Amadeus collected all the documents in the quarry to gather more information about the place. The documents detailed transportation routes and dates, money transactions, and more. He started reading them in the pig room that had become his makeshift office. What he found was deeply disturbing.
First, all the mana crystals were transported to a single location at the beginning of every month. This destination was a city named Idovine.
Second, the quarry had originally been a thriving city called Bona. However, after discovering the ground was full of mana crystals, the residents were brutally killed, and the city was destroyed and turned into a quarry.
Third, the bodies of deceased slaves were not buried or burned; instead, they were transported to Idovine. to be sold as materials in the black market.
Fourth, the Rat Guild had been supplying the quarry with slaves. The quarry's failure to pay for the last batch of slaves, including Amadeus, led the Rat Guild to sever ties.
Lastly, one name frequently appeared in the documents: Viscount Nerian, seemingly the owner of the quarry.
"So, this place was once a city. Humans will do anything for extra coins," Amadeus muttered to himself.
"To think that the once lovely city of Bona would meet such a fate," said the Crown, his voice full of sadness.
"You know this city?" Amadeus asked.
"Of course, I know all places in this realm since it was the realm of my previous owner," the Crown replied.
"What? You mean this realm belonged to Omega?" Amadeus asked, surprised.
The Crown went on to explain that this realm had indeed belonged to Omega, the god of the End. In Omega's era, it was one of the strongest realms where hunger and slavery were nonexistent, and all creatures lived harmoniously. However, everything changed after Omega was betrayed. The realm was seized from him, and the gods' punishment transformed it into a desolate nightmare. Green lands turned into deserts, trees withered and died, and monsters lost their minds, attacking anything in sight.
The once-thriving realm descended into chaos, where survival meant killing and using others. After thousands of years, order was restored when a new god took control of the land. However, in this new order, there was no place for the weak—only the strong prevailed. The people of this realm, blaming Omega for their suffering, destroyed all his temples and persecuted his followers. Eventually, Omega's name became forbidden, and he became the first god to fall.
"Such a fate, living in a dying world with no hope. It's understandable why they would hate him," Amadeus said.
"All creatures will abandon you if you fail to meet their expectations, as they no longer see a reason to follow you. I hope this story serves as a good example for you, Amadeus," said the Crown.
"It's a good example, but I have more pressing matters on my mind. Do you have a map of this place?" Amadeus asked.
"Of course, but it's from Omega's time, so it might be useless," the Crown replied.
"Show it to me. It might still be useful," Amadeus insisted.
A window appeared, displaying a map. According to the map, his current location was the city of Bona, and the place where he first appeared was one of Omega's destroyed temples. However, there was no mention of a city called Idovine.
"I can't find a city called Idovine. Does that mean it's a new city?" Amadeus asked.
"I told you the map might not be of any help," the Crown replied.
"Anyway, I should prepare for the people coming to collect the crystals," Amadeus said.
Over the next few days, his followers fortified the quarry under the guidance of Bertram, a former strong soldier sold by his master into slavery, so he had a lot of experience when it came to battles. and Amadeus spent his time training with the sword.
[System Notification]
-The user's sword experience has increased and reached Rank 1.
-The user deals 10% more damage when using a sword.
-Sword technique unlocked: Splitting Strike (Tier 1) – The user performs a vertical strike that deals great damage and has a chance to split the target into two pieces.
Note: The user must be on the ground and stationary to perform the technique.
Amadeus found a large rock outside the quarry to test on. He struck vertically without activating the technique, shattering the rock. Then, he used the {Splitting Strike} technique on another rock, cutting it perfectly in two.
"Now I see why the technique is better. You need more power to split a rock without shattering it," Amadeus remarked.
Suddenly, a pack of 20 giant wolves emerged from the surrounding forest, their eyes gleaming with hunger and aggression. Amadeus wasn't surprised; he had sensed their presence long before they showed themselves. "With the pig gone, no one's been dealing with the monsters around here. I guess it's my job now," he muttered, equipping Commander Geoffrey's sword.
One of the wolves lunged at him with ferocious speed, but Amadeus reacted in a flash. He sidestepped the attack and brought his sword down in a swift arc, cleaving the beast's skull. The wolf crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
"Avice mentioned food supplies were low, but I think 20 giant wolves will suffice for now," Amadeus said, his voice steady as he faced the remaining pack. The wolves growled and circled him, their movements synchronized as they prepared to attack.
Two wolves charged simultaneously from opposite directions, attempting to overwhelm him with their combined force. Amadeus , deflected one with a powerful strike while ducking under the other's snapping jaws. He drove his sword upward, impaling the second wolf through its chest. Blood sprayed from the wound as the wolf let out a pained howl before collapsing.
The pack hesitated, sensing the threat posed by this unexpected prey. Amadeus used the momentary pause to his advantage, adjusting his stance and preparing for the next wave of attacks. The wolves regrouped, their leader, a massive beast with scars, barking commands.
With a guttural roar, the leader wolf charged. Amadeus met the beast head-on, their collision creating a shockwave that reverberated through the trees. Claws and steel clashed in a furious dance of strength and skill. The alpha's powerful jaws snapped inches from Amadeus's face, but he twisted away, delivering a crushing blow to the wolf's side.
Despite the pain, the leader pressed on, its primal rage driving it to keep fighting. Amadeus dodged a flurry of attacks, his mind focused and movements precise. He saw an opening and struck, his blade slicing through the wolf's thick fur and into its flesh. The leader staggered, blood pouring from the wound, but it refused to go down easily.
The rest of the pack, emboldened by their leader's resilience, attacked in unison. Amadeus found himself surrounded, claws and teeth coming at him from every direction. He moved with lightning speed, parrying strikes and countering with lethal precision. Each swing of his sword brought down another wolf, but the numbers seemed endless.
Amadeus fought on. The ground around him was filled with the bodies of fallen wolves, their blood staining the earth.
Only one wolf remained, the true leader his eyes burning with determination. This last beast was larger and more ferocious than the others, its muscles rippling beneath its fur. It growled and lunged at Amadeus, its jaws aiming for his throat.
Amadeus braced himself, feeling the impact as the wolf slammed into him. He staggered back, barely maintaining his footing. The wolf's strength was overwhelming, but Amadeus refused to back down.
he raised his sword and used {Splitting Strike}. The blade glowed with red energy as it descended, cutting through the wolf with incredible force.
The wolf's body split into two clean halves, and it collapsed. Amadeus stood over his fallen opponent,
" you weren't lying about the strength of these technique " said Amadeus happy with this new found power.
victorious. "I should search for more monsters in the area," he said, knowing that his work was far from over.
The next morning, Amadeus returned to the quarry, his inventory filled with the bodies of the wolves and other creatures he had hunted. The followers were astonished, their devotion level rising to 60%. Amadeus spent the following days training at the highest point in the quarry. "Reaching Rank 2 won't be easy," he noted.
"Of course, the higher the rank, the harder you have to work," the Crown replied
"Master, the people who came for the mana crystals are here," Bertram informed him.
"I know. I spotted them from afar yesterday. But they're close enough now," Amadeus said.
"We barely saw them with binoculars, but he could see them from that distance. Amazing," Bertram whispered to himself.
"Bertram, I'll handle our guests," Amadeus said, equipping Commander Geoffrey's sword.
"Master, should we accompany you? I have fighters ready," Bertram offered.
"No need. I'm more than enough. Your role is to deal with any who try to escape. Leave none alive," Amadeus ordered.
"As you wish, Master. Stay safe out there," Bertram replied.
"No problem. I'll be back soon," Amadeus said, jumping from the high walls of the quarry and running towards the guests. "I need to finish this quickly and return to my training," he thought.