Tang

3,368 years since initial death
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Rome didn't last long.

The fall of the Roman Empire collapsed the nation for centuries. Even several years after leaving Cadbury Castle back in what is now considered England, the Roman Empire lost its grasp on the territory. Times changed, history proceeded forward, showing mercy for no one.

27 BCE was a long time ago, back in what many today consider to be ancient times. It was the birth and rise of the Roman Empire, lasting for several centuries before its inevitable demise. Many believed it would never fall, and at the time, Merlin believed it too. But history doesn't take sides, even the mightiest will eventually fall.

Every empire has to fall.

After a long and tedious journey through the Silk Road, he returned to the one nation that was far from the Empire's dying reach. It was a country he still wasn't entirely familiar with, but one he had been to before and could instantly recognize during his return. Far in the eastern side of the world, he finally made it back to Zhongguo. 

Though, that's what he thought. The country's name was going through changes as many named it after its current Dynasty. At the time of his arrival, the nation was called Tang. It was in honor of the Tang Empire that was widely apparent throughout these lands.

While the country still had its problems, with its own Empire ruling over the nation; he still favored it over his past conflicts in Europe. In 850 AD, Merlin was fully settled in Tang once more, using an old name he had once adopted. Ming-Xu.

It was also during this time that Ming helped in the invention of a certain substance that could very well change the world. And the truth was, it did. Just not in the way they expected.

Ming had stumbled upon the travels of a few Chinese monks that were in search of a life-extending elixir. They had hoped it would grant them the power of immortality. Obviously, Ming had a good laugh about it. Instead of changing their minds or warning them of the horrible fate that awaits them, he followed them. Truthfully, he was rather curious of what they might come up with. If they were right about what they were doing, then maybe he wouldn't be alone in terms of being immortal. Or better yet, it may even prove to be a cure.

As they hiked the highest valleys in the region, they were met with a breathtaking view of the country. It is here that they would finally determine if achieving immortality was possible or not.

"What do you hope to gain from a never-ending life?" Ming asked, approaching their resting point.

"We aim to achieve a state similar to our Gods." One of the three other monks replied. "To live and never die, to ascend humanity and create our own afterlife here on this world."

Ming tried his best not to slip up, acting reasonable and curious. "What of heartbreak? Surely you will outlive your friends and families. How could you live while losing so many others, and if you wish for death yourself but cannot deliver it? Would you still choose immortality then?"

"Love is not something we choose to consider." All the monks here had the same idea. "Yes, it will be devastating to watch so many die, including those who are close to us. But what God finds time to mourn over the loss of his own creation? We only wish to witness our nation strive for centuries to come. To watch our kingdoms reign high and supreme as we evolve beyond mankind."

As their conversation came to an end, they arrived at their destination. A small hut was located atop a hill, overlooking the horizon. Inside the hut, a metal pot was placed over logs of wood. Using saltpeter, they combined it with sulfur and charcoal. The result was a dark powder that was coarse and rough. It wasn't consumable by any chance, but Ming had the idea to expose this mixture to heat. More specifically; fire.

Lighting the logs underneath the pot, it was finally time to see whether or not this would work. Together, they all sat by and waited. The powder immediately caught fire and blazed uncontrollably. It caused the monks to all stand back in shock. After a few moments, the powder had enough. In a quick flash of light, a blast ensued that nearly blew out their eardrums.

The pot had been destroyed, with several of its shattered fragments flying through the air as projectiles. To make matters worse, it had also started a spark that immediately caught onto their hut and set it ablaze. Nobody had ever seen such destruction before caused by a small amount of powder. A few of the monks were injured after being struck by some of the fragments, but none of them died.

However, they still had to run for their lives as their hut burned down to the ground. Their experiment at creating an elixir of immortality had failed. While anyone would have tried to avoid recreating this disastrous substance, these monks had a different idea. Even Ming was fascinated by this discovery.

Instead of trying different ingredients, they kept their current experiment and decided to share it with the rest of the nation. Eventually, the country's military took notice of it. What started as an immortality potion soon turned into the most destructive weapon in human history.

It was a new evolution in the art of warfare. After some time, they called this substance 'huǒyào', or 'gunpowder'.

Soon, its usage was spread throughout Eurasia and it wasn't until 904 AD that it was first used in combat. They had formed incendiary projectiles. Upon lighting a match, a rocket would eject and fly through the air like an arrow but only to explode on contact or within seconds. A deadly weapon for sure, every one of the Ten Kingdoms wanted gunpowder to increase their strengths.

Ming would study the usage of gunpowder and attempt certain experiments to test its abilities to its fullest extent. It was mainly fire, followed by a small minor blast. However, in 919 AD, he made a breakthrough with a new and good ally of his, Qian Chuanguan.

Qian Chuanguan was a deputy military governor, son of the king Qian Liu. They had met a year before on neutral terms. Ming's discovery of gunpowder and his new breakthrough in evolved combat had caught Chuanguan's attention. Furthermore, his experiments with gunpowder fascinated Chuanguan. Therefore, he trusted him and called for his aid in completing a new secret weapon.

They were part of the Wuyue Kingdom, and it is this very kingdom that they would soon have to defend. Ming knew that warfare was approaching as it became inevitable in his life.

By now, the country formerly known as Tang was under rule of a new Dynasty. China was therefore given the name Liang, in accordance of the Later Liang Imperial Dynasty.

His invention came at the perfect time as an upcoming naval battle against the Wu Kingdom was soon imminent. Together, they experimented more with gunpowder, finding a way to conceal it inside of Chuanguan's ship.

Their secret weapon was made ready. It's enough to change the course of human history altogether in producing a weapon so powerful, it could very well murder a hundred men instantaneously.

With Qian Chuanguan as commander of his ship, and with Ming-Xu by his side, they sailed for the Langshan River. After violent conflicts between the two largest states that occupy Liang, the Wuyue were ready to throw an all out offensive against the Wu state. It was a war about power and dominance, something Ming cared very little about. However, it still didn't deter him from joining the conflict.

After a long path of violence and rage, Ming felt that the only way to end a war and gain peace was to fight as hard as he could. If one side is wiped out, conflicts between them would end, at least for some time. Alas, this was something he had considered several times before, even during the Peloponnesian War.

It was a dangerous mindset to have, one he had constant doubts about. But after living for so long, he doesn't know what to think of it anymore. However, he was still willing to fight. Even in battles he knew nothing about, he fought in hopes of reaching peace.

As they left the docks in their battleship, they sailed down the sea. A fleet of allied ships surrounded them, and eventually their destination was close. They remained brave despite knowing exactly what sort of terror and destruction would soon occur, but they still advanced nonetheless.

It was May 10th of 919 CE. Approximately five hundred ships sailed down the giant river, Chuanguan's ship remained in the center of it all, as the smaller ships were at the front. The weather was clear, and the sky looked beautiful, even the water radiated a crystal color. It wouldn't take long for all that to change.

Ming had lost count of how many battles he'd fought in. He can still remember, over three thousand years ago back in Giza. Taking the life of another human soul was never something he was capable of doing. Even hunting animals would make him feel bad to an extent, as he never enjoyed it. When the bandits attacked, it was never comfortable to release his bow and watch as his own arrow strikes one in the head.

He's given hundreds of thousands of men the glory of death and an afterlife, but was never able to find it himself. Today he would kill several more, but he would never find any satisfaction out of it. War followed him almost everywhere he went. Either he'd find it, or it would find him. Throughout the past several centuries, he's changed. Killing became only natural, his archery skills were perfect, constantly shooting bullseyes. His skills with blades greatly improved to the point where he rarely dies in battle anymore.

The thought of fighting for peace always remained in his mind, but even he had to wonder, where was this peace? He's seen wars begin and end, but there was never peace. It was all a false lie, peace never existed, and he doubts it ever will. Human beings are destined to fight each other for an eternity, until the end of time itself. However, his mind often contradicts himself. All he knows is that nothing is certain. That's a fact he has believed ever since, and will continue to believe in for as long as he lives.

Today they fight because they believe they're right. The Wuyue state against the Wu. But what if they were wrong? Everyone believes what they do is correct, even if it means going to war over it. Liang was divided, kingdoms fighting against one another, just the same as the rest of the world.

It reached a point where Ming didn't care anymore. It doesn't matter who's right and who's wrong. He was enlisted to join the fight against the Wu state and he accepted it. He doesn't know which side is good or bad, but that's what his life had become. Never knowing what was truly right or wrong in this world, but just taking the opportunity to join others and make a difference.

Maybe he was a monster after all.

"Ming! Does your mind wander? The Wu fleet lies directly ahead!" Chuanguan yelled at him, snapping him back to reality. Throughout all these years, the Mandarin language has still been somewhat difficult to speak fluently. It certainly was different from Latin and English. But Ming concentrated on the task at hand and understood what was happening.

"Apologies sir!" He responded quickly. "It will not happen again. You have my utmost strength and willpower today and for all battles to come."

The Wu naval fleet was right in front of them. Their numbers were too high to count, but they estimated they had roughly the same number of ships, five hundred. Their commander, Peng Yanzhang, controlled the largest ship in the fleet, situated near the center, just as Chuanguan was.

This was going to be the ultimate showdown of superiority.

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Historical Notes:

The Silk Road is a network of routes that spanned over four thousand miles. It ran from the Easternmost part of Asia, and reached Europe, even going as far as Iceland. It also reached parts of Africa, and offered both land and sea routes across a vast majority of Eurasia.

Since the fall of the Tang Dynasty in 907 CE, the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period began. It lasted until 979 CE, even when the Song Dynasty eventually claimed the majority of Chinese territory.

The Wuyue state was the most-lived Kingdom, having survived the longest out of any other dynasty until 978 CE.

A standard Chinese warship (Dragon boat)

Each warship was able to carry a crew of over a hundred while the smaller boats carried a dozen or two men. Sometimes the smaller boats were able to pass by unseen due to their size in comparison to the behemoth dragon ships and launch a surprise attack from the sides or behind.

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