A majestically tall crimson palace towered straight into the sky. Situated at the highest floor of this crimson castle were two individuals, a father and son. Crimson Dagger a famously known assassin with shocking might whose mere mention of caused many too shudder in fear.
Undulating waves of power rippled from his body, on his face was a mask similar to those worn by Dawn and Dusk yet his was a menacing red in color which at it centre was a dark black dagger.
Crimson Dagger a man who those close to termed a Visionary, a term which he came to hate over the years. Just like many visionaries before him he too has grand ideals and plans for which he believes were he to act on only a glorious and prosperous future would await him and his current organisation, HELLSING.
The reason he came to hate being called a visionary was because similar to those bearing similar traits to him of age's past and present their ideals existed merely in their dreams.
Thus he came up with a conclusion!
Aspirations and Ideals he had!
Yet he lacked one thing.
He lacked Power!
Power to exercise his dreams and goals as he wished.
If he had enough power and authority, then his aspirations wouldn't be merely fantasies as he would relentlessly pursue their fruition and prove himself to all those who mocked him.
Since it was Power he lacked Power he pursued!
So he became a member of Hellsing a thousand years ago, steadfastly rising through its ranks until he reached the status of Pavilion Lord a single level below a Leader's level that he so desired.
Yet when the time came for him to contest for its leadership he found out that he couldn't personally fight for it rather the members of his pavilion had to obtain it for him after each Rite of Passage.
Yet fate seemed to play a joke of him.
For the last five hundred years as a Pavilion Lord none of his pavilion members have ever attained the championship of the Rite of Passage event no matter how much time and energy he spared to carefully nurture them.
Therefore, he started to grow weary over the years his will starting to falter until the last embers of his will fanned to become blazing flames when he met his son, foster son whom he found abandoned his cries reverberating across the cold winter night during one of his assassination missions.
It seemed fate hadn't abandoned him.
This son of his having being blessed as he naturally came to awaken a truly powerful talent above the SSS grade. His talent being of the rumoured LEGENDARY GRADE.
"Vlad my son! Everything that your father has ever desired in this life lie right in front of us. This time as your father I beseech you to grant me this singular wish of mine that has now become a heart demon."
"I have done everything in my power over the years to prepare you for this one moment" his deep powerful voice rang sonorously."
"I have done my investigations and there exists nobody this year that could be of rival to you. So please win this year's Rite of Passage event for me, for us and for our future."
All of his pent up emotions, his grievances and struggles were condensed into this few words as each word was spoken with much more vigour than the last.
"Now with that being said let's go or else we will be late for the event."
…
SWISH!
Appearing floating on the skies was Fritz and Layla. Gazing downwards one would see a he city that the size of a country. A marvellous sea of people flowing calmly as they weaved their ways through the bustling streets with each going towards their own agendas.
The sounds of screaming peddlers along the street promoting all their merchandise, filling the area with noise and activity. Switching his gaze from the humming streets to his left laid a neat arrangement of exquisitely built residential houses.
Layla eagerly said, "A long time ago I told you that we live inside a pocket world right? Well this is the other side of the portal world. A small community of people came to reside here after I created a small force that I needed to do some small tasks for me."
"You have been locked up on the other side of the portal world that I believe that it is about time you ventured into the world."
"Today I am taking you to partake in an event that has become tradition, a Rite of Passage. Depending on your results in this event you would be able to obtain certain benefits for yourself that can help you whilst journeying outside in Gaia."
Layla's continued talking to Fritz about this event as they both flew towards a certain valley were the event would be hosted.
…
Inside an expansive dark valley gathered a group of five thousand youth's all under the age of sixteen standing on a cyclic stage. They were not the only ones as in front of them were thousands of masked individuals whose seats raked high up the valley.
These people were all members of Hellsing who came today to observe this year's Rite of Passage. Hellsing's members were divided into different groups with regards to their ranks in the organisation by the color of their facial masks starting from the lowest to the highest being White Mask, Black Mask, Gold Mask and lastly Titled Masks.
Even now their raked seating arrangement was based on this. The aura of all the masked individual each powerful than the other the more you ascended the seating arrangement.
At the highest level was a dark purple throne to its left another throne yet this one lacking in majesty and size to the other. Just below these two thrones were three seats each occupied by extremely powerful individuals. They were the Pavilion Lords.
Crimson Dagger sat on the left, in the middle a plainly painted white mask which at its side was a speaker that had a line crossing over it she was the Silent Night. To their right a burly man wearing a mask painted of the blue clouds he was the Sky Reaper.
Standing up from his seat Sky Reapers mechanic voice loudly resounded in the valley," Welcome everyone."
"Today is the day that you all have being training for, it is time for you to partake in this trial of ours. A trial in which all the winners would be kings and loser's beggars. A trial that prepares you for the dangers accompanying this occupation of being an Assassin."
"The trial this time around would be dangerous as it involves the selection of a Champion. It has been twenty years since the last champion was chosen and today a new one shall rise as with their rise the selection of a new Leader."
"The trial would be hosted inside the [Mantis Haven::SS] dungeon. We have scattered around the dungeon ten thousand tokens in which depending on the amount you bring back will determine your status and the amount of resources you would obtain from us after this trial."
"Also the Champion would be anyone that manages two bring back the two daggers guarded by this dungeon's bosses signalling the trials ending."
"As I have said this trial is extremely dangerous as you lot are merely at the peak of A rank yet we are sending you into an SS ranked dungeon. So this is the time those who want to quit may quit now!"
Sky Reaper was extremely patient as he waited for five minutes letting them decide if they were participating or not. After five minutes' no one decided to quit the trial.
WAA!
An extremely powerful aura enveloped the entire valley as not even a single being could move nor make a sound. All of them frozen in place.
TAP! TAP!
The sound of footsteps ringing from the valleys entrance as immediately the two people came into view. They passed by the group of youth ascending the raked seats till they reached the highest seat.
It was until the moment that Layla sat down in her dark purple throne with Fritz standing on her right that the aura that has been suppressing them dissipated as immediately they all rose up into their feet and unanimously greeted respectfully regardless of their power or status.
"Greetings Her Majesty the Queen!"
"Greetings Her Majesty the Queen!"
Layla waved her hand coolly as she spoke, "At ease."
"This is my son Fritz; he too will be joining us today" said Layla motioning towards Fritz who started to fly down under the guidance of Layla as he joined the other trial takers.
Her words shocking everyone as gasping sounds could be heard throughout the valley. None of them having heard of her ever being pregnant not even once but due to how mysterious their founder was they easily accepted it.
As for who the father was not even a single soul dared to ask!
"Greetings to His Highness the Prince!"
The same courtesy that they gave Layla they showed to her son too.
Fritz smiled lightly in response yet what they didn't know was that it wasn't a response to their greeting rather Fritz had seeing something earlier when he momentarily used his
Yet out of all the people here someone else aside from shock and wonder was feeling disheartened.
The Crimson Dagger felt his world crumble with Layla's announcement. She had brought her son for this Rite of Passage wouldn't that mean that all the other trial takers were now reduced to mere side characters.
This was because there was no way that her child wouldn't be extremely talented.
'Haha how disappointing' lamented the Crimson Dagger.
"Since everything that needed to be said has being said. Let the Rite of Passage trials begin." Domineeringly announced Layla.
With her words a pentagram formation appeared on the ground below the trial takers teleporting them to [Mantis Haven] dungeon.