No one knows the beginning of mana or who started to cultivate mana in the first place. The world of mana encompassed the whole universe. It was too huge to keep track of its origin. However, everyone knows it is an important resource to build a society. The more mana one have, the more powerful the person will become. It was true for a country, a kingdom, as well as one whole world. The more mana users and mana resources a world have the more powerful it would become.
Unfortunately, a world can't continue to provide mana since the amount it could produce in its lifetime is limited. That would mean the world will gradually becoming weaker as time goes by. At one point, the living beings which rely on mana to survive will follow and eventually extinct. This kind of world is considered dead. Not even plants could survive. Only a barren wasteland with nothing in it but dust. A world of emptiness.
One day a powerful mana user was able to find a method to teleport into another world and told the local human there about the inevitable future. That what sparked the idea of getting mana from another world. By studying space manipulation it was possible to do massive teleportation with enough resources. Slowly, more worlds learned how to do massive teleportation and they started to invade one another and the war between worlds started.
It became worst when they found out there were some worlds where mana was not known to human. The mana users took the opportunity to take over the world for the unused resource of mana. The subjugation of the unawakened world then became the object of interest for everyone. Not having to spill any blood and waste any resource to gain more resources, who else would let the chance go to waste? It's like finding golds in the river.
The people who come from another world for mana is called Invaders!
"It's the same reason why the Varhem Kingdom sent our army to Earth. By collaborating with several different worlds we will not be vulnerable from any other invasion until we collected enough resources."
"Then guild master, what will happen if the Varhem Kingdom managed to get the number of resources they need?"
"They will leave Malaysia with nothing."
--
"What are those two letters young master Kim?"
Kim put back the two letters inside its envelope.
"The guild master asked me to go to some kind of selections in Kuala Lumpur."
"Oh, I heard about it. After the incident, the Prince was looking for substitutes for his deceased knights. Are both of you going to participate in the event?"
"We'll think about it. He just gave me these so we could enter Kuala Lumpur easily."
"I guess so. The security there is quite strict compare with Kuala Terengganu. You might have to go through some long process before you could actually get in. So does this mean you two are leaving for Kuala Lumpur?"
"Yes."
"I see."
The group continued to walk to the entrance of the city. The moment they step outside of the gates, they could smell the rotten body of decayed monsters. The number of monsters was too much that it was impossible to dispose all of the dead bodies in a single day.
"Wait, they're supposed to be a forest here, right? When did we have this huge valley in front of our city? It looked like the grand canyon!"
Everyone had their eye gazing toward Kim but the person himself turned his head away avoiding eye-contact. "I didn't notice this valley yesterday. It's very beautiful!" He said with an awkward smile.
'Don't act like you didn't know anything!'
They continued to walk into the forest that was safe from Kim's massive attacks. Wong continued to check his phone to read his message. Finally, when the group went deeper into the forest he received a call "Hello, Hamid. Yeah, I think we are here."
A rustling sound coming from the bushes. From where it was coming from a bunch of monster wolves were coming out one by one followed by Hamid. Behind him were the werewolf kids.
Momo excitedly ran towards the werewolf kids and gave them a big hug while brushing their soft furs. The werewolf kids were also delighted with her presence that they started to wag their tails and lick her face. While the kids were playing around Hamid then walked toward the others.
"It seems like they are bonding pretty well? It's nice to see that a bunch of people could accept them." With a deep bow, he bent towards Kim and the three uncles "Thank you."
Feeling flustered looking at the bowing Hamid, Wong hurriedly walked toward him to make him stand straight again. "Please, there's no need for formalities. We are all friends here. Isn't that right guys?"
Kim nodded with a smile. "Yes. It's natural for friends to help each other. I'm sure Momo has the same thought."
The unexpected answer that came out from Kim's mouth had caused a long silence. There was only the playful sound of the kid's playing around in the forest. Even that sound slowly faded away as the uncles were lost in their thoughts.
'Young master is actually talking about friendship?'
'No way! Is he sick? Is he planning anything?'
Except for Teng who out loud told Kim, "Who are you?! What did you do to the young master?!"
With his head slightly tilted to the side, Kim was feeling confused with their response. Nevertheless, he gave his gratitude for their hospitality during their stay in Kuala Terengganu.
'Something really wrong with the young master, today.'
--
After playing for some more, the kids unwillingly bid their farewell with each other. Momo felt like she finally met some friends around her age after so many years. After all, her childhood was taken from her in a split second during the calamity. She didn't even manage to see her friends that day. Would it better if she did saw her friends that day?
"The three of you not going to go back to the city?"
"No. We planned to join Hamid in raising the kids. Having some human presence might be beneficial for their growth. It would be good training for us as mana users as well, trying to live outside the city."
"Then I will wish you good luck with your training."
Hamid called out to two wolves and brushed their heads. "These two will accompany you with your journey. They could travel for several hundred kilometres in half a day. Just make sure they get proper rest each night."
The two wolves had magnificent white furs which cover their entire body. The white colours were as lustrous as the moonlight in the night sky. They are the great white wolves who are considered to be the guardian of the forest. Each one of them emanating the aura of superior-rank monster, comparable to the prowess of an A-rank mana user. Even the three uncles would have a hard time facing off one of them.
Before the two of them took their leaves, Teng nervously asked Kim a question that he had been holding for some time now.
"How did both of you actually get that strong and your mana proficiency, it felt like you two can do anything!"
With that question asked certain words from a certain old geezer pop into his mind
"Imagination is your only limit. Stop limit your thoughts and go for it."
Kim didn't sure whether the words could help them but seeing their eyes brighten as if they were having some sort of enlightenment made him sighed out in relief. 'I guess that works'
With those last words, Kim and Momo finally embarked on their journey, riding the two great white wolves.
--
We have received news from the guild master of Kuala Terengganu, Larc. He too had sent two people to represent their mana user's guild.
"Good that would be all the guild in Malaysia. Where there any response from other countries?"
"Each ASEAN countries has confirmed their representatives. Japan and Korea will soon confirm. China has already announced that they will not partake the event due to the oncoming Spring Festival in February. Both New Zealand and Australia will send their representatives from each of their guilds."
"Looks good. Let's work hard before the new year!"
"Yes, Sir Kyra!"
Kyra is one of Prince Ray's' knights. She's currently an A-rank mana user but her strength was not that much below an average S-rank, placing her second among the ten knights. Even with her well-known combat capabilities, her unfathomable intellect was more recognized within the army. Whilst the number one knight, Sir Varius was known as the charismatic general, Sir Kyra was known as the demoness strategist. It's clearly the reason why she was assigned to organize the new knight selections event for Prince Ray.
Each member of the ten knights is considered the best even among top-tier mana users. They were carefully selected after undergone strict years of training and battle experiences. They each had the capabilities to kill a superior-rank monster by their own with ease. With combined force, they can even take down a legendary-rank monster. Their fame has been resounded so many times that not only the people of Varhem Kingdom, even people from other worlds had heard of their amazing feat. The Ten Knights is a name that will instil fear to the enemies of Varhem kingdom.
What's amazing is that their members are constantly changing! This is because any A-rank and above mana user could challenge any of the knight's members every year during the knight selection event, regardless of whether they are within the military or not everyone had a fair chance.
Even if the members change, the former usually would stay within the military and was still someone that was recognized as a member of the ten knights. They still retained some privilege of becoming one which was, of course, fame and riches! Knowing this, each member of the military that marches under Prince Ray's flag work harder than others just to get the chance of becoming a member of ten knights! This was Prince Ray way to make sure that his ten knights are the cream of the crop.
Ever since they arrived Earth, the tradition had stopped as they were more important tasks to take. However, the unexpected failure during last year attempts of entering Borneo had caused 3 casualties from the ten knights of Prince Ray. In conjunction, with the new year event all around Earth, it was decided that the knight selection will be the main event in Malaysia during new year. Even the Earthens under the governance of the Varhem Kingdom has the chance to participate.
The Prince invited the leader of other countries as guests and asked each guild master to send representatives to participate with the selections. Even if they were not invited, there were no worries at all since Kuala Lumpur will be open to everyone as long they were the citizens of the country under the Varhem Kingdom governance.
Expecting millions of people gathering in the city of Kuala Lumpur will make this the biggest event that will be held on Earth after the calamity. After the announcement of the future event by Prince Ray himself through live broadcasting, the news and several other social media outlets had been claiming that it will be as huge as the Olympic ever was. During a live interview, Prince Ray nonchalantly gave a smile while answering the question as to why he decided to hold this event
"I agree that last year tragedy had brought dismay among the people. However, we should live on so that the legacy of the dead will continues. I want the people to not live in fear and gives hope to their heart that one day we will conquer that island in the future. So I invite everyone to join us in the city of Kuala Lumpur. Let this be a celebration for the brave warriors who always fight for our kingdom!"
It won't be an overstatement to say that the knight selections will be the most anticipated event of the year. Most already book their flight tickets and hotels. Kyra ordered thousand of the army members to help secure a safe air route so that people could fly to Malaysia with ease. By collaborating with the company HiBnB, she could make sure there were enough accommodations for visitors to stay. Advertisements circling furiously through the continents until the point that most of the ads on both television and the internet are all about the event.
Everyone who was currently working under Kyra was feeling awestruck from her earnest hard work trying to make the event as perfect as possible. However, no one knew that the reason she was working this hard was due to one direct order from Prince Ray which she unquestionable took, and that was to gather the most number of people to come to the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.