''Captain?What are you talking about?''Maira said with difficulty.Even though Kaiser supressed his aura,his own presence was enough to shake the souls of many.Kaiser looked at her deeply,his complexion hard to read.''There are no more soldiers in this dimension.All of them have been used as blood tribute.''Said Kaiser,slightly shaking the heads in his pure,yet bloody hand.

''But how?I thought senior members already checked the insides before the trials?''Maira was very confused and frantic at the same time.This pressure was making them suffocate,like an huge mountain was standing on their shoulders.Even so,the worst one was Grim.Because of the pressure,his old wounds flared and worsened causing him to cough mouthfuls of blood.Even though he wouldn't die,he still felt the incredible pain.

''Simple,they have lied.''Kaiser said,his voice colder than ice.His eyes had a dangerous glint,a volcano was at the brink of eruption in his heart.Little Gin was no longer calm,his eyes filled with a clear hostility and hatred.But Kaiser didn't mind it.He have seen such gazes for all of his life,filled with hatred,jealousy,fear,venom.He felt numb after a time.Even so,this didn't give a little child any right to look at him that way.

Suddenly,Gin's right arm spinned like a wheel,completely breaking down.Gin let out a scream of pain,holding his right arm painfully.'Freak!'Grim's heart was pounding very heart.They didn't even sense any movement from other party,but he somehow managed to cripple Gin's right arm.

''Kaiser!''Maira shouted,her eyes holding a threatening glint.Kaiser's eyes dimmed down,his pure body covered by a white light,and took a step towards her.Even so,Maira didn't show any intention of backing down.With each step,another layer was added to the pressure.Even Grim and Gin,who were excluded from being targets,felt the intensity of pressure.Grim groaned a little,Blood seeping out from his nose and eyes.

Gin was stuck on his place,his already broken arm starting to turn into dust under the sheer pressure.Blood seeped out of his mouth while his knees were at the point of breaking down.Even so,he still glared at Kaiser,no fear in his eyes.

Even though both of them suffered physically,Maira looked like she endured the vast power of Kaiser.But it was not.She felt her mind spinning,blood flow completely in disarray while mana pool was unstable.Her complexion was pale and her whole body was trembling.Only her eyes stood unyielding.There was a strange light,protecting her fragile mind from breaking down,repelling all the pressure from invading her mind.

Kaiser stood right in front of Maira,then reached out with his hands.He held Maira's chin and lifted up a little,deeply looking at her eyes.He was very much suprised.He only encountered 2 peers in his life that could stand against his pressure,3rd being Maira.

Then,a evil smile appeared on his face,his gaze was filled with killing intent and lust.''You and that Mist girl are very similiar.''When Gin heard Kaiser's words,his face turned ferocious and screamed at him''Don't foul my Sister's name with your filthy mouth!''

Kaiser turned his icy gaze towards the screaming Gin.Gin froze like a statue,then an aura of death enveloped him,his life force visibly disappearing.''KAISER!I Swear on my family name if you kill him,i'll exterminate your whole family!''Kaiser furiously turned around,sending a palm towards her face.''Shut UP!''

Maira was sent flying,crashing to the ground like a meteor.A huge crater appeared,at it's center stood Maira.Her body was bloodied,face disorted.Her whole body was spasming,an incredible pain making tears spill out of her eyes.Even so,Even if it was painful,even if she was completely crushed,Even if her opponent was something she couldn't defeat,She didn't give up.

Her gaze was still same,Unyielding,powerful,ferocious.For a moment,Kaiser felt an incredible fear inside his heart.He felt his hands become sweaty,his heart shaking like it was in a quake.His body frozen like a statue,a black mist enveloping his body and soul.It was terrifying.He couldn't see,hear,smell,sense or do anything.Just a split second.For a split second,Kaiser felt fear for the first time in his life.

''You are not worth dirtying my hands.''He said and with a flash,disappeared.Even when he was gone,his heart was beating crazily,his back full of sweat.'This feeling...'He knew this feeling very well,he knew what kind of a gaze it was.But this was the first time,ever in his life,he was at the other side of the gaze.For the first time,he understood what people he killed felt,when he looked at them wtih his gaze.

...

Directly rushing towards Maira's side,Gin put his hand on her back,sending several wisps of golden mist.Gin's face paled,but he just choose to ignore it.In several seconds,Most of the Maira's wounds were healed,only leaving some internal injuries that could only heal with time.

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Maira slowly lifted her head,looking at Gin's pitiful face.''Th-thank you.''She said quietly,still trying to gather some power to stand up.''It's just some reserve i made,you don't need to thank me.''Maira didn't comment,because she knew what kind of a sacrifice he made.He spent neart o half of his inner mana pool to heal her.They were not flawless creatures.Dragons had strong bodies,great wisdom and near to eternal life.But they couldn't refine mana that easily.This was the reason Demi,a 6000 year old dragon,was still 3rd rank.

He paid a very huge price,so Maira had to compensate it back at home.But now,they had to get out of this area fast.Slowly standing up,Maira walked towards Grim.Gin closely followed,his face expressionless.''How much do you need?''Grim wanted to talk but he continued to vomit blood,then lifted 3 fingers.

''3 Hours?''Grim nodded slowly.''Then let's carry him,Ghost King's forces are sure to pass from here.''Kaiser not only killed 10 captains,he also killed a general.Ghost King only had 10 general under him,so it was clear he would be furious.They didn't want to be baits for Kaiser so moved on.Before walking away Gin took the token of Captain then helped Maira to carry Grim,going towards a random direction.

...

''We should wait till trial ends.''Maira said towards the two.Gin tried to force a smile,but he couldn't do it.He only nodded,his pale face brightening because of the small flame in front of them.Grim sighed,feeling bitter at his heart.''Then we are here.''

Rain was falling down to the bloody red wasteland,turning everywhere to mud pools and swamps.Mountains were standing mighty and high,but their back was not straight.They looked like defeated,fallen to the power of time.Sometimes,screams and shouts could be heard in this vast land.Explosions would rose and ground would break.

Inside a little cave,Gin lyed down on the ground,Gripping his chest with bitter difficulty.He gritted his teeth,eyes wet.''Gin''Grim called out to him quietly,sitting at the edge of a small fire.Gin slowly stood up,and inched closer towards the flame.''Can you tell me,Grim.''He said,gnashing his teeth.

''What is power?''Gin looked very pitiful.Grim looked at his state,feeling a pain at his heart.He sighed,then started to speak.

''Power,i don't understand it.It is very mysterious,but clear at the same time.You can use it to help,or to destroy.It can bring death,but it can bring life at the same time.Power can be used in many ways,in many different times.But it has only one clear point.No one can grant you power,even gods.You can only achieve it yourself.''

''Why do we train,Grim?''

''Because we want power.''

''Why do you want power?''

Grim looked down,clenching his hands.They were a bit sturdy,yet looking like it never encountered any difficulty.He then looked back at Gin.His small frame,his pale face,his blank eyes looking filled with nothing but void,All of them looked pitiful to him.This made him remember something,something very important.

He remembered.He have seen the same situation,over and over again.He saw it many times,read it many times,remembered it many times.They were images from memories,memories of his ancestors.

Everytime,events were different,characters were different,times were different.But one thing was same,regret.His ancestors failed many times,not at saving the world nor gaining victory against an evil.Not at love nor at success.They failed to save a person.They couldn't reach out to that darkness,to pull that pitiful soul out of the seemingly endless hell.

He didn't want to feel same.He didn't want to feel regret like his ancestors.Grim clenched his fists stronger than before,thinking about the best answer.Then,he realized something.He forgot his reason.He remembered the memory,he remembered the cause and resolve but couldn't find the sensation.He felt,incomplete.

''Why do you want to be strong,Grim?Why do you want power,why do you want a longer life?''Once asked a big shadow to him.He couldn't remember what that shadow was.Shadow was like a mountain to him,a big ocean or a whole planet.It always protected him,watched over him and doted on him.

If there was a whale,waves would send it back to it's way.If there was a flood,Mountain would stand high against it.If there was a meteor,planet would melt it before meteor could reach him.He forgot shadow,he forgot his brother.

His brother was the very same reason he started this journey.He wanted to be like him!A being that could protect everything he loved,a thing that stood high no matter what difficulty he faced.He wanted to be like his brother,he wanted to be as strong as his brother.This was the very same goal he put before starting to train.

''I want power.Not because i want stand at the top of this world.I don't have any interest in fighting,or reaching the apex of humanity.I only have my family and friends in this world.If i lost them,wouldn't it be sad?I want power,not to surpass everyone,but protect what belongs to me,what belongs to my family.Just like a pillar.I want to be a support my family and friends can lean their back with ease,A pillar that stands high no matter what comes to take me down.I want power,because i want to be like my brother.''

''Gin,don't you have something to protect too?''He asked quietly,waiting a response.This was the most nervous moment of his life.His heart was trembling a little.He felt like he realized something that he forgot a long time ago,a thing which made his heart beat faster.Even so,he ignored it completely.He only focused at Gin's pale,little face,quietly waiting.

While small flame was illuminating the insides of little cave,Grim and Gin sat in front of it.Their little frames showing big shadows,crackling sounds echoing through the silent place.Maira stood silently at the enterance,gazing at the falling rain.With each drop of water,her heart seemingly became more and more clear.

Like this,time passed slowly,slowly.