Chapter 1524: Trust The Dark Guild? (Part 1)
Raze knew this was a difficult request. Alen had already done more than enough, and the only reason he was caught up in all of this was because of his unshakable moral compass. Very few men in Alterian carried such a thing anymore, and even fewer acted upon it. Of course, part of the reason Alen had thrown in his lot with him was because Raze had saved his sister, but even then, Alen had long since repaid that debt. In truth, he had gone far past what anyone else would have considered necessary.
Yet Raze also knew that this wasn’t something Alen, or even the handful of allies who followed him, could accomplish alone. To strike at a Grand Magus required more than courage or integrity; it required strength, coordination, and numbers. That was why Alen had agreed to Raze’s request. He was willing to take the next step, willing to meet the others who would be drawn into this conflict.
For the time being, the group remained at Alen’s manor. While they rested, Alen himself had been gone, traveling across Alterian to meet certain people face-to-face. These were not ordinary men. They were individuals Alen trusted with his life, people he believed would stand firm when forced to choose between what was right and what was easy.
Hours later, the sound of engines broke the stillness around the manor. Several magical flying crafts descended one after another, the kind used by high-ranking military officers. The sleek vessels hovered briefly before landing in formation across the front courtyard. From each transport, groups of uniformed men disembarked.
In total, there were around thirty individuals who had chosen to follow Alen here. On the surface, that might have seemed like a small number, certainly nothing compared to the ever-growing ranks of the Dark Guild, but the quality of these men could not be dismissed. Their uniforms bore insignias that spoke of rank and authority. They were seasoned, not recruits. They carried themselves with the kind of discipline and weight that came from years of command.
“If the Grand Magus truly hold absolute power over this world,” Beatrix asked quietly, watching the groups line up outside the manor, “are we certain we can trust the military to act against them?”
“To a degree,” Raze replied. His expression remained calm, but his tone was firm. “Alterian wasn’t always united. In fact, it used to be far more divided than Pagna ever was. The landmasses were once scattered across different planes of water, each territory ruled by its own military and government. Each was a country in its own right.
“It was only through magic that the lands were eventually connected, transformed into a single, continuous continent. Even now, great rivers mark the scars where those divides once existed. What you see today as Alterian is the result of that unification. But understand this, three powers hold sway here. The Alterian government, filled with politicians. The military force, bound by law and order. And the Grand Magus, who stand above them all.
“In theory, these three are supposed to act in harmony. In practice, the Grand Magus overshadow the other two. Their absolute strength means their word carries the most weight, even when placed against the will of government and military combined. The people believe in them. They believe the Grand Magus to be righteous, and because of that belief, they allow them to rule without question. That is why Alterian has remained stable and why the conflicts of the past are forgotten.”
Beatrix folded her arms, her sharp gaze fixed on him. “So the military is independent, but limited. They can pass judgment, they can act against injustice, but whether they succeed depends not only on their strength but on whether the people will stand behind them.”
“Correct,” another voice said.
Alen had returned, stepping into the manor’s reception hall with two men walking at his side. Both wore dark grey military uniforms that distinguished them from the others who had arrived. They were younger than expected, men in their thirties, their expressions sharp and controlled, as if carved from stone. They gave off the impression of men who were used to being obeyed, used to command.
“These two,” Alen said, resting a hand briefly on each man’s shoulder, “are War-Magus. They are not only seasoned officers, but each commands a hundred men loyal to them. These soldiers have fought under their leadership, and their loyalty is to their commander, not to the Grand Magus. That makes them rare and valuable.”
He gestured to the man on his left, a stern figure with dirty blond hair parted neatly down the middle. “This is Varkos Draven.”
Varkos bowed slightly, his voice measured. “It is an honor.”
The other, standing tall with cropped brown hair and a jaw set like iron, followed suit. “Mordain Tharros. I stand ready.”
“Both of them know who you are,” Alen continued. “I’ve explained everything to them in full detail. If this alliance is to work, it must be built on honesty. No secrets, no half-truths. That is the only way trust will survive what’s coming.”
“I agree,” Raze said, rising to his feet. His presence alone filled the room. “The allies gathered here today are the strongest people I know. Each of them will play a role in what comes next, and I ask that you treat them with the same respect you would give me. They may look young, but do not be deceived. Every one of them has faced battles against the principals of prestigious academies, and won.”
There was no hesitation in his words, and those who had witnessed the reports from the Magical Exchange could confirm it. Varkos Draven himself had been present during the Exchange. He had seen firsthand what the Dark Magus and his companions were capable of, and it was not something one could easily dismiss.
“Alen has told us of your intentions,” Varkos said, his voice even but laced with curiosity. “He says your next target is Gizin. If that is the case, then we are prepared to follow your lead. But I do have a question before we proceed any further. The Dark Guild, this force that now moves in your shadow, are they a creation of yours? Are they completely under your control?”
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Chapter 1525: Trust The Dark Guild? (Part 2)
“There’s a reason I ask this question,” Varkos said, his voice calm but steady, eyes fixed on Raze. “From what we know, you and your people are not from this world. For a moment, let’s say I believe that you are indeed the Dark Magus. That being the case, then the creation of the Dark Guild must have taken place while you were absent from Alterian. Unless…” He paused, letting the thought linger. “Unless you always had the ability to travel freely between worlds.
“Regardless of which it is, I’ve heard troubling things about the Dark Guild. Stories of cruelty, stories of bloodshed. Of course, I know that rumor and truth can easily be twisted, especially in times like these. But there is something else that concerns me. To practice Dark Magic, one must kill. That is a requirement of its affinity. So I must ask, is the Dark Guild truly an organization we can trust? One that we can work side by side with?”
The question lingered in the room, heavy and sharp. For many, it might have seemed too personal, too direct, especially now when they were preparing to enter into a delicate alliance. Everyone assumed that the Dark Magus was the true leader of the Dark Guild, and now, here was a man essentially questioning the worth of that entire force.
Raze, however, did not flinch. He met Varkos’s gaze without hesitation. “I understand your concern,” he said evenly. “The Dark Guild is a creation that I set into motion. What it has become, what it is today, exists because of me. They follow my word, and many of them would follow it to the very end.”
He let the words sink in before continuing. “But your worry is not misplaced. Not every practitioner of Dark Magic walks this path for the right reasons. Even I…” He paused, the air seeming to grow heavier. “Even I am not doing this for justice in the way you might hope. I am after the Grand Magus because of revenge. Nothing more. That is the truth.”
His voice did not waver as he continued. “There are many in the Dark Guild who are criminals, people who had nowhere else to go. To them, following me feels like rebelling against a world that has already cast them aside. There are also those who misuse my name, who twist my will to justify their own selfishness. That, too, is inevitable in an organization of this size.
“So yes, if you compare the Dark Guild to other factions, the chances of finding rotten apples among us is far higher. But tell me, wouldn’t that make this the best possible use for them right now? If their strength and their hatred can be directed against the Grand Magus, then is it not better to turn their chaos into a weapon rather than let it fester uncontrolled?”
Varkos had not expected such an answer. He had expected denial, or perhaps empty reassurance. Instead, Raze laid it all bare, exposing the flaws of his own people and still presenting a compelling argument for why they should be used. From the way he spoke, it was clear, even Raze himself understood that once his vengeance was complete, the Dark Guild might one day become its own problem. But for now, they were a necessary piece of the game.
“I see,” Mordain said after a long silence. His arms were crossed, but his voice carried a note of reluctant acceptance. “Then it seems our situation is what it is. Since you’ve spoken honestly, I will do the same. We don’t like this. It feels as though we are teaming up with the lesser of two evils in order to defeat one greater evil. And yet…” He drew in a slow breath. “And yet, you have our support.
“But I must make one thing clear. Our people, the ones under our command, they are not the type to look away if they see something they cannot condone. If they witness the Dark Guild commit an atrocity, they will not be silent. Nor will they stand idle.”
Raze nodded once, his expression unreadable. He respected their stance. If such a situation arose, then they would deal with it when the time came. For now, what mattered was the alliance forming here, in this moment.
Between the squads of Mordain and Varkos, along with the other officers that Alen had gathered, the combined number of soldiers stood at nearly two hundred. It was not an army, but it was no small force either. With their loyalty and their training, they could overwhelm guilds, dismantle strongholds, and even serve as the distraction needed to hold back one Grand Magus while Raze and his closest allies struck at another.
Still, Raze knew the truth. Two hundred was impressive, but it was not enough to match the forces that Gizin commanded, nor those under Idore. Their enemies had roots that extended deep into Alterian, into the guilds, the corporations, and the political web itself. Even so, this force would be invaluable.
Before they departed, Raze made his preparations. He had already asked Alen for several items, things that a man of his influence and position could obtain without difficulty. Now, as he stepped outside the manor, he saw the groups lined neatly in formation beside their hovering crafts. The plan was simple. They would fly to the city first, then make use of local transport to blend in before reaching their final destination. Raze and his companions would travel in Alen’s personal magical craft.
“It is best,” Raze said, his tone carrying across the courtyard, “that unless you act openly under the banner of the military, your faces remain unseen. You will know the time when it is best to show yourselves, and when it is best to stay hidden.”
As he spoke, dark energy flickered across his arms. From within the shadows of his cloak, a familiar sight emerged, the Blazer masks. One by one, the blackened masks floated into the air, gliding silently toward each of Alen’s allies.
For many, it was the first time they had ever seen Dark Magic performed so openly, so casually. Even though they had pledged themselves to this alliance, the sight sent chills racing through their veins. It was a reminder of what the Dark Magus truly was, and what kind of power he commanded.
Some hesitated as the masks hovered before them. Was this a trick? Was this some form of binding magic, a trap that would turn them into thralls? Suspicion wavered in their eyes.
Alen, noticing the hesitation, reached forward without pause. He pressed the mask to his face, allowing its magic to veil his appearance. His features shifted instantly, hidden beneath the enchanted disguise. “It is safe,” he said firmly.
One by one, the others followed, their doubts quelled when Mordain and Varkos each donned their masks with no hesitation. The change in their faces was immediate. Now, every man standing there wore the same shadowed guise, indistinguishable from one another.
“Good,” Raze said at last. His voice cut through the silence, cold but commanding. “Then it is settled. We leave now. It is time to meet the Dark Guild face to face, and together, we will descend into the Underside.”
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Chapter 1526: The Underside (Part 1)
After donning their masks, the group boarded their flying vehicles and set off toward the city. The hum of magic filled the air as the crafts cut through the sky, descending toward one of the city’s parking bays. By the time they touched down, each of them could already see the aftermath of Raze’s actions plastered across Alterian for the world to witness.
Everywhere they looked, the city screamed of chaos. Shopfronts carried glowing signs with shifting text. Holograms projected towering images above the streets. Magical displays scrolled through lines of news, written so brightly in the air they could be seen from across the square. Every single one repeated the same story, the Dark Magus, the Dark Guild, and the shocking death of the Grand Magus.
The warriors from Pagna had heard of Raze’s past deeds. Bubble had spread those stories far and wide, so none of them doubted that their companion was capable of shaking an entire nation. But to witness Alterian’s infrastructure amplifying the news so quickly was something else. Information here did not crawl. It spread like wildfire, searing its way into every mind.
Liam slowed in front of a particularly large hologram, staring at it until the others turned to look. The projection showed a wanted poster, and staring back at him was his own face.
“Did they make me more ugly on purpose?” Liam muttered, squinting. “I look better than that, right?”
“I think it’s pretty accurate,” Dame said with a shrug. His lips twitched with amusement. “In fact, I’d say it’s near perfect. Maybe that’s what you really think and feel when you see yourself.”
Liam scowled. “Tch. As if.”
The others chuckled quietly, but Raze kept them moving. The group could not afford to look suspicious. With thirty-six people in total, parading through the city streets as one would draw too much attention. They broke into smaller units of five, drifting naturally through the crowds until one by one they slipped into a narrow alleyway.
The passage reeked faintly of damp stone and trash, but at its end, where shadows pooled deepest, a strange sight awaited them. A large, circular metallic object, gleaming faintly in the dim light, sat embedded in the ground. Its smooth surface looked completely out of place among the cracked bricks and dripping pipes.
“So what exactly is this?” Liam asked, arching a brow. “Are we really going underground?”
“Think back to Pagna,” Raze said. His voice was calm, measured, though his eyes gleamed faintly behind his mask. “Do you remember the Light Faction’s cities, where they had systems to deal with waste? Some of the larger Pagna cities built similar structures. Alterian’s design is far greater. Beneath this land lies an entire network.”
“And they call it… the Underside?” Liam muttered.
“You’ll understand soon enough.” Raze raised his hand, and wind magic swirled around his fingers. The metallic lid groaned and lifted into the air as though weightless, revealing a yawning shaft below. A ladder stretched down into darkness, the scent of rot already rising from below.
No one spoke. One by one, they began to descend. First went Alen and his soldiers. Then came the Pagna warriors. Raze was the last, ensuring no one lagged behind.
The climb was long. The iron rungs stretched downward endlessly, each step echoing faintly against the stone. The air grew heavier the farther they went, thick with the stench of sewage. By the time their boots hit the ground, most of them were pinching their noses or grimacing.
Yet when they reached the bottom, their disgust was swallowed by awe.
The tunnel opened wide into a cavernous space, and there, sprawling beneath the surface, was a city.
Darkness cloaked most of it, but light crystals dotted the expanse, faintly glowing, just enough to illuminate the shapes of homes cobbled together from metal scraps, rotting wood, and discarded materials scavenged from above. Shanty structures clustered tightly together, stacked and leaning like they might collapse at any moment.
A river ran through the middle, except it was not water. Sewage flowed in thick currents, carried along in carved channels. Floating platforms and makeshift bridges allowed residents to cross from one side to the other. Children balanced nimbly on planks, skipping across as though it were all a game. Adults, weary and hollow-eyed, trudged with buckets or hunched in silence by the banks.
It was a city of shadows, yet undeniably alive.
Mages among the group quickly whispered spells, forming barriers around their faces to filter the smell. That helped, but nothing shielded them from the sight. For many, this was their first time seeing the Underside.
Alen’s soldiers kept close, their hands unconsciously brushing their weapons. The military men had expected something grim, but not this, a society buried alive beneath the feet of Alterian’s gleaming cities.
What shocked them most was the reaction. Or rather, the lack of one.
No one screamed. No one pointed at them in fear. The people down here hardly looked at them at all. To the malnourished adults, another group of outsiders meant nothing. To the children, laughter and games carried on as if the new arrivals were invisible.
“I’ve seen bad places in Pagna,” Liam murmured, his voice low. His eyes flicked over the filth, the shadows, the fragile smiles. “But everyone knows about those dumps. This… to live your whole life underground? Is it really because there’s no space above?”
“No,” Raze said. His footsteps echoed as he moved ahead, cloak brushing against the damp stone. His voice cut through the heavy air, calm yet edged with steel. “Alterian has more than enough space. That isn’t the reason. This… is the side they shove underground. The side they don’t want the surface to see.
“So society above can keep flowing with their perfect lives, they bury those who fall too far. People who drop low enough never return to the surface. And that illusion of perfection continues.”
“Ha!” Mordain let out a harsh laugh. His grey uniform looked almost too clean for this place. “You exaggerate. These people are here because of their own actions. Addicts, criminals, gamblers who drowned themselves in debt. People who ruined their own lives. That’s why they’re down here.
“It’s not that the public is unaware of the Underside. Everyone knows it exists. But everyone also knows the truth, those down here deserve it.”
The words rang cold. Several of the soldiers nodded faintly, perhaps in agreement.
Raze stopped walking. Slowly, deliberately, he turned to face Mordain. The dim glow of the light crystals caught in his eyes, sharpening them into blades of darkness.
“That’s really what you think?” he asked softly.
Mordain straightened, unflinching under the gaze of the Dark Magus.
Raze’s lips curved into something that was not quite a smile. “Let me tell you something,” he said, his voice dropping lower, echoing through the cavern.
“I hate people like you.”
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