Kapitel 124: A Welcome Gift

"...Hello?" To a raspy tone that came upon my ear in the fields of my domain, I felt the voice of a woman ….someone who's voice was as dry as the leaves of autumn.

Hearing her tone, it seemed as though she was as curious as I was to this sudden show of communication. So to assure her curiosity, I answered.

"...Hello?" I greeted her in question as well.

"...Who is this? how are you able to call me in my tomb?" she asked.

"...Are you Merlin the great?" I asked.

".…" but with that question, I didn't heard back from her. It seems as though she was hesitant to answer.

"I called you using my sovereign call under my domain. So tell me, are you Merlin?" I asked again, this time, adding more context to my passage of communication

"...The Sovereign call...only kings have access to this sort of power…so that means…" to her words, she felt fear and anguish as within her words, she didn't want to seem to positive of this fact.

"...I'm a king, Merlin…does that ease your concern?" I asked.

"It takes more than being a king to gain my trust…"

"If you won't tell me, then I might as well tell you who I am." I said, knowing what the risk were. From the moment I received this skill in this, I knew that She was someone who knows of "Their" existence. Knowing the description of this skill, I could only call upon certain companions….loyal companions who I can trust my life in.

So to see that someone who I have never meet before or even knew the existence of to be apart of the contacts of this skill meant that my title as a Ruler must have been one of the things that connected her to me.

In other words, she's a loyal companion to the Rulers.

"...I am Hamil Crux, The Fifth Ruler."

*Thud!*

As I introduced myself, I heard a a thudding sound come upon my mind. It sounded like she hurt herself after hearing that.

"...Merlin?" I asked in worry as I didn't hear anything after that.

"...I'm here my lord." she said.

"?" but as I heard her speak, it didn't sounded like it was coming from the skill Sovereign Call, it felt more like she was talking to me from behind.

When I turned to where her voice was coming from, I was meet with the sight of a woman who was knelling in front of me.

Her face…her hair…her skin…all of it looked exactly like Iris…The Blind Ruler.

"...You-" I found her, kneeling in front of me inside the Domain.

"It must have come to a shock, seeing as how I look exactly like the Blind Ruler, but you are right to think of it as such. After all, she is my sister." she said as she raised her head to me and smiled.

"...Your twins?" I asked.

"...Yes."

"I see." as I answered, I turned to where the Blind Ruler's statue stood…and with it, I instinctively compared the two…it was like looking at a mirror. Truly identical.

"...Can I ask you something my lord?" she asked.

"What is it?"

"How long has it been since the war?"

"...A thousand years has passed since then."

As I answered her, her eyes twitched as she heard the passing of time.

"A thousand years…hmm, to think it has been that long."

"...It has, but how is it possible?" I asked.

"As my title suggest, I was once known to be a genius in the path of magic. I was a mage that helped the Rulers in their conquest to build their kingdom--so creating something that would last me a thousand years isn't really a difficult thing to create, especially if it involves my lifespan."

"..."

"...It was needed anyway. To become a Ruler, one has to have the capacity to live a long life…In my position, the blind Ruler took and gave order that I make contingencies to sort out this lifestyle."

"...Rulers live a long life, and being that Iris cares for you, she took the initiative to give you a process of prolonging your life span as well?"

"If I was a simple citizen that was ruled under the Rulers, I would have lived for only a century at most…but the Rulers, they have lived for more than that. I made a tomb that would preserve my body in the hopes of prolonging my life, I would have improved upon it more…but knowing what was happening in that time, the tomb was all that I could create." she said as she felt reminiscent over the memories of the past.

"...How are you here Merlin? How are you able to pass into the Ruler's domain?" I asked.

"Out of all the subjects that serve the Rulers, I was one of many who was given access to pass here. It was one of the ways that I would report my works to them in improving the country,--compared to before, the size of this domain couldn't compare to what was given before the Rulers perished. It was once the size of a continent…but now, knowing that the Rulers perished, the size must have reverted back to its formal origin state." she said as she looked all over the domain.

"I see." knowing who she is and what her relation is with the rulers, she must have passed through here the same way I could with how I was invited into the domain of Gordeseus. Meaning that her soul is inside the domain but her body remains wherever it lies today.

"With the war against the Gods and knowing where it was headed into, I made a critical decision. I hid myself from everything from the war as it was ending and preserved my body to wait…I would have awoken again the next day if I was called though the messages of the Sovereign Call, but to think that a thousand years would have pass is something I did not expect to happen."

"I'm sorry that I abandoned the people…please, punish me for my actions." she said as she felt guilty for her decision to live this long without the consent of the Rulers.

"You've made a hard decision all for the prospects of our people's future, so I'm not mad."

"If I may ask my lord, how long has it been since you've been acknowledged as a Ruler?" she asked.

"...About two months have passed since I went out of a hero's gate and received my title." I said.

"Two months!?" she looked surprised by this.

"...Why? Is something wrong?" I asked.

"...No, nothing is wrong." she said as she observes from the distance.

'Looking at him and his core, he's reached the fifth circle of mana already at such a young age. To think that he's able to achieve this sort of strength all on his own…its unbelievable. And not only is his body strong, but deep within him, his presence is more than one that is comparable to that of a king…its somewhat similar to that of the Elemental Earth King if I'm right….he reminds me more of the talents within the Rulers, so its safe to say that he actually did earn the powers and title of the Ruler.' she thought as she looked at me with a serious and curious gaze.

"My lord, can you please tell me where you are currently? I would like to meet you personally if that is possible. I would like to make arrangements that would help us quickly rebuild the kingdom and gather our people once again." she said.

"...Do you know the situation of our people? The one's who has attained the undying mark?" I asked.

"I do…after all, I was the one responsible for creating such a mark." she said.

"--!? it was you?" I asked as I was shocked to know of this confirmation.

"...Yes, have you meet them already my lord?" she asked.

"I've already encountered one of my people…she lives in the borders of the Kastelyst Kingdom." I said.

"Hmm, What is her name?" she asked.

"...She goes by the name of Iris Dragonfold." I said.

"Dragonfold!? is this true?" she asked in a surprised tone.

"Yes, why are you surprised? Is there something wrong with this family?" I asked.

"The Dragonfold's were known as one of the strongest families to serve the Rulers…they specialize in hunting Dragons. They were named the Dragon Hunters of Elthen back in the day. This is good, With the Dragonfold family at reach, we can easily build up our forces faster than I could have imagined. If you said that she was in the 'Kastylest Kingdom', I can simply meet you there and we can start our plan immediately." she said.

"...Merlin, I'm happy to see that this is great news but right now, I have to tell you that I'm currently away from that Kingdom." I said.

"What? Where are you?" she asked in a worried tone.

"I don't know the exact location, but I'm currently in an island somewhere…"

"I'll find you then, no, better yet, you can summon me and I can help you." she said.

"...No, its better if we don't meet face to face right now…I'm currently doing something that will benefit me in the long run." I said.

"But my lord-"

"Trust me Merlin, I know you want to help, but where I'm currently located at, it's not safe to have visitors just come and go as they please." I say as I warned her.

"..." as she stood worried to her core, she bowed her head and simply accepted the fact that I didn't need her help at the moment.

"I understand. So instead of waiting…I'll prepare myself and make my way to the Kastylest kingdom instead at a fast pace."

"Good, in four to five months, I'll be back at the kingdom as well…for now, we can only meet here. And I can probably introduce you to Iris as well, so just wait for-" but before I could finish speaking, I suddenly felt a presence outside of the domain. Something that was filled with a tinge of bloodlust.

"My lord?" to her curiosity, she looked at me with a curious manner.

"I'm sorry, but I'll have to get back. I'll see you soon." I said as I exited my domain and returned back to my room.

As I stood up and walked out of my room, I was instantly meet with a dagger making its way to my neck, but seeing its speed, I easily was able to catch the knife and the hand that was holding its way to stab me.

"..." I looked at the black clothed person in front of me and went and aimed at his throat. Grabbing him and tightening my grip to choke him down to a point that he would struggle to breath.

"Kugh!~" the man coughed in pain and with that, I instantly ripped apart the mask that was hiding his face.

~Creck~

As the fabric tore, I was in sight of an unfamiliar face.

"...Who are you?" I asked.

"...Khk!" the man tried to aim for my face again with his other hand in a punching manner, but I simply blocked it and caught it and pushed it away as such, in which I proceeded to punch him instead after.

Having to strike him five times in just a second, the man started to bleed from his nose and mouth. And with that much blood, he started coughing uncomfortably.

With no air passing to his lungs, he started flailing around like a fish and with that, I dragged him out of my room and out to where the owls were, but as I made my way there, I was in sight of ten people trying to hold the three owls down, some tried to do their best in killing the owls, but the owls fought back enough that most of the people there were starting to get injured.

In rage of this moment, my grip tightened even more and the man on my hands screamed in pain. As he screamed, it alerted the rest who fought the owls, but by then, I brought out a sword made of mana and filled out the area with my sense of bloodlust.

"...Who are you people?" I asked.

"!!?"

"!!"

"Wha-"

Some froze in fear of my presence and with that, I struck them back. I threw the man that was in my arms to the gathered people, but they simply dodged him. By then, all of their focus was on me and soon after, four more people arrived, where they came rushing from the inside of my aunt's house. And with their swords, they dashed at me with the intent to kill me.

But seeing their slow movements, I simply turned around and parried each thrust that came my way.

"...I'll ask again, who are you people?"

"..."

But still not a single one of them answered.

"Fine, I'll ask the questions later." and with that, I brought out a small scale of my power.

I covered myself in my shadow skin that reached up to my entire skin and faced all of them with one mana sword.

"...If no one will answer, everyone well be leaving this place with a dozen broken bones each…pick well with your choice." I said as I look to them with a clear sense of killing intent.

"..." but seeing as how no one answered, it seems my point of interest didn't came across them. Their stubborn behavior will surely be their downfall.

The moment I first took a step, they immediately reacted by putting out their weapons for defense. It was clear that they were well trained. Some who were injured went and covered behind from those who were not so injured and as I launched myself as the first three in front of me, they all synchronized their movements to counter mine. The moment our swords meet, it was clear to see that my power was superior compared to them, so it was easy to wipe them off their feet, but as I swung deep on my weapons, it seemed like I was being swallowed in by their form…

In that moment, I knew that the three swordsmen in front of me were talented to a point that they could handle themselves well enough.

But skill alone isn't one that would dictate the victor, a lot of factors play fair in the game of life…

And sometimes, being overwhelmingly powerful is just one of those things that could tip the scales of the result.

So without hesitation, I attacked.

'Enlightened Basic Sideway Swing'

As I swung down on my enemies, not only was this sort of swordsmanship more powerful than normal, it was a perfect swing that enveloped my hardships into it. The moment I swung down, it instantly affected the three swordsmen in front of me and they were thrown right at the walls of my aunts house.

With that single swing, I instantly took out the three, and by seeing their defeated figures, the rest were discouraged by the scene.

I didn't here. As I brought out another sword made of mana and with it, I was standing in front of them while dual wielding a sword.

It didn't long before everything was settled with them.

All fourteen were taken care of while only a single one was found conscious enough to answer me some questions.

"...So tell me, who sent you boys to me?" I asked.

"You…how are you able of fully enveloping yourself in the shadow skin?" instead of answering me, he was the one asking instead.

"Answer my question." as I spoke in a threatening manner, I went and pushed down on his wound with my thumb.

"Khk!!" the boy struggled to not shout as well as how he struggled to keep the answers for himself.

"...I've already seen your faces, so the next time I'll see you, it won't just be a slap in the wrist…you better tell me now, or else something worse than what happened today will happen to you and those rats you brought with you." I said.

"...I-"

"Hmm, it seems as though you've done a lot of damage to my boys…" said a voice that came from behind.

A voice that I was unfamiliar with.

"..." when I turned around to look at where the voice was coming from, I was at the sight of a person who wore all black from head to toe.

"...Z-zero." said the boy who I was threatening on my hands.

"...Let him go and we can talk." said the boy who is presumingly named Zero.

"..." without taking it easy, I threw the boy on the ground and faced Zero with a mana sword on hand.

"What the fuck do you want with me?" I asked.

"...it's a welcome gift from my master."

"I don't find it too welcoming if you ask me."

"Hm, I can agree with that, so I guess I'll change my gift then." as he said those words, a sword suddenly appears on his hand. A sword that was covered in black flames.

"Now, this is my personal welcome gift." he said.

And as soon as he took his first step, he disappeared in a blink of an eye.

The next thing I knew, our swords were clashing.