Guto sat alone in his dimly lit room, the pale light of a flickering candle casting dancing shadows on the walls. He'd been wrestling with his past and the burning desire for vengeance. It had been three long years, and he had searched endlessly for a lead on Throel, the man who had orchestrated the chaos that led to Amber's death. But Throel remained elusive, like a wisp of smoke slipping through his fingers.
He ran a hand through his buzzed hair, his fingers tracing the scar on his chest, a grim reminder of that fateful day. His brows furrowed in frustration. Despite his growing renown as 'The Bear-Kissed,' Throel seemed to be operating under the radar, hidden away in the shadows.
In his moments of reflection, Guto's gaze fell upon the piece of paper that Lugarious had given him. It held the coordinates, a map to a future of rebuilding and power. The memory of Lugarious's proposition resurfaced, and Guto couldn't help but wonder if there was a glimmer of hope hidden within those words.
With a heavy sigh, he thought to himself, "Maybe... maybe if I join Lugarious's army, I'll have a higher chance of encountering Throel. Maybe this is the path to my vengeance."
He picked up the piece of paper and scrutinized it once more. The coordinates felt like a lifeline, a potential means to an end.
Guto realized that joining Lugarious's ranks was no guarantee of success, but it offered a path forward, a chance to confront the demons of his past. With newfound determination, he folded the paper and placed it in his pocket. The room, once cloaked in shadows, now seemed to hold a glimmer of hope. Guto was ready to set a new course, to chase down the elusive Throel, no matter the cost.
The decision had been made. Guto had chosen to embark on a new path and to accept Lugarious's proposition, not solely for the promise of power, but for the hope it held in helping him track down Throel. With the coordinates in his possession, he prepared to leave his old life behind. As he mounted his horse and prepared to depart, the air was charged with anticipation.
***
A day passed, and Guto found himself in a vastly different environment. He had arrived at a bustling city, its streets teeming with life and vibrant energy. It had been a long time since he'd seen a city so well-off, where people went about their daily lives without the looming shadow of chaos that had come to define his world.
As he guided his horse through the streets, Guto couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the life he had once known and had been forced to leave behind. The city's prosperity was a stark contrast to the dystopian landscapes he had traversed during the past three years.
Eventually, Guto's journey led him to a towering castle, encircled by massive stone walls that bore witness to countless generations of history. The very presence of guards signaled the importance of the place, and Guto knew that this was where he would find Lugarious, the man who had extended a hand to change the course of his life.
Approaching the castle, Guto reined in his horse and dismounted. He approached the two guards stationed at the gate, their armor glinting in the sunlight. With a sense of purpose, he addressed them, "I'm here to see Lugarious. He should be expecting me."
The guards exchanged a skeptical glance before one of them spoke, "Lugarious is not expecting anyone today, and we have received no notice of your arrival."
Guto's brow furrowed in frustration.
As he stood before the imposing walls of the castle, he contemplated the unyielding response of the guards. A sense of urgency and determination had brought him here, and he couldn't afford to let this obstacle deter him. 'Well, it has been three years.' he thought to himself, rationalizing why Lugarious might not be expecting him.
He waited patiently until the cloak of night shrouded the castle in darkness. With every shadow serving as his ally, Guto made his move. He had waited long enough.
In the obscurity of the night, he activated the hook in his hunter's arm. The hook, worn from years of use, extended from the mechanism. He muttered a silent plea to himself, "It's not in the best shape. Don't fail me now."
With practiced precision, Guto hurled the hook toward the castle wall, and it latched onto a small crevice in the stone. He scaled the wall with silent expertise, making his way toward the castle without arousing suspicion.
He journeyed across the open field, his every step purposeful, a shroud of shadows his only ally. His destination loomed ahead, the formidable walls of the castle. He moved cautiously, his hope resting on the chance of remaining unseen.
Upon reaching the towering castle walls, he decided to once again employ the trusty tool within his hunter's arm. It was time to scale the fortress, to infiltrate through a window, and to face whatever lay beyond.
However, as he neared a dimly lit window high above, disaster struck. The old and battered hook suddenly snapped, leaving him to dangle precariously from the wall. Panic gripped him as he struggled to find a hold, his fingers slipping against the wet stone.
Just as it seemed he might plummet to the ground, a searing pain flared from the mark on his left hand. In that moment of peril, a hand, seemingly materializing from nowhere, reached out of the window and gripped his wrist.
Guto was hoisted into the room with a mix of shock and relief. He found himself face-to-face with Lugarious, the man who had offered him a path toward retribution, and Lugarious couldn't help but chuckle as he greeted the intruder.
"Guto," he said, his laughter mixing with genuine surprise, "What the hell are you doing in the window of my castle?"
With a firm grip, Lugarious pulled Guto up, helping him to his feet. As they walked toward the heart of the castle, the air was filled with the soft hum of conversation.
During their walk, Guto said "I wanted to ask, Lugarious, if I could join your army. I believe that working under your command is the best way to achieve my goals."
Lugarious nodded thoughtfully. "Joining my ranks, that's a wise choice, Guto. But I have something special in mind for you. I'm thinking of placing you in one of my most elite divisions. A group with rare abilities, including potent diseases that can turn the tide of battle."
Guto's eyes widened with intrigue. "That sounds fascinating. I'd be honored."
"Good," Lugarious replied with a smirk, "but before we proceed, I'd like to test your mettle."
Guto's curiosity piqued. "How do you propose we do that?"
Without a word, Lugarious raised his hand, and the heavy wooden doors to the chamber creaked open. In walked a soldier clad in dark armor, exuding an air of strength and experience.
Lugarious gestured toward the soldier. "Meet Elias. He's one of my commanders. I want you to fight him."
Guto regarded Elias, who stood poised, ready for the impending challenge. Lugarious explained, "My army is divided into two main factions, each commanded by two generals. Each of those generals has twenty commanders, and each commander, like Elias, leads a group of five soldiers."
Guto nodded, taking in the explanation. He understood the hierarchical structure and the significance of Elias's role. "Understood. I'm ready to accept the challenge."
With the stage set for their confrontation, Elias and Guto stepped back, creating a modicum of distance between them. The room hummed with an electric anticipation as their gazes locked.
The fight commenced with a flurry of motion, Elias launching a swift and calculated attack. Guto's reactions were swift, evading Elias's blows and retaliating with a series of precise strikes. Elias, formidable and experienced, proved a formidable opponent, his skills on par with Guto's own.
The two warriors exchanged blows, neither giving an inch. With every strike, Guto then turned his fists purple activating his powers, helping him rot Elias armour.
In a crescendo of energy and resolve, Guto unleashed a final, decisive attack. He swept Elias's legs out from under him and delivered a powerful, crushing blow that went through Elias chestplateand hit him in the chest. Elias crumpled to the ground, defeated.
The room fell into a silence that was as abrupt as the fight had been. Lugarious's gaze was fixed on Guto, a satisfied grin curling on his lips. "Impressive," he declared. "You've passed the test. Welcome to the elite division, Guto."
Guto's triumph and the glow of his victory was undeniable. He had secured a place in the most exclusive echelon of Lugarious's army, a position that would bring him closer to his goals and the vengeance he sought.
With a helping hand, Guto assisted Elias to his feet, his armor clinking softly as he rose. "Apologies for the armour, Elias," Guto offered, his voice tinged with respect.
Elias managed a weary but understanding smile, his posture still displaying the pride of a skilled warrior. "No harm done, Guto. You are a great fighter."