(Kaiser's Perspective – Omniscient View)
5:27 PM - 1/1/2018
The late afternoon sun was already sinking behind the jagged peaks of the western mountains, casting long, dark shadows that stretched across the plains leading to Sylvaris. The air here was sharp, biting with the promise of a cold Celestine night, a stark contrast to the cloying, humid heat of the Fairy Labyrinth we had finally managed to escape.
I looked forward, my sight focused on the towering stone walls of Sylvaris. It was a beacon of human industry and trade, a place Lucas was familiar with, which meant our route had been quick, efficient, and, mercifully, relaxing.
The exhaustion was mental, not physical. I let a slow, deep sigh inflate and deflate my chest.
Darkness is the mother of mystery, and mystery is the birthplace of wonder.
I looked to my side. Lucas, with his easy smile and green eyes, was excitedly pointing toward the towers, already planning which tavern we should hit first. Celia, bundled in a heavy, borrowed cloak, clung tightly to my arm, her red eyes sparkling with anticipation of a new place.
They were excited to enter Sylvaris. They were ready for a new chapter.
I smiled, a hollow gesture that didn't reach my eyes.
I am ready for the ending of this one.
My gaze hardened on the setting sun, where the twilight bled into cold, inky blue. The thought, heavy and absolute, settled into the pit of my stomach.
Sylaphine, she will face her death. I swear on that.
Those Avatars all will pay for their sins.
Nobody is born equal in this world.
Some are gifted with talents and special abilities that make them titans before they even draw breath, while others are born normal or even disabled, lacking the mental fortitude to even live. Some die in the womb, or some are killed for being too weak.
The scene shifted, detached from the cold gates of Sylvaris, drifting to a damp, unseen cave miles away.
Adonis, the Knight of the Realm's ace, the current host guided by the God of Pride, sat alone. The cave walls dripped with moisture, but his focus was absolute. He was sharpening a massive blade, the steel singing a high, murderous note as the whetstone worked its tireless rhythm. His gaze was fixed on the blade, but his mind was fixed on blood.
On the cavern wall, scratched into the raw stone with furious, immense force, the name KAISER was carved and crossed out immensely—lines gouged so deep they cracked the rock. Near this savage marking, a crude map was drawn, detailing a small island mass in the southern seas, marked clearly: AVALON.
He was planning to go there.
The peak of happiness is crying, while the peak of sadness is laughing.
People are their own greatest punishments, wearing masks to hide their true identities from the world, showing only what they wish to show.
The view swept across the Elvian Kingdom, where the Luminous Spire pierced the twilight.
On a massive balcony overlooking the capital, Amelia Elaris stood alone, rehearsing her speech. Her voice was steady, her simple green dress flowing in the chilled wind. She was practicing not the words, but the conviction behind them, determined to succeed despite the odds.
Meanwhile, the true power players were already moving. Roshia Presgeiros was rallying her Pyreborne Covenant generals, the firelight catching the gold thread of her war dress, ensuring their loyalty was locked down before the first moon.
Aerilaya Xilpeiros was meeting with the Zephyric Synod archmages in a quiet library, discussing ancient ley-lines and the strategic positioning of mana wells.
And Vaeloria Presharice was in a shadowed chamber, her voice low and dangerous, manipulating the trade routes and guilds, making silent moves on the national budget.
You should never tell a person everything; you might be educating the enemy. We live in this world, meeting new people to invite guests to our own funerals once our time ends.
The perspective settled on the sprawling, gold-plated city of the Asura Empire. Rose Valentine, the newly crowned Empress, sat by her court window, dressed in black and scarlet silk. She wasn't admiring the sprawling metropolis or the enchanted carriages.
She was admiring the smooth reflection of her own face in the glass—the face of a ruler who would never need to explain her actions.
Once you realize how fast the dead are forgotten, you will realize the need to impress others as equal to validation. This world will forget you, just like the first impressions you set. Once they look past your masks, they will know the real you.
I adjusted the hood of my cloak, pulling the fabric tighter around my face. The temperature dropped another degree.
"Come on, you two," I muttered to Celia and Lucas. "Let's get inside. I hear the Guildmaster of Requiem is running a tight ship here. We don't want to be late."
I didn't need to impress the world, or the Guildmaster, or even the people of Sylvaris. I just needed to impress the System. And my System was always watching.
The three of us walked into the deepening shadow of the city gate.
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The urgent message from the Celestial Kingdom, sealed with gold and fear, was not a request; it was a siren call. All across Celestine, the major powers mobilized. The shadows of the Avalon Island Raid began to lengthen.
The Celestial Apex Guild, forged by light and honor, was first to move.
In a courtyard carved from pure marble, Levi, the Sword Saint of Speed, stood beside his bestfriend, Zain. Levi's profile was sharp, his posture rigid with the readiness.
"We're going to have tons of fun, Zain," Levi declared, his voice thin but resolute. The brief afterimage of his practice swing lingered in the cool air, a ghost of motion.
Zain, a man whose hands looked more comfortable holding a ledger than a weapon, sighed, running a hand through his short hair. "Ughhh more work. Either way, we'll participate.." The air of the city-state they ruled once had been peaceful, but the gold seal had introduced an unwelcome pressure.
With a final, shared nod, Levi vanished, leaving only a faint scent of ozone and determination behind.
In the rugged, mountainous territories of the south, the Crimson Eclipse Guild was already mapping battle plans.
Navina, their Guildmaster and Sword-Saint, a pragmatic business woman with a reputation for merciless efficiency, traced the outline of Avalon Island with a blood-red pen. Her war room was filled with the anxious chatter of mercenary captains.
"Three thousand for the payout, an S-Rank threat on the board, and—oh—just a thousand genetically tweaked nightmares waiting to say hello," Navina chimed with a bright, almost playful grin.
"We'll swing around the eastern flank—quick and clean. Grab the research first, let the others enjoy the front-line workout." Her blue eyes sparkled with delighted calculation. "No sacrifice medals everyone. This one's about profit, positioning… and not dying tomorrow. Try to keep up." She smiled.
In a silent, dust-filled study, a figure lay motionless.
Xander, the Sword Saint of Mastery, was sleeping on a threadbare couch, surrounded by scattered volumes on ancient techniques.
His sister, with hair the color of dying embers and eyes like newly minted gold, held the Celestial Kingdom's letter. She wasn't reading the text; she was admiring the gold seal, a subtle smirk playing on her lips. She tossed the letter onto his still form.
"Wake up, dear brother," she purred, her voice like tinkling glass. "The world is finally delivering the entertainment you seek.." The invitation mentioned that even the mysterious Eternal Overseer had been formally welcomed to observe the raid. She laughed, a sound that lacked humor, and walked away.
And in a bustling Guild Hall, not far from Sylvaris, Alina, Requiem's second-in-command and the Sword Saint of Technique, stood over a mission board. She had just returned from her emergency request. Her purple hair was damp with sweat and her face was cold, utterly devoid of emotion. She was observing a new, smaller letter—an ominous one, from Sylvia.
Another headache to deal with, she judged internally.
The Avalon Island raid.
This will be interesting.
Finally, in a hidden arena deep beneath the earth, the Master of Valhalla stood in a killer stance.
Scar, the Sword Saint of Power, held two massive, obsidian blades crossed in an 'X' pattern. His eyes were pure, blinding white rage. Before him lay a young student, beaten and broken in the dust. The grotesque war was a recent, terrible memory.
"Find the culprit," Scar commanded, his voice a low growl of thunder. "Find the one who did this. Find the one who dared to turn against me. This raid is irrelevant to my interests."
"I will have vengeance, at all cost." The sheer, physical power radiating from him was a palpable force, a hurricane of fury and unbreakable will.
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Sylvaris
Back near Sylvaris, the shifting of these powerful players felt like atmospheric pressure.
Kiel, a renowned cursed mage whose ambitions were as large as his ego, moved through a quiet alley, his face a mask of annoyance.
A black carriage, pulled by nightmare-steeds, zipped silently over the trees, heading toward the horizon. Lucifer, the Demon Lord, was retreating back to his own realm. The initial military display was over; now the human kingdoms could be left to devour themselves.
Below, standing in a quiet, forgotten flower patch, a young woman named Eve watched the stars glow and disappear. She looked down at her delicate pink heart ring, the blue protecting it a stark contrast to her gentle expression.
Love… what does it mean? she muttered, the question a heavy, existential sigh.
The focus snapped back to the main characters as they stepped under the towering gatehouse of Sylvaris.
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Kaiser's Perspective – First Person
The warm, possessive feeling of Celia's hand sliding around my arm made me smile on the outside. She eagerly looked at the blue stone in her ring, then smiled back at me, happy that I was 'hers'. She moved closer, putting her body against mine in a gesture that was openly proprietorial as we walked past the curious eyes of the citizens.
I narrowed my eyes slightly, my smile remaining fixed.
She loves me, doesn't she?Trust me to be her 'soulmate'. I wonder though... really now. Would she still love me if she knew I killed the person she loved the most? Just so I can use her to fulfill my goals? I wonder if that love will still exist.
I let the dark thought dissolve like smoke. I didn't need to know the answer yet. I looked up at the deep violet sky, noticing the first sharp, brilliant pinpricks of the stars cutting through the deepening gloom.
In the end, I'm just a false genius wanting to match those talented to survive and fulfill my goals. Even so, I've lost more than I can count. However, it never really affected me.
Until death, all defeat is psychological.
I adopted a cruel smile, a gesture reserved only for my reflection. In this world, winning is everything. As long as I achieve what I set out for, the sacrifices don't matter.
Noticing the faint light of a constellation, a genuine warmth, fleeting and sharp, pierced the cold armor of my mind.
"Elfie," I muttered, my lips barely moving. "I'll bring you back. Promise."
Me, Lucas, and Celia were officially in Sylvaris, onto our next adventure.
Even then, I couldn't escape my decaying past...
The greatest talent of all...
is the talent one needs to conceal one's talent and skills.
After all, I'm nothing special.
Just a harmless guy.
;)