The Start
The screams continued and the sounds of metals clashing together could be heard in the distance. For Jahn Frier, this was no issue, no alarm bells went ringing inside his head, during wars screams and blades meeting each other were very normal.
Jahn was just a lowly foot soldier looking to make some extra money to support his family and was avoiding those around him labelling him a coward, a man's pride couldn't have that now, could it? He was armed with your average longsword and a dagger, just in case.
Jahn was an average guy, 6'0 tall, long raven black hair and eyes of an absolute menace. But truly he was a kind soul, he loved his 3 kids and his wife; Mabel. He lived about one hour and 30 minutes away from the base, his role was to watch the prisoners of war and sometimes to converse with them to see if they would spill any information, out of luck; but overall, his main job was to watch them.
Jahn wasn't really experienced with the sword, but he would usually watch those in his troop duel at night whilst everyone laughed, sung and had drinks. Tonight was no different. Most of the troop were gathered around and then one by one, they started duelling it out, laughing and finishing it of by singing. Duel after duel, Jahn watched with intense concentration as he tried to imagine himself performing each move, but that was all in his head.
He admired the night sky and the stars shimmering in it, the vibrant orange fire that lit up their surroundings and the men that wore tattered cloths around him. Jahn was happy enjoying the simplicity of life.
"Are you ever gonna duel or is that sword for decoration?"
A scruffy looked man approached Jahn, and broke him out of his serene daydream. Jahn looked at him and replied with,
"A-ah I don't know how to fight, General Wykes!"
He stuttered as he mumbled an explanation out of himself. The General picked up two wooden swords and told Jahn to follow him and another soldier. The went to the centre of the gathering.
"Fight."
The General said one word with a heavy tone of seriousness, the whole crowd went silent. Jahn grabbed the wooden sword as his hands and feet trembled at the sight of his foe.
He was 6'2, was lean and had sharp green eyes matched with brunette hair. He shifted his weight on his right foot and charged at Jahn, with the intent to hurt. Jahn, clumsily raised his sword and attempted to block the oncoming strike.
His foe raised his sword, seeming like he was going to strike downwards on Jahn's head. Jahn saw this and raised his sword upwards struggling to block his head, at the very last second his foe flicked his wrist in the right direction and struck Jahn in the ribs.
Pain and confusion filled Jahn's weak mind, he looked at his foe and he was smiling? Jahn was pissed beyond belief, he was not having this humiliation.
He gripped his sword with all his might and charged at his brown-haired foe and with an unrefined hand, jabbed at him. The sheer power behind such a clumsy jab, left the crowd gawking and his General smiling, wide eyed but Jahn missed his jab.
The foe used this moment of confusion and shock to release another attack at Jahn, he side stepped, pivoted and countered with his own jab. This time he finished the job and aimed directly at Jahn liver knocking him unconscious. Cheers erupted from the crowd,
"HAAAAAA!!"
"LEON! LEON! LEON!"
The Medics went over and retrieved Jahn placing him the infirmary. Darkness took over. Jahn was alone.
"Mabel! Eliza! Johnny! Ava!"
He called out the names of those dearest to him in darkness. No replies. Slowly, he 'traversed' around the darkness. There was nothing. The darkness slowly faded as Jahn recalled what happened to him earlier, the battle was now playing in this "space" and Jahn was now observing the fight. He saw how he had been fooled and baited into blocking his head.
"How cunning."
Jahn muttered to himself. He saw his jab and the power behind it, yet he clumsily missed and worst of all Jahn saw his humiliating defeat. Jahn was enraged, despite not knowing how to fight, as a man losing did not feel good. He felt his pride being destroyed and watched as all those men laughed at his defeat. Jahn gripped his hand and wished he had a sword; he closed his eyes and re-enacted the fight. He now had a sword in his hand and strangely enough he was actually fighting, Leon, again. His expression was puzzled yet his lips curled up, Jahn was ready this time.
***
Leon grabbed his shoulder and tried to placate the pain he was feeling, he wasn't hit by Jahn but the pain felt as if he had actually been stabbed.
"What a monster."
Leon whispered to himself, he went to his private clinic, one of the benefits of being a captain, and looked for his doctor. Sitting in a chair was a man of short stature, he had grey hairs yet he still looked youthful, his steely eyes brown eyes stared into your soul.
"Leon, you're back as always."
The old man laughed at Leon. Leon scoffed and showed the man his shoulder, there was a massive dark blueish black bruise. The doctor, Raus just looked. His eyes wide, a stark contrast to their usual sternness, as disbelief floods his features. His brows furrow, pulling together in a tight arc, while his mouth slightly opens in silent surprise, as if words have failed him.
"How did you get injured this bad, there've been not battles lad!"
Raus inquired, Leon didn't bother explaining his embarrassing injuring from a nobody to his doctor.
"Just fix me up, I don't remember entering a court, so stop judging and hurry up!"
Leon barked towards Raus. Raus calmed himself and patched up Leon. Wondering what had transpired that day, Raus went to the General demanding why something so reckless had happened to a Captain during such dire times. Wykes in turn had recounted the whole event to Raus,
"I was quite surprised, I never thought a nobody could have so much power!" Wykes exclaimed
Raus stroked his beard and wondered who Jahn Frier was, how he could have so much raw power and could cause and injury on a Captain despite missing.
In this world, at the very apex were:
Kings/Queens
Princes
Duke
Generals
Captains
Knights and elite warriors
Soldiers
Spies
Foot-Soldiers
Servants
A King is the ultimate authority of a kingdom, their power is not second to anything but first, they can only be challenged by another King; unless a fool wishes to meet God early. They rule by hereditary power, passed down from generation to generation, they have the final say in any matter especially in war and governance. They very, very rarely show up on the battlefield unless divine core monsters show up or other Kings present themselves on the battlefield.
Dukes, and Princes all have the same power but it can vary amongst them depending on their core.
The cores are seven:
Divine Core
Royal Core
Warlord Core
Knight Core
Soldier Core
Common Core
Null Core
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Divine cores found in humans are reserved for Kings, and those found in beasts are very rare. Royal cores are found in those born from royalty like the offspring of Kings. Some can be found in those born from the direct relatives of King and Queens.
Monsters bearing Royal cores are like those with Divine cores; very rare to come across. However, those in the same class can have varying cores depending on their training and nurture.
Warlord cores can be found in Generals and in rare cases Captains too, monsters and beasts that have such cores can be frequented but it is not very common. Knight cores are found in mainly Captains, they are not rare and like Warlord cores can be obtained from training and sheer willpower.
For monsters and beasts, those that have Knight ranked cores can be come across more frequently but not as frequent as Null cores and Common core ones.
Soldier core and Common core don't have a big difference but Common core is found in Soldiers, Spies and Foot soldiers, beast and monsters with Common cores are not rare to see and those with Null cores can deal with them via outnumbering.
Null cores as the name suggests is a 'Null' core and those born with this are treated like absolute shit and are looked down upon. Those who have any of the seven classes don't necessarily have to have a designated core but for King, Prince and Duke ranks not to have their destined core is occasionally seen and it does not end well.
***
"Jahn Frier."
Raus muttered, he stroked his greying beard. Filled with anticipation, he could wait to see the face behind the name and such power.