Retake *Discontinued*

Chapter One: Could This Be?

As centuries passed, the St. Ancestral Mountains remained relatively unaware of the world because of the powerful Snow-Wind demon-beasts that kept the inhabitants from leaving and outsiders from entering; nevertheless, it was a beautiful area: snow was seen dusting trees and covering the mountain tops; trees, flowers, and plants grew abundantly in the rich, nutritious valley soil; an attractive city came alive with the sun.

With few unable to leave and even fewer able to arrive, the strength of the city gradually fell. In the past, there was a plethora of Legend-Rank Fighters and Demon-Spiritists; however, as the waves of demon-beasts pulled humanity from the top to the last link on the food chain, very few humans survived. Living within the valleys of the St. Ancestral Mountains was one such place where humans gathered and created a place where they could gain footing. This city had come close to falling, come close to ruin, come close to oblivion, but it had never fallen. This aptly named city remained standing because of the strength, the determination, of the humans. The walls and gates show scars but have never crumbled. The name praised all those who had given their lives so that others may live and what many live for: Glory City.

As Glory City grew, the demon-beasts did so as well. As such, there were classes being held for the younger generations so that, they too, would be able to protect their families. The Holy Orchid Institute was prodigious place of learning deep within Glory City. Inside a Fighter-Apprentice Class, there were about thirty students getting ready for class.

While waiting for class to begin, they talked quietly to one another, "Did ya hear? The teacher is a Three-Star Silver-Rank!"

"Yeah, and she's from the Sacred Family!"

"I heard her name is Shen Xiu."

Hearing her name, Shen Xiu cleared her throat and signaled that class was about to begin. Her purple dress flowed lightly behind her as she marched to the podium in the front of the class. Her scarlet-red hair matched the eyes that flickered from student to student. Seeing that all were paying attention, she smirked slightly, causing her previously pleasant features to be ruined with arrogance. This woman was from the Sacred Family, one of the three Major Families of Glory City. The Major Families were the most powerful within the city, whether it be resources, money, or talent. Having such a high ranking noble teach this class of beginners was an honor; not to mention that, for her age, she was a high ranking Demon-Spiritist.

Glancing at her nephew, Shen Yue(the only reason that Shen Xiu bothered to teach this class), she began her lecture with a clear voice, "There are five levels to both Fighters and Demon-Spiritists: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Black-Gold, and Legend. Each one of them is then split into five Star levels; however, Demon-Spiritists are able to integrate with a demon-beast which increases their strength immensely. This makes Demon-Spiritists much more powerful than a Fighter of the same rank. As I am within the Silver-Rank and am a Demon-Spritist, I have been integrated with a Scarlet Flaming Fox."

To prove her point, the woman merged with her demon-spirit. Her appearance changed drastically: her ears, fingernails, and canines all elongated; a tale suddenly started swooshing behind her; and a large fire shrouded her, much like an aura. Her eyes, which had became brighter and more fox-like, gladly drank in the surprised faces of her students. Her grin seemed feral as she continued, "When integrated, or merged, I gain control of the beast's strength, control of its abilities, and my senses are drastically improved. Scarlet Flaming Fox, as a species, can only reach Gold-Rank. Which means that the highest level that I can reach with this demon-beast is Gold-Rank."

The students, ever amazed, watched with wide eyes as the woman continued speaking on the demon-beasts abilities and similar demon-beasts.

From the windows on the side of the classroom, two rays of light shone down, respectively, on two students. As the bright rays struck Nie Li and Nie Tai, who were twins, their aquamarine eyes flashed with an old, ancient light. Instantly, the naive, childish gazes became wizened and jaded.

Nie Tai, the older of the twins, blinked in surprise. Her eyes widened further as she slowly reached up a hand to touch the area around her eyes. Disbelief colored her gaze as she softly muttered so that no others could here, "This shouldn't be possible. Nothing could have repaired them..."

Brows wrinkling, she thought to herself, "Where am I? Xiao Li and I were fighting the Sage Emperor and the Sage Empress. We were surrounded by the Twelve Deity Beasts. How did we escape? I thought that Xiao Li fell..."

Looking around, she noticed that she was within the Holy Orchid Institute. Feeling a gaze, she turned her aquamarine orbs, that she still wasn't quite used to, towards her brother. Seeing her emotions mirrored in his eyes, she guessed that he also was sent back. A thought suddenly came to her and she checked the sides of her robes, "Where's the Temporal Demon-Spirit Book? Perhaps it was the cause of our journey..."

However, she could not find it; the book was gone. That made sense because this would be before she ever had it. Nie Tai looked at her hand, they had no scars, no odd tan lines, and very few calluses; these were the hands of a teenager, a child. Leaning back in her seat, she thought, "I really am in Glory City. I was forced to leave because of the massive demon-beast invasion; when the Sacred Family abandoned their post, abandoned their city, the demon-beasts were able to get in. There was so, so much death and chaos. Very few survived; however, that did not include Lord Ye Mo, Nie Yu, Lu Piao, Du Ze—"

Bolting forward, drawing a glance from an aggravated seatmate, Nie Tai rapidly looked around and saw Xiao Ning'er, Ye Ziyun, Lu Piao, Shen Yue, and, finally, Du Ze. He was alive. He was alive! She could scarcely believe it. His face was young, yet so tired looking; his clothes had patchwork and worn spots on them; yet Nie Tai could instantly tell that it was him.

"Hey, Nie Li, why are you smiling so much?" Questioned a lazy voice, Nie Tai glanced over to see a young, bored Lu Piao looking at her brother with an expressionless face.

"I'm just happy! What'cha gonna do about it?" Queried an ecstatic Nie Li, throwing an arm over the blue-haired boy's shoulder.

"I don't want to do anything about it! Let go of me you weirdo!" Demanded Lu Piao, almost causing Nie Tai to laugh at his panic even though she couldn't tell if it was real or fake.

"You're my friend and that'll never change!" Replied Nie Li, his sincerity causing Lu Paio to scoff at his words; the blue-haired boy stopped trying to escape from Nie Li's grasp and simply began an animated conversation.

Fixing her gaze back on the front of the classroom, Nie Tai's eyes hardened with determination and anger as she thought, "The past will not repeat, that is for certain. My brother and I will climb to the tops of the heavens to change fate if that is what it takes!"

*Edited*

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