In the valley, a vast army of slaves and skilled craftsmen labored tirelessly to unearth something buried deep within the soil. Standing guard outside the valley, hundreds of soldiers belonging to the Harold's kept watch, their presence easily recognizable by the flags they had erected, marking their territory. The Harold's were the rulers of Harold City, a significant player in the politics of the Fifth Star, wielding more power and influence than the majority of other city-states.
Rico had been watching the excavation site from a distance. As he peered down into the valley, he could see that the slaves were toiling away, lifting heavy stones and digging deep into the earth. The artisans were meticulously chipping away at the ancient tomb, revealing the intricate carvings and sculptures that had been buried for centuries.
The Sunset Mountains were a grand and imposing sight to behold, with their peaks piercing the sky and casting long shadows over the valley below. It was here, within this nameless valley, where the slaves and artisans toiled day and night under the watchful gaze of dozens of soldiers, who stood guard like statues of metal and muscle.
For the residents of Harold City, the Harold’s were the true rulers of their land, with a power and influence that was unmatched by any other city-state in the Fifth Star. Their authority was absolute, and their rule unchallenged. And yet, despite their great power and wealth, the Harold’s remained shrouded in mystery, their true motives known only to a select few.
As for the valley, it held within its earthy embrace a secret that had been buried for centuries. The ancient tomb that the city-state was excavating held within it the remains of long-forgotten rulers, as well as relics and treasures that were beyond comprehension. The Harold’s were determined to uncover its secrets, for they believed that within the tomb lay the key to unlocking the full extent of their power and authority over their lands. And so, with sweat on their brows and calloused hands, the slaves and artisans dug deeper into the earth, with the soldiers standing watch, their armor gleaming in the fading light of the setting sun.
At this moment, the cruel and tyrannical lord of Harold, the third Master of the Harold family, Acus Harold, was prowling the valley, surveying the workers and artisans with his sharp, beady eyes. His body was covered in luxurious garments, but his soul was black as coal.
As he marched around, he bellowed in a voice that echoed through the valley, "No idling allowed! This passage must be completed before the sun sets. I swear on Gaia's name that if you fail, the first head to roll will be yours! Do not even think about taking a break or slacking off, or do you slaves want to face a painful and gruesome death?" He spat on the ground for emphasis, as the workers cowered in fear.
However, despite their rough and hopeless lives, the slaves at this valley kept digging, driven by fear and survival. They worked tirelessly, their bodies covered in dirt and sweat as they excavated the earth.
Acus Harold, the cruel lord of Harold, loomed over them, threatening them with death should they slow their pace or take a moment to rest. The slaves knew all too well the consequences of disobeying their master, they had heard stories of others who suffered a grisly fate, their bodies tossed aside like garbage.
The mere sight of Acus Harold made their blood run cold, as he was known for his sadistic tendencies and brutal punishments. But they had no choice, they were slaves, owned by Harold and forced to labor endlessly for their benefit. In the eyes of society, they were nothing more than disposable assets, a commodity to be used and abused at the whim of their owners. Despite all of this, the slaves toiled on, their only hope for survival being to complete the task set before them and avoid the wrath of their cruel master.
In some places, slaves were treated like mere possessions, but even that was considered a luxury. The thought of a master having the right to take their lives without any consequences was a haunting reality. Society was indifferent to the mistreatment and slaughter of these slaves, as if they were invisible beings unworthy of basic human dignity. The knowledge of this oppressive system cast a dark shadow over the lives of all slaves, a constant fear of being snuffed out like a candle in the wind.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
For the slaves of the Gaia continent, King Auther was the epitome of their oppression and suffering. To them, he was not a revered figure, but rather a tyrant who stripped them of their freedom and dignity.
He was the first ruler to establish the system of slavery that still plagues the land centuries later. To the slaves, Auther was not a "Father of Civilization" or a "Bringer of Flame," but the "Bastard of Humanity." He was a figure of hate and anger, a symbol of everything that was wrong with their world. Despite the holy church calling him the "Angel of Gaia," to the slaves, he was the devil himself, a monster who had forever changed the course of their lives for the worse.
Under the threat of death, these slaves, how can they not work hard; soon, a slave digging out a pit accidentally fell.
As he fell, he let out a pained scream, but quickly muffled it as the guards rushed over. The slave knew the consequences of stopping work, and he tried to stand up, but his body wouldn't listen. The guards sneered at him and kicked him back down, and the other slaves looked away, not daring to show any signs of rebellion. The slave cried out in pain as the lord of Harold, Acus Harold, approached him, his face contorted with anger. The slave begged for mercy, but Acus Harold showed no mercy. He drew his sword and with one swift stroke, the slave's life was taken. The other slaves continued their work, tears streaming down their faces, as they mourned the loss of another one of their own.
The slave had stumbled and fell because of a small hole. Upon closer inspection, Acus realized that the hole was actually the entrance to a pit. Which was quickly dig open by the slaves. As he approached the pit, he estimated that there were roughly a hundred skeletons scattered inside. Without hesitation, he ordered several of his loyal guards to bring over a ladder so that they could investigate further.
Acus' excitement was palpable as he reached for the ancient record. The worn edges of the parchment crumbled under his touch, but the delicate script was still legible. With bated breath, he began to read the inscription, his eyes growing wider with each passing moment.
"This is it! This is the key to unlocking the secrets of the Holy Empire," he exclaimed, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Years of searching and I've finally found it, buried beneath the sands of time. Hahaha, my destiny lies down here."
The skeletons surrounding the pit seemed to take on a new life as Acus' excitement grew, their bony fingers reaching out to him as if in congratulations. The guards looked on in awe as their master lost himself in his discovery.
Acus was determined to unlock the secrets of the Holy Empire and make his mark on history.
After descending into the pit with frenzied excitement, Acus pushed the slaves to keep digging. With each shovelful of dirt, more and more bones emerged from the soil, revealing a valley of the dead. The number of skeletons they had found so far was already in the thousands, and it was impossible to know just how many more remained buried beneath the earth, waiting to be uncovered.
Despite the eerie surroundings, Acus was driven by his obsession with the greatness of King Auther and his empire. He had heard tales of its grandeur and was determined to uncover its secrets. And so, he pushed the slaves to keep digging, until they finally stumbled upon a passage. But as they approached it, they were met with a frightening sight - the entrance was blocked.
As his soldiers worked to clear the passage, the air became thick with anticipation and excitement. Sweat dripped down their faces as they strained to move the massive boulder that blocked their way. Finally, after much effort, the boulder gave way, and the ancient road was revealed. The sight was awe-inspiring, with the road stretching down deep into the mountains, untouched for thousands of years.
The once hidden path was now open, and the journey ahead was filled with mystery and wonder.
Acus was cautious and knew the importance of the situation. He was aware of the stories of the cursed air that circulated in chambers passage and didn't want to risk the lives of his men. He stood at the entrance of the newly opened passage, his eyes fixed on the road that stretched deep into the mountains, and said in a commanding voice, "We will wait, until I say otherwise. This is a sacred place and we must be respectful. I will not risk the lives of my men by hurrying into the unknown. Until I say otherwise, we wait for my orders."