章 20: A Ruler's duty: Chapter 19
"I am ready to give it my all…even at the cost of my life. And if I'll fail at protecting someone…it won't be your failure…It'll be mine."
As I said these words…the response I got from the Arduous ruler was not something I did not expect to happen. his eyes became teary and a pure look of an expression where I thought was impossible coming from this man came out of him…
He smiled…
And as I witnessed that very smile…my shield echoed across the land.
*Ting*
It was a calming tone. Like a small bell ringing in a calm river.
"Thank you." And with his final say. he reached out his hand, he placed it between my chest and gave his acknowledgement.
"With my blessing as the Arduous Ruler, I acknowledge you not just to be a Ruler but as our future…as our hope."
"...!"
With that, my chest suddenly brightened as a mark appeared before it…yet it wasn't painful, no…it was warm. Like a shining ray of the sun.
And just like the mark on my shield, the mark on my chest was that of a Eclipsed half sun.
It was finally over…the hardships I went through…everything…it felt fulfilling knowing how far I went to pass this test, to gain the power necessary to change this world. I was relieved and somehow…I felt complete.
I couldn't resist smiling…
"hehe…I got it all." I could feel myself almost crying just from this accomplishment…and I wouldn't blame myself if I did. But since I was in front of a Ruler, I held back.
"Now that you've receive all of our acknowledgement…your duty as ruler will now be placed by us." he said as he raised his hand and created a portal.
A swirling gate of golden clouds appeared before him, with it he went through the portal and with this notice, I followed him in.
"..."
As I passed through the portal, I expected the dark void to welcome me as always by default but as I went through, what greeted me on the other side were the three standing rulers. They stood at the center of the cross section with their Intimidating aura ever exposed as always.
"..." I knew I was going to meet them at the end of this test…but seeing them all right in front me, I couldn't help what to think at that moment.
Like a gathering of Kings, one couldn't help but show respect to them by an action of a simple bow but I was Acknowledged as a Ruler…I couldn't just bow in front of them. So the only option I had was to be imposing.
With that, I imposed my own authority.
Expending my will not to give in to the pressure, I stood my ground filled with confidence.
"...hehe, Welcome New Ruler." said the Intrepid Ruler as he was amuse by my attempt to act like one of them.
"Well, give him time…sooner or later he will come to know the meaning of what a ruler truly is." said the Blind Ruler as she sees through my act.
"Now…I see that you have easily gained the shield of the Arduous Ruler…I expected it to take longer than the others would." Said the Resolute Ruler as he look to the Arduous Ruler who was joining their alignment.
"Well…his heart is a bit more righteous than the other past challengers. I didn't expect it to finish this early though…it didn't even took him a day to do so. I'm quite impressed by this feat." said the Arduous Ruler as he tries to compliment the boy.
"Oh, by the way…did you bring the Esposa, Kingsley?" Asked the Intrepid Ruler. But he added a word I wasn't familiar with…it sounded like a name was mentioned
"Hmm, I did and…the boy has already had a taste of it. I can imagine him seeing the flavors fly through his taste buds. Its great isn't boy?"
"Wait…Esposa Kingsley?" I asked in clarification of the Drinks name.
"hmm? No. Its just Esposa." said the Blind Ruler as she answered my question.
"Then…Kingsley is your name?" I asked as I looked at the Arduous Ruler with a questioning look.
"Hmm...yes, just like any mortal out there, we too have names…not just titles." said the Arduous Ruler.
"Well, since this is a Noble moment as any, we all might as well introduce ourselves to the Boy."
Said the Blind Ruler as she smiles at the other rulers for confirmation.
"I agree, well I guess if it goes by order of who was the First ruler then…I should introduce myself First." Said the Intrepid Ruler.
"Well I guess it should be fine. It can act as a Historical lesson for the boy." said the Resolute Ruler.
"Okay then…My name is Adam, The First Ruler and the People call me 'Master of the Spears.'" said the Intrepid Ruler as he he states his famed Title.
"Then as in Order, I am the Blind Ruler, my mother named me Iris, my people called my the 'Maiden of the Crescent Bow'. And as Adam ever so mentioned, I am Second Ruler." said the Blind Ruler.
"Then next is me, I am Frederick the Third acknowledged Ruler. The title given by my people was the 'Endless Swordsman'. And with that I am proud." said the Resolute as he smiles with confidence.
"Lastly is me, I am Kingsley. I am the Fourth Ruler and my title given to me was 'Marker of the Shields'" Said the Arduous Ruler.
"Adam, Iris, Frederick and Kingsley…what about your last names.?"
"..." they all stayed silent for a bit, not willing to talk but the Intrepid Ruler spoke his mind and gave his reason, since he was the First Ruler.
"Our last names...We can say that we had names from families that loved us but as we gained our Titles as Rulers…surnames no longer mattered to us. Our country came first, so as our people. With that, I made a choice to throw away my last name and Gave a more prominent title…A Ruler." Said the Intrepid Ruler as he gave his reason to the new Ruler.
"And with that, as you come to fully understand what a Ruler is one day, you will come to acknowledge that having this title is more important than your last name." spoke the Blind Ruler.
"I see…then for now, I am Hamil Crux, the new acknowledged Ruler, although I don't have any titles yet. I will earn one through my actions that are worthy of my title as a Ruler." I said, nervous for my future.
"Good" said the Intrepid ruler as he acknowledged the resolve the boy made.
"Well then…since introductions are now placed, we will now give you your earned weapons." Said the Resolute Ruler.
"Just like us..the weapons you've earned also have names. They are made through the Challenges you have went and pass, and with it comes their uniqueness." Said the Arduous Ruler.
"Now, its time."
With that they all raised their hands up high, a ballads of light gathered at their palms. Like a ballad of angels singing a choir, the beauty of their figures were coming to light. As the light gathered, each palm held a different form from the other. One was a sword, the other was a spear, a bow and finally a shield. they shined like a blinding light and soon after, their forms were finally revealed.
Each one of these weapons were the armaments I remembered to be my partners that got me through my challenges. A white bow that glistened like marble, A black spear with it's iron tip that resembles a stroke of black lightning, a black sword with a bladed blue edge and a darkish round shield that had the mark of a half crescent sun.
These weapons…as soon as they appeared before me, I could hear them calling me…telling me to wield them.
Knowing full well, my hand reached out to grab them…and their response was something I could happily accept. They floated to my direction. As each weapon made contact, my marks in my body shared a similar response. It glowed a bluish light. the simple touch of my skin made each weapon dissipate like a fleeing glowing light. Each weapon went to its designated area and like a clustered light, they melded into the very marks on my body.
My right palm, my left shoulder, my lower back and my front chest…these were the parts of my body that stored my weapons. I could feel it…the very sensation of each weapon's exterior was within me.
And like what the Rulers said, the Weapons themselves had names…and I knowingly called for them.
"Riverflow." and at the mention of its name, my left shoulder Glowed its bluish light and materialized the weapon that I called for. The Marbled bow.
"Apolo" with it, my right palm glowed and let out my spear.
"Endit." my chest glowed just as well and made my shield appear before me.
'Rondemince' This time I tried if only a simple thought of it would materialize it. What came out of it was the result of my back glowing a bluish light and conjuring out a Blue sword along with its black leather scabbard.
"And with this, your weapons have fully merge with your body…a simple call upon it can make them appear." said the Resolute Ruler.
"If you are curious as to why each weapon accommodates to each of us, with my bow, Adam's for his spear, Frederick for his Sword and Kingsley for his Shield. It is because you have a Duty to fulfil." Said the Blind Ruler as her tone became serious all of a sudden.
"A Duty?" I asked, wondering why there were four weapons given to me…and it so just happen to fit well with each Ruler.
"Yes…as you know, our Country has long gone fallen…a thousand years has passed and with it our history has also rot along with time. Your Duty as the only last remaining Ruler is to Regain its once upstanding Presence. Rebuild our lost Kingdom." Said the Intrepid Ruler with his ever so solemn tone.
"And to build our country back to its glorious standing it once had, you must find our people…" added the Resolute Ruler.
"Wait…I thought your country fell years ago, how is it possible that your people are still alive?"
"...Despite them ever betraying us, 15 families of our kingdoms blood still flows…I could feel it." said the Resolute Ruler in an sobering tone.
"Yes, we feel it too." said the Intrepid Ruler as his mind was in conflict with the fact that despite them being a traitor to their country…they were part of a chance for their country to grow well.
"Wait…you mean the 15 swords that were impaled at your domain?" I said as I remembered the very swords that were abandoned in the desolate land of the pillars.
"Yes…find them and when you do, you must rebuild our country ." said the Resolute ruler.
"OK…but how will I find them?" I asked, knowing that it was a thousand years ago. for them to be found, I needed a hint or an ability that can actually help me find them.
"...A mark." said the Resolute Ruler.
"A mark?"
"The Undying mark of betrayal. It's a star shaped birthmark that can be found in the person's body. This was placed upon by our Mage. with her curse placed on the 15 families, they are marked as the Traitors of our country. Forever it will flow unto their generation and generations of kin." Explained the Resolute Ruler.
"The curse is a remainder for their betrayal…a constant nightmare." said the Intrepid Ruler.
"A…nightmare."
"As of now, you are still at the early stages of your growth to become a Ruler. When the time is right and when you have to become strong enough, he will call upon you." said the Blind Ruler as to change the dreary subject of curses.
"W-Who?"
""Our Father."" simultaneously, they spoke of this person.
"Father?"
"The very person who will come to grant you power that will match even those of the Gods, despite only being a Mortal." spoke the Intrepid Ruler.
"A being higher than those of Gods." said the Arduous Ruler.
"...but for now, do what you can to survive and grow on your own." Said the Blind Ruler like that of a kind mother.
"And as you've promised me…do better at using the shield and when you find our People…protect them." said the Arduous Ruler with his soft but stern voice.
"I will."
"Now as the final step of this initiation…you will be blessed with the privileges of a Ruler's weapon. Here our original weapons hold power that can rival Gods. You must choose one ability from each of our weapons and they will be granted to the weapon." said the Intrepid Ruler as he shows the spear he held on his hand. A Golden spear.
And as he presented it to me, what appeared before my face was a screen just like the Character profile I would see, yet what showed before me was hundreds of abilities that I could swear to myself was very OP. Some of these examples for say was:
+++++++++++
Point Break Peak (SSS): The skill to break through anything. Although it varies on the strength of the user whether they are strong enough to do so.
Impossible Accuracy (SSS): Gives 500 percent accuracy to any object you aim to hit for.
Absolute Thrust (SSS): The skill of determination to absolutely crush your enemies.
Infinite Thrust (SSS): The ability to thrust your spear at every possible direction
Black Thunder Crash (SSS): The ability to summon black lightning, the most powerful type of lightning to a form of attack.
+++++++++++
Seeing this display of skill…I actually thought for a second that what was standing before me was a God. And seeing the Grade of most of his skills, SSS being the highest level of skill ability meant that he was able to hone this abilities to the point that it was God-like.
And I was going to be able to choose one of these skills. HEEELLLLL YEEEEAAAAAHHH!!
But before I could even pick a skill, I needed to think things through. my chance of ever picking this abilities ever again might be only now…So I needed to be smart about how I go with this.
"Can I see the other abilities of the other weapons before I choose?"
"Okay." without hesitation, the Intrepid Ruler gave way for the Next Ruler to present their Skill.
As moments pass…it finally took me three hours to finally choose my four abilities for each weapon.
+++++++++++
*My Sword Ability - Swordsman's Apparel (F): The ability to use different forms of Swordsmanship, Although the level of a certain swordsmanship differs on how much effort the Person has put into it.
Swordsmanship Owned: 1/100
-Basic Swordsmanship - 55% Complete
*My Bow Ability - Light Reflection (F): the ability to blend in the light and hide from any enemies. The longer you master this ability, the longer your ability to hide in the light becomes.
*Spear Ability - Impossible Accuracy (C): Gives 80 percent accuracy to any object you aim to hit for.
*Shield Ability - Shield's Copy (E): The Ability to multiply the amount of shields you can manipulate, although the quality of its defense is weaker than the original, its quality differs on the usage of the user's mana.
+++++++++++
Seeing as how Low the level of the Abilities were, it tells me that I needed to work on them throughout my life to reach it to the level of Ruler. So my road to being a ruler was going to be a bit of a hassle. Yet I won't complain.
Seeing as how everything was finally given to me, my Duty, the Gifted abilities…I was finally ready to leave the Hero's Gate.
but before that, I needed to ask one last thing.
The Arduous Ruler brought out Esposa and a couple pairs of Glass cups. With it, he poured each cup and gave it to each of us.
He made his Cheers and we rejoice the completion of this challenge…not long after, it appeared behind me. The Hero's Gate.
With the hero's gate open before me, I looked back to the Rulers as they smiled at my Direction.
"It's time to go…" Said the Blind Ruler as she smiled my way.
"W-will I ever see you guys again?"
"...In time." Said the Intrepid Ruler.
"..." for a quick second, I made a sad look but I smiled it off and made my final Goodbye to them.
I was not gonna see them for a long time…I Know that. And with it…if I was ever gonna see them again…It will be as a true Ruler.
I waved my hand and finally went my way back home.
クリエイターの想い 
Simple_Thought
Simple_Thought yeah boy!!!!! Terrorist Arc Commences next chapter
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット