Year 1900
Aurelius sat cross-legged in deep meditation. As he opened his eyes, they glowed with a faint light. He turned his focus inward, gazing within his soul. There, 179,999 acupuncture points sparkled like distant stars, spread across his entire being.
"Just one more," he thought, marveling at the nearly complete constellation. "One more acupuncture point to reach perfection."
He turned to his master, "Master," Aurelius said, his voice calm but determined, "I have almost reached the perfection of the Second Soul Realm. I think I need a life-and-death situation to overcome this final hurdle."
The old man thoughtfully replied "You can go to the southernmost region and enlist for the battlefield. The survival rate is only 40%, but it will push you to your limits, giving you the drive to break through. Additionally, you will earn war merit points, which is one of the condition for becoming a baron. What do you think?"
Aurelius pondered the suggestion and replied "Okay, Master. I will go."
A month later, after meticulous preparation, Aurelius stood before Eisheth. The shop bustled around them, a testament to her management. She was a vision of strength and beauty, her presence as reassuring as it was commanding.
"Eisheth," he began, his tone serious but warm, "I will be leaving for a mission. You'll take care of the shop while I'm gone."
Eisheth's eyes softened, and a small, confident smile played on her lips. She reached out, gently touching his arm. "Sure, Aurelius. Take care of yourself. I'll handle everything here."
Aurelius nodded and left towards the battlefield.
Year 1915
Fifteen years of grueling travel had brought Aurelius to the battlefield. Along the way, he had taken on numerous missions to re-hone his skills, rusty from years of inactivity. As he approached the battlefield, he saw a colossal wall, so tall it seemed to touch the sky, stretching endlessly in both directions.
The wall was fortified with intricate formations, occasionally flickering with light cracks that vanished as quickly as they appeared. The path to the wall was bustling with warriors like him, all making their way towards the gates.
Near the wall's base stood an enormous gate, flanked by two imposing guards. As Aurelius presented his status, he was allowed entry and found himself inside a massive courtyard. Here, he met a battlefield receptionist, who provided crucial information that clarified many things he had previously only guessed at.
"This is the Second-Tier Battlefield," she explained, "where initial Knight Realm beings come to earn merit points. The battlefield is not just a place of conflict but also a treasure trove of resources and opportunities for breakthroughs."
She continued, "All kills earn merit points based on the type of abomination defeated. These points contribute to honor medals, which are crucial for advancement."
She outlined the hierarchy of honor medals:
- Basic Honour Medal: Kill 10 initial abominations.
- Brave Honour Medal: Kill 50 initial abominations.
- Knight Honour Medal: Kill 150 initial abominations and 10 medium abominations.
- Brave Knight Honour Medal: Kill 100 medium abominations.
- Expert Knight Honour Medal: Kill 150 high abominations and 1 peak abomination.
- Hero Knight Honour Medal: Kill 100 peak abominations.
- Supreme Knight Honour Medal: Kill 250 peak abominations.
"To become a Baron," she said, "one must earn at least a Hero Knight Honour Medal. It doesn't matter if you get it in the Second-Tier, Third-Tier, or Fourth-Tier battlefield. Earning this medal fulfils one of the conditions to advance."
Aurelius absorbed this information, understanding the path he needed to take.
After waiting for a day, Aurelius and many others were summoned to the battlefield. The anticipation and tension in the air were palpable as they gathered, ready to step into the unknown.
As Aurelius crossed the threshold into the battlefield, he was met with a sight both awe-inspiring and dreadful. The land stretched out before him was barren and dried, a vast and endless expanse under a sky perpetually shrouded in a murky, oppressive gloom. In the distance, the horizon melded into a blackened region where the land seemed to be perpetually forming and reforming, a chaotic swirl of creation and destruction.
A sudden, sharp crack echoed from above, drawing Aurelius's gaze skyward. He saw a massive fissure splitting the heavens, a jagged wound in reality itself. From this crack, thick streams of what initially appeared to be black tar poured down, splattering the desolate ground below. As Aurelius watched more closely, he realized this was no mere tar. It was something far more sinister.
The substance coalesced into shapes, shifting and writhing as it fell. These were the abominations he had heard about, creatures born from the dark essence seeping through the crack in the sky. They were uniformly black, but their forms varied wildly. Some resembled twisted versions of animals, distorted creatures with too many limbs or gaping maws filled with rows of needle-like teeth. Others were more ethereal, like evil spirits with hollow, eyeless faces and bodies that seemed to flicker in and out of existence.
There were headless creatures, lumbering and brutish, swinging massive, malformed arms as they moved. Eyeless beings prowled the landscape, their other senses heightened to compensate for their lack of sight, making them all the more deadly. But among these horrors, the most terrifying were the chimeras. These abominations were amalgamations of various creatures, distorted hybrids that combined the worst aspects of multiple beasts into one fearsome entity. Their power and ferocity set them apart from the rest, marking them as the most formidable foes on the battlefield.
The ground beneath Aurelius's feet trembled as the abominations landed, the earth itself recoiling from their tainted presence. He could feel the malevolent energy radiating from them, a palpable aura of corruption that made the air thick and heavy.
Around him, other warriors were also steeling themselves for the imminent battle. Weapons were drawn, and spells were prepared as the forces of darkness and light prepared to clash. Aurelius gripped his sword tightly, the familiar weight a comforting reminder of his training and purpose.
Aurelius watched as the abominations approached, their disgusting forms a twisted combination of speed and lethargy. Among them, one abomination locked onto his side. It was a horrifying sight—thin and eyeless, earless, with four mouths filled with razor-sharp teeth that emitted an eerie, chattering sound. Its body, arms, and legs were emaciated, but its fingers were disturbingly flexible, able to elongate and contract like tentacles.
Steeling himself, Aurelius moved forward to confront the creature. Sensing his approach, the abomination swung its right hand, the fingers suddenly extending into sharp blades that cut through the air towards him. Aurelius sidestepped just in time, narrowly avoiding the attack. He retaliated with a swift slash of his Qi-infused sword, severing the creature's fingers. But in an instant, the fingers regenerated, and the abomination came at him with both hands.
The abomination's fingers elongated again, crisscrossing in a rapid pattern to form a maze-like trap around Aurelius, aiming to ensnare and crush him. Realizing the speed and precision of the fingers' movements, Aurelius knew he had to act quickly. "At this rate, I'll need to use the Soul Eagle Sword technique," he thought, deciding to strike directly at the creature without giving it a chance to regroup.
As the fingers wove a ball-like web around him, Aurelius unleashed the Soul Eagle Sword technique. Thousands of sword Qi burst forth, moving at a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow, shattering the entrapment. He then charged at the abomination. Sensing the imminent threat, the creature's four mouths emitted a high-pitched sound, launching a soul attack.
Aurelius quickly activated his soul protection technique, shielding himself from the assault. With his soul safeguarded, he closed the distance and delivered a fatal blow, his sword glowing with concentrated Qi. The abomination fell, defeated by his precise and powerful strike.
Turning back to the battlefield, Aurelius surveyed the chaotic scene. Some of his comrades lay dead, while others continued to fight the abominations with varying degrees of success. The air was thick with the sounds of combat and the stench of death. Without hesitation, Aurelius plunged back into the fray, cutting down abominations as he went, his resolve as unyielding as his blade.
Year 1965
Aurelius sat cross-legged in a dimly lit room within the battlefield Compound, his presence now remarkably different from when he had first arrived fifty years ago. His aura radiated a sharp, intimidating energy, tinged with the bloody essence of countless battles fought and won.
Closing his eyes, Aurelius focused inward, guiding his soul energy with meticulous precision. His goal was the final acupuncture point, the last barrier standing between him and perfection in the second soul realm. Channeling his aura, sword Qi, and soul energy, he concentrated on refining this elusive point.
A sound like shattering glass echoed through the room as he broke through the barrier. The final acupuncture point widened, hungrily absorbing energy. Seizing this critical moment, Aurelius retrieved a Soul Glass Fruit from his satchel. This rare fruit, known for its potent soul energy, would help saturate the newly refined acupuncture point to its limit.
For two hours, Aurelius remained in deep concentration, the Soul Glass Fruit infusing his last acupuncture point with vital energy. The point filled to capacity, triggering a profound resonance among all his acupuncture points. A brilliant light radiated from his body, illuminating the room.
As the light intensified, it was drawn towards the black lotus flower on his forehead. The lotus began to change, its petals shifting from deep black to a vivid red. The transformation signified his ascent to perfection in the second soul realm, and with it came a new ability: Soul Armor, a defense against soul attacks.
Opening his eyes, now gleaming with newfound power, Aurelius stood up. The room seemed smaller, the walls unable to contain his formidable presence. He felt an immense sense of completion and strength.
He exited the room and made his way through the labyrinthine corridors of the battlefield headquarters. Soldiers and staff paused, sensing the change in him, their gazes filled with a mixture of awe and respect. Aurelius approached the battlefield reception area to finalize his departure process.
Aurelius walked purposefully towards the reception area, the echoes of his boots against the cold stone floor mingling with the ambient sounds of the battlefield headquarters. As he approached the desk, the clerk, a young woman with sharp eyes and an air of efficiency, looked up from her parchment.
"Good morning," Aurelius said, his voice steady.
"Good morning," she replied, scrutinizing him with a mix of curiosity and respect. "How can I assist you today?"
"I'm here to validate my achievements and complete my departure process."
The clerk nodded, her fingers moving deftly over a series of crystals and scrolls. "Name and identification, please."
"Aurelius," he said, handing over his identification token.
She took it, her eyes widening slightly as she processed his record. "One moment, please." Her tone had shifted, now tinged with a note of respect and urgency.
She activated a communication device, speaking in low, hurried tones. "Yes, sir. We have an exceptional case here... Aurelius... Yes, the achievements are substantial. Right away, sir."
Turning back to Aurelius, she said, "Please wait here. The manager would like to speak with you personally."
Aurelius inclined his head slightly. "Very well."
A few minutes later, a door to the side of the reception area opened, and a tall man with a commanding presence stepped out. His uniform bore the insignia of the battlefield manager.
"Mr. Aurelius, please follow me," he said, his voice a deep baritone.
Aurelius followed the manager through a series of hallways until they reached a spacious office. The manager gestured for him to sit.
"I'm Major General Tavish," the manager began. "Your accomplishments here are nothing short of extraordinary."
"Thank you, sir," Aurelius replied, his tone respectful but calm.
Tavish looked down at a detailed report in his hands. "In your fifty years on the battlefield, you have slain 250 peak abominations, 500 high-level abominations, 100 mid-level, and 25 initial abominations. These numbers are not just impressive; they are unprecedented."
Aurelius nodded. "I did what I had to, sir."
Tavish's eyes met his, filled with genuine admiration. "For your extraordinary service and unmatched prowess, it is my honor to present you with the Supreme Knight Honor Medal."
From a drawer, Tavish produced a gleaming medal. The room seemed to brighten as he held it. The medal, adorned with intricate designs and a radiant core, symbolized the highest level of achievement on the battlefield.
"Aurelius," Tavish said, standing and extending the medal, "this medal is a testament to your unparalleled bravery and skill. Wear it with pride. You have earned a place among the legends of our realm."
Aurelius stood and accepted the medal, feeling its weight in his hand. "Thank you, Major General. It is an honor."
As he pinned the medal to his chest, a sense of profound achievement washed over him. The journey had been long and arduous, but moments like this made every struggle worthwhile.
Tavish extended his hand. "Congratulations, Supreme Knight Aurelius. May your future endeavors be as victorious as your past."
Aurelius shook his hand firmly. "Thank you, sir. I intend to ensure they are."
With that, Aurelius left the manager's office.
After emerging from the battlefield, Aurelius breathed in the fresh air, savoring its stark contrast to the acrid stench of war. His steps were deliberate as he moved toward his next destination, a place where the very essence of destiny awaits.
This destination held the promise of altering the fate of someone dear to him, offering a chance to rewrite the threads of destiny woven so tightly around their lives.