Ebony Brand City
This city as the name suggests is the capital city for the Tigris dukedom, a dukedom that spans almost two planets, the largest in the human realm. This city is known for being built with ebony gold, from the fence to the buildings, almost everything is built with ebony gold. The city was also designed by the reigning hero, a genius in all fields of study, designed to form one big rune grid. Multiple magic towers in strategic places in the city form the nodes on the grid, a beautiful spectacle for those who could see.
Ebony Brand city, as large as it was, saw progress in all spheres of life. Citizens were happy, secure and content. Even when there were prophecies of an apocalypse, the citizens were sure this would be the safest place in the human realm. Why?
This city could withstand an assault from four demigods, with it being protected by a rank 9. If it were being protected by a demigod, it would take avatars of gods to bring it down. That is why the citizens were worried about the apocalypse.
Why were the citizens now in a grim mood if they were unafraid of an apocalypse?
The pantheon saint council from Umbryon Empire just released a piece of news.
The gods would hold a competition for the human realm, a champion's tournament for all humans under the age of thirty to compete in. The winner would be crowned the champion of the Human realm, getting the blessings of seven great gods and the god-king Umbryon.
This news was akin to a thunderclap in the clear skies to citizens of Ebony Brand City.
It is common knowledge that all noble races in this era had a champion. The elves, dragons, fairy, giants and dwarves had announced their champions. As this era was said to be an anomaly, this phenomenon was an anomaly, one that had never been seen since creation.
Among the human race, only the young duke Leonhard Tigris was said to be born with the blessings of the major gods and the god-king. It was assumed that the young duke would go on to inherit his granduncle's role as the champion and protector of the human race, the wall that stops the abyss from entering the mainland.
There was also a rumour that the great duke, his grandfather, rushed to an obscure part of the dukedom to save sir Leonhard over a week ago. This issue had sprouted many concerns about the dukeling, given that the great duke is a demigod he should have done that in a day. Why hadn't that great duke returned?
Some said the dukeling died, so the Ebony tiger family is hiding the news.
Some said the dukeling lost his faith in the gods after encountering a problem leading to his blessings being revoked.
The most commonly accepted rumour is that a semi-devil somehow sneaked past the abyssal wall, killing the dukeling and battling the great duke for days.
"Cursed Emrod, where are these rumours coming from?" A large black man stood before a window as he raged. Those behind him were sweating from their brows, how would they know?
"Are you sure there was nothing unusual about that town before hardy (Leonhard) got there?" The large man asked.
"Yes duke, I've checked with all the merchants and people that had lived more than a week in that town." A tall black man replied addressing the Bulky one before the window as duke.
Duke Anhard Tigris, the father of Leonhard, was a legend as he was said to have injured and escaped from a demigod lich while still being a rank 9. He was the one that solved the undead calamity three hundred years ago, till now it is said the lich was so grievously injured that he could only go into a deep sleep.
"Elme, oh Elme... You were in charge of information regarding hardy's route. You assured me then, that the route was alright, not dangerous for his entourage. Now you are also assuring me of the same thing with my father being late for days. Your assurance has not been putting my heart to rest these days, why don't you send the report to uncle and decide whether you still are the greatest spymaster in the empire." Anhard voice was soft and determined with a touch of sorrow as he gave one of the best spymasters in the human realm an ultimatum to get information about Saryo town.
"Your orders, duke."
Elme, the tall spymaster excused himself as he went about doing his work, leaving two people with the duke.
"Bring order to the dukedom." He said before he continues to gaze at the city below. "Hmm...?"
Following his sound of bewilderment, there was a fluctuation in the atmospheric mana, followed by a sight never seen before since creation.
...
...
Great duke Tigris was in a bind.
Ten days ago, he tried to tunnel his way to Leonhard and his entourage but he found himself unable to as he was displaced outside the mountain range. Thinking it was because of an anomaly, he tried to fly over the mountain range and meet his grandson, only to find it impossible. He could not gather mana to support his flight, it was as if mana was not listening to him. He could only run over the mountain range to reach the town. His mana heart would also not listen to him, this had scared him for a long time, but as a demigod his experience caused him to calm down and search for his grandson.
Getting the whole gist from his grandson, he knew they were dealing with a god-rank foe, Great duke knew an avatar would not be able to handle him the way the hermit had. He decided to comply with the hermit's arrangement, as it seems his grandson's life was in no danger.
He had also tried to call for his brother but he also could not remember the details of what was said to him. It was like the details could only be shared in this town, this took away any thought of rebellion from him. Gods were unable to roam the earth, they could only send their avatar but there is one here with the powers to rival weaker gods roaming the earth. Great duke had been planning to bring this knowledge out, under no circumstances must he forget about this unknown god.
Regarding the lives of the talent, even they did not know their lives were on the line for their master's mistake, and they weren't his progeny.
"Incredible... Is that his son?" He asked Duste by his side.
"We have every reason to believe so." Duste replied, his voice gruff and low, "I sense nothing on that kid. No mana, no special energy, it is only his body hardness that could compare with a journeyman."
"Oh! and he has no shadow."
"He has no shadow?" The great duke was startled, this is a phenomenon that had never been seen. Even ghosts would refract light and form an impression, but looking at Lightless, he also noticed the abnormality.
"His features look like a vampire or a half-drow [drow == dark elf]." The great duke noted, "Indeed, but even they have mana. A newborn baby also possesses mana, his case is unusual."
"I don't understand his motives." Duste commented, "It looked like he wants to punish the young master but allows him to fight with a journeyman."
"No matter what, that is impossible."
"Is he setting his son up for failure or is he truly that confident in the abilities of his son?"
Duste was truly confused, no matter how terrible a rank 2 mage is and how good a journeyman is, it was an insurmountable chasm. Lightless was going to lose regardless of how it happened.
"Maybe, he is not yet ready for exposure." The great duke said, "Maybe we were variables he never expected in his plans."
...
...
Leonhard looked at the one before him, an anomaly, he could sense but he still could not understand how a journeyman would defeat him. He was unsure, he felt his heart shaking, he had never been in such a situation before.
"Now, the battle between a journeyman and a second ring mage starts now." That disgusting voice proclaimed with evident glee.
Lightless took his stance.
Lightless knew he had only two advantages, his immunity and his physique quality. He had not done his first refinement, his body had not been strengthened since he broke out of that cocoon, and he had only just mastered his weapon. A weapon he would not be using would be unfair to Leonhard, but he still feels pity for Leonhard. The guy was used to a different class of people but not his father.
"You're a journeyman," Leonhard said, bringing Lightless out of his musings.
"It would be unfair of me to fight with my full ability, I won't exceed the journeyman level to make this fair. I would also grant you the first move."
His face was glowing with pride that echoes 'I won't cheat you.
"Really?" Lightless asked thoughtfully with a blank expression, looking innocent.
"Of course, I'm a noble. I won't cheat my lesser." Leonhard was really into his character, speaking as a matter of fact.
As soon as he finished that statement, he saw a silhouette before him. The next thing he felt was a pain in his abdomen. He was launched across the plain, many blades of grass with sand ending up in his mouth.
"Fool!!!" Lightless stood where Leonhard was, His eyes were intense and a flame of rage could be seen in them.
"You think I entered into this fight without absolute confidence of defeating you at full power?"
"Just a washed-up core formation artist, and you are getting cocky."
"I was filled with pity before, but you dare call me your LESSER?"
"Freaking stand and fight at your best, you have zero chance of victory."
...