Beyond Gods 47 Kru Bu's Ruins

Jade flew the helicopter out of Looking Gla.s.s City past its walls into the desert. The sky was clear of birds and other flying creatures who seemed to have succ.u.mbed to the night. Outside of the helicopter's lights, the only other source of light in sight in the area was the few lights from the city.

"We are out of the city," said Jade, "Computer, initiate mana navigation."

"Please specify destination," said the helicopter's computer.

"Take us to Kru Bu's fight training camp," said Jade.

"Pulling up navigational path to destination," responded the helicopter.

The blades of the helicopter folded over the doors as a blue light suffused the walls. The helicopter's surroundings blurred and soon they found themselves hovering over ancient temple ruins amidst overgrown trees and weeds.

"There are so many conveniences that Looking Gla.s.s Kingdom has made illegal to people not in sects," sighed Sun, "mana based technology and many electronics could eliminate so many of the problems that plague our city. Mana navigation is so much more efficient than having to walk places. They've banned all this stuff, even a helicopter isn't usually allowed within city parameters."

"Technology makes people undisciplined and lazy," said Kru Bu, "best to only have it after you've attained strength through training. It is and should stay an earned privilege."

The helicopter lowered itself to the top of a cleared platform on a pyramid like structure.

"Where are we?," asked Johan.

"This is clearly Kru Bu's training grounds," said Alexy.

"Before I allow you to start training," said Kru Bu, "I require all of you to sign a soul contract swearing to never discuss this place or anything related to this training. It is a sacred secret. All my disciples have done this historically. It is one of the reasons why we've done so well in the tournaments. If you break the contract, you will be crippled and your dantians and souls damaged limiting your future potential."

Kru Bu wrote in the air and holographic contracts appeared floating in front of Johan, Alexy, Patric and Sun.

"If you have any complaints I will send you away now," said Kru Bu, "this will be the furthest you go. But there will be no hard feelings. Sign the oath with your finger and accept it into your dantian without resisting it. Then you will attain huge benefits from this experience at the cost of keeping it secret."

They all grasped the soul contracts and signed them with their fingers without question. After doing so, the contracts shot into their dantians.

"Good. Now we will discuss teams," said Kru Bu, "I will not be entering. Johan will go with Master Picklesworth, since they know each other. Sun with Master Kiev and Alexy and Patric with Master Fur. Anyone have issues with this setup?"

Alexy raised his hand and said, "I do."

"What is it Alexy?," said Kru Bu.

"Why does Johan get to team up with the babe?"

Patric turned red trying to withhold a giggle.

"Because," said Kru Bu, "they know each other. But if she gives her consent, you can go with her as well. But remember, she is much stronger than you, all of these disciples are. Respect their strength."

"He is going to molest her," said Alexy.

"I have a girlfriend," said Johan.

"I'd rather not deal with an unruly man," said Jade, "I have some catching up to do with my old school mate."

"You have a girlfriend!?," gasped Alexy, "how did you pull that off? She must be horrendous."

"She is beautiful," said Johan, "and I do. You don't have a girl do you Alexy?"

"Why are you always so crude Alexy?," asked Sun.

Kru Bu frowned, "I taught you to respect people Alexy, I didn't expect your personality to rot to this degree. We will have to have a long talk after this is over."

"What is this place?," asked Johan.

"Some time ago," said Kru Bu, "a friend of mine from a sect that specializes in archaeology told me a theory of his. He claimed that this planet was once home to a warrior people that came from the upper realms.

They valued strength and intelligence highly and had a robust infrastructure developed to train their citizens. But then, one day, they simply disappeared. Most dismissed stories of them as rumor and folklore since there are no written records of them, just word of mouth and ruins."

"And this is the place?," asked Johan.

"Ruins," said Kru Bu, "Ruins that are not overrun by bandits, dangerous animals or covered in sand. But, not unique. This planet is littered with them. I know that they belonged to those warrior people. But most people a.s.sume they were created by a society that built things based on slavery. Simple structure valuable only for historical reasons, powerless and simple. Upon finding it, It became my special place. I had various layers of concealment arrays setup to hide it. But, during my time in the upper realms, I heard a hymn from an old beggar who claimed to be a descendant of a warrior people. It stirred a suspicion within me. His hymn spoke of a pocket worlds designed to test and temper potential warriors in the past. He said his people would speak a word at the gate to activate the training grounds, it was ..."

Kru Bu paused for a second as dug through his memories.

"Jadonget!"

BOOM!

A large ball of rainbow colored light appeared amidst the ruins, it pulsated rhythmically blowing dead leaves away from the center of the platform.

The students let out a gasp of astonishment.

"Though this location is in ruins," said Kru Bu, "the gateway to the pocket world they created for training within it is still active and in perfect condition."

"All sects in the higher realms have a secret of this sort," said Master Fur, "knowledge, supplements, artifacts, or training grounds that they keep highly guarded to give their sect an edge. The consequence for speaking of it outside the sect is usually death to the traitor as well as those who attained the secret unlawfully. But it is rare for a gym in Looking Gla.s.s City to have attained it in a land where most are ma.n.a.less ... and quite illegal. Thus, the need for secrecy."

"Now it is time," said Kru Bu, "Enter the portal in teams holding hands. You will be transported to a training location the pocket world a.s.sumes is best for your development. You will attain more instructions there. You will encounter great opportunities and danger. Run if you are overwhelmed, in 25 days, you will be expunged from the pocket world and should be ready for the tournament. Make use of your time there, the lower your level is, the more opportunities you can gain from pa.s.sing the trials."

"We will go first," said Alexy.

Alexy grabbed Patric and Master Fur's hand and walked into the ball of light.

FOOOs.h.!.+

They were sucked into the portal.

"Whose next?," asked Kru Bu.

"We will go," said Johan.

Johan looked at Jade and found her staring back at him with what seemed to be malice. But she blinked and it was gone. He shook it off as his imagination.

Jade reached out and took Johan's hand.

"You aren't shy at all," laughed Johan.

"We are both adults," said Jade, "I am certain that at this point in our lives, we have both done much more than hold hands with others. No need to be shy."

"Be careful and stay close to each other," said Kru Bu, "keep your swords close and always be aware. I know you haven't killed another creature before, but if forced, kill without hesitation. I've educated my ex-disciples on the areas that should be avoided due to the dangers that will most likely result in death if entered by the unprepared. Go."

Johan and Jade gave a nod to Kru Bu and the others and walked to the portal together.