Part 1
The knights in full plate armor marched in a single-file line behind their captain Sir Aushten with their spears held high.
A tall young man dressed in black robes, with a snake around his neck, walked silently alongside them.
His steps were silent slithering like a serpent and not making any noise.
And the whole thing was out of place since only knights are supposed to be in the mansion.
The knights were trained to be ruthless soldiers who face death but in this instance, they felt a sinister aura oozing from the young man following them, and this instilled fear into their hearts like rats that met a deadly predator.
They felt that if they came to a halt this predator might bounce onto them and devour them whole.
Every step they took was a victory and a relief to be alive.
Sensing the fear his men gave as if they were running from enemies that they cannot fathom.
Sir Aushten became angry at his men for their foolishness and for disgracing him.
Even though he feels what they felt, he decided to ignore it because he feels the same.
He has this principle of not challenging stronger opponents because as a military officer at the rank of captain, he knows how this world system of hierarchy works. When your opponent's presence overwhelms you then avoid that person because you are no match for them.
Amused by Sir Aushten's anger and his men's fear of him Vansh Khan laughed "Sss Si ha ha ha ha" laughing mockingly
"What a disgrace for a knight at your level to not be able to control his men."
"Damm you Snake Charmer put away your aura, how dare you intimidate my soldiers know your place you filthy mongrel."
"Watch yourself captain or you might die mysteriously."
"Ssss"
The snake wrapped around his neck hissed at the knights threatening them.
"Control your pet Snake Charmer." Pulling up his longsword Sir Aushten prepared himself for battle.
"Even though the gap between us is huge I don't believe you can match us if we fight because of our number."
But suddenly before they could go into battle something unexpected happened. "Creak"
The sound of big doors opening was heard in the long wide hallway corridor and it came to silence.
"What is going on here Sir Aushten I thought I told you to bring Sir Khan quietly and no one should know about what is about to accrue in this meeting was that not clear enough for you simpleton knight."
"Your Highness"
Putting away his longsword Sir Aushten and his knights knelt in front of the door. Kneeling in respect to the Imperial Prince Alven Van Syvan a man rumored to be next in line to the throne of the great Akash Empire an empire that has conquered a whole continent.
For this prince looking him in the eyes is a crime by execution, although he wears a mask everywhere he goes except in the palace where the royal family lives.
He was wearing a blue and gold aristocrat retro vintage outfit with dragon patterns, and his long smooth golden hair was braided on one side while the other was left as it was.
No experresion was seen as a mask was covering his face, this mask had the empire's simple on it, but overall, it was shaped like a unicorn.
In an instant, the air seemed to freeze.
Sir Aushten felt regret and shame for what occurred, this was supposed to be a chance to impress His Highness the Imperial Prince but he failed as a knight because he was provoked so easily.
The long corridor became eerier as no one said a word, making the knight sweat profusely.
It seemed like an eternity for Sir Aushten, as he wrecked his brain to come up with something but if he says one word that would make the prince angrier he could lose his life.
"Forgive me, your highness, I have shamed my title as a knight."
"Leave… you and your knights have disappointed me."
"Tsk" "Tsk" "Tsk" "What an insensitive man."
Taking out his tongue to test and sense the air around him, Sir Khan sarcastically looked at the prince.
"Hiss hiss, Imperial Prince you've broken the agreement, you said there were no strong guards with her. Pay up double you cost me lots of pets for this little mission of yours."
"Broken the agreement how dare you talk to me like that when it was you who alerted the royal guards and ruined everything I planned."
"You can't even take care of a little girl and you release your aura like that to attract people, what am I even paying your organization for when they can't complete the work discreetly."
"Begone from my sight filthy animal and tell your masters to send female assassins since they complete their work much faster than men like you."
Screaming angrily the prince wanted to throw what was around him but realized that this was his secret base for shady businesses and there was nothing in the long corridor.
"Ahh, what a pain the old man won't die and he's not intending to hand over his throne despite failing to accomplish what his forefathers did; anyways do I have to become like my fool brother who trains brainlessly to become strong? No, never mind that, and do tell to those old geezers that I accept their deal to go to the forbidden land."
"Yes, your highness!" An attendant standing behind him replied.
"And for you, this is my city little snake no matter how fast you run you cannot escape from my scope."
Miles away from the city of Griffin governed by Prince Alven Van Syvan a black snake could be seen slithering towards a big tree enlarging in size as it got closer to the tree.
The snake jumped up in the air opening its large mouth and what could be described as a snake shedding its skin, but in this case, a human was shedding from the snake's mouth.
"Huff" "Huff"
Panting like life was leaving its body the snake fell from the sky and human arms came protruding out of its mouth.
The snake struggled to throw what was inside its body but no matter what it did it seemed like this being, rather its master intended to tear it apart from the inside to show that the body it has pride in crushing its enemies couldn't save it today.
A fully naked tall young man with dark long hair protruded from the snake, his body full of mucus and blood he looked up into the sky with a spread arm.
"I'm the Silent Night Vansh Khan to no man I fear for I'm a no man."
Up in the sky looking at this man was a falcon with crimson eyes observing what transpired.
Although it had no intelligence it knew its mission was to gather information on this man thus it circled to see what happens next.
Vansh Khan though did not mind what this creature did, all his attention was focused on the prey his servants were following for the past week.
"Ssss"
"I can't believe the princess raised such a fine cat I guess we know why she is called that title…let's go guys Si hi hahaha."
All around him in the shadows were thousands of snakes ready to follow him.
***
In the year 1000 of the Star, there was a great war between giant serpents of the desert and the barbarians led by King En Sala Nur the hero king. He created the Ki martial art using nature's energy as the source, you imitate beast fighting styles, strengthening your body, speed, and senses like a beast this is something he once heard from a female dragon warrior.
That war concluded the dominance of serpents on land and other beasts that feasted on mankind for centuries.
In the year 1409 the Sun, an Iron meteor fell from the sky into the land of the south birthing the Empire of Akash. Alongside the meteor, 9 Emerald gems appeared awakening unique powers to whoever possessed them. With swords made of indestructible meteorites, the Akash Empire conquered a continent and proceeded to conquer the whole world.
In the year 1618 the Comet, a meteor shower happened which caused an outbreak of a Dancing Plague.
This plague was unlike any other plague its victims danced instead of being bedridden sick.
The scholars from High Academia Land found that this plague was a foretelling of snakes dominating the world (again). And the dances were based on the culture of the earliest era of some human tribes.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
These people were mad as they refused to accept civilization and spread diseases that they conducted to villagers.
In the year 1737 of the Moon, a century after the plague incident a massacre happened in the Akash Empire later in the future known as the Mystic Massacre.
This Massacre was caused by the empire's 7th Princess who organized a rebellion against her father the Emperor to take the throne.
***
Part 2
In a lush green forest full of gigantic trees between two giant mountains walked a lioness the size of a horse and a mass of 2000 lbs, limping with her hind left leg, and blood dripping from her thigh.
Following her from behind were two snakes a cobra king of 15 meters in length and a rock python of 19 meters long waiting for their poison to take effect on the lioness and bounce on her majestic big body.
Slithering impatiently these two snakes couldn't endure and bounced forward trying to strike a fatal attack on her.
The king cobra lashed itself to bite her unharmed hind leg to restrict her movements and the rock python tried to wrap itself in her waist to suffocate the lioness.
Jumping up instinctively the lioness twisted her body into a pose like a frightened cat ready to attack, she struck the king cobra with her claws, sending it flying before it hit a tree.
Falling on the ground lifelessly the king cobra was missing half of its face and one eye spinning.
On the other side, the lioness and rock python commenced a fierce battle.
The lioness jumped into the rock python roaring and unleashing her claws and fangs fully like the true predator she is.
On the other hand, the rock python springled itself waiting to catch its foe.
The lioness started to slash at the rock python relentlessly but its body became rock as the attacks did nothing to it.
She took a few steps back taking moments to think and suddenly she started to jump up and down making her four limbs like rubber and easing the pain in her hind leg.
This made her bounce from the ground to trees shooting herself forward for a deadly attack.
But before the lioness could jump on her enemy she heard the sound of horse hoofs running in her direction, forgetting the enemy in front of her as she looked back and saw a cavalry of knights this in return gave the python a chance to counterattack.
Seizing the opportunity of his foe putting down her guard the rock python bounced on her biting the back of her neck and wrapping itself around her to end this before she got any more chance of escaping.
"Roar"
A deafening roar resounded in the forest alarming all creatures, this roar was not of a dying beast but a pressure to paralyze its prey, all who were weaker than her fainted foaming in their mouths.
This was something akin to or closer to what evolved monsters do but her blood carries an ability of its own.
Half of the cavalry knights and all horses fainted on the spot.
Even the rock python felt danger, although it was much stronger than her in terms of brute strength.
It didn't seem to help right now as its body was paralyzed making it impossible to make any movements.
The rest of the cavalry knights came to a halt as the crazy lioness started tearing the rock python into pieces.
2nd Commander Zayl was astonished as the lioness fought, he seemed to be in a daze wondering what actions he should take next.
His status as a knight of the empire means he cannot disobey orders, and following the princess's orders means no buts, so he has to follow orders, even if it means losing his soldiers or his life.
"Sir Zayl… the junior knights have all fainted and our horses are down what shall we do?"
Bringing him out of his thoughts was a young knight who came to him asking what action they should take.
"There is nothing to do young knight just wait and see."
"But Sir Zayl don't you think the princess pet should be rescued and brought back or if anything happens to it we will fail the mission entrusted to us."
"Well, young knight it matters not whether we fight or don't because if we return without that lion the Royal Gourds will torture us to death and if we take action now the lion will kill us... How you wanna ask, well when a monster or beast goes into what is known as a berserk mode a state in where their strength is amplified they become a mindless monster that only moves to kills. And if you are facing it during that time you'll die because beasts and humans are different beasts develop cores when they evolve into monsters, these cores are the essence of their being and makes them stronger, this core is also a key to their evolution and without it, they can't evolve." Pausing to take a breath he continued.
"And for us humans we have no cores but we use Ki the life force energy within us to train making our body body several times stronger than normal people or to the point of breaking the human limit. An example of that is if one breaks into the level above 5-star worrier they can cut mountains with swords or destroy them barehanded. It was also said that the barbarians have mastered another level of that which is to combine monster cores and Ki into their hearts awakening supernatural powers."
Those who awaken become as strong as a monster and use their powers, this power of their is unique ability gained from their cores, and that's why humans hunt them no matter the place.
Suddenly in surprise Sir Zayl said. "Come to think of it don't those snakes look familiar, they look like the ones that were with that crazy guy who tried to assassinate the princess five weeks ago."
"Yes, what was he called again?" He asked wondering the name of the assassin.
"You mean the Snake Charmer Sir Zayl."
"That's it it's him." He seemed to remember the guy who nearly made an entire city and its people destroyed.
"Anyways men get into battle formation it seems our turn has come and you young knight go inform the princess. That he is after her tamed monsters to ruin her upcoming ceremony."
"But Sir Zayl I must fight alongside you guys or I will be shaming my knight status."
"Go don't waste our sacrifice this is not a battle we are winning and I have a bad feeling that the snake guy is coming, so please go."
Turning back the young knight Alivias fled not looking back because he could hear his comrades' desperate cries as they were dying one by one.
Alivias felt disappointed for being weak, ever since the day of the parade when he saw the young princess he vowed to become strong and stand by her side.
Hearing the fight between his Commander who is a senior knight fighting a losing battle he despaired more and felt pathetic at how weak he is.
"Ahhhhhhhh, Commander Zayl I hereby vow again that I will become strong and stand at her highness's side for your sacrifices and my sake."
"Hahahaha what a spirited young lad he sure has a good dream but I feel bad for him you know what I mean right Kiara." Sir Zayl was no stranger when it came to this lioness as he had seen her with the princess.
The princess has hundreds of beasts she experiments on one of them being Kiara because she particularly liked her and even named it.
This lioness was experimented on in many ways breeding with different species, burning her, freezing her, and other crazy things even making strong knights with no emotions feel sympathy for her.
"You know when I heard the princess little experiment cat escaped and they deployed many platoons I felt like it was a waste but seeing as you killed half of my soldiers without touching them I feel it was the right decision for many knights to be sent after you."
Putting his sword back into the scabbard, Sir Zayl drew a circle of Ki around himself readying himself in a stance of sword drawing.
This is a famous sword style that many below the 5-star warriors rank use especially the easterners from the 21 Alliance countries.
Giving this stance the name death round because when your opponent reaches into the Ki circle they'll get in striking range also when they come into contact with the Ki circle it accelerates your reflexes and speed.
So once drawn your enemy is cut without noticing how they died because for one to use this technique one must have good perception and speed as they know the exact proximity of when their enemy enters the circle.
The battlefield came into silence
The two opponents looked at each other and it seemed that they were in a stalemate
"Howl"
The lioness Kiara uttered a doleful cry indicating she was left with no other choice but to sacrifice everything.
"I feel the same although I don't know what you said I at least know you understand humans so I won't fight you… consider this as if nothing happened I'd say the crazy snake guy killed you, so go and be free."
Kiara was shocked by what she heard she knows full well about human warriors they are unhonorable creatures because she has seen them betray their kind for no reason.
She was prepared for another battle but she can't waste any more time because the child inside her needed to come out before its too late. Moving backward for a few steps Kiara turned around and looked at her previous foes ready to consume their whole beings.
She saw the long python that was slashed and cut into pieces she walked and set down in front of the large head without waiting she started chewing on it.
After eating for a while she found a yellow orb radiating blood scent wasting no time she swallowed it and started absorbing the energy.
Somewhere in the forest a mile away from the battlefield Sir Zayl looked at his knights and thought to himself.
Am I a coward for not fighting a dying beast? No, it's that I just don't like risks taking this mission was enough of a risk.
Will they punish me for failing, damn I don't know what to do or I shouldn't have sent that lad away to his death well it matters not so let's return, this mission was deemed a failure anyway right?
He felt death this time making him give up on fighting her. Although the consequence is huge it's better than death.
Somewhere else on a cliff near the forest, the young knight Alivias was panting heavily. "Huff" "Huff" "Huff"
"Where am I." Looking around his surroundings Alivias was shocked to see a forest behind him and an endless sea in front of him. Wait a forest between two mountains a huge cliff of green rock this can't be how and why here I should be on my way to the city of Kiskeya. The Green Sea where it's the south of the Balruf continent the land of Barbarians and the Amazon the land of women, from what I know SouthWest of here is the fortress of Flower Queen Fiona, where she guards the empire then I must head there and report this to her."
***
Part 3
The current year 1839 of the Sun
A storm was brewing in the world of Felicia up in the north in the forbidden land red lighting and a thunderstorm raged making all monsters go into hiding. In the east where the Continent of the Sun was there was heavy rain blessing some lands and bringing misfortune to others. In the giant land where it never snowed, there was an ice storm, while in the Amazon lands, there were winds and tornadoes. And lastly, in the empire a blizzard hit them.
Kiara ran around searching for a place to take refuge in from the blizzard but could not find any such place.
Reaching her limit she jumped down from a cliff to look for caves. She struggled to get down after jumping down with such weight she almost fell into the sea; and just before she was about to fall into the sea, she saw a cave about her size around the corner down a narrow path.
Thinking nothing of it, she took the risk. As she jumped and put her claws into the cornerstone wall, she tried to pull herself up with her hind legs, but her injured left leg prevented her from doing so.
The freezing air made it very hard for her to hold on she howled and howled but couldn't succeed.
As she struggled more to climb up the blizzard also became more intensive on her. Not wanting to hold on any longer Kiara dug her claws deep into the wall and pushed her hind legs until she bled from her paws.
Finally deciding to bet everything on one jump she tried to jump but realized her claws were stuck on the cliff wall frozen pulling her feet so hard her claws came off and blood started coming out profusely but thanks to the snow her paws froze stopping most of the blood.
While falling into the sea below the cliff Kiara closed her eyes and started crying tears of pain.
She regretted everything about her choice of escaping, not being the same as the other lion simple minded beast who acted on instinct, and her sense of helplessness.
In anger, she screamed at the heavens for being unfair and started talking to her unborn cub. "Why were we denied our destiny and enslaved into pets and mounts for humans? Are we not the Lions of Pride, rulers among beasts? And yet we are struggling to live day by day."
"Child I know you can't hear me but please listen to me because I leave my dream and wishes upon you my child become what I could not. Rule this world as the rightful heir for you are born a king."
Remember this: [During bright moons and fiery skies, stars come and ask for a chance, and when they are dim, stars are lost and kings are born. When the moon is dim, the land cries for water in search of the last star, for that is a gem]. "This was told to me by my mother and was told to her by her mother who is from the dark continent she was a white lion who flew in the sky with flaming wings, that place is where no human lives and only a beast world. Seek the Galapagos Mountain Tortoise he is the only way to get there. And to find him you must first pass the challenges set by him. The first task is to defeat the sky king and ask for the treasure map."
"One more thing my child make sure you produce more offspring breeding with all felines because the ancestor's blood comes by chance in very. Make an army that is your will's command. And I'm glad that I give birth to you but sad at the same time because we won't meet. Be well my future king and as a last gift take this name Kerrakion for it is a creature loved by the world."
End of Chapter 1