Black Seed was a secluded area not belonging to any region. It was like a black market for bravery of all kinds.Artifacts, information, maps, and hidden crypts were all traded here.But today, Black Seed was going to serve as a meeting venue...Shambala walked into a dark and shaggy building; the inside looked much like a cafe, and there were six other figures in the cafe."Well, well, well, if it isn't the pacifist geezer himself." A man wearing a black hat and a blazer mocked the appearance of Shambala."Huhuhu." Shambala caresses his beard. "It's good to see you again, Dark Sage.""Shuntaaaaaaaal." A teenage girl ran up to the old man and hugged him; her eyes shone brightly as she increased her grip around the old saint."Ahh, be careful, Lela; I'm not as sturdy as I used to be."He chuckles as she lets go of the grip, and they all make their way to a round table with seven chairs.A man dressed as a waiter came over from the bartender's bar and served them each a cup of tea and s
Yusaku Ona was in deep conversation with someone from the Capital over the phone. His voice was calm and collected as he spoke, giving no indication of the sinister plot that was unfolding. "The pieces are set and everything is going as planned,"he said with a sly grin. "Ona, the king suspects nothing." As he hung up the phone, Ona's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. He knew that his plan to overthrow the king was coming to fruition. The man in front of him, dressed in a black and red mask and a long coat, nodded approvingly. "Good,"he said in a low voice. "That man's arrogance shall be his downfall." Ona felt a rush of excitement as he thought about what lay ahead. He had spent months carefully orchestrating this scheme, gathering allies and resources along the way. And now, finally, all of his hard work was paying off. But even as he reveled in his success, Ona knew that there were still challenges ahead. The king may not suspect anything now, but that could change at any mome
A week later, the crew was getting ready to set out for their next destination. Brrrrrr... Brrrr... Brrrr Vladimir's phone rang, and he picked it up after setting it to speaker mode. The voice was cracking, and everyone could barely hear the transmission. They, however, heard the last part clearly before the call cut off. What they heard sent a chill down their spines. It took a greater toll on Vladimir as his aura spiked a little and he clenched his fists. The seriousness of the matter was visible on his face as it reflected the despair within the contents of the transmission. "Yusaku Ona has taken over Ernia." The Shadow Guild is about to fight a war that will decide the fates of not one, but two nations. "Finally home..." Yuri walked into a beautiful place, only for him to be sent crashing down by the force of three children tackling him. "Big bro Rahan!" "You're back You're back, you're back!" "We missed you!" "Tell us some stories of your adventures." This was the o
"Lady Irene!" Justin couldn't believe what he'd just heard. The woman whom he's sworn to serve, the woman who saved him from a life of treachery, was slaughtered. At first, he wanted to deny the revelation made by the guards and rush over to Regrah at this instant. But seeing the dead bodies of Cain, Vidal, and Ruth helped him come to terms with reality. He plops to the ground and slams his hands hard on the floor. "She's gone; she's really gone... Yusaku Ona has won." He continuously slams his hands, and tears gushed down from his eyes, his hands bruised and bloodied, but all he could really think about was Irene... Regrah District, twelve years ago... The beautiful and wealthy city, filled with life and joy, was once a disheveled and eerie place for criminals of different types and was then deemed a lawless land. The luster of the full moon shone upon a large man riding a carriage filled with children. These children came from a different land with similar conditions to thi
The radiant moon illuminated the lawless town of Regrah as the wealthy and nobles gathered to welcome their new district commander. They hoped that with the arrival of this person, the town would be saved. Though it was the size of a city, the subtraction of lawless areas within the district left only a smaller residential area populated by the law-abiding and wealthy, resembling more of a town. It wasn't until five years after the current situation that the town steadily grew to the size of a full city or district. The carriage carrying the district commander stopped at the city square, where the banquet was being held. One of the knights accompanying the carriage opened the door for the new district commander. "Huh?" "A girl? Is this some kind of joke?" The once joyful cheers of the citizens were replaced with tantrums and bickering upon the arrival of a girl not more than sixteen years of age. "Does the kingdom take us for fools to send a little girl to save this town?" The
Vladimir held the bodies of his fallen subordinates as the memories of their time together flashed through his aching heart. Eight years ago, the trio were merely kids of servants who served at the commander's castle. They were the only children in the castle, as they were allowed to live there with their parents due to a rule that permits the maids and servants of the castle to live within the servant section with their families for as long as they work there. The district commander then was a ruthless and wicked tyrant who bullied the servants and everyone else in the district. He collected taxes even though all district commanders receive a hefty grant from the king every month. One day... "Who dares steal from Fuu the great!?" The castle was caught in an uproar as someone had stolen a ring in the possession of the commander. He ordered all the servants to be brought to him. "One of you peasants has taken something valuable from me. I'm sure the rest of you are all innocent
"My people..."The location was situated in the heart of Hondah, just outside the penitentiary.Following the assault on Hondah Prison, the crew proceeded to interrogate their fallen comrades.Now gathered around Vladimir, the citizens of Hondah listened intently as he addressed them."First and foremost, allow me to extend my sincerest apologies for not being present during your time of need."Vladimir momentarily fell silent before continuing, taking a moment to survey the faces surrounding him.Several appeared emaciated compared to when he had last seen them; many bore bandages that concealed wounds inflicted by Yusaku Ona's invasion.A sense of profound despair was etched upon all their countenances—an entirely understandable reaction given recent events."We have all lost cherished individuals who once formed part of our everyday lives... I make you this promise: Nay! I swear upon my very name!"He struck his chest with forceful conviction."Vladimir Vex swears on his life that
Yusaku Ona stood regally before Yuri's cell, donning kingly attire and the very crown that once graced his predecessor's head. "Brother, he began with a smug grin, gripping the bars of Yuri's confinement. "I too found myself in such dire straits not long ago, at the mercy of Sasha and her band of envoys." Yuri was similarly bound and battered as Yusaku Ona had been during his own captivity. Yuri was chained in a similar way that Yusaku Ona was chained when he was taken prisoner by Sasha and the Envoys. Yuri slowly raises his head to look at his brother. "Brother, what has gotten over you? The once noble man who raised me as a child, I refuse to believe you're the same." Yusaku Ona only laughed at Yuri's remarks as he bent to the level of his captive brother to stare directly into his eyes. "It wasn't I who changed, but you, brother. I used to think that whatever the case, you would always stand beside me; if you did, you would be ruling with me today, but instead, you chose a bu