A massive dark stone fortress sprawled out in the far north beyond the Lotus Empire. Unlike all the powers beneath it, this massive fortress was a city unto itself. There were no districts or wards, it was separated into battle arenas.
Combat was a major driving force behind the Darkmoor royal family that made them a powerhouse to rule over the southern territories of the Sarth Continent's southern regions. The outer edge of the fortress was a massive number of roadways lined by Iron Tier at the lowest.
The only walls aside from business and residence, were the arenas that dominated this place. There were group battles, solo battles, royal punishments, and any reason the demons could find for honorable combat. If one did not push themselves to the edge of life and death, one was not living.
Considering the heavy demonic Qi, most would expect to see demons dominating everywhere, but humans, aether beasts, and aether children thrived in this fortress city. Gender was irrelevant as the strong always thrived here. The weak were either children or the dead. Honored elders, injured permanently in combat, were held up as examples of how to live and they still battled in special fights.
At the heart of this massive place, was the royal castle but unlike any other capitol, this place has no defensive walls. Powerful Diamond Tier formations were present, but they only funneled enemies into a terrifying arena. The royal arena was surrounded by massive towers interspersed on its perimeter.
On a given day, the arena could be bathed in blood and cheers as the royal family oversaw competitions involving their own family to prisoners that were fighting for their lives. There were no resources on the line unless desired by the competitors themselves. What mattered was winners and losers only to the royal family.
In the tallest tower, there was in fact a throne upon which sat a Sky Realm ruler. Only a handful existed in the world, but the Darkmoor Kingdom was the most consistent to produce such rulers. The massive flow of resources to the fortress city simply fueled the massive number of powerhouses that grew up there.
The throne was not overly decorated nor was it made the center of the room. Instead, the massive window looking down on the arena was the center of the room with the throne merely being the best seat. The simple dark stone was covered with blood red cloth and that was all.
The being sitting upon it, however, made all bow in awe. A Sky Realm was a god in the mortal realm. Only the Floating Isles could dominate in comparison but the restrictions on Sky Realms kept them from lording over most powers. The Heavenly Maiden Sect was one of few such exceptions as it was not unusual for several Sky Realms to spend time in Sarth to educate their lower realm sisters.
The current holder was a female demon with vibrant green hair surrounding her dark lavender skin. Her body was covered in glistening armor that flexed like chainmail but was harder than any steel. It was made of several Diamond Tier aether beasts but could contend in the Sky Realm in its abilities. There was no crown on her brow as the armor itself was her symbol of office.
She had to kill the beasts herself down in the very arena she lorded over to prove her worth to rule. Her father had laughed as she rose covered in the ichor of the battle and held her massive broadsword above her head. Her brothers and sisters had no chance after that. Some accepted easily and happily fought for her, but others died in the arena.
Her own children had already fought for her approval and her crimson eyes had smiled in warmth as her youngest son rose above his siblings. He was born to battle and shared her point of view on many things despite a very hands off approach.
"You summoned me, mother?" Ryu was nearly a peak Soul Realm. He had already defeated a Sand Tier when he was only an 8th tier a year ago. His heavily muscled body was scarred but not too much. He had dark green hair compared to anyone else in the royal line but his eyes were a deep crimson. It almost blended with his lavender skin.
Unlike her ascension centuries ago, his was going rather smoothly but recent 'revelations' had left her irritable. She turned from the current duel that was rather boring to see him in his leather armor that only covered his torso and not his arms.
Unlike her, he was not a sword master, but a fist master. It made him far more terrifying with his record that most of his enemies had died looking their killer in the eyes. Ryu was a legend for being cold in the arena but charismatic outside of it.
"I have heard you agreed to Clan Princess Fang as your bride." The nobles that had the honor of being in the throne room suddenly wished to be elsewhere. The tone in their Queen's voice seemed to conjure ice and fury in equal measure. Crown Prince Ryu had been insistent on setting up his own conditions for selecting his bride.
Her majesty was the same as him. Her rise to the throne had been fueled by the desire to dictate her own life, so she had supported him. The latest intelligence, however, brought a frown to her face. Her son was not so foolish, was he?
"I do not like her father but the woman, herself, is more than acceptable." His answer was not what she wanted. She waited, staring at him with her bright red eyes demanding he prove he was still worthy. A battle in the arena would be easier to accept.
"I have heard there has been a complication, my prince?" A nobleman could not stand it and guided the conversation where the Queen wanted it to go. His words were hardly done when a force of metal slammed into him to send him flying into a wall. The wall that could withstand a Diamond Tier cracked instantly.
"I need no one to speak words, silence will proceed from here save from my son, am I clear?" Rage blazed in her eyes and all bowed instantly including the noble that picked himself up from the wall. Crown Prince Ryu frowned but realized why he was summoned.
"There are no complications, only challenges. I will face this challenge as always." His bold words made the blood of the nobles boil. This was what a crown prince should be! He had chosen his target, heard rumors or had reports of her situation, and did not waver. He was the same with challengers in the arena, moving forward like an arrow launched from a bow.
The Queen, however, did not seem pleased.
"Trynith is loyal but his machinations are not aligned to my plans. Do you understand, my son?" The nobles suddenly realized the deeper problem. It was not the rumors nor the girl, herself, that was the problem, it was her father. The Fang Clan was an ancient power in the Kingdom, but their ambitions were not low. Even so, they had sacrificed a great deal in the wars waged by Darkmoor.
The honor was not forgotten or the clan would have been swallowed shortly after most of their powerhouses were killed. Most clans had enjoyed a brief time of protection due to such honor and thrived, but a few fell forever and were lost to the past.
Trynith Fang, however, seemed to have a particular idea of where his clan should stand and was not satisfied. His ability was real, but his specialty was in the back from the dark. Nothing could be proven, but too many coincidences that benefited his clan could not be ignored.
Ryu looked directly into his mother's eyes and smiled for the first time since the audience began.
"A Darkmoor fears no enemy and plans for death even when victory is assured. I am aware, mother." Finally, a smile spread on the Queen's face. The Queen consort had once said he would walk into the embrace of death to see that smile on her face and all could believe it. She was an attractive woman already, but that smile made her blaze like the sun.
"Then go forth, my son, and claim your bride. The battle awaits you." She turned back to the arena. Her dismissal was that quick, but Ryu smiled wide as he knew it meant his mother trusted him. The Crown Prince Ryu stood and bowed to his mother before leaving the throne room.
****
"What did mother want?" Ryu frowned as a whining voice called out to him. He turned to find one of his brothers, a slim young man that was surrounded by several beauties. They crossed species, but his brother was rarely picky. Only a few features mattered to him.
"Po, you should worry more about yourself than me." Ryu meant his words, but both knew Po had lost all chance of staying in the royal family once their mother ascended. It was not a common thing, but the Queen was not done with her cultivation path. She had only paused it to find a successor.
Their grandfather still lived in the family quarters, but he had retired. His potential had been exhausted reaching the Sky Realm. He was now at the end of his life so his power was waning as well, but his wisdom was as sharp as ever.
"I am fine, brother. You should enjoy yourself more than wasting time on a whore." The women with Po suddenly blanched but Ryu did not react. Po always tried to incite a battle between them, but Ryu knew Po would run away. Ryu would not let him. He would not let his brother off that easily.
"Your reckoning will come, brother, do not blame me if it is displeasing to you." The deep frown on Po's face made Ryu smile. The crown prince turned and left. Not a few of Po's women had a wistful look in their eyes looking at the back of Ryu as he walked away.
Ryu walked down the stairs quickly as he wished to begin his plans to head south. The Lotus Empire may be considered a backwater power, but it was one of the highest sources of resources in the kingdom due to the huge number of Ruins run by its academy. It was a brilliant move politically to keep powers at bay by giving them access via the Lotus Academy to the Ruins.
The scions of various powers could have their yearly taxes reduced if things were recovered from those Ruins and passed along via the Lotus Academy to Darkmoor. It was a wonderful way to make things easier on everyone and encourage the nurturing of younger generations.
It also served Darkmoor's philosophy as only the strong could return from the Ruins safely.
Ryu finally left the tower and found his party waiting for him. There were 4 members, 2 men and 2 women. Only 1 of them was a demon. The others were 1 human and 2 aether children. His mother had advisors of all races so she could always grasp the mentality of her people, and Ryu adopted the same. Aether beasts become intelligent as they advance, but their pride did as well.
They acknowledged Darkmoor's power, but they did not bow easily. The demons would not have it any other way.
"What did her majesty want?" The male demon, Gorn, was one of the families that had served the royal family for millions of years. His parents had been bursting with joy to learn he had entered the service of the crown prince. Gorn was a wall of a demon but he was cunning beyond any ability to predict.
"She had her concerns as you did, my friend. Trynith wants us all dancing in his palm, but strength can shatter any traps." Ryu was not a battle maniac, exactly, but he was not blind to threats. Trynith Fang was not what their kingdom needed, but his daughter was a goddess to Ryu's eyes.
"Of all the people in the Kingdom, why Princess Cyntilla?" A bright yellow scale mixed with tan and black came from a powerful female aether child. Crusher, her choice of name, was an arena champion that had made Ryu have a near brush with death in his early days. She had already broken through to the Sand Tier, but she happily followed Ryu. They were of similar mindset to the point many had wondered if she would become his first woman, but they were more like siblings now.
It was not the first time they had asked him, but Ryu looked at his closest friends and smiled wide.
"She defied her father by becoming a powerful cultivator and refused to bend on saving her own mother from disease. Despite the rumors, I suspect she initiated this situation, but I will not give up. She is glorious in battle and does not know surrender. How could I not fall for her?" His other 2 companions rolled their eyes but said nothing. The female human, Shuri, had been a slave that broke free by killing her enslaver. She had sought power in Darkmoor to never be cornered again and Ryu appreciated it a lot. The last aether child, blue scaled and green scaled, simply thought Ryu was too stubborn to change his mind as always.
"Then we should get going." Volt, again his own name choice, signaled and a carriage appeared quickly. It had the howling wolf head on its side to show it was a royal caravan. Ryu would not abuse his position, but it always came with perks. They would head for the nearest exit from Darkmoor Fortress and battle their way to the Lotus Empire. If they died, they died but considering their records, it was highly unlikely for them to die.
The crown prince and his entourage headed out to see what fate would bring them.