Young Areyos' Point of View
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"What?? You learned a new technique from Barrios again!?" I asked to Kaiser.
"Ah ah, behold my blue flames! Do you know any other 10-year-old who can bend blue flames? I'm going to be invincible, muahaha!" Kaiser declared with a diabolical laugh.
"Calm down, Kaiser. Blue flames indeed have incredibly high powers multipliers, but you'll still need to train to push those multipliers to their full potential. Otherwise, the damage won't be much different from regular flames," Barrios said as he arrived behind Kaiser.
"Multipliers? What's that?" the young Kaiser asked.
"To put it simply, let's say that for the same amount of energy used, blue flames will be ten times hotter and more powerful than normal flames. So, the multiplier for blue flames is 10. However, this multiplier isn't at 10 from the start when you first discover blue flames. It usually hovers around 2 or 3, and it's up to you to train and improve it to reach 10."
"What!? So you're telling me that even if we both have the ability to create blue flames, yours would be hotter and more powerful than mine, even if we spend the same amount of energy?" the young Kaiser shouted.
"Ah ah ah, that's right, kiddo. Kaiser, Rey, remember what I'm telling you today: no matter how powerful an ability is, its effectiveness depends on the strength of its user—precisely, their stats."
"Understood," we both replied in unison.
"Great! Be good; I'm off to attend the funeral of a dear friend. I'll be back in two days. Keep training, and don't even think about entering any S-rank dungeons, got it?"
"Understood, sir," we said, snapping into a salute-like posture as if in the military.
"Excellent. Oh, one more thing—tomorrow's training will involve running around the kingdom 100 times on your hands, and the day after, you'll do 50 laps hopping on one hand, then 50 more hopping on the other. That's all."
"Ughhh, we hate you," we said simultaneously, letting out a loud groan.
"Ah ah ah, I love you too, my boys," he said with a wide grin on his face.
Areyos' Point of View
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That day, Barrios taught us something important: no matter how strong a power could become, its effectiveness depended on its wielder. If they weren't strong or resilient enough, it would impact the power's natural potential. The Peacock King was a divine beast, but also an invocation. And it was likely Valtor's lack of strength that severely limited a significant portion of the beast's power. That would explain why he couldn't control our minds for long or even stop time instead of merely slowing it down, risking our escape with high-speed techniques like 'Flash'.
Just as Erina and I thought we were about to die from the attack, something saved us.
"What is that!? A saber!?" Erina exclaimed.
"It's Dawnbreaker!" I shouted. In a spectacular manner, Dawnbreaker spun rapidly in front of us, blocking the sharp, deadly feathers of the Peacock King.
"Dawnbreaker ? What is it?" Erina asked, confused.
"It's the legendary saber of Thaleus."
"Seriously!? Where did you get it !? Did Barrios give it to you?" she exclaimed.
"That's right," I replied.
Suddenly, the saber unsheathed itself as if animated by a will of its own. A bluish glow danced across its ebony-black blade, cold and terrifying. The saber floated toward me, hovering in the air as if calling to me, daring me to grasp its hilt.
Hesitant, I reached out, and as soon as my fingers made contact, a wave of memories and sensations overwhelmed me, plunging me into a whirlwind of vivid images and intense emotions.
Scenes of colossal battles played out before my eyes, projected into my mind with striking clarity. I found myself transported to a battlefield littered with mutilated, smoking bodies. The clash of metal and cries of agony resounded like a macabre symphony. An army of demons was being mercilessly slaughtered. Their screams pierced the air as their bodies fell, torn, sliced, annihilated by a force beyond anything I had ever known.
I could feel that power, that speed, that absolute mastery of combat. I was fighting with deadly precision, moving like a specter among enemies. Was this me, or was I reliving the exploits of Thaleus Sendaris through his own eyes? Every blow struck, every attack dodged was imbued with an unyielding confidence, an unparalleled skill. The battlefield was a stage where I played the executioner, condemning the demons to an inescapable annihilation.
Then, three entities of terrifying power appeared—Demon-kings, commanders of these infernal hordes. Two managed to escape, fleeing in palpable desperation, but the third wasn't so fortunate. Thaleus' blade—the very same blade I now held—sliced through him, ending his existence with a single, implacable strike. The remaining troops, seeing their leader fall, tried to flee, but none could escape Thaleus' might. Waves of devastating energy rained down on them, reducing them to ashes, obliterating them before they could even take a step.
Thaleus didn't just kill—he ruled the battlefield like a god of war. Every movement, every gesture was calculated, alternating between intuitive strikes, ingenious feints, and brutally ferocious attacks. He bent the elements with supernatural ease, unleashing fire, ice, and lightning upon his enemies, creating a storm of destruction that no one could escape.
My gaze was drawn to a silhouette in the distance, watching the clash with a calm assurance, almost indifferent to the carnage around. This presence, even more terrifying than the Demon-Kings, seemed to be waiting for its turn, like a patient predator. The massacre came to an end, the last demon fell, and suddenly, I saw a mass of people, hundreds, maybe thousands, watching the horror from afar. They were neither demons nor warriors, but looked more like humans, frozen, unable to move.
A titanic battle broke out between Thaleus and this mysterious figure, the two forces clashing with such violence that it shook the heavens. Amid this epic duel, I noticed with dread that part of the group of observers had mysteriously disappeared. Had they been annihilated by Thaleus, even in the middle of the battle? If so, why had he targeted them when a formidable opponent stood before him?
The images intensified, each scene more heart-wrenching and exhilarating than the last. I was witnessing a battle not only physical but also spiritual. And there I was, experiencing these scenes through this legendary being, feeling his rage, his determination, and his terrible sacrifice.
"REY!!! Are you okay!?" Kaiser shouted from a distance. The vision faded as abruptly as it had come, leaving me alone with the sword in my hand, still vibrating with the energy of that ancient epic. The sword immediately returned to its sheath, then disappeared into my ring.
"Oh my God, is that really Rey!?" Yoko exclaimed, who had also arrived.
"Yeah, that's his transformation, the Moonlight mode," Kaiser replied.
"Hmm, why am I just hearing about this today?" Yoko pouted as they both approached us.
"Oh, more pests to eliminate," the bird said.
"Whoa, it speaks!" Yoko exclaimed in surprise.
"Wait, is that Erina Shelter? What were you two doing in the dark at the academy at this hour?" Kaiser asked with a suspicious look.
"Your question is surprisingly precise, but tell me instead, where's the army?" Erina asked seriously, while I scratched my head behind her. Suddenly, a pure energy beam, probably from Ki, struck the King-Peacock square in the chest. Even though he probably didn't suffer any damage due to his celestial aura, it was strong enough to knock him back several meters.
"Does that answer your question?" Kaiser said to Erina, who simply closed her eyes and turned back to me.
"Could you heal me? The upper part of my right ribs took a hit from that bird's attack," Erina asked.
"Still so cold," Yoko muttered to Kaiser, who nodded.
I placed my hand on her ribs and used my healing power.
"Areyos Orionis and Erina Shelter, we received your emergency call thanks to Kaiser Mendoris here. Don't worry, we have the situation under control," said a tall, muscular man with orange eyes and brown hair.
"Huh!? Captain James Will, the one who successfully executed Stratège Miller's strategy and trapped the demons in an ambush during the battle!? I'm Yoko Belserion, nice to meet you in person," Yoko said.
"You're well-informed, I must say," he replied, surprised. "Nice to meet you, Miss Belserion. I had the chance to work alongside your older sister, Megane," he added.
"Wow, what was she like on the field?" Yoko asked.
"In one word, formidable. A true force of nature. A few more years and she would have reached the level of the most powerful warriors of Baringer," said a man of average height with a deep voice, approaching us.
Yoko's gaze froze. She took a step back. She recognized this soldier from the past, the man who was supposed to be dead according to Megane…
"Good evening, everyone. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Reiner... Reiner Fox," he said in a deep voice.
Yoko wanted to throw a look my way, but Erina pushed her out of the way and then greeted the two officers.
"What's wrong!? Why did you push me?" Yoko asked angrily. Erina simply shot her a glance over her shoulder before returning her attention to the officers.
"Calm down, Yoko, we have more important things to do right now," I replied.
"What!? Areyos, has she brainwashed you or what!?" she said, irritated, before locking eyes with me.
Yoko's Point of View
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I couldn't understand how Areyos could remain indifferent to Erina's behavior. But when I looked into his eyes, his expression was so serious, as if my reaction at that moment was a mistake. Even though it infuriated me, this was Areyos after all, I couldn't oppose him for fear of facing a pressure that would keep me up for days. Besides, he surely had a reason behind his reaction.
"Alright... sorry, you're right, there's something more urgent," I said, lowering my head.
"Ahh, the young ones, you can go home now, we've got the rest covered," said Reiner Fox.
"We want to help too," Kaiser said.
"Are you sure you're up for it?" Reiner asked.
"Don't worry, Lieutenant. Let them come. The King-Peacock was summoned by invocation, so its summoner is restraining its true power and size. It doesn't represent a real threat to the army," said the captain, patting Reiner on the shoulder, who clearly didn't like this idea.
"Alright, tell us what happened from the beginning," Reiner said, his gaze piercing.
Areyos' Point of View
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"We were in the academy's basement when suddenly, a hooded man attacked us," Erina replied.
She had lied with such ease that it was almost chilling. But just like when she pushed Yoko aside, she had a reason behind her actions. She was very clever, maybe the shrewdest person I had ever met.
"What were you two doing in the basement?" Captain Will asked.
"Nothing at all," Erina said, looking away, blushing.
"She challenged me to join her in the academy's basement because of the slight vibrations we were feeling. She told me that according to rumors, a monster lived there, and if I was confident in my strength, we could get rid of it and explore the underground hot spring near where this monster lived," I said innocently.
"Are you serious, Rey!?" Kaiser shouted, slapping his hand against his forehead. "She clearly had other intentions," he added. Erina didn't say anything, still blushing.
"Ah, the youth of today. Believe me, Miss Erina, you're not old enough for that. Focus on your studies for now," the captain said, laughing loudly.
"What's he talking about, captain? Erina, can you explain it to me?" I asked, pretending to be innocent.
"It's nothing, don't worry about it, Rey. Anyway, there were four men besides the one I mentioned earlier, also masked, who jumped us. We managed to subdue them, then tried to escape, but the last one was pretty strong. We managed to repel him easily, but as a mage, he summoned that beast. I managed to tear off one of its wings while Areyos was warning Kaiser," Erina explained.
" 'Don't worry about it, Rey!' ?" Kaiser exclaimed, repeating Erina's words, giving me a piercing look which I made an effort to ignore while whistling and looking at the sky.
"I understand now," Captain Will said.
"Do you know why they were here?" Reiner asked, his voice cold as he approached me.
"No idea. We're not crazy enough to get involved in the affairs of a guy like that. I'm too young to die," I replied.
"The basement also serves as a storage area for the academy. I saw books there. I think they came to steal them to sell them on the black market," Erina said.
"There were books? I didn't even notice."
"I don't doubt it, you don't pay attention to details, especially when they're subtle," Erina said, blushing but clearly annoyed.
"What details are you talking about?" I asked, pretending to be clueless once again.
"Forget it," she said, crossing her arms and turning away from me.
"Be more careful, Mr. Areyos. You might end up single," the captain said, laughing once more. "Youth is truly fascinating," he added.
"I see, thanks for the info. But are you sure you're not hiding anything else?" Reiner Fox asked.
"Don't worry, lieutenant, we know how important precise and complete informations are for the army," I added.
"Good," he said.
"Captain!!! We've found the mage, he's in a wind sphere," a soldier shouted, running toward us.
"Good, lieutenant, your turn," the captain ordered.
"At your command," Reiner said, flying towards Valtor while the King-Peacock was chained to the ground.
"Isn't he at risk of breaking free?" Kaiser asked the captain.
"No, don't worry, these chains are Nemesis. They're indestructible."
"Nemesis? What's that?" he asked.
"Well, Nemesis are one of the three types of legendary weapons known as the treasures of Baringer. The Mendoris, Moore, and Shelter families each possess one of these three treasures. Nemesis are Moore's specialty," the captain explained.
"And what's the difference between them and Magias*?"
"Well, Nemesis can't materialize the chi they're imbued with. So, they're not effective for ranged attacks. However, they have two characteristics. The first is that they imbue the primary function of the weapon with celestial energy."
"What does that mean?" I asked, confused.
"Hmm, think about the main use of a sword," the captain said, seeming to want to explain this concept with an example.
"It's for cutting and piercing," Yoko answered.
"Exactly. In the case of a Némésis, the sharp edge and point of the sword would be imbued with celestial energy, meaning this sword would be capable of cutting anything without any effort from its user, and the point would be able to pierce anything, again, without any effort. In the case of a chain like the one used to bind Azuryon the Peacock King, the main function of the chain is to bind the bird to imprison it. So, the entire chain becomes celestial to prevent the bird from breaking it."
"Wow, that's genius!!!" Yoko exclaimed.
"And what's the second characteristic?" I asked.
"Afflictions. Unlike Magias, Nemesis can inflict afflictions upon contact. You just need to imbue the Nemesis with the corresponding chi for the affliction, and it's done," the captain explained.
"Afflictions? What's that?" Yoko asked.
"You'll learn the details in class, but to keep it simple, afflictions are usually the effects of an element or a sub-element," the captain said.
"And how does that apply to a weapon?" I asked. The captain then pulled a golden combat staff from his dimensional ring. I saw the staff cover itself with an orange aura before disappearing as if it had been absorbed. The captain had imbued it with fire chi.
"Are you ready?" he asked me with a smile.
"Ready for what?" I asked. Suddenly, he struck the side of my shoulder before I even realized it, despite my speed.
"You can look ahead now," he said.
Suddenly, I had the feeling I was seeing several large birds disguised as chefs. When I looked at Kaiser, his hair had turned from red to purple. Yoko now seemed much shorter, barely taller than a coffee table.
"What's happening to me!? Yoko, why are you so short, and Kaiser, when did you choose such a terrible haircut!?" I shouted.
"What are you talking about, Rey?" Erina asked, confused. I looked in her direction.
"Erina!? What are you doing in a swimsuit with that inflatable duck float around your waist?" I exclaimed, shocked by what I was seeing.
"Ah, ah, ah, this is just a mirage, Mr. Areyos, nothing more," the captain said, laughing. Suddenly, everything went back to normal.
"A mirage? Like when it's really hot?" I asked.
"Exactly, mirages are effects of heat. So, when I apply fire chi to a Némésis, I can make it so that with every strike, the opponent sees mirages, which could disorient them. If I used lightning, there would probably be an affliction like paralysis. There are plenty of different afflictions related to different elements, like confusion, paralysis, bleeding, sleep, poison, etc. You'll learn about that in class," the captain added.
"Wow... the world of martial arts is huge," Kaiser said, calmly amazed.
"Captain! The King-Peacock is asleep!" a soldier cried from afar.
"Perfect, take care of the mage now," the captain said.
"Asleep? How did you do it?" Erina asked.
"We used Nemesis arrows pre-imbued with plant chi by former Lieutenant Théa, one of the professors at Moore Academy, because plants cause poison and sleep afflictions," the captain explained.
"Very interesting..." Erina murmured.
"Captain, I've got our criminal. His name's Valtor Nerrim. He's an ex-con who decided to return to the game. It didn't work out for him," Reiner said, coming back. He had shackled the elf on a small stone platform. "But strangely, his dimensional ring has disappeared. I believe that's where Valtor hid the energy stone. And if Reiner is the infiltrator we think, he most likely took Valtor's ring and placed it in his own dimensional ring."
"Alright, go home. We'll handle the rest," the captain said.
"Wait, I have a question," Reiner said.
"Which one?" Erina asked.
"There were hooded men in the ruins with wounds that appeared to be inflicted by weapons. You didn't mention this detail," Reiner said, his tone serious, his gaze cold. The atmosphere seemed to freeze.
"Isn't it obvious? We took them out while trying to escape. It's not that important," Erina responded, returning the same cold gaze.
"And who cut off the left wings of the beast?" Captain Will asked, his piercing gaze turning towards me.
"Erina took care of it," I answered with a small smile. "She used her bending with deadly precision, combining it with her aerial agility. It was quite the sight."
"And the severed heads of Valtor?"
"Areyos dealt with it. He decapitated him twice, forcing the beast to focus on him while I finished the job with its wings."
"I see. That's pretty impressive for students," the captain said, an approving smile on his lips. "You should consider joining the army. I can write you a letter of recommendation. Special forces have no age limit, you could join right now."
I glanced discreetly at Yoko. Her expression betrayed a mixture of surprise and sadness. She lowered her head, her fists clenched in silent frustration. It wasn't jealousy, I knew that. It was the bitterness of feeling inadequate, of not living up to her own expectations. Maybe the shine of our successes was overshadowing hers.
The captain was waiting for an answer. "It's tempting," I said, crossing my arms, "but I'll have to decline, Captain Will. I could offer you my strength, but the army asks for more than that. It requires unwavering loyalty, a burning passion for protecting the kingdom. I fight for my own beliefs, not for a flag. It's not my path."
"Well then! And you, Erina?"
She hesitated for a moment before responding in a softer yet firm voice, "Even if I accepted, I wouldn't be welcome, not with the name I carry."
"Ah... Yes, I forgot about that detail," the captain said with a touch of regret in his voice. "It's a shame that the king's resentments outweigh his judgment in this case."
He sighed, disappointed. "I guess we'll have to wait for other prodigies."
I turned slightly, casting a glance at Yoko over my shoulder. "Don't worry," I said, pausing. "Sometimes, the true gems are right under our noses, just waiting to be polished before they can shine."
Yoko looked up, meeting my gaze. "The nuggets are often found where we least expect them. It's just a matter of knowing how to recognize them before they turn into sharp blades," I added with a half-smile, sensing a renewed determination stirring in her.
"How old are you?" the captain asked, clearly surprised.
"17," I answered with a smile.
"Your mind holds wisdom that many adults struggle to achieve," the captain replied, impressed. "You have the soul of a true sovereign."
"Thank you for everything, Captain," I responded. He nodded, ready to leave, but suddenly, the Peacock King woke with a terrifying roar, unleashing a storm that engulfed the entire city. Valtor started bleeding from his eyes and ears, struggling to breathe.
"What's happening!?" Reiner exclaimed, alarmed.
"The Peacock King is using a technique that exceeds Valtor's body's limits," the captain shouted, his face tense. "It's going to level the entire city. The beast no longer obeys Valtor."
"Fall back, I'll take care of it," the captain ordered. A golden aura exploded violently around him, before slowly turning to a fiery red.
"What is that!?" we all cried, stunned. But before we could get an answer, something even more extraordinary caught our attention. A purple light ripped through the sky, surrounding what appeared to be a spear. Violet flames illuminated the night, and the spear pierced the back of the Peacock King's skull, pinning it to the ground. The flames consumed the beast in seconds, leaving only scattered ashes.
"What just happened!?" we all repeated, in awe.
When the smoke cleared, a black spear with a violet blade, embedded with rubies, stood majestically in the ground. Its handle was finely crafted, a testament to divine craftsmanship.
"A spear? I'll take a closer look," I said, adrenaline rising.
"Let's go," the others responded. I used my Flash technique, and in an instant, I was standing in front of the spear, still smoking. Beside it, a faintly glowing purple sphere shimmered.
"Did you find something, Areyos?" Yoko asked as the others joined us.
"Yes, there's this crystal sphere," I replied, picking it up in my hand.
"No, wait! Don't touch it with your aura!" the captain shouted, but it was too late. The sphere lit up before disappearing into my chest.
"Oh no... My money," the captain sighed, disappointed.
"What just happened?" I asked, still in shock.
"That was a beast core," the captain explained. "Monsters and summons sometimes leave them behind when they die. When a core is infused with your aura, it strengthens the elements you and the beast had in common and can even give you multipliers on those elements. They're so rare that on the market, a beast core can sell for one million Keras. But divine beasts always leave behind a celestial beast core. Those can extraordinarily enhance your elements and sometimes even your stats. They sell for 100 billion Keras."
"What!? 100 billion!? That's enough to ensure a life of luxury for a hundred generations!" Kaiser exclaimed, stunned.
"Ah... sorry, Captain," I said, embarrassed.
"And you don't even airbend, what a waste," Kaiser added.
"Anyway, this spear made our job easier. The army really has some surprising warriors," Yoko marveled, her eyes fixed on the weapon.
"It doesn't belong to the army..." the captain said seriously.
"Huh!? Then who does it belong to!?" Yoko exclaimed.
The captain picked it up and handed it to Erina, who seemed shaken.
"It's getting late. You can all head home," the captain said, his face suddenly serious.
With that, he walked away, and our gazes turned to Erina, who still held the spear in her hands.
"Good night, Rey. I'll keep you updated if I learn anything new," she said softly before taking flight, carried by her flames.
Who did this spear belong to? And why had Erina taken it, looking so disturbed? These questions looped in my mind as I watched her figure disappear into the night sky.
To be continued…