The Ancient War

February 12, 1808.

Four years had passed, and Xavier was now seven years old. In his fourth year at the Pennsylvania Royal Academy, he had made plenty of friends and settled into school life.

On a chilly Monday morning, the sound of Jonathan's voice echoed through the house. "Xavier, wake up! You're going to be late for school!"

Xavier jolted awake, groggily rubbing his eyes. He glanced at the clock on his nightstand.

07:50 AM.

His stomach dropped. "Miss Seo-Yeon is going to kill me," he thought, panic setting in.

Without wasting a second, Xavier threw off his blankets and launched into action. In under five minutes, he brushed his teeth, showered, and threw on his uniform before dashing downstairs. Jonathan was in the kitchen, finishing up breakfast for the both of them.

Jonathan glanced over and chuckled. "Hurry up and eat something before you go."

Xavier grabbed his bag and shook his head. "Sorry, Dad, no time. I'll eat when I get to school."

He bolted for the door, calling out, "Bye, Dad! See you later!"

Jonathan smirked and waved. "Have a great day, son."

Just as he turned back to the sink, Xavier rushed back in, swiping an egg sandwich from the counter. "Almost forgot—I'll eat on the way."

Jonathan laughed. "Of course you did. Cya, Xavier."

With only three minutes to spare, Xavier sprinted toward school. As he ran, he took off The Visors of Time, and his deep crimson irises shifted back to their true cosmic glow. With a flicker of power, he began teleporting short distances, closing the gap faster than any normal student could.

The first school bell rang just as he reached the gates. He adjusted the acceleration vector acting on his body, launching himself forward at incredible speed. The force of his movement blurred the world around him. By manipulating inertia and reducing friction to almost nothing, he cut through the air resistance with ease.

Students caught a glimpse of a blur streaking past.

"There he goes again," a senior remarked.

"Yep. Classic Xavier," their friend replied with a laugh.

As Xavier shot through the hallways, adjusting his directional vectors to weave through the crowd, the second bell rang. He reached his classroom just as students were filing in.

Jupiter grinned when he spotted him. "Oh, look who finally made it."

Xavier wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Yeah, yeah, I'm here."

Jupiter crossed his arms. "Why are you always late?"

Xavier shrugged. "Overslept."

Jupiter smirked. "Mate, you always have an excuse."

"And I always will," Xavier said, flashing a smug grin.

As they stepped inside, Miss Seo-Yeon Park glanced over. "Oh? Early today, Xavier?"

Xavier returned a playful grin. "Miss Seo-Yeon, I'm never late."

She gave a knowing smile. "That's good to hear. Otherwise, I might've asked Instructor Joshua to, say… intensify your training regimen."

Xavier tensed, forcing a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, lucky me."

Miss Seo-Yeon turned back to the class. "Alright, everyone, take your seats. Today, we'll be discussing the Great Race War."

The room quieted as she continued. "This war took place millions of years ago when the Four Great Races turned against each other, driven by hatred and distrust. It was one of the bloodiest conflicts in history, with millions perishing—including those of other races caught in the crossfire.

"Interestingly, Gifteds were rarely seen on the battlefield. At the time, all four races viewed Gifteds as a common enemy. Many Gifteds abused their powers, enslaving the ungifted, committing crimes, and terrorizing others."

She paused, letting her words sink in. "But among them, one name stood out—a name forever etched into history."

Jupiter raised his hand. "Who was it?"

Miss Seo-Yeon's voice turned serious. "Julius von Audrius."

A heavy silence filled the room.

"Otherwise known as the King of Malevolence. The Incarnate of Evil."

A cold shiver ran down Xavier's spine. Around him, his classmates visibly tensed, the air in the room thickening with unease at the mere mention of the name.

Julius von Audrius was infamous—a chaotic harbinger of doom. Wherever he went, destruction and death followed in his wake.

What made him truly feared among all races and Gifteds was his insatiable thirst for battle. Emperor Julius would hunt down and slaughter Grand Herrschers and Gifteds alike, no matter their stage or status, simply for his own amusement.

Hearing the tales of Julius's might, the students leaned in, captivated by every word their history teacher, Miss Seo-Yeon Park, spoke.

"What made him virtually unbeatable," she continued, "was the sheer abundance of his abilities."

She paused, glancing at her students, ensuring she had their full attention before adding, "One of his most feared powers was a beam of pure destruction that he could fire from his eyes. It erased anything in its path from existence."

Gasps rippled through the classroom.

"And to make matters worse," Miss Seo-Yeon continued, "he would vanish for centuries at a time, only to return suddenly, even stronger than ever. His existence alone was an unstoppable force."

A hand shot up. "Miss Seo-Yeon, what did he look like?" a student asked eagerly.

She nodded, prepared for the question. "At his core, he was once human. But he shattered his limits, rejecting his humanity and evolving into something far beyond mortal comprehension."

The classroom was silent, students hanging onto every word.

"His body was covered in intricate markings—etched with the names of the strongest foes he had conquered. His eyes, a haunting mix of yellow and deep crimson, were brimming with malice and darkness. He towered over his enemies, standing over twelve feet tall, his sheer size alone striking terror into those who dared face him. His physique was monstrous, every inch of him exuding power."

She gestured with her hands, emphasizing his monstrous frame. "His skin had turned a dark silver hue, and his long white hair flowed like strands of silk, a stark contrast to the darkness he embodied."

The students murmured among themselves, awestruck by the vivid image of the legendary Emperor.

Xavier raised a hand. "Miss Seo-Yeon, why do you call him Emperor Julius?"

Miss Seo-Yeon smiled at the question. "Because he conquered the entirety of the Great Empire of Lithuania single-handedly, through sheer might alone."

"Whoa!" The class erupted in amazement.

"And with his infamous Armor of Chaos and an array of ethereal instruments at his disposal, he became an unchallenged figure in history."

"What happened to him?" another student asked curiously.

A flicker of excitement danced in Miss Seo-Yeon's eyes. "After countless centuries of tyranny, an alliance of armies from every race finally rose against Emperor Julius. This happened several million years after the Great War."

The classroom was silent once more, anticipation heavy in the air.

"In that legendary battle, many Grand Herrschers, Patriarchs, and Monarchs clashed against him. It was an unfathomably brutal fight, but in the end, he was ultimately defeated by Saint Sebastian Akintola, one of the Seven Great Heroes, after an excruciating struggle that cost the lives of thousands."

A student perked up. "Wait... Did you say Akintola?"

Miss Seo-Yeon nodded. "Yes. Saint Sebastian Akintola was the ancestor of your training instructor, Joshua Akintola."

The room went dead silent.

Then, the students burst into whispers, their shock evident. None of them had realized their instructor was descended from such a monumental historical hero.

"Instructor Joshua is so cool, don't you think?" Miss Seo-Yeon teased, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.

The female students giggled and nodded in agreement.

Clearing her throat, Miss Seo-Yeon quickly regained her composure. "Anyway, back to the topic. The Great Race War came to a sudden halt when an even greater threat emerged—the terrifying creatures known as the Varmint."

The atmosphere in the classroom shifted, the intrigue of Julius's legend replaced by an ominous curiosity.

"These creatures emerged from fractured rifts and wrought havoc greater than anything Emperor Julius had ever done."

Her voice grew somber. "The Varmint hunted Gifteds mercilessly. It forced many to seek protection from the ungifted, upending the balance of power. What made them more dangerous than Emperor Julius was their unpredictability."

She let the words settle before adding, "They came in countless shapes and forms, each varying wildly in strength. Some were on par with Grand Herrschers. Others surpassed even Administrators."

A student hesitantly raised their hand. "Did the Four Races ever unite to stop them?"

Miss Seo-Yeon sighed, shaking her head. "Unfortunately, no."

The students were stunned. The four races had joined forces to defeat Emperor Julius—the supposed greatest threat in history—but refused to do the same for an even deadlier enemy?

As Miss Seo-Yeon's lecture concluded, the school bell rang, signaling the end of class and the beginning of their break.

The students, still reeling from everything they had just learned, filed out, their minds racing with thoughts of Emperor Julius, Saint Sebastian Akintola, and the lurking horrors of the Varmint.

One thing was certain: history was far from done with its tales of chaos and war.