As I promised here's the next part of the Chapter 1 - Where it Begins! Part 2
Though I want to add some picture from my PC but I don't know how if anyone who knows how please do tell me! Thanks and Enjoy reading! :)
An hour earlier inside the palace, the five thieves Tom, Fagin, Keyser, Jase and Hood wearing all black outfits infiltrate the palace of the Kingdom of Ymir, their target was the treasury obviously. They were all experts in their professions.
Their plan was to kill the soldiers guarding the Treasury room and two of them will replace the guard as a scout outside while the other three take all the treasure they can inside. They have advanced pick locking skill so it won’t be a problem if it’s a Treasury Room lock or not.
Then use their cloaking skill to conceal their presence while fleeing from the palace, the 2nd group set up a stairs for them to used waiting in the first wall, the 3rd group waiting in the second wall, the 4th group is waiting and guarding the carriage in the alleyway for their transportation and the 5th group was to open the path in the south gate.
All was going according the plan but the three thieves consume in their greediness from the mountains of treasures inside, they take more than they can take. They even spend more time than the arranged time.
Inside the treasury room was not only gold, silver and gems. There were also weapons, armors and items though it was old but has graded-A materials and was worn by famous individuals in the past of Kingdom of Ymir. There were also magic items, history books, maps and scrolls inside. It was a mountain of treasures that you need a whole week to identify it all.
Now the five of them was moving out the palace slower than usual, each of them was holding four bags although it was a high leveled modified bag that can store more than 30 times the original and they are high leveled thieves they focus on raising their agility not the strength that will help them carry more weight.
They still manage to get out the palace unharmed but there are close moments where their concealment was detected. The palace was in uproar because the patrolling guards notice that the treasures was stolen inside the Treasury room and they alert all the soldiers in the palace sending message to the guards in every wall to close the gates for not permitting the thieves exit.
The five of them was past already of the schedule time to depart, they can’t blame each other because they all consume in greed and they all agreed to better reserved their energy for fleeing and staying alive other than to argue with each other.
They ran as fast as they can to reach the walls while staying in the dark for cloaking. They climb in the stairs prepared by the 2nd groups but some of them are dead and the others are injured because of the fight in the soldiers.
Earlier the archer in the 2nd group notices the arrival of the 1st group and they execute their plan.
“They are coming, set up the stairs now.” They lay down the rope ladder and guard it till the 1st group passes the wall. While waiting the soldier of the Kingdom of Ymir patrolling the wall is arriving faster than the 1st group. The soldier notice something strange about the side of the wall rushed to the 2nd group of thieves.
“The soldiers are coming, prepare your weapons. We will protect this stairs till the 1st group passed through.” Warn the archer to the other members. His name is Volpe a high leveled archer leading the 2nd group of thieves.
They clashed weapons but the 2nd group just barely won with many injuries. There are still many soldiers arriving noticing the signal in the first wall.
“Go now and complete the mission we will hold them back as long as we can, for the Shadow Fangs Guild.” Volpe said to the 1st group ready to sacrifice himself for the mission. “Tell My Lady I’m sorry but I can’t go back to her.” He added as he fire volleys of arrows to the soldier of Kingdom of Ymir.
“Save Her” Volpe said holding both Keyser shoulders with his hard grip.
“I will, don’t worry we will protect Her.” Keyser nodded at Volpe “Your sacrifice will not be in vain. Don’t worry we will complete the mission, I’ll tell My Lady your bravery, for the Shadow Fangs Guild.” Keyser said to Volpe, the other member of the 1st group also nodded at Volpe and bidding farewell to the 2nd group and continuing down the wall.
They ran as fast as they could to reach the 3rd group of Shadow Fangs Guild. Although they could hear the dying cries of the 2nd group behind them but still they continue running not turning their back. As they ran to the location of the 3rd group, they can hear noises ahead the noise of metal clashing with metal and cries of the dying person. They can hear the noises louder as they ran closer and they stop on their tracks hiding to see what is happening.
“What happened? What’s going on there?” Fagin said to Keyser who are leading them he is nervous of what is going to happen.
“N-Not go-good, th-they are all dead.” Keyser said his whole body shaking. He didn’t know what to do now. They are trap on both sides and can’t get out now.
“If…If we just take we can carry, we…we can travel faster and arrived on schedule time. N-Now we can’t com-complete the mission we can’t even g-get out… alive.” Tom said feeling despair and sorrow.
“Y-Yeah…Yeah if… If we just focus on the mission we are not like this. This is your fault Keyser you tried to take all the treasures inside and now we are slow to move out. Even Volpe and our brothers sacrifice their life for the mission, we failed…we failed them and we failed My Lady.” The last words rang in their ears through their hearts. Jase is crying as he said that words.
The others are also feeling despair and now they are crying. They now feel their tired bodies from running and using cloaking skill. Keyser who is task to lead in this mission felt their sorrows, because of his greediness and wanting to give a good life to his My Lady, now not even the mission will be successful.
“The other thieves are there!” Shout of one of the soldiers.
“Chase them!” The captain shouts at his soldiers. “And You tell the other cohorts to surround the Central Square!” Captain Raylan orders his other soldier to send information to the centurions.
“We need to get out of here.” Hood shouts at them “This isn’t the time to feel saddened at the loss of our brothers. We need to run and hide to think of a plan.” Hood encouraged his brothers to not give up and die. They all both agree and started to run as they push their tired bodies. As long as they are alive they still can think of a plan to escape. They all put their remaining stamina to survive.
“Thank you” Keyser said to Hood. He thanked Hood for encouraging them because as their leader he failed them.
“I’m only doing this for My Lady.” Hood said.
“Of course it is for My Lady. But still I need to say Thank you” Keyser said feeling grateful to Hood.
“Thanked me after we survive this. You better think of a best escape plan later and treat me after we survive this.” Hood added to Keyser.
“Yes I will.” Keyser said as he steeled his motivation so they can all survive.
They all run as the groups of soldiers were chasing them. The soldiers fired a volley of arrows while riding a horse, some foot soldiers jump and block the thieves. Their escaped wasn’t going to be good as their mana and stamina were running out. Even their life was reducing little by little after some encounter with the soldiers.
Because of the weight they were carrying it was hard for them to dodge and to move. The non-stop coming of soldiers to them was also a problem but they still persevered as they run to survive. They steeled their determination as they killed the soldiers blocking their path.They weren’t just only a group of thieves that know how to steal and run even in combat they proved to be dangerous.
Though in one on one they were better than the soldiers of Ymir but being outnumbered without catching their breath was killing them little by little. The only reason they weren’t giving up given their current conditions as they hit and run was because of their My Lady that they swear to protect with their own lives.
They know they can’t die in there as they remove the negative thoughts that they can’t survive. They refused to accept that they will all die and won’t complete their mission.
Neo is walking in the alley his shortcut to the fountain in the Central Square but as he was walking he can hear shouts and noises. The shouts coming from the denarions and centurions ordering their soldiers, and the footsteps of the soldiers and the horses.
Neo pick up his pace and now walking faster than before, because he felt the situation is getting worse, although he knows something is wrong but he still felt that if he doesn’t finished his task fast he will be in trouble. But he’s too late to notice that because he still continue on his way and after he turn right to the corner he felt something is wrong and started to walk slowly and silently.
Although his instincts was telling him to ignore it and continued to go on his way but his curiosity still wins.
‘There are still time and I‘ll just take a look and after that I’ll go to the fountain to fill my canteen of water’ He said to convince himself.
He takes a peek at the corner as the moonlight shine from the sky he saw men all covered in black outfits. They were discussing about something but he can’t hear them and can’t read through their lips because they wear face mask covering their mouth and nose and a hooded robe.
“What we do now? Hood is dead he sacrifice himself for us to escape and we are injured. We even don’t know how long will we last.” Tom said is he panted. They were all exhausted and injured. They can’t even think straight anymore and arguing with each other.
“Keyser you are the leader of this group, you decide what we need to do or else we all die.” Jase added as he bandaged himself and put pressure to Keyser who don’t know also what to do.
Keyser was silent and still can’t believe what is happening, just earlier they find hope that they can all survive as they ran to find some place to hide but they are surrounded by the soldiers and the only place to go is the central square but they all know that is a trap for them. All their mana ran out and can’t cast any skill for them to hide in the dark. Hood who is the calm and brave in the group said that he will make an opening as he rushed in the group of soldiers who are still not in formation.
“Shadow Sword Blast” He put all his spirits and determination in that attack. After Hood shout the skill there’s a large sound, the impact of the skill knocked down most of the soldiers they suffered heavy injury and some are unconscious unable to fight. Those that survived are holding their shields.
“Now, go now! Leave this to me! I’ll leave My Lady to your hands.” Hood said and they all nodded as he slashed through the group of soldiers who are still recovering from the impact of the skill, he knows he won’t last long and just buying time for them to escape.
They know most of them depleted their mana and can’t use a skill, but Hood use a skill therefore the only reason is using his life to use a skill. Their clan can use a skill without mana using their life as an exchange, it was stronger than using mana but they didn’t use it often except for dangerous situation it was a double edge weapon that consumes your life when you used it.
As they rushed to the opening that Hood made but only after the few meters they can see the soldiers in front of them and as they looked back Hood was dead and his head flew near their feet. They all feel grimaced and raged filling their bodies but they still held back because Hood sacrifices himself just for them to escape.
“To the roof!” Keyser shouted to them, as they all jump to the roof and run. But as they run to the roof they were all easy targets for the archers, they suffer injuries from the arrows until they reached their place right now they used their skill to run faster as it consumes their life because if they didn’t do it they will all die.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
They don’t want the sacrifice of Hood will be in vain as they run for their lives to survive.
They know it’s not the safe place for them hide, it’s just enough for them to catch their breaths and they know later they will be surrounded by soldiers of Kingdom of Ymir.
“Keyser can you hear me? Keyser” Tom shouted to Keyser.
Keyser who was still dazed and thinking what happened earlier, ‘we failed because of me, they died because of me and My Lady will die because of me’. As he was thinking he suddenly hear a sound of a person hitting the wall.
They all suddenly stood up and prepare their weapons and they all saw Fagin who is tasked to watch for the incoming soldier because he was less injured and in much better condition compared to them but he was suddenly lying on the floor.
“W-Wha…What happened? I-Is the soldier already discovers us?” Tom asks nervously.
They all rushed to Fagin but they noticed it wasn’t the soldier of Kingdom of Ymir they saw. It was a tall light blue haired man with blue-gray eyes standing in the corner.
They all tensed up as silence continues.
Just a few moments earlier, Neo was analyzing what was in front of him. ‘They must be the thieves that stole from the palace. They looked injured and arguing at each other, well it’s only obvious because they failed to escape and now they are trapped. Plus they are all injured and exhausted it clouded their mind on what to do and arguing at each other, instead of thinking of the plan to escape, not that concern me. Better to get out of here before they notice me and that will be troublesome. If I tell to the soldiers maybe they will give me some rewards and fame but I have a scheduled Entrance Exam better don’t be late on that.’ He said to himself as he turns around.
As Neo starting to walk away he felt cold at his back that send shiver down to his spine, it was the same cold he felt as he practiced martial arts with his masters in the Chichibu and he started to duck catching the arm of the assailant using its force to throw him at the wall.
His nine years of training in martial arts with his masters imbued on his body and mind the techniques and style.Through pain and suffering his body and mind remembers it all, he was glad that all the martial arts he learns can be used in Royal Road. He enters karate club during high school but he was limited to what he can do and although the other sparring partners were good at their age they were still not enough for him to ease his boredom.
Because compared to the last nine years of training and sparring with his masters it was full of pain and suffering and now when he start to spar with the others the difference is big and he needs to hold back his strength for his sparring mates to cope with. That’s why after school every night he practices all of his martial arts until he exhausted to satisfy himself. But everything changes until the Unicorn corp. release Royal Road.
‘What the hell! You scared the wits out of me.’ He shouted inside his mind as he looked at the others rushing to the one he throw at the wall. ‘Now that is troublesome’
Now Neo faces the four thieves of the Shadow Fangs Guild, although they are injured they are still high leveled compare to Neo which is level 1. Fagin who he threw to the wall was standing up but he can still feel concussion on his head from the throw.
As he can see that Fagin was okay they turned and faced the light blue haired young man. Keyser ask the young man as he broke the silence.
“Who are you?” Keyser asks holding his weapon in his hand.
“I’m just a traveler using this alley to get to the central square but suddenly that guy tried to kill me but I manage to dodge, after that you can see what happens. Now if you guys will excuse me I’m going away now, don’t worry I don’t see anything and hear nothing.” He bow and start to leave. Although he explains to them what happened, he knows it wasn’t enough for him to go away peacefully but he still explains it to them.
“Wait, we can’t just let you go! Surely you will warn the soldiers where we are hiding.” Jase said to him as he halts his footsteps.
‘Looks like I won’t turn out peacefully, although I still have time before the exam if I don’t hurry I might get into conflict again and that is troublesome.’ As Neo thinking through the scenarios and a way to get out peacefully he sighs.
“Look if we fight with each other it will be troublesome for both of us. I know you can’t trust me but I don’t have time to argue and get into conflict between you guys and the soldiers chasing after you.” Neo said to them not filling intimidated from their numbers and levels. He knows what will happen next but he still wants to leave peacefully and not to get into conflict before the exam.
“Be careful although he looks weak he was dangerous. I concealed my presence through cloaking skill but he still manages to counter-attack at me.” Fagin told his brothers as he regained his composure. The other three became more wary to Neo although he states that he wants to leave peacefully if they let their guard down they will be in trouble plus they were all heavy injured and Fagin who is not heavy injured compared to them was defeated easily by him.
As Neo saw them readying their stances to attack, he sighed. ‘Though I can let it pass when they call me weak but it wasn’t enough for me to leave. Tsk! I guess it will still get into this, I managed to ease them up earlier but they are wary now. It’s good I have a weapon with me.’ Neo said to himself as he took his weapon from his inventory.
“If that is the case…” Neo prepared himself as he put on his wooden sword. Before he leaves the Training Hall he asks the Instructor to lend him a wooden sword. The Instructor said that the wooden sword is used only in the Training Hall and can’t give it to him but if he finished his training in the Training Hall he will give him a good and stronger sword for his level. He begs until the Instructor give in after he said he needs a weapon for the Entrance Exam to join in the Training Grounds.
Although the guards told him that he didn’t need any equipment’s for the Entrance Exam. It’s not that he doesn’t trust the guard, his policy is ‘prepare for the worse’ and he can still use it for other purposes. He get a weapon from what he could get, he doesn’t have money and he still couldn’t go outside to hunt so the wooden sword only he could get. It was much better than weaponless.
Earlier inside the Training Hall before Neo log out.
“Are you sure? Do you know what it was about?”The Instructor asks with perplexed expression.
“Yes Sir, here’s the recommendation by Advisor Grimnir.” Neo said as he showed the letter to the Instructor with stamp ‘OK’.
There was a shock expression from the Instructor face and told him to get what he needed inside the Training Hall and said that’s all he can give to him because he himself was not rich. Neo was thankful to the Instructor and as he was getting a wooden sword he was thinking maybe the Instructor knows something about the Training Grounds. After he got his weapon the Instructor was nowhere to be seen.
“Instructor? Where are you?” He looked around but he found nothing, ‘Though I want to ask him about the Training Grounds. Well I’ll just thank him after I logged on later’ then he walks to the entrance of the Training Hall and log out.
After a moment Neo leave the Training Hall the Instructor arrives with armors and sword at his bag. Earlier while Neo was getting a weapon the Instructor suddenly remember that he got some old weapons and armors at the storage room and dashed at its location. He didn’t tell Neo that he was getting a weapon for him and Neo didn’t know where the Instructor goes.
“Where did that kid go? How can he possibly pass the exam with just a wooden sword?” He takes more time than he imagine because he take out all the armors and weapons he can get for the kid he was fond of from the first day he arrives and train inside the Training Hall. He knows that the Entrance Exam for joining the Training Grounds can’t be passed with just half-ass weapons and armors that’s why those that wish to join prepares themselves for years of training.
“I’m still shock and can’t believe that kid got a recommendation. How can they give it to him?” He joins the Training Grounds during his younger days and knows what it is and how to get a recommendation. You need a connection with the nobles or Knight of the Kingdom of Ymir to get recommendation and they see to it that the levels are enough for him to take the exam.
‘Maybe they change the rules this year because of the Gaea of the Holy Seer send us freemen but Neo is just level 1 and his strength was still not enough. There’s something wrong here’ The Instructor knows about the freeman and he thought they were special but their strength is looked exactly the same as them, there is nothing special except they can resurrect again and disappear suddenly.
After more than a week the Instructor observed the freeman they all start in level 1 and most of them didn’t even know how to fight. The Instructor was thinking what to do but he can’t do anything to change it and just pray that Neo will come back safe.
Back to the present time, Neo equip his weapon.
“Item Equip Wooden Training Long Sword”
Wooden Training Long Sword
Durability: 100/100
Attack: 1-2
Given to those who do the Basic Training Program. This widely-used training long sword is a basic type weapons that are available in a Training Hall.
Effect: None
Requirement: None
‘Wew this is not a fair fight, look at them injured and panting. Well it’s not my fault plus they are thieves a criminal’ He was hitting only scarecrows for the past ten days, his body wants something new and he was eager to fight someone strong. Neo will now experience his first combat in Royal Road, he was excited and a little hopeful at his debut in fighting.
“Now let’s get over with this, I’m quite busy you know and I don’t want to be late.” His stance in the parlance of Japanese swordsmanship, this would be called the hassou-no-kamae one of the five basic stances in kendo. But since Neo's original posture was a flexible and natural stance, he really seemed like he was sticking to his claim of not intending to fight seriously.
To be continue...
Author Notes:
This is the last part of the Chapter 1 - Where it Begins! Like the title says, this incident will change the course of action of Neo in the future. Though you can start to play Royal Road or any other game after some time it was released so you can check those who fail and succeed in their first try. You now know what to avoid and what to do. It was good at its own right but i think it was better to experience it first hand. And if you know what is right and wrong from the beginning then it was no fun at all. There are also benefits when you start on first day besides you can take the lead there are also quest that was only available during the first days. :P
And Neo was not a Karate Practitioner since he was a kid. I'll tell what his original martial arts in the next chapters. You can guess based on where he trains in the Mountain. ;)
I hope you like it and I'll released the next Chapter on monday because during weekends i spend my time writing the story as of now I'm almost finished writing the Volume 1 and it takes more than 10 chapters as i already planned that was only 10 chapters per Volume. Well I already written it and honestly i liked it so i hope you like it also.
Feel free to post any comments, suggestions, corrections, criticism and etc.
Thank you for those who are reading my first Fanfic. I'll do my best on the next chapter. :D