The western continents' size was unknown. I learned that little tidbit of information as I was being taught by Ms. Flying Tiger. Some might wonder did I even listened, and my answer might surprise some. I did. The information did bore me to death, but the alternative was being burned alive to death. I'm smart enough to make good decisions I believe.

Ms Flying Tiger continued, after slapping me on the head with her palm. Several countries surrounded the country I was in, the {[Cornova Empire]}. The land mass it owns dwarfs every other country on the continent, and it's not even close. Yet despite its massive size, it doesn't necessarily mean there aren't competitors.

When I heard that information, I had doubts. If the country was really big, then it must be powerful enough to subdue every other country. I voiced out my doubts, and when I did, I thought I would be scolded but it seemed that Ms Flying Tiger was happy with me participating. She said.

‘Indeed, in terms of Military prowess, the {[Coronva Empire]} is the strongest. So you might think, how could there be competitors? It's because it's not that simple. Cosmo, think of the strongest person you know.’

I did think of it, and it was for sure Mr. Lucius, as Ms. Flying Tiger continued.

‘Do you think that person can subdue every person he meets?’

I nodded.

‘What if he meets someone whose level is close to that person, and brings other people with him? Can they still fight?’

I still nodded, thinking that Mr Lucius's invincibility was absolute.

‘What if it's the entire continent?’

This time I wasn't sure. I sat in silence, not knowing how to answer. Ms Flying toger nodded and continued.

‘While our country may be the most powerful, doesn't mean that it's the only factor that matters. The world isn't that simple. There are other things to take into account. Economy, manpower, the system the country is under, and ties between countries. As well as the side effects it would bring if war ever starts. It's not as simple as someone having a bigger fist. Since that fist would eventually be bruised and crushed.’

It was complicated. I couldn't fully understand what Ms. Flying Tiger was saying, but I got the core meaning of it. Being the strongest isn't all that matters when it comes to managing an entire country. She then moved on to another topic, like what countries can compete with the empire.

‘Besides our empire, there resides other countries. To the west of us, inhabits the {[Astaval Empire]}. A warring nation, whose sole efforts are put on into military domination. Their size is only second to us. To the south are various barbarian tribes. People who reside in nature and live off the land. They befriend the magical beasts and live with them. Then to the east of us is Mage Country. That whole swath of area is managed by the various Mage Towers. It is the land of magic, and everything is magic. And then to the north, lives the {[Cloud Empire]}. They live in the barren world of ice where none seeks to live. They are a seclusive country, as their trade between kingdoms is severely limited to their allies.’

That's a lot of information in one sitting. I tried remembering all those words as hard as I could. So I thought of another way. The West are the bullies, the South are people who like pets, the East is where fun things happen, and the North are people who like ice cream. Uhuh, that seems right.

It was then that I noticed a small error or at least Ms. Flying Tiger forgot to mention another country. I looked at her and she seemed to notice my confusion, as she said.

‘Besides those major countries, there are of course minor ones. The kingdoms that live between those empires. In a continent whose size is unknown, there is still plenty of space. And then, there are the religious countries. But I will discuss the main ones you are curious about. {[Silvan Theocracy]}, the country that lives in the west of us, a neighboring country of {[Astaval Empire]}. They are a country that worships The God of Life, Lumen.’

…

I dodged an axe slicing my way, narrowly missing me by a hair's breadth. I backed away, knowing that close combat with him wasn't the most ideal. Looking back on that memory, my body then remembers the deep dislike it had for that country. I glanced at the Orpheus Metal stacked upon each other on the merchant cart, a constant reminder that I may encounter them again.

This time will be different. Because I am different now. I sheathed my Chokuto. Wisps of darkness materialized in my hands, as they formed my double swords. Revenge was getting nearer it seemed. I darted towards the axe-wielding man, as he roared in my face like a beast. Gripping his axe he charged at me as he swung it with brute force. A math of strength huh, this guy was funny.

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I leaped in the air, gathering momentum, and met him head-on as I dropped to him like a cannonball. The air was sliced apart, as the impact of our weapons seemed to have made the surrounding air shake. The axe man looked at me with intense bloodlust, as he threw me off and swung again. I sidestepped it, letting it pass through me, as I reversed the grip on my sword and slashed.

There was a small thud I heard as something fell to the ground, but I d didn't look back as there were still other enemies. Thunder started crackling, and I appeared at another enemy, catching him by surprise as I kicked him in the face and dropped him on the ground.

The battle continued, as the constant clash of metal against metal, and the shrill screams of the dying echoed across the room. Several minutes passed, and after I worked myself like a dog, I looked around and saw that the enemies were already subdued. I slightly drew my breath and approached Malekai.

He just finished off an enemy, spilling blood to the ground. I didn't look, as it still disgusted me a little bit.

“Malekai, can you now tell me what the hell is going on?”

He looked back at me, a deadpan expression as he shook his head.

“I don't know.”

“What?”

“I said I don't know. Guild Leader only told us to pretend as Alpha Squad and that's it.”

I was about to continue my questioning when Mr Lucius appeared in mid-air. Startled, I was about to ask what he wanted when he pointed to the cart.

“It's a fake?”

“A fake?”

“Indeed, a fake.”

He then vanished, leaving those words. Malekai looked at me with confusion, as he was puzzled about why I was talking to air. I ignored him, as I looked closer at the pile of metal. I approached it, grabbed one of them, and strengthened my grip. Without even letting me use my full strength, its color faded as it crumbled under my hands. I let it fall to the ground, as everyone around me noticed it too.

I sighed, looking into the sky as another question popped into my head.

‘Then where is the real cart?’

…

“He's going to be pissed, ya know that.”

“Dont care.”

Samuel and Morgan continued running, and behind them, others were following behind. The men behind Samuel wore a full dark outfit, a complete white mask covered their entire face. Nothing was seen through the people behind him, not even their skin. They ran in silence, a cold atmosphere that was seemingly the natural thing that pervaded them.

On the other hand, the warriors behind Morgan were different. Glittering silver armor that seemed to blind anyone that could see them, they wore no helmet, as their face could be seen. They wore a relaxed expression, and they even talked amongst themselves, as the more social ones tried making conversations with the ones behind Samuel. They failed, as they ran in silence.

“Samy, you have got to take care of that child better. I mean, why didn't you bring him with us? This is a great learning opportunity, and he won't even be in that much danger. He wont die at least.”

Samuel listened in silence, as he let the big man finish. He stared at the man's face, and for some reason, Samuel had a strong urge to punch him in the face. He didn't know why, he just wanted to as it seemed it would feel good.

“I have my reasons. So just shut the fuck up.”

Morgan didn't seem to mind his reply. Morgan just laughed out loud, shrugging his shoulders as he replied.

“Hey, at least I tried. I like that kid too. You might as well give him to me if you don't care.”

Samuel ignored him, as he had his reasons for not bringing him along. It wasn't time, it was too early. He was too weak. Samuel thought that he could only do so much with the limits that he had with him. And he was sure, that the enemies they were about to face were not something he could handle.

It was then that he felt something in the air. He stopped, as the people around him also stopped. Morgan was about to ask what was up when a serious expression entered his face. He slowly drew his sword, its silver blade glimmering under the sun. The men behind him did the same, so the dark-clothed people who were with Samuel vanished from thin air.

Samuel sensed something, and in the blink of an eye, he drew his Chokuto wrapped in darkness and sliced the air. The slash covered in an eerie aura that resembled death, sliced the trees in half. The trees that were in front of him tumbled to the side, as he saw the people in front of them. He then saw particles of ice as he breathed, feeling a little annoyed that it just had to be him.

A glass-like structure stood between them and the people behind, as it slowly crumbled and showed the sudden intrusion. The man, supposedly the ldear, stepped up and flipped his fan open.

“Why hello there Samuel, long time no see. How have you been?”

Samuel looked on with sheer coldness and uttered the man's name in front of him in a relaxed manner. He smiled and said.

“Aki. Why are you here?”

“Oh don't give me that smile Samuel, gives me the chills.”

Aki rubbed his hands together, blowing on it to feel warmth. Yet the ground beneath him was the opposite. It started freezing, as it slowly spread into the surrounding areas. Aki stopped, holding his hands behind his back as he said.

“Give it. And no one shall die today.”

“What do you mean?”

Aki no longer smiled, as if he was done playing.

“The Orpheus Metal. It does not belong to the hands of heretics.”

“Oh, that? Yeah, we don't have it.”

Samuel shrugged his shoulder and showed that his hands were empty. Meanwhile, the warriors behind Morgan were tense, never leaving their sighs from the man in front of them. They heard rumors about the man named Aki, though they weren't sure due to how exaggerated it seemed.

Morgan remembered a specific rumor that had some evidence to back it up. It was said that as he was hunting down a heretic through a mountain, he got tired of it and did something unexpected.

He froze the entire mountain.

Every living thing that resided on the mountain was repeated by the icy clutches of death. {[Silvan Theocracy]} even tried covering it up, as it turned out that people were living in those mountains. The heretic did die, but not without company.

And it was only one of many insane stories. Morgan held his greatsword tightly, as he started preparing for battle.

Aki then clasped his hands together and said.

“Well, I tried, okay kill them.”

The men behind them suddenly leaped and charged at Samuels's group.