章節 2: 002 | Alpha
Sometime in the fall, I was walking along the sides of a steep canyon. My disciples had informed me they had found the headquarters of a rebel group hiding in the southern territories of the empire. I looked over the side and I couldn't see the end of the fall, white fog clouded the bottom of the canyon. I felt my disciples behind me. When I turned around, I faced what were my friends. My disciples were all suited up and wielding their respective weapons. Each and every one of them looked at me with hostile intent. I let out a sigh as I fixed up my cape that got caught with my armor.
"I see you've made a decision."
From left to right, my beloved friends and disciples all bore a saddened expression.
Nalia, Jason, Camille, Amber, Nolan, Ejekial, Ava, Isabella, Ajax, Godric, Ka-li, and Emilia.
All twelve of them stood with powerful fighting intent. Every one of them, famous for their style of fighting or beliefs, they have earned respectable names known throughout the world. Nalia is known as the Elf Sorceress. Nolan is known as the Shattering Blacksmith. And as for me? I'm merely known as the "Strongest". I raised all my disciples strictly, they may have hated me at first, but they later thanked me for it. We shared a strong bond with each other, one that I thought couldn't easily be broken.
I would tell you how they all looked like but right now in my memories, they appear as mere darkened silhouettes. I can visualize and remember everything to the finest detail, everything except my disciples. Their names are all I can recall.
Each one of my disciples can match a fourth of my total capabilities. With them all working together, there was no way this won't be a destructive battle. No one seemed to reply when I spoke, so I asked a question.
"Do you all agree with your decision?"
Jason, the Sword Hero, was the one to reply. His very being was the personification of charisma. Excluding me, he would usually be the one leading others into battle.
"Master- no, Castor...All of us prepared for this day."
"I see. The very reason why the rebellion in the Empire had endured for so long was that all of you were supporting them in the shadows."
Amber, the Flame Goddess, was brimming with hot searing mana that surrounded the atmosphere around her. Those who were not prepared would fall unconscious from just being near her. She spoke next.
"It's not like you didn't know that from the start."
"Perhaps I did."
"Then I think I speak for everyone here when I ask...Why did you allow us to continue?"
I vividly remember all of them nodding in agreement. I responded with the truth, and only the truth.
"I cherish all of you. I sympathize with all of you for the cruel and unjust actions committed against you in your lives. I took you all in so you wouldn't turn out like me. Allowing the rebellion to grow, even when being aware of it, does not go against my contract."
Ajax scoffed. He was the musclehead in the group. The tallest and buffest warrior you would ever lay your eyes on. He was always straightforward.
"That stupid contract..."
Jason put his hands on Ajax's shoulder. Emilia was the one who talked next.
"Is there nothing we can do..."
I truly loved all my disciples. They were kind and caring towards their master, which was me. Unfortunately, the prince that I serve as the sole ruler of the entire world. Most of the nations belonged to the Empire, and if they weren't, chances are the Empire is most likely engaged in an ongoing war with them.
Once I had mastered everything there was to master about war, the prince waged war non-stop. There was no cooling-off period, he had goals and seemingly impossible desires to rule the world. His wish was practically fulfilled, the majority of the world can be commanded by him, we were all pawns in his chessboard. The biggest pawn and I hate to say it, is me. Bound to the contract that I can't harm the prince. This may not seem like much but from absorbing all the countries and land in the world, the prince has become the very Empire, which unconsciously changed the contract.
I was not allowed to go against the Empire.
However, my disciples can. They realize the tyranny and injustice that the Empire forcefully enforces upon its people. The single most powerful nation is corrupt. I allowed the rebellion to continue because it did not breach my contract. I, myself, did not go against the Empire. I simply chose to ignore a growing threat to the Empire.
Though it's a threat to the Empire, it was hope for everyone else.
I recall looking into everyone's eyes.
"Let's not delay our conversation. There's nothing you guys can do against the contract. It's absolute. In the end, I will have to die by your hands."
We are all soldiers one way or another. Our abilities are honed to their very limits, our senses are trained beyond belief, and our emotions are always kept in check and suppressed. Yet, despite all that, our bond was stronger. A few of my disciples tried to hide their tears, however, I could see the bittersweet ending already.
It was at this moment I exchanged a smile with everyone before I was forced to unsheathe my sword. It was a good thing that my disciples really did come prepared. The area we fought in was quite literally the middle of nowhere. Hundreds of kilometers away from any populated area. I was glad that I taught them well.
The mountains nearby were utterly destroyed from the very slashes of our swords. Spells and various different types of attacks were utilized in their most perfect form. I felt like a father seeing their child off to school for the first time. Hours and hours of fighting non-stop, until finally, a sword pierced behind my back. I knew that I let my guard down, going against twelve people really needs some focus.
I coughed up some blood but continued fighting. Each hour, another sword or weapon went through my back until there was a collected total of twelve. One for each disciple. At that moment, I was drained. Utterly exhausted, a type of cold that I never felt before.
"Ah, is this how death feels like? What a blissful feeling...How are you all doing, my disciples?"
Thunder boomed and lightning struck nearby. The dark and gloomy clouds went over our heads, the rain had watered up the blood that soaked my armor and clothes. Regardless of the rain, I still saw their sorrowful expressions. I feel their tears and their cries very clearly but I couldn't help but be happy for them. Finally, the era of tyranny will be over. I doubt anyone can stand up to my disciples. They were all wounded, some barely managed to stand, but they all fought their best.
"I'm...proud of you."
With the last of my strength, I pushed off with my half-broken sword that was in the ground and I fell over the cliff. I heard my disciples cry out my name but I was already too defeated to even manage to utter another word. As I fell down, my tears were dried up by the wind that brushed against me.
I closed my eyes and let the Earth consume me...
That was what I thought, but what am I doing here?
I opened my eyes to find myself standing in an endless room of white. I was in my attire when I was fighting my disciples, except it was free of blood. I could still feel my magic power flowing through my body. I was still able to control my mana and I was still able to cast spells. In fact, I seem to have completely recovered and was in my best condition.
"Why...What is this?"
This might be an illusion that I'm caught up in. With that mindset, I dashed in one direction but I never reached an end. It was my fastest movement technique as well. I sighed and plopped myself on the floor.
"If this is the afterlife, it's quite the bore."
Right as I said that, I heard a door creak open, and standing in front of me was now a person in a black suit. Something you would wear to a funeral. He had dark red scaly skin and two black horns that curled like a goat. He also wore a black fedora with some golden trims. His dark brown hair was lengthy but short. His golden yellow eyes seemed to pierce my very soul as we made eye contact. He smiled and spoke. His voice was deep and powerful, it was incredibly refined and no words could describe how much power it contained.
"Greetings, mortal. I am the Overseer of this world, Alpha."
The man addressed himself as Alpha and flicked his wrist towards me. Two couches appeared from below the ground and I was rooted up in one. The other was right in front of me. The man sighed.
"I always forget to do this."
He flicked his index finger and a small glass coffee table appeared in the middle between the two couches. Two cups that contained a black liquid inside appeared from out of nowhere. I was baffled. I looked to draw my sword but I then realized it wasn't strapped around my waist. I clicked my tongue and utilized a spell to summon one. Unfortunately, no sword materialized. I resorted to the next best option, which was making my own mana sword. I spread both my arms in opposite directions and a pure silver-colored sword manifested. I quickly grabbed it and made some distance.
The man simply walked over to the couch and sat down. He snapped his fingers and I found myself sitting with one leg over another on the couch as well. My sword had also vanished.
"What do you want from me."
The man chuckled.
"Haha, I just want to have a little talk with you. Just to let you know, this endless white void is my domain. I control everything and anything that happens here."
"Interesting. There are no flaws or weaknesses to your...technique?"
"What could there be? Within any given moment, anything imaginable can be executed immediately. You will also not be able to die in this domain, evidently, you will not lose energy no matter how much life force you use."
I was confused by what the Overseer meant by life force. Though, before I could ask, he answered for me.
"Ah, my mistake. I just came from another Earth Copy, I believe you use mana instead. You work your magic different from how the people work theirs."
That was the correct terminology, yet I was overly curious. Was this being capable of interdimensional travel? Seeing as how he managed to create a rift and enter from it, I assumed he could. Given that he erased my sword strapped around my waist or my spells so effortlessly, it's not impractical to say that this man is the closest thing to a 'god' you will ever get. With that quick analysis, I gave up on trying to leave. I settled down and grabbed the cup of black liquid. It sizzled slightly and it gave off a sweet scent.
"This...What is this drink?"
"Alpha. My name is Alpha, you should use it and I will use yours, Castor."
"Alpha...What is this drink?"
The man seemed delighted to answer. He took a sip of his drink and smiled.
"This is from another Earth Copy. It's a sweet drink that incorporates elements that make it 'sparkle' as you drink it."
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票