Aethon told Royce, "Now, it's time to learn how to fight."Royce stood up straight, looking like a soldier ready for battle.Aethon held Royce's hand firmly, his voice determined. "Come, there's somewhere important I need to take you to," he insisted."I can see you're already strong," Aethon observed, giving Royce's chest a firm pat.As they neared their destination, Royce's eyes widened at the sight of a building shaped like a giant sword. The sword radiated from the sunlight, with sharp edges pointing towards the sky.Royce, eager to proceed, rushed forward, but Aethon quickly stopped him."Hey, take it easy," Aethon cautioned, gently pulling Royce back towards him. "You can't just rush into this place."He continued, his tone serious, "There are fierce gatekeepers here. They wouldn't hesitate to behead you without a word." Aethon's voice dropped to a whisper.Royce's eyes shrunk as he looked at the building shaped like a sword. He wasn't scared, even though Aethon had mentioned th
Zarvox approached Grimnar, who sat on his throne with a scowl on his face. "What about your second-in-command?" he inquired."That traitor," Grimnar spat out, his voice filled with anger. "He fled, calling me worthless," he growled, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white."I'll hunt him down and crush him," Grimnar declared, his tone menacing as he spoke of revenge.Zarvox continued, offering his advice. "Grimnar, perhaps it's wise to consider your actions carefully before acting," he advised calmly, hoping to temper Grimnar's rage with reason.Grimnar glared at Zarvox, his anger clear. "You can't tell me what to do," he said sharply."Why do you respect the mountain god and the desert god so much?" Zarvox asked, settling into his seat with curiosity.Grimnar looked shocked. He didn't know how Zarvox knew about his connections to these gods."Surprised, huh?" Zarvox said, noticing Grimnar's startled look. He smiled slightly, amused by Grimnar's reaction.Stammer
Zarvox stood up and approached the screen, his eyes fixed on the holographic display showcasing the upcoming presidential election in Parkland. Grimnar watched intently as Zarvox began to explain."In Parkland," Zarvox began, “three candidates are running for the presidential position. However, one candidate stands out as the best, but we can't use him."Grimnar furrowed his brow in curiosity. "And why can't we use him?" he asked, with interest in his eyes.Zarvox turned to face Grimnar, a look of disdain crossing his features. "Because he's too weak for us," he explained. "He takes things too seriously, and he'll go to any length to destroy evil. We must do everything in our power to stop him from interfering with our plans." Zarvox grinned wickedly, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Penn Lorenz is the perfect target for us. He's a greedy politician, the type we can easily manipulate to serve our interests."Grimnar's expression soured, clearly unimpressed. "And how exactly do you s
Lorenz sat quietly for a few moments, thinking hard about the offer. Suddenly, he had a thought that shook him: What if these men were setting him up to lose the election? He looked at them closely, his eyes sharp.Leaning forward, Lorenz spoke firmly, "I know what you're up to. You're spies from the opponent's camp, trying to trap me. But your plan won't work. Try again next time."Victor and Alex exchanged a glance and then smiled. Alex responded confidently, "Mr. Lorenz, we respect your political experience. It shows you've been in this game for a long time." He paused, still smiling, and placed the briefcase on the floor next to his chair.Lorenz looked at Victor and Alex suspiciously as Victor spoke up, "Alright, let's do this another way. Trust us, we're serious."Victor then reached into his briefcase and pulled out a book. He opened it to a page where the name of the winning presidential candidate was already written. Lorenz's eyes widened in shock. He knew that such a book co
Lorenz couldn't speak over the noise of the audience. He stood there silently, arms crossed, watching them shout. The council members tried to calm them down, but one of them lost his voice from shouting, his face turning red as he coughed.Eventually, the audience quieted down, and the room fell silent.Still coughing, the man gestured for Lorenz to continue speaking.Lorenz's voice rose in anger as he addressed the crowd. "Poverty has taken hold of you! Give me a chance to change that! Don't be foolish! Do you want to remain poor forever?!"Upon hearing Lorenz's words, a voice from the crowd shouted out, "He's calling us poor!" The accusation startled Lorenz, and the crowd erupted into chaos once again."Calm down, everyone!" Lorenz shouted above the noise. "I understand you're upset, but please, give me a chance to help you. We can work together!"But his plea fell on deaf ears as another voice, bold and defiant, cut through the uproar. "That's an insult! We don't need your help!"
"I saw the way you presented your manifesto at the last presidential campaign, and I must say, Mr. John, you are the best," Steven said, extending his hand for a shake."It's my pleasure, Mr. Steven. We do everything for the people, and I believe if they could give me a chance, I would give them a better life and a better country," John replied with a smile."Of course, what else if not their support," Steven remarked, causing them to all laugh again."So, what brings you to my humble abode?" John asked, leaning back in his chair.Steven cleared his throat, preparing to weave the first thread of deception. "Well, Mr. John, we've been observing the political environment for quite some time now, and we've noticed some concerning trends."James nodded in agreement. "Yes, indeed. There are whispers among the council members about your potential candidacy, and some are expressing doubts about your ability to lead effectively."John furrowed his brows, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. "Is
Back at Aethon's camp…..Aethon burst into the training room, where Royce was training with a soldier. The sound of clashing swords echoed through the room as they displayed their skills with swords, kicks, and fists."We need to talk," Aethon said, interrupting the intense training session. He pulled Royce away from the scene, leaving the other soldier to catch his breath."What's going on?" Royce asked, wiping sweat from his brow as they stepped aside for privacy.Aethon's face was serious as he delivered the shocking news. "The Dark Covenant has invaded Earth," he said seriously."What?!" Royce gasped, his brow furrowing in confusion. "How did they manage that? I thought Grimnar needed me to invade the Earth. How could he bypass me?"Aethon nodded, understanding Royce's confusion. "Yes, he indeed needs you, and he still does. Without you, he can't bring his forces onto the Earth. You're a priest, and only you can help summon the spirits here."He paused, letting the information sin
Royce and Aethon panted heavily as they stopped along the road to catch their breath. "Oh man, wasted effort," Royce exclaimed, noticing that most of the food had spilled out halfway.He salvaged what was left and started munching on it, his face twisting in surprise as he tasted how delicious it was."Can't these restaurants give out free food?" Aethon grumbled as he stood up.Royce shrugged, already starting to walk away. "I trust you'd never give it out for free," he replied with a smirk.As Aethon and Royce strolled down the bustling street, they observed the various buildings around them.Royce pointed to a tall skyscraper and said, "That's the city's main office building. It's where all the important business meetings happen.""Ohhh," Aethon nodded in understanding before pointing to another building. "And what about that one?"Royce explained, "That's the local library. People go there to borrow books and study."Aethon nodded again, showing his interest. "I see. What about tha