Crash!
Han Sen hit the ground hard, writhing around as if his bones were about to snap. He felt sure that the composition of his body had become softer.
He set a hand on the floor to pick himself up and noticed that he was lying on something very soft. It gave him a shock. He heard a scream, and he jumped up and away from the noise.
âItâs you!â Han Sen and another voice spoke the same line at the same time.
Han Sen looked at the floor. There was a red, fox-like cat standing there. It was the Nine-Life Cat.
Han Sen hadnât seen the Nine-Life Cat since he left the last time. Han Sen didnât expect to see him again, especially under these conditions.
âNo way! The Nine-Life Cat should be in the Fourth Godâs Sanctuary. I have already leveled up to the Alliance, so why am I seeing it here? Did it ascend, as well?â
Nine-Life Cat looked at him with shock and confusion.
âWhy are you here?â Again, they spoke the same line at the exact same time.
Han Sen pointed at the Nine-Life Cat tattoo on his back and said, âThis brought me here, I think?â
Nine-Life Cat looked at Han Sen, but it could not see the tattoo he was referencing. Han Sen turned around so the cat could see the tattoo. The shock on the Nine-Life Catâs face deepened.
âIs this a bad thing?â Han Sen asked with worry.
Nine-Life Cat walked closer to Han Sen and checked his tattoo out Then, he jumped on his shoulder, touching the tattoo. âWhat is it? Say something!â Han Sen demanded when the Nine-Life Cat remained silent.
Nine-Life Cat jumped off of Han Senâs shoulder and then leaped atop a tablet, saying, âItâs not bad. But if you go out, people will think you are a part of Nine-Life Catâ
âGo out where?â Han Sen asked without thinking.
But then Han Sen realized what the cat was implying. He looked at Nine-Life Cat, and if going out meant what he now had in mind, it really was quite shocking.
Nine-Life Cat gave him a very human-like smile, and he said, âAh, you wonât understand. You canât get out of here, anyway.
It doesnât really matter for now.â
âDo you mean getting out of the sanctuary?â Han Sen still wanted to ask.
Nine-Life Cat looked surprised, but he didnât answer. He just used one of his paws to scratch his side as he repeated himself. âYou canât get out of here, anyway. It doesnât really matter for now.â
âJust in case I need to know, you should tell me!â Han Sen wanted to punch the kitty to get him to answer the question.
Nine-Life Cat laughed and said, âItâs nothing much. Iâm just saying that Nine-Life Cat does not have a good reputation out there. If you are lucky enough to get out, just donât let anyone else see your tattoo. If it gets you killed, donât take it out on me.â
Han Senâs heart sank. âCan I remove it?â
Nine-Life Cat rolled his eyes. âIt has merged with your body. Itâs a part of you! You really think itâs possible to remove something like that?â
âFine! Cut the crap!â Han Sen yelled. That was not the answer he had been hoping for. âIâm busy, and Iâm running out of time and patience.â
Nine-Life Cat jumped off of the tablet and started walking in another direction. Han Sen noticed that they appeared to be in some sort of graveyard. The tablet Nine-Life Cat was sitting atop was a headstone.
Behind the stone there was another one, half-covered by patches of grass. Surprisingly, the grave was smaller than the sort you might expect to see for a human.
He looked at the headstone, but he was unsure of what it was dated. All the text across its surface was faded. Some very light markings were visible, but what they meant, he hadnât a clue.
âWhat are you doing? Follow me!â Nine-Life Cat gazed back at Han Sen with a look of annoyance.
Han Sen followed as he was bid to, and they walked past many headstones. They were all in various states of decay, so he couldnât learn much about where he was.
âWhat is this place? Some kind of old graveyard?â Han Sen asked Nine-Life Cat after catching up with him.
Nine-Life Cat smiled and said, âThis is the Fourth Godâs Sanctuary. Weâre not in the Alliance.â
Thatâs what Han Sen had thought, but when it was confirmed, he really was given a shock. âNo way! This is the Fourth Godâs Sanctuary? I thought after you go to the Alliance, you arenât allowed to come back. And why is my body not being harmed by being here?â
Nine-Life Cat used his claws to point at Han Senâs new tattoo and laughed. âWith this tattoo, itâs not only the Fourth Godâs Sanctuary you can return to. If you want, you can hop back into the First Godâs Sanctuary. Why? Because now you are a part of Nine-Life Cat.â
âWhat is Nine-Life Cat exactly?â Han Sen asked.
Han Sen was curious about this. He only knew that it had some connection to the elusive Human Emperor and that the Nine-Life Cat was some sort of a mascot for Blood Legion. It was like a representative symbol.
Han Sen thought Nine-Life Cat might have been a strong creature that followed Human Emperor. But all things considered, that no longer seemed likely. Nine-Life Cat, whatever it was, was bigger than what he was thinking. It looked like it was even connected to some pretty big things beyond the sanctuaries.
But now Han Sen remembered people had told him that Human Emperor took Nine-Life Cat as something serious. Han Sen didnât care for it very much, but now, things obviously werenât so simple.
âI told you that you wouldnât understand. If you can get out, though, you will know.â Nine-Life Cat did not want to talk about this much.
Han Sen wanted to ask some more, but Nine-Life Cat suddenly stopped moving.
Han Sen saw a headstone marking a grave. It was similar to the other tablets, though, in which the words had all faded away.
âSince you are here, help me dig this grave up.â Nine-Life Cat pointed at the small, grass-laden headstone.
âWeâre digging up graves now? This is horrible! You can do that yourself!â Han Sen shook his head.
Han Sen did not know what the kitty wanted, and there was a chance that the creature would put him in danger. Whatever the case might have been, he wasnât quite willing to risk it.
Nine-Life Cat rolled his eyes and jumped atop the grave. With his little paws, he started to dig. He told Han Sen, âFine! You donât have to dig, but as for the special item that might reside below, you will have nothing to do with it!â