The screams grow ever more distant as the crowd in a rush disappear through the rubble. The king’s body jerks up in the air as the monstrous gray rock golem smashed a silver glistening club into him over and over. Moments later, seemingly satisfied in his handiwork turned and lumbered off, dragging its oversized club behind it. The club made smooth grooves in the ground. Ignoring the still scattering and cowering residents the cataclysm beast excited the capital as a system notification reached the ears of all of the subjects of Scion.

System message: WEEP ALL SCION KING MACRON FOURTH OF HIS NAME. VISIONARY OF THE DOWNTRODDEN NATION HAS DIED A NOBLES DEATH. MAY HE LAY WITH HIS FOREFATHERS AND BE REMEMBERED FOR GENERATIONS.

TEN GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED WEEP FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY.

NO VIABLE ROYAL FAMILY MEMBER DETECTED

System message to all kingdoms: SCION KINGDOM WILL BE REALLOCATED… A COMPETITION WILL BE HELD IN TWENTY FOUR MONTHS TO CROWN A NEW MONARCH. IF NO CHALLENGERS SURVIVE SCION KINGDOM WILL BE RESOLVED

All who heard this were in shock. Conversations about how this could happen or if there was precedence for this could be heard in all taverns and the recesses of castles. While mourning their losses nobles and royal family members across the kingdoms hatched plans.

Kyreb Kingdom - Throne Room - King Roman Stival XX… waiting

King Stival sits on his throne stroking his long white beard. He looks at his wrinkled hands contemptuously, four hundred and fifty years as the king of these lands. His mind is still strong but his body, this body is beginning to show the ravages of time. Looking over the throne room, an open air open room with a throne at the far end and on immaculate stairs looking down to the empty space below where he met with dignitaries and subjects alike. The row of armor on either side of the aisle were normally infused with life via his Sovereign Imbue skill. As the oldest king his abilities are the most developed of all the monarchs. He was regularly called upon to quell wars that threatened to destroy kingdoms. Calamity beasts at this point were no real concern as his abilities out paced any he has met.

Yet here the king sits, having sent all of his subjects and attendants away. He stares at the awning that signals the entrance of his throne room. Roman does not remember the last time he was nervous. It must have been when he was a young man leaving the kingdom for the first time seeking adventure. He laughs to himself when thinking about his younger, more impetuous version. If he could share wisdom, he quickly shakes that thought away knowing his younger self would not have listened.

Thinking to himself he considers the barrier that protects this room from the weather. This was placed by its original creator, the first king of Elderon their planet. This barrier has held for millenia with not as much as a scratch. Marvelous, he exclaims, most people think this room was built in the way it is due to the eccentricities of the first king but Kyreb scribes instructed him in the truth years ago. For some reason this is the only kingdom with records going back to those first days. The real purpose of this room was for the original regular guests, back then it was not abnormal for beasts and men to intermingle.

When Roman heard the original system message he knew immediately what he needed to do. Receiving the bird message from Queen Eylise confirmed it, he thought. He was drawn out of his thoughts by a towering figure bending to enter the fifty foot embossed wood archway. This beast crackled with so much energy that the slight brush to Romans defenses shattered them immediately. The level of control this being had was awe inspiring. At any moment the beautiful red dragon, with impenetrable scales, long neck and massive black wings folded on its back.

The beast enters with nostrils full of flame and then with a loud bang sits on its hind legs. Roman cups his hands in his lap to keep them from shaking. It has come to this, he said, would you care for a drink? A large bowl-like glass with sloshing pink liquid appears in front of the dragon who immediately begins to drink.

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In a thundering voice the the dragon replied;

It is good to see that at least Kyreb did not forget the old ways. My emissaries were not met with such respect. Ooh and the same recipe from back then, Egrad built something special here didn’t he?

Yes, he did and we have done what we can to keep the memory alive, Roman said, holding back the trembling from his voice. Is there anything we can do to avoid the coming war?

Looking up from its drink the dragon slowly blinks its eyes in a sighing motion and says wearily, No. The great council has spoken, it takes a moment to look around the room. This place is a reminder of a simpler time, it continues. Egrad and I built that throne you are sitting on using materials farmed from the higher realms. Higher realms, Roman interjected surprised, I thought it was impossible to return from the higher realms. With a sad look the dragon said, Impossible heh, no human. This realm can only handle my calamity level brethren, I on the other hand have surpassed that level millenia ago. This is why my trip will be short today. Wait, does that mean our ascended forefathers could return? Ascended Forefathers? The dragon seemed to get a laugh from that.

There are no humans beyond this realm. In the history of mankind only one human has survived the challenges of ascension and traversing even the second realm. That man, he motioned to the portrait behind the throne, was accompanied by me in my younger days. Roman sank into his throne, the promise of ascension had been the dream of generations of humans. The push to get to SS rank has been what their societies have been built on. The promise of seeing lost loved ones was what drove others. If it got out that no one either survived the transition or the rigors of living in the higher realms humanity would be lost. Roman was happy that his scribe was banned from witnessing this meeting.

What is the purpose? He muttered. The dragon looked at him mournfully and said, striving is the goal. Just because only one was able to does not mean you can not. This was my hope when I lobbied the great council not to destroy this realm all those years ago. This place was special to my friend, Egrad always returned here and then set up the system for the balance of concentrated power in the twelve kingdoms. I set up the dungeons as a boon to my kind and your people. For my intervention I was placed to oversee this realm, the others have little care for it.

Excuse me uh, Roman stuttered. Katamen, the dragon said, call me Katamen, that is what my friend knew me as.

Great Katamen, Roman continued, how will this war happen? Our SS ranks alone could destroy the dungeon beasts. HA HA HA Katamen lets loose a huge laugh, those beasts you struggle with are the hatchlings of our kind. HA HA even the calamity beasts as you call them have not hit adolescence yet. Katamens laughs fill the capital, terrifying all who hear. Twenty minutes later when he finally calms he says, the great council has called for the next wave of us calamity will be unleashed. This is humanity’s last stand. If you survive the generations after you will be allowed to live. The younger adolescents will be unleashed in six months once the dungeons are prepared for conquest.

Can you do anything? Roman asked fearfully. The air grew cold and the king started to suffocate.

YOU DARE TO ASK ME TO INTERCEDE?? EVEN IF I COULD I WOULD NOT!! THOSE DESTROYED EGGS ALTHOUGH NOT MY DIRECT PROGENY WERE FROM. MY. LINE!!

Pure terror was in the king's face as the atmosphere returned to normal as the dragon calmed.

In Egrads time they understood the gift those eggs represented. Those were young who had not yet earned the respawn ability. Those eggs were too fragile to survive on the higher realms so I allowed them to incubate here. I had hoped that whomever found them would nurture and develop a bond with them but instead they were SLAUGHTERED!!

No, I think I will hope for my friends people to survive but not shed a tear if you do not. Come scribe.. an older man wearing black robes and a hood fell through the room with a crash as he hit the ground. Dusting himself off he gave the king a sheepish look and flinched as Katamen narrowed his eyes at him.

The dragon then continued as if nothing happened. I have seen humanity transform from wide eyed explorers to cold blooded conquerors. This saddens me but we are here now. Scribe bring me the eleventh in the line of succession. I would have words with him before my allotted time on this realm is done.

Shutting his eyes the scribe alerted the nearest guard of the request.

Raising an eyebrow Katamen murmured, scribe abilities never fail to surprise me.