Crashing into the grassy floor of the valley, Cisse, Henry, and Arthur rolled for a bit before they were all left sprawled out on the valley floor.
The sounds of heavy breathing and sighs of relief filled the valley as all the survivors either fell face first or heavily sat down.
Weakened by using Emblazion's Laceration, Arthur simply laid in the soft grass staring into the dusking sky with unfocused eyes. Whereas Cal transformed back into his cube form and just laid on Arthur's chest.
After a few minutes, his eyes began to refocus as his strength slowly began to return. Turning his head to now sitting up, Cisse, Arthur asked," two questions, first, what was that thing?"
Taking a deep breath, Cisse sighed. "A chaotic creature."
"Hm?"
"Chaotic creatures are not of this Realm. No one really knows where they come or why they throw realm energy into such disorder. They have been known to have the tendency to appear anywhere and everywhere, but I have never heard of one appearing in a dungeon before. They are also very vicious creatures that seem to take pleasure in reaping lives. For some reason, however, the more lives they claim, the stronger they become. If I am not wrong, that was just a rank three thrall. "
"Thrall?"
"Yes, Chaotic Creatures are classified from thralls to scouts, pawns, knights, lords, monarchs, and then imperials. Within each classification ranked from one to five, with five being the strongest and one being the weakest."
"That serpent was just a thrall?" asked Arthur.
Cisse nodded. "You can tell their ranks by the color of their eyes. Black for thrall, dark grey for scouts, ash white for pawns, pure white for knights, bronze for lords, silver for monarchs, and gold for imperials. You can also tell their rank by how many abilities they can use with rank, the devouring, absorption, and ability still are all individual abilities."
Hearing this, Arthur shivered. A calamity of that nature is the weakest classification amongst its kind? Then what about the strongest?
Shaking off his growing sense of discomfort, Arthur asked his second question. "Who are you? You should be Cisse, but you don't look like Cisse."
Cisse, confused by Arthur's words, turned to him. "What are you talking about?"
Arthur pointed to Cisse's face, "Are you a son of Cisse?"
Still confused, Cisse unhinged one of his battle axes and checked his reflection in it's mirror. "How?" he whispered. But then his crystal blue eyes lit up. 'The red pool!'
The current Cisse looked like a sixteen-year-old version of himself. With curly black hair, crystal blue eyes, a toned physic, and a vibrant aura, he seemed similar to a popular prince of some kingdom. Especially with those crystal blue eyes. It should be noted that amongst the three powers of Tsew Acirfa, every once in a while, a person will be born with unique eyes. The typical eye color for those born on the continent is either dark brown and black. For those born with unique eye colors, they are granted a unique skill at a random point in time of their lives and are called the seer's blessed. As for Cisse's, he hasn't unlocked his yet.
Nevertheless, realizing what had happened. Cisse quickly explained to Arthur the most likely reason for the change. Of course, becoming younger wasn't the only change that occurred with Cisse. Though he couldn't place his finger on it, he also felt significantly stronger than before.
While Cisse continued to explain to Arthur, a sudden gasp interrupted them, "Cisse quick du..duck?"
Henry finally woke up, and upon no longer seeing the two beasts before him, he looked around in confusion. His eyes then focused on Cisse, and even more, confusion began to swim in his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Cisse once again explained everything. But beyond either Cisse or Arthur's understanding, Henry started to bawl.
"Sniff…how could…sniff…this be. I..sniff…can't bring you…sniff…to show my family…sniff..anymore! Why must…sniff…the Realm do this to me! Sob…the age…sob…difference!"
Hearing this, Arthur and Cisse exchanged looks. 'That's what he is crying about?'
With a smile, Arthur sat up to rub Henry's back. "There, there, Henry. It's going to be okay. I am sure you will soon find someone."
However, Arthur's words seemed to make him bawl even harder.
Nevertheless, after a few more minutes of crying, Henry finally stopped crying, with a flame of determination burning in his eyes. As for what the cause or purpose of that flame was, no one knew but Henry.
Now calm, Henry began to chat with Arthur and Cisse as they recuperated their energy.
It was also during this moment when Arthur asked. "Um, Henry? Are you still merchant by any chance?
Hearing this, Henry's gaze became more serious and calm. "Of course, young Arthur. Do you have a business proposition by any chance?"
"As a matter of fact, I do."
"Go on, do tell."
"I need a variety of seeds, livestock, herbs, and do you deal with slaves?"
Henry nodded. "Are there any specific requirements for the slaves?"
"Not, in particular, the more diverse, the better, but if there are any special skilled ones, I am interested. Children are also welcome."
Pulling a scroll out of his storage ring, Henry began to jot a few things down. As a merchant, he didn't have the habit of asking what a customer's needed goods were for. But guessing by Arthur's requested items, he could more or less tell what his purpose was.
Regardless, after hashing out a few minor details, Henry promised to have the good's delivered within a month. As for cost, it was no problem with Arthur's newfound wealth, and even without it, the endless raw material he could provide would suffice.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
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After a few hours of chatting rest, those within the valley began to leave. Some left satisfied with their gains, while others with forlorn looks left with feelings of sadness.
It was also at this time that Cisse and Arthur were bidding Henry goodbye as they hopped onto Rapix.
Wasting no time, Rapix flapped his four massive wings, propelling them into the air for their two-day journey back to Avalon.
…
Though the trip back was going very peacefully, something drastic happened midway through that will forever change the Realm.
No one saw it coming. No one was prepared. But from that point onward, it dictated every action of the inhabitants of the Realm.
…
Arthur and Cisse chatting about one of Cisse's experiences when it happened.
A massive ripple traversed the entire sky of Pandora. The energy of the Realm began to fluctuate between thin and thick concentrations.
It was then that the ever-familiar feminine monotonous voice sounded across the whole Realm.
[- Realm Announcement. -]
[- Realm Boundary Deteriorating. -]
[- Multiple Minor Realm Collisions Imminent. -]
Just as the voice announced those two events, the entire Realm began to tremble. Though no damages were caused by the tremble, the energy within the Realm started to grow exponentially. As the energy increased, numerous continents began to appear across all three domains of the Realm.
After a few minutes of this happening. Everything began to calm and stabilize. It was then that the voice continued.
[- The Minor Realm of Daemonium Has Completed Fusion with the Realm.-]
[- The Minor Realm of Spiria Has Completed Fusion with the Realm. -]
[- Due to the Fusion of Additional Realms. There is Significantly more Energy Available in the Realm. Advancement's in Power Should be Easier. More Ruins and Dungeons have appeared in the Realm. -]
[- As a result of the Great Disturbance Caused by Integration. Various Slumbering Entities have begun to Awaken.-]
[- Due to the Deterioration of the Realm Boundary. The Boundary Separating the Realm from Chaotic Creatures has been Significantly Reduced. Chaotic Creatures Will Become More Prevalent and Appear in More Unlikely Places.-]
[- With All Realms Becoming One at Last. Realm Challenges are Now Active. -]
[- Realm Challenge One: Become the Sovereign of The Realm. -]
[- Realm Challenge Two: Claim a Hero's Tower and Compete in the Trial of Heroes. For the Title of Greatest Hero.-]
[- Sovereign, Soul, Terrestrial, Celestial, Hero, Mortal, Demon, Spirit, and Legacy Armaments Have Now Become Available. -]
[- The Advent of A New Era Starts Now. -]
[- Goodluck! -]
After the voice finished its announcement, all the inhabitants, whether they were demons from Daemonium, spirts from Spiria or mortals from Pandora, were all thrown into chaos. Various people of power began to call large meetings in response to these changes. Others just calmly went about other things as if these changes didn't concern them.
Regardless, bringing things a little closer to home. Within the northern part of Arthur's continent, a blonde youth knelt by his dying father's bedside. With tears streaming down his face, he swore to accomplish great things.
On the Eastern part of the continent, a dark-haired elven lady sat the head of a meeting room as various other elven women pushed forward ideas and plans. She listened quietly as her cold eyes watched a drawn map that laid at the center of the meeting room's table.
As for the western part of the continent. A sixteen-year-old brown-haired youth was strolling casually down a spiral of stairs until he stood before a sturdy pair of wooden double doors. With a light push, the doors opened as he stepped inside a gently lit room. There was only one piece of furniture in the room, a massive canopy bed. On the bed was a naked mature woman with auburn colored hair and light brown eyes. Her arms were bound to the posts as she laid there in despair. The youth walked up to the bedside and sat down. With gentle hands, he caressed the woman's cheeks.
He spoke in a soft voice as he caressed the woman's cheeks. "Dear me, it been quite a while since I visited, hasn't it step-mother?"
Hearing the youth's words, the dazed woman stiffened as she began to cry. "Nero, please, forgive me! I know how I treated you was horri-"
Stopping his caress, Nero covered the woman's mouth with his hand. "Shhh, no need to beg. What been done has been done."
As he said this, Nero turned to a well-built man in a loincloth that stood by the wooden double doors. "Same as usual," he said to the man as he got up to leave.
Heeding Nero's command, the man walked towards the bed as his loincloth dropped to the floor. As the doors closed behind Nero, screams of mercy and despair began.
Following this, he made his way further down the hall towards another room. This room was similar to the one before the same type of canopy bed and lightning. However, in this room were two groups of people. In one corner were nude men that bound with chains, and in another corner were a group of naked boys also bound with chains.
Taking a quick glance, Nero made his way towards the group of men and, with a forceful yank, threw one of the men towards the bed while stripping off his clothes as he made his way over.
All the while, the screams of his step-mother could still be heard. The man on the bed was crying, whimpering, knowing what was to come. In a swift and practiced motion, Nero sprawled the man onto the bed and promptly began to thrust. After the first thrust, a short dagger appeared in his hand. With no hesitation, Nero plunged it downward, stabbing it into the chest of the man while his other hand covered the man's mouth, stifling his screams. With each thrust came a stab. Noticeably, the more Nero did this, the more the white of his eyes became an indigo color until even his iris and pupil disappeared.
After about a minute, the man struggling beneath him became limp. Nero's now indigo eyes contained a hint of boredom. "The older ones last longer, pity their screams aren't as enjoyable." Saying this, his fully filled indigo eyes swept the group of huddled up boys.
…
…
…
As various changes and actions were occurring all over the Realm. Within the floating Oroborus Castle, the Old Man stood on a balcony with solemn eyes as he watched the land below.
"Depravity, Insanity, Power, Triumph, War, Conquest, Death, and Famine. After so long, the tainted souls have begun to awaken." Sighed the Old Man. "Even those fourteen from the minor realms have awakened."
"Alas, the advent of chaos has arrived."
[Historical Tidbit 1: Nero is known as one of the worst Roman emperors, ever. He is best known for his debaucheries, political murders, persecution of Christians, and a passion for music that led to the rumor that he "fiddled" while Rome burned during the great fire of 64 AD He attained power in AD 54 at the age of 16, over the next 14 years Nero allegedly murdered his two wives, his mother, and his aunt while also marrying two different men and sleeping with his mother and a Vestal Virgin, Rubia. Besides the abuse of free-born lads and the debauch of married women, He castrated the boy Sporus and endeavored to transform him into a woman and even went so far as to marry him. In 68 AD, the Gallic and Spanish legions, along with the Praetorian Guards, rose against Nero, causing him to flee Rome. The senate declared him a public enemy, and he committed suicide on 9 June 68 AD. Disputes over his succession led to civil war in Rome.]
[Tibit 1: Daemonium is the Latin word for demon.]
[Tibit 2: Spiria is just a play on the word spirit.]
[Tibit 3: A Hero in the world doesn't exactly mean a good guy. A hero is classified as anyone a lot of people admire and strive to be. Cause think about it, if someone from one kingdom massacres the army of an enemy kingdom, he is considered a hero by his people but a villain to the enemy. So basically, Heroes are all up to individual perspectives, they don't have to fit into the norm of a good guy or bad guy. They just have to be admired by a lot of people.]
[Tibit 3: Arthur's Ring of the twelve isn't considered a legacy armament, for him to get the legacy armament, he will need all three pieces of the set. Armaments aren't very easy to get.]
[Tidbit 4: The four horsemen of the apocalypse are death, famine, conquest, and war. I added the other four.]