Shangdi. The home of the Chinese Pantheon. Named after its Founder and established in an era before Valhalla's recorded history, it became one of the epicenters of Valhalla's economic, industrial, and diplomatic endeavors. However, before this, in its infancy, it was a vast, lawless city full of corruption. In honor of its duplicity, it was named the Bureaucrat of Valhalla's three worst Regions, alongside Svarga the Brute and Manu the Tyrant.
However, Lu Ban refused to let such a slight stand. Through his efforts, his sweat, and grit, he traveled throughout Valhalla and Midgard, learning all methods of architecture, stonemasonry, and carpentry he could find. Through dozens of human lifetimes, he amassed the skills he needed to save his home. Not with violence or conquest, but construction.
Within Shangdi, over the period of several years, he built, on his own, what could only be described as the dream of every blue-collar soul. With the backing of several prominent Gods from his Pantheon, he built a titanic structure that jutted out of the earth and pierced the sky, emblazoned with the character 天 front and center on the tallest building. Taller than nearly any mountain, and more pristine than even the purest maiden's soul. This marvel became a beacon of a better era for Shangdi and the start of what would be the largest construction effort in Valhalla's history.
Or, that is what Lu Ban hoped for. Many claimed it was his Magnum Opus. To Lu Ban himself, however, he claimed it as his greatest mistake.
Shangdi
Mōryō Town
Millennia Ago
One night, far from the brightly lit architectural titan, Lu Ban stood in the center of a fenced-in lot, eyes closed and near-still. Wooden scaffolding framed a dark, decrepit five-story building behind him. To his right and left were bricks, planks, ceramic pots full of paint, and crates full of tools. The fence surrounding the lot was littered with violent phrases, threats, and bravado. Only one mattered to him, and it was he made sure everyone knew what it was. 施工危险区, read as 'Construction Hazard Zone.'
In that lot, barely lit by the dim glow of neighboring buildings, Lu Ban slowly tilted his head to the left and right, twisted side-to-side, his ears twitching as he moved.
Suddenly, he stopped, then slowly raised his left hand to touch his left index and middle fingers to his chin. Then, he clicked his tongue and furrowed his brow.
"Really?" He whispered. From a window on the third story, five projectiles flew out straight towards the back of Lu's head. "You could've picked a better spot to attack from." Just before the first one pierced the back of his head, and turned to the right and swiped it out of the air. "Shui to Mu to Huo to throw something with greater strength." Without opening his eyes, he swatted the other four out of the air. "But your transition from Mu to Huo weakened your throw."
"Hey, cut me some slack!" A young man's voice yelled from the window.
"I could, but I won't." Lu Ban smiled a little as he twirled to unknown tool in his hand. "Especially when you're trying to set up a sneak attack." He swung the tool to his left, parrying something metallic and heavy out to his left side. It cut into the ground.
"Oh no…" Another voice said in front of Lu.
Lu raised his left foot and stomped down hard, burying the weapon. He then hammer-fisted the tool in his right hand into his attacker, sending him sprawling. "You need a better distraction, but good job going through all the steps, starting from Mu." He threw the tool back behind him through the window, hearing a slight clang and something dropping on the floor. "None of you is making me use my left hand yet." A small, joyful smile grew on his face. "You're hurting this old man's feelings!"
"Don't worry!" Another voice, full of confidence, yelled from Lu's left. He heard heavy footsteps racing towards him. "All part of the—!"
Lu's left foot stepped back, and he turned with it. He felt the air flow by his face as another heavy attack flew past. Let's see if you at least applied Tu and Jin. Lu kicked his right leg forward, slamming into something and forcing it away. His right hand rose forward and swung back down, catching something and slamming it to the ground with a loud thud. Nope…
"Laoshi! Damn it, you almost broke my shin!" He heard at his feet.
"Wouldn't hurt as much if you applied what I keep trying to teach you!" Lu's smile grew. He then stepped forward and fired his right palm straight out, slamming it into someone and knocking them over. "Like he did." He heard someone trying to suck air back into their lungs just a meter in front of him.
Lu shook his head and dropped his left hand.
"Much better than a week ago, but I'm getting the impression only one of you has been putting in the work." He opened his eyes, staring wryly down at the young, red-haired man in front of him. "You're good at putting in the work, Zhuque. I almost couldn't sense you! But unless you help these guys catch up to you, you're going to lag both in skill and leadership."
Zhuque grunted and managed to get his breathing under control. Lu stepped towards him and offered his right hand. He grimaced, but it faded into a defeated smirk as he took his teacher's hand, lifting himself to his feet. "You got a point, Laoshi," He said. "But it's kind of hard when Baihu's kind of slow on the uptake!"
"Screw you! You just got the wind knocked out of you! He almost broke my leg!" Baihu yelled as he massaged his right shin.
"Kidding! Qinglong also overthinks things, but he was the closest to getting you."
Lu looked over at Qinglong while he tried to pull out the wooden dao that Lu had buried. "I shouldn't have hesitated that badly. Laoshi knocking all the darts out of the air was…kind of terrifying."
"It's not that difficult once you get the hang of it," Lu said, walking over to him. He grabbed the handle, breathed deeply, then ripped it out of the ground. "But it takes practice to use Wu Xing, and even more to apply it to something like combat." Lu looked back at the building. "I think someone should go check on Xuanwu. Baihu, quit whining and go get him."
"Ugh…fine," Baihu answered, standing up. He jogged over to the building's entrance and vanished.
"I thought I had it that time," Qinglong said, shaking his wrist. "I tried applying all five through the action. I could do it yesterday."
"I bet you could." Lu walked away from the pair, over to the bricks and planks. "Trying to apply Wu Xing in combat is like…Huh. Hold on." Lu Ban closed his eyes and poked at his forehead.
"Laoshi?" Zhuque asked.
"Hold on. So used to doing it, it's hard to explain." He snapped his fingers. "Ah! Think of it like this." Lu picked up several bricks, laying them on their sides, each a meter apart, while keeping a few in hand. He then walked back to the start of the line, then stepped up on the first brick as Baihu walked out of the building carrying Xuanwu on his back. "Think of it like running a race where the track has fixed stepping stones, like these." He stepped from one brick to the next as if walking on solid ground. "You don't get to choose where your feet go. You have to follow the steps to sync with the world's energy flow." He stepped on the next brick, balancing on one foot. He then reached back to the other brick, grabbed it, and threw it behind him. It flew through the air, landing perfectly on its side on top of another brick.
"That's kind of fancy…" Baihu whispered.
"Every step is placed for a reason and feeds, is fed by, subjugates, or is subjugated by another. Shui, Mu, Huo, Tu, and Jin all do this with each other. If you misunderstand these relationships, you mess with the flow and hinder yourself." He stepped up on the stacked bricks without issue. He then hopped, sliding one of the bricks he held onto the stack, and landed neatly on it. "Wu Xing works the same way in a fight as it does in everything. It's not strength, speed, or something childish like that. It's about knowing how the processes work so you can apply the world's forces through your body, however you wish. From having perfect balance to seeing without seeing." He did this a few more times, and before long stood atop seven perfectly balanced bricks on the ball of his right foot. He then jumped down, the bricks staying perfectly still. He started walking back to his pupils, but stopped when he saw Zhuque staring off into the distance. "Am I boring you, Zhuque?"
"Huh? Oh, no, Laoshi," He answered, turning to him. "I just can't help but look at Shangdi sometimes. Gets a guy motivated!"
Lu fanned his right hand. "Eh, there are better things to get the blood pumping than that shitty place."
"Shitty?" Qinglong asked. "Not what I'd call it."
"Oh, it is, Qing." Lu looked out at the shining, busy building. He could see aircraft shaped like sailboats floating around it, and the vibrant glow dimmed the stars in the surrounding it in the night sky. "That place is a trap. It was supposed to be the start of something. My dream for this place got eaten by that damn project."
"All the big names that funded your plans…"
Lu nodded. "Yep. Yu Huang, the rest of his bureaucratic busybodies, the other four Sages, and the rest of them. They left Shangdi to rot and live in that place after they cut me off. Had I known they'd pull something like this, I'd tell them to piss in the wind." He looked back at his students. "And don't call it Shangdi. That is San Xin Shangdi. No matter what they say, Mōryō Town is also Shangdi and will always be a part of it." He popped his neck. "That's why we're doing what we do." He looked over at the scaffolding.
"Construction projects?" Baihu asked.
"Exactly. You boys don't know it, didn't want you getting big heads, but this will be project number fifteen. Once it's done, it will be a residential complex that can house over sixty families. A lot of people around here can have real homes. And you're part of it."
"Only sixty?" Xuanwu groaned, still carried by Baihu.
"Wait," Baihu said, dropping Xuanwu. "Why am I carrying you?"
"What the hell?!" Xuanwu yelled, springing up.
"Hey," Lu said firmly, and all four faced him, seeing the fierce but hardened look in his eyes. "I know it's not glorious or fancy, but things like this mean something here to a lot of people. These projects are creating ripple effects we will never see, and don't need to. And what will be at the end will put San Xin Shangdi to shame."
A slight chill ran down their collective spines.
Man… Zhuque could not fight the smile growing on his face. He really believes it can happen.
"Now I'm tired and going to bed. You four do your exercises, and I'll see you tomorrow," Lu said. He turned from them and walked towards the lot's entrance. "Get your training done, Baihu!"
Baihu flinched.
"And be on time, Xuanwu!"
Xuanwu groaned.
Lu passed through the lot entrance and walked away, leaving the quartet.
"He's…so damn cool, sometimes," Qinglong said.
"He is." Zhuque's smile vanished, and he looked back at San Xin Shangdi. "But he's naïve."
"Yep," Xuanwu added. "So is tonight the night?"
Zhuque nodded. "It's time, and we got what we came for. There's nothing else we need from here, or him."
<>
Mimir Hall
Arena
Present Day
Back in the arena, Parashurama skidded to a halt, lowered his center of gravity, and swung his right fist into the oncoming boulder, shattering it. They're getting faster! He thought.
"Ladies and gents!" Jarl yelled, floating above the decimated arena. "Lu Ban is firing debris at the oncoming Parashurama, but he's destroying everything coming his way! Nothing's phasing him! Can Lu Ban keep up this assault?! Or will Parashurama reach him and take him out?!"
"Not a chance," Lu whispered. He dashed to the left, out of Parashurama's sight and behind the debris. Parashurama veered in the same direction as he ran, his mechanical feet kicking up soil as he ran. Behind the debris, Lu Ban drew his sword and waved the open end of his scabbard high, swinging it around as he ran. Just a little more…
I will not let you escape again! Parashurama swore. He rushed towards the debris, right shoulder first. He crashed through a massive boulder, sending rubble everywhere, and looked to his right, eyeing Lu. "Clever, but not enough," He said.
Lu nodded and threw his scabbard over the rubble and out into the arena. "So you say." He placed his left hand below his chin, touching the bottom of his chin with both his index and middle fingers. "Liáng shi…" He whispered.
Parashurama's brow furrowed as he pulled Vidyudahbi off his back. He raced at Lu and swung up and around, kicking up debris at Lu's face. Lu swiped at each stone, swatting them away as Parashurama closed the distance and brought down his axe. Lu swiped his sword's pommel to the left, parrying the axe head. He swung the green blade back to the right at Parashurama's neck, but he stepped back, dislodging the axe and swinging to the left. Lu did a split, ducking the swing, and hopped to his feet and thrust his sword. Parashurama parried it with the pauldron on his mechanical right arm. He grasped near the top of Vidyudahbi's shaft and swung back to the right. Lu swung up and to the right, knocking the axe high and over his head mid-swing.
I know he's strong! Parashurama said while eyeing Lu crouch down and thrust at his stomach. He parried the thrust with the lower half of the shaft to the left, causing the blade to glance off his left shoulder and draw blood. I know he's experienced! But this is wrong!
Lu stopped his thrust mid-strike and swung back to the left, forcing Parashurama to duck as the blade trimmed off some of his white hair. Lu then smashed the pommel into Parashurama's forehead, sending him crashing to the ground. How is the gap between his students and him widening so much?! Lu thrust the sword down, but Parashurama rolled back and got to his feet, aiming Vidyudahbi at Lu as sweat formed on his brow and flood trickled from his newest cut. It's like…he's getting stronger?! How?!
<>
Mimir Hall
Upper Bleachers
Above the unfolding battle, the Four Beasts sat at the top of the bleachers, watching Lu continue his slow, methodical assault.
"Ugh…" Baihu groaned. "Laoshi's doing that? Parashurama's screwed…"
"Not sure," Zhuque said. "He's keeping his distance and reacting the right way. He was keeping the momentum going until just now, so I think he can still keep up with Laoshi."
"You sure?" Xuanwu asked, cupping his face in his hands. "Anytime Laoshi does Liang Shi, no one can touch him."
"You four can't," Said a voice from above them. They turned around and saw a young-looking God with brown hair pulled into a ponytail in a brown vest, cropped gray pants, and his upper body was covered in what looked like purple paint. He was barefoot and had black and gold right eyes that carried a measured confidence. A large scar encircled his right eye, and his golden mechanical arm was polished to a mirror's reflection. "I can, and if I can, so can Parashurama," Týr continued.
"Oh, hey, Týr," Zhuque said. "What brings you here?"
"I heard there was another event going on and wanted to see what Set cooked up."
The Four Beasts felt the vitriol in Set's name.
"Lo and behold, I see Lu Ban and Parashurama!" Týr broke out into a childish smile from ear to ear. "Lu-Laoshi was the guy who inspired me to go down to Midgard, and I debate Parashurama constantly while we spar. Never thought this would happen! Then again, Barong is here, and that's just a mess waiting to happen…"
"Hey, you think you can get past it?" Qinglong asked. "That technique is super strong."
"Not thinking. I did, and it's not a technique."
Qinglong blinked and slightly shook his head.
"It's what you get for leaving before he could finish teaching you."
"Hold up," Baihu said. "Wu Xing is the power of the Chinese Pantheon. How do you know so much about it?"
Týr shrugged. "I don't have to master something to understand it. But, I don't think that will make sense to you four."
"Ha!" Zhuque said. "Probably right. How did you counter it?" His gaze turned sharp and confident.
Týr crossed his arms. "Not telling you. It's what you get for abandoning him."
Zhuque shrugged and turned back to watch the fight, catching Parashurama as he continued stepping back to avoid three slashes towards his neck, eyes, and stomach.
Lu. Týr thought. You deserve better than this. These guys were your pride, and they don't even know how you fight? Embarrassing.
<>
Mimir Hall
Arena
Back in the arena, Parashurama steadied his breathing, leering at Lu. I know there's more to you than just a carpenter, but you fight like a seasoned warrior. He slid back a little, aiming Vidyudahbi's head at Lu. What have you lived through to get this strong?
"Well done!" Lu said, sneering. "Been a while since someone wasn't outright made a joke when I do this."
Parashurama blinked a few times.
"I recognize that puzzling look. I get it a lot! 'He's a carpenter!' 'No way I could lose to some old man!' 'I pity him too much to put up a fight!' Or my absolute favorite 'You're too valuable to Creation to fight against, and I may kill you.'
Parashurama gulped.
"You're a fine warrior, but you have no idea who you're fighting." He brandished his blade. "None of them did, and they learned the hard way. Now it's your turn."
Parashurama crouched down, lowering his center of gravity. He brought the shaft of Vidyudahbi close to his chest.
Tu to Jin to Shui, then Mu. Lu thought. Your flow is better than Zhuque's or Qinglong's. But you need to learn the same thing.
Parashurama blasted forward in a vicious charge, his left shoulder out in front.
There's Huo… Lu planted Shēng Gōng Jiàn in the ground next to him and stretched his gloved hands outward. You can generate… Lu stepped forward towards Parashurama. Parashurama moved his hands up the shaft mid-dash and swung. Lu raised his right leg and fell to the ground as Vidyudahbi sliced through the air. But only I can conquer! Shui conquers Huo! He fired his feet up into Parashurama's stomach and launched him overhead. Parashurama skipped across the floor and landed with a heavy thump. He gasped and choked for air as his eyes went bloodshot. He forced himself back to his feet and turned back towards Lu, only to find him standing in front of him. He smashed his right fist into the same spot he had kicked earlier.
"Tu conquers Shui," Parashurama soared. Lu Ban ducked a quick swing as Parashurama sailed away towards the rubble. "Even under amplified pain, you're still tough enough to take a swing at me! Finally taking me seriously!" He saw Parashurama slowly rise. "But you're too late, and I recognize your type. You lose that cautious edge when fighting someone you don't think can kill you." Lu widened his stance and raised his right hand, palm up. "I don't need Shēng Gōng Jiàn to kill you. Not when Sēn Xiá does the trick." He slammed the ground with his right palm.
Parashurama felt the ground around his rumble.
Again?! He thought. Dozens of pointed bamboo stalks shot out of the ground under his feet and from the rubble to his left. He swung Vidyudahbi in an arc as he jumped back, severing the shoots before they could reach him. He heard and felt more rumbling around him from the floor and rubble, but the size and intensity were different. Not falling for it— A massive tree erupted from below, its branches expanding out and growing leaves as it rocketed upwards. Parashurama curled up as the branches tore and cut at his body, while one stabbed into his left shoulder and another just below his right ribs, and the tree carried him upwards. It immediately stopped, sending him airborne. Several more trees burst from the ground towards Parashurama, their branches spiraling towards him in a cluster of growing spears. Parashurama unfurled and extended his right arm with Vidyudahbi in hand. His right arm and torso both began spinning, and his upper body turned into a twister of force and sharpened metal.
"Vyoma-Śodhana-Cakra!" Parashurama yelled as the oncoming branches disintegrated against Vidyudahbi's edge. Lu's eyes widened as Parashurama descended, the latter's torso and arm stopping instantaneously. He took Vidyudahbi in both hands and swung down. "Vibhāga-Avatāra!" The three below him split in two and crashed into the others. Each tree bent or broke from the impact, decimating the newborn forest.
Parashurama landed with a heavy thud and rose. Lu could see the new cuts as Parashurama checked the now vacant stab wounds.
"Shēng Gōng Jiàn and Sēn Xiá of Fuxi and Nuwa's Wǔ Shèng Qi…" Parashurama whispered. "It seems I presumed too much about you!" He yelled.
"Did you now?!" Lu responded, sneering as he dropped his left hand.
"You hold far more power and prestige than I believed you did. For that, I accept my scolding."
"Well, aren't you respectful of your elders?"
Parashurama cracked his neck. "I'm ignorant, but humble enough to learn from my mistakes. Gods like you taught me that lesson." He held Vidyudahbi parallel to the ground and raised his left hand over its head. "Now it's time for you to learn the same lesson I did, and feel this weapon's true power." Parashurama breathed deeply. Slowly, he lowered his hand to the center ring in the head. "Sing your song, Vidyudahbi…and I will dance to its tune…" He whispered. He flicked it, and it released a loud, gentle hum.
Lu's hair immediately stood on end. He jumped back to Shēng Gōng Jiàn and flicked off his gloves, revealing his hands' dried, cracking skin covered in cuts and calluses. He immediately grabbed his sword and placed his left hand back under his chin. The Hindu Gods in attendance felt an eerie chill flow through them, and Vishnu in particular felt a tinge of regret.
Vibrations from the axe gently flowed into Parashurama's arm and throughout his body. His heart began to beat in rhythm with the tune and accelerate.
"Vidyudābhi-Gīta…" Parashurama whispered. He took it in both hands and brought it to his right side. "Halla Bol."
<>
Svarga
Millennia Ago
Temple of The Trimurti
Within the immaculate stone palace at Svarga's peak, nestled deep within its carpeted and ornately decorated halls, Vishnu was busy at work in one of his pristine labs, staring at a pair of screens. Unlike the rest of the building, the room was dimly lit by the sun peeking through draped windows, its four walls and ceiling a pale blue; a custom choice by the God busy at work within. Half a dozen open tabs displayed statuses, and the pulse of the body lying on a table a few meters from him, surrounded by monitors and full of tubes and pads. Occasionally, he would turn to look at his patient as if waiting for something.
Vitals are normalizing. He thought, watching the steady pulse. No long-term damage to his internal organs, and his brain seems to be in good shape. He's lucky Bhumi tortured him the way she did. Otherwise, he might have bled out. He looked over again. Still…that was uncalled for. Brahma and Shiva are already tracking…But I think 10,000 more years of confinement is too light.
Suddenly, the pulse quickened on the monitor. Vishnu turned to it, then back at the body, seeing a slight twitch here and there. In those moments, he saw the smallest hint of eye movement. He stood and walked over to his patient. Vishnu leaned over and stared down, focusing on his eyes.
"Can you hear me?" He asked.
"…mmmm…" Rama responded.
"I'll take that as a yes." He stood straight, then looked down at Rama's hips, or at least what remained. "She got you good. Smashed your lower body flat, but put pressure on you so you wouldn't bleed out. Hate saying, but your right arm and left hand are gone too, bud. However." He leered at Rama. "I think that was you messing with something you shouldn't have." He poked Rama's forehead. "I made Vidyudahbi for that thankless bum, Shiva. Ah well. Looks like somebody finally had a time with it."
Rama's eyes opened, and the world was a messy blur. He could barely make out Vishnu's leer, or the mask he wore that looked like a nasty, toothy grin. "…What…"
"Happened? You're here in my temple, getting patched up. I felt bad for what Bhumi did to you, but that pales in comparison to the screw up you helped cause." He leaned back down, letting his pale, silver hair drape down. "Do you know how many Astras your buds stole?"
"…Tw…Twenty-three? I…can't remember…"
"Damn…" Vishnu snapped his fingers. "My count wasn't off..."
"Why…save me?"
Vishnu shook his head. "You messed up badly, but you didn't deserve what Bhumi did. I'm going to get you patched up and moving again. Not for free, though."
Rama blinked a few times.
"What…do you want?"
"I want the Astras back. All of them. They're all out there in Svarga, waiting to be unleashed and cause untold kinds of destruction."
"My friends have them…"
"Funny idea you have of friends, but okay. Do you know where they are?"
Rama nodded slowly, struggling against the pain.
"Alright then. I got an idea. You're not really in the position to negotiate, but I do want to make this worth your while."
"Why?"
Vishnu stood straight and shrugged. "Who knows? I feel charitable. The new guy, Shiva, is a breath of fresh air, and this feels like something he'd do."
He looked back towards his desk, eyeing Vidyudahbi leaning on the wall. "Plus, I know you did what you did to save your buds, even if they ended up abandoning you. I think you've got guts, and we need more guys like you. So here's my offer: I'm going to replace what you lost with some fancy robotics I cooked up. They'll let you use Vidyudahbi safely. In return, you will retrieve all the stolen Astras. How is up to you."
"If I refuse?"
"Then I have to punish you without a chance to atone. You will be healed, but left outside the temple, limbless. I have to make a point." Vishnu stepped away. "Your choice."
"You…want me to turn against my friends?"
"Friends don't leave friends to die."
"They didn't…" He recalled Keshava and the others running. He recalled their panic. Their fear. His eyes started tearing up as he remembered them never looking back. "I knew I could die..."
"Doesn't mean we want to, or are okay with it."
Rama breathed in slowly, his body aching from the effort. He exhaled, steadying himself. "I can do this the way I want to?"
"If you get all the Astras back, I don't care if you leave those guys unharmed. I'm more concerned with protecting Svarga and the people."
Rama briefly closed his eyes, then looked over at Vishnu. "I'll do it."