Chapter 1 : The Darkest Night of Vlasbaron! The Beginning of the Almight!
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Prologue.
Blarrr!!!
The wind howled with ferocious intensity, tearing through everything in its path. The frigid night grew even more menacing, punctuated by heart-wrenching screams of pain and anguish. Countless fully armed soldiers—wielding swords, shields, spears, and maces—surrounded the crumbling walls of the besieged kingdom from all directions. Archers stood poised on the cliffs overlooking the doomed kingdom, their arrows poised to rain down on the trapped inhabitants. No civilians were spared; they were slaughtered mercilessly. Cavalry units began storming the palace grounds, where numerous Archmages stood ready, each with their own sinister purpose.
In the throne room, Arthurius Vlasbaron Braja, the king of the Vlasbaron Kingdom, knelt in a pool of blood, his hands bound. Numerous runes and magical symbols surrounded him, suppressing his power and magic, rendering him paralyzed both externally and internally. From the ranks of Archmages, ten kings from different kingdoms approached. Clad in their proud war armor, they simultaneously drew their swords and pointed them at Arthurius's neck.
"This shouldn't be happening, Arthurius. Your child possess that power, despite declaring in the treaty that it had vanished with the death of King Vlasbaron VIII." One of the kings said, his voice rising sharply as he grazed Arthurius's neck with a wide, menacing grin.
"You are one of the most influential parts of the kingdom. If you had surrendered earlier, none of this bloodshed would have been necessary." One of the other kings said with a long sigh, his voice condescending. Yet, the expression on his face revealed a deep-seated hatred for King Arthurius.
"We will stabilize the order of the existing kingdoms. Surrender the infant, and we will end this here, without further bloodshed," Commanded one of the other kings, clearly the one with the most authority in this matter. He gripped Arthurius's chin tightly, his blood-red eyes piercing into the king's eyes. "Or you, your queen, and your child will all meet their end here."
Blarrr!!!
The kingdom's walls crumbled, and several Archmages immediately rushed forward, knowing that within the wall, lay the object most coveted by the surrounding kingdoms and kings that besieging it. Inside, Queen Abella Vlasbaron Justican, wife of King Arthurius, clutched her infant son tightly. Her eyes burned with a fierce resolve, as if she faced death itself without fear.
"Hand over the baby to us, Your Majesty. Then the slaughter will end here." One of the Archmages began to approach, his magic staff glowing crimson, radiating such intense heat that the surrounding air distorted.
The queen seemed to respond to the Archmage's words with a sharp glare, but her voice was muffled by the gurgling sounds coming from the baby she held so tightly. The eyes of all the Archmages widened as they witnessed small, colorful orbs emerging from the infant's body and beginning to orbit around it. Red, blue, brown, yellow, white, gold, and black—the orbs formed a pillar of light that shot straight up into the dark night sky. Then, a small black hole appeared at its center, hovering above the baby, until...
Blarrr!!! Swosshh!!
A cataclysmic explosion erupted, neutralizing all magic within the Archmages and instantly collapsing the kingdom. Even the kings standing outside were hurled back by the force. The Archmages lay scattered on the ground, severely wounded and unable to use their magic. When they finally managed to rise, they were stunned to find the queen and her baby gone, as if swallowed by the earth.
"What happened?! Where are they?!" One of the Archmages demanded, his voice rising in panic and confusion at the sudden disappearance of both queen and her baby.
"Did one of you take them?!" Another Archmage shouted, turning to accuse the others Archmage.
"Nonsense! You must have taken them! This is undoubtedly your king's cunning scheme! The power within that child couldn't possibly have awakened! Queen Abella's ice magic has no teleportation techniques!" Another Archmage retorted, refusing to accept the accusation and turning the blame back on his peers.
"What's going on?!"
The kings began to enter the ruined chamber, witnessing their Archmages accusing each other of the disappearance of Queen Abella and her baby. Each Archmage, driven by their own motives, further fractured the kings' alliance. With the queen and her child gone, the kings grew increasingly suspicious of one another, their individual ambitions now clashing openly.
"Have you betrayed me?!" One king roared, his voice filled with fury.
"Watch your tongue! You're the one who betrayed us!"
It all happened so suddenly. The alliance, formed to eradicate a single kingdom, had fractured into warring factions, each turning on the others. The disappearance of Queen Abella and her infant son ignited the alliance kingdoms' fury, driven by their ambition to seize the power that could elevate their reigns to the pinnacle of the world. A power they would willingly scorch the earth to possess. Little did they know, that fate still held a special surprise in store for them later.
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"Here it is..."
Before the majestic academy stood a young man with blond hair and marble-blue eyes, like sea stones beneath calm, beautiful waters. His handsome features were enough to capture the attention of anyone who glanced his way. He wore the academy's uniform: a white tunic with gold and black accents, paired with dark blue-black trousers. A red tie and a half-white cloak draped over his right shoulder completed the ensemble. This was his day—the day he would enter Ordeliva Academy, the most prestigious magic academy in the Order Empire.
Nothing particularly caught his attention until the welcoming ceremony presided over by the Order Emperor himself, Aurelius Cael Ordelion. The Emperor stood tall and majestic, clad in golden armor. A charismatic figure despite his age, his handsome face was framed by pristine white hair that danced around his features. His sharp hazel eyes surveyed the vast crowd of new students about to enter Ordeliva Academy.
"Here, I, Emperor Aurelius, welcome the arrival of new legends who will begin their journeys here. You will be forged into great mages, skilled swordsmen, or wise strategists. All of this you will discover here. Ordeliva Academy is the most distinguished and renowned magic academy, and as Emperor of Order, I extend my warmest welcome to you all."
His voice rang out, full of authority and respect, compelling all the new students to listen in awe. Among the crowd, the blond-haired young man remained silent, his eyes fixed intently on the Order Emperor before giving a slight nod. The Order Emperor's welcoming address concluded with a demonstration of magic by the Ordeliva Academy's top students, leaving everyone who witnessed it in awe.
From the roaring flames to the tranquil, flowing water, the deadly gusts of wind, the rumbling earth, and the scorching lightning strikes, none of it seemed to faze the blond-haired young man, even as everyone else watched with rapturous excitement.
On one such occasion, he witnessed the Crown Princess of the Order Empire demonstrate her mastery over all five elemental magics simultaneously.
Her movements, attacks, and control over magic left everyone in awe, even her own father.
The magic professors rose from their seats, applauding and praising the princess's skill, while the new students stared at her in rapt attention.
Her skills were unparalleled, and her beauty was equally unmatched.
The crown princess possessed platinum-blonde hair that cascaded straight down to her waist. Her eyes were uniquely heterochromatic, appearing silver with golden gradations.
Her face was strikingly beautiful, her expression as cold as ice. She wore the pale blue formal uniform of Ordeliva Academy, adorned with gold ornaments that marked her status as a princess.
"Crown Princess of the Order Empire, the most distinguished student at Ordeliva Academy, ranked at the very top!" Exclaimed one of the Ordeliva Academy students who had been gazing at her in awe.
Meanwhile, the blond-haired young man remained silent, his expression flat, showing no signs of awe or fascination with the Order's crown princess's beauty. He stood like a stone amidst jewels and piles of gold that reflected the light, appearing ordinary, unaffected, and showing nothing to draw attention from his surroundings.
"Crown Princess of the Order, Princess Aurelia Veyra Ordeline."
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Tap, tap, tap!
Next came the session where all the new students would have their natural magical talents revealed, including the elemental magic inherent within them. One by one, the students stepped forward, each holding a transparent magical orb that would glow upon contact, the color of the light symbolizing their element: red for fire, blue for water, brown for earth, yellow for lightning, and white for wind. As each student's magical talent was revealed, some possessed earth magic, others fire magic, and still others different elements. Finally, it was time for the blond-haired young man to step forward.
The Emperor of the Order remained seated on his throne, observing each new disciple. But when the blond-haired young man was called forward, everyone fell silent in astonishment. As the he touched the magic orb, no effect or reaction occurred, unlike the other disciples. The orb remained unchanged—transparent—even after a prolonged touch.
"What's going on? Someone without any magical talent?" One of the professors exclaimed in surprise. It was exceedingly rare for someone to be born without an elemental magic affinity. Even the lowliest commoners possessed some innate magical talent, as it was a gift bestowed upon everyone at birth.
"What... Someone without any magical talent wants to enter Ordeliva Academy? How did you even pass the initial test? Did you cheat?" One of the professors began to approach him, sizing him up from head to toe as if looking down on him.
"I haven't cheated at all. I only brought a letter that might secure me a place here." Slowly, the blond-haired young man retrieved a folded piece of paper from his pocket. One of the professors took it and immediately handed it to the Academy's head professor.
The head professor read the slip of paper, nodding slowly as he understood its contents. He immediately approached Emperor Order and began discussing the letter with him. "Your Majesty Order," the professor said, bowing respectfully before continuing. "This note is signed by the Academy's observer-general, Julius Ethanduchna. I will verify its authenticity as soon as possible. What is your opinion, Your Majesty?"
Emperor Order nodded slowly, accepting the letter of recommendation to Ordeliva Academy, urging them to accept the young man as a student. "Lucibaron Alas Arfalucard... Mmmm. If General Observer Julius Ethanduchna truly wrote this, then he must have deeply impressed him. Though the magic orb couldn't define his magical talent, that doesn't diminish his worth."
At the Emperor's command, the head professor nodded slightly and began walking toward the blond-haired young man, who turned out to be named Lucibaron Alas Arfalucard. The professor wore a faint smile, as if he too was amazed. For the first time, Ordeliva Academy would be accepting someone without any magical talent as one of its students.
"Lucibaron Alas Arfalucard, you have been accepted as a permanent student of the Ordeliva Academy based on a letter signed by the General Observer. I don't know how you managed to impress that ruthless general, but I expect to see what he saw in you." Unlike the other professors who seemed condescending, the head professor offered a faint smile and gently patted Arfalucard's shoulder before finally presenting him with a golden emblem bearing the symbols of a Phoenix and a Dragon, signifying his status as a permanent student of the Ordeliva Academy.
"Thank you, professor," Arfalucard said, nodding slightly as he accepted the golden emblem and slipped it into his pocket. He was then guided toward the main podium of the Ordeliva Academy.
"Woahhh..."
The new students gasped in awe at the magical splendor of the hall.
There stood a vast, magnificent, and beautiful podium, surrounded by lush greenery, a luminous altar floor, and a starry sky overhead—all projected by magic. While the new students gazed in awe, Arfalucard remained silent, muttering to himself.
"Projected light elements? Illusion magic projected from light reflected in seven directions. Truly remarkable. Even illusions can achieve such breathtaking beauty," Arfalucard murmured, gazing up at the podium ceiling. It projected a night sky of astonishing detail, with stars, the moon, and their radiant glow rendered so realistically they seemed like the genuine celestial expanse.
Thump!
"Oh, excuse me..."
But then, one of the students collided with him forcefully, sending Arfalucard sprawling onto the altar floor. Before him stood a handsome young man, his wide grin betraying an arrogant and narcissistic nature. Arfalucard knew the collision had been deliberate, drawing everyone's attention to him.
"Oh, I didn't see you there. Is that you? Who are you? Ohhh... the trash with no magical talent? No wonder I didn't notice you. Trash isn't worth looking at anyway." The young man's contemptuous words drew snickers from the surrounding students, making it clear he intended to humiliate Arfalucard.
"Unattended trash can fester, accumulate, clog your bath drains, and make your body stink like one. Wouldn't that make you no different from trash?" Arfalucard's retort silenced the snickers of the other students, who were now stunned. This was the first time a new student had dared to challenge the arrogant young man.
"Oh, quite good," The young man chuckled softly, then gripped the collar of Arfalucard Academy's uniform tightly, until both his palms were enveloped in blazing flames—a manifestation of his fire magic. "Therefore, trash should be burned to ashes, leaving nothing behind. Isn't that right?"
Arfalucard remained completely unmoved, the heat from the arrogant young man's fire magic having no effect whatsoever on his skin. The tension in the air was palpable; a single second could ignite this stifling heat into a fierce battle. But then, a sharp, icy voice cut through the air, followed by a gust of wind so cold it felt like glacial ice.
"Enough, Ethan! My father came here to pay his respects, and you want to ruin it?!"
That ice-cold voice startled the arrogant young man, causing him to turn his head to the side and see Crown Princess Aurelia Veyra Ordeline of the Order standing there with her arms crossed. Her eyes were sharp, her expression is cold like ice that couldn't be melted.
Seeing her, the arrogant young man, Ethanvius Natsuki Flawyster, the prince of the Flawyster kingdom known for his arrogance and pride, let out a small chuckle. He bowed slightly toward the princess and loosened Arfalucard's collar.
"Oh, if it isn't Princess Aurelia Veyra Ordeline herself." Ethan said respectfully, smiling at the princess and started to play with his beautiful words. "Your unparalleled beauty is a shame to have this trash in the same place as you, isn't it? I'm good enough to get rid of this trash before it spoils your beauty, my heart's princess."
"Stop your nonsense before I freeze your candle flame!" The Crown Princess of Order said coldly, and Ethan knew that her words were not just empty talk, but a real threat. His body shivered slightly from the increasingly cold air.
"If that is your request, then this prince will obey it." With a smirk, Ethan started to walk away, but before he disappeared behind the crowd, he passed Arfalucard and whispered something near his ear. "We're not finished yet."
After Ethan left the room, Crown Princess Order, Princess Aurelia Veyra Ordeline, stared at Arfalucard with her sharp eyes. Her beauty is truly unparalleled; wrapped in her ice-cold demeanor, she is the embodiment of unconquerable beauty. Before finally walking away, leaving all the students mesmerized by her beauty, dominance, and cold threat.
Then, it was time for class assignments, where the new students would start from class D, the first class. He is in class D-1, along with 30 other students. One by one, the students were given silver seals with the letter "D" in the middle by a Professor, and afterward were allowed to tour around the academy for the first time in their lives.
Tepp!! Tepp!
"Hey, buddy." But unexpectedly, two male students started walking toward him, and unlike Ethan, they seemed more friendly. "That was really quite tense. I even started sweating."
Before Arfalucard could ask who they really were, one of them, the red-haired young man with a fire tattoo on his neck, introduced himself. "My name is Fierno Prometheus."
"And I am Lucid V. Michael." Meanwhile, the other young man with black hair introduced himself.
"He is the prince of the kingdom of Flawyster. Known for being arrogant, a playboy, and looking down on others. I heard he's trying to win the heart of Crown Princess Order." Michael began the conversation by telling Arfalucard about Ethan, the crown prince of Flawyster. "He's very skilled in fire magic, I heard that from my friend who happens to be in class B-2. He is in the top 5. I'm worried you've already messed up on your first day, buddy."
"Hahahaa... What are you talking about, Michael? Of course, our friend here will face it. Didn't you see how he stood up and fought back against him?" Prometheus tried to calm the situation down so Arfalucard wouldn't think too much about Ethan.
"Exactly." His two new friends, Michael and Prometheus, were surprised, their eyes wide with awe, expecting Arfalucard to utter the coolest lines ever known throughout human civilization. "I'll offer my butt to him as a punching bag."
"Hehhhhhhh?!!!!"
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