1. The Death of a Captain (Prologue)

Year 3012, Central Insubri.

After five days training in seclusion she left the room. She had finally succeeded and developed the Fire Qi Art (lvl.8), just thinking about the reactions of the others made her smiled.

«I'm slowly getting closer to that damn old man's level» thought and her whole face lit up.

She descended the stairs of the tower wearing a red silk dress and went out into the courtyard of the fortress. It was a cold night, the wind chilled the bones of the few guards on the ramparts.

She walked to a small garden nestled between the tower and the mountain. Rama had insisted on creating that place to relax and although it seemed stupid at first, she had to admit that the idea was a good one, too much time between stone walls was overwhelming even for her.

She sat on one of the wooden benches among plants and taking a series of deep breaths closed her eyes. Minutes passed and she relaxed.

"It was tasteful to put this green space here" commented a high-pitched voice in a whisper.

Deyanira, caught off guard, quickly began to circulate her Qi. Rising from the bench, she opened her eyes and looked around in search for the source of the sound.

And she found it. She looked like a specter, tall and slender, white flames danced in her black hair as she hovered in the air.

"Why are you here?" she instigated with aggression in her voice. Hardened by dozens of battles, Deyanira maintained her composure. Suddenly behind the ghostly woman she heard heavy, clattering footsteps. She scanned the darkness and in terror saw a man, more giant than human, approaching. He was over two meters tall and had a colossal build with herculean arms. On his back he wore the striped skin of a fearsome beast, with the rest of his torso bare.

"Who the fuck are you?!" shouted furiously releasing her Qi in a fast burst of fire that rushed at the two strangers and burned all the vegetation in its path.

Wanting to take advantage of the distraction to escape, she concentrated Fire Qi in her legs and jumped high into the air to re-position herself outside the garden.

But it was of no use. The most monstrous Qi she had ever felt, suppressed the blast of her Elemental Art (lvl.8) without any resistance.

Halfway through the jump, walls of bright white flames materialized in all directions restricting her escape . Out of options, confused and knowing that certain death awaited her if she could not escape from that prison, she channeled all her Qi reserves in one arm and combining the Qi Shock Art (lvl. 7) with Fire Qi attacked one of the walls trying to break through.

The white flames vibrated as they were hit, containing the great explosion of Qi. For a moment, their brightness even weakened but they were not pierced. Instead, regaining their vigor, they rushed at Deyanira's arm trying to consume it.

"You are linked to the Art of one of your companions... that can be useful" perceived the powerful mistress of that fire, raising the corners of her lips.

Deyanira was terrified, her legs wouldn't stop shaking and the color in her face disappeared.In desperation, she summoned all the courage she could to cut off the arm before the flames reached her body.

All that effort was for nothing, from the left, a gigantic hand emerged and with one blow crushed her to the ground.

***

Cyderall was one of the small imperial cities that even decades after the fall of the Bielsa prospered in Insubri. The Citadel located at the foot of a dormant volcano used the chain of mountains that ran from west to northeast as natural defenses, the rest was covered by stone walls that connected with two towers on each side of the entrance, giving good vision and range to the archers who guarded it.

The steel gate that gave access to the Citadel was wide enough for fifteen warriors to stand shoulder to shoulder with ease. The main road led to the Marketplace, the heart of the citadel where merchants, blacksmiths and craftsmen offered their services and wares to a bustling crowd. Many houses and taverns were built in the surrounding area, taking advantage of the security provided by the proximity to the headquarters, soldiers patrolled at all hours to maintain order.

Respecting the ancient customs, in the center was a Statue of the Burning Sun, formed by a strange red stone with properties of fire known as Garnet, in it was illustrated a man standing looking towards the horizon with a sword and crown composed of flames as a symbol of loyalty to the Bielsa family. Thousands of peasants visited it daily from the surrounding area and paid small tributes to the Temple of the Sun and its spiritual masters.

Going up the main road it became narrower. An inner wall separated from the rest the City Hall, where the mayor and several councilors were in charge of the local administration, and the headquarters. Built on the highest ground of the Citadel, stood the small fortress where garrisons resided in times of war and the Captains orchestrated military and political decisions.

That winter afternoon, two of Cyderall undisputed leaders were crossing the square on their way to the fortress. The first was on horseback and looked no more than thirty years old, with shoulder-length brown hair and a jovial look one could almost overlook the solidity with which he held his lance as he rode.

The companion at his side was a peculiar old man, walking at a fluid, almost hypnotic pace, holding a black katana at waist height and dressed in simple threadbare clothing above a light three-piece suit of armor. Composed simply of a breastplate, thigh guards and forearm guards it gave him a necessary minimum of protection and excellent mobility.

"Something is wrong" said Laèrtes looking worriedly at the fortress, " Are you sure Deyanira disappeared from your Art?"

Ariel nodded. "Not only that. Someone forcibly broke the link, making sure I sensed it. The most likely scenario is her death" he said with gravity in his voice.

"If that's the case... the force that invaded the fortress was able to infiltrate and assassinate someone of her level without causing any commotion!" exclaimed Laèrtes in horror as they moved forward. They crossed the square and continued along the central path slowly, carefully watching the guards patrolling the inner walls.

At that moment a score of new recruits were descending from the fortress heading for the training grounds and a shout made them stop in their tracks.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Formation!" many with faces of admiration mixed with uncertainty assumed formation as their instructor, a burly, ordinary looking young man went to meet them.

"Master" "Captain Laèrtes" he said solemnly bowing his head. "I thought you were already heading south " he added looking at the older man.

"Emmett, have you noticed any unusual movement at the Citadel these days?" asked Ariel. "As you may know, I am aware of the locations of the Captains. Two days ago Deyanira was disengaged from my Art" he added so that his apprentice would understand.

Of course he knew, that Art was developed by his master more than twenty years ago. It was one of the reasons why they were able to deal with the neighboring clans when they turned against the Bielsa. The fortress as the last location before Deyanira disappeared made no sense, unless it was...

"I was informed that the Captain returned victorious from the northwest a week ago and was training in seclusion. I haven't seen anything unusual" Emmett spoke these words with a hint of trembling that betrayed emotions that weren't showing on his face.

"We have to ask you a favor Emmett, we need you to prepare yourself and the other Elites to mobilize. Go meet us at the fortress." interjected Laèrtes tightening his grip on the reins.

"Right away Captain" declared the surprised warrior. He gave a last worried glance directed at his Master and ordered the new recruits to go to the residential area until further directions were given. He went, without wasting time, to the various guard posts to gather the warriors.

Cyderall did not control extensive lands. The geographical location of the Citadel was extremely convenient to defend and the few resources in the area were not tempting enough for the large organizations of the Continent.

It is true that they produced good quantities of wheat in their fields and stone was abundant in the area but they had no proximity to any rivers and the huge forests to the northeast were dangerous, Beastlands since ancient times.

On the other hand, no one was backing them and they were not part of alliances, but they resisted conflicts from all fronts with ease. And the reason was simple, the Captains.

The central pillar was Ariel, with more than ninety years his life had been dedicated to the city for ideals that in these times were losing more and more validity. Together with Laértes, Deyanira, Rama and Joab they were a formidable team that even clans or organizations with Masters in their ranks recognized and respected.

Insubri was in chaos, it had been more than three decades since the imperial city of Adalmec had been destroyed, and along with it, the influence of the Bielsa Family.

The imperial clans of Tracia and Dontos rejoiced at how weak the region was. It was no secret that the Cruma Family was one of the major beneficiaries of the current state but few cared about the overall situation of the Continent.

The two captains waiting outside the fortress for Emmett to arrive with the Elites did care, both had more at stake than anyone could imagine.

For that very reason, if this turned out to be the obvious trap they thought it was and someone was using Deyanira as bait to gather all the Captains in one place, they weren't going to indulge them.

Rama and Joab were to the east investigating an attack by beasts and Ariel preferred not to alert them in case he could not defeat whatever was waiting for them in the fortress. Taking care of the younger generation had long been his priority.

The guards pushed open the heavy metal doors to give them access, causing a sound that wasn't particularly annoying but created an echo that echoed like muffled words.

As they opened they gave way to a wide space capable of housing garrisons and at the back, built into the rock of the mountain, rose two towers of four stories each connected by a wooden bridge.

The moment Emmett and over a hundred Elites gathered behind him they advanced.

"Better alert everyone " Ariel muttered. Laértes stood silently at his side, stroking the horse on the forehead that kept snorting nervously.

"Here we are! Why don't you show yourself?" announced the Espada. His life energy surged with a roar, as a gale in all directions swept through the fortress. The guards on the ramparts took the impact, some fainted, others in confusion took cover. The few Elites that were there began to go to the support of their Captains even though they did not understand what was happening.

Not even a minute passed before four shadows emerged in the distance on the wooden bridge, suspended about five meters high, connecting the two towers of the headquarters.

Two of the silhouettes, one corresponding to an athletic man and the other to a short woman, commented something and dematerialized again. As they left, the others were exposed.

One of the invaders was a very young warrior, with delicate features and golden hair. He stood with his arms on the iron railing of the bridge and watched them with a smile.

Unlike him, the second person showed no interest in them. He was dressed in a white robe embroidered with gold, his appearance was that of a scholar, he had a beard and brown hair dotted with gray but it was impossible to determine his exact age. Physically he looked no more than fifty years old but his aura... was ancestral and majestic, something that should not belong to a man.

"Not all the Captains came. I guess it was to be expected" said the young warrior while still smiling menacingly.

"Take care of them quickly, Weirstrass." commanded his companion. With the wave of one hand he summoned a massive column of earth from the ground, jumped onto it and sat in lotus posture closing his eyes.

Ariel quickly made a decision. "Emmett, go warn Rama and Joab not to return to Cyderall" he ordered sternly. Gritting his teeth and trembling the apprentice nodded.

"It's much more serious than we thought" muttered Laértes trying to control the trembling in his spear.

He dismounted from his horse and handed it to Emmett, with no time for goodbyes with a clap of his hands he marched them down the road towards the Market.

"Who are you? What happened to Deyanira?" asked Ariel as he grabbed the katana from his waist.

Weirstrass jumped off the bridge towards the gate and covered the distance that separated them. More than two-hundred meters in a few seconds with a single leap and unsheathing his weapon in the air. It was a rapier, a special type of sword with a long thin blade.

"You are in no position to ask questions. Cyderall is now ours." replied and giving a thrust with the rapier his Qi exploded forward.

That simple attack demanded Ariel to use his Vital Arts. With an upward slash of his katana he sliced through Weirstrass' greyish Qi in two, a beam of black Qi forcing its way through.

The old man, was already twenty years ago, near the rank of Master and had cultivated to the limit of his capabilities the Art of Vital Aura (lvl, 9) which was incorporated into every swing of his katana.

Although he effectively called off the attack, the situation was a disaster. The hundred of Elites were obsolete against these monsters and if they did not move away quickly they were going to die.

The invader in response executed another thrust without moving from the spot, but now the rapier's blade overflowing with Qi, extended a dozen meters at an impressive speed and like a snake went straight for Laértes' head.

It was so fast that the Captain was not able to intercept it with his spear, releasing a large amount of Qi as his only possible defense. But it was not enough, the attack had as much penetrating power as it had speed.

Ariel moved. With speed and precision his katana struck the rapier's thin blade deflecting it just enough to save his partner's life. But the explosion of Qi, as the blades collided, sent him flying backwards.

Instantly the rapier retracted to extend again and this time the target was Ariel. So quick was the transition between one attack and the other that he simply didn't have time. With the katana still in the air, the Espada could only turn his body and fortify it with Qi, before the rapier pierced him....