, well aware from previous attempts that trying to read him was an exercise in futility.

"Now the only question is where we've landed," he said, beginning to tap against his interface before pausing.

"Are you back online, my friend?"

"This unit is online," came the droning monotonous voice of the city's V.I.

Just like the humans it had also entered a period of inactivity, the being's code buffering in odd ways that even the resident scientist Paragon couldn't understand.

"Good. Bring up the external cameras, let's get an idea of what we're working with," he said, leaning back as the screen in front of him changed. The image of the CCTV recording faded and was replaced with a flat white plain, with faint impressions of hills in the distance.

More concerningly was the enormous black pillar that cut across the placid white, alien in its placement and material both.

He stared, mind racing for a conclusion.

"Movement on the eastern wall," the voice of the V.I. interrupted his busy thoughts.

"Show me!"

The order was carried out swiftly, the image once more changing. Once again a snowy and serene landscape met his eyes. Another abyssal black spire was present. Yet, this time there was something else.

A figure, gazing upon Jinzhou with what looked to be wearied exasperation with the faint sounds of cheering in the background.

The individual in question was none other than Yà lì shān dà.

"Well," he spoke to himself, "That's one question answered." For indeed, who else could do all this?

Internally his already hurried mind was now operating at lightning quick speeds. The teleport was supposed to be random, was it not? So how had this happened? The odds beggared belief.

Had it been a lie, was the teleport always going to bring them back to the creator?

Was it truly a coincidence?

Or perhaps there were other factors he simply wasn't aware of?

He had always taken his creator to be a simple sort. Not unintelligent, but typically uninterested in schemes and planning. An honest individual, sometimes brutally so – if never without kindness.

Had he been wrong? Had he always been a puppet dancing in Yà lì shān dà's hands?

The thought should have been terrifying, but all it brought out of him was another amused chuckle. His emotions slightly deadened after the rollercoaster of events that had made up the previous few hours.

His chuckle subsided, ignoring the slight glare Chenyu shot him between looking at the image of the creator in reverence. He reached out to his interface, preparing to inform the guards and defences to let his creator in. He idly sent a few messages to the Paragons as well, who had thankfully been brought with them when they re-entered this dimension.

It would appear today was not yet over.

AN: Yeah, the teleport wasn't perfect. Or rather, Alexander doesn't fully understand how it works. This will be addressed in future chapters.

In other news, here's what Taizong had been doing. Going back over what happened and trying to piece everything together. He doesn't have all the information available to him, so his guess is a bit off, but he got surprisingly close to the truth.

Also you got a peak into some of the reasons for his past decisions. Yeah, Taizong sabotaging Lu Bu was just common sense in his eyes. May as well sabotage him before he can sabotage Jinzhou.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment!

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Rebecca Costa-Brown | AlexandriaDragon (Parahumans)Director James TaggEmily PiggotColin Wallis | Armsmaster | DefiantBastion (Parahumans)

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Self-InsertCYOAEndbringerA man finds his hobbyThe rest of the world is terrifiedCausing major wars by accidentTeehee~Misunderstandings

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Published:2025-02-16Updated:2026-02-25Words:229,706Chapters:83/?Comments:559Kudos:1,455Bookmarks:363Hits:86,657

(End)Bringing You A New Home! (Endbringer SI)

10moorem

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Reconnection

Summary:

Alexander chooses violence.

Chapter Text

Chapter 60: Reconnection

-Renji POV-

"Sooo…"

"Don't fucking say it." Alexander's voice was distinctly exasperated as he deadpanned at the cheering crowds that welcomed them.

"My apologies, all seeing one, I know I shouldn't distract you from your labyrinthine plots," Renji teased, enjoying the slight twitch it provoked.

He and Alexander were once again walking the streets of Jinzhou, a bizarre mirror of events not so long ago – on the day they had left the city. The sights were familiar, yet tinged with a feeling that was all too familiar.

Renji's slight smirk fell of his face.

"Leaving them to their own devices is probably no longer in the cards, at this point." Renji pointed out.

Alexander growled slightly in frustration, yet not a sign of it showed upon his face. His creator was the perfect picture of grace, calmly walking through the streets armed with a serene smile and and a waving hand.

"Give me some credit, Renji. Even I can tell that."

The words were uttered quietly enough that the crowd could not hear them. Indeed, Renji could spot the worrisome truth on the face of each and every person lining the pavement.

Beneath their happy façade was an undercurrent of unease, and as they looked upon Alexander – the one many worshipped as a god, Yà lì shān dà – Renji could see the desperate hope. Hope for peace, hope for stability.

For the teleportation array to have activated it must have meant Jinzhou had been facing an existential threat, one that even the Paragons couldn't overcome.

The signs of that great threat, whatever it was, were present if you knew where to look. While this impromptu parade had been organised in one of the undamaged sections of the city, Renji could still faintly smell the scent of smoke and burning metal.

And in the distance, barely visible between the ascending skyscrapers, he could see wounds etched into the city, cuts that seemed impossibly precise.

Renji's hands itched for his sword, but he held the impulse at bay. He couldn't hold that familiar comfort here, in front of these people – so uncertain of their own safety.

"I know it must be difficult to see, demoralising even." The cheers of the crowd echoed across the streets, yet still seemed to be smothered by the silence that suddenly stood between the two at those words.

"But even if they only got a few weeks of peace, it still meant the world to these people."

Alexander chuckled darkly. "You believe me to be sad? No. I'm furious." The words were as cold as the arctic snow, and just as merciless.

Renji turned in surprise, gazing upon a face that seemed carved from stone.

"This world gave them just enough peace to give them hope, allow them the slightest degree of healing, before snatching it away. That's just…it's…"

Alexander's form shuddered imperceptibly, his plastic smile still spread across his face even as his teeth clenched hard enough to turn coal to diamond.

"It's disgusting. Sickening," they spat

Renji blinked, before nodding in understanding. It would appear the depressive mood did not form as he had anticipated. That was good, Alexander had a habit of getting wrapped up in his own head too much at times, and then not enough at others.

"Yes, it is, but until we know who did it we can't make any moves. Taizong will inform us, and then we can make plans."

Alexander's expression flattened momentarily, before the mask slipped back on.

"Oh," he hissed. "I have a sneaking suspicion as to who did it."

-Alexander POV-

"Greetings my lord! It's a pleasure to once again host your august form!" Taizong's honey rich voice called out the moment we stepped into the meeting space – a town hall I had modelled after memories of one from my previous life. It had been well maintained, even added upon. The tasteful decor indicating wealth, yet not decadence. Fortune, but not arrogance. Unfortunately, the effect was lost on me, in my current state.

"Cut the pleasantries Taizong. What happened here?"

The smile on Taizong's face slipped away, revealing a more haggard expression as he slumped back into his seat. I didn't react to it, I knew my creation well enough to understand he could be faking.

"It's…a lot," he said, beginning to prime the computer before him – no doubt bringing up the files of the incident in question.

"I suppose I should begin shortly after you left. About an hour afterwards a group of American Parahumans managed to infiltrate the city."

"Oh for fu-"

I cut myself off, huffing. I had missed an infiltration by an hour?! A successful one at that? What the shit, Earth Bet?!

"Continue." I growl.

Taizong nods, barely skipping a beat. "They were captured fairly easily, they even parachuted down on top of us." Taizong smiled, contempt lacing his every word.

Wow, that…that was pretty sad. Who the hell decided that that was a good idea?

"They were placed in prison and treated well enough. They were given food and water three times a day, allowed to roam a designated area. They were moved every few days for security reasons, but without their powers it was fairly easy to keep them contained."

I place a hand to my chin in thought. Everything seemed logical enough, precautions had been taken without negatively affecting the prisoners too much. So how had things gone wrong? How did this relate to the damage I had seen outside? Had the PRT sent another mission, one that was more successful?

I absently notice a woman beside Taizong looking somewhat upset. I was more than a little sympathetic, the shame that came with insufficient preparation was one that I had become bitterly familiar with.

"Everything was going smoothly," Taizong stated, before a frown settled over his features. "Until today that is."

He swiped left, the hologram interface wheeling around to show us a haunting picture. A monster standing high amidst the wreckage, their stature enormous compared to the squat buildings that surrounded it. I ran a few calculations in my head, the creature's height coming in at around thirty meters tall.

As if the height wasn't enough, the being's physical appearance made a trickle of unease run through me – primordial instincts warning me of danger. It was lithe, almost stick thin, with broadswords for fingers and a predatory stance.

"We have named this being Thanatos," he shared. The Greek God of Death? Fitting for such a ghoulish being.

"However it used to be the parahuman known as Shuffle," Taizong said.

My head snapped up, eyes no longer fixed upon the image but on Taizong himself.

What had he just said?

"This transformation was preceded by an anomalous source of light originating from a spot in the city that had no cameras on it," Taizong continued, glancing up to find me looking him dead in the eye. Eyes burning.

"Cauldron," I bit out, but for once my anger was not focused on that incompetent group of wastrels.

Because, without a broken Shard Network, there was only one possible way for the creation of what was clearly a Titan to take place.

I wasn't sure whether it was ignorance or malice but…

Taizong, what have you done?

The leader of the city cocked his head, intrigued. "Cauldron? Who is that? A group?"

My eyes narrowed. "Continue."

He blinked. "My lord, if you know who-"

"Continue." My single command left no room for negotiations, and now everyone in the room was looking between the two of us – sensing the shift in atmosphere.

"Ah-yes, well…" Taizong coughed. "Following this light, and Shuffle's transformation, there was a massive rupture in space in another section of the city, thankfully one that was unoccupied but the timing is too close to be coincidental."

I furrowed my brow. A spatial rupture? That could mean many different things, though one that was so close to a Titan…

My eyes widened, a horrible premonition having come over me.

"Show me!" The command rang through the room and Taizong, sensing the seriousness of my tone, hurried to oblige.

Soon enough, the image before me changed.

I had no blood, yet somehow I could feel it draining away from my face as I stumbled back. One of my hands braced against the back wall prevented me from falling over, but it was a near thing. All the while my eyes never left the hologram before me.

The depiction before me was simple enough, almost innocuous if you didn't catch the small hints that something was utterly, horribly, wrong.

It was a sea of black, held between two districts. Across the border of the black oblivion was extruding crystals that seemed to burrow into the surrounding area. Whether through air, buildings or the very earth below they cut through them all with the same ease.

I knew what this was, how could I not? Yet I didn't understand how it could be here!

For, right in front of my eyes, was nothing less than a portal to Shardspace itself!

I wobbled, my legs shaking slightly as I tried to compose myself amid my terror, the implications sinking in.

"Is it here?"

"N-no, my lady," the woman besides Taizong says, clearly nervous – her eyes darting across the room and looking very uncomfortable. "It's likely still in China."

I nodded. Good, that was…good. I focused on slowing my breathing, glad that the threat wasn't so imminent.

I swallowed and looked up.

"Keep going." I could feel the eyes on me, and god knows what sort of impression I was giving off – but I had to know what I was dealing with quickly!

"Well?!" I snapped.

Taizong's fingers tapped across the screen of light without a word, his expression taut.

"Thanatos first engaged with Lu Bu, and then with Jing Ke. They lured him to the outer wall, which allowed our draconic friend to ambush and drag him away from the city."

Then Taizong paused, looking almost remorseful.

"Unfortunately during this Thanatos managed to destroy the barrier protecting Jinzhou."

I grimaced, one bit of bad news after another, huh?

"And how was it able to do that?"

"It was a highly capable manipulator of space, we surmise that is how it was able to interact with, and destroy, the barrier. Likely an upgrade from Shuffle's ability to teleport."

Great, so there's a Titan out there who can play with space like play dough. Fantastic, just great!

I quietly note down the fact that Shuffle was a Mover, adding it to my pile of suspicions regarding the cause of this incident.

One of them, at least.

I let out a deep sigh, weariness evident.

"Which is when you decided to use the teleport?"

"Which is when we decided to use the teleport," he nodded, before hesitating. "Although, there were complications with the device."

Of course there were, why wouldn't there be?! My focus began to narrow, there was too much information to sort through in such a short amount of time. I needed to focus on what I had already learned.

"Is anyone dead?"

"well, no."

"Is anyone injured?"

"None beyond our ability to heal." Taizong admitted.

"is this matter in anyway urgent?"

Taizong paused. "Well, considering we're out…no."

Out? Out of where?

No-don't get distracted.

"Then you'll have to brief me on that later, but for now…" I breathed in deeply, trying to contain the growing anger.

"Taizong. Is there anything you want to tell me regarding-" I quickly connected with the city's V.I. to run a query "-Mary?"

Taizong's face twisted in confusion.

"Who?"

I breathed in deeply through my nose, closing my eyes and counting to five. I could feel Renji tugging on one of my arms, but I didn't look down.

"You would know her as shuffle," I say, opening my eyes again.

"Ah. Her," he looks briefly annoyed. "Not particularly, why?"

I purse my lips, fire building in my chest.

"What happened in Jinzhou was a phenomena known as a broken trigger, and Mary is now something called a Titan. Usually not something possible under…current circumstances," I say, deliberately vague. I could see Taizong's interest, the same disgusting curiosity you'd give a particularly interesting object.

'Fuck, why hadn't I seen this before?'

"It's likely," I continued through gritted teeth, "that the barrier inadvertently created the conditions for one aspect of what would be needed."

"That seems like quite the oversight," the machine man frowned. "Perhaps you should have-"

"Do not!" I growl out.

Taizong stops in place, and the woman next to him pales. A small part of me wants to stop at that, seeing the terror in her expression, but the larger, angrier, part of me pushed forwards.

"It's only an oversight when you don't consider the fact that I didn't expect a Parahuman to be repeatedly exposed to their deepest trauma over and over again! Because that's what it would have taken!" The words almost hurl themselves from my throat, the venom I spoke them with was thick and paralysing.

The woman by his side paled, looking accusingly at her superior. Taizong, for his part, merely appeared quizzical.

"I've never subjected her to torture," Taizong protested, looking faintly affronted.

"No? Then where did those triggers come from?"

"I've already informed you of their conditions, they were never harmed!"

I twitched. "I-" I hissed, messaging my temples. "Trigger events come from suffering, all kinds of suffering. It needn't be physical, it can be psychological. Look!"

I flipped a few electrons, manipulating the device in his hands and revealing security footage from Mary's cell. Mary was huddled in the corner, gently rocking back and forth. Her face was covered, yet I could still see the faint signs that she had been weeping.

"Well?" I gestured towards the footage, searching Taizong's face for any semblance of understanding.

I did not find it.

If anything he appeared annoyed, a small glare directed at Mary's image.

"So you're saying she was that weak? All this has made me wonder how she managed to make it this far in life."

I locked up, face becoming blank as I look at my creation.

Just ten minutes ago I had entered this room to find Taizong barking orders, directing people to begin preparations for a colder climate. He had designated children and the few elderly Jinzhou possessed as priorities in this. He had seemed so concerned.

Even before that I had seen the change in Jinzhou's streets, the quiet evidence of life lived well. Shops selling children's toys, cafes with tired -but proud- owners, parks that had been well trod and more.

Taizong clearly had empathy, so why was he not getting it?!

"Taizong. Her suffering is not something to wave off." There was something dangerous in my tone now, an edge that hadn't been present before.

The woman -and I really needed to learn her name- who had been looking at Taizong in faint horror cast a glance at me and shivered slightly at whatever it was she saw.

He chuckled. Chuckled! He leaned back into his seat with an indulgent smile.

"My creator, I understand your benevolence but those people simply aren't worth your kindness. Did they not do something to you in Hyderabad? I can't see any other reason as to why you would kill so many. I would have thought you would understand the need to be firm in this subject."

Renji's tugging was more urgent now, yet all I could hear was a low roar of blood racing through my ears at what this motherfucker had said.

The mention of Hyderabad, the idea that we would ever be aligned in this opinion, the idea he might be right. It was too much, a line had been crossed.

The world seemed at once distant, yet so clear.

I turned my head.

"Excuse me, miss?" My voice was clipped, violence barely restrained. "Would you mind moving over here for a second?" I beckoned her over.

The woman nodded shakily, abruptly jerking to the side and out of the way.

My gaze returned to Taizong.

He lifted an eyebrow. "What exactly are you-"

My fist met his face with a sickening crunch.

His head tilted back, his body rag dolling away and cratering the wall behind him. The room shook, and I could faintly hear the sound of panicked shouts from an adjacent room.

I pulled my fist back, shaking it more out of habit than actual pain, before stepping forward.

My expression never changed once.

AN: Go off Alexander! Alexander and Renji return to Jinzhou and don't like what they find. Alexander, upon hearing what happened, quickly puts the pieces together using his out of context knowledge. Naturally, he's not too pleased with Mary's treatment as he finds it both callous and counter-productive. Also Taizong pressed a few of his buttons. Alexander also fundamentally cannot understand how Taizong can seem so great at one moment, and then downright sociopathic the next.

Thanks for reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed and please leave a comment!

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Rating:

Teen And Up Audiences

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Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Category:

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Fandom:

Parahumans Series - Wildbow

Relationship:

Alexander/City Building

Characters:

Rebecca Costa-Brown | AlexandriaDragon (Parahumans)Director James TaggEmily PiggotColin Wallis | Armsmaster | DefiantBastion (Parahumans)

Additional Tags:

Self-InsertCYOAEndbringerA man finds his hobbyThe rest of the world is terrifiedCausing major wars by accidentTeehee~Misunderstandings

Language:

English

Stats:

Published:2025-02-16Updated:2026-02-25Words:229,706Chapters:83/?Comments:559Kudos:1,455Bookmarks:363Hits:86,657

(End)Bringing You A New Home! (Endbringer SI)

10moorem

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: The Oldest Human Language

Summary:

Alexander after beating the shit out of Taizong: "Man, maybe I should seek professional help?"

Chapter Text

Chapter 61: The Oldest Human Language

-Taizong POV-

Glitches filled his vision and a dull heat permeated his head. He reached up. No blood. Of course not. He's not human.

Yet the pounding headache did not abate as his vision cleared, just in time to see a second punch being thrown his way.

Crack!

Pain blossomed as the fist struck his head once more, splintering and cracking the concrete behind him. Shards of stone and dust hung over his form like a wreath, as his head spun – programs stuttering and starting only to stop again.

His eyes rose to meet the cold stare of his creator. Taizong had seen his progenitor furious before, as he witnessed the lines of liberated slaves awaiting treatment in Jinzhou. He had witnessed sadness, when some inevitably succumbed to their wounds literal moments before they reached a healing station.

This was worse.

It was as if Yà lì shān dà had surpassed mere anger and gone full circle back into serenity, the sheer unrelenting nothing on their face as they once more struck him sent a shock running down his spine that had nothing to do with pain.

His head once more flew back, colliding painfully with the wall behind him and ricocheting off with a speed that made his spine ache. Yet another of his creator's arms held him in place, while two more encircled his arms – preventing them from moving.

He struggled blindly, panic beginning to surface from the waters of his usually tranquil mind. The hands that enveloped him didn't budge.

Another punch let out a deep reverberation, the building's structure clearly not enjoying the torment it was going through.

'They must be reinforcing the wall somehow,' he thought blearily. Punches that hadn't even destroyed a wall should have no means of hurting this much.

Unmercifully, another rain of blows descended upon him.

Five. Ten. Fifteen.

It was too much, and with a grating groan the wall finally collapsed into rubble and fine sand – his body sent skidding onto the floor of the other room.

He attempted to call for backup, surely someone would come to stop this!

He coughed out dust, the message failed to send.

Something was blocking him.

"What-" He coughed, hating how weak he sounded. "What do you think you're doing?! Right after we were already attacked?! Do you really think this will put their minds at ease?!" His words started low but rose sharply as his mind began to clear.

Yà lì shān dà simply looked upon him as if he were an insect, cold and detached. Faintly he could see his creator's companion and Chenyu banging upon an invisible barrier outside.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry. You're doing a bang up job comforting them," Yà lì shān dà responded cooly, gesturing back the way they came.

What was he-

Taizong's eyes widened as he heard something he had previously been unable to, the harrowing impacts and the sound of ringing no longer present.

"Yes! We're fine, Yà lì shān dà's companion merely became quite wrothful after hearing of the attack committed upon us," came his own voice.

Taizong's eyes darted to a patch of ground behind Chenyu, something that should have been untouched from the violence of the last minute. Instead of smooth floor there was a hole, as if it had been sucked up and taken.

His eyes flicker back to his creator, or perhaps repurposed would be a better word?

"I've also set up a barrier that will ensure we're not heard. Probably should have done it before the first punch, but I was a bit angry." Despite the lackadaisical choice of words, his creator's voice was still just as icy – still staring him down at him imperiously.

Yà lì shān dà stepped forwards, and Taizong began to crawl backwards in fright – closing his eyes as he anticipated another blow.

"Taizong," the voice was as sharp as an executioner's blade, "You're no longer in charge of international affairs."

Taizong stopped moving back, his eyes opening in confusion.

"Wha-"

"Or anything involving foreigners, for that matter. Your judgement regarding them is clearly inept." The words cut into him.

Taizong face, previously white, turned red.

"What!"

"Do I need to repeat myself? You'll still retain control of domestic matters, but anything regarding elements outside of Jinzhou will have to be administered by someone else. Someone who won't create a Titan out of sheer neglect."

"And if I refuse?!" He hissed out, outraged over the implication he was somehow unfit to guard his own people in any capacity.

"Then I'll kill you." The threat was naked, devoid of pretence and absolutely brutal. Looking into Yà lì shān dà's eyes he could tell the threat was genuine, his creator would put him down if he did not comply.

"Do you think the people would stand for it?" Taizong scrambled for a way out, mind turning over itself for a solution.

His creator snorted.

"You do remember how you got that position don't you? It was because I endorsed you. If I call for the necessity of splitting your duties with somebody else, then the people of Jinzhou would agree," came the scathing reply. Before smiling grimly.

"Especially now. Apparently the city arriving right next to me is being seen as a miracle? Can't say I'm happy being venerated in that manner, but it's certainly convenient for situations like this."

Taizong grit his teeth. Yes, many viewed his creator as a god. It was likely more would after today. Delivering salvation upon a people tended to bring out those views. Doing it a second time simply cemented the position.

"Do you really think anyone else could do a better job?"

Yà lì shān dà's expression turned flat. "I left you alone for less than a month," the words were spoken with barely subdued fury. "In that time you somehow ruined a girls mental state so thoroughly that she became a walking disaster that would have doomed Jinzhou, if not for the teleport."

His creator stared down at him, their disgust only seeming to grow.

"You did everything else perfectly. But when it came to the group of infiltrators you somehow dropped the ball so hard it reached fucking America! Literally!" Blue hands curled as they roared that final line, and for a moment Taizong felt a dread certainty they would start swinging once more. Thankfully Yà lì shān dà released a breath and slowly unclenched them.

"And you seem to show no remorse over it, or even understanding of what it was that you did wrong!" Yà lì shān dà shook their head, as if in disbelief.

"I'm not sure anyone else could do a worse job if they tried!"

There was a pause, and Taizong felt a slow creeping realisation that, somehow, he had completely lost the trust of his creator. And over those invaders?!

"I'm not sure if you're like this because of the way I made you, or if it's just you, but I suppose it doesn't matter. It's been decided. That body double I just made of you is already spreading the good news."

His shoulders slumped, a heavy mix of emotions settling in his gut. Shakily he pulled himself to his feet, feeling as graceful as a dung beetle.

"So that's it then?" The question was asked with bitterness.

"That's it," came the reply with chilling finality.

Taizong reached up to rub his forehead. No mark was present, the wound having already repaired itself, but the pain lingered.

"Did you have to hit me into another room?"

The eyes across from him met his own, pinning him down like a butterfly.

"Yes."

"Are you not going to explain why?" Taizong griped, surely the matter could have been settled using words? Why had his creator resorted to such barbarity?

"You're too smart for your own good," was the flat reply, briefly flummoxing Taizong.

"Such people can be a pain in the ass, because they tend to be very good at convincing others, but especially themselves, that they're right. If I had just talked to you, tried to explain where you went wrong, you would have only twisted my words to fit your worldview."

They raised a fist, staring at it. Taizong suppressed a flinch.

"Violence is lot harder to misinterpret."

He swallowed thickly, the bitter realisation filling him.

"I see so that's why." It was a harsh understanding, one brought upon by intense amounts of head trauma, but at least he could follow the logic. Could understand.

"Huh?" Alexander look up at him blankly. "Well that was part of the reason, anyway. Mostly it was because you deserved a good punch or three…or twenty."

Taizong twitched.

"Anyway, remember what I said. I won't be leaving like last time. This place will serving as my home, so don't try to pull anything." With that final warning Yà lì shān dà turned and strolled out of the room, being followed by an irate crimson samurai.

Leaving Taizong standing in the dust, pulverised stone scattered around him.

He took a breath before letting out a shuddering exhale, his nerves getting the best of him as he shivered slightly. His hand reached up to his forehead.

Sweat. He was sweating.

Something Yà lì shān dà had added purely to blend in with humanity, now turned into an expression of weakness – of fear.

"My lord? Are you alright?" His eyes snapped up, meeting Chenyu's. Her face was stark white and her form was trembling. Ah, couldn't have that.

The slight shivers ceased abruptly, and a slight smile graced his features – the mask returning to adorn him.

"My apologies, my dear! It seems you've gotten caught up in some dreadful business," he kept his voice light and airy, even adding in a little chuckle at the end for effect.

He stepped forwards, taking both of her hands in his – attempting to comfort her. His thumbs rubbed against her palms, noting with some concern how cold they were.

"It appears you were right regarding the prisoners, I owe you an apology." In truth he still didn't comprehend how he had been wrong, but he knew better than to argue when every other voice rose up to drown out his own argument.

"I-I could have told you that, moron." Taizong smiled at that reply, some of her former confidence returning.

"There's no need for you to worry, their anger is with me."

Her hands curled around his own, squeezing back. "I know! I know that! It's just…"

She paused.

"I don't want you to get hurt, you're my teacher and-"

"I won't," he assured, "I won't. So long as I don't overreach they will be happy enough to ignore my presence."

'So long as I don't have another opinion that is worth killing over,' he bitterly didn't voice.

"Come on, let's go somewhere that has less of a draft. You're freezing," he said, coaxing her away from the ruined room.

-Renji POV-

They strode past the fake Taizong, waving and smiling at the frightened personnel crowding around him. They stayed there for a time, allaying fears and worries. Throughout that span of time Alexander's form resembled a tightly wound spring, any hint of pressure ready to set them off. No baseline human would have been able to spot it, but he could.

They managed to excuse themselves eventually, exiting the building.

A gust kissed Renji's face as he left, causing him to blink and wave a hand through the air – testing the temperature. Sure enough it was...warm, warmer than it should have been. Warmer than the inside of the building, even.

"Did the heating equipment get set up that quickly?" The samurai wondered to himself, causing his friend to chuckle.

"No, that would be my doing. I'm agitating the atoms in the air slightly, creating a higher temperature," they explained.

"Oh." Renji frowned, still waving his hand through the air in slight wonder. Even after all this time he was still amazed at what his friend could do. It was no wonder so many thought of them as a god, a belief Renji still shared - if with more nuance than before.

Some might think that strange, to call one's friend a god – especially after finding themselves face to face with that god's many flaws. But, to Renji, such things were not mutually exclusive. A god could be flawed, and a god is capable of having friends, should they wish it.

Naturally, he didn't intend to explain this to Alexander. No doubt he'd get weirded out over it.

Still…

"Isn't it too warm?" The question sprang from his lips as he fanned himself lightly. The air was not just warm, it wouldn't be out of place in the tropics. It definitely seemed like overkill if his friend just wanted to ward away the cold.

"Are you forgetting about the outer edges of the city? The places my range doesn't reach? This way the heat expanding outwards will reach a decent temperature when it gets to those places. If I kept this location at a lower temperature then they wouldn't see much benefit."

Renji turned the explanation over in his head. It made sense, it wasn't something immediately obvious but he supposed indirect manipulations on areas outside Alexander's range was possible in that manner.

"Of course, this is just temporary," his friend elaborated further. "Once preparations are finished I won't need to continue doing this, although…"They trailed off.

Alexander's eyes darted towards the sky contemplatively.

"I might need to set up another barrier, if only to stop the wind from stripping away the warmth. It's not very strong right now, but in the future It could be." They stopped, before nodding their head.

"Yes. That's something I could do," they said, before continuing on with more surety.

Renji scrambled to catch up, coming to their side as he looked up inquisitively at his friend.

"So should I even ask about what happened in there?"

Alexander glanced down.

"He talked shit, he got hit. What's there to talk about?" The answer was dismissive, and Renji caught more than a faint hint of distaste leaking through.

He continues to stare up at his friend, eyebrow raised and questioning. His friend should already understand why he was so worried.

Alexander weathers the stare for a moment, before sighing wearily. Their stride doesn't slow but their footfalls seem heavier, more sombre.

"Do you think I could have convinced him any other way?" His friend asked, a hint of something in their voice.

Renji cocks his head in thought. Immediately he dismisses the idea that his friend felt guilty for hurting Taizong, that rage and disgust had been genuine and he couldn't imagine his friend's mind changing so quickly.

Perhaps it was because of the assistant? It was certainly possible, and likely fed into the rather vulnerable sounding question, but that didn't feel like the answer either.

"You didn't think you could convince him any other way," Renji observed, remembering the words Alexander had spoken to Taizong. "Are you ashamed of that?"

To Renji, that would be understandable. Becoming aware of one's own limitations was a…sobering experience. The pain and regret he had felt when his weapon had broke against the invincible body of Alexandria had seared that truth into his mind.

"I had resolved to being clever, y'know?" Alexander's statement was light, almost airy, as if contemplating the idea. "So much of my troubles occurred due to wilful ignorance on my part, so I endeavoured to think things through. But when I met with Taizong, and when he told me of what he did with such an unbothered face-"

They cut themselves off. Renji did not need to look at them to intuit what they were feeling.

"You are though. That trick with the temperature, the old Alexander probably would have accidentally frozen the outer parts of the city before realising that they had made a mistake. You had already considered that, and now you're off to build another solution to a problem this city might face."

His friend's face soured at that thought, clearly finding the idea not so farfetched and hating it.

"I-" They paused. "I suppose that's true."

Despite the words, Renji got the feeling Alexander was unconvinced.

"Besides, it's not like you won't have other opportunities to convince him. You'll be close enough to occasionally drop in," Renji suggested, drawing a slow nod from Alexander.

His friend's mouth opened to reply, his gaze landing on Renji as if to ask him something - before he frowned in thought and turned his gaze forwards once more.

"I think," Alexander said, his gaze fixed towards the horizon, "That maybe I should speak to Sanzang about this. He would have advice on how to handle things more rationally and-"

Alexander swallowed, looking down.

"I think he'll be able to help me with my other issues. You've done a fantastic job Renji but…I don't want you to have to feel responsible for that."

Renji, whose gaze had also been turned towards the distant sky, swivelled his head to look back at him. He carefully scanned his friend's face, examining it. Alexander seemed conflicted, yet not like before. There was determination in spite of that conflict, a will to push ahead with something, despite desperately not wanting to. He turned to Renji and offered up a smile.

"I'll be fine Renji. I was just feeling a bit contemplative."

The smile widened into something more manic.

"Besides, getting to punch that smug face? Definitely helped a lot!"

Renji laughed at that, quickly being joined by Alexander as they continued to head towards the outer wall. The sun stretched low, hues of orange dancing luridly across the white fields of snow. Looking at that laughing figure, surrounded by a city that held only their best interests, Renji got the feeling that their friend would be okay.

AN: Somehow managed to complete this in three days, so I guess I have a day off. Neat. Would have continued, but this felt like a natural stopping point. So yeah, diplomacy successful?

Taizong having to share duties, and removing his responsibilities towards outside actors definitely felt like something Alexander would have immediately done. Normally they're not one to swing their authority around, but Taizong definitely spurred them on to use it.

Also therapy POG. Not sure if I should show that or leave it in the background, but it'll definitely be happening. The presence of the city itself, and having people to talk to who won't scream 'Endbringer' will definitely help. Your thoughts?

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment!

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Chapter 898 - 58-61