Chapter 908: Not Just A world For Warriors
The repairs to the town of Flendon were done fairly quickly, partly due to some help sent by the other Demonic Faction Clans nearby.
All of the warriors and guards who could utilize Qi were worn out from the fighting. Originally, Yarlston wanted to use some of the town’s funds to repair it.
They had quite a few funds left over from the constant gifts they had received before. War was usually expensive, but with how few people had taken up arms, it wasn’t too costly on their side.
The thing was, nothing needed to be used. The other clans, wishing to get close to the Dark Magus, had repaired the place for free.
“Things are looking up!” Andy said, with bandages wrapped around his shoulder and waist. He had suffered a few scratches here and there when the warriors scaled the wall.
Still, his willpower was strong, and seeing the wall back in working condition put a giant smile on his face.
“You know, I still haven’t seen that short girl from the Crimson Crane anywhere!” Andy placed his hand just above his eyebrow, blocking the light above as he quickly turned his head, but there was no luck.
“It was because of her that so many of us survived. She pushed back a large number of them, and she did it twice. Whatever it was that she used, she fainted twice, and it didn’t exactly look normal.”
“Maybe I should ask one of the other members and prepare some sort of gift for her.” Just as Andy was getting ready to walk, through the entrance of the gate, down the path, he could see something in the distance that caught his eye.
It was a fairly large fancy carriage, adorned with assorted gems on the side of its door. There was even a golden frame that wrapped around the carriage. The horses pulling it looked to be in spectacular condition with great muscle.
No normal person could acquire such horses, and he imagined the equipment covering their faces could fetch quite a penny as well.
Seeing this sight, though, Andy sighed as he walked forward.
“Should we turn them away, sir?” one of the guards asked.
“If we do without explaining something, they might kick up a fuss. I’ll deal with it,” Andy said as he walked out and eventually put out his hand, signaling the horses to stop.
“What, are we in the city already? Are we at the townhouse?” a muffled voice could be heard coming from inside the carriage.
“No, sir, there is a guard outside!” the carriage rider out front shouted.
“This is the head guard of the town of Flendon. Please state your business as to why you are here!” Andy shouted.
Moments later, the door was seen opening. A man stepped down onto the ground with his curled-up shoes that had a small bow on the end.
The man walking out was covered in several layers of clothing and had a rounded red hat to his side. The man also had a plump belly and a long winding mustache.
It was quite clear that this person wasn’t a Pagna warrior. Andy couldn’t imagine anyone fighting in those things.
“I have come on behalf of King Doclet!” the man stated. “We are here to see the one named the Dark Magus and to congratulate him on his success in defending the town of Flendon.”
Andy recognized the name and was surprised to hear it. King Doclet was the ruler of one of the two kingdoms that governed the Demonic Faction.
The Dark Faction had several kingdoms and independent forces. The Demonic Faction had two kingdoms, while the Light Faction had an empire.
All of these forces were the local governments that governed the land outside that of the Pagna warriors.
The thing was, the people of Flendon didn’t really have a good view of King Doclet. Although he technically owned the land the town was on.
It was almost as if they had always been forgotten about, apart from when it came to taxes. The town was in a poor state, barely able to feed itself, yet taxes were still insisted upon, and what did they get in return? Next to nothing.
When the Demonic Faction abused the town even more, pushing them away from any type of self-help, the kingdom or king didn’t even bother to contact the clans to try to sort out something.
They had been so distanced from the king that the people had forgotten about him until today.
“Unfortunately, at the moment, the Dark Magus is not accepting any visitors,” Andy said. “If you wish to leave him a gift, we will place it in a storage room and pass on the message. If the Dark Magus decides to meet you, that’s up to him.” Andy picked his nose and then flung it on the floor.
The man was clearly disgusted by the barbarian’s actions, and when looking to the side, he could see extremely extravagant gifts piled up as if they were nothing.
‘These fools, I bet they don’t even know the value of those items on the side. People from this town, Pagna warriors-all of them are just so barbaric.’
‘But I know that his majesty will soon clear up all of this trash… we just need to bide our time.’ Marcel thought.
He cleared his throat and tried to speak again.
“I’m afraid this isn’t a matter the Dark Magus can avoid. You should know all this land belongs to his majesty. We are not like the other visitors you have. It would be in his, and this town’s, best interest to meet with us. Otherwise, you might regret it.”
Andy couldn’t believe it. It was quite clear that the man in front of him was threatening him. After what they had been through, and after facing off with the Behemoth Clan, what did the Doclet Kingdom think it could do?
If the treaty wasn’t there between Pagna warriors and the regular citizens, did they really think they could best the world of Pagna?
Perhaps Andy had thought that way before, but now, being involved in fights with Pagna warriors, he certainly didn’t think that way anymore, especially with the Dark Magus.
“The longer you keep me waiting, the worse this will be for you.”
Just as Andy was going to reply, a person appeared by his side with a red headband. It was
none other than Joe from the special assassin force.
“Really, he’s awake… he’s awake!” Andy said as he turned around.
Andy ran back toward the city without even turning to look at Marcel, whose veins were now
popping out of his head.
‘The disrespect has gone too far… Dark Magus, today you could have made a strong ally, but instead, I’m sure you have made a large enemy.’
Andy didn’t care about any of that, for the Dark Magus was now awake.
Chapter 909: A Slight Tingle
The Dark Assassin force, led by Cronker, was busy in the town of Flendon. They were moving as fast as they could around the city to deliver the news.
The Dark Magus had woken up. They were informing the key members in town who would care, and Cronker had sweat running down his face.
He quickly burst into one of the restaurants, the door swinging open. When the guests turned to look at the door, they could see no one there.
“Kizer!” Cronker shouted, placing both hands on the table.
Kizer erupted into a fit of coughing as the large piece of meat he was eating got stuck in his throat.
“The Dark Magus is awake! We are to meet at the town hall immediately!” Cronker said.
“Did you really have to jump out like that? Can I at least finish my food? Since he’s woken up now, it’s not like he’s just going to disappear or anything.” Kizer, lifting his fork, looked at a large piece of meat and went to stab it, but suddenly, the plate had disappeared and his fork hit the wooden table.
“You don’t understand! Alba rushed out immediately and told me to inform everyone as soon as possible. That’s why I’m going everywhere trying to tell everyone. Something must be happening,” Cronker said.
Kizer could tell from the look on Cronker’s face that he was serious, but was it really a big deal? What could have happened in the short time since he woke up?
“Alright, alright, I’ll go. As for Froma, I haven’t seen her, but someone said that guy… what was his name, Fixteen, has been looking after her in one of the houses out front. If you find him, he should know where she is,” Kizer answered.
As quick as that, Cronker had left the restaurant, leaving Kizer on his own.
“Did he have to take the food?” Kizer grumbled. “He’s going to owe me ten steaks after this.”
Everyone who was a guard at the wall knew who Froma was. She was quite recognizable with her small size and rosy cheeks.
It wasn’t just her appearance though; everyone felt like they owed a bit of their life to her.
She was part of the reason for them being alive, which was why when Fixteen had asked one of the guards if they could use their house next to the wall, they had given it without hesitation. They said they could live at their parents’ house for a while and to take as long as they needed. Fixteen had entered one of the small homes, about fifty square meters in size, carrying a crate filled with specific ingredients.
“Reno said all of these should help… I just hope I can do a good job,” Fixteen said.
“ARGHHH, ARGHH!”
The sound of loud screams could be heard coming from the other room. Immediately, Fixteen rushed inside.
He could see Froma on the bed, holding her shoulders, clawing at them. The sheets were covered in blood, and she continued to scream into the air.
“Make it stop, make it stop! I don’t want to remember, I don’t want to remember, please!” Fixteen rushed over and grabbed her, holding her hands to stop her from hurting herself. “I’m here, I’m here, don’t worry… look, this world is real, look, you can feel this,” Fixteen said as he pulled her hand away and started to draw circles in her palm.
She started to calm down slightly, sniffling away, but still looked in agony.
Eventually, when she was calm enough, Fixteen tried to pull away, but Froma quickly pulled his hand slightly.
“I’m not going anywhere, I just need to reach for the medicine,” Fixteen explained. He grabbed a bowl on the side, stretching out his hand, and eventually brought it over.
He helped her drink the strange-colored liquid inside, and she closed her eyes, leaning her body up against the wall for a moment.
‘The poor woman, the weapon must have taken a large toll on her body… When she fell, I didn’t think twice about catching her.’
‘I brought her in here while she was still passed out, and now… I’m doing this,’ Fixteen thought.
Every couple of hours or so, the screams would continue from Froma, and she still hadn’t left the house.
Right now, Fixteen was the only one who could really help her.
“Thank you for doing all of this for me,” Froma said. “I know we’re not close, but I appreciate it… You’re a really good man.”
“It’s not a problem, but don’t you want the Crimson Crane to try and help you?” Fixteen asked.
“I can’t, I can’t drag them down with my problems. Besides, it’s not like I can get rid of this. I’m not even using the bow, and I’m still like this right now… I’m sure I’ll be better in a few
days.”
As she said those words, though, the tremors and thoughts returned to her mind. She pulled tightly onto Fixteen’s clothes.
He quickly started to draw circles in the palm of her hand again.
“No, it’s filling my head again. I need something stronger, a stronger feeling,” Froma said, starting to pull at Fixteen’s shirt, even ripping part of it.
“Hey… I don’t think this is…”
Fixteen was pulled until his face was next to hers. He could feel the heat from her breath, and her red cheeks were turning brighter by the moment.
“I’m sorry, but you’re kind enough to forgive me, right?” Froma said as she pulled Fixteen in and pressed her lips against his.
She continued, as the sensation coursed through her body, trying to forget those thoughts and needing to feel something real.
At that point, Froma’s body was weak, Fixteen knew this. It wouldn’t have taken much for him to push her away, and that was because there was one main thought that was running through
his head.
‘This feels kinda… nice.’
“Froma!” Cronker shouted, breaking through the front door and immediately turning into the bedroom. “There’s an… emergency…”
Chapter 910: The Army Move out!
Marcel stood there, upright with perfect form, watching as the leader of the guards he was talking to ran off in the other direction.
He couldn’t hold in his anger; he wanted to burst out shouting. Never had a situation like this occurred before.
‘Where are the lavish gifts, the commendation food, the royal treatment I get when I visit other towns and cities?’ Marcel thought.
Being a messenger for the king was one of the most luxurious jobs one could have. It was even a position that Pagna warriors had to respect.
At times, Marcel even enjoyed ordering around those arrogant warriors, knowing full well that they were unable to say anything directly to him or harm him.
Maybe kingdoms and empires looked the other way when the general public was hurt, but for a man of such high status, that wasn’t the case.
However, no matter how much he wanted to shout and scream, there was now no one to shout and scream at.
“This is ridiculous. Fine, if no one will escort me, then I will just head there myself,” Marcel said as he walked forward, clicking his fingers.
He ordered the driver with the carriage to follow him.
Marcel had only managed a few steps before the guards at the wall came forward, drawing two spears across each other and blocking his path.
“What is the meaning of this?” Marcel shouted. “Surely you two buffoons heard my
conversation earlier. I am a messenger for King Doclet, here to meet the Dark Magus, so why do you stand in my way?”
“Due to the recent attacks that have occurred, no one is allowed to enter without permission from the head guard or higher personnel. The head guard did not give you permission,” one of the men said.
“We have very good ears, sir, and we specifically heard him deny your visit to the Dark Magus.”
Marcel was beyond stunned. Sure, at times people would deny a meeting or make an excuse, but to be denied at the gate as well?
Was this not the land of King Doclet? If he wasn’t allowed here, then none of these people were allowed.
Just then, a farmer in rags walked past with a stick and two large baskets filled with tea leaves. The guards quickly pulled up their spears and let him through.
When Marcel tried to follow, the guards swung the spears down once again, almost hitting his face.
“I see, I see now. This whole town of Flendon has become quite rebellious. We will see how that works out for all of you,” Marcel claimed as he turned away.
He got in his carriage and was on his way to the city of Done, home to King Doclet.
It had taken a few hours for Marcel to travel, and with his anger having reached its peak, he had taken no breaks.
The Kingdom of Doclet was a grand place, with a large courtyard and green-colored slanting roofs.
The palace was tiered, with the king’s palace located at the top. Immediately, Marcel had been granted an audience with the king.
He was in his main office, a large space where the doors opened at the back, leading to a garden that allowed flowing light inside.
“I see, so that’s how they treated us. It’s quite clear that Pagna warriors have gotten far too confident due to how long the alliance has lasted,” King Doclet said as he turned around, rubbing his large beard a few times.
King Doclet was a fairly large man with a grey beard. He was in his sixties and had been in charge of the kingdom for the last ten years.
Just like the lives of high-ranking clan warriors, life in a kingdom wasn’t easy either, with several people battling for the throne.
Yet, in the end, King Doclet had managed to reach the top thanks to his expertise. “From what you’ve said, it’s quite clear that the town of Flendon has rebelled against the Doclet Kingdom. We must quell rebellions before they turn into something bigger, don’t you agree?”
Doclet was smiling, and so was Marcel. Both of them couldn’t help but laugh in joy.
“I think it’s time we show them what we can do. After the battle with the Behemoth Clan, I imagine most of the warriors are weak, but even then, there wouldn’t be much they could do against this!” Doclet clicked his fingers.
Immediately, a man came in from the other side of the door, holding a long object covered in a cloth. The man knelt on the floor and pulled the cloth away, revealing a long metallic object underneath, with a wooden frame at the bottom and a few other instruments beside it.
“What is this, sir?” Marcel asked, his eyes shining.
Doclet nodded at the man to demonstrate. The man began to gather the equipment, wiping a cloth down the center of the metal object with what looked like a type of brush.
Afterward, he poured something into the top of the contraption that looked like dust, and finally inserted a metallic ball. The whole process took around ninety seconds or so. Right after, he pointed the large metallic object, and with a bang, a metallic round ball flew into the air, tearing through one of the metallic pieces of armor that was hung up. “It… penetrated the metallic armor… what is this marvel of a device?” Marcel asked. “That is our miniature cannon that we have created. Not only have our ships received great investment in technology, but we’ve created something that can turn every person into a great form of power!”
“With this, the warriors will be shaking in their boots. We will go to take the Dark Magus in, and if he doesn’t comply, he will witness a massacre with our new advanced equipment!” King Doclet proudly said with his chest out. Then, swinging his hand, he gave the order. It was the order that Marcel had been waiting for his majesty to give out for a long time. “Order the army to move out! Our first conquest will be the town of Flendon.”
Chapter 911: Raze’s Power Spike
Fing and Han had faced numerous challenges in their time working for their father in the Demonic Faction. They had to work hard because they were sure that one day they would be the ones to end up in charge of the Neverfall Clan.
It wasn’t just them who thought it, but the other clans and those within their clan as well. They believed what Belil did was quite clever because he was building up the legacy for the next generation.
With all their accomplishments, there wasn’t much that Fing and Han could say they were afraid of, but their eyes had opened slightly.
They never thought that a family member of theirs, introduced to them through marriage, would be able to best them. In doing so, at least for now, they decided to give this person great respect.
Because that was what the Demonic FactClan did-they respected great strength, especially one they didn’t understand.
When Han and Fing had reached the boiling point of their conversation with their brother, and he reached for his flute, as he tried to blow into his weapon, he felt a chill surround his entire body.
‘It’s not working… it’s not working again! It’s just like last time… can it be?’
It wasn’t just a chill because his flute wasn’t working. An energy, different from Qi, felt like it was surrounding his body from behind, creeping into him, suffocating him and making it hard to breathe.
“Don’t touch him… don’t touch my friend.”
The words spoken were quiet, but the chill Han felt sank into his heart deeper when he heard those words. He was even afraid to turn his head around, but he eventually did, and his eyes locked onto the Dark Magus lying there in bed.
His hand was held out, and there was a deep scowl on his face.
“Raze… Raze, you’re awake!” Alba said, thankful that he was up now. There was a slight worry in her head though–what if the situation got worse?
“I have to tell the others, I have to tell them to come here as quickly as possible!” Alba said as she practically ran out of the room, back where she had come from, and immediately informed Cronker and the others to get there as fast as they could.
With so many people, it was unlikely something would happen, right?
“Listen to Raze,” Rayna said, standing up. “Raze doesn’t want you guys to fight. You said you were protecting him, right? How can you protect him if you fight so close to him!”
Immediately hearing that, both Fing and Han placed their weapons away. It was the same for Dame, who was no longer in his Hybrid form, but he was looking at Raze, his mouth slightly ajar.
“Friend… did you just say friend?” Dame whispered to himself.
He didn’t speak too loudly, but when Dame thought about it, those were the words he needed. Words to make clear that his relationship with Raze had cemented and had become something bigger than they originally thought.
He had been with Raze for a long time as well, and it wasn’t as if Dame had many people he could call friends either. He was sure of it-it might have been the first time he had ever heard Raze say those words.
Honestly, in that moment, Dame didn’t even care for the hurt he had received from his brothers in the room. Hearing Raze say those words, willing to go against his two brothers for him, meant everything.
‘I wouldn’t hate it… if I had to follow this man for the rest of my life,’ Dame thought with a smile.
“Raze, you’re finally awake. Is everything okay? How do you feel?” Rayna asked. She went to reach out for his hand but then stopped herself, remembering he didn’t like to be touched.
While he was asleep, she had managed to sneak in a few touches here and there, which she wasn’t able to do anymore.
“Am I fine?” Raze said, now no longer feeling the Qi in the room. He could tell things had settled down, giving him a moment to think. First, he touched his mana heart.
Closing his eyes, he focused.
‘Everything seems to be working as normal. Nothing is damaged… No, it’s not just working as normal-I can see another star circling it… I’m now a 6th star mage!’ Raze was inwardly smiling, but he didn’t want to show it on his face.
Because he was starting to remember what had happened to get there-the breakthrough that had occurred, the powers he used.
It wasn’t as if he was a mindless beast. He had been controlling himself, his old body and its powers, and he remembered everything.
The only thoughts that were slightly muddled, like a fog over his mind, were what had occurred toward the end.
‘But I did it, I managed to make a breakthrough, and with it, I increased my star level and the magic along with it… but how did I even do it? Is it something that I’m even able to replicate? If not, then it’s as useless as having that Bloody woman around.’
‘If I do figure it out, I need to know if I can use it properly, or if with every use, I’ll end up like this. There’s a good chance I was like this because I pushed myself too far.’
Concentrating further, there was one more thing he wanted to check on himself, and that was his dantian. As he looked deep into his Qi…
He could feel it as his energy flowed through his fingertips. His senses were sharpened, and his body felt anew. It was hard to say he was even human now, with how slow his heart was beating and how his body was functioning.
The world of magic may have made no sense to others, but to him, the world of Pagna warriors was also an amazing thing.
‘I’m now a 9th stage warrior. I’ve just reached this stage, but I’m on the same level as Sha Mo and Belil. I still have a ways to go to catch up to them with my Qi… but there should now be no one in Pagna who can take me on.’
As Raze thought this, the door swung open, and several people pushed through the crowded area, some falling on top of each other.
Eventually, walking past them, was one girl with a bright smile.
“Safa…” Raze called out. “You’re alive… but how?”
“Not because of you.” A voice rang in Raze’s head followed by an echoey laughter.
Chapter 912 An Open Heart
For a long time, a large number of emotions had been suppressed in Raze. Ever since he had fully taken on the name Dark Magus, his emotions were numb, with nothing left but mainly anger on his mind.
Almost daily, he would replay in his head what had happened, so he wouldn’t forget the revenge he needed to complete. He had to numb his other emotions because it was the only way he could allow his Dark Magic to grow, and in turn, its growth gave him more power to face his enemies.
There were things the old Raze had never imagined himself doing. Things that he wouldn’t have been proud of, but in Alterian, in order to progress, he had to continue that way, suppressing his other emotions.
He had brought this with him when he entered Pagna. Only caring about his goal to get stronger—or at least he thought he did—as the first one to pry his heart open slightly was Safa.
An action of a sister that wasn’t even his own family. As time went on, there were more and more that were weaving its way into his heart, yet he wished to shut them out. Why?
Because he never wanted to go through those emotions again. If he let someone into his heart, and he lost them again, what would the result be?
Could he go through that pain once more, the same pain he had gone through before? Maybe this was why he was unwilling to let others in his heart again, and before he realized it, he already had.
Seeing Safa standing by the door, he felt a sense of relief. All of his tensed-up muscles relaxed, and a flood of strange and overwhelming feelings entered him.
“I’m happy, Raze,” Safa said as she wiped the tears away from her face but continued to sniffle away. “I’m so happy that I get to see you again.”
Safa started to walk forward, and naturally, the others stood aside.
She came closer and closer, and not even the two brothers got in the way of Safa as she approached the edge of the bed. When she was close enough, she leapt in, holding him tight, and continued to sob out loud.
“WAHHH!” Safa said, as she continued to hold Raze tight.
Everyone watching who knew Raze was a bit stunned. At first, they were even worried about what would happen, but nothing did happen. Instead, Raze embraced the hug and even lifted his hands back and pulled her in.
“It’s okay… I’ll protect you,” Raze said. “I’ll make sure you’re okay. I won’t go missing because I will do everything in my power to make sure you’re okay.”
When Raze said those words, he wasn’t just directing them at Safa, it was a promise made to himself, and one that was made to the annoying Bloody woman that wouldn’t get out of his head.
In his heart now, he had opened a space for Safa. Accepting this fact, he could even embrace her, but also, accepting this fact, he knew he had to accept his duty to protect her.
He hadn’t done well to protect those he cared about in his old life, but this was a fresh start, and Safa was part of this body’s family and, in a way, felt like she was part of Raze’s.
“I guess this might be the closest thing I’ll have to a granddaughter,” Raze mumbled under his breath, which was picked up by Anna and Liam. They thought it was a strange comment for him to make, oddly strange, especially after seeing his form from before.
“How did you manage to survive?” Raze said as he pulled away. Although he had allowed her in, the hug was getting a little much for him.
Safa pulled away and wiped her tears again.
“I’m not sure, honestly. I was hoping that maybe you would have the answer to that.” Reaching behind her, Safa pulled the Lux Spear out and held it on its side. “But I think it might have something to do with this.”
Raze’s eyes widened as he reached out and grabbed hold of the spear.
‘Right, I almost forgot about that, one of the conditions of the sword. Upon death, the user will be given a second chance.’
Knowing that it really was the spear that had managed to save Safa, it didn’t make him feel any better. In a way, it proved that the Bloody woman was right, and Raze had failed to protect her.
The second-chance effect of the weapon had been activated, but now it would never be activated again.
“From here on out,” Raze said as he pulled his hand away, “there will be no second chances. The spear won’t be able to save you again, so don’t go and do something stupid like that… or I’ll have to lock you away, and put you somewhere you will never be able to get hurt again.”
Although Raze’s words might have been meant to come off as sweet, the others weren’t so sure they were. It was almost going a step too far, but Raze had said everything with a smile on his face.
Sniffling away, the tears started to fade from Safa. She had confirmed that her spear was the one that saved her, and there wouldn’t be a second chance.
She needed to get stronger, but the main reason wasn’t to save herself. As she looked at Raze on the bed, images kept appearing in her head of the old man she had seen.
It wasn’t that the old man scared her or his image, it was the eyes she saw at the time. Although she hadn’t been conscious for that long, she never wanted to see such darkness in those eyes again.
“Raze, I want to ask you a favor. You told us some of your story before, and about yourself… but can you tell us everything… what exactly happened to you, in Alterian?” Safa asked.
