Max, James, and Sarah had grown up together in a small village on the outskirts of the kingdom. They had been friends since they were young, and their friendship had only grown stronger over time.
Unfortunately, they were born to parents with the lowest of bloodlines, which marked them as "Unfated". Due to the absence of any mana signatures, they could not connect with and harness the powers of the natural world.
In the supernatural world, they were considered inferior and often lumped together with the "trash," particularly in Britain, where they were born.
Their parents cursed them for not being able to change their fate by awakening a mana signature upon birth, and any semblance of familial love was lost on them.
Despite the negative and challenging circumstances that were out of their control, a ray of light shone upon Max, James, and Sarah when they met about seven years ago. These like-minded individuals had gone through more or less the same thing, which brought them closer together.
Naturally hitting it off, they formed a tight-knit friend club. Being shunned by the real world, they were unburdened by its expectations and often met in the forests on the outskirts of Avalon.
Avalon was a city known for its mystical and magical qualities. Its people were renowned for their deep connection to the spiritual world and their belief in the power of things that existed outside of magic.
Avalon was a city that attracted many scholars, and it was considered the holy land of Britain due to its fervent belief in the importance of magic. However, the city was also fiercely hierarchical when it came to magic bloodlines.
Given this context, it is quite remarkable how Max, James, and Sarah were able to survive and thrive in a world where their genes didn't allow them to take part in something that was considered a fundamental necessity to be "loved" by society.
One warm summer day, during one of their visits to the outskirts, the three friends decided to cool off by taking a dip in the nearby river. They laughed and splashed each other, enjoying the refreshing water and the warmth of the sun on their skin.
While playing in the river, Max felt a profound sense of gratitude toward his friends. Having grown up without any loved ones, he knew firsthand the value of true friendship.
To him, James and Sarah were more than just friends; they were like family. He knew that he could always count on them, no matter what life threw their way.
On this particular day, as they basked in the warmth of the sun and the refreshing coolness of the river, Max was reminded once again of how lucky he was to have such amazing friends by his side.
"Hey, Max," James called out, breaking Sarah out of her thoughts, "Race you to the other side of the river!"
Max's competitive spirit was ignited, and he grinned, "You're on!" he shouted, and the two of them started swimming with all their might.
Sarah, although lagging, found joy in their competitive spirit. It fulfilled her desire for love and attention, something she had never felt before. Both James and Max had feelings for her, and their physical competition for her hand was a testament to that fact.
Despite her stunning blue hair and eyes, which would attract the attention of even the highest noble-blooded men, Sarah's inability to access natural mana had rendered such a possibility null. Only these two boys could appreciate her true beauty.
Just as the boys were about to reach the other side, Max felt something brush against his leg. He looked down and saw a school of fish darting past.
He paused for a moment to watch them, fascinated by their graceful movements as his usual curious and carefree nature kicked in. But when he looked up, he saw that James had reached the other side and was waving triumphantly. James flexed his toned muscles as he exaggeratedly taunted Max.
"Ha! I win!" James declared, grinning from ear to ear.
Max couldn't help but laugh as he reached the shore, "You got me this time," he said, admitting defeat.
Sarah had caught up by now and swam up to them, "Looks like you boys had fun," she said, smiling at both of them.
Max grinned, "Yeah, it was great! Did you see those fish?"
Sarah shook her head, "No, I was too busy trying to catch up with you two."
James draped an arm around her shoulder, "Well, we can always come back and watch the fish another time."
Sarah leaned into him, "That sounds perfect."
Max grumbled and playfully glared at James, who had made a quick move. He realized that he needed to up his game if he wanted to win.
Max rolled his eyes but couldn't help laughing. He felt a deep sense of contentment and happiness, knowing that he was surrounded by people he loved and who loved him in return.
During their lunch, the three children dried themselves off. The two boys managed to hunt some level 5 grass rabbits, which they then ate.
Despite their challenging circumstances, the children's will was exhibited by their carefree attitudes toward the few scars visible on their toned bodies.
The children had discovered that those who possessed a mana signature could view their stats, much like a window, after defeating a magical beast.
Despite undergoing grueling training and facing near-death experiences, their first triumph over a magical creature did not yield any significant changes in their status. They remained labeled as "trash".
As they ate, they talked about their plans for the future. James and Max were both determined to become great warriors, to prove to the world that they were more than just their bloodlines.
Sarah, on the other hand, dreamed of becoming a great healer, using her knowledge of natural remedies to help those in need.
They talked excitedly, their eyes alight with passion and determination. For a moment, it felt like anything was possible. However, glints of doubt flickered in the eyes of James and Sarah.
But as the day began to draw to a close, they knew they had to head back to the slums of Avalon before nightfall. As they walked through the forest, they could feel the weight of the world settling back onto their shoulders.
Suddenly, an indifferent voice echoed in Max's mind, intensifying and causing him sharp pain. He tried to hide his discomfort from his friends and made an excuse to go back into the forest they had just come from.
Following the direction of the voice, he arrived in front of a cave that was radiating a bright light. This surprised him as they had already explored the forest since there were no magical creatures above level 5 which will endanger them.
Ignoring any doubts, he steeled his heart and decided to heed the voice's call. Without any form of protection, he knew he was taking a risk, but he hoped that he could prevent his friends from being drawn into whatever was happening here, even if it meant sacrificing himself to protect them.
As he entered the dark cave, Max felt the cool and damp air envelop him. With only a flashlight and his curiosity to guide him, he explored the twisting tunnels, his heart pounding with both excitement and fear.
Despite his alertness, Max couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement at the unexpected adventure that lay ahead, even if it meant venturing out of his comfort zone.
Max observed unusual markings engraved on the walls as he delved further into the cave. These intricate designs were pulsating with energy and were completely unfamiliar to him.
He felt an irresistible pull towards them, almost as if they were beckoning him. Strangely enough, the voice that had been accompanying him vanished as soon as he laid eyes on the markings.
After meandering through the cave for several hours, Max came upon an enormous chamber at the core of the cave network. In the middle of the room, he beheld three markings etched onto the floor, radiating with distinct colors.
As Max approached the first marking, he noticed a blue light pulsing from a circle with a stylized wand at its center. He sensed unusual energy emanating from it, indicating that it symbolized control over the natural world.
Adjacent to the marking, there was a mural of a woman with flowing white hair tinged with gold. Her proud expression conveyed a sense of superiority as if the celestial bodies and the universe revolved around her.
Max proceeded to the second marking, where he observed a red light pulsating from a starburst with a dragon motif.
He felt an intense surge of energy emanating from it, signifying an augmenting force that gave the dragon the power to shatter the celestial bodies revolving around the woman.
Besides the marking, there was a mural of a humanoid male dragon wielding a colossal Warhammer. His body was enveloped in a dazzling aura akin to a starburst, augmenting his already formidable physical defense.
Max arrived at the third marking, where he noticed a purple light pulsing from a twisted spiral with a skull at its center. He sensed a strange and ominous energy emanating from it, suggesting complete darkness where no form of light could exist.
Next to the marking, there was a mural of a dark-skinned female with long elf-like ears and a seductive smirk. She had a distinctive tattoo resembling the marking just below her neck, but it did not detract from her beauty.
Standing before the markings and murals, Max was overcome with a mixture of excitement and fear. For a moment, he felt an overwhelming urge to bow down before the paintings and inscriptions.
Shaking off the feeling, he realized that he had come across something truly extraordinary, even though he didn't fully comprehend what he was looking at.
The initial marking had a seeming connection to something Max knew about mana. He had always longed to possess it, but his destiny seemed to forbid it.
Nevertheless, Max sensed that his life had been forever altered from that moment onward. Uncertain about what to expect, he delved into the cave's mysteries and examined the symbols, anticipating a sign.
However, after fifteen days of uneventful searching, he departed from the cave in disappointment and returned to the slums.
But Max's next few hours were brimming with delight as he recounted everything he had witnessed to his two friends.
James and Sarah had been Max's companions since childhood, and they had shared numerous escapades. Therefore, when Max stumbled upon the ancient chamber and its inscriptions, he felt compelled to divulge his findings to them.
Initially, they found Max's account difficult to believe due to its peculiar details. To convince them, Max resolved to demonstrate what he had witnessed.
Max guided them to the chamber, imparting all that he had discovered along the way. His friends were astounded by the sight that greeted them, but as they delved deeper into the chamber, Max began to feel uneasy.
Their conversation took a strange turn, and Max was taken aback by their menacing questioning. They spoke of seeking retribution against the world that had rejected them and gaining the power to do so.
Max was bewildered by the transformation in his longtime friends. They seemed unrecognizable as they talked about destroying the world with bloodshot eyes. As their fervor intensified, they pressured Max to lead them to the inner sanctum.
Sensing that something was amiss, Max decided to terminate their expedition prematurely.
As Max attempted to leave the chamber, James and Sarah's true motives were laid bare. They seemed to snap and divulged their ulterior motives, confessing that they had been in league with the Queen of Britain all along.
She had promised them tremendous rewards if they could deliver Max to her, pledging to transform them from their lowly status to powerful mages.
Max was bewildered and heartbroken by their treachery. He could never have imagined that his closest friends would turn on him like this.
He pleaded with them, attempting to persuade them that the markings were too dangerous to be wielded by any single individual or faction, but they remained obstinate.
As they stood at the center of the chamber, James and Sarah produced a hidden device from their pockets, triggering a mechanism that activated the markings on the wall with a pulsating light.
The sound of their keypads clicking could be heard, indicating that an alarm had been set off, and the Queen's soldiers would soon be on their way.
Max was aware that he had to act swiftly to thwart his friends and safeguard the markings from falling into the wrong hands.
Something had tugged at his heart and somehow he felt that he was destined to protect this secret since the world wasn't ready to learn about them. The voice that had rung earlier in his head returned as it started a chant in his head.
As the words echoed in his mind, "The Will of Nature has engulfed the world. Protect the world from the Will of Life and the Marked Will," a peculiar radiance emanated from within him.
Max tapped into a mysterious power, unleashing a torrent of energy that propelled James and Sarah backward. Although he had unleashed great power, he had not intended to harm his friends.
He swiftly moved towards the floating wall of dirt that was adorned with markings and murals, hoping to flee with it. However, their escape was cut short when the Queen's soldiers arrived on the scene, apprehending Max and his ex-friends.
Suddenly the Queen herself appeared, sneering at Max as she examined the markings on the floating wall.
"Well, well, well," she exclaimed, "it appears that our little rebellion has been keeping busy. How fortunate that you decided to share your discovery with your friends. They have saved me the trouble of searching for you myself. It's quite intriguing to think that the universe's will can awaken in a trash boy. This is precisely why I refuse to be at the mercy of fate. I intend to break this cycle." The soft voice of the Mundane Monarch, the Queen of Britain resounded throughout the cave.
Max stood with defiance, his eyes blazing with anger and frustration. He knew he had to protect the markings at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing himself, but he had no idea how.
He couldn't comprehend the intense feelings he was experiencing, despite having discovered the markings only fifteen days ago.
The Queen commanded her soldiers to seize Max and take him away, while James and Sarah watched with faces contorted by guilt and regret, though their hunger for power quickly overshadowed such expressions.
As Max was escorted away, he pondered the significance of the situation. He sensed that the struggle was far from over and that the fate of the entire world was at stake.
When he woke up that morning, basking in the sunlight that filtered through the smoke in the slums, Max had no idea that his ideal world was about to be turned upside down by the discovery he made in the ancient chamber. He never imagined he would unlock his potential and become a formidable force.
Suddenly, a cloaked figure appeared, wielding a blade imbued with shadowy energy. With a single swing of his sword, a field of shadows surrounded Max and claimed the lives of all the soldiers.
The cloaked figure grabbed Max by the collar and vanished as quickly as he had appeared.
The Queen's face displayed a look of confusion as she witnessed the events that had just unfolded. Despite having possessed power for five hundred years, no one had ever shown her such disrespect before.
It appeared that standing at the top did not guarantee a life free from obstacles.
Gritting her teeth, she seized the two children and materialized in her throne room.
"Maid 692, summon Mr. Davis," the Queen of Britain ordered, eyeing the maid with disdain.
"Yes, your highness," the maid stammered, hurrying to call the Queen's advisor.
A man, whose physical appearance seemed no older than that of the Queen's, emerged. His butler attire exuded an air of authority, indicating that he had everything under control. This perception was indeed accurate, given the man's advanced age. He had learned that one's facial features did not define them, and so he had spent years building networks and forging alliances across three continents.
The Monarchs of the four great nations, the three great families, the Nightmare Brigade, the Military Task Force, the Hunter Association, and the State Academy Island all had his spies working within their territories.
"Haha, it appears that my lady has returned successful from her venture, but there seems to be a minor hiccup," Mr. Davis said, a grin stretching across his face.
"Indeed, but such a setback cannot be considered minor if it requires your attention," the Queen of Britain replied, showing respect to the man who bowed before her.
"Of course, your majesty. How may I be of assistance?" Mr. Davis inquired.
"I believe that with your vast network of information, you are already aware of what I am about to ask of you. Execute it promptly and ensure that I receive two heads on a silver platter," the Queen of Britain commanded. She paused before continuing, "Additionally, I would like to make a few alterations that will accommodate our plans."
"The first is a minor change. I want to rename the kingdom to Britannia. The major one is for you to research these markings and ensure that no information leaks out. We must keep this information as confidential as possible. The other Monarchs are bound to find out, so our only course of action is to quickly acquire what we need and destroy it to prevent any leaks," the Queen of Britannia explained.
"Yes, my liege," Mr. Davis replied, bowing before disappearing.
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This is a glimpse into an event that took place about 500 years ago in the strands of time. The world has benefited from its effects, yet the specifics remain unknown to most.