Chapter 9: One Man and Five Beasts
In the capital of the Eldoria kingdom, Edoria, a few men dressed in black were heading towards the center of the city. Their speed seemed slow, but they were actually moving swiftly, like the flow of wind.
They were not trying to hide from anyone, yet no one seemed to notice them. The men moved with a purpose, their faces hidden beneath dark hoods, giving them an air of mystery.
People either pretended not to see them or genuinely failed to notice their presence. Observing the townsfolk, it was evident that everyone was engrossed in their own business.
Some were bargaining with traders, others were trying to sell their goods, while some were scamming and others were being scammed. It was a typical day in the bustling streets of Edoria.
Upon closer inspection, there were a total of five men. One was leading the group while the other four followed him silently. They moved with a silent grace that was almost unnatural, making their way through the crowded streets without drawing any attention.
After a while, they stopped in front of a very beautiful garden. Despite its beauty, there was something peculiar about it.
The garden was enormous, nearly double the size of the space occupied by the Python's lair. It was a place of tranquility amidst the chaos of the city, but there was an eerie stillness to it.
There were no large trees or flowers in the garden, but instead, various stone statues of beasts, both large and small, were scattered throughout the area.
These statues were intricately carved, each depicting a different mythical creature. The strange feeling emanating from the garden seemed to originate from these stone statues, as if they were silently watching over the garden.
In the center of the garden stood a majestic bronze palace. The palace was grand and imposing, its walls adorned with intricate designs and symbols. It was a place of great importance, known to only a few.
The leader of the group turned to his companions and said, "I am going inside. You guys wait here."
He walked with a confident stride, his black cloak billowing behind him, but he didn't head to the entrance but he walked to a dark corner outside the wall of the garden.
Then he took out a black bead from his pocket and embedded in one of the block of the wall, as the bead entered the block, he vanished from the air like a miracle.
Inside the grand hall, the man in black bowed deeply before the king, who was seated on an ornate throne.
The king was a regal figure, his presence commanding respect and authority. "Your Majesty, the mission has been successfully completed. The Devourer clan has been completely annihilated," the man reported.
The king's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Well done," he said, his voice deep and resonant. "You have served your kingdom well."
The king then rose from his throne and motioned for the man to leave.
They walked through the grand hall, their footsteps echoing off the marble floors. The walls were lined with tapestries and paintings depicting the history of Eldoria, each telling a story of valor and conquest.
They arrived at the guest room, where an envoy of the empire was waiting. The envoy was a tall and imposing figure, his presence equally commanding.
The king greeted the envoy with a nod. "The mission has been accomplished. The Devourer clan is no more," the king stated.
The envoy looked pleased but then furrowed his brow.
"Why did the empire give such a sudden command? Was it really necessary to annihilate such a puny clan?" the king asked, curiosity in his voice.
The envoy's expression turned serious. "You don't need to know about it, and I myself know little about it," he replied.
"The order was directly given by the Southern Continent Council itself," the envoy said after some time.
"What!" The king was shocked, losing his demeanor for a moment.
It was truly surprising. The Devouring clan wasn't even a large-sized clan of the kingdom but a small, insignificant one. And yet, it had attracted the attention of not only the empire but the entire continent.
Seeing the king's stunned expression, the envoy sighed. "Things are not as simple as you think."
"Do you know the story of a human and five beasts?"
The king nodded, indicating his familiarity with the tale.
After seeing the king nod, the envoy took out a strange piece of paper from his pocket.
"A contract? For what?" the king asked, puzzled.
"The information I am going to reveal now is very confidential. If you don't sign this contract, I can't disclose it to you," the envoy said with a grim expression.
Listening to the envoy's words, the king's curiosity increased. He couldn't stop himself and took the contract from the envoy.
The contract looked very ordinary but was not. There were some words written in a crimson blood color. "A blood contract, It looks like the information is indeed very confidential," the king said as he read the words carefully.
The king was a king for a reason, he didn't directly signed the contract. Every contract needs to be carefully observed before signing it and this was the 'Blood Contract', the most strict of all.
After confirming everything is alright, the king cut one of his fingers, and a drop of blood fell onto the contract.
The contract didn't get wet by the blood but quickly absorbed it, and a strange symbol appeared on it.
After seeing the symbol, the envoy relaxed. "This symbol confirms that the contract is binding. Now, I can tell you."
The king leaned forward, his curiosity piqued.
The envoy took a deep breath and began, "The bloodline of the Devourer clan originates from one of the five Divine Beasts, the most bloodthirsty beast in history, the Soul Devourer Phoenix."
The expression of king turned that of bewilderment that he almost forgot to breathe.
The king's eyes widened in shock. "The Soul Devourer Phoenix..." he muttered, the weight of the information was very difficult for him to handle.