Vrmm-
The main city hall, the city's heart, is covered in flames.
Then there was a figure, cloaked in a dark robe, a symbol of a crescent moon, and a star symbol on the back of his robe.
His mere presence weakened everyone, causing them to collapse in sheer fear
There lie five other men, each radiating the aura of a high 7th-tier prowess.. The one leading them was none other than the strongest one out of all of them
A 9th-tier presence stood before them. Achieving such prowess required immense resources, talent, and, most importantly, opportunities.
With a wave of his hand, the whole area was in lockdown. The sky was covered in darkness, not even a speck of moonlight made it past the barrier.
Step
Step
The man slowly walked towards the flaming tower, while shrieks of death pierced through the flames.
Those who didn't faint out of sheer pressure were experiencing intense pain of burning to death.
Then in an instant, a peak 8th-tier presence shielded over the building, mana churning around to cool down the raging flames.
By then, the flames had finally gone out, unveiling multiple people, to be exact, only eight of them came out unscathed, while multiple other people had fresh burning skin on some body parts.
One would consider each out of the fourteen people to be a powerful powerhouse in the empire. Yet there were fourteen of such powerful beings in one area.
A person with the prowess of even a 6th-tier mage was considered rare on the continent, one can easily dominate a small region of the empire, yet there was a 9th tier ranked person here. One that a peasant cannot witness in their lifetime. Such beings were rare, extremely rare. If one swore their allegiance to the empire, one would instantly be given the title of a Duke.
The Karvia Empire only has four dukes that have reached a level of 8th tier, yet such a person is here. Attacking the city of Ardentis, with multiple 7th-tier people.
The city lord of Ardentis, Marquess John Ezekiel, eluding a presence of the 7th tier, stepped out of the group with a heavy frown on his face as sweat was forming upon his forehead.
"..May we ask what business you have with us..?"
The cloaked person glanced his intent towards the Marquess. Making him shudder in his powers.
A normal 7th-tier person can easily level a count-leveled city, yet there was a presence of a 9th tier, one which can threaten the empire alone has appeared in such a remote place. Nothing worth of value was here.
If one compared the prowess between an 8th tier to a 9th tier, it was comparing a human baby to a full-grown healthy adult.
Then a disbelief answer appeared in John's mind.
He proceeded to ask with fear in his voice, emanating out.
"...Are you here for the students?"
The man grinned, seemingly hitten right on the spot.
The professors next to the Marquess frowned even deeper. They hadn't expected that a 9th-tiered person would target the future talent of the empire. Only one group dared to do that.
'The Syndicate.'
An organization that rivals the Union, an alliance between all races on the continent meant to protect against the demons. The Syndicate allied themselves with the demons, a secretive faction that no kingdoms or empires dared to discuss due to the humiliation it represented.
Then the man's heavy voice rang out.
"Well. We should get going."
"..!"
The members of the Syndicate rushed out towards them. Seven rushed out of the group to combat each of the other members.
Multiple other hidden people came out and ruthlessly attacked other people, who were guarding the city hall, yet only two people remained standing amidst the chaos.
Cloaked in a robe, he took off his mask and his hood, only to reveal the scar across the left side of his face.
"..!"
The other man stared in shock and his voice, covered with bloodlust, spoke.
"..I should've killed you back then. I didn't think you would've survived that fall, Darius…"
Darius grinned even wider, a maniac grin replied.
"Indeed Eilot, it's been a long time since we last met. When was it? Oh right, If I am correct, it was nearly nine years ago. How is your left arm doing? Does it still sting whenever you draw out your sword!? Hahaha."
Eilot clenched his teeth, the memory of the Battle of Tarok came flooding back—the injury that nearly destroyed his arm. The injury he suffered had severe demonic mana in it, rendering almost all potions and holy powers useless.
Leading to his mana veins in his left arm to be severely inefficient to channel mana through without harming it. It was not caused by a demon, but by a dear comrade who betrayed him during the battle
"How is it? Being weakened by our latest battle, we both exchanged multiple moves until you and I were severely injured. That being said, we also have a scar on our face. How wonderful is that?"
Darius laughed so hard before he continued.
"While you got weaker, I've only gotten stronger! Now Eilot, would you come with me to join the Syndicate? We will make you even stronger and even treat that injury of yours, which even the Holy Kingdom was unable to treat!"
Darius extended his hand, feigning goodwill.
"Will you accept my offer Eilot? We can go back to the old times!"
He laughed again, raising his hands to the sky, only to be met with a cold gaze from Eilot.
"...There is no way I would join that atrocious group of beings who aren't even considered human anymore."
Darius' brows slightly furrowed and led to a frown.
"Fine, then let's settle this, for the last time."
In an instant, a shockwave swept the surroundings as two swords clashed.
Intense mana emanated through each exchange of blows. Causing both allies and enemies alike to be harmed.
A battle of that level can change the very geography of this land.
But they kept the massive area of effects to a minimum. Both sides know very well, they can't go all out because of their allies. Yet each blow was devastating.
Baaam—!
A kick swooped in and connected with Eilot's body, yet he retaliated with a kick from him.
Clang—!
Two swords met against each other again, both sides interlocked their eyes between each other.
"How is that Eilot? Look how strong I've gotten! Even though you somehow can match my prowess, it won't be long till you run out of mana. Reconsider my offer, my dear friend."
'..'
"Silence is your answer then?"
"..."
"Fine. I will end this now. Goodbye."
Sling—!
A powerful swing stuck Eilot's side, causing him to groan in pain as he was pushed back all the way to the barrier.
He struggled to stand up and used his sword to firmly make him stand up. His injuries were severe, multiple wounds of demonic energy in them had begun to weaken his ability to use mana.
'...The same thing is happening again.'
Eilot thought to himself, the same situation was happening just like nine years ago. But this time, it wasn't an even playing field. It was a brutal one-sided beating.
'But this time it will be different.'
He took out a small note, a note handed by Alyssa right after she left the classroom to board the airship.
"Only read it when you are at a dead end."
'I didn't know what she meant, but did she predict this?'
Darius was puzzled.
'Why is he pulling out a piece of paper? I'll let him take his time, as that headmaster isn't arriving anytime soon.'
Darius smirked as he looked at Eilot's face. Those on the brink of death often display intriguing traits—sacrificing themselves for their comrades or clinging to something dear in their final moments.
And Eilot is no different from them.
Meanwhile, Eilot was in shock as he read the note.It was the secret for breaking through to the 9th tier. Eilot's eyes widened in shock as he read the rest of the note.
Darius noticed this too, yet he allowed Eilot to take his time.
There are so many people stuck in the peak of the 8th tier, yet so few have broken through. It is said that to break through, one needs to find it out themselves, everybody's breakthrough into the 9th tier is unique.
'..if this is revealed to the whole world, the current power system will change drastically. But is this true?.'
"Who is she?"
He muttered out loud, catching the attention of Darius who was looking at him with amusement in his eyes.
"Who is she? Why are you suddenly out of your mind?"
On the note, it reads:
[ The breakthrough method for you is not unique. Everybody gets this wrong, one says you have to meditate for a full year, while others say you must experience hell or go through a deadly battle to break through. Yet they are all wrong. It's not unique but the method that everyone uses to get there is unique. The basic way to break through is to inflict severe damage to your mana core.
Inflicting severe damage to your mana core, allows your life energy to seep out from the deepest part of your core. You need to combine that life force in which everyone's perspective is different, which leads to the saying that everyone's breakthrough is unique.
So you can stab straight into your mana core, a small bulb, and breakthrough instantaneously.
The moment you open this note, it's either because you're on the verge of death or driven by pure curiosity. So trust me. ]
'.. Then I will trust you, Alyssa.'
He burned the paper, knowing it was too dangerous to leave behind. And he looked towards Darius.
"Wonderful, now are you accepting your death or accepting my deal?"
Eilot grinned and replied.
"I won't accept either of them."
Then, in an instant, he willed enough mana to convert into sword aura on his blade. While Darius got prepared to intercept the upcoming attack. He was left in a daze. .
It wasn't an attack aiming towards him. It was towards himself, to be specific, his mana core in his lower abdomen.
Eilot struck and it pierced through the core, just enough to pierce deep enough that the so-called Life Energy was seeping out.
An unfamiliar sensation of serene power began leaking within him. It was difficult to describe, as if it were both present and absent at the same time.
Darius's eyes widened in shock as he witnessed the unfolding scene. The sheer disbelief on his face was tangible.
All the professors, the Marquess, and his guard looked towards them in shock.
All the Syndicate members, and the remaining guards who were still alive, also looked in shock.
Fear crept up against the professors and others in its vicinity,
Multiple thoughts came up between all of them.
'So this was a futile battle as even Eilot can't defeat that man.'
Mira Isolde thought to herself as she looked around.
All professors and even the Marquess were heavily injured, but the enemies were not looking too great as well.
Yet the outcome of this battle depended on Eilot's victory. But they all knew they had no hope against a 9th-tier person who even Eilot, the strongest professor here can't even manage to injure that man.
'It was all futile.'
But out of nowhere, another 9th-tier presence was revealed. It's pressure added onto another 9th-tier pressure, making everyone quiver in fear.
'...! To think there was another grandmaster here!'
Then in an instant, Darius moved and prepared his strongest technique against Eilot.
'[Abyssal Strike]!'
An enormous amount of mana and aura was in that strike. He couldn't allow Eilot to succeed in breaking through. Yet, it was too late.
Kling-
His strongest skill was blocked.
Eilot only laughed.
"You always were gullible...friend. You have always been one step behind me in battle. This time will be the same."
In an instant, Eilot disappeared and reappeared behind Darius. His aura skyrocketed, his sword poised to strike.
Darius widened his eyes in shock.
The speed, the energy—this wasn't Eilot's normal power, he succeeded in breaking through. He hadn't taken a single hit yet, but here he was, poised to die.
In his last moments, Darius looked back, his eyes filled with fear.
Slash—!
A clean cut severed his head.