401-410
While maintaining the barrier, Alex bore the brunt of the attack colliding with the barrier.
Dust and smoke covered everything around them, blocking everyones vision.
As the smoke dispersed and the dust settled down, the scene that appeared before them horrified them.
All of them seemed to be standing on a barren piece of land.
Why?
Because there was simply no mass of vegetation left around them.
The thick canopies, the huge chunks of trunks and wood of the trees along with the small bushes and shrubs.
Everything simply vanished.
There was no trace of them left behind.
All of them seemed to be crushed into millions of pieces of sawdust which either mixed with the air or blew away due to the intense wind.
Anyone who witnessed the scene would be forced to think whether they were hallucinating or was all of this an illusion set before.
But they were able to think straight after noticing the green mass which seemed to be at a distance of a few kilometers away from them.
While everyone was bewildered beyond their wildest dream, Alex stood still while looking up ahead into the sky.
Everyone looked at him and then looked up.
Their expressions stiffened as the two black dots clashed against each other in the sky.
Alex gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.
At first, he felt quite helpless.
While his wife was fighting and putting her life on the line, he seemed to be doing nothing.
He was nothing but a spectator.
He seems to be turned into a worthless existence. Even if he made a move, he would only cause trouble for Riya.
The only way to reach them was to use the power of darkness. But he wondered whether using that power he could reach such strength.
To use that power, Alex needs dark mana.
Since this world lacks it, he converts the pure mana into dark mark mana from the dead bodies that emit a deathly aura which is also a type of dark mana.
The reason he was able to push himself and gained so much power two years ago was due to being in a place filled with natural dark mana.
There was an ample amount of dark mana and on top of that Alex was able to steal a part of that enemys blessing.
Now the question arises, how can Riya use the power of darkness and have such a dense concentration of dark mana?
Alex didnt know the answer to the first question but after many observations, he came to know about the second one.
Unlike Cherry, Riya seemed to have a proper union of humans and creatures of darkness.
So, like a creature of darkness, her body can store the power of darkness while Alex cannot store the power of darkness in his natural state, he can just manipulate it and use it temporarily in Darkness Mode.
Every time Riya kills, a part of the enemys deathly mana was sucked into Riya and it was a subconscious action until Alex pointed it out.
The dam inside her had been storing a bulk amount of reserves and the key to opening that dam was to force her into a state where there is no hope left for survival.
Now Riya had opened the door and all the dark mana stored in her seemed to gush out at once.
The battle went on and shockwaves echoed one after another as if artillery were fired from all around.
The space around both of them started to shatter.
Then, dark thunder stuck everywhere as an enormous mass of energy condensed covering the entire sky.
For a moment, everything became dark and the night descended.
And after that
Swish!
BOOOOOM!
Something exploded like a volcano and mountains in rows exploded due to the strong outburst.
Alex noticed a deathly beam pass through and a gigantic crevice appeared opposite to them.
The ground was cut apart and a rift was formed that extended to a distance of 3km.
Such was the power, which put awe on everyones face.
Alexs heart started to beat wildly. It wasnt fear but rather an excitation after witnessing the marvelous fight.
Soon the darkness resided and a body drenched in dark blood with cuts and slashes all over the body appeared in everyones vision.
Azores who came in pride and arrogance had two hands chopped.
One of his wings had been torn apart and his teeth were broken.
On the other side, Riya also had wounds all over their body but nothing was lethal.
The Azores glared at Riya with hateful eyes and screamed.
He had never imagined that the woman who looked like a simple Legendary had such a frightening straight.
Help me! He screamed and took out a magic paper.
Alexs eyes glowed and he screamed.
Its a summoning paper. Kill him before he can use it.
Riyas body shook and breaking the barrier of sound Riya accelerated towards the Azores.
pan-d a-n0vel.com However, she was late.
Azores tore the paper and soon a light appeared.
Riyas body froze for a moment.
Riya was struck by an invisible force and her internals were damaged and she shot back.
BANG!
Alexs body exploded with a huge blast and in the span of a moment, he appeared in the path Riya was thrown at and catching her, she teleported back.
Alexs teleportation dispersed Riyas momentum.
If Alex didnt catch her now, Riya would be thrown for a kilometre and might be in a life-or-death situation.
The bright lights dissipated and the vague human silhouette appeared.
Noahs eyes became solemn and he screamed with angerShameless!
How can you summon a Supreme rank to deal with us?
You dare to curse me after reducing yourself to such a pathetic state,Azores screamed in agony.
A silhouette of the Supreme manifests before him.
You called me to deal with them.
Such a waste of resources. After you return, you will be punished and then grounded.The silhouette spoke with disgust but stopped as he caught sight of Riya covered in darkness.
The silhouette was too vague and Alexs eyes of truth didnt work on it.
Alexs body shook, as Riya who was in her arms roared like a wild beast.
Riya calm down.
Come to your senses! Alex shouted as he squeezed his arms and wrapped them around Riyas wrist.
But Riya struggled and threw her hands.
Alexs eyes widened as he saw her sclera become dark and her skin became dark and hard.
She looked as if someone had lost her humanity and taken the appearance of darkness.
Riyaaaaaaa! Alex screamed in panic as he saw Riyas transformation getting out of hand.
The pair of dark hands started to move in disarray and hit Alex.
His heart skipped a beat but a bigger problem appeared before him as The Supreme Rank made his move.
The world seemed to lose its colour.
For a moment, crimson darkness descended on the battlefield.
Screams of roars and pains of humans rang everywhere.
The darkness slowly began to fade and went away.
The world slowly regained its colour and then a gigantic explosion as if a hydrogen bomb exploded eradicating everything occurred.
And as the destruction stopped, the entire Terror of Ranvir was gone.
The dense forest, the vast wilderness and the many ranges of mountains are all gone.
The huge mountains were decimated into small hills.
A huge crater with aradius of 20 kilometers appeared wiping out everything in it.
The supreme rank after casting such mass destruction vanished with few words.
Azore, I have finished both requests. Inform the demon and the other party about this before returning.
Tap! Tap!Tap!Tap!
Inside a wide corridor leading down the hall, the only sound that resounded was the sound of the fat guy walking through the path.
The fat in their stomach swayed left and right as he walked around which made many looks at him with disgusted gazes.
On the way, many guards saw him and raised their eyebrows as this might be the first time they had seen this fat pig in such a hurry.
This pig wasnt as fat as it was now. He was once a capable warrior but over time, due to arrogance and pride in staying in his position, he became lazy to the point that his body had accumulated tons of fat.
The fatty, after walking a long distance and covered in sweat, reached the end of the path and stood before a huge chamber guarded by strong Knights.
General Shen, whats the matter?
You look very happy now?
Did something happen?
Hahaha! You can think of something along those long lines, Shen spoke with a wide grin.
I want to discuss something with His Highness. So please inform him about it.
The Knights squinted their eyes and shook their heads. They didnt pry any further and one of them went in to report.
After five minutes, the guard returned and saidYou can go inside.
Thanks! Shen muttered and stepped inside.
Shen saw Hex sitting on the table while writing something.
Hex stopped doing his work for a moment and raised his brows as he noticed Shens elated expression.
His body seemed to be screaming with happiness for some reason.
What brings you here? Hex asked while squinting his eyes.
Shen bowed his head and spoke.
Your Highness, I have brought good news.
Alex is dead!
Silence engulfed the place after Shen spoke.
Shen noticed Hex staring at him with a blank expression but if one looked closer, one could notice Hexs lips are slightly curved upwards.
Since Shen was quite close to him, he was naturally able to perceive it but for a moment he was surprised and as well as confused.
Because Hex seemed to be happy but he wasnt surprised.
Shouldnt he be surprised and ask me how and why it happened?
Why is he just simply staring at me?
Maybe he hadnt heard me or thought this was a joke?
CoughCough
Your Highness, Alex is
Shen was cut off in the middle as Hex spoke while getting up from his seat.
I heard it loud and clear. Alex is dead.
But are you sure about that?
Have you seen his dead body or have anything that proves that? Hex asked while staring sharply at Shen.
Your Highness there had been a battle going on with Arkham. Alex was stopping them at the Terror of Ranvier. The battle was suddenly interrupted by third-party interference. The nobles and other troops fled on getting the signal.
My sources after inquiring about them went to the battle scene and there has been nothing left.
Even Arkham forces had been wiped out and there arent any corpses left. From the traces of the attack left behind. We inferred that it was the work of the Supreme rank individual.
And there also seem to be some demons spotted in the vicinity.
Hexs body stiffened as he heard the details. His expression was distorted.
All the forces of Arkham had been wiped out and you even noticed demons? Hex spoke with a weird gaze.
Shen was perplexed for a moment on noticing Hexs hollow gaze.
He wanted to say that Hex was focusing on the wrong things again.
pan,da-n0v el Instead of being curious about the Supreme rank, he was more interested in Arkham soldiers and some minor demons
Yes, according to the reports The Arkham forces were led by the Second Prince of Arkham Noah Ark and he had led 240000 forces to take over the Western Territory. I dont know how many of them were killed by Alex and his men but I am sure the attack by the Supreme rank decimated the majority of them.
The whole Terror of Ranvier had been cleared by his attack and the earthquakes extended even towards the Western Territory and could be felt from a distance of 500 kilometres.
It had alerted many Kingdoms.
After that, we saw a group of demons but naturally we have taken care of them, they seem to be some minor scouts.
The more Hex heard, the more his expression worsened.
His mood was a mess as he felt something had gone wrong.
Cause what was the target of the other party?
To wipe out Arkham soldiers or to wipe out Kinley forces or both.
And the appearance of demons cant be overlooked.
Shen makes a detailed report and sends it to the Imperial Father. Also, say that the channels hadnt been working due to the enemy interference and we hadnt known about the Arkham empire. Silence the witness if there is any.
Make it quick. If you dont do something quickly, a third party would take this opportunity. Hex ordered Shen and gave him a series of commands.
And especially make sure to report about Demons. Dont underestimate those vulgar creatures.
Shen noted all of this at the back of his mind.
Now leave.
Shen hesitated for a moment and askedYour Highness since Alex is dead can I deal with the other one.
No!
Shens request was met with a stern refusal.
You and your obsessions. We cant waste time on that. After we achieve our goals, we can take out the trifle later.
Shen nodded with a sorrowful gaze and left.
Hex walked towards the bookshelf after Shen exited and pulled out a book and took out a piece of paper from it.
Pondering for a moment, he wrote something on it.
He walked towards the window and threw it out.
Swish!
A shadow flashed by and the paper suddenly disappeared.
It seems I have been played, Hex spoke with an uncanny smile.
The news of Arkham and Kinley soldiers being wiped out soon spread like a wildfire.
It was like a tight slap to the face of the rulers of the two Empires.
Kinley was in chaos.
Forces were deployed in quick succession one after another.
The Kingdoms in the west were asked to support troops.
But something horrifying and shocking happened as soon as they reached the place.
The entire Western Front had been covered by miasma which was destroying the land.
It was horrible but not to the point that they had to retreat.
The miasma in itself wasnt the problem but rather the beings guarding the place.
No one knew how it happened or when it happened but the unimaginable thing had occurred.
Beyond the destroyed mountains, a defence line was laid by the arch-nemesis of peace.
The Demons.
It was too startling even for them as there was no report of a Demon invasion.
The intelligence department doesnt know how demons appeared in huge numbers and masked their presence.
They could accept Arkham sneaking in as it was beside them but Demons who were in the far north were able to show up here.
It only meant one thing, the ridge where the eastern part of Arkham and the northern part of Demonland meet have fallen into demons hands.
Till now demons only posed a threat to Arkham but now it seems that Arkham wasnt the only one who was in danger because the demon had already occupied the western fort.
The blow was big for Kinley.
But it was too severe for Arkham.
They waged the war, and shed blood and sweat but when it came to eating the pie it was snatched by the demon which shook their entire foundation.
Just like Kinley, Arkham had been boiling with rage.
Similar events occurred in Arkham.
The whole Empire of Arkham became wild and alert.
Unlike Kinleys loss, the losses suffered by Arkham were quite severe to the point that even commoners came out to occupy the streets and surrounded the nobles houses in their region.
They were armed with their daily tools.
Anything that was sharp and could be cut was picked up by them.
Riots and coups could be seen throughout Arkham.
Those who heard the news were shocked wondering what was going on.
Was it a rebellion or protest?
Is there going to be a civil war to overthrow the reign of the current Emperor?
Fortunately, it was neither.
This wasnt a protest against the ruler.
This was the call of the war. They wanted to fight and take down revenge.
Because the rising sun of the Empire which everyone loved dearly had set.
Their beloved Second Prince was killed.
Every commoner knew just how much effort the Second Prince had put to help them.
He even walked on the roads and distributed food, asked about their well being and took care of their troubles.
But the feeling of being unable to see the man who was like a God to them broke their heart.
No one among them was unaware of the recent situation.
Each one of them knew exactly the situation of the Empire which was slowly falling into ruins.
And since they were already going down, they intended to go down with the other side.
Their fate would be worse than todays if the Demon occupied their land.
There would be no more freedom for them. All of them would either become slaves or die cruelly under the demons hands.
Instead of waiting for death to come for them, they would sacrifice their lives for revenge.
While riots and protests were happening all over Arkham, inside the palace.
A man who seemed to be aged a lot looked outside the palace with an inexplicable gaze.
His eyes were tired and restless.
Seeing his people like this makes his heart.
These are the people who due to the current situation werent able to fill up their bellies but just hearing your death, they have cast away all their grievances and braced themselves to sacrifice their lives for you.
Is this the fate of my Empire?
Have we reducedto thispoint that the common men have to arm themselves to fight?
Have we become that miserable?
His questions were heavy and dreary.
He didnt know why he asked such stupid questions but the questions remained questions as there was no one to answer him nor he knew the answer.
Observing the outside for a moment, he spoke with a sigh.
It seems 600 years of this Empires existence would fall in my reign.
I have betrayed the ancestors who had worked their hearts and gave all for this Empire.
Our downfall seemed to be predetermined.
His eyes seemed to tear up as he thought about the recent situation.
He wanted to rest.
He wanted to let go of this burden that was pulling him down.
In his life of 80years, he had lost many things.
His wife, his son and now it seems that he will lose his Empire.
Yes, the man who was resting against the couch was none other than the Emperor himself.
Its not over yet.
He heard the frail voice and looked at the man who was staring at the ceiling with a hollow gaze.
His body was full of wounds.
We were wrong.
The answer we sought wasnt wrong but looked for it in the wrongway but its okay.
I have already found the answer.
We will survive and prosper.
Cause I am sure that he is still alive. The man spoke with a smile trying to cheer the old man up.
I hope what you said becomes true.
Cause we neither have the time nor any more resources to avert the crisis.
The man chuckled hearing the Emperors words and looked outside.
Resources Huh!
We have more than what we can imagine. Its just that we never took other options into our eye. We have something that could shake the entire world.
In contrast to the outside world which was filled with chaos, Leonhart was observed to be at peace on the outside.
The people of Leonhart only know that their Lord had been posted in some military region but they didnt know exactly where their Lord had been.
They werent able to see their King as often as others but each time he made his appearance it was a time for a Kingdom-wide celebration.
All of them were aware of the recent changes but none of them knew that their King was at the centre of the storm.
Kinley till now havent released the list of the deceased so it was still peaceful before the bomb could be dropped.
Though the common people were unaware, the upper echelon of the Kingdom knew about it.
And the information hit them like thunder.
The whole Leonhart was at full alert and underneath the peace, preparation for war was going on.
The soldiers and those who were at a higher military post knew their Lord very well.
They knew their King wouldnt fight a losing battle.
There was no hint of sadness and rather all they had been burning with fighting spirit knew that once their King returned, all the warriors would be asked to march and slay the enemies.
Inside the Palace.
KnockKnockKnock
Someone knocked on the big wooden door.
The knocker waited for some time but no answer came.
The door slowly opened and two immaculately dressed women stepped in.
The two women looked around with restless gazes.
It was a huge study room filled with all kinds of books, scriptures, and tons of papers.
At the centre, a table of ivory was placed which was filled with books and at one end a woman with auburn hair seemed to take a nap with auburn hair.
Her eyes seemed to be moist as if she had been crying and her face looked haggard and tired.
A soft red carpet was strewn across the floor and a cosy fire crackled from the fireplace.
Another woman was sitting on a chair at a mahogany desk and several papers were strewn across the desk. The woman laying on the chair looked at the fireplace while clenching her sword tightly.
Her face was filled with hatred and anger. She looked as if she wanted to fight someone now but she was holding back.
Hmm! Clearing her throat one of the women who entered coughed a little.
CoughCough
The woman who slept on the table was startled and woke up abruptly which caused the piles of books placed beside her to fall on her.
Ouch!
Catherine, you have become clumsy and careless.
Just look at you, it hasnt been five days and you already lost too much weight.
Catherine rubbed her eyes and looked at the soft voice and spoke with a glare.
Athena, stop teasing me. I am not in the mood for your pretty jokes.
I agree with her! Christina spoke while standing up and holding her sword.
pAn-d a-n0ve1.com Athena shut her lips for a moment and then with a pouty expression walked inside and took her place on a couch.
After she sat down everyone looked at Yvonne who was standing at the door with a confused expression.
What! Do you need a special invitation now? Catherine asked with an annoyed tone.
Yvonne shook her head and hurriedly walked and sat beside Athena.
Ignore her! She had lost it.Athena spoke with a smirk.
I havent lost anything. Its just that it has been a long time since I have come here so it feels odd.
By the way, is it Alexs study room? Yvonne asked.
The other three nodded.
It looked more like a research lab than a study room, Yvonne commented.
Catherine ignored Yvonnes comment and asked AthenaWere you able to dig anything out?
Athena nodded and started to sayThe Church is still discussing the matter of the Western Front.
We generally maintain neutrality.
The Church doesnt have any responsibility to deal with demons but they must clear out the miasma. But they cant act as demons are occupying the place.
What a headache! Catherine murmured.
Christina stared at Yvonne and asked, Yvonne did you manage to get out any information.
Yes! And Christina your suspicion was correct. Shen had interfered during the war and delayed the arrival of reinforcement and not only that he is trying to get rid of thesurvivors who managed to get out of that place.
Christinas expression was distorted and she muttered gritting his teethThat scum!
He will not stop unless he achieves what he wants.
The atmosphere descended into silence for a moment.
Christina was unable to hold her killing intent which caused the temperature of the room to fall by a few margins.
Everyone knew the story of the hatred between Christina and Shen.
The silence lingered for a moment and was finally broken by Athena.
I have tried to feel Alexs life force. He seemed to be well now.
Athenas words startled everyone.
You can even feel his life force, Catherine and Yvonne asked at the same time with surprised expressions.
Since the six of them were bonded by the contract, they could tell whether the other was alive or not.
The death of anyone among them would cause them to suffer a serious backlash and leave them in prolonged weakness.
So, all of them were sure that Alex and Riya were alive but they didnt know about their condition until now.
How did you know Athena?
Athenas lips curled with a smile and she spoke with a sense of superiority My heart is connected so deeply to him that what he feels is transmitted to me.
Athenas words caused everyone to stare at her with their jaws wide open.
Athena noticed a hint of jealousy in their eyes and burst into laughter.
After laughing a bit, her expression became serious.
It was the Oracle of Goddess Rebecca. He is alright and breathing but he is in poor condition and Riyas condition is a bit worse. Athena spoke with a serious expression.
Seeing her expression everyone flinched back a little and had one thought.
Sure enough, she and Alex were surely made for each other. Just how couldthey change their expressions in an instant.
Catherine took a deep breath to calm herself.
We should prepare for his return. Once his death is declared, Shen will try to make things difficult for him when he returns.
Yvonne, try to protect the people who escaped. We need them to provide testimony in case Shen plays dirty.
As per another thing, it seems we need to take a step forward.
Step forward! How? Yvonne asked curiously.
Catherine tilted her gaze and stared at the bookshelves.
I remembered the moment before Alex departed. He said each book contains the encompassed knowledge and techniques that could bring catastrophe in the world and he was still reluctant to circulate.
And at that time Leonhart was too weak to protect himself but now everything has changed.
He said if a situation appears where he disappears or is killed apparently, take out the books in Shelves and start implementing them in the training of the recruits.
Does it mean we can now go public with Manas heart?Athena asked.
Alex had taught them about Manas heart. Since all of them were born with the divine blessing of the Goddess, all of them found that they had a natural mana heart.
Though Manas heart comes with a huge boost in the long run, it takes too much time and resources to create it.
So, it maynt opt for everyone as many may even be unable to form it.
We will leave the choices with them?
Moreover, Alex had created a technique which could help an awakened one to make a mana heart but its efficiency would be lower than those who have made mana hearts before awakening.
Christina, it seems you are going to be busy now? Catherine spoke while looking at Christina with an inexplicable expression.
Believe in me!
With Alexs guidance, I will turn each one of them into a weapon capable of destroying their enemy thoroughly, Christina spoke with an indifferent expression.
CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!
Athena cheered up Christina and raised her thumb.
Also, Alex had left a letter with me and said to open it if something bad happens, Yvonne spoke and took out a letter under everyones curious gaze.
Catherine and Christina walked closer towards Yvonne who unfolded the letter and read it aloud.
[To my wives, if you are reading this then I am sure that I may be missing or may have encountered something which I couldnt tackle but chill girls, you know your husband is a godly being so who the hell can kill him.]
Narcissist!
Egoist!
Yvonne and Catherine muttered respectively to Athena and Christina to giggle softly.
[Okay enough fun for now. My disappearance means that Kinley might have lost the war so the situation would be dire.]
[Christina, I want to increase the requirement of soldiers and train them from basics using the books I have left. Also, circulate the sportsmanship and other techniques, I have come up with.]
[Yvonne, I want you to take charge of my business venture. My death would surely cause some to seek trouble and destroy the business or try to create a similar workshop to ours. So, please look over them.]
[Athena, I am sure you might be able to feel the connection and inform my wives about my situation which is the most important thing for me. I dont want any one of you to be heartbroken and become anxious thinking I am dead.]
[Lastly, Catherine, there is no flaw in your work. I always feel guilty for dumping my work on you and you might be exhausted due to overwork but please hear this Catherine, you need to reach Transcendent rank. You are the only Epic rank among the bunch. You can reach it but you lack the will so I want you to stop working on the paperwork and handover it over to others and focus on training entirely. I want you to achieve Transcendent rank before I return no matter what.]
[Lastly, I wish to convey that I love each one of you from the bottom of my heart and cant bear to stay apart from you. Just a day away from you makes me feel miserable. I wish to stay and relax in your embrace but there are some things I need to do so please forgive me for not being able to share your burden in your difficult time. After the news of my missing is announced, you all have a hard time but I believe in all of you. Women like you dont need to depend on others. You all shine in your way.]
[Stay strong and live well until I return]
Yvonne folded the letter after reading aloud and took a deep breath.
Reading the contents of the letter made them feel a sense of loss and the feelings that had been stored in their heart started to burst out making them feel uneasy.
Although they may pretend to be fine, but all of them really missed him from the bottom of their heart and all of them hoped that he might be doing well.
The world was trembling.
The sky seemed to be breaking apart crashing down on the ground.
The air in itself burnt like fire surrounding everything.
Millions of warriors holding their breath stood on the ground motionless.
They looked tired and haggard but their eyes were burning with a fighting spirit.
This was a memorable spectacle, a sight of countless soldiers waiting for the current single moment.
The close-combat warriors quietly waited for their turn, while those attacking from a long distance got ready to fling attack at the enemy.
Arrow-laden with magic spells and various spells ready to be cast were aimed at the sky.
Above the sky, a pair of dark eyes gazed at them that seemed to pull them into the abyss.
The blue sky was blocked by a sea of dark figures.
There seemed to be no end to their numbers.
p-A- n-d-A-n-0-v-e-1 Meagre ants, your numbers are too small to even offer resistance.
The hopes of humanity crashed down by the boisterous voice and they were at an all-time low.
Destruction awaits before them.
Their existence was in peril.
There were humans, demons, orcs, dragons, elves, and dwarves and along with them, there was also the presence of any creature who had a tiny bit of intelligence in them.
Rigid tension filled up the atmosphere as all glared at the figure upheld.
With every passing second, their end seemed to be approaching closer and closer, however at that time a loud sound that caused everyone to shudder reverted.
BATHUMP!BATHUMP!BATHUMP!
Everyones eyes widened as they could hear a pulsating sound which was akin to the sound of the heartbeat of the world.
And thenthe gazes of the warriors that were glaring at the enemy fell on the back of the man who appeared out of thin air.
Seeing his broad back calmed them down. The aura around him seems to be ordinary but they knew he was unfathomable.
His heartbeat was enough to shake the entire world sending strong ripples of mana that even affected the enemy covering the sky but oddly it didnt affect the warriors on the ground rather it calmed down.
His presence alone seemed to oppress the enemy.
As the man took a step, an enormous gate appeared behind them destroying an invisible wall separating the two worlds from the other side and soon certain things defied common sense poured out in endless droves.
Mana surged from the other side and filled the world. The mana that gushed out from the other side was light and warm.
Not only does it solace them, but it also replenishes their strength.
The things had many pairs of white wings on their back and were covered in shining white armour.
These creatures completely blotted out the sky in no time.
Everyone who looked at the scene was completely dumbfounded by the number of descending creatures that poured out endlessly.
What.how many are theyhow could each one of them possess such strength.
There are just too many, are they our friends or foes?
Gasps and screams filled with despair exploded from here and there.
The scene was utterly shocking but this wasnt the end of all.
The ground below them was covered with a darkish mana that floated around them.
They grasped in shock and looked at the mans back from which a shadow elongated that seemed to be engulfing the whole world.
As confusion and terror began whipping all around the battlefield, from the shadow of the man, large dark-coloured monsters who looked similar to demons sprouted out.
Their breathing stopped for a moment and everyone became restless.
They panicked and started to make their move.
Magic spells ready to cast gleamed brightly in their hands and bowstrings aimed down were pulled tightly.
Warriors raised their weapons and shield upright to their chin getting ready for close combat.
But before they could move out and pour out their concentrated firepower, a loud yell echoed.
[Stop! They are allies]
The mans will was carried by mana and was transmitted to everyone.
Allies. These are our allies.
Where the hell were they when we were reduced to such a state.
Everyone had the same thought about it.
The man raised his head and pointed at the swarm of enemies.
I hope you are prepared to face what is coming.
As soon as the mans words fell, five bright pillars erupted from his back.
The man who was about to engage suddenly chuckled and tilted his head.
His gaze fell on an individual among the crowd whose existence seemed to be frail.
The individual seemed to be standing between a dream and reality.
Leave now!
The individual heard the mans words and he suddenly opened his eyes to find himself under a thatched ceiling supported by tree trunks.
II
He tried to speak but he wasnt able to because his body which was healthy a moment ago suddenly atrophied into a thin body.
His body started to shrink and his face filled with vitality started to show signs of wrinkles.
Grasps started to resound around him.
Many elves stood beside him and screamed in panic seeing his state.
The man whose body started to wither spoke with a soft voice.
Call the King and Queen and the High Priestess immediately.
One of the elves shouted after hearing the elfs words.
There was panic all around and soon, The Royals arrived.
The Elf Kings eyes widened as he saw the current state of the man and his expression became pale.
Overlord Legolas He shouted and squatted beside him.
What did you see that drained most of your life span?
My death was already near His Highness. I still remember when you became the King.He coughed heavily and spoke again.
With trembling lips, he muttered.
TheThe world would soon face a catastrophe like never before. If our species has to survive we need to let go of our pride.
False bravado would lead us to doom.
Remember it well, Highness.
Sir what did you witness? What kind of catastrophe? Werent you looking for a way to revive the world tree? So why
The problem of the world tree would be solved by him.
He will appear soon.
To protect us from the end and we have supp..sup!!!
With a heavy breath, the man finally lost his life.
The whole nation of Elves started to mourn for the Elf who used to be known as Fate Seeing Emperor Legolas that not only guided the Elves but the whole world during the time of crisis in the past.
pAn,d a-n0ve1 Rye walked through the dimly lit hallway made of granite. Each step of his made seemingly pulled him through hundreds of metres.
After a few seconds, Rye arrived before a wooden door which he opened quickly and walked out.
He arrived at a passage which was one kilometre long and 20 metres high.
Powerful weapons and adornments were on the walls and dark flags hung down from every column.
In the middle was a gigantic round table with some chairs surrounding it.
Rye walked through another door and appeared in a place filled with magical equipment.
There was also a table on it along with many chairs on which various individual sets were.
Waking forward through an indifferent gaze, he took his seat.
Good Evening Sir.
The two individuals wearing shady clothes stood up
Rye spared them a glance and spoke.
As you might already know we were able to form a point at the narrow junction of Kinley and Arkham. The demons have done their work and now it is our time to finish the task.
We dont know when the place will be attacked. So, before the other side made a move, according to the treaty, it was time for us to make a move.
We need to spread miasma sneakily and secretly as we do and destroy their land. The more we destroy their land, the greater benefit our God will receive.
Rye after explaining the contents of their mission raised his hand towards the place filled with magical equipment.
A small wooden box hovered towards it.
He placed it in the middle of the table under everyones astonished gaze.
Those who looked at the tiny box could feel a strong power exuding from it which is enough to give them chills.
What is this Sir?
Moss asked while wiping her sweat.
This is the seed of darkness. A seed made by compressing and purifying the dark mana and miasma.
We dont need to spread miasma by storing them in a suitable container anymore. Just plant it on the ground and within a few hours, it will show the effect.
Whats the difference between the two methods? Rachel asked.
Seeing miasma just corrupts the pure mana of this world and it has a limit. Think of it as a vessel filled with foul gas. When opened and spread, it may fill an entire room, a mansion but it cant fill an entire city and has its limit.
But its not the case with this, Rye spoke with a smirk.
Ryes works drew the attention of both women.
Seed of darkness not only corrupts pure mana but it also converts it into darkness mana. What is miasma? Its nothing but dark mana which we spread its limit but with this, we could spread miasma over a wide area. Though it also had its limit, it is still more than enough for now.
Listen carefully! Rye spoke with a stern tone.
We can put it in the ground or some corpse. But due to its nature, it could turn the corpse into undead and if any living creature touched it, his soul would be contaminated and he would turn into a mutation between a creature of darkness and light.
Now onto the main point, Rye spoke after noticing everyones curious gaze.
This thing is very precious and we dont have much here. Divide yourself into two teams.
One would be dispatched to Kinley and one would be to Arkham. Send the stronger one to Kinley since they are already preparing for the counterattack.
You can also catch some guys who wanted to adopt our God, Rye spoke with a crooked smile.
Now I also want one of you to deliver these pills to the people. It was handed to us by them and we need to oversee things personally. Rye spoke and discussed some other things.
Two boxes appeared and two women held them with widened eyes.
The women took the box and walked over to the door and passed through the door, they disappeared from Ryes gaze.
Seeing their figure disappearing, Rye waved his hand and mutteredHave a good hunt.
Thank you?
SHING!
The two individuals wearing shady cloth underwent a world-shaking transformation.
Their shady clothes were replaced by dark shining armour covered with various runes giving one an uncomfortable feeling of eeriness.
Darkness started to engulf them and soon their figure fully appeared.
SHING!
Their image flashed and they appeared in the hall filled with many individuals.
All of them had pointy ears and dark tan skills.
Moss and Rachel appeared out of the darkness.
We greet the heiress of the Azure clan and the Dark Clan.
We have been given the mission to spread the power of Our God and let them witness the true strength of Our God, Moss shouted
Silence.
The entire hall descended into silence but soon loud overwhelming cheers erupted that echoed throughout the place.
Soon darkness started to appear around them and all of them vanished from the eye.
Soon, many elves appeared out of the underground passage and with a loud blast all of them shot forward.
Their speed was quite fast and since dark elves boasted great skills in hiding and assassins, they made sure to cover the tracks from outside.
.
The sun was shining brightly on the outside but for some, their vision seemed to be covered by endless darkness.
Inside a cave made by the overlap of huge boulders extending to form an elevated ridge, several people lay unconscious.
The wind seemed to be stagnant and the scent inside the cave was nauseating, putrid and steaky or it was something like leather being tanned over a flame.
The scent was emitted from the pile of men laying there unconscious.
A deathly silence prevailed in the narrow space.
The bodies were stacked in place and none of the bodies moved an inch.
The scene was akin to a group of people who were half brunt and stuffed into a place to die.
The thick nauseating scent was carried outside and naturally many beasts caught the whiff of the delicious meat.
And many even approached the place to take a look but none of them moved inside or stepped into a certain radius of the place.
The reason?
Because their senses alarmed them of a threat they stepped inside.
Moreover, before them laid the corpses of strong beasts rotting in the open.
There was the oppression of an apex-level predator standing on the peak. The predator seemed to have marked its territory which no beast dared to cross.
Still, certain brave beasts tried to jump over the corpse but as they stepped near the opening, something invisible hit them and they slumped to the ground with a large thud causing the other beast to run away in fear.
At the corner of the cave, a man rested against the wall while holding a woman in his arms so tightly that it looked like the man feared that the woman in his arms would disappear if he let her.
Out of everyone there, only he was the conscious one.
Inside the partially dark place, he raised his head and his gaze emanated a chill filled with ruthlessness to the point he shed tears of blood while gritting his teeth in rage.
The scene of going through the disaster had been replaying in Alexs mind like a flashback in a loop for every second since he woke up
They were crushed like an ant with no way to retreat.
He was shocked.
He was helpless.
He was afraid.
He wasnt afraid of his death nor was he afraid of pain.
He feared the death of those who were around him. Their well-being was his responsibility.
He was thinking of a reason why the guy attacked him and tried to kill him.
Cause neither he had messed with an unknown force nor he had offended any big shot.
The first figure was a creature of darkness but the Supreme rank wasnt. Although his silhouette was vague, he was sure that the person was neither a creature of Darkness nor any human.
Riyas body had already been damaged severely but as the attack hit them, Riya covered Alex in shadow and attempted to protect him causing her to receive severe burns.
Alex also had charred skin on his face but he was in better condition than his men and Riya.
p-A- n-d-A-n-0-v-e-1 As his eyes looked around everything with a scrutinised gaze, the dark ceiling above his head was replaced by the bright sky where two figures stood and cast the attack.
Hallucination?
Yes, he had been hallucinating quite often recently but he hadnt made any effort to get out of it.
Because he wanted to see the moment again and again and etch it in his heart so that he could never forget it.
Alex had already felt the level of the attack from the breath of the Supreme rank wisp.
He strengthened the golden barrier and activated another blessing.
[Lady Luck Blessing]
Till now he had never used this skill because he never needed luck to win a battle.
But today his survival was at stake. Even though his chances of survival were at single digits, these blessings increased his chances even by one, he wanted to bet on it.
Alex had fought against the Arkham troops with 2000 soldiers and out of them, only 600 were left alive after the clash.
During the last stand, along with his hundred men, two hundred more accompanied him while the rest were too weak to take part.
Alex used all his remaining mana to cast a wide-area teleportation spell so that he could teleport everyone to a safe place.
The golden barrier enacted by him couldnt stall the attack of the Supreme rank even for a second.
In the moment of desperation to increase the speed of the teleportation, Alex finally broke through the Legendary rank while their life was in crisis.
His breakthrough wasnt stable due to the situation.
Riya released all her power at the moment and wrapped others in a domain similar to a shadow.
Although it was able to buy some time, in the end, it was ripped apart.
The blow woke Riya to his sense that due to the hopelessness wrapped herself around Alex.
The attack hit them but before it could wipe them out, Alexs teleportation finally worked.
It looked like an eternity but in reality, all of this happens within seconds.
They were lucky enough to survive to see the next day but alas it was not all of them.
Of 300 people around Alex, only 120 were able to teleport while the bodies of the rest were wiped out before the spell worked out.
Even though it was a minuscule second, the aura of warriors protected them from dying while others who werent able to mask themselves died.
70 out of 120 were Alex men while the rest belonged to the defence line.
Alex at his present stage could only teleport 50 people but due to exerting himself as soon as the spell worked out, his vision became blank.
A mind-splitting headache overwhelmed him and his body was wracked with a heavy pain from casting long-distance teleportation.
The spell could teleport him along with others within a distance of 1000 km.
After passing out when he opened his eyes, he saw the charred body of Riya in his arms along with men who were still breathing.
The moment he saw their look, he felt the greatest despair of his life.
The tingling sensation of rage that seemed to be consuming his heart with misery was nothing compared to the despondency he felt when he was abused by the Goddess of War.
Alexs body was so bad that he wasnt even able to heal spells.
His unstable breakthrough pulled him down and after waking up, he tried to establish his condition.
He just poured mana into Riyas exhausted body and let her recover.
Riyas clothes were ripped apart and her back was partially naked. Alex changed her clothes and cleaned her after mustering all his strength.
After six days of nursing, Riyas condition was stable while his men seemed to have passed out from heavy fatigue.
Alex cast a sleeping spell on all of them and let them sleep until he could use a healing spell.
He woke up on the second day and since then he hadnt blinked even for a second.
He sensed many powerful beasts walking towards this place due to the smell of burnt flesh and blood but all of them were killed by Alex.
He didnt move physically but as soon as he stepped into Legendary rank he received one of the greatest surprises in his lifetime.
==========
Name:Alex Von Leonheart
Species:Transcended Human
Rank:Legendary Rank
Potential:Superior
Level:1
Exp:0
HP:279/588
Mana:423/2110
Strength:316
Agility:312
Stamina:298
Vitality:294
Magic:302+100[Additional 100 due to Mana Core]
Soul Strength:Cant be measured
Stats Points:0
===========
He had unlocked Soul Strength which can only be unlocked when one reaches Mythic rank but Alex had unlocked it at Legendary rank.
Previously, his soul wasnt able to leave his body to cast a soul attack since his body was weak and could only engage when the other side initiated it but now he can use a wisp of his soul to leave and engage in a soul battle.
Mages train their mind and soul to become stronger and when they achieve Mythic rank, they show their true potential while warriors mainly train their souls after reaching Mythic ranks as they mostly focus on physical strength.
Thats why Mages are considered to be superior then warriors as most of them lose in case of soul battle.
And Alex was using this soul strength to kill the beasts that were drawing near.
He had even killed a Legendary rank beast nearby with his soul attack but it proved fatal for his condition as his body was under immense stress.
Alexs soul was too powerful to be accommodated by his body so he needed to restrain himself.
He didnt where he was and why there have been so many strong beasts lurking around the cause in Kinley after the Terror of Ranvier there wasnt any vast wilderness.
Alex put the question at the back of his mind and asked the system.
System, cant I use the healing spell on them now? Just how much longer do I have to see them in this state? Alex asked in an annoyed tone.
[Host, the only reason you were able to stay conscious and recover quickly is due to the blessings and the mana core.]
[Trying mass teleportation and a long-distance one on top of that is suicidal at your current level. You could have died without the mana core. Moreover, 120 was the limit. Others died because you werent able to carry them.]
The systems mechanical voice resounded in his head and he bit his lips feeling a sense of loss. It was as if he had betrayed his men.
[Host, stop accusing yourself. You know it wasnt your fault.]
I know it still stings thinking about those people who followed me here and I wasnt able to see them again.
And I dont why my recovery rate seems to be slow.
[The little mana you have recovered was spent on killing the beast outside otherwise you might have already healed enough to walk around.]
p-A- n-d-A-n-0-v-e-1 [And as you know the mana around this place isnt that great.]
[I suggest you look for food now. Its pity that the meat outside have rotten]
Alex sighed after hearing the systems.
It was not that he wasnt recovering, but rather the killing of the Legendary rank beast took a huge amount of mana and in his current condition, it took more toll than it ought to take.
His Five Elemental Breathing technique didnt seem to work properly.
It wasnt that the technique wasnt working rather the surrounding mana in this place didnt seem to be sufficient enough.
Still, Alex was glad that he teleported right under the cave.
This might be due to Lady Lucks blessing.
After snuggling into Riya for some time, Alex put her on the ground after preparing soft vines for her to lie comfortably.
Riyas eyelashes fluttered as Alex let go. Her expression changed which made one feel that she had woken up from a nightmare.
The temperature inside the cave was chilly so Alex raised some vines and burnt them.
It should last for a while until I get firewood.
Alex caressed Riyas hair and after getting up, he walked out of the cave to take a look.
Before the entrance of the cave, Alex saw the corpse of various beasts that he had killed.
The corpses had started to decay and the foul smell had attracted many flies and insects.
Alex snapped his finger and the corpses burnt and the gale blew, getting rid of the smell.
Alex enacted an earthen barrier around the place. After six days, he had finally recovered around 40 per cent of his strength.
His men and Riya had already recovered enough to wake up but Alex cast a sleeping spell on them. He wants them to rest properly and wake up after he uses a healing spell.
He also opened the mana map so that he could be notified if any beast lurked in the place, and he could get rid of it immediately.
Alex took a deep breath and observed the surroundings.
The trees werent as dense as the wilderness of Terror Of Ranvier.
The canopy wasnt thick and the ground was clayey and loamy.
Alex concluded that he might be on the outskirts of a forest and there might be a road somewhere leading to human inhabitants.
After wandering around and stretching himself, Alex started the hunt.
He needs food with high nutrients now.
He hadnt eaten for many days. If he had the meat of high-rank beasts filled with mana, he might already be in his best condition.
Alex climbed a tree and jumped from one to another with nimble movements.
Alex noticed an Angolan antler from afar.
It was a Transcendent rank beast.
After spotting it, the thought that he shook away before came to his mind.
I dont understand one thing. Since this isnt a vast wilderness, how come there are so many high-level beasts here? Only beasts up to Master rank should be found here and rarely an Epic rank?
I have even encountered a Legendary rank coming for us near the cave. The level of the beasts is way beyond what this place could support.
Alex muttered and kept the thought in the back of his mind.
First and foremost he needs to kill and gather enough meat. His stomach was already growling with hunger.
And second, he needs to recover quickly.
Since he has used Lady Luck Blessing, his days should be filled with misfortune but since Alex was cooped up in a place, he didnt encounter much.
The Angolan Antler was eating his own game. They have earth elements with which they form pointy structures and attack others or use their horns to injure them.
They dont have sharp teeth and dont bite. Its horns extended from its body forming a branch and extending for a length of five feet.
Alex went towards a stable branch to jump off but unfortunately, it broke throwing Alex out of balance Alex grabbed the tree with strength causing it to develop a hollow spot.
Hush!
Taking a deep breath, he placed his feet on the tree and kicked it to take a jump.
Alex travelled into a long arc to gain more distance. He travelled nearly 30 metres with one jump.
Around eight metres away, Alexs momentum started to go downward.
A ball of mana appeared in his hand which extended to form a long pole and at one end of the pole, a sharp pointy needle-like tip appeared.
Alex, who was directly above Angolan Antlers head, slumped down on it.
The Spire Antler noticed the movement and saw a small dot shadow on the ground and tried to move away but Aled noticed its movement and raised his spear for a throw.
Alex, holding the spear of ice, yanked his right arm to the point that his muscle bulged and threw it down towards the Angolan Antler.
BANG!
A pointy earthen structure appeared before the Antler which tried to block the spear of ice.
The spire which was made of rock and the spear of ice should have been broken into pieces but the spear blasted through the spire and hit the antler.
As the last resort, the antler raised his big horns to block.
BANG!
The antler horns were slammed by the spear.
Alex heard some scratching and thrashing from below and below him, the antler was thrashing around as the spear went past the gap in the horns and scratched through the neck.
The antler was still alive as it thrashed its head on the ground, the spear made of ice finally broke.
Alexs body shot towards it with a huge hammer made of ice.
Even though the Spire Antler was in pain, it turned its body and kicked the hammer of ice.
BOOM!
The hammer burst into pieces forming a dense mist covering its vision.
The mist was torn suddenly and through the gap, a human fist coated in a reddish aura shot and hit its head.
BANG!
The end of horns broke and a crackle was heard as Antlers body crashed onto the ground.
Tsk!
Alex clicked his tongue as he wasnt able to kill it with the punch.
He didnt have the strength to cast another soul attack and till now he had only recovered 40% of his power.
The antler kicked the ground with its groove and standing up, it jumped towards Alex trying to slam his horns onto him.
Riyas eyes became moist seeing Alex safe and sound and she wrapped her hands around him and sobbed while resting her head on his broad shoulder while thinking about the disaster they suffered a few days ago.
Alex caressed her back and as she stopped crying, he wiped her tears and spokeHere, eat something. You will feel better.
Riya looked at the place Alex pointed and saw roasted meat placed over the leaves.
There was a fire burning quite near that place which provided them with some warmth.
Hmm! Riya nodded and munched some meat while Alex caressed her head.
Its been tough on you and others but were alright. Thats what matters in the end.
Riya nodded and enjoyed the warmth and rested her head on his chest.
Alex snuggled a bit and after enjoying her company for some time, he raised his hand.
Flickering golden light enveloped everyone.
The entire cave was lit by the golden shimmers and even illuminated the darkness outside the place.
The brows of the people in the cave furrowed and the expressions on their faces distorted.
As if waking from a horrible dream, many cried out suddenly.
Ahhh!
HaaaHaa
Huff..Huff
Each one of them breathed heavily.
Sweats trickled down from their back.
A nauseating smell assaulted them.
Am I in hell and heaven? Max muttered while looking above at the dark ceiling. His vision was a flurry and his mind was in a mess.
Where are we?
They squealed like a pig who seemed to be slaughtered a moment ago only to find out at the next moment that they are alive.
The horrific scene of the disaster appeared before their eyes which made their body shiver in fright.
You all are neither in hell nor in heaven?
You all are alive.
The words calmed them down but soon the cold bucket of water was poured on them.
Out of everyone here, I was only able to save this many of you
All of them looked at the source of the sound and found Alex staring at them with hollow eyes.
As they calmed down, they remembered the horrific experience that they had undergone.
Never, did they want to suffer such a thing again.
Before the impact, all of them felt as if their existence was going to be wiped out.
They were nothing but ants who could have been crushed by that guy.
Their minds seemed to be shut off for an instant and their consciousness seemed to erode but the pain their body went through cannot be described by mere words.
It was already good enough for them to think straight after going through that kind of experience.
What happened to others? Are all of them dead? Johnson was the one who broke the silence.
But his question brought another wave of deathly silence. The reality of losing so many people within a snap of a finger struck everyone hard.
It was a terrific nightmare.
The Supreme rank wasnt even present there physically and it was just a will of his still he was able to eradicate everyone.
It might be considered a blessing for them to live and the man who made the impossible possible. They owe their lives to this man.
Just thinking about this, made their whole body shiver in fright.
For the first time, Alex was at a loss for words.
His feelings were in a mess. Everything inside him seemed to be tangled.
10,000 soldiers followed my will. If I hadnt decided to defend and fight with Arkham, all of them might have escaped to Western territory and wouldnt have suffered such a calamity.
That Anonymous guycame for my head and Arkham forces but you all were just trapped in between.
It was my mistake, Alex spoke with a lifeless gaze.
The surviving soldiers looked at Alex and wanted to soothe him but none of them was able to speak after seeing that cold gaze.
Alex closed his eyes to sort out his mind and opened it.
His eyes became sharp and flickered with a cold glint.
This sin, I will carry in my heart. I will find that being.No, I will find that entire organisation and hunt each one of them down.
Once I reach that level I swear on my name that I will hunt every piece of trash stuffed in that organisation. I will hunt them until the end of the world. If they are dead, I will dig out their corpses and defile them. If there is no corpse left behind, I will hunt their souls no matter whether their souls are in hell or heaven, I will hunt them and torture them.
I know you may be sceptical about it but once I reach that level I could even pull out their soul from hell and heaven and then I would show them the true meaning of cruelty, Alex spoke while clenching his fist tightly.
His body was covered with a murderous glint.
The murderous intent only hovered around him but it was extremely dense to the point that everyone could see millions of corpses behind Alex.
The small protruding stone on which Alex set seemed to be a mountain of corpses and Alexs eyes seemed to carry the wrath of the millions of beings who just wanted to crawl out from the ocean of blood and purge the world into a bloodbath.
Alex!
Control your blood intent.
The thick bloody aura disappeared from Alex in the blink of an eye and snapped everyone out of their thoughts.
Sorry, it seems I just lost myself for a moment, Alex spoke with an embarrassed smile.
My Lord, we will also become stronger and take revenge on the behalf of our dead brothers, Max spoke while clenching his fist.
My Lord, where is this place? Are we near the Western territory in Kinley or somewhere else?Aeon asked with a confused expression.
We seem to be on the outskirts somewhere.
I have waited for all of you to wake up so that we can head out together.
So, before we leave this place. You all can eat to your hearts content. I have hunted many games during this period.
GROWL!
Hungry voices emerge from everyones stomachs as soon as they hear the foods name.
Swallowing their saliva, all of them pounced on meat greedily.
I have never felt this much alive, Max spoke as he munched on the meat.
Alex felt that even this much meat might not suffice them but fortunately, this was enough.
After everyone had their fills and finally got some energy, Alex decided it was time to pack up.
They rested for the night and then at the earliest morning they bid Goodbye to the place which they have been inhabiting for the last eight days.
Leaving the cave, the group wandered around looking for signs of humans.
After walking for six hours following the direction of sunrise, Alex finally felt a minor mana fluctuation.
There are three humans nearby.
Follow me Quickly.
.
Crackle!
Two pieces of leg of the hunted game were hung over the fire.
Three men sat in a circle and salivated looking at the meat.
p-A- n-d-A-n-0-v-e-1 RustleRustle.
They suddenly heard the rustling of leaves and one of them mutteredThe wind seems to be quite strong.
Strong wind my assWhat the hell are you saying, there is no wind blowing today.
You have been hungry for too long and you are hallucinating.
Yeah, it can be, Glen said while scratching his head.
The sound of rustling increased which alerted everyone.
Hey, is there a beast nearby? Ken spoke with a cautious expression.
Shit! It seems the smell had attracted a wild beast.
What should we do?
Lets run away leaving this? If this is a strong one we will surely die?Glen spoke.
Shut up Ken and Rony shouted at the same time.
Food is scarce nowadays due to the destruction of the land. Our village has been blessed by luck and thats why there has been a rise in the number of beasts.Ken spoke and stared in the direction of the sound.
Let us take a look first, Ken suggested.
Three of them got up and looked at the bushes.
The rustling sounds became closer and their breathing became rough.
Finally, their eyes caught the sight of a person with a bulky body holding a broken axe with a bare chest with blood stains.
All the hair on their body stood up in fright and they shoutedOh God! Its the Bandits.
Maxs jaw opened wide and his feelings hurt after being claimed as a bandit as soon as the other side saw him.
We are not bandits nor do we do such kind of heinous deeds.
Hearing the rough heavy voice, the three screamed in terror.
Their sight reflected in their eyes was a bulky man whose body had been stained with blood.
The mans upper body armour of his was torn showcasing his muscular chest riddled with scars and burns. His body emanated an unfathomable aura which made their legs turn soft.
He smelt like putrid and rotten flesh as if this guy hadnt taken a breath for months.
His presence was enough to scare the shits out of them who werent even awakened.
CrinkleRustle..
More rustling sound was heard and soon many people appeared in their sight. All of them were armed with a weapon and each of them wore a broken vest and seemed to be prepared for todays hunt.
Their lips had been curved with a crooked smile after finding them.
Aeon patted Maxs shoulder and signalled that he will take things over from there.
See Max you have scared them off. Let me handle this.Aeon muttered and stepped towards the trio who stepped back in fear at each step.
Hello, folks! You dont need to fear us.
We all are gentlemen but due to some unfortunate situation we have been trapped here so can you please show us the way out.
Gentlemanthe hell you look like a gentleman.
The trio thought after seeing Aeon smile which looked quite menacing to them.
The previous men looked crude but this one seems to be both shady and crafty and seems to enjoy toying with people.
Terrible imagination clouded their minds.
Run for your lives, Ken shouted and darted away.
Glen and Rony also followed him.
Aeons expression stiffened seeing them fleeing away in fear.
Pftttt!
At least they didnt run away after seeing me. You scared the shit out of them, Max spoke while laughing frantically.
Stop laughing and catch them.
Max and Aeon heard the command from the back and their gaze changed and chased after the men.
Johnson who stood at the back with Alex found the situation quite hilarious and stared at Alex with strange eyes
Alex knitted his brows and spoke, Why are you looking at me like that?
Except for me and Riya, you all look like mountain bandits. If I was a common man, I would have also fled away in fear for my life.
Johnson along with everyones lips twitched as they heard Alexs words.
Did you have to say that directly on our faces?
Riya giggled hearing their exchange and looked at everyone. Sure enough, if any common men see them, they mistake their party for bandits.
You two are wearing clean clothes unlike us who are wearing the same broken armour and the vast underneath. We dont have spare clothes like you
Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!
As Johnson and Alex argued, loud howling and crying sounds swept across the place.
And soon three bodies drop to the ground with a loud thud.
Aeon and Max dropped the trio on the floor before Alex.
Alex saw their shivering bodies and sighed.
You three, please take a look at my face and my wifes.
Do we two look like bandits?
The three were about to nod their head but stopped in the middle when they saw Alex and Riyas faces which caused their mouths to open wide.
We are nobles. Nobles dont stoop this low and do this kind of thing.
I swear on my noble lineage that I will neither hurt you nor kill you.
My Lord, didnt you once say that nobles and bandits are opposite sides of the same coin? Max spoke with a confused expression.
Silence!
Everyone swallowed their saliva after hearing Maxs words and the trio started to shiver.
A thick vein bulged on Alexs forehead.
He had taught his men a lot of things but out of all his words, this shithead had remembered only these types of shits.
Alex signalled and a horde of men pounced on Max and dragged him away.
Hahaha! He is mentally unfit and sometimes gets mental attacks.
So, ignore him, will you?
The three of them nodded their heads vigorously as they had no option left.
Folks, can you tell me if there is a town or village nearby and what is this place?
The three of them hesitated and looked at each other while fighting internally to push each other to speak first.
Ken finally gave up and opened his lips.
We are near Crestford village which is around 8 kilometres from here. Our village mostly relies on hunting and agriculture for food so we came here in the Crestford forest to hunt often.
Alex nodded and asked his next questionCan you tell me what happened to the war between Arkham and Kinley.
The three mens eyes gleamed for a moment.
Glenn who was silent till now for a moment spoke up after mustering his courage.
Are you the survivors of that war?
The atmosphere suddenly became chilly out of nowhere which made Glenn frown as he felt that he had asked something, he shouldnt have.
Alexs easy-going expression became stern.
Yes! He spoke with a stern expression.
Ken swallowed his saliva and explainedWe lost the war against Kinley. Our Second Prince had died. We dont know much about the Kinley side but as far as we know a third party had interfered.
How did you know so many things? Shouldnt this thing be kept hidden? Johnson asked with a frown.
Are you kidding me? The entire Empire is mourning now due to His Highnesss death and has descended into chaos.
What? Johnson muttered confused and stared at Alex and saidWhen did the Second Prince die..
Johnsons words halted as he saw Alexs grim mood while other faces became pale.
As he repeated the words, he realised something and his eyes widened as wide as saucers.
It cant be He spoke with a shivering tone.
Alex looked up and spoke with a faint voiceWe are not Kinley but in Arkham.
His faint words echoed in everyones ears like a thunderstorm.