THE NATURE

I'M AFRAID I WON'T BE AROUND WHEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR ARRIVE TO GREAT MY READERS. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOU MY GREETINGS AND GRATITUDE BEFOREHAND. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I MAY NOT SEEM DILIGENT IN WRITING ON WATTPAD, BUT I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON MY DEBUT NOVEL. SO KNOWING THAT SOMEONE LOVES MY WRITING IS A POWERFUL MEDICINE TO DEAL WITH MY IMPOSTER SYNDROME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH🙇❤️🥰ALSO... IF... ONLY IF... I GIVE THIS STORY A SAD ENDING... WOULD I BE FORGIVEN? 🤔🤔🤔JUST WONDER. 😄😄😄

"Another beast?" Lin Jing trembled. "What the hell are you doing, Xiao Guo?" He pulled his hair.

"He doesn't know what he did." Shen Wei calmed the panicked scientist.

"Doesn't know? He-"

"This is not the right time, Lin Jing." Zhao YunLan cut the man before Lin Jing screamed his displease.

"ChangCheng Ge, come here!" Zhao MingAn beckoned at Guo ChangCheng. But let alone run, Guo ChangCheng could not even stand.

"Let me bring him," Zhu Jiu said. He did not wait for anyone's response as he pushed his feet, riding the light to reach the frightened young man. But as he walked, he incidentally kicked something in the ground. A chrystal.

The crystal rolled on a certain position that allowed the light to pass through it. It should not be that fast, but somehow, in this realm everything was possible. The light lit the grass below and a small fire flickered under the lense.

"Oh, dear." Da Qing was panicked. "Water, water." He peered around to find the water.

"Just let it be," Zhao YunLan answered. It will disappear soon. The grass is not dry." He stared at Guo ChangCheng's spot only to find him vanished from that place and appeared next to him. "Are you all right?" He asked the dazed young man.

"Wha... What is that?" Guo ChangCheng trembled. "Why does another one appear?"

"If you ask us then who the one we ask to?" Lin Jing could not stop his upset.

"What did you do?" Shen Wei asked, ignoring the angry scientist.

"I didn't do anything, just-" Guo ChangCheng never could finish his words as the earth shook again.

Zhao YunLan's lower jaw dropped when he felt the similarities of the signs. "Now what?" He muttered as he glanced at Shen Wei.

"I'm not sure." Shen Wei peered around.

"I have a bad feeling about this..." Shen YongZheng struggled to keep his balance.

"Me too," Zhao XinChi added.

Just as they talking, the small flickering fire suddenly flared to the sky. Everyone leaped around to avoid the heat.

"Why does this feel so familiar?" Shen YeZun pushed his glasses back to its rightful position.

"Like what?" Chu NianZhi asked.

"Like..." Shen YeZun could not finish his words.

"Don't tell me..." Shen Wei gulped as he glanced at his twins who looked back at him, nodding in panic.

"Ah Ming, what should we do?" Zhao YunLan screamed. Two creatures appeared and he did not even know what to do. Now, the third would step its feet into this realm. Zhao YunLan would be crazy for sure.

"Why do you ask me? Didn't you say that you are the one who became Lord KunLun in the past?" Zhao MingAn did not less panicked.

"But you said that you 'suddenly know many things'." Zhao YunLan retorted. How could he be the one who should know more now?

"I said many things. Not everything." Zhao MingAn answered back.

"You-"

"Enough," Zhao XinChi cut the two of his sons' meaningless bicker. "Rather than fight over nothing, why don't you work together and think about the solution?"

No one of Zhao XinChi's sons had a chance to say something as the sky rumbled. The tender shine of the sun shifted into crimson red, and another gigantic creature was born from the heat. A beautiful vermilion bird.

Every eye darted at the bird as it soared in the sky. The bird's tail was like pretty red ribbons, fluttering along with its maneuver. The glittering red wings flapped in elegance as it descended from the sky.

"Oh, no..." Da Qing stuttered. "I can smell danger from miles away." Instead of being charmed by the beauty, Da Qing was terrified. As a cat, he could sense the threat behind the allure.

"Oh, goodness... What kind of mess are we involved in right now?" Lin Jing trembled. "If only Tama is here with us..."

"Who is Tama?" Zhu Jiu knitted his eyebrows.

"Ah, the demon beast Lin Jing Ge saved from Professor Ouyang," Guo ChangCheng chirped.

"Tama is just a demon beast... What can a demon beast do to face these powerful creatures? They are prehistoric beasts," Da Qing sighed.

"Tama is not just a demon beast. She is a prehistoric demon beast," Lin Jing retorted.

"WHAT?" Guo ChangCheng and Chu ShuZhi shouted in unison.

"But you said..."

"I lied." Lin Jing answered Guo ChangCheng's unspoken question. "If I told you that Tama is a prehistoric creature, you would be scared of her."

"So you deliberately told us a sad story to pity her?" Chu ShuZhi groaned.

"If I didn't, would you be willing to sit on Tama's back?" Lin Jing asked back.

"That's-"

"Enough. We still have many things in our hands, and you fight over the past." Chu NianZhi cut the stupid bicker.

"Shen Wei... What do you think should we do now?" Zhao YunLan asked. His eyes did not leave the creatures. "Shen Wei, Shen Wei." He called again when he did not hear any answer. "Shen-" his words floated in the air when he saw Shen Wei drowned in deep thought.

"Elements..."

"What?" Zhao YunLan frowned when Shen Wei lifted his eyes, muttering some words.

"Elements," Shen Wei repeated. "The creatures related to elements."

"What element-" Zhao YunLan halted, eyes widening. "Ohhh... I see. So that's how it is," he smiled.

"What?" Zhao MingAn asked.

"You, little kid, just stand aside and watch. This is the time for adults." Zhao YunLan gritted his teeth. "Lao Chu, Da Qing, Lin Jing, Xiao Guo." He screamed to gather his men.

"Yes!"

"MingAn..." Shen YeZun glanced at his lover. "Are you sure it's okay to let them deal with the creatures by themselves?"

Zhao MingAn nodded. "They can do it. Our brothers can do it," he smiled. However, even the stupid one could see the sorrow inside the glint of happiness. "Let's have fun with them." He glanced at Shen YeZun. YeZun tightened his jaws, nodding.

"Are you sure you don't want to ask anything to your youngest son?" Shen YongZheng asked his best friend.

"Would he answer me honestly?" Zhao XinChi returned the question.

"That's... I'm not sure." Shen YongZheng took a deep breath. "Although YeZun might answer it if I press him enough."

"But you don't think that will be a wise move, right?"

"Mm-hmm," Shen YongZheng nodded.

Both seniors peered at their youngest sons as both young men approached their elder brothers. Zhao XinChi touched his heart. The heart's pound was irregular. It seemed like Zhang Shi also could feel the impending doom although he said nothing.

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"Hey, little rascal." The Fourth Uncle grabbed Zhu Hong's shoulder, pulling her to face him. "Now tell me. Who's the baby's father?"

"Master, look out!" A heavy voice sounded from Zhu Hong's back as someone leaped in a flash, countering an attack aimed at Fourth Uncle.

"Thank you, Officer Wu." The Fourth Uncle lowered his head.

"Don't mention it, Master. These enhanced people are very troublesome," Old Wu smiled.

"I wish I knew how to eliminate them all." Zhu Hong gritted her teeth.

"There must be a way to defeat them all," Old Wu peered at the battle. His eyes studied the enhanced people's movements.

"Do you think so?" Fourth Uncle blinked in disbelief.

"No matter how good, an artificial can't defeat the original." Old Wu stood near an enhanced human, who slumped on the ground. "Our power is a result of hundreds of years of natural mutation. No matter how advanced human knowledge is, they can't defeat the natural ability that sipped into our DNA."

"Officer Wu... Do you want to say..." the Fourth Uncle's eyes widened.

"Mm-hmm," Old Wu nodded. "Artificial creatures always need something to support their power. An injection of substances that will keep their cells stable. Soon or later, they will collapse if they don't get what they need."

"It means we just need to keep them busy." Sha Ya appeared behind them out of nowhere.

"Exactly," Old Wu smirked. "Those artificial creatures want to play as DiXing people. They are too fast a thousand years."

"I understand," Fourth Uncle nodded. "Hong-Er... Gather our people and Hanga Tribe's leaders... I need to discuss something with them," he said.

"All right," Zhu Hong answered.

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"So what should we do now?" Zhu Jiu glanced at Zhao YunLan, keeping his stance if the creatures attacked them.

"The creatures appeared after certain things were moved," Shen Wei explained.

"Moved?" Chu ShuZhi frowned.

"Still remember before the white tiger appeared, you hit a stone?" Zhao YunLan answered. "And then Xiao Guo took the stick before the blue dragon popped up."

"Ah... Officer Zhu kicked a lense and the grass was oddly burnt while the sunlight was not that hot," Da Qing added. "And the bird appeared."

"So... What do you want to say?" Zhao MingAn suddenly poked his head near Zhao YunLan's shoulder.

Zhao YunLan caressed his chest as he hissed. "Don't shock me like that, you idiot." He smacked Zhao MingAn's forehead.

"Ouch." Zhao MingAn rubbed his forehead. "What so shock about?"

"So, what's your point, Sir?" Chu ShuZhi asked Shen Wei.

"My point is, instead of fighting them, why don't we use their element to neutralize each other?" Shen Wei answered. "That way, we don't have to exert too much energy and leave this stage as soon as possible."

"Although I agree with you, don't you think we still need one more element?"

This time, Shen Wei pressed his chest as his father suddenly talked beside him. "Sir..." Shen Wei took a deep breath.

"What?" Shen YongZheng asked, remorseless.

"Nothing..." Shen Wei sighed, shaking his head. "You are right about the last element. Then... We should find it. The water."

"But where should we find water in this land?" Chu NianZhi asked.

"Then... Why don't we just take it out?" Shen YongZheng returned the question.

"Take it out?" Everyone frowned.

"Haaa..." Shen YongZheng grunted. "Water is kept well in the earth and the sky. Why don't we take it out?"

"Then... Who will dig it?" Da Qing squatted, peering the hard ground.

"Maybe I can help," Shen YeZun answered the question.

"YeZun, don't be stupid. How can you dig the land?" Shen Wei strode toward his brother. "This land is hard."

"I don't talk about digging the land," YeZun smiled.

"Then?" Lin Jing scratched his head.

"I think I can ask for some help-"

"Help?" Zhao YunLan cut the young professor. "From who?" He glanced at Zhao MingAn.

"From nature." YeZun peered at the darkened sky.

Slowly YeZun's formal appearance changed. His jet-black hair color shifted to silvery white and grew longer as a white cloak covered his body. The wind moved around him as if answered his call.

"YeZun..." Shen Wei nearly reached his brother when Shen YongZheng stopped him.

"Let him be. He is not that weak," Shen YongZhen said.

YeZun closed his eyes and the wind rotated more violently around him. Everyone covered their eyes when the wind whirled, blowing dust and dry leaves. Thick clouds gathered above them and soft drizzle poured. What was more odd was that the three creatures did not even move from their spot. Those creatures lifted their eyes to the sky as if they were waiting for the last beast to come.

"YeZun..." Shen Wei caught his brother when YeZun almost fell.

"Is the last creature coming yet?" Instead of leaning on his brother's shoulder for comfort, YeZun straightened himself.

"Not yet," Zhao MingAn answered as he peered at the sky. His indifferent attitude no longer surprised anyone. "What should we do if the creature appears, Ge?"

Shen Wei tightened his grip around his brother's shoulder. His anger bag was overwhelmed inside his guts. "Clash them," Zhao YunLan answered before his lover blew.

"Clash them?" Chu ShuZhi knitted his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"They come from four different elements," Chu NianZhi, who was aware of Zhao YunLan's point of view, answered. "Instead of aimlessly fighting them, why don't we let them 'cancel' each other?"

As they spoke, the ground shook once again. The drizzle shifted into a microburst of water, falling and hitting the ground. And slowly, a shadow of a creature emerged. A turtle with two heads. A snake and a turtle.

"Cancel each other, huh? That's interesting." Zhao MingAn whirled his body to look at the creatures. "Then... Let's do it." He turned his head, smiling.

"Sure..." Zhao YunLan replied with a smile. However, the smile dropped as he clenched his jaws when his brother left. Zhao YunLan's eyes squinted as he read what his brother had planned behind him. He glanced at Shen Wei, nodding. And Shen Wei nodded back at him.

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"So, what's the plan?" The Fourth Uncle asked Old Wu soon after they joined with Sang Zan and Wang Zheng.

"As I said, different from us, the enhanced humans don't naturally possess their ability. That's why I believe they have a system to keep their power stable." Old Wu presented his thoughts. "What I learned from these years' cases is that they need a sort of injection to keep the protein in their DNA don't fall apart."

"Now that you mention it, I remember that is the case." Sang Zan's eyes widened in excitement. "Still remember Mr. Zhang JiKeng's case?" He peered at Zhu Hong and Wang Zheng.

"Ah, yes," Wang Zheng nodded.

"But... Didn't Professor Ouyang already advance in his research?" Zhu Hong was pessimistic. "I meant the last enhanced humans we fought were more powerful."

"Hong-Er... Artifical is artificial. No matter how good they are, they will never have the natural qualities we have." Old Wu stared at his future daughter-in-law. "My birth son never trained his ability, but once he needs it, the power flows from his body naturally. But these peoples' cells were manipulated in a laboratory, changing their nature. No matter how well they train their ability, their hormones and proteins will never survive without the alteration support."

"Then... We should find their weakness." Zhu Hong peered at the battleground.

"Just learning their pattern of attack is enough to find it," Sang Zan said.

"What?" Everyone looked at the young leader of the Hanga tribe.

"I learned that the enhanced humans retreat every forty-five minutes and the crow tribe's people replace them," Zang San answered.

"Then... Let's find where they go." Sha Ya glared at Ya Qing who fought Ying Chun. "Let me help Madame Ying to handle the Crow tribe's leader.

"Let me check where the enhanced people go." Zhu Hong offered herself.

"You won't go anywhere. You are pregnant." Wang Zheng and Sha Ya shouted in unison.

"What?" Old Wu's lower jaw fell. "Who's pregnant?" He stared at the youngsters. Zhu Hong glared at both ladies. Sha Ya and Wang Zheng rubbed their hair while Sang Zan feigned ignorance.

"That little rascal. Who else." The Fourth Uncle did not hold himself, pointing his finger at his niece. "She doesn't even tell me who the father is."

"You don't need to bother, Master. I know who the father is." Old Wu gritted his teeth.

"You know? Tell me who he is. I'll break his hands." Fourth Uncle cracked his fingers' muscles. "How dare he touch my niece without permission."

"Not necessary, Master. I'll kill him myself." Old Wu clenched his fists.

"Oh, dear." Sang Zan trembled as he gulped down his fear.

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"Ge... Do you think this clashing element will work?" YeZun clutched on his elder brother's cloak.

Shen Wei patted his gentle, obedient little brother's head. "You stay here. Let me handle it," he said.

"Mm-hmm," YeZun nodded.

Shen Wei glanced at Zhao YunLan as he strode toward the creatures. Chu ShuZhi followed him naturally while Chu NianZhi and Zhu Jiu stood around Lin Jing, Guo ChangCheng, and Zhao XinChi to protect them.

"What should we do now?" Da Qing asked when they stood face-to-face with the creatures. The beautiful beasts were as calm as always.

"Water element's weakness is earth, earth element's weakness is wood, wood element's weakness is fire, and fire element's weakness is water." Shen Wei explained the order.

"Wait... It means they created a circle?" Chu ShuZhi was agape. "Then what should we do? Which element should we neutralize first?"

"Let's do it all in one," Zhao YunLan answered.

"Are you sure?" Zhao MingAn lifted his forehead.

"I do," Zhao YunLan nodded.

"Let me get the bird," Shen Wei said.

"No," Zhao YunLan grabbed Shen Wei's wrist. "Let me get the bird."

"Are you out of your mind? Its element is fire," Shen Wei screamed under his breath.

"I know... Trust me, I can handle it." Zhao YunLan convinced his lover. He had spent hundreds or thousands of years burnt inside the guardian's lantern. The heat of the fire was nothing new for him.

Shen Wei stopped talking, his eyes scrutinized the man he loved most. "All right. But please, be careful." He gave up.

"I'll take the two-headed beast," Zhao MingAn unleashed his power. His right hand was covered in thick brown fur as sharp nails sprouted out of his fingers.

"I take the dragon." Shen Wei glanced at Chu ShuZhi. The man nodded as he peered at the tiger.

"I'll make the bird clash with the turtle. Ah Ming, bring the turtle to hit the tiger." Zhao YunLan prepared to lure the bird.

"It means I have to hit the dragon?" Chu ShuZhi worriedly glanced at Shen Wei.

"You know your assignment. Don't worry about me." Shen Wei unleashed his power.

"Wait, wait." Da Qing raised his voice. "Every one of you already decides where to go and what to do, what about me? What should I do?" He pointed at his nose.

"You know what to do. Keep yourself safe. All of you." Shen Wei said as he leaped and grabbed Zhao YunLan's waist to reach the vermilion bird.

"What?" Da Qing was confused when they left him.

Soon after they felt the threat, the creatures refused to idle. They exerted their power to shoo the intruders away. The blue dragon soared to the sky along with the vermilion bird, but Shen Wei was faster. He threw his lover to the vermilion bird before he kicked the air and reached the azure dragon.

Chu ShuZhi jumped to the white tiger, but it was not like the creature would allow him to touch its body. Several times he tried to reach the tiger's back, but all in vain. Da Qing did not stay idle. He shifted into his cat form and jumped toward the beast. Different from its judgmental action against humans, it was so docile towards Da Qing's cat form.

"Lao Chu!" Da Qing shifted back to his human form, lending his hand to Chu ShuZhi. Chu ShuZhi leaped, grabbing Da Qing's hand. The creature refused to let them slide. The white tiger shook its fur, trying its best to throw the two insolent men from its back. But Da Qing and Chu ShuZhi held the fur tightly.

Zhao MingAn climbed the turtle's shell. But unlike the white tiger treated Chu ShuZhi and Da Qing, the turtle let him climb effortlessly. He knitted his eyebrows at the oddity, glancing at his brother to make sure only to find Zhao YunLan sitting at the back of the bird without problem.

Shen Wei, on the other hand, had to fight the blue dragon with all his might as the Blue dragon refused to let him sit on its back. However, it was no biggie for Shen Wei. He easily leaped, rotating around the dragon, and sat on its back.

But as Shen Wei sat, the unpredicted thing happened. The creatures froze. Everyone stared at each other as they wondered about the silence. But as they were in the daze, the creatures suddenly moved and chased each other. Faster, faster, and faster. The creatures' movement created a powerful whirlwind. The five men sat on their backs and could do nothing but hold on as strong as they could.

Everyone who watched from the distance only could stare in helplessness as they did not know what to do. And when they thought the situation could not be even worse, the creatures turned to the center of the circle and clashed with each other.

The blinding flash flared from the collision. Everybody covered their eyes. Shen YongZheng opened his eyes when the flare subsidized. The light melted the frozen nature, returning the environment as if there was nothing happened...

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Sang Zan, Zhu Hong, The Fourth Uncle, and Old Wu returned to the battlefield. As Wang Zheng and Zhu Hong slipped through the trees to learn about the enhanced humans and the crow tribe's rotation.

"Why don't they let me fight with them?" Zhu Hong grunted.

"Stop whining," Wang Zheng reprimanded the lady. "Fourth Uncle did not hit you is good enough. You too, what demon possessed you to pregnant before the wedding anyway?"

"Well... That's just the heat of the moment," Zhu Hong pouted.

"That's why you are not supposed to be alone with a man too long. Because the third party is always an evil demon."

"But I don't regret it." Zhu Hong caressed her belly.

"Of course you shouldn't. You committed a grief sin, you reap the fruit. If you ever kill the innocent infant you are no longer possessed by a demon. You are the demon." Wang Zheng blew her mind out.

"I know I'm wrong. Don't be so angry with me," Zhu Hong pleaded.

"Shhh..." the tree near them warned both ladies. "We are near, don't be noisy."

Both ladies clasped their mouths, peeking through the trees that covered their infiltration. At the forest entrance, they could see several containers lined up. It seemed they arrived with coppers as they did not destroy the path leading to the Blue Tree Meadow. Many enhanced humans were ins and outs of the iron boxes.

"That is..."

"The place where they get their injection. Uncle Wu is right." Wang Zheng completed Zhu Hong's unfinished sentence.

"Then... What should we do now? I can't destroy those things alone." Zhu Hong clenched her fists.

"Leave it to us," the tree spoke.

A whistle noise echoed in the air. Zhu Hong and Wang Zheng peered around to find the noise source. Their wonder was not answered yet when the wind blew from their back, bringing forth another whistle as if responding to the first.

"What's that?" Zhu Hong asked the tree.

"Stay behind me," the tree responded.

In a split second, the trees behind them marched toward the containers like giant soldiers. The trees slapped the containers and the enhanced men around the iron boxes, rolling those things around and smashing them. The tree standing before Zhu Hong and Wang Zheng grabbed both ladies, keeping them safe in its tall branches as they witnessed the annihilation down there.

Ouyang Zhen ran out of one container to save his life, ignoring his fellow scientists and assistants inside. The enhanced humans stood against the trees, fighting them. They cut the trees' branches, slashing their leaves. But the power of nature could not be compared with human-made power. The trees struck back with the same immense power, pushing the enhanced humans to the limit.

As the victory was achieved on their side, one flower tribe person blew his two fingers. A whistling noise echoed on the other side of the forest, sending a signal to their comrades.

"Is that?" Fourth Uncle asked Ying Chun as he heard the long whistle.

"Yes..." Ying Chun nodded. "They did it."

"Yosh! Now, all we should do is not hold back." Old Wu cracked his fingers' joints. "Let's do it."

"Mm-hmm," his comrades nodded.

Nature... was a word for plants, animals, and everything in the world that was not made by people. Also, all events and processes that were not caused by humans.

When humans were born, they were part of nature. Unpolished, unpolluted, and pure. But as they grew, people tended to feel insecure about their lack, just like other natural beings. But instead of focusing on their strengths, some people decided to cover it up.

They sought attention as they demanded validation from their surroundings, ignoring the fact that human-made appearance was short-lived. They forgot that nobody could fight the regulation of nature; nothing in the world was eternal. Every human-made "accessory" you latched on to your body would never change who you really were since you were born.

Ancient said, "What superior men seek is in themselves; what small men seek is in others."

The creatures of nature sustained by sharpening their strength and ability, not demanding respect and whining. What was artificial was artificial, they could not be placed equal with natural beings. No matter how beautiful the fake diamonds were, nobody would accept them as diamonds...

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Picture credit to Domiano Baschiera

https://unsplash.com/photos/bed-of-orange-flowers-d4feocYfzAM?utm_content=creditShareLink&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash

The last part of the story is inspired by Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers. Credit to JRR Tolkien.