The Invincible Hero 36 It's So Hard To Say Goodbye

The Dragon Princess noticed Lorne looking at her. Secretly, she was conflicted about this Five-Clawed Dragon man. She was conflicted when she thought he was just a little younger than her. Finding out he was actually the Dragon Baby probably made things extra weird. However, her thoughts were clarified by that look Lorne gave her. She knew what that look meant.

Lorne never showed any interest in the Dragon Princess, but that was to be expected. They only met a few times. When she smiled at him she felt something change for both of them. Lorne gave her a look like he just realized something. She saw the gentle sad look on his face. She was startled. Her heart began to beat. She had a sudden feeling of hope towards her future and this young man.

The next time Lorne looked at her she noticed another change. This time the look seemed to say to her, 'Goodbye!' What was going on? Did Lorne feel there was no hope of surviving this battle? She was starting to feel like her heart was constricted by some invisible force. She gasped and held onto her chest.

Her father noticed her action and reached out to see how she was, but she put up her hand to stop her father.

"Father, I think Xiong is about to do something crazy," said the princess.

"What do you mean?" Her father asked her clearly puzzled.

"I don't know, I just feel he's about to do something crazy and I don't think he expects to survive," she said. The more she said it the surer she was she was right.

Her father, the Dragon Emperor, looked at her for a few moments while sighing in his heart. 'It looks like she's fallen for this kid. If she's right, then I might lose a great son-in-law. But if he doesn't give his all my Empire might lose its life. I have to let him move forward. I hope he succeeds for all of our sakes.' The Dragon Emperor thought about the future of those around him and continued to sigh sadly.

Lorne took in a couple of deep breaths. He sent his thoughts into the Samsara Pod to talk with his uncle. "BS42, prepare the Samsara pod, we might be making a trip soon," said Lorne.

"What are you going to do?" Asked BS42.

"Something my Master told me never to do," responded Lorne.

"That doesn't sound good," said BS42.

"It isn't good for me, but it might be the only way to save the Dragon Empire," said Lorne.

Lorne looked once more at his Master. Even though he felt abandoned right now, he still appreciated everything his master did for him. Bowing towards his master, Lorne projected his thoughts toward his unfathomable master.

"Thank you, Master, please take care of Big Bear for me," Lorne said as he looked at the still unconscious form of Big Bear. Lorne remembered the first time he met Big Bear.

"Where's that little dragon baby at? Who does he think he is coming into my forest causing trouble?!" Lorne remembered these words and laughed. He thought of Big Bear as his real big brother. He loved him a great deal. Looking at his unconscious body, Lorne felt sad. He wanted to continue walking together with his brother. It looked like it was time to part ways.

Lorne bowed to his Big Brother. "Thank you, Big Brother, for everything."

Once more thinking into his Samsara pod, Lorne communicated with BS42 once more.

"BS42 prepare Samsara pods for Big Bear and the Dragon Princess," Lorne said.

"That only leaves us with one more pod," said BS42.

"I don't care, it's all I can do for them in case things go poorly," replied Lorne.

BS42 shook his head but sent two of the three samsara to the Dragon Princess and Big Bear.

"I guess I'm ready." After looking at his friends for the last time, Lorne looked at the Great Fiend and smiled a resolute smile. "This is the last battle. Win or lose we'll settle everything today." Lorne said to the Great Fiend.

The Great Fiend merely smiled.

"None of them will escape. After I'm done with you, I'll kill the rest of them." The Great Fiend said in a matter of fact way.

"I don't think you'll get the chance," Lorne responded to the Great Fiend.

Lorne dashed at the Great Fiend and the two began to battle once more. Hundreds of moves were exchanged, and it seemed like both sides were evenly matched. However, Lorne knew they weren't evenly matched. He was obviously the weaker person between the two. He had to kill the Great Fiend and that meant making a sacrifice.

Whatever, it's not like it's the first time he's died. Maybe he could find peace in his next life. It was time to stop hesitating. It was time to do it. He was the only person who was capable of carrying out this plan.

Lorne kicked the Great Fiend away and gained some distance. Next, he made some signs with his hands while also making some changes inside his body. This was the forbidden technique he came up with just in case he couldn't win.

As Lorne finished making the hand symbols on the outside he finished making the changes within his body. His master told him to never do what he had just done. Lorne had no choice! His Master wasn't going to help him. He could only rely on himself.

When Lorne was still a newborn Dragon Baby, his mother told him even though he could perfect any cultivation system he encountered, he must never do it. His master told him the same thing. The quickest path to his destruction would be using a perfected technique.

Wu Di Clan had an amazing control over energy. Partly because they could use a visualization technique allowing them to see the flowing paths of energy. This meant when utilizing cultivation techniques, martial skills, or anything else involving energy manipulation in some way, they could see the best paths and improve on any technique.

However, the Wu Di clan learned long ago not to completely perfect a technique. When you did it would bring absolute destruction to whoever used the technique. It was generally believed perfection was by definition impossible for the material universe. If that was the case, then perfection was an impossible dream. All perfection really meant was the path with the least errors.

Lorne finished his preparations and turned to look at his friends.

"Don't feel sad, it was said parting was sweet sorrow and it is so hard to say goodbye. Not all partings are forever and not every goodbye is final. I have had parents, friends, and love in this life. I hope to have those things again. If you wish to honor me, I only ask you move forward with your beliefs and do what you feel is right. Do not be mean, hurtful, or abusive of power. Protect the weak, guard yourself against evil, and from arrogance. Be selfless and daring, do not do to others what you hate being done to you. The right action flows from a pure heart, but a tainted soul can also be corrected by right action. Do not give up even when the sword is at your neck." Lorne finished these words and levitated off the ground.

"What are you going to do!" The Dragon Princess cried out in agony.

"What I've always done, no matter what fly forward, straight and true!" With that, Lorne turned his back on everyone and flew towards the Great Fiend. He didn't fly with his fastest speed, but he flew with determination!

At this moment, Big Bear stirred from his forced nap. He took a moment to get his bearings, but he finally understood what was going on! His heart was breaking.

"Little Bear, don't do it!" Big Bear Cried. "Brother!" He cried once more.

Ignoring the cries coming from behind him, Lorne activated his perfected technique. It was an energy blast technique released from his third hand. The Great Fiend dodged slightly out of the way, but all that changed was a great rip of energy opened behind him. The Great Fiend felt the energy and turned to look at it. For the first time he felt fear, he knew he could die from this, maybe even his soul wouldn't survive.

Lorne activated the wraith mode of his costume and pulled it into his body to surround and protect his soul. Instantly, he lost contact with BS42, Uncle Heken. Finally, Lorne increased his speed as he slammed into the Great Fiend and the pair of enemies flew into the destructive energy void.

After they pa.s.sed through it, the energy void closed itself. The Great Fiend, the terror of the Dragon Empire, and The Invincible Dragon disappeared together. A Great Evil and a Great Hero couldn't abide the existence of the other and disappeared together as if canceling each other out.

No one knew what to do. Everyone was in shock. Looking at the battlefield, the Dragon Emperor became resolute.

"My people, we will mourn the loss of our heroes, but never forget the last words of our greatest and most invincible hero! 'No matter what fly forward, straight and true!' This is the saying of every hero. Remember it! As we honor our dead, let everyone take in their spirit of invincibility, do not give into depression and sadness, live as they lived and die as they died!" The Dragon Emperor said this and then solemnly bowed in the direction of where Lorne disappeared. Seeing the Dragon Emperor do this, everyone present also bowed.