“My my. It’s so boring just standing around watching them fight, although... It seems that David is losing, and pretty badly. I suppose it would be a good token of my gratitude to kill that annoying king, don’t you think, Edith?” Rancour asked.

“I’m sure he’d appreciate it. You should go help, I’ll wait here, okay?” Edith responded, as Rancour nodded his gratitude, descending toward David and Raúl.

“Now now King Raúl. What’s with you being so harsh all the time, you should be picking a fight with someone on your level, yes?” Rancour imposed, as Raúl smiled at him satirically.

“It would be exciting to have an actual challenge. As I predicted, you came to join the fight, and you intend on fighting with David to express your gratitude, so fight with him. I already know you’re both useless, David with his eons of experience, and you with your superior power, Rancour, are no match for me.” Raúl conveyed, posing an empty smile at him.

“You’re quite full of yourself king, we’ll just have to make you scream a little, won’t we?” Rancour replied, lunging toward Raúl, as the latter intensified Sanctuary, preventing Rancour from breaking through.

Raúl punched Rancour in the stomach, slipping under a counter and punching him in the face as he turned around, blasting David with Exterior. Rancour drew his sword, attempting to break through Sanctuary, to his shock and displeasure, the barrier still averted him.

“Hello Takahiro, welcome back. I see you brought two allies.” Edward commented.

“Yes, this is Alexsandr, and this is Tomas. Alexsandr originally came with our first party, however once he heard Rancour was being defeated, he gave up his pursuit and went home, however, he has returned with the promise of strong enemies.” Takahiro explained.

“A pleasure to meet you, tiny man!” Alexsandr exclaimed, picking Edward up and nearly crushing him in a bear hug, before walking off to the army headquarters to eat.

“This is Tomas, he is an old friend of Hjalmarr’s, however he doesn’t possess the same fiery attitude as him.” Takahiro remarked.

“It is good to meet you, Edward.” Tomas gently commented, shaking Edward’s hand, before walking in the same direction as Alexsandr.

“May I have a word, Edward?” Takahiro asked.

“Of course.” Edward replied.

“I have seen you with the other rangers, you have gone incredibly long periods without sleep hunting fell beasts, you’ve killed maimed and duelled more fell beasts than the average of ten men across the board, whilst going days without food or water and you have tolerated injuries that would kill any man. I believe you are far stronger than any regular man, Edward. I believe you are a rarity amongst men, someone who can harness their Spectral Energy.” Takahiro noted.

“I’m not special, Takahiro. I’m the same as my men, just a man who does his level best to protect his country.” Edward replied.

“You may be that, but I know you are also one who could fight with a greater purpose. You have the potential to be stronger, and better, not only for you, but for your comrades, and the families of those around you.” Takahiro retorted.

“Alright. What do you want from me?” Edward inquired.

“All you must be able to do is learn how to master yourself. The body is a fickle construct, it ebbs, flows and ties us to this world. You simply need a greater handle upon your tether. I’ve learnt over my days, that the most important thing to do when controlling your Spectral Energy is to simply be aware of yourself, aware of the fact that you are yourself. Everyone who exists, will exist and has existed have been individual, bound together with the restrictors, until the three broke them. The binding forces around us are simply our collective experiences. To master Spectral Energy, you must master yourself and be aware of who you truly are.” Takahiro explicated.

“How exactly do I master myself?” Edward queried.

“Spectral Energy within the individual inherently comes from will, heritage and training. You do not have heritage, you are from a family that has never once produced a sorcerer or promising individual, however, I have seen the way you fight, you fight with wit and determination, those are two stepping stones that some very simple training can use to create a sorcerer.” Takahiro replied.

“What training is this, then?” Edward inquired.

“Well, there are four types of techniques in the Spectral World. The first is basic techniques. These techniques can be created, advanced and taught freely. Such as Pure Dominion, a technique I created. The second, is hereditary techniques, these are the prized possessions of the sorcerer families, nobilities and clans. Such techniques would be Momo’s ability to transform, my Blazing Vindication and Serene Justice techniques, and King Raúl’s Equilibrium technique. The third are personal techniques, these are mostly variations of techniques like resonance, amplification or reveal. Of course, this also includes techniques like Spectral Dominion, as they reflect their user’s inner world. The final range of techniques are universal. They are techniques that anyone can use, they are such as the resonance amplification, reveal, Spectral Eyes and projection. These are just to name a few; however, they are techniques anyone could use.” Takahiro explained.

“What does this have to do with anything related to training me?” Edward raised, as he finished bandaging the minor cut across his eye, beginning to put on his gear.

“What is important, is teaching you the universal techniques, once one knows who they truly are, the universal techniques come instantly.” Takahiro clarified.

“How would I do that?” Edward asked.

“Like this.” Takahiro commented, lunging at Edward. Edward drew his sword instantly, blocking Takahiro as the two squared off.

“Now, I’ve made us equals physically, however, I am faster and able to use a higher range of techniques, so you’ll have to awaken your true self, or die trying.” Takahiro declared, pushing Edward away, as the latter scrambled to find Takahiro.

As fast as he could react, Edward sensed Takahiro moving toward him. Raising his sword, he barely blocked Takahiro’s katana, as the sound waves entered his ears.

He’s moving faster than sound, his speed is remarkable. Edward thought, raising his sword to block Takahiro again, as the latter swept him from his feet, stabbing him in his abdomen, causing him to cough blood, as he struggled to retain consciousness.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Who will defend Poclinton in your stead, Edward?” Takahiro posed, as Edward looked up in shock. Who would defend Poclinton if he died?

Edward put his thoughts aside, he had to win. Edward erupted into a violent battle cry. Edward pointed at Takahiro, his face full of rage and determination. Edward rushed toward Takahiro, his speed now exceeding sound, as he began duelling Takahiro, his incredible blade to blade skills showing, his pace and eloquent strikes matching the beauty of Takahiro’s fighting style.

Before they could continue, a rumbling came from the ground, as if the Earth itself was trembling in fear. As Edward looked out onto the horizon, he saw a horror of the Earth, a nightmare. A hollow beast, a fell beast, no smaller than a hundred metres in length, its roaring summoning crowds of its companions.

“We’ll have to postpone this fight. Let’s hope you’re ready.” Takahiro noted, as the garrison of England began mobilising the remains of its forces, numbering at just over ten thousand.

“Commander Edward!” The Marshal yelled, making his way toward the commander.

“I have seen, Marshal Edwin. Mobilise the men, send our archers onto the walls and prepare the knights for direct combat. Round up the constables and prepare our cavalry, we will strike them with a spear formation, alongside a wall of infantrymen to prevent our archers from compromise, the rangers will guard our flanks and make swift attacks on exposed encampments, understood?” Edward relayed, as Edwin nodded, running to have the orders communicated.

As Edward’s forces assembled outside the city, the leader of the fell beasts stopped, now brandishing an army three times the size of England’s.

Storm clouds began blotting out the sky, as Poclinton began being surrounded by both fell beast and a storm nature did not spawn. Edward ran to the head of his force, confronting the fell beast’s leader.

“Hello, human. It is time for this city, and this world to burn. Soon, my master shall hold dominion over this world, and there is nothing you can do to stop him.” The Fellen leader announced.

“I beg to differ. We have defeated you before and we will defeat you again.” Edward retorted, drawing his sword and pointing it at the large beast.

The Fellen laughed heavily, pointing his incredibly large sword at Edward, as the fell beasts descended upon the English, who raced to defend the city. Brutal fighting began to ensue, as Edward charged toward The Fellen, slamming his fist into him and separating him from the crowd, The Fellen swung his heavy sword down upon Edward, who raised his blade, blocking it with precision, as a wave of destruction fell upon him, noticing that it vaporized the grass down to ash, whilst he was entirely immune.

Edward leapt away from The Fellen, landing on a grassy hill, as he drew his bow, empowering an arrow from within his quiver and firing it at The Fellen, who roared in pain, as the arrow drew blood. The Fellen responded by taking control of the storm, launching a lightning bolt down upon Edward, as he looked up to the sky.

It's a couple hundred metres away, I’ll have to evade it. Edward thought, leaping away from the hill he was upon by a few metres, watching as the lightning bolt struck his original position. Edward immediately launched himself back at The Fellen, kicking him across the face, immediately firing an arrow into his eye, as he fell back to the ground. Edward ran toward The Fellen, as the beast raised his sword toward Edward as the latter just barely blocked the strike, being thrown away.

The Fellen chased after Edward with surprising swiftness, chopping off his left forearm, attempting to finish him off with a downward strike, being frustrated as the ranger held him off with a singular arm.

“Why won’t you die you stupid ranger!” The Fellen bellowed.

“This planet isn’t meant for you! Us humans will never submit to you hellish beasts, you rip apart my friends, kill my comrades, humiliate our women and children and rob us of honourable deaths. My mentor told me ‘You’ll have to awaken your true self or die trying.’ If I die now, I’ll lose this city, and you brutes will be allowed to have dominion over those I swore to protect. So right now, I don’t care about pain, or death, so long as I can kill you first!” Edward yelled in defiance.

Edward broke the deadlock, his outburst of power staggering The Fellen as Edward sliced into his leg, stabbing him in the stomach as he separated from him.

“You! I’ll make sure this kills you!” The Fellen yelled, plunging his sword into the ground, as a wave of the same vaporization energy as he had felt before surged in all directions, extending out for tens of metres, engulfing Edward in it, as it destroyed the portion of the wall they were near, alongside a few houses caught behind Edward.

“You heartless swine. Those houses had families, women, children, the elderly. I won’t let you get away with this. I will kill you!” Edward vowed, raising his sword, as pure rage and determination carried him forth, as his burns began to close.

“ARGAHH!” Edward yelled, cutting The Fellen across his neck with a force beyond that he could perceive, as not even the power of his vaporization waves could compare to the raw anger that fuelled the strike, as the fell beasts’ black blood began pouring out with immense speed.

“I should warn you, your victory will be short lived. I am a synthetic fell beast, created within this realm as opposed to the realm us fell beasts are truly born, Umarnak. Once Rancour returns to claim Umarnak, he shall release an army of fell beasts an unquantifiable degree stronger than I am upon this universe. Good luck with that.” The Fellen mocked, choking as his black blood continued to pour, as he fell backwards, killed from the attack he had sustained.

“Let those malice filled monsters come. I’ll kill every last one of them.” Edward remarked to himself, as the soothing feeling of fresh rain began to run down upon him, giving him a break from the torment of his wounds, as he collapsed onto the rain soaked ground.