AT A MANOR A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE SILVERWOOD MANOR.*VROOM*“This one has also been deactivated,”Draven said with a concerned expression, revealing the manor’s barrier formation with his mana.“That’s what now? Like three manors, all with their magic formations deactivated. This cannot be a coincidence,” Aldric commented.“Yeah... you’re right. It’s too much of a coincidence for all four manors we’ve been to, to have their magic formations deactivated. Someone must be behind this, but why? What is their purpose in deactivating the barrier formations?”Draven said, his expression mixed with wariness and curiosity.“This situation seems suspicious. Should we request backup from Team 2?”Orion suggested.“No, we can handle this on our own. The team leader and the others are taking care of things at Silverwood Manor. So, our task is to gather any clues we can find about the identity of the person or group responsible for deactivating the manors formations,”Draven asserted with a d
*SHING**SHING**SHING**SHING*Draven, Aldric, Orion, and Evander unsheathe their swords, as they prepared to confront the source of the unknown voice.*STEP*"Hey, there's no need to draw your swords," Scorpion calmly interjected, stepping into the illuminated area, revealing himself."Why does this man look familiar? I think I've seen him recently, but I can't recall where." Draven pondered silently upon seeing Scorpion's face.As Draven struggled to recall where he had seen Scorpion before. Aldric steps forward from the group wearing an annoyed expression and walks toward Scorpion.*THUD** THUD**THUD*The sound of Aldric's steps reverberated through the tense silence as he approached Scorpion. After closing the distance between them, he raised his sword and points it threateningly at Scorpion's face.*SWISH*"Who the hell are you?... Huh?”Aldric asked, his voice laced with a threatening tone, as the tip of his sword’s blade drew nearer to Scorpion’s face.“…”But Scorpion sto
AT THE SILVERWOOD MANOR.*WHOOSH**BOOM**BOOM*“Keuk!... how is it so strong?”Galen thought in his mind while flying through a wall after being tossed from the east side of the manor to the west.*CRASH*“Urgh…”Galen groaned in pain as he crashes onto the floor. But quickly got back on his feet, sword in hand and his guard up. Glancing around, he noticed he was back at the center of the manor’s entrance hall, bathed in moonlight.“What the hell was that beast? Blocking its attacks sent me flying across the manor… Ugh.”Galen muttered, with a pained expression. He looks down at his hands and noticed them tremble from the impact of blocking the beast's attacks with his sword. Then he realized that if he hadn’t blocked the attack he would have gotten seriously hurt.“Taking more attacks like that would be dangerous.”Galen thought in his mind with a cautious expression.*WHOOSH*“RAAAAAAAOORR!!”Grace's deafening roar pierced the air as she appeared in front of Galen, launching an inc
“AAAAAHHH!!”Tristen and Percival yelled in pain, covering their eyes as the intense light temporarily blinded them. The sudden and overwhelming brightness disoriented them, leaving them vulnerable and unable to see their surroundings.*WHOOSH*“Did you not know that in a fight, you should not take your eyes off your opponent? Kekekeke.”Cobra said in a mocking tone as he appears behind Tristan and Percival.“!!!”Tristan and Percival’s hearts pounded in fear as they heard the unknown voice behind them. Panic took over, and they instinctively turned around, blindly swinging their swords toward the source of the sound, hoping to hit their unseen assailant. Their actions were fueled by a mix of adrenaline and fear, but the lack of visibility made their attacks wild and unguided.*SWISH**SLASH**SLASH*“Whoops… Kekeke, how do you expect to hit your target if you don’t look at it?”Cobra jeered, his mocking laughter resonating through the hall. As he displays remarkable ease and agility,
OUTSIDE, THE IMPERIAL PALACE’S GATES.As the post-celebration of the prince’s naming persisted within the grand halls of the imperial palace, a scene unfolded outside its monumental gates. Assembled was a segment of the imperial army, specifically the Silver Dragon Knight squad. Comprising of five hundred knights, each meticulously chosen by the emperor himself, the squad boasted a spectrum of prowess ranging from a fourth-class Grandmaster as the least powerful, to an eighth-class Grandmaster as the most formidable. The knights stood in disciplined formation outside the palace gate, organized into five distinct lines, with each group encompassing a hundred knights.*CREAK*A loud creaking sound of metal filled the air as the palace gates opens, revealing Emperor Maximus. He walks out with the air of a conqueror exuding from his body. With each stride he took, the surrounding air became heavy, affected by his Aura. Causing the knights guarding the palace gates, to fall to their knees
SILVERWOOD MANOR’S COMPOUND.*SHOOSH**SHOOSH**SLASH*The air whirled into a frenzy, stirred by the astonishing speed at which Helena and Chamberlin Eadulf moved. Their forms could only be glimpsed as blurs, locked in a fierce exchange that painted a trail of destruction across the Manor's Estate.*SWOOSH**CLANG**BANG**WHOOSH*"How does his speed continue to outpace mine, even as I pushed my speed to the limit? Among the ‘Ten Aura Masters’ on the continent, I hold the title of the 'Lightning Sword' due to the unique characteristics of my abilities. Yet, here I am unable to match the speed of this unknown Hooded Figure. How frustrating… But, it’s not solely my speed that has earned me the Title of Lightning Sword!”Chamberlin Eadulf thought in his mind as he abruptly ceased his movements, coming to a complete standstill.*WHOOSH**HALT*“Huh!? Why did you stop? Are you gassed out already...?”Helena asked, her tone carrying a tinge of surprise. as she slowed down before coming to a
OUTSIDE CHAMBERLAIN EADULF’S DOMAIN. *CRACK*"Huh?!... It appears the battle's outcome is clear. Your Majesty, who do you think emerged victorious?"Master Zurrick asked Emperor Maximus after noticing Chamberlian Eadulf’s Domain began to dissipate.“From the pressure he released it would be difficult for Eadulf to win, but since he got into Eadulf’s Aura domain… well, we’ll just wait and see.”Emperor Maximus replied.****************************************************************A MINUTE LATER.Once Chamberlain Eadulf's Aura Domain had fully dissipated, Emperor Maximus and Master Zurrick were met with a startling sight. The hooded figure, previously ensnared by Eadulf's Domain, now stood unharmed, casually dragging an object with a single hand as they strolled forward.*SCRAPE! * [Sound effect of dragging an object]“I must say… he had a strong determination and will. But what use are those if you are weak!”Helena said as she tossed the object she'd been dragging, like trash, rig
INNER CAPITAL CITY - SOMWHERE.“Be careful of your own shadow; for it might hide more than you realize.”Emperor Maximus said, as he emerged from behind Helena, stepping out of her shadow. His sword's blade, deeply embedded in her back, piercing through her chest.*THUD*“COUGH!!... How did you”Helena exclaimed, after coughing out blood. As she turned to Emperor Maximus, her face twisted in shock and agony.“Did you truly believe I could be defeated with such a meager display of power? That was nothing more than a mere shadow double.”Emperor Maximus said with a condescending tone and expression.“Even with an energy more powerful than mana and Aura, this is all your strength amounts to. What a waste… Don’t worry; I will be using your power to its full potential, after extracting it from your corpse… Any last words before you die?”Emperor Maximus asked.“Cough…Ha…haha… Did you think you’ve won!? HA-HAHAHAHA!”Helena exclaimed, erupting into maniacal laughter before her body dissolve