CHAPTER I: MARTIS
In the night where only the stars and the Moon offered their soft and soothing light, an unsettling aura emanated from the plain at the foot of the Two Lines mountain.
On this plain, eight people stood on the hill, displaying unwavering determination. These individuals represented a great diversity: Erlang Shen, Nezha, the four heavenly kings, the Dragon King of the East (Ao Kuang), and the deity Laozi. Facing them stood one of the most famous gods, Sun Wukong. However, Wukong was not at his peak; blood flowed from his mouth, his face was marked by exhaustion, as if he had little time left to live. His body trembled from fatigue, and he spat blood before howling:
« Ao Kuang! Nezha! Laozi! Erlang Shen! Why are you doing this? You have no reason to do it, I am no longer as I was, it has been millennia, so why? »
Ao Kuang sketched a smile before transforming it into a face filled with hatred. He pointed his spear, gripping it as if he were about to attack at any moment.
« Wukong, did you really think that the humiliation you inflicted upon us would be forgotten so easily? No, never. Buddha may have forgiven you, but we have not! »
Sun tried to straighten up, but he felt a sharp pain in his chest that made him spit blood instantly. Seeing this, intense anger took hold of him.
« You dirty traitors, what have you done to me? »
Nezha looked at him confidently:
« We simply poisoned you. But I won't go into details... With that said, we are going to kill you once and for all. »
Sun, listening to their words, remained silent for a moment, gripped his staff with all his strength, then for no apparent reason, he burst into laughter as if he had gone mad.
« Ahahah, I have achieved enlightenment, I have become a Buddha, I have spent millennia meditating! I even helped defeat the great fox demons! And despite that, you don't trust me and you want to see me dead?
Then he raised his head, placed his staff on his shoulders, displaying a confident smile, saying:
« Fine, fine, fine, if I understand correctly, you want to eliminate me for good and you think you can succeed? Fine!! »
He started laughing again, blood flowing profusely from his mouth.
« Hahaha, you see, I used "fine" five times in the same sentence! I am a genius. »
Then he adopted a dark tone.
« Ah. I see I still have to kick the gods' asses? Pathetic. »
Ao Kuang, irritated by his behavior, sent four celestial soldiers to attack him.
« Eliminate this monkey for me! »
The four attacked him at the same time, but Wukong, with a quick movement, sent them flying into the air. He put his staff back on his shoulders and then added a phrase that angered the gods: « So, what's next? »
Immediately after these words, the eight gods leaped into the air, brandishing their weapons, then, with a swift movement, they charged directly towards Wukong.
At that precise moment, a young boy woke up screaming in his bed; what had just happened was in his dream. The young boy, sitting on his bed, tried to calm down because the dream had terrified him.
« Oh my God, this same dream again, but why does it always seem so real! I had this dream again. »
This young boy had dark skin and curly hair, but the most remarkable feature was his gold-colored eyes. He got out of bed, then looked at the time on his watch: it was already 6:20 AM. He sighed before saying:
« Oh Sun Wukong, who are you? »
He went out into the hallway to go to the bathroom to wash up.
Today was a big day for Martis, because today he was going to enter the Defenders' Academy, an academy that only accepts the most powerful young mages and fighters or, predominantly, the noble bloodlines of the country of Solarus. To enter, one must be of noble blood or be endowed with abnormal abilities for a normal mage or fighter.
Martis came out of the shower and headed straight for his room to get dressed. He put on the Academy uniform, consisting of a jacket and trousers of the same color, with the school's insignia on the left chest.
« Oh dear, I don't like the idea of going to this academy, I have nothing to do there, but well, if it can make father happy, I must at least do it. » he said, looking at himself in the mirror.
He took his bag from the table and went out to the great living room to announce that he was leaving for the Academy.
Arriving at the stairs that led to the great living room, he saw his father and mother waiting for him in front of the stairs. His father looked at him with an authoritarian air, while his mother held her fan in front of her face as if she were trying to hide her emotion.
« Oh no, I suspected these two would be here. They're going to start making my life hell in 3... 2... 1... »
When he reached the bottom of the stairs, his mother jumped on him, hugging him tightly while crying with joy.
« Ooooh! My son is taking his first step at the Royal Academy of Magic! I can't contain my joy. »
« Yes mom, I know, but could you hug me less tightly? » he said in a bored tone.
His father came up behind him and began to give him small pats on the back.
« Ah my son, it's your first day at the Academy! You remind me of myself at your age. »
He managed to free himself from their embrace and started walking towards the exit.
« Yeah, I know, but if you keep blocking my way, I'll never get there! »
He looked around and noticed that his older brothers were not present.
« Say? Where are Sinar and Nox? » he asked.
« Oh, they went to register their names in the royal army, they won't be back for fourteen days. » his mother replied.
« Oh okay, well I'm leaving, see you tonight. » he replied as he went out.
His mother and father followed him to accompany him.
« But wait for us! We're going to go with you! » exclaimed his father.
Outside the manor, a dozen butlers stood in front of the house. When he crossed the door, all the butlers instantly bowed. He headed towards a black carriage inlaid with gold, and a butler opened the door for him. He got in, then the butler closed the door. His mother approached the carriage window.
« Oh my baby! I hope everything goes well, make lots of friends and above all, always stay first, okay? »
« Yeah mom, don't worry. » he replied.
He followed up with « Mr. Ethan, let's go. » Ethan, the coachman, started moving to leave the manor.
In the carriage, he thought for a moment and then said to himself:
« Pff, I don't even know how to smile, so making friends... Pff, me, finding friends? What next? Finding love? Ah... I don't have a good feeling about this Academy. »
A few minutes later, Martis arrived in front of the Academy; a large eight-meter-high wall surrounded the building. Ten knights were guarding it and checking the identity of everyone entering the establishment.
Several noble carriages entered the establishment one by one. Then it was Martis's turn. A knight raised his hand to tell them to stop.
« Halt, sir! For diplomatic reasons, we check every carriage. Which family are we dealing with? »
The coachman showed the family's coat of arms on the carriage.
« This is the carriage of the Leomor family, and inside is the youngest son of the family. »
Hearing this name, the knight trembled with fear.
« Le... Leomor? »
« P... please forgive me, sir, I hadn't seen the coat of arms. »
The knight immediately opened the way, letting them pass.
Inside, the Academy looked like a gigantic seven-story castle. Outside, several students were walking around the establishment grounds, proudly displaying the Academy's emblem on their uniform.
The carriage parked, and he got out of the carriage. At that moment, the entire Academy had their eyes on him because of his family's coat of arms. He started walking through the middle of them, and murmurs arose among the students.
« Oh, wow, it's a Leomor. »
« Wow, it really is a Leomor, he must be super powerful. »
« Pff, Leomor or not, he's just a human being, he's nothing compared to us, the elves. »
« Look at that arrogant stride. »
Martis sighed while walking with his empty gaze.
« Ah, well, I wanted to go unnoticed, but I failed. I have to get out of this place right away, I knew that this Academy and I wouldn't work out. »
Then, without warning, a young boy with white hair and blue eyes jumped towards him from a tree, his fist clenched, yelling: « You dirty Leomor! »
Martis, paralyzed, watched him rush towards him and said to himself internally:
« Oh my God, what the hell is this? »