Yama Rising

Maynila, capital of the Filipinas.

Just then, one of the stall owners shuddered wildly, and then turned to the stall owner next to him, “Did you feel that? Why does it feel like there’s suddenly a cold front sweeping in?”

Whoosh!!!

Clang! An iron pot filled with water was sent hurtling into the air like a kite with a broken string, before finally landing several hundreds of meters away. Likewise, stools, chairs and other cooking equipment were also sent flying everywhere, and the usual orderly bustle of the morning instantly devolved into chaos. The terrifying gust of wind lasted for about a dozen more seconds before it finally subsided.

Three seconds later, someone rose to his feet with great trembling and stared in horror at the skies beyond, “What’s going on…”

“Typhoon? Is this a super typhoon alert?” “Where’s the government? What in the world is our government doing? Why weren’t there any warnings before this?” “Such an intense gale… I’m afraid that this must be one of the strongest typhoons we’ve experienced in recent years!” “Evacuate! Hurry up and evacuate to the nearest shelters!”

One of the farmers who habitually woke up early was just brushing his teeth when the toothbrush abruptly fell to the ground. His mouth was still filled with white foam, but he couldn’t care less, because he was staring at the large mountain towering before him.

Whoosh! Then, before he could even snap back to his senses, the roiling dark clouds immediately swept down from the mountains like waters bursting out of a dam, instantly engulfing the village!

The Felipinas were known for their tropical climate, and they hardly saw winter. But the sight that he was greeted by was that of complete desolation. The ground took on an unnatural black hue, and every single flora and fauna in sight had already completely withered up. It had only been 30 seconds, and yet the ground was already littered with dead and dried leaves. The lush foliage that covered the sides of the mountains had turned from a deep verdant green to the black and yellow, the colours of death and decay. Yet, what was even more terrifying was the fact that the poultry he reared were all lying horizontally on the ground, completely limp and lifeless.

“Is… the god of death finally bringing punishment onto mankind…?”

“What’s the situation now?” A man in uniform rushed right into the surveillance room of the Felipinas special agency, only to be greeted by a room full of salutes. But he didn’t even bother looking at the rest. Instead, he simply stared at the man standing in front of the surveillance monitors, “Speak!! What’s the situation now?!”

Just 30 minutes ago, a special alert had gone off, dragging everyone right out of their sleep. Even the president of the nation was on his way here.

He could see the map of the Felipinas depicted on the screen in front of him. That said, there was a massive red dot overlaid right across the entire nation of Felipinas, travelling north at speeds comparable to that of planes. Furthermore, he could see a heart-stopping number at the top right corner of the screen - 2.4 billion!

“No. They appear to be passing through and heading north.” The staff member trembled, “After screening our records, we have ascertained that the source of Yin energy has emerged from the west, quite likely from the Alkebulan Continent. Furthermore, we have detected a total of more than ten energy signatures, and their target doesn’t appear to be the Felipinas…”

“Yes!”

It was pitch-black outside.

No chirping of birds, no usual hustle and bustle of the mornings, and only ominous black clouds that filled every part of the sky as far as the eyes could see. It was darker than darkness, and deeper than night.

“Dear god…” As he walked away from his bodyguard, the leader trembled profusely as he made the sign of a cross across his chest, “Please look upon us…”

…………………………………………….

The lands were thriving and flourishing with prosperity. Yin spirits could be seen everywhere, and Yin beasts were flying everywhere in the skies. Countless skeletal elephants were carrying goods across the roads that connected various parts of the underworld, and merchant caravans were dime a dozen. Countless Yin soldiers stood guard valiantly across the city walls, while others stood at their respective stations, manning the mechanical beasts used to fortify the city walls’ defenses. Scarlet-golden formations flickered glowed lustrously from beneath the buildings in the city, while several sources of Yama-class energy signatures could even be detected throughout the entire city.

It was also a place of legends. Many gods of the Hindustani Underworld were garrisoned within the city walls, among which there were none more well-reputed than Yamaraja, their god of death.

It was now 10.00 a.m.

Whoosh! Countless Yin soldiers glanced over, but what astounded them most was the fact that copious amounts of Yin energy was pouring right out of the ground and rising into the air and coalescing into a mighty vortex of Yin energy that rose straight from the ground and high into the sky!

“One.”

“Congratulations to the God of Death on his awakening!”

“Three.”

“A total of fifteen Mythic Spirits… What a terrifying battle. The gathering of powers is already no different from the Federation of Underworld conferences when a vote is about to be taken on a major decision pertaining to the netherworlds. Lord Garuda.”

“Fifteen Mythic Spirits have just left Alkebulan. Something huge must have occurred. They crossed the East Hindustani Ocean, paying neither heed nor regard to the countries along the way as they rushed northwards. Nothing is amiss here in the Hindustani Underworld, so… their destination has to be either Hell or the Russian Underworld.”

“Yes.” Lord Garuda paused, and then continued, “Do we… need to stop them?”

“Not even I would dare stand in their way right now. Do you think you’re the Second King Yanluo of Hell? Do you think the Aegyptian Underworld isn’t aware of the movement of such a terrifying force? Do you think all of the underworlds that have detected their approach are completely blind? But who dares stop them?”

……………………………………………….

This was a city that was no less magnificent than Fengdu or Bodh Gaya. Aegyptian buildings and frescoes were everywhere, and glorious temples abounded. Camel-driven caravans could be seen trudging through the deserts at every turn of the corner. At that moment, a dark silhouette could be seen rushing straight into the main entrance of one of the pyramids around.

“Got it.” The eyes of the bird-man’s mural shifted slightly, and the voice chuckled coldly, “Something is stirring in the distance. Something large and important enough to trigger the movement of a dozen Mythic Spirits at the same time. Inform Onyxia that the troops stationed in Astana should move eastwards! All darkfeathers are to be deployed. I want a full report of the entire incident from start to finish.”

It didn’t take long before the entire netherworld came to learn of the movement of such jaw-dropping sources of Yin energy.

“The winds are changing…” Lan Xang University. One of the twelve envoys, Zhou Yu, fanned himself placidly as he gazed intently at the overcast skies.

Back in Ashmound City. Arthis and the other scholars couldn’t help but pause what they were doing as they watched the march of the Mythic Spirit intently. Even though they knew what exactly was going on, it didn’t change the fact that their hearts were stirring with indescribable tension and complex emotions right now.

Everyone knew that it was finally time for Hell to make its voice heard throughout the netherworld once again.

It was a long time coming. And their actions were soon going to speak far louder than their words!

1. Bodh Gaya is a religious site and place of pilgrimage where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.

2. Kazakhstan.