Chapter 1: "Introduction"
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Fall of Darkest Dragon
Beneath a sky thick with smoke, the night was unnaturally still, broken only by the crackling of flames licking at the remains of what had once been a prosperous city, now laid in ruins.
Crackle.
Survivors huddled together, their eyes gleaming with unshed tears. Yet, their heads remained high as they gazed upon the scene a fragile canvas of hope amidst devastation. The flickering flames cast a fleeting light over the vast corpse before them.
The colossal beast, the Most Calamity, the Darkest Dragon, lay twisted and broken. Its scales, once gleaming with might, had dulled in death, swallowed by the abyss. The air was thick with ash and smoke, carrying whispers of something darker an echo of the torment the Earth had endured.
There was a profound sadness in the atmosphere as all the survivors knelt.
Amidst the ruin, a lone figure sat upon the dragon's lifeless skull, barely discernible among the wreckage. His body was battered and bruised, draped with exhaustion, his gaze fixed on a distant horizon.
There was no triumph in his eyes, only the burden of a responsibility too great to bear. The night pressed down, suffocating, as if it too mourned. The ground beneath him trembled, almost as though it grieved.
As life faded from the Hero, the One True King's eyes...
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Ting Ting.
I jolted awake, heart pounding, the remnants of a nightmare still clinging to the edges of my mind. For a brief moment, I was back there amidst the smoke and ash. That day when Dad... The weight of it pressed down on me, suffocating, until reality slowly bled back in.
Ting Ting.
The sound of my alarm clock blared in the background, but I couldn’t bring myself to move. My body felt heavy, worn down from all the training and practice. I shut my eyes, willing the dream away, trying to slip back into the oblivion of sleep.
Knock.
A soft knock echoed through my bedroom door.
"Master, are you awake?" A shy voice called out to me. "Your alarm has been going off for a while now. May I come in?"
I couldn’t help but smile, "Yes, please," I mumbled groggily, my voice thick with sleep.
The door creaked open, and a wild head of red hair peeked inside. First, a cautious glance, then the petite figure slipped inside, tiptoeing carefully. She noticed I was awake and smiled softly, making her way over with a steaming cup of coffee in hand. Layla’s cute and shy demeanor was enough to make me forget about my morning grogginess. Although it was a daily occurrence, I still wasn’t used to it.
"Good morning, Layla," I greeted her with a grin. She handed me the cup of coffee, and I took a sip, savoring its warmth.
"You know, Layla," I continued, "you don’t have to ask permission. We’ve known each other since childhood."
Her cheeks flushed a soft pink. "I know, sir," she replied softly, "but I can’t help it. You’re just too kind to me."
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"Well, no 'sir,' Layla."
I chuckled, patting her head gently. "You’re too cute for me to resist teasing you," I said playfully. She smiled shyly and looked away, but I could tell she enjoyed our banter as much as I did. Layla was a shy and timid girl of about sixteen, with long, dark reddish hair that cascaded down her back in soft waves. Her big, doe-like eyes were a warm, chocolate brown, sparkling whenever she smiled. She was petite and slender, with delicate features.
Her shy demeanor only added to her innocent charm. Beneath that exterior, though, was a heart of gold and a quiet strength that belied her delicate appearance. It was no wonder I found myself drawn to her kind nature she had become an important part of my life.
She is the daughter of Aunt Nora, who has served my mother for as long as I can remember. They were practically family.
"Come on, Master," Layla said, her impatience showing through her usually timid voice. "Your mother has been waiting for you to join her for breakfast. You need to get freshened up."
She pouted, tapping her foot softly. "I made your favorite pancakes this morning, and they’re getting cold. You don’t want to disappoint your mother, do you?"
Despite her impatience, there was still a hint of shyness and concern for my well-being in her voice. I couldn’t help but smile.
"Alright, alright," I said, giving in. "I’ll get freshened up and be down in a minute. But you have to promise to save me some pancakes, okay?"
She grinned and nodded, happy to have gotten her way. "Of course, Master. You can always count on me."
Reluctantly, I got up from bed, giving Layla a small smile before heading to the bathroom. As I passed by the mirror, I caught a glimpse of my reflection. Dark circles had formed under my pale blue eyes, making them look tired and haggard. My dark hair was a mess, sticking out in all directions. Despite my sharp features, my disheveled appearance made me look more like a wild ruffian than royalty.
' What are you doing, Alexis? Gotta keep up appearances, man. '
I sighed, realizing that I’d been working too hard lately, neglecting my health and well-being. But that was necessary if I didn’t improve my techniques, my mom was going to beat the hell out of me again.
"Uff," I sighed, rubbing my temples.
' Ahem '
"Master, hurry up!" Taking Layla’s advice, I freshened up and dressed quickly, hoping it would make me feel more presentable. I made my way down to the dining hall, feeling a bit more refreshed after my shower. My sister was already there, sitting quietly with a book in her hands. She looked up and smiled as I entered, her platinum blonde hair falling in soft waves around her cute, round face. Despite her reserved nature, the affection she had for our family shone in her big blue eyes.
Uncle Sebastian, our family butler, was busy preparing breakfast. Despite being in his fifties, he looked as fit as someone in their thirties, his silver hair slicked back neatly.
"Good morning, Young Master," he greeted me with a nod.
"Good morning, Uncle Sebastian," I replied with a smile, taking a seat at the table.
My sister looked up from her book, her voice soft and gentle. "Good morning, big brawwther."
It was good to be surrounded by family, even if only for a short while. Why am I being so melodramatic? It’s probably the nightmares...
As we sat down to breakfast, the grand doors to the dining hall opened in time, and in walked a woman who commanded respect and attention.
It was my mother, Artoria Aurae Drakesier, the current ruler of Europa and the ABSOLUTE as she was known. Tall and athletic, her fit figure spoke of her battle-hardened past. Her cold and distant nature was well-known to those outside our family, but to us, she was a stern yet loving mother. Her long platinum blonde hair and pale blue eyes gave her an air of regal beauty, fitting for an empress.
Walking beside her was Aunt Nora, her closest confidant and advisor. Noralyne Heart, the House Saintess, had served the Drakesier family for as long as I could remember. She was a motherly figure, spoiling me and my sister like we were her own. Aunt Nora’s dark crimson hair fell in soft curls around her bespectacled face, and her fit figure showed her life of service to the royal family. They took their seats at the table, joining Layla and Sebastian in our morning ritual.
The world as we knew it changed forever fifty years ago when the Cataclysm happened. Almost every country resorted to nuclear warfare, leaving the world in ruins to combat the new monstrosities that were birthed.
The nuclear fallout caused even mutations in all living beings, especially animals, who mutated uncontrollably. But what truly changed the future was the voice that resounded in every being's mind. The Earth had evolved, using cosmic energies, leading to a cataclysmic event. The sky turned dark, as the very fabric of space tore and rifts formed, housing countless monsters from what was once a prosperous world. These creatures, now ravaged by fate and time, had become epitomes of destruction.
This was the Darkest Night the bleakest period in Earth's history.
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"Good morning, Mom!"
"Good morning, Aunt Nora!"
My sister and I greeted them at the same time.
"Good morning!" my mother replied with a warm smile.
As we began to eat, the conversation turned to our plans for the day. Mother informed us that she had a meeting with foreign dignitaries and would be away from the castle for the day after my training, of course.
Ugh, I groaned inwardly, knowing there was no escaping it. Sensing my mood, Aunt Nora promised to take us to the market to buy new clothes for the upcoming World Gala. My sister, engrossed in her book, perked up and asked if she could come along.
Aunt Nora smiled. "Of course, dear. We’ll make it a little one’s day out!"
Sebastian, ever the quick-witted butler, chimed in with a playful comment, making us all laugh. Layla, who had been busy clearing the table, blushed as she overheard Sebastian’s teasing remark. Despite the everyday normalcy of our breakfast, an unshakable feeling of foreboding lingered in the back of my mind.
The nightmares weren’t just dreams they felt too real.
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