The Sword God Ares was renowned for possessing three extraordinary artifacts. Foremost among them was the Thunderbolt Spear, a weapon of unparalleled might. The second was the armor he wore, a masterpiece of protection and craftsmanship. The third, shrouded in mystery, was the Wheel of Fate—a relic so enigmatic that no one had ever seen it in use, nor did anyone know its appearance.
Recalling the legend, Terry Ayer urgently instructed Gao Shun to inspect the contents of the spatial ring, hoping to uncover clues about the relics. If the spear was among them, it would confirm that the skeletal remains before them belonged to none other than Ares himself.
Gao Shun obediently activated the spatial ring and retrieved two items from within. After a cursory glance, he handed them to Terry Ayer with great reverence.
"It truly is the Thunderbolt Spear," Terry exclaimed, his earlier suspicions now confirmed. His gaze then turned to Gao Shun, whose expression grew puzzled under the scrutiny.
"Master, I swear I've kept nothing hidden. Apart from these, the ring contains only some gold coins. If you wish, even those can be yours," Gao Shun said earnestly.
Terry Ayer waved off the misunderstanding with a faint smile. "You misunderstand me. I was simply admiring your fortune."
"My fortune?" Gao Shun asked, more bewildered than ever.
"Yes, your fortune. Take it—it's yours now," Terry said casually, tossing the Thunderbolt Spear to Gao Shun.
Catching the weapon, Gao Shun gave it a few experimental swings. "It doesn't feel quite natural in my hands, Master. Are you sure it's meant for me?"
Though Gao Shun's memory was fractured, with many details of his past lost, Terry remembered vividly that Gao Shun had always been a spearman.
"Don't rush it, Gao Shun. Your martial skills will return with time. This spear was wielded by Ares himself, one of the Nine Divine Artifacts of the continent. If you truly don't want it, I'll happily keep it for myself," Terry said with a teasing grin.
Upon hearing its illustrious origins, Gao Shun immediately stowed the spear within the spatial ring. "Master, your hands are meant for shaping destiny, not swinging weapons. Let me guard this divine artifact for you!"
Terry shook his head, chuckling at Gao Shun's antics. "I'll hold on to this armor for now, then."
Gao Shun had no objections. He was never one to covet wealth or power. Had Terry not mentioned his affinity for spears, Gao Shun would have likely declined even the Thunderbolt Spear.
Meanwhile, Yingzi watched them divvy up the spoils with visible frustration. Yet there was nothing she could do; her master hadn't denied her out of neglect but simply because she lacked the ability to wield such artifacts.
After leaving the cave, Terry and Gao Shun embarked on a thorough search of the surrounding mountains, seeking a magical beast suitable for Gao Shun's next breakthrough. Days passed, and their perseverance was finally rewarded when they stumbled upon a small nest of magical creatures.
Gao Shun experienced firsthand the incredible power of the Thunderbolt Spear. Once dulled and dormant in the spatial ring, the spear regained its brilliance in Gao Shun's hands, absorbing ample lightning elements from the environment. Now, each strike unleashed devastating bolts of lightning, the weapon enveloped in crackling electricity. Not only did its raw power escalate, but its electric shocks paralyzed and scorched weaker beasts with mere contact.
The sight left Gao Shun grinning from ear to ear, utterly infatuated with the weapon's prowess.
Even Terry Ayer found himself mesmerized. "A true divine artifact indeed," he muttered. "Its effects are breathtaking." Yet he knew Gao Shun would now guard the spear with his life, unwilling to part with it for any reason.
With the spear's aid, Gao Shun and his band of brigands grew significantly stronger. On the fifth day, Gao Shun successfully advanced to the next rank.
**Soldier**
*Third Tier. An ordinary class with no special abilities but exceptional discipline and obedience.*
Terry Ayer sighed in relief. Thankfully, Gao Shun's advancement followed the path of a disciplined soldier rather than descending into the chaotic ways of a bandit leader.
Upon returning to Reysa City, Terry heard two pieces of news that piqued his interest.
The first was predictable: all those who ventured into the Illusory Forest returned empty-handed. Rumor had it that the first man to reach the forest, fueled by a dream of glory, was so devastated by the harsh reality that he nearly took his own life. Only the intervention of others saved him, though his sanity was irreparably lost.
The second piece of news was far graver. The neighboring Ayat Empire had suffered a sudden and catastrophic assault from an unknown force. Despite losing several cities, Ayat managed to muster its nearby troops and stave off complete annihilation.
Hearing this, Terry Ayer's fury surged. How could the neighboring nations remain indifferent to Ayat's plight?
Unbeknownst to him, the continent's geopolitical dynamics were starkly different from those of Earth. For one, the landmass was vast, with countless small kingdoms. Most monarchs cared only for safeguarding their own opulence rather than intervening in foreign conflicts.
Moreover, in a world dominated by battle aura and magic, skirmishes of this nature were commonplace. The collateral damage to civilians was often immense, making population retention the most significant concern for rulers.
Even if Ayat's forces were weakened, its remaining troops still numbered over 200,000. For any neighboring kingdom to conquer Ayat City, they would need to deploy an equally large army, risking tremendous losses. Such a venture would hardly be worth the cost when they could simply wait to claim the spoils of Ayat's decline without lifting a finger.
Yet for Terry Ayer, the survival of the Ayat Empire was a thorn lodged deep in his heart. Though his soul had changed, occupying the body of a new man, Terry felt an unwavering duty to avenge the wrongs done to this life.
The Ayat Empire had seized his homeland and robbed him of his last living family member. How could he let such a grievance go unanswered? As long as he had the power, vengeance was not a question of if but when.