Stronger Than a Bronze Dragon

by Mary Fan

  Mowang didn’t appear before us—he transported us to him. He stands before his throne—a massive red chair that looks like thousands of screaming faces piled on top of each other.

  I shudder but keep my chin high. I can’t believe I’m making demands of the demon king. “Stop the Ligui from escaping to Earth, and release the people of Baiguang!”

  The demon king lets out a low, menacing chuckle. His yellow eyes shift to Tai. “Baiguang? Is that what you told her?”

  Confusion pecks at my mind, but I ignore the questions. Mowang is said to be tricky; he could be playing mind games.

  “You have no right to hold them!” Tai’s voice shakes. “Release them now!”

  He points his sword upward. I realize that he’s indicating the people behind the veil, and horror floods me as I give them a second look. Those aren’t ghosts at all—they’re the living people of Baiguang, trapped by supernatural forces.

  Mowang arches one thick, black eyebrow. “Heaven has not interfered thus far, and I do not take orders from half-breeds.” He glances at me. “Or peasants.”

  I scowl. “You can’t hold the living. Your rule is only over the damned!”

  “These people may be among the living, but who’s to say they aren’t damned?” Mowang’s lip twists into a hideous grin. Though his voice isn’t loud, its resonance shakes the floor. “And who’s to say I’m working against the will of the gods? Perhaps by holding these beings here, I’m serving their will. Perhaps I’m protecting the rest of the living from a much worse fate.”

  “Liar!” Tai’s eyes blaze with so much wrath they could melt an entire winter’s snowfall.

  My own anger burns hot enough to incinerate whatever ground would remain. How dare Mowang be so glib? “Enough of your tricks!”

  Mowang leans down until his enormous face is just a few feet in front of us. A wave of heat blasts me. “While I enjoy my tricks, I never act without reason. You think that destroying my body will save your little world, but you are mistaken. Now, begone.”

  He waves one giant hand, as if to brush us away.

  “No!” Tai strikes at him with Ibsituu’s sword.

  The River Pearl’s glow explodes with white sparks. Mowang recoils. His face contorts, and his eyes flash as the sparks gather into the form of the River Dragon—his curving body and snapping jaws. The image dissipates, but its shape is burned into my memory forever.

  I stare at Ibsituu’s sword, awed. Tai’s eyes widen with surprise.

  The silver blade crackles as white light glows from the intricate symbols engraved in the metal. The power pouring from the pearl resonates in my very soul and fills my core with brightness and energy. I swear I can hear the River Dragon’s voice saying, Back away, Mowang. His voice reminds me of the vibrations that continue shaking the air after someone beats a drum.

  Mowang must hear him too because his monstrous scowl deepens further. “This is my realm. You have no power here!”

  A small smile plays on my lips despite my fear. Dragons are among the mightiest of all supernatural beings. They’re practically gods—certainly greater than any demon, even the one who calls himself king. Perhaps Tai and I stand a chance after all.

  My nerves hum, harmonizing to the River Pearl’s uncanny voice.

  I know Mowang won’t call the other demons to his aid. He wouldn’t be the king for much longer if he needed help defeating two humans, even if they wield a dragon’s magic.

  It’s just him and us—with the River Dragon on our side.

  As Mowang raises his mighty arm to strike again, I charge at him. I may not be wielding the River Dragon’s power, but I know he’s here with me. I can feel his presence.

  A blade materializes in Mowang’s hand—one so black it consumes all light. A great gust of air knocks me backward and pins me to the ground, its howl filling my ears. I squeeze my eyes against its sting.

  Fury burns in my blood. I stab the ground with my father’s sword and push with every drop of strength I have. Faint popping and hissing noises surround me, and the weapon heats in my hand. Its magic must be at work. Using the sword as leverage, I push and push.

  Finally, I manage to rise. The wind vanishes. I open my eyes to find the air shimmering with golden sparks. Mowang and Tai battle on the other side of the throne room. The demon king towers over Tai, and with his enormous size, it would seem he could flick Tai away. But the River Pearl’s magic helps balance the scales. Its white glow surrounds Tai, creating a halo shaped like his silhouette that’s as tall as Mowang with a blade just as great that crackles and clangs against the demon king’s.

  I speed toward the dueling pair, and my soul clamors for action. I will have justice today. Tai may wield the River Pearl, but this is my chance at glory too.

  Tai drives Mowang back toward one of the massive carved pillars. Seeing an opportunity, I leap onto the pillar and climb the carvings. Both Tai and Mowang are too busy to notice. Halfway up, I’m high enough that Mowang’s back stands just out of reach. I have no qualms about striking a supernatural enemy from behind. Demons have no honor, and so they don’t deserve fair combat.

  I push off the pillar, holding my sword out in front of me and aiming for his shoulder blades. The tip of my blade hits its target but bounces off, and the force sends me hurtling through the air. My back impacts the pillar, knocking the wind out of me. Before I fall, a giant hand pins me against the column. At least my arms remain free to move. But when I stab Mowang’s wrist, the blade bounces back so hard the hilt flies from my grip, and my weapon clatters to the floor.

  Panic rises up my chest. Why did I think I could do this? Only legends can defeat Mowang, and I … I’m just a village girl who partnered with a thief.

  I spot Tai lying on the floor, held down by Mowang’s enormous black shoe, which gleams like the scales of a deadly serpent. Ibsituu’s sword lies just beyond the reach of Tai’s grasping fingers. A white halo, vaguely shaped like the River Dragon, swirls around the blade.

  Mowang peers down at it, arching his brows with disdain. “Are these your champions, River Dragon? Pathetic.”

  His giant palm pushes into my stomach, making it hard to breathe. With the carvings pressing painfully into my back, my failure weighs on me. I’ve proven worthless in this fight. Tai’s gaze flicks up to the black veil, behind which his people hammer and scream, begging for freedom.

  A new wave of fury blossoms through me. Mowang’s duty is to punish the damned—not to harm the living. If the gods won’t stop him, then I will. I grip two protruding statues and writhe under Mowang’s tightening grasp. Pain lances my whole body as I grind my bones against the pillar’s carvings. The demon king watches, his white fangs gleaming. He’s enjoying the spectacle of me squirming.

  I heave myself upward. A cry escapes my lips as I succeed in sliding beneath his grasp. It’s hardly a movement—barely an inch up and to the side, but it’s enough for my body to find a groove in the carving behind me. I take advantage of it and twist.

  “Anlei!”

  Tai flings Ibsituu’s sword up to me. Mowang reaches for it, but I grasp its hilt first. Its energy pulses up my arm, setting fire to my veins. My lips split into an eager grin. I wield the River Dragon’s magic now. At last, it’s my turn to be the hero.

  I slash at the giant hand holding me. The blade sizzles against Mowang’s skin, and a rancid smell explodes in my nose. He releases me with a cry. I tumble downward. With my free hand, I seize one protruding carving. Tai still lies pinned beneath the demon king’s enormous boot. He screams in pain as Mowang drives his foot harder into his chest.

  “Let him go!” I swing the enchanted sword at Mowang.

  Brilliant light explodes around its blade, extending its reach by more than twice my height. The sword’s light blasts Mowang’s chest, sending him flying back. He hollers as he crashes against the ground. I struck a blow to the demon king. Never have I held such power before, and I savor every drop with wicked glee.

  Tai scrambles to his feet.
Mowang rises in a movement so abrupt he seems to simply blink into his standing form. He moves toward Tai.

  “Don’t touch him!” I push off the column. The moment I hit the ground, the world around me shrinks. Or rather—I’ve grown. A white haze surrounds me as I find myself standing eye-to-eye with the demon king. I’m not a mere peasant any more. I’m the bearer of a dragon’s magic and the hero tomorrow’s storytellers will sing of. “This is your last chance, Mowang! Release Tai’s people, and call the Ligui back to Hell!”

  Mowang’s lip curls. “Even if you strike me down, my subjects will continue their work, and I will regenerate quickly enough. A hundred years is nothing to an immortal.”

  He swings at me with full force. My enchanted blade clashes and clangs against his dark weapon. Since it’s clear he won’t give me any answers about the Ligui. I see no reason to hold back. I relish each attack. He will pay for every life his demons took from my village.

  Yet none of my blows manage to land. He keeps blocking my blade, and each time I feint, he knows what actual move I’ll make and strikes to compensate. I’m quick enough to keep him from hitting me, but I can’t seem to do any damage. Worse, he’s an immortal incapable of tiring, while my limbs begin to grow weary. Sweat runs down the side of my face, and my heart pounds like an insistent fist beating down a door.

  Frustrated, I lunge at the demon king, hoping the sheer energy will drive past his defenses. Mowang uses the opening to strike me in the gut. Or rather, what feels like my gut. A great force knocks me back, and the white haze vanishes. I’m my diminutive human size again. I stumble to the ground, suddenly feeling like a fool.

  I glimpse Tai at the top of one of the columns, holding my father’s sword. He swipes the blade at the black veil imprisoning his people, but it has no effect. The River Pearl’s magic can defeat Mowang’s—maybe if I can slice open the veil, Tai’s people can escape while I hold off the demon king.

  I sprint to the pillar and climb as quickly as I can. Mowang stabs his blade toward me. As I move to block, the white halo reappears, as if the River Dragon can sense my intentions. With my sword locked against Mowang’s, I continue climbing, shifting my body and letting my blade slide against his. The white halo extends, making it easier for me to keep moving without changing its position.

  When I’m halfway to the top, Mowang pulls back. I fall forward but manage to keep my grip on the column. He takes a swing. I parry and stab forward, aiming for his heart. The white light impacts his stomach and throws him backward. He lands with a howl. I curse. A little higher and I would have destroyed him.

  “Anlei!” Tai clings to the column with one hand, holding my father’s sword in the other. He drops it and reaches down to me.

  I should throw him Ibsituu’s sword. He’s already at the top, and I still have halfway to climb. But I don’t want to let go of the River Pearl’s magic. I was so close to ending Mowang. Am I doomed to be the supporting character in Tai’s story?

  Mowang blinks back into a standing position. He raises his weapon.

  I draw my sword-wielding arm up to swing—and throw the blade to Tai.

  I release my grip on the pillar a second before Mowang’s weapon impacts the side I was just clinging to. Grasping desperately, I catch one of the protruding sculptures a few feet down. The glowing white blade slices through the smoky curtain above, and sparks explode from the gash. A translucent man emerges, hovering in the air. Silvery light reminiscent of the halo around a full moon surrounds him. I stare in awe. He wears his black hair as Tai does—tied in a knot at the top of his head. A woman emerges behind him, her long black hair pinned in an elaborate style with tresses flowing down from beneath intricate buns. She, too, is translucent, and her long dress trails behind her as she soars to freedom. More and more of their kind fly down one by one.

  Mowang’s great roar shakes the cavern. The ghostly beings flood his face with light, attacking with some kind of magic. As Mowang tries to swat them away with his blade, Tai leaps from the column.

  The glowing white sword sinks into Mowang’s chest. Sparks of red and yellow erupt from the spot, and the demon king’s scream shatters the air. My bones shake under its cacophonous volume.

  It cuts out as his body dissolves into smoke—just like the Ligui I’ve fought so often.

  That’s it—we won. Tai might have struck the final blow, but I’m the one who gave him the opportunity. I’m a hero, too.

  We’ve defeated the demon king.

  We’ve become legend.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  PIECE OF BOTH, PART OF NEITHER

  I stare at the spot where Mowang stood, unable to believe what’s happened. The demon king is gone, defeated. Perhaps not forever, but still—we did that.

  Shaking myself out of my stupor, I climb down the pillar and scoop up my father’s sword from where it landed on the ground. Tucking it back into its strap, I look around for Tai. He threw himself off … What happened to him?

  I open my mouth to call his name, then freeze.

  He remains where he was when he drove the blade into Mowang—hovering in midair. His body has turned translucent, like those of the beings that emerged from the smoky black veil. The same silvery glow clings to him as he watches them.

  The veil, meanwhile, has vanished. The translucent beings pour down, and their shouts of joy and relief ring bright. Some blink out, vanishing abruptly. Others revel in their newfound freedom, darting around like fireflies. The cavern walls, once yellow like firelight, now glimmer silvery blue like the moon.

  Yueshen. My jaw drops. So this is why they vanished.

  The sight of the mysterious lunar spirits takes my breath away. It’s as if someone captured moonlight and molded it into the shapes of hundreds—no, thousands—of people, each ethereal and beautiful. Once, I would have counted myself lucky to glimpse even one reflected in a mirror at night. To be surrounded by so many—it’s wondrous. Tears spring to my eyes. I wish Mother and Anshui were here to witness this.

  Tai flies as freely as they do and glows the same lustrous hue. He … he’s Yueshen too. He catches my eye, and his grin recedes. He swoops down toward me. “Anlei—”

  “You liar!” I point one accusing finger at him. “You told me—”

  “I told you my people were from Baiguang—white light. I never said we were human.”

  “You never said you weren’t human!”

  “That’s the oath I mentioned—I swore I’d never tell a human the truth of my origins or of my Yueshen abilities.”

  He glances over his shoulder at the throne. Yueshen dive into the frozen screams carved into the black stone and vanish. He gestures at the spot. “We should get out of here. There’s a portal at the throne’s base.”

  I continue staring at him. I still can’t quite believe what I’m seeing.

  He gestures impatiently. “Anlei!”

  Snapping out of my daze, I look over at where he’s pointing. All I see are infernal carvings until I pull Anshui’s spectacles from my pocket. Through their lenses, a yellow circle appears in the air by the throne’s base. Beyond it stretches the lifeless landscape surrounding Heihuoshan.

  My instincts carry my feet toward the portal at a run, but my eyes remain fixed on Tai, who flies beside me in his ethereal form.

  “I can’t believe you hid this from me.” As I step through the portal, I think back to our past conversations wondering if I missed something. Rivers of lava flow to either side of me, and heat wraps its thick cords around my skin. In the distance, I glimpse the ship. Not seeing any demons, I slow to a walk. “Mowong called you a half-breed …”

  Tai floats beside me as I head toward the ship. He nods with a wistful smile.

  “That story I told you about the Yueshen girl and the human prince … it was true—except my father wasn’t actually a prince. My mother saw him as one, though. She could shift into human form and, after their marriage, he was granted the ability to shift into Yueshen form. I was born to live between worlds.
We were happy … but then an accident took her. The Yueshen never wanted anyone to know it was possible for a human to gain their powers, and her death—which happened while she was in human form—sealed their decision. That’s why they made me swear never to tell a human who I really was or what I could do. But I had no choice but to shift forms after attacking Mowang, and now you’ve seen me for yourself.” He spreads his hands. “My oath is moot.”

  Anger and curiosity wrestle for dominance in my mind. I don’t know if I want to yell at him for keeping his true nature a secret from me when I’ve risked my life—and my village’s safety—for him, or if I just want to know more about him. “Did you want me to know?”

  “Not at first.” Tai drifts a few inches closer to me. “But the more time we spent together, the more wrong it felt to keep my secret. If I hadn’t sworn on the souls of my ancestors that I’d do everything in my power to keep a human—any human—from knowing the truth, I would have revealed this form to you earlier.”

  I give a disgruntled nod. “Do you prefer being Yueshen?”

  He shrugs. “Flying is fun, but I’ve spent more of my life as a human. Since I’m not fully one of them, the Yueshen won’t let me live in their kingdom. And sensations are … muted. I could put my hand on a flame and sense only a slight twinge.”

  “What does it feel like to touch another person?” Curiosity gets the better of me.

  “I don’t know. I’ve never been around another human long enough in this form to try it.” He holds out his hand to me. “Let’s see.”

  Hesitating, I lift the spectacle off my eyes, then touch my fingertips to his. But all I feel is mist … something warm and present, yet ethereal. It’s the kind of comforting heat that settles on one’s skin on a humid summer day. “You might as well be air.”