🕵️♂️ Omniscient POV 🕵️♂️
Three days ago, after the war between Kael, the great-grandson of Adam, and the Direbrinbares, a terrifying race of magical monsters, a sinister event transpired.
As Kael's presence diminished, a hand surged out of the remains of the Direbrinbares. It was a giant red hand with sharp claws. A cry was heard as the hand struggled to touch the ground. When it finally did, another hand surged out, also struggling to touch the earth.
After the two hands were firmly placed upon the earth's crust, a head emerged, and the remains of the Direbrinbares took on a humanoid form.
The being stood up, emitting a terrifying aura that shook the entire forest. Its body was covered in red scales, and it was slightly taller than the Trollocs. Black spots dotted its body, and its two black eyes were set deep within its wide mouth, filled with teeth as sharp as its claws.
It was a curse—the first-born curse in the realm of Aetheria. Born from the essences of the Direbrinbares, it was the new-born king of the Direbrinbares, and it was born to serve only one being.
"The Great Lord Kael," it called out, its eyes scanning the environment. It understood its first assignment in the Forest of Aethralis.
"My lord labored day and night to rebuild this forest. Those lowlife monsters..." It clenched its fists, its breath seething with rage. Its presence alone was chaotic.
"I won't let my lord's efforts go in vain," it added and immediately commenced work.
It took it upon itself to rebuild the forest, completing the task within a day. It didn't stop there but also nurtured the plants to maturity, which took another two days.
And on this present day, it felt the presence of its master and decided to hide, fearing its master's reaction upon seeing it. So, it hid in its shadow.
But Kael was no novice in this world. He was a Radiant Adept, the third stage of being a Nexus Stage. Kael sensed it and forced it to emerge from his shadow.
"I apologize for putting you in a state of panic, my lord," the curse said, bowing.
Kael thought he hadn't heard correctly, but his acuity was unparalleled. The fact that the curse was kneeling still shocked him the most. The only person to turn to was Alexa. Only the system could enlighten him on what was really going on.
"Alexa, who is he and why is he calling me 'my lord'?" he asked, gazing at the red creature in front of him.
[This is the new king of the Direbrinbares. He is the first-born curse in this realm. He was born out of the essences left behind by the Direbrinbares that were crushed by the Flower Magic.]
"A curse," Kael muttered incredulously.
"Yes. I'm a curse, my lord," it replied, still bowing.
Kael was still in shock, trying to remember where he had heard of a curse. He ransacked his brain but came up with nothing.
[Notice: Since it was your magic that destroyed the Direbrinbares, the new king of the Direbrinbares is directly linked to you.]
Alexa's voice filled his ears, and he sighed. "Rise."
Immediately, the red being stood up. It was so tall that Kael had to look up to see its face.
'How can she say this monster is linked to me? This thing could kill me,' he thought as his body shivered. Then he recalled something.
"How were you able to come out of my shadow?" Kael asked, staring in disbelief.
"It's your blessing, master," it said, its voice resonating with power.
[Notice: Your unique skill, Shadow Movement, has been given to the new-born curse.]
"Why? Why on earth would you give this curse my unique skill? Tell me why, Alexa!" he screamed, venting his anger on a tree.
[I did nothing.]
"That's a lie! You created the curse. You gave him my skill. What other skills did you give him?" Kael demanded, gripping the tree.
[The unique skill, Poison Breathing.]
"No," he cried harder, shaking the tree vigorously until he realized he was holding a tree. He scanned the environment and saw many trees.
"Did you do this?" he asked the curse. Kael knew for sure that there had been no trees in this part of the forest.
"Yes, master. Do you like it?"
"Like? I love this," he said, spreading his arms. He was overwhelmed with joy. Tyran would be pleased.
"Thank you, master," the curse replied, but Kael didn't respond. He continued his journey, thinking the monster would turn back, but the curse trailed behind him.
"Why are you following me? Don't you have something to do or somewhere to go?" Kael asked out of frustration. He was heading towards the Armed Nation of Dwargon and couldn't afford to take a monster with him—not just a monster, but a new-born curse.
"I live to serve only you, master," the curse reminded him, and Kael sighed and continued walking.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"I remain your humble servant, my lord. I remain nameless," it replied.
"Let me think of a name for you," Kael said, going deep into thought. He ransacked his brain, trying to find the perfect name for this curse.
"Since you're born from the essences of the Direbrinbares, which granted you the title of the new generational king of the Direbrinbares, I, Kael, the son of Adam, bestow upon you the name—Red King Dire," Kael declared, and the curse's body glowed brightly.
"Thank you, master. I shall exceed your expectations," Red King Dire said happily. Kael was surprised it loved the name. To him, the name was a horrible mix-up, but to the curse, it was the greatest gift ever.
"Now, get back into my shadow. I'll summon you when I need you," Kael commanded, and the curse jumped into his shadow at once.
"Not that I need you anyway," he mumbled under his breath and continued his journey to the Armed Nation of Dwargon.
It took him two days to reach the gate of the Armed Nation of Dwargon, where he had to queue with others entering the nation. Three guards were posted at the gate, securing the entrance and exit. The line was long as many people kept joining behind Kael. The guards were interrogating and searching everyone.
The only thing Kael carried was his sword. He overheard that he would have to exchange something for safe entry into the nation.
It was finally his turn, and he was interrogated. "What's your name?" the guard asked.
"I'm Kael," he replied. The guard was shocked when he saw Kael's face. It was the most handsome face he had ever seen.
Kael had healed completely and regained his light skin. His hair was now redder and longer than before.
"Sir, let me search him," said the second guard, who searched him but found nothing. He removed Kael's pouch and nearly unsheathed his sword, but the light it emitted nearly blinded him, forcing him to sheathe it back.
Both guards were shocked as they stared at Kael, who caressed his chin. "Can I have my sword back?" he asked, and they handed it to him.
This type of sword could only be wielded by nobles, but Kael didn't look noble. His attire was that of a commoner in the Armed Nation of Dwargon, leaving the guards confused.
They didn't delay him further and let him into the nation. He placed his sword back in its pouch and walked majestically until he was out of sight.
"You saw that weapon?" a man whispered to his comrade. They were also among those in the queue, waiting impatiently for their turn.
"I saw it, Monsol. It's worth a fortune," the other man replied. He was short, fat, and bald, with a protruding stomach and short arms. He was the complete opposite of Monsol, who was tall and hairy, with his black hair twisted in locks and a muscular frame. Silver rings adorned his beard, and he had his hands in his pockets.
"But I didn't get to see his face," the bald man added.
"Leave that to me, Bonzo. Crimson hair is rare in this region. He's an easy target," Monsol replied.
💥💥💥 Meanwhile 💥💥💥
Kael was scanning the area. The Armed Nation of Dwargon was a bustling city filled with people from different regions. It had a versatile trading system, and its markets were among the largest in the region.
Kael was in awe. Since he arrived in this world, he had never seen such a gathering. Beautiful ladies and handsome men were engaged in buying and selling. Laughter and voices filled the air, and the scent of ramen wafted into his nostrils, reminding him he hadn't eaten anything substantial for two days.
He approached a seller and watched as the vendor dished out a bowl of ramen for a customer. It looked delicious. He opened his mouth to ask for one when he saw the buyer give the seller some coins. It dawned on him that he had no money. Despite his hunger, Kael turned to leave, feeling a pang of disappointment.
"Do you want some ramen?" the old dwarf vendor asked, noticing Kael's longing gaze.
Kael's face lit up, and he nodded eagerly. The dwarf gestured for him to take a seat, which he did, albeit uncomfortably due to his sword pouch. He removed it and placed it beside him. The vendor served him a steaming bowl of ramen.
"I know this food," Kael exclaimed, staring at the bowl. "This is peppersoup indomie," he cried out, picking up the chopsticks. He devoured the dish within minutes. The old dwarf, surprised, served him another, and Kael finished it just as quickly.
In less than thirty minutes, Kael had finished eight dishes of ramen and was still eagerly waiting for more when he suddenly remembered his sword. He turned to where he had placed it, but it was gone. His eyes widened, and he stood up, scanning the area frantically.
"Did you see my sword?" he asked the old dwarf, who shook his head and continued his work.
"Where on earth is my sword?" Kael cried out, his anger rising.
[Notice: Your sword is in the Armed Nation of Dwargon. It is just 20 meters away.]
"Why are you only alerting me now?" Kael snapped at Alexa.
[Apologies, Master. Your focus on the ramen distracted you.]
Kael grumbled, frustrated, and quickly headed in the direction indicated by Alexa. He maneuvered through the bustling crowd, his eyes darting everywhere for a sign of his sword. He turned a corner and spotted a group of men huddled together, one of them holding his sword.
"There it is," Kael muttered, his anger boiling over.
He approached the group swiftly. "That's my sword," he declared, his voice cold and commanding.
The man holding the sword, Monsol, looked up and sneered. "Is it now? Looks like it belongs to me now."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Hand it over, or you'll regret it."
Monsol chuckled, clearly underestimating Kael. "You think you can intimidate me, boy?"
Without warning, Kael moved. In a blur of motion, he disarmed Monsol and reclaimed his sword. The other men in the group stepped back, startled by Kael's speed and precision.
"Next time, think twice before stealing from someone," Kael warned, his voice laced with menace. He sheathed his sword and turned to leave.
Monsol, recovering from his shock, growled and lunged at Kael with a dagger. Kael sensed the attack and dodged effortlessly, spinning around and delivering a powerful kick that sent Monsol sprawling to the ground.
"I warned you," Kael said, his voice now calm and steady. He walked away, leaving Monsol and his comrades stunned.
As Kael continued his journey through the city, he couldn't help but marvel at the vibrant life of the Armed Nation of Dwargon. Despite the theft attempt, he found himself enjoying the bustling atmosphere.
Eventually, he reached the central marketplace, where vendors sold all manner of goods, from exotic fruits to finely crafted weapons. He stopped at a stall selling maps and information.
"How can I help you, traveler?" the vendor, an elderly man with a kind face, asked.
"I need information about the Armed Nation of Dwargon. Specifically, I'm looking for someone who can help me understand the political and social structure here," Kael replied.
The vendor nodded and handed Kael a detailed map of the city. "You'll want to visit the Hall of Knowledge. It's the largest library in Dwargon and a hub for scholars and information seekers. You'll find it in the Scholar's District, just a short walk from here."
Kael thanked the vendor and made his way to the Scholar's District. As he walked, he couldn't shake the feeling that his journey in this new world was only beginning. With Red King Dire now under his command and the mysteries of the Armed Nation of Dwargon ahead, he knew he had to be prepared for whatever challenges lay in wait.
Upon reaching the Hall of Knowledge, Kael was struck by the grandeur of the building. It was an impressive structure, with towering columns and intricate carvings that depicted the history of Dwargon.
He entered the hall and was immediately surrounded by the scent of old books and the murmur of scholars deep in discussion. Kael approached the main desk, where a stern-looking woman greeted him.
"Welcome to the Hall of Knowledge. How may I assist you?" she asked.
"I'm looking for information on the political and social structure of Dwargon," Kael said. "I need to understand how things work here."
The woman nodded and directed him to a section of the library dedicated to Dwargon's governance and history. Kael spent hours poring over the texts, learning about the nation's intricate political alliances, its noble houses, and the power struggles that shaped its current state.
As the sun set, casting a warm glow through the hall's windows, Kael closed the last book and leaned back, deep in thought. He now had a clearer understanding of the forces at play in Dwargon. With this knowledge, he felt more prepared to navigate the challenges ahead and fulfill his mission.
His journey in the Armed Nation of Dwargon was just beginning, and Kael was determined to make the most of it.