"What the hell just happened?!" I had experienced things like this in the game, but the first-hand experience was just a completely different level.
"Well, I introduced you to some of the 13 Rulers of the continent. I can't get into details right now as it might alter the future in the wrong way, but they were sealed very long ago because of their methods. In the past, they were known as the 13 Tyrants or more commonly referred to as the 13 Moons, as they had occupied and divided the continent into 13 territories through sheer force. It is said that every one of them could destroy the moon if they wished to, hence the name. That's how terrifying those individuals are, don't let yourself be fooled by their nonchalant attitude, they are merciless monsters who will kill us at any opportunity they get." Ark answered with a smile making me question if this man was capable of stopping smiling.
"I understand that, it's not a simple matter. I assume that nobody could kill them and that's why they were sealed?" The situation dawned on me and I had to ask.
"No, it's not just that nobody could kill them. Nobody could fight them at all period. If I still had my celestial body, they would be easy to deal with, but as a mortal, they are an unreachable wall. Even the strongest adventurers at the mithril rank or the celestial combat apostles are nothing when compared to them. They are the reason Crismentia is the only known continent, they eliminated the rest themselves. From what I know there used to be 15 continents standing, but the 13 moons somehow acquired the level of power they have and destroyed one each. Crismentia and an unknown and not found to this day continent are all that's left in Larfirth." Ark explained maintaining his smile.
"How were they sealed then? If nobody could hold their own against them?" I was curious at this point.
"Using my status as a Pope and as a fallen angel, together with many many people. A prayer ceremony was performed and... I hope you can understand what I'll say next, but at the time there was no other hope... 80% of all the life in Crismentia was sacrificed to seal them. Fortunately, it worked and has kept them sealed for a long time." Ark made clear, for the first time stopping the smile and putting on a serious expression.
"I'm not going to hold that against you, it's not the best, but it's still better than everyone dying. If it took all that to get them to stay put, I see why the prospect of them escaping would be problematic. Just call me when you need my help, though I don't think I can be of much help as I am now." I expressed.
"No worries, I still have things under control. For now, the focus should be on the Solar knights and their expansion. Their next crusade will start soon and they will cause damage, though how much they'll be able to do will depend on the Royal family and The Church of the Great Seven. You have nothing to worry about from me. Your family will be ok. Just know that things might be different... When you return from Zellrith Academy." Ark reassured me while setting up expectations, his smile having returned.
"I don't have to worry about family either way, according to my mother in a few months, my eldest siblings will come back. From what she says when she brags about them, I imagine they are close to Uncle Ross's level despite being half his age." I was not too worried about my family, my mother, and father didn't know much about fighting but weren't weak, plus my grandparents were pretty great warriors once, but have been retired for a long time now.
"Beautiful. Take this with you. I know you're not a religious man, but having this with you will make contacting each other easier." Ark gave me a crucifix, unlike the ones on earth, it didn't have a bearded man on it, but instead, a young man chained to what looks like the souls of many. It looked quite disturbing.
"I'll keep it. Now, is there anything else you I should know about?" I question.
"No, not for now. When the time comes we'll have more going on." Ark told me.
Having finished our conversation, for now, I move out of his office and go back to my family.
"So, what did the grand priest want?" Dad asked me.
"He wanted to talk to me about my future and gave me this. He's hoping I don't give up or get discouraged by the challenges ahead in life. That kind of d thing." I keep it vague, but don't really lie about what happened while showing dad the crucifix.
"Good, you should trust in the Great Seven. If they gave you this path, it's because they have a plan for you. Don't worry, you will succeed so long as you do your part." Mother said after hearing what I said.
"Exactly, it's as your mother says. Sometimes you just have to work through a world that seems to be against you, in order to find your own happiness." Dad added with a solemn expression.
"Don't worry, as long as you have money, you'll be able to thread through most problems, the rest is the annoying personal stuff." Roshva entered the conversation to add her own opinion.
"Hmph! Don't poison the child with your rotten mentality, one who lives for money only, has no real purpose. You must find your happiness separate from your success, otherwise, you will have no happiness even if you do succeed." Ermidia who usually stayed quiet interjected.
"I don't think that's how it works, isn't being happy just a choice with too many steps? Just relax and stop worrying so much. Try to listen to the world around you once in a while and see how you feel about that. Silence can be a great company if people give it a chance." Uncle Ross also threw in his side of things.
"No! To stick to one's code of life and values! That brings the greatest happiness, to know your integrity is untouched is a source of pride and satisfaction on a level needed to lead a healthy lifestyle."
"Stop it! You all are putting all your insanity on my grandson. He's happy and I know it! He'll work through it, you're just confusing him!" Grandma yelled at everyone.
"Don't worry Zandrius, you'll do great even without the fancy stuff. Do you know why? Not because of the Great Seven, not because of Money, not because you've pursued some sudo-happiness, you'll do great because you worked for it. You've been putting in the work for 4 years now, and that's why you'll succeed." While grandma was scolding everyone, Grandpa came to talk to me.
"Yeah, I'm not worried. I know I'll get there." I was happy that everyone was trying in their own way to help me lighten up, even if I wasn't really in need of it.
From then on, the way home was a light trip with a bit of talking here and there. After we got home, we went our separate ways as I followed uncle Ross and his party to our training ground, where the training continued.
-Months later-
We have gotten to close to the year 715, as in a day only a month will be left before the Zellrith Academy's enrollment period opens up. As expected they didn't send me any privileges or anything, but I continued to work on my magic, my physical with uncle Ross's party, and even exp farming with uncle Ross. Things were adding up to making a pretty decent development overall.
Today was my last day of training, so it's basically an exam of sorts where they will see how far I can go against them. Uncle Ross is the only Gold rank adventurer in his party, as the rest are all Silver-ranked adventurers. Though there is no reason to underestimate them at all, adventurers in the mid-tier are where things start going crazy, heck, even an Iron-ranked adventurer can do real damage.
"Come at me with all you've got Zandrius. If you hold back, I'll break your ribs." Ermidia who was now standing in front of me with her stance in place warned me of the consequences of taking this lightly.
Thus I charged at her full speed without using my skills, before going in with full force with a feint punch, which she sided-stepped. Letting my fall to the ground with my punching hand as support, I throw in my real attack as I kicked with a spinning low kick, almost as if I was breakdancing.
That too was evaded as she jumped over it and used my face as a platform to create distance between us.
"Nice try, but you have to remember there's a big gap between us, so simply fighting well is not enough, you have to find some way to corner me." Even as we fought she pointed out what I was failing at.
"You say that, but aren't you supposed to lower your abilities to my level or something like that?" I retorted as I grabbed some dirt from the ground.
"No. That's for training, this is an exam. You have to prove yourself capable. Otherwise, we are not letting you enroll at the academy." She responded shamelessly.
While she was speaking I went with a kick and as she was backstepping out of the way, I used all the strength I had and some mana, in order to change my attack through sheer force by throwing myself at the ground back to support on both my arms before going in for a double stomp kick while folding one of my legs, which she stopped with her arm and as soon as she did I used my folded leg to stomp it out of the way, before throwing the dirt at her face.
As soon as the dirt hit and I hit the ground, I used mana on my whole body and charged at her full force before she had the dirt, but was unfortunately met with a kick to my stomach that sent me flying for a few meters before I bounced off the ground creating a crater and hit a tree.
*Cough* *Cough* *Cough* "DAMN! That frikin hurt!... My organs!... I don't think my organs are ever going to work properly again..." I couldn't help but complain about the pain I was experiencing, as I held on to my stomach.
"Great job! Now we just need to do one more thing." Ermidia praised me which made me remember that I've used dirt like this before and it might become a bad habit to keep doing this... What people start associating with me it?...
Being lost in my thoughts, when I noticed that Ermidia had approached me it was already too late, as even my bullet time because of
activated instinctively, and at that time I knew that no matter what I did, I could not dodge this attack that had already basically hit me, as even like this, I could see it moving at some I could call a normal speed. If this hits... I'll die... That was the conclusion and final result. No way out, just the end.*BOOM!*
I fell to the ground on my ass, as chills down my spine crawled throughout my back. As my head lay on the I looked at the scene that would be behind me if I was standing, and what I see is a barren dirtland as everyone in that direction had been flattened, from trees to grass, it was all gone for a wide area. This was the result of a single punch from Ermidia, as hundreds of trees were instantly flattened in an area that looks nothing like it used to house life a second ago.
"See? As I told you if you use mana internally well enough, you can achieve Chi, internal energy. That right now was just the result of me compressing the energy of my punch and sending it all out as an energy wave or maybe calling it an impact would be more accurate. Anyway, if you want to reach this level you still have a long way. Then again, I always feel like you're hiding something, and more so focused on combat as a whole rather than getting stronger. So, you can consider this my punishment for that. Congratulations, you pass. I'm really happy you were my first student." Ermidia congratulated me.
"Holy... Forget it. Also, you don't have to keep telling me about chi, I can use it, but it's exhausting." I complain.
"Of course, I do, that's the only way it will stick to that thick skull of yours. Oh and about chi, you seem to be using it well enough, I can give you the breathing technique now. Using this it should make working with chi way less taxing. It's your reward for passing." Ermidia expressed.
"I'm still in pain, Roshva, please." I request.
"Don't worry, getting used to pain is also part of the training. If you think about it, in the past you would have passed out at this level, but now you're doing this great. It's beautiful to witness." Ermidia lets a bit of her sadistic side spill out while we're talking as I see her blush a bit while she talks about pain.
"..." I could say nothing in response, I knew she would hit me again if I did. This woman did not care if she was hitting a child, now that I'm legally an adult, there's no way she'll be cutting me some slack.
After a few more agonizing minutes, Roshva healed me, and it was now time to face uncle Ross.