Daryl Grisha was a striking figure, his bald head gleaming under the flickering light of the blueish sparks that ignited at his feet.
He had an imposing and authoritarian appearance that reflected his strict adherence in leading his House to prominence.
His outfit consisted of the iconic white general's coat, draped over his shoulders like a cape, signifying his rank and authority with the fiery image of a horse that was prominently displayed on the back.
Beneath the coat, he wore a crisp, double breasted red suit that matched his fiery and aggressive personality.
The suit was complemented by a dark pink, blossom - patterned Hawaiian shirt underneath, a bold choice that contrasted with his otherwise severe demeanor.
His black gloves and polished shoes completed the ensemble, reinforcing his no -nonsense, militaristic image.
Daryl Grisha had a stern face, framed by a long, drooping mustache streaked with gray, bearing marks of countless battles. His eyebrows ,thick and bushy, shadowed his piercing ice-blue eyes.
Diagonally, from his nose bridge to his left cheek was a deep scar that seemed to be fresh, a testament to his never ending achievements in battle.
He had a broard back. His arms buldging with muscle,while his shoulders seemed to carry the weight of the world.
He was the leader of the four horsemen of House Grisha, a title only given to those who have proved their speed and might in the Arena of themassis, only held once in ten years.
He was revired and feared by all, his nobility unrivaled and his fame on equal footing with Gregory Tideborn.
Propelling himself off the ground, Daryl shot through the sky with unparallel speed. He was so fast that one could only see his trail as he covered miles in mere seconds,his spiritual power radiating blueish fiery sparks.
---
" First lieutenant Carl, Second Lieutenant Brolin, the captain is back ! . He just landed fifty metres south of the camp and he seems to be waiting for us."
A voice suddenly came outside the tent where the two liutenents were having a good time playing chess.
" Roger that Third liutenent Joana. Let's set off immediately! "
A minute later, the whole camp was saluting the departure of their three superiors knowing very well that their Captain Daryl Grisha would not summon the horsemen on a whim.
They knew it was time to set off !
Leaving the camp, their backs ,with the symbol of horsemen received gazes full of reverence from their subordinate.Proving just how influential the title of horseman meant in House Grisha.
---
The three liutenents arrived at a river bank,finding their Captain Daryl Grisha washing blood off his rough scotched hands.
Daryl then put on his gloves, turning back to face his subordinates. With a wry smile, Daryl took out a dungeon token and tossed it to his second in command, second lieutenant Carl.
" Find someone worthy to join us in the dungeon."
He commanded, then took out a map and compass, presenting it to his other subordinates.
"The power and influence of House Drego of the Draki region greatly surpusses our expectations."
Captain Daryl paused, then continued with a horse voice.
"They were able to stop all great powers in their region from contending for this Region on their own.
This is a feat that even House Grisha was unable to accomplish and that cannot happen.
"We need to get our hands on more tokens to better our chances."
"But only one token remains Captain?
You can't expect is to go on killing every single spirit beast in the jungle for it , right ? "
Third liutenent Joanna interjected with a nervous voice.
This was her first mission as a horseman, and as the only female horseman to ever exist, she was usually looked down upon by most.
But that wasn't the case with Captain Daryl Grisha. He knew very well what Joanna was capable of.
He had trained her himself since she was a child for god's sake.
Her talent and ingenuity was monstrous. But her strength came not from ingenuity or talent but from her Rationale.
A rationale was the evolution of a technique from a simple one,to one that was unique to one's very being.
It required one to comprehend the underlying logic, justification, or reasoning behind the technique,it's foundational skills and actions required to perform the skill.
And if that wasn't enough, a rationale only reaches full mastery when one incorporates a harmonic law into the technique to successfully evolve it.
( A harmonic law is a law that counter the technique. It accepts it and becomes one with it )
And Joanna did all that at the age of twenty five.
Just the hard work required to perfect her Rationale made her more than qualified to become a horseman. Making Daryl very proud in every single possible way.
That was also the reason why Daryl was always soft spoken when taking to Joanna.
Even in this situation,where their mission did not allow for any mistakes , Daryl was soft spoken as he replied to third liutenent Joanna who just outright spoke out of turn.
In a soft voice, he called..
" Third liutenent Joanna? "
" Yes Captain? "
"We don't have to comb the forest to search for the last token. I know where it is. "
The other two liutenents were dumbfounded as the same thought appeared in their mind.
' Is this the same old stern faced Captain we know?? Ohh just how low can the strong fall ??'
Daryl Grisha was the strongest person they know, he was their hero ,a person that was the literal embodiment of what a horseman was.
And to them, who had seen his full power in action, they outright worshiped him like a god.
He was their goal to strive for, their pinnacle , their peek and the endpoint in their journey to become the strongest.
He was their metric, and they couldn't even dare imagine that there was someone as strong as him.
"First liutenent, do as instructed and join me at the dungeons entrance in three days !
Second liutenent, hunt the locals and obtain more tokens. We need all the advantage we can muster.
Third liutenent, take this map and compass to find the last token.
And lastly, whatever happens, don't approach the northern side of the Antari Region. I have an audience with Gregory tideborn !! "
Taking a pause, he asked in a loud commanding tone,
" Are my orders clear horsemen !! "
" Yes sir !!"