CHAPTER 12
AUTHOR COLLINS COLLEX
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Night had fallen over Embers Keep. Kai, having just concluded his evening training session with his brother Kael and cousin Aldwin, sat down to a meal prepared by Aunty Eve and Aunty Cara. As he finished his meal, he retreated to his room to meditate. Lost in thought, he was startled by the sound of the door creaking open. Opening his eyes, he saw his father standing in the doorway.
Before looking up at him and saying, "Daddy, you're here," Kai realized that his father had always been the last face he sees before sleeping, his father would come to his room every night to share stories about their family and the world's many rules and laws.
His father had often spoken of the vast Zenith continent, a place no one from their generation had ventured beyond. Only their ancient ancestor, Arclight the Great, had explored its boundaries. It was Arclight who had founded their family and led them to a time of unparalleled power and fearsome reputation.
Arclight the Great was the visionary who expanded the human settlement into the kingdom now known as Iron Peaks. Before humans, Iron Peaks was the home of a mystical creature: the Iron Pandas.
The Iron Pandas were colossal creatures, towering at a hundred feet tall. Their iron-clad bodies made them invincible. Once, they dominated the capital city of Iron Peaks, their stronghold.
At that time, humans were confined to the northern and eastern regions of the kingdom. The Iron Pandas, a race of immense strength, once occupied the southern and western parts of the kingdom before the time of Arclight the Great.
Arclight the Great, the sole offspring of a mysterious witch, was born deep within the Eldergrove forest. Historical records reveal little about his father's origins or the circumstances surrounding the witch's pregnancy. She, a solitary figure, resided in the heart of the Eldergrove, a forest teeming with beasts and shrouded in enigma.
Some claimed the witch was impregnated by a beast, while others suspected a divine being from the realm of gods. The truth remains elusive, but it's undeniable that Arclight was born for a grand purpose: to elevate humanity.
Arclight the Great, a pioneer in wielding lightning, was the first and only known human to command this powerful element. His mastery extended to the four other main elements, solidifying his status as a being of immense power.
During that era, the S-rank Panda King oppressed humans, treating them as mere slaves and sustenance. He led his Panda army in brutal campaigns, slaughtering villagers in the east and causing widespread destruction. It was Arclight the Great who ignited the spark of hope in humanity, inspiring them to rise up and fight back against their tyrannical oppressors.
Traditionally, humans could not wield multiple elements. However, with Arclight's guidance and the power of an ancient relic, he empowered select individuals, elevating them to wield double elemental powers. This newfound strength allowed humans to push back the Panda threat, forcing them to retreat to the eastern region of the kingdom, towards the Eldergrove forest.
After countless wars and battles against the Panda race, Arclight the Great finally defeated the Panda King, ending the era of human slavery. His victory restored human glory and ushered in a new age of peace and prosperity.
Following his victory over the Pandas, Arclight embarked on a monumental journey across the continent. His eight-year trek, primarily on foot, took him through the perilous Eldergrove, where he faced countless beasts and mythical creatures. Eventually, he reached the eastern realms, encountering the kingdoms of the Dark Elves and the White Elves.
At that time, the Elves and Fairies were locked in a fierce battle for territorial dominance. Arclight intervened, aiding the Elves and ultimately driving the Fairies away from the continent. The defeated Fairies retreated, taking flight towards the distant eastern ocean beyond the Elven kingdom.
The Elves, grateful for Arclight's aid, bestowed upon him numerous treasures and the secret technique of familiar bonding. He chose a majestic white flying horse as his companion and embarked on his journey to explore the remaining two continents. His quest led him to encounter a myriad of races, including giants, demons, the exiled fairies, and a mysterious race of blue-skinned humans with yellow eyes.
After realizing that other races, such as demons, possessed far greater power than humans (an E-rank demon mage could defeat two human E-rank mages), Arclight returned to the Zenith continent with a renewed determination. However, upon his return, he discovered that the continent was now under the oppressive rule of dragons, beings far surpassing any known power ranking.
Thus began the greatest war in human history: humans against dragons.
Though aged, Arclight was still a formidable force. However, he realized that humans, even with their enhanced abilities, were no match for the dragons. Undeterred, he began training a new generation of human warriors, imparting the secrets of the Elves to elevate their power. While bonding with beasts provided humans with a significant power boost, it was insufficient to combat the dragons. Furthermore, only A-rank humans mage could form such bonds, limiting the number of potential warriors. Despite rigorous training, human casualties continued to mount, and their population dwindled.