Within the dark continent that surrounded by countless mountains, where savage beasts prowl and dark clouds where thunders roar all year round and can be heard throughout the continent making the aura of the place eerie and gloomy, lies a giant forest that only has one pathway, A pathway that leads to the kingdom of the demon lord.
Inside the Kingdom of the demon lord, there is a giant mountain as if overlooking the whole kingdom lies a big grey castle.
On the bottom of the castle lies a heavily guarded dungeon.
𝘛𝘢𝘱. 𝘛𝘢𝘱. 𝘛𝘢𝘱.
Within the dark, an eerie corridor of the dungeon that is only lit by torches loud and heavy footsteps can be heard throughout the hallway.
"Princess here's your meal." Said the black knight while handling a tray of foods to the cell.
"Sir knight, when will I be released?" Asked the captive princess while sitting by the chair looking calm but deep inside she's anxious.
"As soon as the heroes arrive and rescue you, princess." Replied the black knight plainly while walking towards the table.
After putting the food tray on the table the black knight started to walk away.
But after taking a few steps the princess called out to him.
"Sir knight can I take a walk after I ate my meal? I feel stiffy staying in this cell."Said the princess nervously while holding the hem of her dress.
After staring at each other and a bit of contemplation, the black night answered "Of course princess, As long as you don't disappear from my sight, I will escort you personally." Said the Black night.
"We will walk around the garden. It may not be like your human kingdom's own garden place but it is a beautiful place according to your human standards. I will come back after three to four hours."Added the black knight while turning around and walking away.
"Thank you Sir knight."Said the now smiling princess while preparing to eat her meal graciously.
After giving the meal to the princess the black knight went out of the dungeon.
While walking by the hallway the black knight glance through the castle window and suddenly stopped.
"It's the same. It's all the same never-ending cycle." Said the black knight while looking outside the dark thunderous clouds while in deep thought.
"Somehow or someway another the demon lord will resurrect and will raise an army to cause death and mayhem. While I'll also get summoned to become the aide or to protect the sacrifice from the heroes or become the demon lord's, right-hand man."Added the black knight while in deep thought leaning at the castle window.
"I guess I am the sacrifice's protector this cycle huh?"Murmured by the black knight, looking at the distance still in deep thought.
While the black knight was busy mulling on his thoughts, a demon wearing a red robe with a black flame embedded on the bottom as if rising to engulf the robe burning it to ashes and with two curved horns as large as a man's arm when straightened out, suddenly called out to him.
"There you are O' great death knight, the Strongest warrior of the demon lord's army, Harbinger of death, Slay-" Praised the robed demon waving his clawed hands in slightly an exaggerated manner.
"What do you want this time Zacharias" Interrupted the black knight glaring at the demon.
Zacharias Xeno is the archdemon of the demon army. He acts as one of the main heads of the demon army. He's skilled at using spells and he is also rumoured to be good at hand-to-hand combat, Smart and cunning, A dangerous opponent indeed.
"Nothing I just want you to be on guard. I've heard that the heroes will soon invade the kingdom." Said Zacharis with a smirk. "As long as they tried to invade the castle they shall face my sword."Said the black knight walking away.
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-- Meanwhile on the deck of a certain Man o' War.
"Are you ready Flynn? If not hurry up then!" Shouted by a petite elf while waving her hands looking at the silvered armoured human.
"Hold on I'm on my way!"Shouted back by a silvered knight armoured human while climbing up from the steerage.
"We'll approach the dark continent soon."Whispered by a robed with a pointy hat lady, holding an enchanted glowing white staff, While looking at the distance.
"Are you guys ready for what's coming?"Asked by a gold-plated armoured man with a huge golden shield and mace while standing behind the white-robed lady.
"King Amon, The king of the dwarves, and Queen Alleria, The high queen of elves, are leading the reinforcements, while King Arthur, The great king of humans, leads the vanguard with us."Said a dwarf while sorting out his baggage.
"Our job is to aid King Arthur at the frontlines, wait for the reinforcements, and be ready for our confrontation of the demon lord."Said the lightly armoured elf sitting on the port side sharpening his twin blades.
"Oi! Hero squad my crew on the crow's nest just reported to me that he can see the encampment ahead, Pack up your belongings, and be ready to go onshore!"Shouted the admiral while steering the ship at the helm.
"Yes!"Replied the squad in unison.
"Still I can't believe we're gonna fight the demon lord at his home base, Albert are your holy spells ready?"Asked Flynn, the hero looking at the man with golden plate armour.
"Ready as it can be my holy shield is also ready! How about you Frey, is your bow and arrow ready?"Replied and Asked Albert, the paladin, knocking on his heavy shield and looking at the petite elf.
"Hmmph! I'm always ready."Said Frey, the ranger crossing her arms on her chest.
"Alright, lads my hammer's ready."Said the burly dwarf patting his heavy hammer.
"Grimgor all of your things are in the spatial scroll?"Asked Flynn while looking at the burly dwarf smiling.
"Aye lad anvil, forge, magic ores you name it, I've got it on me' scrolls. I'm gonna set up a workshop first then have a look at your holy weapons and armours before you and the others cause mayhem to the demon lord's army." Answered Grimgor the blacksmith, while showing a huge leader bag containing plenty of scrolls.
"Hoist the sails! Prepare to dock the ship! I don't need to tell you what to do! Hero squad are you ready? Wait on the deck, you'll be the first ones to go on the dock, General Agniel will meet you there! "Barked by the admiral consecutively while commandeering the ship at the helm.
"Aye aye, Admiral!"Answered back by the sailors while moving to their respective tasks.
"Thank you, Admiral Ren!" Answered back by Flynn while waving at the admiral.
"Alright squad, Let's do what the admiral says and wait on the deck."Said Flynn while facing his friends and squad with a smile.
After half an hour, the ship docked at the port, and as planned, the heroes were the first ones to land.
"Hello, General Agniel."Greeted by Flynn while approaching the general and his troops.
"Welcome to the encampment heroes, King Arthur is eagerly waiting for you at the headquarters."Greeted back by the general with a smile.
"Lieutenant Julius already prepared our carriage, Let us make haste so that we can start the proper briefing, I will give you a quick update on what's happening on the frontlines while we're travelling so follow me and I'll lead the way."Said the general turning around walking away while gesturing for the heroes to follow him.
After walking for few steps, The general suddenly stop as he remembered something.
"Admiral Ren! Fleet Admiral Manfield is currently calling all the admirals and captains, He wants you guys to meet him at the port headquarters as soon as possible!"Shouted by the general while saluting and facing towards the Man o' War. "Thank you, General! I'll come as soon as I finished my task in here!"Hollered back by the admiral while returning the salute before turning back to give orders to his crew.
After the quick interaction between the general and the admiral, the general and the heroes squad went to the carriage prepared by the lieutenant.
After walking for minutes the group saw the two carriages on the front gate while a middle-aged man wearing plate armour was waiting for them.
"General Agniel, two sets of carriage has been prepared as you ordered sir!"Saluted by the middle-aged man with a serious face.
"Good work, Lieutenant Julius, I will ride the first carriage with Flynn the silver hero, Grimgor the champion smith, and lastly, Arianne the arch magus."Announced by the general formally while telling the lieutenant to be at ease.
"On the second carriage will be lieutenant Julius, Albert the high paladin, Frey the windranger, Ellorin the shadow scout."Added by the general while looking at the group.
"While I'm giving the first carriage our quick status on the frontline. Lieutenant Julius will give the second carriage the same status on the frontline."Said the general while walking towards the first carriage.
The group quickly went to their designated carriage and listened to the general and the lieutenant about what's happening on the frontline. With the permission of the general, the two carriages went on their way towards the main headquarters to assemble and strategize the attack on the demon castle.
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"Princess, are you ready?"Asked the black knight flatly while standing straight after knocking on the door.
"Yes. Sir knight, thank you again for accepting my request."Said the princess while standing from the chair.
"Let's go, princess."Said the black knight while waiting at the door.
The princess followed quietly behind the black knight. Nobody stopped them as they have complete trust and fear towards the black knight that escorting the princess besides the weird looks they gave towards the duo nobody tried to stop them.
After walking for a while the duo arrived at the palace garden.
Compared to the stark darkness of the castle walls and the dark clouds, the palace garden seems to be as bright and breezy as if it has not been touched by the gloomy, eerie, and creepy surroundings.
The princess had a surprised look, as she was not expecting sunlight on the continent famously known as the "dark continent".
"This is one here is one of the rare places where sunlight can reach the continent. the others are protected by either a powerful monster or the demon lord's army" Explained the black knight while gesturing to the princess to walk in front of him.
"Protected? why is it protected, sir knight?" Questioned the confused princess while moving in front of the black knight.
"The flowers and herbs that grow in this continent are more potent compared to their counterparts on the other continents and not only that, there are kinds of herbs and flowers that only grow in this continent."Explained to the black knight while staring at the princess.
The princess looked back at the knight while digesting the information. After a quick nod, the princess thanked the knight for the information and continued their walk.
While walking the princess noticed a huge flower bed with seven different colour petal flowers growing on it.
"Sir knight, What are these beautiful flowers?" Asked the amazed princess while squatting down to appreciate the flowers.
"This is called the rainbow flower, princess. It can only be found in this kind of place, which is why this is one of the rarest, if not the rarest flower, of all time as each of its coloured petals can help enhance their respective elements." as Explained by the black knight in a matter-of-fact tone while standing on the side the princess looking at the flowers.
"I've heard about the rainbow flower, but I have not seen even a whole flower of it what's more a whole bed of them!" Said the princess in amazement while looking at the huge flower bed made of rainbow flowers.
"Many thieves tried to steal these flowers, few returned alive, and fewer succeeded." Explained to the knight while standing on the side.
"The only reason they succeed is that the demon lord and the tribal leaders had a consensus that they need those thieves to spread the rarity of the flower and make those mortals invent different usage of the rainbow flower." Added the knight while looking at the princess.
"Different usages? All I know is that each petal corresponds to different elements and each of them is greatly sought after." Asked the princess looking back to the black knight.
"As you know princess each petal corresponds to different elements the red petal can be added to weapon or armour to add fire element and fire resistance respectively." Explained by the black knight.
"It also the same with yellow petal a normal weapon becomes a holy weapon when soaked in blessed water that has a yellow petal the more the petal the holier it is. It is quicker than being blessed by clerics and paladins." Added by the black knight.
"So if an armour smith soaks a regular armour in there, It becomes a holy armour?" Interjected the princess while looking at the black knight in amazement.
"Yes, that's right, Princess. Green petals are more likely used by the magicians as when the magic smiths make staffs they imbued them with the green petal making it more potent in using earth magics and if an alchemist uses them to concoct potions to prolong lives."Explained by the black knight after agreeing with the princess.
"Similarly the blue petals are also used by the magic smiths to create armour, robes, and trinkets to make underwater breathing possible, also it can be used for staff to make water magic more potent."Added by the black knight while looking at the princess.
"And I think you mortals forbid the usage of the indigo petal as its element is unholy making it forbidden to be an alchemical ingredient and more forbidden to use for something."Said the black knight.
"But you mortals cannot suppress your curiosity and even though it is forbidden some of you tried to use it to raise the dead or make unholy weapons."Added by the black knight with the tone of sarcasm.
"How about the orange and the Violet petals?"Asked the princess looking back at the flowers.
"Orange petals are mostly used by the martial artist to enhance their energy while violet petals are one the main ingredients mostly used by alchemists to concoct potions and pills to enhances the physical prowess or increase the mana pool of certain individuals."Explained by the black knight while looking at the coloured flower.
"Those petals are useful but do not forget about the white disk that holds the petals. Alchemist can use them to concoct a potion that is comparable to a full cure." Explained the black knight
"We know it because the demon lord hires some assassins to assassinate those thieves after getting their payments and kidnapping those smiths, magicians, and alchemists and get those formulas."Said the Black knight in a very matter-of-fact tone while looking at the princess.
The princess noticed a hint of smugness tone of the black knight but did not point it out. As she just continued appreciating the flowers. After a while, the princess stood up and continued her stroll on the gardens while the black knight follows her from behind.