Deep within the forest on the outskirts of Cambridge, wild animals dashed frantically as if fleeing from something that terrified them. The air was heavy with an eerie silence, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the occasional distressed cries of birds taking flight. Sunlight struggled to pierce through the dense canopy, casting fragmented beams onto the forest floor, littered with fallen branches and damp moss.
At the heart of the forest, in a grassy clearing near a towering cliff, two figures were locked in an intense battle. Mana surged through the air with each strike, creating waves of energy that made the area feel like it was caught in a violent storm.
These two were Victor Archfindor and Herakles, engaged in a rigorous training session. Battles between magus of the Sage realm were extremely rare, as their power was immense and their clashes often left behind catastrophic destruction.
The Sage realm was a unique stage of mastery, where every magus could sense the spiritual energy of the universe. This heightened awareness refined their mana core, amplifying their magical power to the point where a single misstep could obliterate an entire village. Only a few ever reached this level, which was often considered the pinnacle of human strength. Breaking into the King realm was nearly impossible due to Earth's thinning mana, while realms like the Emperor or Divine were seen as mere myths from ancient records.
Still, some were believed to have reached the King realm. Among them were Alexander Pendragon, Emperor of the England Empire; Arthur Desmond, leader of the Holy Knight special forces; and Godfrey Lothbrok, Victor's own grandfather and the head of the prestigious Lothbrok family. These names carried weight, legends of what humanity might achieve if they dared to reach for more.
But here, in the isolated clearing, the focus wasn't on legends or myths—it was on the clash of raw power and determination between two sages.
Victor leaped into the air, flipping upside down as he locked eyes on Herakles below. With a swift, deliberate motion, he formed an intricate hand gesture. A glowing red rune, spanning ten meters, materialized beneath Herakles.
Herakles attempted to move, but his feet were rooted to the ground. No matter how much force he exerted, he couldn't break free.
Realizing the rune was the source of his immobilization, Herakles unleashed a flurry of spells to dispel it. Yet, every effort proved futile.
His instincts kicked in, and he looked up just in time to see Victor hovering above, clutching a gleaming white staff. Herakles's expression darkened as Victor whispered, "Enlarge." In an instant, the staff in Victor's hand extended and swelled to colossal proportions, plummeting toward Herakles with unstoppable force.
The air split with a deafening supersonic boom, and the impact shook the ground beneath them like an explosion.
Boom!
Herakles caught the staff with both hands, his muscles straining against its massive weight. Despite being nine levels above Victor, the sheer force pressed down on him like a mountain.
As he prepared to lift it, the staff abruptly shrank, vanishing from view. Herakles instinctively glanced upward, only for the staff to reappear, growing larger and descending again with even greater speed.
Boom!
Another devastating impact, which Herakles endured, refusing to falter. But the assault was relentless. The staff shrank and expanded repeatedly, striking him over and over.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The ground trembled with each collision, but Herakles stood firm, enduring the unyielding barrage of the Ruyi Jingu Bang, whose crushing weight might have been equivalent to tens of thousands of tons.
At that moment, Herakles activated his gigantification magic, his body rapidly expanding to a towering 20 meters. The sudden transformation shattered the rune beneath him with ease.
As the staff once again extended and grew larger, Herakles seized it firmly with both hands and yanked it downward with tremendous force, dragging Victor along with it. The young magus hurtled toward Herakles, now within arm's reach.
With Victor dangerously close, Herakles wasted no time. Just as Victor began to prepare another spell, Herakles's enormous hand came crashing down, slamming Victor into the ground with immense power.
**Boom!**
The impact created a small tremor, and the shockwave sent gusts of wind rippling through the forest. Dust and debris scattered as Herakles held his massive palm firmly against Victor, pinning him to the ground.
After a few seconds, Herakles calmly lifted his hand and stepped back. Victor lay sprawled on the ground, blood trickling from several wounds caused by the sheer force of the attack.
Returning to his normal size, Herakles approached Victor with a composed expression. The forest around them was silent and undisturbed; the battle's location, deep within its remote heart, ensured that no one was likely to witness the chaos.
"Are you all right, young master?" Herakles asked, standing over Victor.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Victor replied, his voice strained as he sat up. Despite his injuries, he managed a faint smile. "I've still got a long way to go if I want to defeat you," he admitted.
"Don't lose heart, young master. There's a nine-level gap between us," Herakles said reassuringly.
"I know," Victor acknowledged, his tone determined. "But I've made good progress this time. At least now I can defeat a magus who's stronger than me."
"I've noticed that," Herakles said with a nod of approval.
Victor took a deep breath, still recovering. His chest ached from the force of Herakles's slap, but his resolve remained unshaken.
"Shall we continue?" Herakles offered.
Victor glanced at the sky, noticing the sun dipping lower, casting an orange hue across the horizon. He shook his head. "No, let's call it a day. I've got something important to take care of tonight," he said, a sly grin spreading across his face.
Herakles nodded in agreement. Together, they turned and began their journey out of the forest, leaving the battleground behind.
----
By 7 p.m., Victor returned to his villa. After a refreshing shower and dinner, he changed into a casual outfit of a t-shirt and shorts. Stepping outside, he seemed ready for the evening ahead.
"Where are you off to, young master?" Carlo asked from the terrace, watching Victor.
"Just hanging out," Victor replied casually, already walking toward the garage.
Carlo gave a slight nod but reminded him, "Don't forget about the family dinner, young master. The lord and lady will be expecting you."
Victor stopped in his tracks. "Family dinner? When?" he asked, genuinely confused.
"Have you forgotten? It's in two days," Carlo answered, raising an eyebrow.
Victor was silent for a moment, his mind racing. His grandfather, Lord Godfrey, had always been distant and unyielding. But if he could show the old man his true strength, it might tip the scales in his favor.
"Will Grandpa be there?" he asked after a brief pause.
"I'm not certain. Lord Godfrey has been too preoccupied to attend most family gatherings," Carlo said.
Victor let out a frustrated sigh. "I see. Well, maybe I'll show up. For now, I've got plans," he said, brushing off the topic.
"Take care, young master," Carlo replied, watching him head to the garage.jh
Victor nodded, climbed into his car, and started the engine. The low growl of the motor filled the air as he gripped the wheel, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.
Tonight was pivotal. This was the night he would meet Leon for the first time—the moment everything in the original storyline would begin to unfold.
"I hope you're ready, Leon," Victor muttered, his smirk growing sharper. "Your suffering starts now."
With that, he pressed down on the gas pedal, the car roaring to life as he sped away from the villa, the thrill of the night ahead coursing through him.