The Ten Wizard Saints.
Argonia had heard stories of these individuals, whether it would be for their strength, fame, and influence. They were hand-picked and declared by the Magic Council as a group composed of the most prominent wizards within the Continent of Ishgar.
He scoffed at such tales in the past, being very skeptical about it since he didn't like the so-called government that oversaw the world of magic. And as someone who lived in the small island of Enca, he witnessed scenes that were deemed to be impossible.
How would those weak official wizards even survive the constant vying for sovereignty in this landmass that was separated from Ishgar? It was a constant cluster of strong dark guilds filling the place with pure and unhinged chaos, and the council still didn't have any answer to this ongoing issue.
Argonia genuinely believed that the strongest could only come from here. Plunder and slaughter are but a common occurrence, tainting the very atmosphere with the metallic smell of blood.
That is Enca, a country where the laws are not applied in any shape or form.
He was one of the many dark wizards who thrived in the malice and evils that the nation embodied. The weak have no right, while the strong get to decide. It was a simple yet destructive concept which allured the human heart.
Until this belief of his vanished after one particular capture.
For some odd reason, an unknown lady knight arrived on Enca's shores. The Dark Guild Masters quickly identified her as someone from the Kingdom of Pergrande.
The nation operated on a different democratic body, widely known as the Round Table.
It was also the largest kingdom within the continent, where sections were divided as territories under the Knight Houses. Unlike the Rune Knights from the council, they produced the elite of the elites, the greatest of knights under their system,
This system follows a chivalry code, one that hinges on pride, honor and glory. Pergrande's Knights swore numerous oaths under these three symbolic meanings that continuously developed their motherland until now.
So, Enca's actions were tantamount to that of an insult, when they used her as a priceless value of leverage. They reduced the poor knight to a slave, serving multiple clients while acting as a hostage at the same time.
Violent retaliation was already expected, considering that Pergrande's higher-ups won't take this lying down. The Dark Guild Masters were still confident in their individual strength, actually thinking they could go to war against such a behemoth.
However, their anticipation came to a halt after they received the opposing nation's response. All of their bloodlust, strategies, and even crude formations were mellowed out because of what they saw in disbelief.
Only one squadron was deployed to the small island, using a modest boat that navigated peacefully within enemy waters.
They all stood still in attention, never shifting away their gaze from the nation's borders. Its shores were at least filled with dark wizards who decided to station themselves in the front lines, alongside the guild masters who wanted to fight for gaining fame outside Enca.
Even the most hardened of experienced wizards will falter under the numerous eyes of criminals. Yet, there was no fear or doubt, only raw determination against seemingly impossible odds.
The one who commanded this squadron stood at the very edge of the boat.
It was a woman with silvery medium-length hair, alongside a single braid that was tied on her left side. She wore a white combat uniform with golden linings that indicated she was from Pergrande, combined with a similar colored fluttering cloak.
She simply had her sword stabbed to the boat as she stood on the very front, holding its handle with both of her hands. Her calm gaze was directed towards the countless dark wizards that expected a great war of epic proportions.
The woman only had one thing to say.
Release Sylphia.
Her statement meant that she knew the captured knight personally, yet her calm tone unnerved some of the grunts. One of the Leaders for Enca's temporary alliance stepped forward and sneered.
Argonia recalled the memory of it so vividly, the leader enthusiastically describing about what they did to their prisoner. It was a no-brainer for anybody to figure out her fate when she was already considered a slave…
Unfortunately for the leader, he provoked the wrong person. The woman unleashed pandemonium after hearing enough, the waves were rippling, the army felt sharp yet heavy magical pressure even with the fair distance.
It's as if Ethernano simply bowed to her will.
Argonia could only look upon in awe. Then, he saw the woman gently lift her sword, her cold and charming voice echoing across the chaotic breeze.
Death will be nothing but a form of release for scum like the lot of you. I'll personally end this paradise, and permanently grant you all endless suffering.
She swung her weapon with one hand, the incoming slash traveled with fierce momentum. Enca's lacrima defense security measures malfunctioned due to the immeasurable calculations of Edea that was coming from it.
The fact that just one individual caused such an effect… frightened the dark wizards who were currently there in an instant.
Their mockery and insults died out, as they watched the incoming attack that hovered across the waters. And once it reached Enca's shores itself---!
Only screams of pain followed as it was scarred by pure destruction, built towers were helplessly crumbling. There were those who were already missing limbs, staining the ground with their blood.
Argonia at that time was observing from the greenery above, seeing the aftermath of just a singular strike from that woman. He was shaken to his very core, not expecting to witness such strength from a human.
The woman leaped towards the camps like a raging calamity, a literal wolf who was about enter inside a den of sheep that were simply prey to her.
Remember this clearly, you vile villains. In the name of Pergrande, I, as a descendant from the House of Conquest, shall deliver retribution with full force.
Her magical power pulsed with life as she landed smoothly on the sands. Naturally, this was still suicidal for most people. Enca's ruling body wasn't that weak, since half of the dark guilds had S-Class Wizards.
He witnessed the seamless teamwork of this small squadron, compensating for each other's weakness as they fought against multiple decently capable wizards. The woman took on the guild masters by herself, initiating a deadly blade dance that cut through magic like butter.
They relentlessly dismantled their so-called defenses with ease, already entering one of Enca's many towns. It was a battle of attrition between the two forces, which didn't work in the alliance's favor at all.
Since they were a small squadron, they could literally mask their presence within the island if they needed rest, attacking the alliance by surprise when they least expect it. The Dark Guild Masters desperately targeted the woman every time, unfortunately, there would be a casualty for every attempt.
They believed themselves to be special among S-Classes, so results like these chipped away at their confidence and arrogance. In the end, their incompetence garnered a few more towns that were destroyed, before they finally surrendered.
The squadron created a miracle and saved the girl successfully. But before they could even celebrate, she was permanently traumatized during her stay, which infuriated the woman beyond comprehension.
She mindlessly continued her hunt on her own, much to the dismay of the dark guilds. She stormed her way into the main city with unrivaled strength and cunning intellect, her ruthlessness brought absolute fear within the hearts of these criminals.
It got so dire that Enca's Leaders gave in and contacted the Magic Council for help.
A nation ruled by dark guilds that prohibited any type of contact with the law, threw away their measly pride to beg for help towards the government they despised.
That day would be remembered as the Nightmare of Enca. An event that actually caught the attention of the continent, prompting the council to finally interfere.
Although when they arrived, one can see multitudes of unconscious bodies with missing limbs, while the shore and multiple towns were devastated. They could only attempt to appease the woman's anger by treating her friend, physically and mentally.
She was a bit reluctant, but she silently sheathed her sword in the end, bringing this matter to a close. And just like that, the ongoing issue of Dark Guilds ruling Enca was solved with pure might alone.
Why did the Magic Council interfere? It was a simple reason really: She was one of the chosen ten.
The Seventh Wizard Saint, Representative of Pergrande, and Woman of Valor.
Etheria Pendragon.
Argonia quietly left after going through a life-changing event, forging a new identity as he migrated towards Fiore. During his trip, he was experiencing many complicated feelings at once, realizing he was nothing but a frog in a well.
His world view disintegrated, now replaced with an obsessive goal that carried him until the present. To reach what the Wizard Saints observe with their lenses, the endless paths to understanding the depths of magic.
He will definitely step beyond past that line, no matter the cost. Because even with his strength, he actually lacked the talent to continue. So, he focused on using external means.
In the end, he encountered Jackal and agreed to be a subordinate under Tartaros.
…
Present Time: Room of Obsidian, Sixth Layer.
Glurg!
Argonia instinctively sensed the destruction of the three lacrimas. Even in his state of so-called slumber, he could observe the entire hideout as his tube was connected to various magical pipelines that powered its surveillance.
He was aware of the betrayal of Ordo, who was accompanied by young light wizards who were from Fiore's former strongest guild.
They all failed… His eyes trembled as they opened, the transparent dark blue water greeting him in tranquility. He glanced at the three cables that went silent, the glow of them no more.
The human tube he was in trembled fiercely as the wanton Ethernano cracked its case. Argonia helplessly witnessed his three years of effort going to waste, wondering if it was futile for someone like him.
KRRMMMMMM!
The obsidian crystal attached to his chest throbbed, making him clutch it in pain. Its glow released massive amounts of his own magical power, which caused the human tube to finally explode into oblivion.
Argonia fell down as he quickly supported himself with one arm, kneeling while he panted. "Ugh! The over-saturation has started." He tried to control the crystal to reduce the output, yet it still streamed within the room like an unrelenting force.
He stopped such a useless attempt and examined his current condition. "… This result can even demoralize Enca's leaders. My magical container only matches someone of Tenth Rank caliber." The unfairness of it all infuriated him.
"That woman is a monster among monsters! She's even more talented than that Jellal, grabbing the Seventh Rank at just sixteen, and that was already three years ago!" Argonia gritted his teeth, remembering the teen that demolished Enca with ease.
He slowly stood up as the glow finally subsided at last. The ones who were intending to stop him were resting and mentally preparing themselves. Argonia shook his head as he walked towards the door.
They thwarted his process in an overwhelming fashion, which probably marked the end of the guild he created. But that doesn't mean he was going down that easily, he had nothing to lose at this point.
"The entirety of my being will perish in an hour, then this crystal will erupt in a beautiful fashion, deleting this place off the map." He laughed in a hollow yet insane manner.
"I'll do everything in my power keep all of you here. Die here with me, insolent fools who erased all my hard work." The man muttered darkly, his curse mutation manifesting as he arrived before the exit.
Argonia's aspirations and ambitions were denied, a familiar feeling he had like that nightmare back at Enca. He needed to release all these emotions that he's bottled up, vowing to kill the intruders in a brutal way.
Dark Sky's Guild Master has decided to take the initiative.