The festival begins

Overpowered! Totally overpowered! Those were Dane's thought when he saw the lavel move. This attack, known as Ultimate Strike, was well known in the Galaxy, and very much feared, since it was a Thunder Element AoE (Area of Effect) Skill.

AoE is a spell type that affect a wide area on the ground where everything within that area takes damage/healing. It wasn't a targeted attack, rather like throwing a grenade. The output depended of the caster, and since Bamboo was at Grade F+, his attack power was amplified, causing a spectacle.

Not many saw what happened to Bamboo after he walked out of the Arena, but his teammates, they saw everything.

Hasilo too had had a very tough training in a weird world that somehow Bamboo seemed comfortable with it. In fact, at almost every turn, it was as though he was looking at a different lavel when he looked at Bamboo. His charisma, intelligence, power and his abilities were over the top, he even wondered whether this was the same lavel he had always lorded over.

A week hadn't been long, but it was enough to build a team that could and would wreck havoc, but to get there, they had strained the limits of their mind and body to the very end. Yet to all of them, the one person that had been there to guide them, to watch over them and even protect them against Kendar, had been Bamboo. A brotherhood had been forged in this hell with Bamboo taking the helm, the defacto head.

Yet, seeing him collapse, they understood that whatever he had done must have put such a strain in his mind and body. For those among them that had managed to awaken abilities, they understood well that over-applying themselves might have dire consequences. Now, seeing Bamboo do that, the message being passed had been quite clear, No holding back!

***

The Baron took off at a very high pace towards the tower, but just as he was about to get in, he stopped in his tracks. The butler, who had been following him until now, also halted in his steps with a quizzical look on his face. His Baron then turned and ran to his chambers, before locking from inside.

"Welcome, Master." He said as he knelt.

The apparition that had scared Marion was seated by the dresser. He had in his hand curious looking gems which he was popping one after the other. These were none other than the hexham jades. He turned to look at the crouching baron before asking,

"How long was I ..."

"10 millennia sir." The answer came. The apparition was slightly puzzled, he knew he'd been under for a long while, but that was just too long.

What does it mean to be a faction protector? He remembered that question well, as he usually does every time he came out of the pod. At the time, he was barely a teenager, in real years, and he had just awakened his abilities. Now, after finally being retrieved by the faction, he joined other new trainees.

On their inauguration assembly, they were placed before a group of fellow faction protector trainees in the same school. If the new arrivals were juniors, these could be considered seniors, at the end of the first session of training.

They were responsible for guiding new trainees in many of the affairs in life, kind of like big brothers. To achieve this, each senior would be assigned a junior to look after and watch over, and to mentor. They were what the junior should aspire to be.

As Kedan walked to his new senior brother, he half expected a very frightening being who couldn't be bothered by him. Contrary to his expectations, the big bro turned out to be human, and more importantly, he was never aloof, never condescending, but with care and patience he guided the boy into adulthood.

The reason Kedan remembered the question wasn't because of what was said in the inaugural assembly, but rather, how his senior brother had explained it to him. The elder boy had sat the small boy down and explained it to him.

"Faction protectors worked for the good of the entire Faction, and ultimately the entire Universe. We act as the defense for all in the faction, from the most powerful and influential to the weakest of mortals. Our role is to prevent the universe from descending into darkness!"

The life of a faction protector was the most unconventional in the universe, but also the most captivating. For a Faction Protector trainee, after the initial induction which usually took 100 years to be complete, they were now eligible for the next part of the training, the Dive Training.

Unlike the name suggests, this was more than a training. A galactic faction had several solar systems and worlds, and each of these had a specific role to play. While the overall faction preferred to not interfere, when things were veering off course, or some impending calamity was about to occur, it was the work of the mother faction to protect and preserve the worlds. As such, they had ways and means of infiltrating a planetary civilizations and righting the wrongs.

Though this seemed a noble profession, mostly, the faction preferred not to interfere unless there was something spectacular about the planetary civilization, such as if they were powerful beings, or the god in charge of said planet really valued his/her mortals. This only applied to planetary civilizations, for galactic civilizations were under close control by the faction.

All in all, the Dive Training Program would involve the trainee entering the pod. The pod kept his body safe while the soul was absorbed into the cycle of reincarnation. Leaving a body behind was a way of creating an anchor point. In case the pod was damaged, one couldn't come back to their body, and the new body the soul took on becomes their real body. Though it wasn't death, it was a fate many choice to avoid.

This was because, as soon as one entered the Dive, they would take many years. For instance, Kedan had been in a Dive for 10 millennia. This would mean that many of those they knew had already died or moved on by the time they returned, and hence they would have to reestablish connection once more.

As he was thinking about all these things, he remembered a message he was supposed to pass to his Master, a life changing message that he couldn't fail to pass on. It was a crazy encounter, and the one he encountered didn't disclose much information.

Thinking about it, he couldn't help but wonder how powerful that individual had been. Had they encountered each other in the planetary civilization, then he would have thought the messenger was playing a hoax on him. To Kedan's amazement, he remembered that they actually met while he was on his way back to his body, after his death in the planetary civilization.

Even Kedan didn't know what kind of power would be required to intercept a soul on its way back to its body, and not just any soul, a soul as powerful as he was. However, no matter how powerful said person was, he didn't seem to harbor any negative feelings or killing intent at him, or his Master, it really was just a message.

"I am too weak to travel, send a message to my Master, inform him I am back, and I have news."

"Umm, about that ...."

***

[This is more of an interlude, a quick explanation of the rules of Farriga Festival and then we go back to regular viewing.]

There were 8 clans. Each clan was supposed to produce a team comprising of 4 squads with each squad having three members. There were 8 substitute members who could be called upon to participate if the main participants fell in battle.

The main objective of the match was never to kill the opponent, though that had happened from time to time. The objective was to determine who was stronger, and as such, all one had to do was dominate their opponent. This was achievable by knocking them out or making them give up.

The settlements were located in the grasslands, as that's where the lavels hunted. This settlement however was just close to the woodlands. Their arena grounds were in fact just a clearing adjacent to the settlement. The spectators would be perched on trees watching, while the fight would go on in the clearing.

The clearing was almost circular, or as circular as such naturally occurring surfaces. It had a diameter of 150 meters, almost as big as a football pitch. It had started out small, but the lavels had cleared out this area. They had used the wood obtained to build a semi portable stage, which was where head or adjudicator would stand while addressing the masses. Then it was taken out during the fight.

The arrangement of the festival was quite unique. Given there were 8 clans, each clan produced 4 squads. Each squad would face off against every other squad. The top 8 squads with the most wins would then face off each other in one final bout. This did not take into consideration the clan nor status, as long as you've had the most wins, you qualify.

After Bamboo's victory, his clan automatically became the jades.

Krea decided on the icicles.

Khalia picked the arrows, as it was obvious. In fact, that had been his initial thought, but a being far stronger than him had decided that he wanted the jades, at least he got his choice now.

The club wielding lavel was known as Brom, and they became the clubs.

The spear wielder, Hasel, chose the spears, of course.

The last 3 were Julio, Bruna, and Lisha, hadn't wielded any weapons. The abilities they had awakened were quite similar. They was not elementary based, but within the body. Julio was extremely fast, super-lavel fast. His clan elected Bayu rocks.

Bruna had a body boost type of ability. In that, by channeling inner power, he could send a boost over an area greatly needed. It was like getting a super dose of adrenaline without any risk to your body. In technological civilizations, they were known as Pugilists, in magical worlds, Berserkers. His clan chose the river stones as their emblem.

Lisha had control of the carbon element, though he didn't know it. For now all he could do was move dust particles and generate sandstorms around his opponents. It should be noted that this was one of the most fearsome power in the galaxies.

As most organisms were carbon based, those who had mastered such an ability could disintegrate an organism with a thought, leaving behind dust. He was a long way away from that. The clan became the Dust.

A week ago, Badoo had awaken only to find an empty camp. In panic, he had started to run around when he saw a wizened old lavel. Cautiously, he approached the lavel. He wasn't sure whether he was friend or foe, so he had to be on high alert. He was worried for his team, the younger generation supposed to propel the clan and indeed the settlement forward had vanished just like that.

"Fear not, they have been taken to special training, they shall return when they are ready. Also, do not interfere with anything, let them govern themselves." With those words, the lavel had vanished in thin air, leaving behind a very pale and horror stricken Badoo.

He remembered that feeling again as he watched Hasilo walk in the stage with Ferreta and Jaugger, his old teammate. Had he had his way, Hasilo would be teamed up with Bamboo and Maple, his all stars team, but no, he was supposed to let them rule themselves.

Given a choice between either knocking them out or making them give up, Hasilo chose a third. With a hefty punch that looked more like a wrecking ball than a paw, the opponent who had thought they had a chance was flown out of the clearing.

Ferreta's opponent had the upper hand, and seeing an opening, he lunged at Hasilo, a well aimed strike at his brows. The next moment, he was on the ground howling in pain holding his hand, as though he had struck at a rock.

Turning to look at Hasilo in disbelief, he was horrified when he saw a wicked smile flash across his opponent's face, and before he could react, a powerful kick sent him out of the arena.

The third opponent wanted to give up, but Jaugger wouldn't give him that chance. With a kick, he sent his opponent flying at Hasilo, who caught him midair, spun around twice. When he finally let go, the lavel he was holding was sent flying following his team mate.