From afar Fritz could see countless billowing clouds of smoke coalescing into grey clouds escaping below from a chain of zagged mountains spreading over the ground for thousands of kilometres. The smoke rising from what one would mistake for a 'V' shaped fissure in the mountains as in that area of a thousand kilometre was situated a spectacular city.
This city was Iron Haul, City of Blacksmiths.
Iron Haul City occupied a strategic location in these mountainous area such that it was easy to defend and difficult to attack as it had only a singular direction of entry, with the rest of its sides perfectly enclosed in by sky reaching mountains.
It was nicknamed the City of Blacksmiths due to the stupendous amount of blacksmiths regardless of race congregating here. Iron Haul City came to be as a result of the discovery a hundred years ago of three SSS ranked dungeons with each rich in distinctively different metals; MITHRIL, ADAMANTINE and ORICHALUM.
Three of the rarest metals and functional metals in Gaia.
With the news spreading of the dungeons discovery all the races moved to claim the dungeons even the so called peace loving Spirit Race mobilised their legions for conquest. Despite the dungeons appearing in human territory, the Terran Continent the Memnon and Spirit Races invaded the Terran continent with claims that the dungeons occurred in unclaimed territory.
They made their claims since the dungeons appeared on the mountains situated around the ownerless Grand Abyss Canyon located at the center of the three continents, Terran, Emerald and Bataillen continents.
Seeing the other two races threatening a world war the Human race conceded and came out with a favourable concession allowing for the Memnon and Spirit races to each gain control over a singular dungeon at the cost of giving ten percent discount sales to the Human Race.
Thus forming the enactment of the IRON HAUL TREATY. With the three races working in conjunction a new city was build governed by the three races and ever since then Iron Haul City prosperity has ever been on the rise, becoming the global business hub for armour, weapons etc.
…
Golden Commander Stephon stood at the Iron Haul's city gates at the Human Entrance point just like usual as he routinely monitored and registered all the humans entering the city.
Iron Haul city has three check-in points with each race responsible for registering their own people entering the city either it be merchants, customers or visitors.
Looking at the long line of people queuing up to enter the city his brows furrowed and a depressed sigh escaped his lips as today would probably be uneventful and boring as usual.
For the past eighty years he has spent his days monotonously and unhappily in this job of his.
His attention soon drawn by the sound of boisterous laughter filled with youthful vigor and verve coming from a group of adolescent youth possessing eyes sparkling with hope.
A feeling of melancholy welling up inside him reminding him of days past.
'How fun, colourful and enjoyable was life back then.'
'Travelling the world free and unfettered with my sword in hand, full of dreams and aspirations. Ooh! How sweet the spirit of youth but alas here I am, grown and bitter with extinguished dreams and dwindling hope.'
'Sigh― this wasn't who and what I envisioned to be, back then I was a true prototype of a young hero adventuring the world with my Lightning Eagle… How pitiful I am… I have grown weary…maybe I should just quit…Yes! This week I will resign!'
The firm grip on his sword that never faltered all these years lessened as he desolately raised his head to the distant golden horizon. The last embers of hope flickering threatening to extinguish the moment he dropped his head.
His gaze soon enthralled by a flying figure coming towards his direction as behind him the golden rays of the sun enveloped him, his whole body dazzling in golden halo of light. His visage blurred by the sun as he sat atop a majestic eagle like monster.
His matchless bearing illuminating the bleak skies of Iron Haul.
He appeared just like light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
In him the commander saw a bringer of Hope.
Yet from him something deep within him resonated, Golden Commander Stephon mind like a screen replayed the memories of his past self, who he was and who he wished to be. The vows he made to his long lost partner in life and death, his pet monster the Lightning Eagle.
Golden Commander Stephon came to a realisation that life isn't meant to always be sweet and blissful if so then that wouldn't be living. Life was bitter sweet as one had to learn to enjoy and endure.
A cooling and refreshing feeling washed over his body as a grateful smile hung on his face.
Coming to this realisation he felt his bottleneck that has being plaguing him for three hundred years loosen as his comprehension soared as within him his understanding of Universal Laws condensed into the construct of a KEY.
Finally, he had a chance to breakthrough to the rank of a HEAVENLY RULER!
He was awakened from his joyous stupor by the unleashed bestial aura of Fritz's Lightning Hippogrith as it landed a few meters away from the checkpoint.
Fritz landed on the ground ignoring the frightened crowd of people queuing to enter the city. After patting the Lightning Hippogrith on its head, it turned into a flash of light entering a ring on his finger. This ring an artifact that possessed a space capable of storing living animals and it was called a Beast Ring with a lesser version of such an artifact called a Beast Pouch.
His actions drew the respectful and amazed gazes of all the people present as not just anyone could possess or tame a pet monster especially so for a flying one.
Flying monster pets were seen as a symbol of Power and Status in Gaia.
Fritz moved to join the que but all the people 'politely' made way for him as he unceremoniously shot straight towards the check-in point only to meet a man wearing golden armour who for some weird reason seemed grateful to him.
"Hello my name is Golden Commander Stephon. May I see your identification please?"
"I don't have one but I heard that I would be able to get one here right?"
Golden Commander Stephon politely replied, "That is true please step out of the line and join my colleague at the table and she would help you create one right here."
Fritz moved out of the line as he went to create his first ever form of identity. The process was quite simple as there Fritz had to only place his hand on some sort of analysis orb determining his power to be at rank A. Followed by a quick picture of him before he was given a rectangular platinum card bearing his credentials.
Golden Commander Stephon who had being paying attention from the side spoke, "Since you are done with your registration you may enter the city. We welcome you to Iron Haul city and please enjoy your stay."
Then he took out a communication token and gave it to Fritz, "If you ever need my help with anything please feel free to contact me."
Fritz puzzlingly took the token as he entered the city, who knows maybe it might be useful later.
The smell of alcohol and burning metal wafted into the air whilst a brilliant symphony of metal hitting metal and the sound of metal being quenched in water rang throughout the city.
'So clean!'
Fritz inwardly exclaimed as contrary to the city he had envisioned and the one now were worlds apart. One of the things he least expected was for this city to be clean. All the building neatly arranged and sectioned into areas respective of their trades.
He appreciated the architectural layout of this city whilst making his way towards a luxurious hotel, Purple Moon where he would probably spend most of his days and also this hotel was secretly owned by Hellsing.
The reason for coming here was because for him to establish his own power in this world he most importantly required three things; MONEY, RESOURCES and PEOPLE. With his arrival to Iron Haul city he targeted to solve the issue of Resources.
He was going to clear the three dungeons and simultaneously added them to IDLE MODE.
Secondly he needed a place where he could absorb all the LIFE ORBS stored inside his heart that he has left gathering all these years after every kill that he made.
Fritz entered Purple Moon hotel making his way towards the counter wherein sat a beautiful woman in a purple dress.
"Hello Sir, how may I help you?" said the woman with an intoxicating smile.
Calmly Fritz said," I am the sun that shines brightest at night to purify the day."
What he said being a code only understood by all members of Hellsing.
Her whole countenance changed as she bowed respectfully to Fritz before leading him to an exclusive suite specifically reserved for Hellsing members.
Whilst being lead towards this suite he saw an interesting scene through the windows playout a few shops away.
In front of a Blacksmith Shop a tall muscular human man dragged with one arm a one-meter-tall young dwarf whilst on the other hand holding a hammer. The muscular men sent the dwarf flying crashing violently on the ground.
Harshly the muscular man said, "Get the fuck out of here you Dwarven trash. The next time I see you around my shop again I would bash your head in with this hammer. Piece of shit!"
Pftui.
The man then returned inside his shop leaving behind the face swollen and beaten dwarf lying on the floor and surprisingly to Fritz all the people on the street just ignored it as if this was something they were used to.
Nevertheless, he just found it interesting that a dwarf would singularly roam around the human side of the city despite it being known that there existed a certain discrimination amongst the races.
Fritz slowly followed the lady in purple towards his room which upon reaching he fell asleep on a comfortable king sized bed.