Chapter 9: A New Beginning

Conquerors.

It's a term used for a specific dangerous profession that requires people to put their lives on the line.

It's a place where people who awakened some sort of power due to the presence of towers all over the world, giving them physiology that allows them to perform beyond human capabilities and tap into the supernatural domain.

From people having the strength to blow a hole into a mountain, or drown an entire country with a tsunami, these people are powerful.

And so are their adversaries and their natural enemies.

Spawning from the towers all around the globe with an unknown goal and purpose, Monsters came to be.

Nobody knows exactly why they keep appearing from the towers, or what are the towers in the first place, but humanity, especially Conquerors understood one thing.

Monsters must be eradicated as they are a threat to life and everything around them.

Conquerors are the wall that seperates Humanity from the threat they call Monsters.

And now.

—

"Wow, these place is really bigger than what it appears outside!" Henry Val gasped as he finally got the sight of what guilds really look like from the inside.

It was very spacious inside with people coming in and out and with multiple floors going up the building, people bearing various kinds of outfits, akin to video games characters he used to play with that caters to what type of Conquerors they are.

A witch hat, a robe, and a staff, Henry can determine that they're under the category of support type, under that premise, they could be a healer, or a mage, and many more.

Or some clad in armor, Henry easily infer that they're either the damage dealer or Tank type, under that premise, a few example would be a shielder, or a warrior, some could be possibly a paladin, if they have those kinds of buffing or healing abilities.

(People don't usually wear their conquerors outfit outside, I mean, people wouldn't want some unwanted attention, people got places to go, am I right!) Henry thought so happily.

Henry's head wandered around in amusement, his eyes in tears, as the opportunity and his goals of becoming a Conqueror is finally at hand.

"No time for daydreaming, let's register immediately!" Henry then search his head for the receptionist, and there he laid his eyes on.

Behind a desk, sits a woman in a simple office uniform, in contrast to the Conquerors outfit, talking with some Conquerors who might be needing assistance along the way.

As Henry took his spot with the line of people waiting for the receptionist, some minutes passed, and more minutes passed.

(It's been 20 minutes already, why is everyone taking so long?!) Henry glanced at his side to look at what's happening up front.

He saw the same receptionist again, but the closer he look, his vision clearer.

(What the- does she intend to waste everyone's time with that kind of effort?! She's barely even doing anything, she's not even speaking properly!) Henry's gaze landed upon the sight of the pretty woman leisurely taking her time filling out some stamps with her cheeks on her palm rested on the desk, slowly addressing everyone with her mouth moving slower than a snail.

Her appearance was very pretty indeed, a soft delicate face, black hair, her bangs was very long, covering one of her eyes, akin to an emo's or goth aesthetic, with pink eyeliner, and red lipsticks.

"Hey, Ain! Can you be a little more faster! I'm losing my patience here! My party got a dungeon to explore!" A bald man up front with a noticeable well frame built, a yellowish brown lion hide on his back, his torso exposed, and two small axe beside his black pants shouted at the receptionist named Ain.

"Sure, sure, whatever, here's your paper, just leave already..." Ain talks no slower than she did earlier, her face bored, her eyes drooping despite the man's shout, she didn't give him the energy to talk herself out properly.

(A damage dealer type, premise that of a berserker, he looks strong, but I can't believe she didn't even flinch at the sight of that guy's outburst, she must also be strong, perhaps they know each other?) Henry made some evaluation as he watch by the sidelines as the commotion happened up front.

Since he's part of the guild, it be no wonder that perhaps the receptionist who take care of everyone's information must be familiar with each conqueror's of the guild they're part of.

The man welling up in frustration as Ain still didn't changed her behaviour in front of him, unable to do anything, veins bulging across his bald head, suddenly.

Crash

Destroyed the desk in front of him with a powerful downward punch to vent his anger.

"You're gonna be paying for that, got that, we be deducting your earnings later." Ain unflinched and not even scared of the mess he created, still sat down on her chair with her legs crossed.

Chatter Chatter

Frustrated to the brim, embarrassing himself from the gazes of the other guild members within the building as their attention was taken aback by him, the man took the papers and leave the establishment stomping.

(What a shitshow is this!) Henry bewildered as he didn't expect the conquerors of this guild to be so different from people outside.

It be no exaggeration amongst Conquerors to express themselves freely, like how they dress or even talk to each other, it's a place where everyone can indulge themselves with limitless freedom, lest they broke the law established by the government and the Conquerors branch of the government.

(She does remind me of someone, hehehe...) Henry remembers his previous office job, bored out of himself, often scolded by the people around him.

Some times passed even more so, bored out of himself no different from the people behind his back as the line of people seems to be stacking up.

Henry finally reach the destroyed front desk, and Ain sized him up, like a predator ready to pounce on its prey.

"He- hello, I would like to register as a member for this guild." Stuttering as her cold piercing gaze shooting through him.

"Is this your first time? You look a little old for this profession."

(The fuck you mean old, I'm still within my early 20's!)

Most Conquerors awaken as one around the time they reach 18 years old, some could even be born as awakened already or even some rare cases when they're at doors death, Henry and Mary awakened as one in their college days.

Barring insults to the newcomer, Henry was furious but kept it to himself.

"I had some special circumstances of my own, but anyway, here's my license, what forms do I need to fulfill?"

Ain sat on her chair with her arms crossed, look down at his palm holding his license, she looks at it intently, analyzing something, suddenly.

"Pfft, hahahahhaha...." Ain suddenly burst out laughing, her annoying behavior and slow talking earlier was in contrast to what she's in a state right now.

(Hey, stop laughing, did I do something wrong?! Speak to me properly dammit!) Henry found himself in embarrassment wondering if he did something wrong.

"Sorry, sorry... Ahem, hey old man, what timeline are you on, this is an outdated form of application, nowadays, most guild policies would conduct a test so we can properly evaluate new applicants! I haven't laugh in this long, I didn't expect a clown to suddenly apply to one of us, you're funny, hahahha..." Ain made sure to properly inform Henry, before continuing to laugh again.

(Old Man, Clown, this bitch!!!) Henry unable to take any more insults suddenly lash out.

"Hey, you bitch! You keep calling me old man since earlier, if I'm an old man, then you're a hag you know that, in fact, you look even older than me! Judging by how you act, you must be living a miserable life, I feel sorry for you! What kind of service is this, what kind of guild allows a woman like you to be the fore front of their establishment!"

He didn't hold back.

This is the true Henry Val, this was how he completely acts back then before he plunged into the state we call depression.

A person who can easily see through other people, and see for who they are, a person with a sense of humor along the way.

Barring insults at Henry due to his lack of knowledge, Henry lash out by pointing out some words that bear some truths within them despite his lack of knowledge towards the other party.

The whole building suddenly felt silent, everyone's eyes was pointed, darted around, focused like a laser towards Henry and Ain making a commotion.

Tremble Crack Creak Thud Crash Whoosh

All of a sudden, the whole building started to tremble like an earthquake's about to occur, glasses cracking, books by the shelves suddenly flying at such a fast speed, people are cowering in fear, lights flickering, winds stirred across all sides like a tornado.

"Crap! That newcomer just angered Ain! Hide, run for yourselves!"

Scream Shouting

"What is happening?! Why is everyone so scared?!" Henry frantically move his gaze in all directions wondering for the cause of the stir.

Everyone behind his back was gone, and hiding in the corner or even run out of the building.

Sweat slide down Henry's throat as he gulped, he noticed a very domineering presence stemming behind his back, a very powerful one, he turn around to get a glance at the state of the receptionist Ain.

What he saw was as he turned around as two bloodshot eyes staring daggers at his, Ain stood up with her face very close to his face with her own distorting into one of that akin to a ghost, her complexion was extremely pale, her skin lost its vitality, bones protruding, her hair was so long that it covers the whole desk behind her, and her aura was so dark it covers every corner of the place.

Henry upon seeing this was shook to the core, his body can't stop shaking, sweat of his started going up, his eyes was losing their focus as he can't even stare back properly anymore.

(Wha- what is this abomination?!) Henry's lips quivered uncontrollably, his fingers and legs trembling like a new born deer.

"Hag?" The ghost in front of him opened its mouth, her voice was loud yet so ever silent that it feels like only he could hear her.

The floor started showing cracks, some of the Conquerors cowering around passed out due to peer pressure.

He tried to reach for his sword behind his back, holding on desperately, keeping his sanity afloat as much as he can, clenching his fist as hard as he can, and all of a sudden, everything in Henry's vision faded to black in a single instant.

—

Somewhere at the top balcony of the most glamorous building within the heart of the city.

Mary stood at the top silent as her mind wandered aimlessly, catching some fresh air, her gaze overlooking the city skyline, when she suddenly took notice of dark clouds forming from a particular distance.

"Isn't that... The Pale Ghost guild's building?" Mary made a quick assessment based on what she saw.

"Their receptionist must be causing a stir again, they really needed to be reprimanded if they keep causing troubles like this." Mary said with some hint of annoyance, but she didn't continue to bother herself with it, as she's too busy contemplating with herself.

As a high caliber Conqueror, she would be no stranger amongst other of her same level, and likewise, as such, she made a remark, criticizing the guild in the far distance with her keen eyes.

Suddenly, the door opening to the Balcony, a blonde haired young man, Mary's fiancee, with a smile on his face, warmly greeting Mary.

But Mary simply stared dead eyes at him, before she look away again towards the city, not even giving him the time of notice.