章 25: Barnabas
The south of Amana territory is a very dry desert region. In which the rains only fall once or twice a year, and at the farthest point of the south is where Usman city is located. Throughout the desert, there are many clans scattered and had lived here for hundreds of years up until now. However, the special day is right around the corner and every clan have sent their strongest to the Usman City to partake in the tournament.
The desert is a terrifyingly dangerous place home to all sorts of high levelled beasts and plagued with incredibly dangerous environment. Almost five hundred lives are lost to the desert every month. " A sacrifice to the red sand," they say the dwellers of the desert. However, Humans are the most unique beings with food and shelter they could adapt and live in almost anywhere.
Amongst those who are making their way to the city are also the two emissaries from Amana city. They are only 100 miles away from the city, covered in a dark cloak from top to bottom. The cloak was no ordinary one for it masked their very presence even their footprints are nowhere to be seen.
'Sandstorm Rain' The most dangerous region in the red desert but also the shortest route to the Southern city. They stopped in their tracks as what was ahead of them was a field of unending sand storms as high as the clouds and as vicious and fierce as a mighty storm dragon.
" This place will aid you well in your training Layla. Come take the lead," he said. He had a large physique and his voice was deep and soothing.
Layla flicked the dark cloak onto her shoulder exposing her face. Her eyes were calm with not a tinge of fear in them may be perhaps it is because of the man that is beside her. Her face round blessed with the fat of a baby on both cheeks, her dark brown eyes are as innocent as a toddler. The harsh winds swayed her long stunning crimson hair and left small cuts on her clear skin. Even though cloaked one could tell the hidden figure was that of the highest class. A robust and real figure indeed She is a nation-toppling beauty.
She sighed and said." Master if only we took the sky beast! We would have long reached the southern cities."
" Don' t fret over such small details. My dear disciple! There is nothing better than travelling with your own two feet." He laughed heavily as he moved his head up and down seemingly agreeing with what he had said. His aura is strong and dazzling. It surrounded both him and the girl that seemed to be sixteen of age. However the girl didn't seem to be aware of the aura that covered her and protected her, Perhaps that is why she has no fear in her heart as she gazed at the endless storm or she fully trusted this man with her life.
The man continued." Besides if you clear this sandstorm. I promise to finish the story of your great uncle for you. You were but only a toddler when he left."
Layla's eyes sparkled and as if a sudden rush of adrenaline jolted through her body. She shouted and said," What are we waiting for? Let's hurry along master."
The girl first and the man right behind her entered the most dangerous region in the desert with not a speck of fear in their hearts.
" Your damn brat? what is the rush for?" the voice of the man was loud.
◇◇◇
Meanwhile at Usman city or known to the people of the desert as the city of hope.
A large gathering of both human and beastkind stood in lines at all three entrances of the city. Large and small wagons each pulled by docile beasts, full of boxes and crates of food and weapons such as spears, swords and halberds. Yet again the city shall be filled in every nook and corner will be a person. In anticipation of 'Hope Tournament' which happens once every year gathers a large crowd of people from every clan of the southern desert. All come with hearts filled with dreams and goals. Merchants come with the goal to earn profit and make new connections. Bards and storytellers come for a new tale and songs for the next generation. Wanderers and fighters come to have a go at the tournament and earn the right to set foot at Amana city. Truly a city of hope it is.
The city walls as ever stood strong like a mountain made of bricks. It had stood like that for hundreds of years unaffected by those that it protects whether a new ruler arises or one falls. Yet even such tall magnificent walls pale in just the sheer amount of people that had gathered today and more are yet to come.
Up the walls lined mini spirit canons and three enforcers in charge of each canon.
" The spirits! this is the first time I have seen such a thing! Just how many of them are there?" said a new recruit to the enforcer. His face dark and his voice brittle. His uniform is a tad too big for him. However his eyes at awe.
"Well, I guess this is your first time, assigned to the walls I mean? I guess...it is an amazing view compared to the soulless desert we always see." The old man wore a sad gloomy face. One that yearned for the better, However even he had a spark on that gloomy face when he saw such a view. He continued, "It's amazing nonetheless just seeing this gives you the hope you can survive outside this walls and in the bloody desert." The old man was assigned to the same canon as the new recruit.
" Shut up you old crippled fool. I still find hard to believe how you are allowed to stay within the ranks of enforcers. Tsk, why am I stuck with you lot? I would have made heaps of coins down there." said the third one. His eyes stuck to the gates No rather the exchange of coins between the guards and the new arrives.
" Why do I have to pay more? I just saw them pay 100 bronze coins for entrance? Why?" An old beastman from the dog clan was fuming. He wore a green robe with a fine lining of gold at the edges. His stature short and the white moustache almost reached his chest. A large covered wagon with a hanging wooden label on the front which read 'Merchant Su'.
Most of the wagons present are pulled by Buffogo, the same beast that pulled the spirit canon when Commander Vespa attacked Poor town. This beast could survive the harshest desert and so was the best choice of transport for most people.
" Listen! You bloody dog! Pay up or leave." The enforcer had an evil and greedy smile on his distorted face.
The old man at a loss of words. Every year he travels to this godforsaken place to sell his goods. Every year they ask for some money. Every year they were fools who didn't recognise his status and authority. A man such as him to traverse this deadly desert on his own surely had to be strong enough to protect his wares.
He stroke his moustache and said. "Here take the money! but do not regret later on. Whatever I own always comes back to me."
Like that, the city is getting filled as the hour passes. In the middle zone of the city, the beaten and tattered lord of the city is entering in the scariest and dangerous place, where all kinds of rumours of it spread. 'The Sewers'.
A dark gloomy place where the light of the sun never reaches. An eternal dark place filled with filthy animals. They hissed and chattered as they fed on one of their own. They were rats the size of tigers, each big enough to tear a fully grown human from limb to limb yet when they saw the clan leader fear gripped their heart and made them froze in place.
" Filthy beasts." He said as he sliced them all with a water blade spraying the already nasty place with blood. He moved deeper with the body of the dead commander wrapped in a body of water levitating right behind him.
At the centre of this huge underground structure which extended through the whole city was a man. It is rather difficult to call him a man. He had a hunched back and wore a white lab coat, His hair seemed to be falling out of his head and his face seemed like that of the victim of an acid attack. Both of his metallic hands dyed red with blood. Indeed he is an ugly man, not just his looks but also his very soul.
This is his home and also place of work. They were huge chambers made of glasses which are filled with a somewhat greenish-blue fluid. It contained bodies of humans, beastkind and monsters. The chambers lined on both sides of the room.
The man was working on what seemed a massive metal table. Feris 'the boy' that had injured the blue-dwarven siblings lay there. His body cut in pieces.
The 'Mad Alchemist Vita' is his nickname. He was chased out of Amana city because of the terrible experiments and massacres he had carried out against the masses. A huge bounty of 100 gold coins had also been placed on his head by the Amana clan.
" The eyes go in this jar, The ears in that jar... huh the brain is the most important! delicately in that jar." He said as he filled all the empty jars on the metal table. His voice crooked as if he had something stuck in his throat.
A small mouse with deep red eyes crawled through the cracks of the walls. It hissed and sniffed as it climbed the man's arm. The mad scientist abruptly stopped what he was doing and said, " The city lord has come to pay us a visit? Did you say?"
He caressed the mouse. " Let us not keep him waiting then. Shall we?"
This was a secret room within a secret place so after moving certain bricks, The walls moved apart revealing a dark corridor, After ten seconds of walk, the dark corridor led to the sewers.
The man hummed as he walked through the sewers. he turned many times and each time a massive rat stood behind until there was a swarm of them behind him. He finally stopped and stood an open region where heaps of rubbish are on either side.
A few minutes later the city lord came, as disgusted as he was nonetheless this is a journey he had to make.
" What a filthy man! To live in here out of all places." The city lord was in a very bad mood.
The man stopped humming and said, " The world above has abandoned me." He smiles are all but creepy, it just made him look uglier. " So, what can I do for you, Barnabas?"
"Don't you dare utter my name! You filthy beast!" The city lord retorted.
The ugly man's laughter echoed across the sewer. He said." Perhaps You still have the mind that you're able to kill me. Sure in the past You could threaten my life!! But now it's different. I am part of Zen now! Do you need a reminder of what happens when you oppose Zen? Was it fifteen years ago when your beloved wife departed from the world." He had a smirk on his face as if he already knew all the information there was about the city lord.
" You! You! How do you know that? Don't tell me!!" The city lord's face was serious as if he would pounce at the man before him any second.
After couple second the city lord had calmed down. He said," Well I am here for something more important? I shall deal with you another time."
"As you say, Meh lord" The man bowed.
Ten minutes later, The city lord walked out of the room and retraced his steps as he exited the city while the mad alchemist had a wide grin on his face as he said," I obtained a wonderful body. My research is to advance soon again."
The city lord used his gift to reach his mansion within minutes. He went straight to his room and sent for the maids. They bathed him and changed his clothes. He now wore a sapphire blue robe with red linings at the edge. The city lord has now regained his dignified figure and his missing left hand had now a dark metallic hand. The loss of his hand is sure to weaken him during battles. However, he paid no heed for that for he knew if he obtained a special herb. The arm would be able to regrow!
" The city is getting loud and louder! There are too many people! Call Faysal for me." He said.
The maid bowed and said," Yes, My lord."
Faysal is also one of the division commanders. He is in charge of strategies, finances and information. Basically, anything which required brains he is the man the clan leader relied on.
After a short while he came and bowed down, " Master Barnabas, you have sent for me."
"Yes sit Faysal, We have a lot to discuss."
クリエイターの想い 
Talenta
Talenta Hello? I just wanted to say that with this chapter am finally done with the first arc. from now on the story is gonna concentrate on Keiser and group. I will also explain more about the abilities and power levels more in the next arc.
Get pumped for hella twists and turns ?
週次パワーステータス
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