Chapter 69
Arthur sat slumped in a high-backed chair, a fortress of solitude amidst a sprawling sea of parchment and scrolls that littered the heavy oak table.
The dim light of a single enchanted orb glimmered off wax seals and densely inked reports, the silent burden of rule.
His head, which had been bowed in contemplation, lifted.
In the room's gloom, his golden eyes ignited like twin suns, casting sharp, molten pools of light across the desk as he stared into the empty space before him.
His voice, low and imbued with command, cut through the silence, "Appear."
Three figures materialized, each clad in black battle outfits designed for stealth, assassination, and frontline combat.
They wore masks depicting different animals.
The first wore a clown mask—Lucas.
The second, a male, wore a wolf mask, and the last, a woman, wore a raven mask.
Arthur chuckled, looking at Lucas. "So, a clown, huh?" Lucas responded with only a soft chuckle of his own.
Shaking his head, Arthur's expression sobered into one of grave authority. "I called you here because a mission awaits. Your new captain is waiting at the southeastern gate. He will furnish all operational details and will be your point of contact for all future assignments."
He leaned forward, the weight of his words pressing down on the room. "Work hard. The currents of this era are shifting, and we require you to grow stronger, and faster, than ever before. Ensure you do not die. Take care. You may leave."
With a synchronized, soundless nod, the three figures dissolved into shadows, leaving the room emptier and quieter than before.
The three figures vanished the next moment.
At the Southeastern Gate.
The colossal, wrought-iron gates were just beginning to grind open, their movement catching the first razor-sharp rays of the morning sun.
Before them, three dark figures materialized.
A single man stood facing the dawn-lit road beyond, his back to them.
He was taller and broader, his powerful build evident even beneath his sleek black attire.
His hair was as dark as his clothing.
He glanced over his shoulder. In that instant, they saw his eyes—glowing with a deep, unsettling crimson that shone like fresh blood.
That predatory gaze swept over them in a swift, assessing scan.
Without uttering a syllable, he gestured sharply for them to follow and then vanished, not in a puff of smoke, but in a blistering burst of speed that left a fading afterimage trembling in the air.
He was moving at a punishing 80 meters per second.
The trio launched into motion, becoming little more than blurs of darkness streaking into the surrounding forest.
Their passage was marked only by a sudden rustle of leaves and a singed trail of wind in their wake.
For minutes, they wove through the ancient trees, a silent, desperate chase.
Ahead, their leader suddenly halted in a small, mossy clearing.
He stood perfectly still, head slightly tilted as if listening.
Seconds ticked by, then a full minute.
Then, as one unit, the three agents emerged from the tree line together, arriving at the clearing in unison.
Now, they could clearly see the mask their leader wore: the loyal, stern face of a mastiff.
The man reached up and removed it, revealing the face of a young man on the cusp of full adulthood, perhaps twenty years old.
He greeted them with a wide, easygoing smile that seemed at odds with his earlier intensity. "Sorry about that. I just wanted to check something."
Lucas and the others removed their masks as well.
Austin asked, "What did you want to check?"
"Oh, to see if, even on your first meeting, you would have each other's backs," the man replied.
"The test was simple: would you leave the slowest behind and focus only on reaching me, or would you stay as a team and help each other catch up?"
"Which we did neither of," Lucas commented with a smile.
"Exactly. You all simply used the slowest to keep track of me and moved at her normal speed. Impressive, to say the least. You pass—better than the last group," the person said.
Kaya frowned slightly. "Wait, what other group?"
"Oh, right. There was another group the Sky King saw as promising, wanting to join his ranks. He asked me to test them. There were only two groups: yours and the one before. It wasn't surprising—the Sky King was confident you would pass from the beginning," he explained, scratching his head.
"So there was never a mission?" Austin questioned, stepping closer with the others.
"No, there is a mission. But before that, let me introduce myself. I am Ethan Blackwood, your team leader. Nice to meet you. I use wind spells and also have an affinity for the space element," Ethan said with a smile.
Seeing he had finished, Austin quickly spoke up. "I am Austin Motomato of the Clover Clan. My affinity is for the fire element, so I mainly use fire spells and illusion spells."
Kaya spoke next. "I am Kaya Lotus of the Lotus Clan. My affinities are lightning and my clan's specialty: life magic. But I mostly use life spells only in dangerous situations due to their power and high mana cost."
Everyone turned to Lucas, who sighed. "I am Lucas Xineos. I have an affinity for mana, which isn't much of an elemental affinity, so you could say I have none. I primarily use mana spells."
Ethan nodded. "We'll get to know each other better as we go. Now, our mission is to travel to the Eldoria Kingdom. We have a great distance to cross and not much time, so we will move quickly, taking only a single hour break to recover mana, eat, and tend to other needs. Once we reach the kingdom, our task is in the capital, which will come under attack in a week or two. We must arrive within that timeframe to provide support. Afterward, we are to help eliminate the demonic monsters and reseal the immortal monster with the Queen's assistance. We will handle further details and planning upon arrival. Do you all understand?"
"Yes!" everyone replied firmly.
Ethan smiled and added, "Don't slow down." He replaced his mask and vanished.
In the same moment, Lucas swept up a startled Kaya. "What?!" she exclaimed. At the same time, Austin activated two spells.
[Fire Spell: Quick Step]
[Fire Spell: Phoenix Ascent]
Wings of flame appeared behind his back, and he shot forward, disappearing just like Ethan. "Lucas, what are you doing?" Kaya asked.
"Just relax, okay?" Lucas said in a calming voice, placing her mask on her face. "You're slower than us, so let us take care of you."
Kaya wanted to protest but knew Lucas was right. She sighed. "Okay, but why did you grab me so suddenly?"
"Who wouldn't rush to carry a good-looking girl like you? I was just faster," Lucas teased.
"Heh, shut up. Let's go," Kaya said.
"Don't worry—they won't get far from me. Now, just two rules: first, protect yourself with mana. Second, always look at my face and smile. It keeps me motivated," Lucas added with a grin.
"Okay, okay. Just start moving already," Kaya replied, settling into a more comfortable position in Lucas's arms.
Lucas chuckled before focusing.
[Mana Spell: Body Enhancement]
[Mana Spell: Body Reinforcement]
In a single dash, Lucas disappeared, reaching 100 meters per second. He covered great distances in seconds, quickly catching up to the other two, who were running at 80 meters per second.