There was a tale of two kingdoms that lived in harmony but then...everything had changed when a small thing in a specific moment caused the two kingdoms to destroy one another for the rest of their lives...
And so fifteen years in the present day, in the kingdom Gladius, there was a young boy named Ryder Sonnet, who after being taken in by a young age under the Gladius military is known by the alias "Rapier" as he has been known for using a rapier sword when killing enemies.
"Hey captain, you did very well out there!" One of his colleagues said.
Ryder looked back with an emotionless face and did nothing else but nod at his colleague
"I guess captain ain't much of a talker isn't he?" The colleague said.
"Well considering his past, he's quite the private and reserved person." Lucien said.
"Ryder has a cold and small-talk kind of person considering he is an introvert and was separated from his family at such a young age, he endured the harsh training and became the strongest warrior in the history of Gladius." Lucien explained.
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*Flashback of Ryder's past*
"Well I see a very nice young boy here, you would make a fine soldier in the Gladius military." The officer said as he grabbed Ryder's arm roughly.
"Stop! Let go of my son!" Ryder's mother cried out, begging for them to let go of Ryder who was just a young boy.
"Mom, Dad, please help me!" Ryder cried out.
"Ryder!" Both of them cried out and wanted to get him back.
But it was no use as the soldiers eventually took him away to a youth camp where he was trained with fellow young children from rural areas.
When he arrived at the capital city, he did not know that he was about to experience a rough and rigorous environment as it was designed to break down the recruits emotionally and mold them into becoming the elite soldiers of the military.
Ryder faced such grueling physical training, intense combat drills, and strict discipline towards their superiors.
One day as he was training, he encountered a fellow youth soldier just like him, the kid who appeared before him had blonde hair with tan skin, had brown eyes and reached out his hand towards him.
"Well hello there, the name's Lucien, you seem to be a fellow recruit like me, aren't you?" Lucien said.
"Yeah, you're right." Ryder said nervously.
"I guess you're a bit of a shy type but that doesn't matter, I'm sure we'll get to know each other more." Lucien said.
"Yeah, I guess you're right with that one." Ryder said.
"So, may I ask, what are you going to do once you've graduated from this area and leave this place." Lucien asked.
"Well for me, I want to see my family again because I've been separated from them and I really miss them." Ryder said.
"That's a really meaningful goal, well I guess I'll help you with that goal." Lucien said.
"Really?" Ryder said in shock.
"Yup, I'll be your assistant and I'll make sure you become the strongest warrior this place has ever seen." Lucien chuckled.
"That's very thoughtful of you, Lucien. I accept." Ryder said with a smile.
As the years have passed, Ryder's skills have begun to flourish. He excelled very well in the field of swordsmanship, archery, and strategy earning him the respect of his peers and his instructors.
His determination was fueled by the memories of his family and the hope of one day reuniting with them.
By the age of eighteen, Ryder had risen through the ranks in becoming one of the kingdom's promising young warriors.
His exceptional skills with the rapier swords earned him the moniker of "Rapier" and as his reputation began to spread, he started to be known as "Rapier Sonnet" for his unmatched precision and skill with his rapiers.
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Meanwhile in the rivalling kingdom known as Clypeus, a warrior by the name of Benedict Astaroth, a young orphan who trained himself in the arts of an axe and shield combination, as he grew up, he became Clypeus strongest warrior and was dubbed "Securis".
"Captain Benedict, we are called." A Clypeus soldier said to Benedict.
"And so I'm told, well then, go and prepare the troops, I'll be preparing myself for my inevitable meeting with the so-called 'strongest warrior of Gladius.'" Benedict said sarcastically as he got up and stretched his muscles.
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*A flashback of Benedict begins to play in his mind*
Benedict Astaroth was born in a noble family in the kingdom of Clypeus. His father who was known as Lord Adam Astaroth was a respected general in the king's army and his mother, Lady Seraphina was a woman known for her grace and exceptional intelligence.
Benedict's early years were filled with luxuries and privileges of being nobility, but his parents instilled him the values of being honorable and being courageous.
When Benedict reached the age of twelve, his seemingly perfect life was shattered before his very eyes as a brutal invasion from the kingdom of Gladius.
In a surprise attack, the enemy forces manage to breach through the defenses of Clypeus and went to storm the Astaroth' estate.
Benedict's father went ahead and fought against the enemy forces valiantly to protect his family, but the Gladius invaders were relentless.
In the chaos that occurred Benedict had witnessed the brutal murder of his parents at the hands of the Gladius soldiers.
"Ha! What are you going to do now little boy, you let your dear mommy and daddy die because you are weak and have no power." The Gladius knight said as he stepped on him.
"Arghh" Benedict cried out as he was being kicked by the knight.
"And now, we're going to take away your dear little sister!" The Gladius knight mocked him.
"No! Please stop it!" Benedict cried out, attempting to stop the knights from taking away his dear little sister.
He tried to protect his younger sister, Elara, but she was sadly taken away by the invaders leaving Benedict traumatized and alone.
A few days later, Benedict was found by a group of Clypeus soldiers who had survived the invasion.
They took the young Benedict to refuge in the mountains where he was nursed back to health.
"Where am I?" Benedict asked the people around him when he woke up.
"You're here in the mountains, we found you lying on the ground but we're glad that you are alive." The Clypean knight said.
Consumed by grief and rage, Benedict bowed to avenge the murder of his dear parents and locate the whereabouts his lost sister.
"I swear, I will find whoever took away the people I love the most, I will make them suffer what I have suffered and show them no remorse!" Benedict cried out angrily, vowing revenge.
The soldiers, recognizing his determination and potential, began to train him in the world of war and combat.
Under their tutelage, Benedict learned all about combat, all about strategies, and how to utilize weapons.
Benedict himself used a battle axe and a shield, channeling his pain and grief into strength and skill.
"Young Benedict has the skill and perseverance, he has a bright future ahead of him." The Clypean knight said.
"You're right on that one, I hope he manages to fulfill his goal, he's been training tirelessly because of it." The other knight said.
As the years had passed, Benedict's combat prowess had grown, he had become known for his ferocity and unwavering resolve in battle. His preferred weapon of choice, his battle axe, which acts as an extension of his rage, earned him the moniker "Securis".
While his shield acts as a symbol of his determination to protect those he loved and had his family emblem as a memory of his vow.
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Currently, Benedict is leading the frontal assault against Rapier and his men by the river and the battle was known as "The Battle of Destined Fates" as the two strongest warriors of different kingdoms have crossed paths and see who will be the best.
They eventually reach the battlefield with both men leading their armies to destroy their opponents with both Ryder and Benedict charging at one another, ready to strike down the very opponent before them, Ryder swings his rapier sword at Benedict but he parries his attack using his shield and then he uses the opportunity to catch Ryder off guard by swinging his axe but he blocks it using his rapier but was knocked back to the ground.
"You're not bad yourself, Clypean!" Ryder said as he got up, ready to fight again.
"Let's see how long you can last in the battlefield, Rapier." Benedict stated, as he prepared to make his next move.
Both of them could feel an adrenaline-like rush inside their bodies, it's as if they had finally found someone of equal strength, equal value and equally powerful as them, they felt like they didn't have the need to hold back anymore as they had both finally found themselves a worthy opponent worth defeating.