The next morning, a bird of news flew through the holy city of Biharaj, bringing with it unbelievable news.
A massive ice-covered mountain had suddenly appeared, towering like a frozen temple. Within it was sealed a colossal monstrosity.
This astonishing news was sure to spark countless conspiracy theories online for years to come.
Every morning in the holy city used to bring peace and prosperity with it. But that morning it came with news of chaos and destruction.
The devastated city block was entirely encased in ice. A massive translucent barrier, cast by ORDER's Awakened, enveloped the entire area. Civilians had been relocated to a separate location, effectively isolating the block from the rest of the city. The restricted zone was off-limits to anyone not authorized by ORDER, with guards stationed at every entrance to ensure no unauthorized access.
Inside the barrier, numerous ORDER officials were present. Some were engaged in rescue operations, while others examined the remains of the shadowless, analyzing the aftermath of the destruction.
The body of the shadowless was shielded by a large umbrella to prevent sunlight from touching it. This was necessary because the body of a shadowless would vanish upon exposure to light.
"Wh-What is this creature!" a researcher asked her senior, "Even after death hours ago, its still resonating a fearsome aura! It's almost unbearable!"
The researchers were equipped with spiritual energy-resistant gear to protect them from direct contact with the intensely dense spiritual energy. Even in death, such a powerful creature continued to emit an extraordinarily potent aura. Any lesser being coming into contact with it would likely perish almost instantly.
"Of course you don't know." the senior researcher explained, "These creature are usual never seen in the living realm. These are the servants of Abyss Lords. Called herald of Abyss. Born from the immense spiritual energy of those Lords of Abyss, they possess incredible power."
"So powerful ah.. Oh so that's why those reporters were going on about involvement of platinum ranks."
"No just any platinum rank can defeat them." he continued," A Herald power is equal to a level 70 awakened."
"What! An level 70!" she questioned.
Indeed, it was unbelievable for anyone. A level 70 Awakened was as rare as finding a four-leaf clover. Achieving this level required breaking through three significant limiters, making a level 70 Awakened possess god-like powers capable of world-scale destruction.
*****************
Outside the barrier, a large crowd of reporters and civilians gathered around the restricted area. People from multiple cities had come to witness the extraordinary event. News channels from across the empire were present, broadcasting the monumental news live.
"Last night a huge scripture made-up of ice appear out of thin air. Inside of it remains a monster. Whose origin is unclear till now."
"A new type of monster appeared in the middle of the city last night."
"What is the ORDER even doing? If something like that came to the land of the holy city, which is supposed to be the safest in the world. Then what is the meaning of ORDERs existence."
"The new type of monster appeared, it seems to have the element of ice. Capable of froze the entire city block."
Many reporters trying their best to get information on the situation inside the barrier.
Questioning the guards uncontrollably.
"W-what is the situation inside?"
"How many died had occurred in this incident?"
"What will happened to the civilians?"
"Is that a new kind of monster or a secret hidden by the ORDER?"
"Is the rumour about the involvement of a platinum rank true?"
An endless barrage of questions was directed at the agents guarding the entrance, all fueled by a desperate desire for answers.
The reporters, driven by fear and trepidation, pressed on relentlessly. Despite the constant barrage of inquiries, the guards remained unresponsive, their silence as unyielding as a stone statue at the front of the house.
From the distance, a luxury car slowly approached the crowd of reporters. On the front grille of the car hanged a black number plate, written a single word 'Marshal'.
"Hey, look at that car!" seeing the approaching car a reporter said to his colleague,"Is that the car of a marshal?"
"W-What? Are you dreaming?" the other reporter replyed."Why the highest ranking awakened ....."
Before he could have completed his words, his jaw falls. Realising the situation he yelled "W-Why a marshal is here?!!"
His voice notified the other reporters. A sudden discussion spread among them about why a marshal, ranking second only to a king , came to such a place.
The marshal's car stoped infront of the entry of the restricted area. The unmoved guards guarding the entrance almost immediately ran towards the approaching car, politely open the door of the car.
"Is this really a Marshal?"
"Na, it can't be. Must be a assistant or something?"
"If a marshal is involve in it, then their must be more to the story then we thought."
Among the reporters many questions were borns along with their answers made by themselves.
The door slowly opened. From the inside a cane made-up of a black spiritual tree came out, gently stroke the ground beneath it.
In a instant a massive burst of spiritual energy lunch from the cane. Completely crushed the crowd of reporters in it.
'W-W..What is going on? ' a reporter completely frozen under the Marshal's aura questions himself 'Just a moment ago I was fine. But why can't I? No I know this. I remember, this is the aura release technique.'
He understood the meaning to possessing an aura. After all only those worms had broken their first limit possessed an aura.
With the support of his cane, a old man wearing a three piece suit and a hat, came out of the car.
"Calm down children." the old man said very gently. "This kind of behaviour is appropriate for professionals like you all."
Upon the echoes of his gentle voice, the overwhelming aura subsided. Realising the reporters from the heavy crushing pressure.
"I...It can't be!" the reporters murmured silently. "The messenger, Marshal lord Gustav Gabriel !"
Stroking his long white beard, the old man glanced at them, with his eyes covered in a fancy looking eye patch.
He gave them a quick smile and walked towards the restricted area.
Inside the barrier two officer finished collecting the scattered bodies of the fallen awakened. They covered the body with a white cloth. Removing their gloves and full body apron they breathe a sigh of relief.
"Man these people died a pritty disgusting death",said the officer. "I don't want to be rude to the death but still..."
"People may things awakened are some cool superheros, but they never know the ugliness of this job"
"You are correct." a mysterious voice came from behind, "Nobody will ever understand the pain we fell."
The officers looked at the source of voice almost immediately.
Albedo was there, sitting beside the death bodies. There was deep sorrow visible through his lime green eyes. He closed his eyes and prayed to their souls."May you find peace in the land after."
"Oh...Ah. My lady, you shouldn't be here." the officer said to Albedo very politely. Assuming Albedo was a young lady from a novel clan. A novel, well yes. But Albedo was no lady.
Although it was not his fault, looking at Albedo's strikingly beautiful face, framed by his scarlet hair, conveyed a profound and mesmerizing allure. His features, illuminated by the light, seemed to possess an otherworldly grace that drew attention and admiration. The combination of his radiant appearance and the vivid color of his hair created an impression of extraordinary beauty that was both captivating and unforgettable.
"Don't worry about that."said Albedo "There is no place in the empire where I can't go."
"What? My lady, may I check your entry permission?"
"Ah.. permission I don't have any."
"What? Then how did you enter this barrier?"
"Oh. That's simple." said Albedo,"You just need to manipulate the barrier using your spiritual energy. Then you can just make a hole in it to enter."
"What is she talking about?"
**************
Upon the arrival of the old man, the head of investigation came immediately to greeted him.
"It is my greatest horner to be in your presence, my lord." the head of investigation bowed slightly,"I am Jeena Sa, chef of this investigation, silver rank six stars and capital of the 'shooting stars'."
"What is the situation here,child." Gustav asked.
"Three awakened have died, they all belong to the same party. Also a half destroyed body of a shadowless. Probably send by an Abyss Lord to investigate living realm." she pause for a moment and continued,"and a abnormal monster. We are unable to find anything related to it. There is no information about it in ORDER's monsters records. Are you aware of it's species, my lord."
From the moment Gustav arrived, he had been looking at the ice structure. After looking at that for a few more moments he said,"So it's his doing."
"Ah. So do you know something, my lord?"
He gave a chuckle in response to her question,"About the monster, no. Never saw that before. However I do know about person who casted that ice structure."
"Wh-What? Who my lord?" Jeena asked surprisingly.
"Do't worry about that child."
Saying so Gustav walked away, Noticing a particular shade of scarlet.
*************
"Sorry my lady. But you need to came with me to answer some questions."
"Can I deny?"
" Y-you can't just say no!"
The officer approached Albedo trying to take him in custody.
"So there you are. I knew you are behind this."
The officer blinked his eyes, before his could ever open it Gustav had already appeared between Albedo and the officer.
"Oh....Oh, my god! When did you came here?" screamed the officers.
Ignoring the officers, Gustav knelt on one knee, displaying his utmost respect for Albedo.
"I Gustav Gabriel bow to the crown of destruction, to the thirteenth headed king. The slayer of a thousand dragon, Lord Albedo Samael."
"Aa.Aa...Albedo Samael! You mean one of the thirteen kings!"
The officers were visibly shaking, fear apparent in their faces. Afterall they had insulted an entity, that hailed supreme in this world.
They felled down on their knees, without a moments hesitation.
"Pi-Please forgive us my lord!"
"Please spears ours lives."
Albedo was surprised by their reactions. It has been a while since somebody showed him any respect. He may be a king, but his free spirited nature made his subordinates talked friendly. Maybe a little too friendly. But for Albedo it was never disrespect but a familiar filling, a filling he once shared with his siblings.
"Oh. Don't warry. I don't mind at all.", said Albedo with a warm smile.It made the officers heart at ease.
"And beside...."
"Stop with this nonsense and tell me what happened here."
Albedo was about to say something, but interrupted by the old man.
"hay. Just a second ago you were knelling before me.", continued Albedo with his fake teary eyes,"An- And now you are being rude."
This fake act of Albedo made the old man somewhat guilty. He wanted to apologized to Albedo.
"Ah.. please, ah. Forgi...."
"Don't apologies to him, Lord Gustav." an angry voice of a lady stopped the old man from apologizing.
Knowing the owner of the voice, Albedo's fake act stopped.
A young lady, bruises all over her body. Her eyes were sink deep, due to leaked of sleep.
"Mira, what a surprise! Why are you here?"
"Oh, please. Stop that lord Albedo. You are the one who called me and said it a emergency. I was on a mission, you know. Then here I am healing a kid all night."
Mira was completely frustrated. First Albedo summoned her from the capital city, then ordered her to take care of a brat. And now acting like he has no idea, she was in the city.
"Well then. Now that you are here, i got a job for you."
"What is it?" Mira sighed.
"An officer will came running, reporting about a second body of a Herald. I want you to use your divination arts to find out, who killed it."
"What?" Gustav asked surprised.
Mira paused,"Why don't you do it yourself. Your future seeing skill is better than any divination."
"There is something I need to do, right now."
She was not surprised. She knew Albedo better than anyone. She had been working with him for over six decade now.
"You know Lord Albedo? Every time I see you, you remind me of my old refrigerator."
"Is it because I am cool and classic." he smiled with a smug face.
"Oh no. It's just that you both are waste of space."
The old man chuckled. He was agreed with the statement.
**************
'I almost died there. I need to be more strong. That's the only way.'
A certain young man with dark golden hair, was walking on the street, early in the morning.
'But I know. That ever I do it's useless.' Luke's heart filled with agony, 'No metter What I do I can't go past level 8.'
"May be this is my limit." grinding his teeth in frustration Luke spoke aloud.
"Hay kid. What are you doing here."
Mira called for Luke from behind.
"M-Miss Mira. Good morning." Luke turned back.
"What so good about this morning?" Mira's veins popping out.
Realising her frustration, Luke slightly bowed.
"I heard you were looking after Jasmine, the whole night . After I left him in the hospital. Thankyou for your help miss."
Looking at Luke's polite manner her anger subsided.
"You are good with words kid. Only a certain someone be like you." she stopped, not wanting to remembered Albedo face, " if you keep going like this I might fell head over heels for you. What you say, wanna be my boyfriend."
"I humbly rejected." Luke rejected her liked people rejected the annoying shopkeepers, when they kept asking to buy some rendom stuffs.
"Why You brat!"
"Lord Albedo told me to find a second shadowless body." fearing her wreath Luke hurriedly changed the topic.
"Same here." she took the bait.
Walking to the location Albedo gave them, they reached near an old building.
"Ofcourse they didn't find the body. The place is completely isolated from people." Luke analysed the area.
"What's the most mysterious is the one who killed it." Mira observed the corpse, " Maybe they killed it by a cursed art."
She examined the creature more thoroughly and came to an conclusion.
"No it can't be."
"What's wrong."
"There is no use of spiritual energy in this. It's like a natural death."
"Well, it maybe a natural death."
"No you idiot. This creature is born from the spiritual energy of an Abyss Lord. It's give them ageless immortality."
"So they can't die naturally."
Mira made a circle with her spiritual energy. Sat next to the corpse. Begin her divination.
Divination Arts were quite distinct from other forms of magic. They were often more complex and difficult to control. The primary challenge lay in the nature of divination itself, which involved perceiving the past and future by immersing the caster's psyche into the flow of time and space. This deep connection was essential for making accurate predictions.
However, even the slightest mistake could result in the caster's psyche becoming lost forever within the endless currents of time.
But that was not the case with Mira. Afterall she possessed an unique skill[protractor].
An incredibly powerful skill that protected she from all backlashes for all skills and arts.
So, she was basically risk free from anything she cast.
[Divination Art: Remembrance of forgotten past]
She imbued she spiritual energy in the corpse. Through the corpse she entered the flow the time.
Seeing future was easy compair to seeing the past. Since she needs to went opposite to the flow of time to saw the past.
[Unique skill: Protector]
The risks came from opposing the flow of time was no longer. She cast her divination.
'So this is divination. I never saw it before.' Luck thought.
After a moment the divination completed.
"Did you find out who killed it."
"Y-,Yes I saw glimpsed of something."
"What is it?"
"A....A... Mo.. Monster." Mira's voice was trembling with terror.
"What happened." Luke put a hand on Mira's shoulder.
"Tha...That th.. thing had red eyes." blood spread out of her mouth.
"Miss Mira!" Luke was completely panicked.
"I know what that's mean. I knew it." she started to cry," It... it's means only one thing. The reason it shows itself to me..... that thing."
"Miss Mira what happened?"
" it...it..... it's on..ly one thing. The creature was beyond the concept of time."
"What are you taking about?"
"When I try to look at its soul. I...I saw that."
"What did you saw miss?"
"Th...The.....The....."
Blood flowed through her eyes, creaked started to open in her eyes. In a moment her eyes ignite in true crimson flames.
**********************
In the distance, the fire of a dragon blazed like the combined fury of hundreds of suns, engulfing a city in an unending inferno that seemed to burn for eternity.
Albedo sat calmly on a cliff, holding a bottle of fine wine.
"I gaze upon the bridge of fire,
Burning bright through endless years,
Consuming souls, a fierce desire,
Igniting both my hopes and fears.
It sears the wretched, foul, and lost,
Yet stirs a pleasure in my heart;
Amidst the flames, I feel the cost,
Of sorrows past that won't depart.
I stand in silence, lost in thought,
Unable to laugh, nor shed a tear;
In this bright blaze, my spirit's caught,
A flicker of hope, a spark of fear."
"It's been a.... what? Like four thousand years. But the flames I ignited that day still burning, still the same." Albedo drunk the wine.
[Skill: Poison Nullification (X)]
"Oh! Come on!" Albedo clicked his tongue.
"Why are we here Albedo?" A deep, inhumane voice came from Albedo's heart.
"Ah....to have a drink, of course."
"I can see that,....but don't you have more important matter right now?"
"Yas, but when ever I see it burning, I feel satisfied. I feel peace."
Albedo glazed at the dragon's fire. Satisfied but also a sorrow deep with in.
"You have time to see it anytime you want. Since a dragon's fire burns endlessly."
"What are you trying to imply, Dahara?" Albedo questioned.
"He is right Albedo. Shouldn't you have gone there, instead of her?" Another inhumane voice came from his heart, but this was a bit female.
"She will be fine. I can see the future remember. Well.... expect for one."
He looked at the distance. Took a sip of the wine.
"What do you think? Who will win? If we fight. He and me. No holding back."
"You are strong Albedo. Perhaps one of the strongest. Even among the kings, you are the second strongest." Dahara sighed, "But that boy is beyond you and me."
Albedo smiled. Like he knew the answer. Well he truly knew the answer. After all he could saw everything.
"You are right. I will lose."
"I am not concerned about that boy. But rather that entity that blessed him." Said Chronola.
"That is correct. Mira could be burned by that crimson flames." said the flame Dragon.
"That's exactly what I want."
"What do you mean?" Dahara narrowed his eyes.
"When she will burn by the crimson flames, he will used his unique skill to reversed the effect." Cronola answered his question.
"That's right, Chronola. It can also give her some very useful skills."
"Then what about the other child. Whose future even I the dragon of time can't see?"
Chronola was worryed. She was the dragon of time. A entity that existed beyond time and space. And the controler of time, couldn't saw Jasmine's fate.
"I don't know."
Albedo was careless. Like always.
"I see "
"I thought so."
Some might called it his carelessness, but the two dragon, whome existed within Albedo for over three thousands years, knew him very well.
"So that are you planning." asked the flame Dragon.
"Who...me? N-Nothing at all. But I am curious, what could resist a time dragon's ability?"
Albedo was not sure what caused it. But whatever that may be, overpowering a dragon was no easy task. Since dragon were considered the strongest of all beings.
"Even if you can't see his future. You can see it through your own. Don't you?"
Albedo was not able to saw Jasmine's fate. He can't, even with the power of the dragon of time. But there was another way. Afterall he could saw his own. By seeing his own fate, he could saw Jasmine's future, who was connected to him.
"Yes, but partially." said Albedo.
"Even partially, we can see the destruction that will happen." Chronola warned Albedo.
"Yes, but I will chang it."
Albedo was determined.
"You can't change the fate, Albedo."
The fate can't be changed. That's an law. Made by the creator, unchanged and absolute.
"I can try."
Chronola sighed.
"I told you to killed that kid." Dahara narrowed his eyes.
Albedo looked at the burning flames. A picture of an woman flashed before him.
"I couldn't do it, Dahara. When I see him. He remained me of myself." Albedo grasped his chest."He remained me of the pain I felt."
Suddenly, Albedo felt very apprehensive. A cold sensation spread through his chest.
"Then let me ask you, what will you do when that time cames?"
"l will stop him. Even if it's means giving my own life."
"But, I don't understand.Why are you going to such..." Dahara was interrupted by Albedo.
"It's simple my friend." Albedo grinned, " It's been thousands of years since my heart beat like this."
Albedo turned his gaze. His expression were completely changed. He was sad a moment ago, and now he was thrilled.
Albedo laughed heartily.
"I have found them after all those times. Children with potential to surpass me. I....I can see it clearly, Dahara. A future full of fun. Mark my words Dahara. The fun is about to begin."