Chapter 2

As the ceremony started, the inside circular hall was lined up with a person in black. They were the ones representing the fairness and decision-making throughout the match. No one knows where was the one true leader of the association as everyone looked the same, positioning the same, in addition of the manifestation of a perfectly regulated aura — such a quiet mastery of restraint.

The onlookers stage were just behind the judge, whilst the participant’s dueling arena was placed right before their eyes, in the middle.

It was quite a grand welcoming, and applause from people at first — people were competing real hard. However, amidst it, the emergency bell rang out urgently. To shout out such a loud clang, it only meant only for a sole thing — The enemy had laid an ambush!

Throughout the whole street, everyone who’d seen or heard the matters, continuously passed the news out loud, “The north forest had been breached!”

Helcryne, who heard it immediately, seemed to be moved by instinct. Without further ado, her body left her supposed place which was not meant to be revealed — and instantly disappeared from the stage, as if beholding with the wind, driving to the front row. Whilst the other in black just remained in place, unmoved. Just like, they were under a command of spell. Although so, even under it, their presence was far too overwhelming that some others couldn’t stay together in the same space. Hence, they also trailed behind, and set off to the uproar.

It was void, her movement lithing silence like falling snow — like a whisper of death itself, cold and callous.

Some could see, some couldn’t.

It didn't take long before she killed all the monsters with just her bare hands. The monsters whose body was torn apart by her lightning-like speed splashing bloods all over her black robes of veil — even the stench of blood shadowed on her like it was all as it should be.

Finally, all those who've seen it with their own eyes, were stunned into silence before they cheered for victory. They could hardly believe that the new force would manifest someone so incredibly strong, when at first, there was a doubt, which still remains within the people that abruptly evolves into hope — it starts to become visible again in an instant.

"Long live for the Land of Light! Long live for the Land of Light!"

Cries of grandeur echoed throughout the place, making anyone who heard it would feel goosebumps all over. Henceforth, it was a reminder to the enemy that their days will soon be reckoned with.

To think that they would launch a sudden attack in the very day, does they want to nullify the covenant before it grows stronger and threaten them in the future?

However, the leader’s minds work another way — No. Their sole intention wasn’t to exterminate, rather…an ability test? Otherwise, they wouldn’t leave their mess halfway unfinished. And why would they possess a monster instead of coming themself? Bet they were planning something bad.

Monsters were originally creatures, or might be a human itself. But upon the evil possession, their sanity was in full control with no ability to differentiate their surroundings, thus, madness overcame them in every action they made — If such, people would call them, ‘Monster’.

At the sight of such grandeur, some of the people which at first intended to watch the display of power, left bare in astonishment — that it even stirred the gaze of nobles. Whilst, ordinary folks just stayed in the world of blissful ignorance, and carried on the will and hope of humanity’s rise, completely innocent at every turn.

Now that the peril had abated, despite everything, no one left — the match pressed on. Nevertheless, both energy, and will, crackled through it more fiercely than usual. Was that the momentum caused from the previous battle?

The participant, as if defeating an enemy, fights till the heart is fulfilled — They were taking it too far!

But strangely enough, each side seemed pleased. Eyes brimming with blaze, their body was buoyant as if some kind of power was leading them through it. That — was the scene anyone could ever wish for.

The contest went on — and the new raid’s team took shape.

As a starter, and a proof of power and dominance, Helcryne as the leader must steer them toward ‘The Annihilation’.

‘The Annihilation’ was a demonstration of how much they can achieve for humanity 's prosperity and peace, thus, each time a group was established, they had to rise to a challenge. That was not an easy task. Sometimes, their own life was placed on the line as the bet.

Then, it’s not weird for the participant to be so energetic when the tournament went on, since being under the command of such a being, stable enough, would lower the risk of losing life — also, they will make a name for themselves from then on. Their path would be made easier like a flowing river.

It’s been a drawn-out month, and the raid’s team finally launched the assigned operation. Led by Helcryne, they marched down the street. Decoration in red was all over the building, and lit a bright aether lamp upon their passing, which summoned more greater applause. Aether lamps were a symbol of power — it only awakened if it sensed a greater essence being emanated. As it seems so, triumph is close at hand.

But in a strange way, how come — those in that group, were looking odd. As a matter of fact, one's body was often the reflection of hardship and unyielding discipline that were put, yet, buried under such excellence, left a barely perceptible crack. A wisp of weariness. Did their enthusiasm come before their will? If so, then it wouldn’t be good. It might be depleted before the mission even started.

Whilst, one in those teams spoke to the other. She was the so-called thief of the century, Darla Niellore, who was once a despised woman in many places she'd victimized before — for her flinch and witty move of fraud, pickpocketing, and stealing, however, upon gaining a role in an honorable job, she had successfully earned acceptance, as well as measurably support.

Darla started the conversation. She nudged her elbows to the other, leading him to awareness. “Hey, friend. What do you think of our leader?”

Though she appeared rather nonchalantly carefree, in the end, everyone was still a stranger — and one like this, were often misunderstood as a non-predatory, when in fact, they’re the one who must be taken caution of. Well, her earlier inquiry was to be questioned for, but the others on her side seemed quite inattentive enough. For trusting too much, he answered to her, “He was the oddest person I’ve met,…the most exacting and merciless one, as a leader. Though his teaching works better, it ultimately lacked human compassion. I wonder how he ended up being one.”

Seeing how troubled the other is, she momentarily redirected the course elsewhere. A light cough as the time to think of a subject, then, she decided on asking, “Come to think of it, I seem to forget who you were. What’s your name again?”

To make the request more realistic, she added with a light scratched on the back of her head, filled with innocence and confused complexion.

The other stared in disbelief. Recalling how many days they’d already spent together, and yet, even his name easily slipped away from her memory, just how absent-minded she was?

With a faint sigh, the other uttered his name in each character so that she might remember it this time. “Ezra Nevan”, then he shot at her with a meticulous look that said, “Grasp it well, this time.”

Even though Ezra was a kind person, he won’t allow such negligence — more when it comes to teammates. Apparently, this might convey a deeper meaning.

Witnessing how smooth their chat was, others couldn’t help but be swept along. A girl and two men, which was Mirea Sollyn, Vael, and Arzhel colt. Without a mistake, apart from Mirea, and Ezra, those three possessed something — something hidden and unidentified. But since Mirea, and Arzhel came from a well-known family, it might be easier to keep in check on them, while Darla and Ezra are still within reach. However, that man, Vael — there was depth to him. Something unimaginably complex.

During their slow march, they hadn’t realized. Helcryne had been observing them from afar — at the front. Her sight scrutinised every detail, processed every faint resound of voice, and kept to herself, calm, yet shrewdly discerning. All the details were already engraved on her mind, in silence.

Suddenly, a child, eager to catch a glimpse of the grand parade, was jostled out from the crowd, and crashed straight at Helcryne’s leg. Witnessing that, the incident drew anxious glances from the rest of the team. She was not a person one could approach, much less make physical contact with.

When a smile arrived first, the curve quickly dissipated when the child saw Helcryne gaze at her, leading her feet to a numb — and she staggered back to the line of onlookers, trembling. Realizing how she had frightened the child, her feet also took a slight retreat, and her hands lifted up towards the child’s forehead. No words said, but the brief unrecognizable glowing rune which suddenly appeared between the girl’s browline still made Ezra, and the rest uneasy. Given her attitude during those months of relentless training, they still found themselves in the struggle to understand — mistrusting her every action. Though, they could do nothing about it, and just went along in the parade.

Vael, as the man positioning in the end of the group, took a sneak peek upon the child — just let out a quiet, airy smile, and also trailed on.

The long march was finally halted at the front gate, and the entrance pushed open, breaking into sight, the true landscape of reality. Each of them were sheltered people, though they had always been well informed about things of lore lying past the gate, but upon seeing it themselves — they were still shaken, consumed by an intense sense of overwhelm. Knowing was easy, but witnessing it was where the real test began.

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