《The Spacetime Archives [English/Ingles]》 Prologue: We鈥檙e Supposed to Be on the Same Team!
¡°WHY?! TELL ME WHY?! AREN¡¯T WE ON THE SAME SIDE?! ANSWER ME!¡± the silver-haired man shouted, furious and confused, at the two hooded beings levitating in the distance. ¡°You still don¡¯t get it, do you?¡± said one of the beings, a female voice, forming a marble of light on the tip of her right index finger. ¡°If you¡¯re so clever, why don¡¯t you figure it out yourself?¡± ¡°Nngghhh¡­¡± the silver-haired man groaned, pulling himself from the wall of the mountain where he had been embedded. ¡°If you want to die, be my guest,¡± he growled, reaching for the sheath at his belt. ¡°Either way, this is probably just another of the Architect¡¯s hateful trials.¡± From the sheath, the man drew the hilt of a matte-gray sword, wrapped in black ribbons for a better grip. From the hilt, a liquid metal began to emerge, slowly forming the blade. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± said the other hooded figure, with a deep, masculine voice, pointing at the sword with his left index finger. The sword, nearly fully formed in the silver-haired man''s hands, began to warp and dissolve, returning to the sheath. ¡°That sword belongs to us¡ªjust like all of your harvesting gear,¡± the male hooded figure declared, his voice imposing. ¡°We forged that weapon before you even existed. Our will is embedded in it, and obeying us is its first priority.¡± Damn it¡­ If this keeps up, I¡¯m going to die, thought the silver-haired man, clenching his left fist tightly, trying with all his might to materialize at least part of the sword. I can¡¯t let that happen! With tremendous force, the man lunged at the hooded figures, moving so fast that only a blur of his silhouette could be seen. ¡°Cosmos, stop him!¡± the hooded woman shouted to her companion, quickly dodging out of the way. ¡°At once, my lady!¡± Cosmos responded, tracing a glowing cube with his hands and projecting it forward. As the silver-haired man entered the cube, his speed rapidly decreased, as if time inside was moving in slow motion. Even so, his momentum was so great that he passed through the slowing field without issue. ¡°Shit!¡± cursed the hooded man, raising his arms to shield himself from the impact. The silver-haired man grabbed the hooded figure by the neck and dragged him at high speed, tearing through everything in their path until they finally came to a stop. ¡°Come to your senses, Cosmos! You¡¯re not like this! What about our brotherhood? Don¡¯t you remember all the time we spent together?!¡± the man cried, pinning the hooded figure to the ground. ¡°Shut up!¡± the hooded man shouted, kicking with both legs to break free. ¡°The Architect sent us. He needs you immediately.¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°The Architect? What does that old man want with me?¡± the silver-haired man asked, staying alert, his eyes fixed on the hooded figure. ¡°Too many questions¡­ Nova, plan B. Now!¡± Before the man could react, the woman¡¯s hand phased through his chest as if it wasn¡¯t even there. His legs were now submerged in the earth, and his hands slightly buried. ¡°Five minutes ahead of schedule. You owe me five mitron coins, Cosmos,¡± said the hooded woman playfully, holding the now-motionless silver-haired man. ¡°The Lady of Time does it again. Remind me not to bet with you again,¡± said the hooded man, tossing the mitron coins to his companion. ¡°I couldn¡¯t have done it without you, Baron of Space. Now help me¡ªwe need to harvest him. It¡¯s what the Architect ordered, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right,¡± said Cosmos, forming another glowing, three-dimensional figure with his hands. ¡°This projection will break the overlap between you and him, allowing him to move again.¡± ¡°I know¡ªit¡¯ll take just milliseconds to harvest him,¡± Nova replied with a smile. ¡°Trust me, little brother.¡± ¡°In three¡­¡± ¡°A blessing and a curse, all in one. That¡¯s what you are. Unfortunately for you, your services are no longer required. Codename: Spacetime. Or should I say¡­ Charly.¡± ¡°Two¡­ One¡­¡± ¡°Varneo Axima Exchilan!!¡± Just as they were about to begin, a fiery explosion sent the two hooded figures flying in opposite directions, leaving the silver-haired man at the center. ¡°Who¡¯s meddling now?!¡± the hooded man shouted, slamming the ground in frustration. From the underbrush emerged a woman who appeared to be an elf, stepping in to protect the silver-haired man. She had reddish hair and wore adventurer¡¯s clothing in shades of brown, green, and sky blue. She carried a long wooden staff shaped like a sniper rifle, with a large, asymmetrical gem at its tip. ¡°You¡¯re not laying a finger on him, got it?!¡± the red-haired woman shouted, running over to the dazed man. ¡°I owed you one for what you did at the tournament. I couldn¡¯t leave that debt unpaid. I¡¯ll get you out of there in a second¡­ those two look like they¡¯re coming back for more.¡± ¡°Who even are you?!¡± Cosmos shouted from a distance. ¡°Go meddle somewhere else, girl!¡± Nova yelled, enraged. ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to call yourselves human. The world is ending, and the first thing you do is fight each other,¡± the woman scolded. ¡°They call me the Witch of the Seventh Ring, and I came here to save this world.¡± ¡°The Witch¡­ of the Seventh Ring? No¡­ It can¡¯t be her¡­¡± Cosmos whispered. ¡°C-Cosmos? Is it who I think it is?!¡± Nova cried. ¡°You said you handled her!¡± ¡°What the hell are these lunatics talking about?¡­¡± muttered the witch as she tried to use her magic to free the silver-haired man. ¡°Okay¡­ the earth removal spell was¡­ Chloerra Demoron Livir.¡± The ground around the silver-haired man began to liquefy, behaving like quicksand¡ªbut instead of swallowing him, it gently pushed him upward. Suddenly, from the forest shadows, a gray-furred wolf beast tackled the witch. ¡°You¡¯re insane if you think he¡¯s worth saving! It¡¯s his fault everything went to hell! His fault I lost everything I loved!¡± roared the beast, seething with rage. He wore desert-colored harem pants, and chains wrapped around his arms shimmered with a strange aura. ¡°Stinky flea bag, get off me! There are more important things than your stupid, crumbling kingdom, Beast Prince!¡± Cosmos and Nova exchanged glances, watching the chaotic scene unfold from afar, and said in unison: ¡°What is even happening here?¡± Every story has a beginning and an end, and this one started long¡­ long ago. Roughly¡­ two days ago. Chapter 1: An Aurora Borealis? At This Time of Year? Several days had passed since, during a thunderstorm, a blinding emerald light illuminated the night sky in the southeasternmost part of the Fifth Ring of Lydenfrost. The people of the Kingdom of Vereida thought it was just another meteorite, like many that had fallen in the past. But when they went to investigate the source of the glow, they found something unusual: thin, yet incredibly strong, silver-colored fibers. At dawn the next day, the kingdom¡¯s astronomers and sages gathered with the king to delve deeper into the matter. After many hours of reviewing records of celestial sightings, they discovered that this was not the first time something similar had happened. In one of the many archives of astronomical events at their disposal, they found a particular case that matched almost exactly¡ªexcept for two details: the glow on that occasion had been reddish, and the event had occurred in the Seventh Ring. However, that case had remained unresolved. The sages claimed it was the same type of meteorite, assuring that it was completely harmless and posed no significant risk. They tried comparing the silver fibers to the fur of various animals and beasts, but they found no perfect match. Its resistance was comparable to steel, yet its flexibility resembled that of human hair. By midday, the sages and the king decided to suspend the investigation for the time being¡ªuntil, suddenly... "My lord!! My lord, it¡¯s urgent!!" A royal messenger came running, panting, drenched in sweat, his face flushed red from exhaustion, his hat nearly falling off his head. "My lord, I beg for your attention!" The sages looked at him with various expressions; some with disgust, others stepped back, and one even covered his nose in his presence. "Oh! I beg your forgiveness, eminent sages of the kingdom!" The messenger bowed deeply and knelt before them. The sages began whispering among themselves, covering their mouths, though their murmurs were clearly disparaging comments about the messenger. "You may speak, messenger. Come forth and tell me what you have to say," the king declared, taking a sip of red wine from his golden goblet. "You claim it is an urgent matter¡ªspeak as such." The messenger cautiously walked toward the king, crossing the grand hall. The floor was covered by a soft beast-hide carpet. In the center of the hall stood a massive table carved from an ancient tree. Along its sides were marble statues of the kingdom¡¯s previous rulers, the last of which¡ªstill unfinished¡ªdepicted the current king. Upon the table rested a wooden scale model of the kingdom, displaying troop deployments throughout the territory. Every house, forge, tavern, and watchpost was meticulously represented. "Well then, messenger? What message do you bring?" the king pressed, fixing his gaze on him, as did the sages. The messenger pulled a sealed paper envelope from his bag, the seal made of red tree sap. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. "Your Majesty and esteemed sages, I have brought you this urgent message. I beg you to read it," he said, kneeling as he presented it to the king. "Hmm? What is this material? Some type of paper?" The king examined the envelope and letter with curiosity. Never before had he seen paper so perfectly folded, so white. The letters he had received in the past were yellowish, more fragile, and bore the emblems of their respective kingdoms of origin¡ªbut this was unlike any of them. The king glanced at the sages, broke the seal, and opened the envelope. Inside was the letter, which he began reading aloud. At the same time, the messenger audibly swallowed. "This letter is addressed to the ruler of this kingdom. I shall present myself before you at the hour when the sun sets and the stars emerge. At that time, I will come to take your most prized possession. Do not attempt to stop me, for I will reach you sooner or later. For the sake of your kingdom, I implore you not to alert the guards or declare a state of emergency. Neither you nor I wish for more people to become involved in this matter. I will arrive through the northern entrance of the kingdom. I will be punctual. Sincerely, S.T." The sages immediately erupted into discussion. As the king finished reading the letter, all manner of opinions filled the air¡ªsome believed it was an elaborate prank, while others insisted it should be taken seriously. The king, his tone grave, slowly turned his head toward the messenger. "Who gave this to you?" "I have no idea... The man told me he was a highly regarded seer in the area," the messenger replied. "There are no seers in this age. The last recorded instance of one dates back over five hundred years, after the war against the beasts," one of the sages interjected. "That doesn¡¯t rule out the possibility that he came from another kingdom," another sage suggested. "Impossible. The nearest human kingdom is a four-month journey from here. We conducted a census a week ago, and we haven¡¯t received a single foreign carriage since last year," another sage concluded. "Calm yourselves, there must be an explanation. When exactly was this letter given to you?" the king asked. "At midnight yesterday, my lord. As I said before, I couldn''t clearly see who handed it to me," the messenger responded, stroking his chin. "The only thing I remember is a human silhouette, with glowing eyes, giving me the letter." The king examined the envelope more closely and, within the creases of the folds, found something familiar. "That color... that shape... that resistance... Could it be...?" he murmured, covering his mouth. "It¡¯s identical to the fibers we found, my lord," one of the sages confirmed. The king clasped his hands together and stated, "Our target is humanoid, and these fibers are its hair." "Not even the most powerful magic can turn hair into a non-existent material, Your Majesty," a sage added. "This entity comes from outside the Lydenfrost dome¡ªI am almost certain... But nothing and no one survives out there... So... then..." another sage muttered. "Enough, gentlemen. We are facing an unknown threat. Whatever it is, we must be prepared. For now, the best thing we can do is organize ourselves," the king declared with an air of command. "Your Majesty," a sage spoke up, "the Templar Program is nearly complete. We are dealing with an unidentified threat. I suggest we use all available resources to prevent major damage." "Excellent. I decree that the Templar Program be activated," the king announced, pointing at the model of the kingdom. "We are racing against time. Get to work!" The hour of sunset was fast approaching. When the sun finally dipped below the horizon, a lone humanoid figure appeared in the distance¡ªits glowing eyes, just as the messenger had described. "Barriers ready!" the king commanded. "Ready!" the soldiers responded, forming a wall. A war cry echoed across the battlefield. Yet despite the overwhelming force against him, the man did not retreat. He assumed a battle stance, ready to strike. One man against hundreds of troops. No one could have foreseen what was about to unfold... Chapter 2. Long Live the King, They Said. ¡°Ah... this is the life,¡± exclaimed the silver-haired man, raising a glass of wine in his right hand. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to finally be sitting across from you today, King... uhh, what did you say your name was again?¡± ¡°Eendij. King Eendij,¡± he responded from the other side of the table, his voice serious. The king¡¯s plan had failed, and the silver-haired man had imprisoned him in his own castle, forcing him into an emergency business meeting. A strange request, which the king had no choice but to accept¡ªif only to try and save his life. It''s ironic that the place the king once considered his sanctuary had now become his prison. They sat face-to-face at the table. As they waited for the meal the cook was preparing under the king''s forced orders, not a single word was spoken until the silver-haired man finally broke the silence. ¡°You have a very nice meeting room here in the palace. I wonder how much it cost to manufacture all of this,¡± he said, sipping from the wine glass in front of him. ¡°Let me introduce myself. I¡¯m called many things, but you can call me Spacetime,¡± he said, adjusting his glasses. ¡°I appreciate your hospitality. The wine is exquisite. But regarding your defense strategy... was it really necessary to send nearly all your men to their deaths?¡± Spacetime asked. The king still couldn¡¯t believe what had happened. Where had he gone wrong? What could he have done to prevent it? He was in shock. ¡°How...? How did you do it?¡± The king leaned his elbows on the table, lowered his head, and rested it in his hands. ¡°This is impossible... this must be a nightmare,¡± he said in a trembling voice. ¡°How?! How did you survive?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m... special, you could say,¡± replied the silver-haired man. ¡°I think, judging by the holes in my clothes and their color, you can get an idea of the damage I took.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a demon!¡± the king spat, taking a deep breath before continuing. ¡°I beg you, leave my people in peace. I¡¯ll give you all my belongings¡ªwhatever you want!¡± ¡°Pff...¡± Spacetime chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t need such material things. I¡¯m after something far more valuable. Not everything of value is tangible.¡± ¡°Then what? Do you wish to subjugate my people?¡± the king asked, standing swiftly from his chair and placing his right hand on the hilt of his sword. ¡°I will never allow it!¡± ¡°I see you care deeply for your subjects,¡± Spacetime said, pouring himself more wine. ¡°Unfortunately, what my superiors seek is... far more valuable than that.¡± ¡°So...,¡± the king muttered, taking a long drink from his glass. ¡°You¡¯re not alone.¡± ¡°I came alone, but I¡¯m not without company. My superiors watch from above as I fulfill my part of the deal.¡± ¡°What exactly do you want from me?¡± the king asked, desperate for a clear answer. Spacetime stood from his chair and, with the index finger of his right hand, pointed at the king. ¡°You. That¡¯s all I need.¡± The king recoiled at Spacetime¡¯s gesture. Even if they were at a safe distance, he couldn¡¯t help but feel fear. ¡°M-me?¡± Suddenly, a door opened. A delightful, fresh aroma wafted in. A rotund man dressed in white garments entered. ¡°My lord, dinner is ready. I shall serve you first... and then our guest.¡± The cook served a lavish feast before them. Each plate held enough food to feed three people. It looked like the meat of a giant mollusk, accompanied by a thick amber-colored sauce. On the side were two loaves of bread and a rustic salad with sliced tomatoes and cabbage. ¡°Th-thank you, Vondormo. Y-you may leave.¡± The cook departed, and the king looked at his plate, then at Spacetime, who had already begun to eat. ¡°I didn¡¯t know insectoids could taste so good with such a sublime preparation. I wonder what herbs and spices he used to get rid of the stench. What do you think, Eendij?¡± ¡°Stop changing the subject, you bastard!¡± the king shouted, slamming his fist on the table. ¡°Alright... alright... Where was I? Ah yes. King Eendij, 21 years old. Your father died two years ago, and your mother died giving birth to you. You had an older half-brother¡ªyou know him, but you don¡¯t know who he is. And of course, you despise the beasts with all your heart,¡± Spacetime said with a sideways smile. ¡°Someone whose goal is to lead his people through adversity. A noble and pure cause, if you ask me.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°What are you getting at, freak?¡± the king snapped, resting his hand on his sword¡¯s hilt. ¡°If you try anything, I¡¯ll end you here and now.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you wanted?¡± asked Spacetime, scratching his head. ¡°You must be joking if you think I wanted this!¡± the king roared. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the adversity you long to overcome? Imagine for a moment¡ªyour people believe all is lost, and their last hope is their king. Picture yourself rising victorious before them,¡± Spacetime whispered, his tone persuasive. ¡°Do you remember that day? The day they all bowed before you. When that crown became yours. When you became king.¡± ¡°I remember it clearly... It was the best day of my life,¡± the king admitted. Spacetime¡¯s eyes sparkled upon hearing those words, the glint reflecting in his glasses. ¡°Good, good... Now, do what your soul, your body, and your mind tell you... and kill me.¡± He extended his arms to the sides, ready to receive a fatal blow. The king¡¯s mind was a whirlwind. This makes no sense... It¡¯s a trap. It has to be a trap. It¡¯s clearly a trap... and yet... His face was drenched in sweat. His hands trembled. This bastard... this monster... That stupid face, so cynical, so carefree, so happy, as if none of what he did mattered... He disgusts me. He fills me with rage... I¡¯m about to explode! I must get revenge! I MUST!! In the blink of an eye, the king leapt onto the table, drawing his sword with both hands. With a cry of rage, he dashed across the wooden surface. And when his sword was within striking range, he plunged it into the man¡¯s head, unleashing all his fury. The king panted. With a jerk, he pulled the sword from Spacetime¡¯s skull, letting it fall to the floor. He turned around immediately and ran out of the palace to announce his victory. Euphoria coursed through him. The certainty that he had done the right thing made him feel elated. ¡°Justice has been served. Rest in peace, my warriors,¡± he proclaimed aloud. ¡°Feels good, doesn¡¯t it? That euphoria?¡± The king froze. That voice... It couldn¡¯t be. He felt an ominous presence behind him. Something¡ªsomeone¡ªwas breathing on his neck. He turned around slowly... and there he was. The silver-haired man was still standing. His skull had a gaping hole, his face disfigured... but he was alive. The king screamed in terror. But before he could react, Spacetime struck him in the chest with the palm of his right hand. From his skin, a mechanical proboscis emerged and burrowed into the king¡¯s torso, piercing his heart. ¡°To be honest, this is going to hurt,¡± Spacetime whispered calmly, as his head regenerated before the king¡¯s horrified eyes. The monarch¡¯s agonizing screams echoed to the farthest corners of the kingdom. From his chest, a light green aura was drawn out, as if his very essence were being harvested. The energy flowed into a bracelet embedded in Spacetime¡¯s arm. The scene dragged on for minutes. The king struggled, but it was futile. Spacetime held him firmly. When it was over, the king¡¯s body collapsed to the floor, unable to stand. ¡°W-what is this!? I¡­ I can¡¯t move!¡± he exclaimed, his skin turning pale, along with his hair. ¡°What did you do to me?!¡± Spacetime leaned over him and said in a calm voice: ¡°My superiors thank you for donating your soul to a greater cause.¡± ¡°W-what?!¡± ¡°Spacetime and my superiors wish you a pleasant journey to the Synapsis.¡± Without another word, Spacetime walked toward the exit of the castle. ¡°Hey! Get back here! This isn¡¯t over!¡± the king shouted with all his strength. ¡°Three... two... one...¡± Spacetime counted quietly, showing the numbers with his fingers as he glanced over his shoulder with a smile. ¡°Hey, wai¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t finish the sentence. The king vanished in a whirlwind of black ash. ¡°They always trail off in their confusion¡­¡± Spacetime sighed. He slumped to the ground at the palace entrance. Gazing into the stars of the cold night in Lydenfrost, he murmured to himself: ¡°One more soul... one less soul¡­¡± But something was bothering him. He felt someone had been watching everything. A witness who hadn¡¯t intervened. Who had fled to the trenches. A witness whose letter had reached the king just hours before. ¡°No! No! Wait, wait, wait! Have mercy, please! I have children to raise!¡± pleaded the messenger, suspended in the air by Spacetime¡¯s hand. ¡°I won¡¯t harm you. I just need you to deliver one more message. After all, you¡¯re his relative, aren¡¯t you?¡± Spacetime murmured. ¡°Did you know that before this kingdom was inhabited by humans, it belonged to the beasts?¡± ¡°They teach us that in school, yes, yes! I know the story! Let me go!¡± the messenger cried out, desperate. ¡°Good... Then you¡¯ll know what this is.¡± Spacetime lifted him higher, above the market square¡¯s fountain. ¡°The Fountain of Freedom? You¡¯re crazy!¡± the messenger yelled. ¡°Wake up, wake up... Why can¡¯t I wake up from this nightmare?!¡± ¡°Because it never was one, dear friend,¡± whispered Spacetime. ¡°To you, it¡¯s a fountain. To me, a door.¡± ¡°W-w-what?¡± The messenger struggled with all his might. But it was useless. Spacetime drew his sword and made a small cut on his own wrist. Golden liquid flowed from the wound, imbuing the blade. With a single motion, he plunged it into the fountain. Immediately, the water changed color, taking on the same golden hue as his blood. A vortex formed at the bottom. Energy coursed through the fountain¡¯s grooves, activating a mechanism hidden for centuries. A portal. ¡°Tell everyone you meet that Spacetime is coming.¡± With a smile, Spacetime dropped the messenger into the vortex. ¡°No! No! No! Wait! Wait!¡± he begged one last time. The portal closed, and Spacetime sighed. ¡°Superiors, could you please stop giving me last-minute assignments? I barely managed to track down the messenger... I hope they don¡¯t eat him.¡± He stretched, staring off into the horizon. ¡°Well then. Central Beast Kingdom... here I come.¡± Chapter 3. Fools! The Beasts Got Here First! An ordinary day can turn into someone¡¯s greatest fantasy¡ªor their worst nightmare. The creation of something unique, or the destruction of something precious. You see, billions of years ago, this world was nothing but a scorching inferno, incapable of sustaining life. In fact, it still can¡¯t. It has no atmosphere and is so close to its star that its surface slowly vaporizes. No one would think there''s a small region that¡¯s different¡ªa small part where life does exist. The story goes that five thousand years ago, a massive comet crashed into the southern hemisphere of the planet. Inside the comet was a strange gem containing all the essential elements for creating life. The outer layer of the gem was partially pulverized by the impact, scattering across the inside of the crater and even beyond it. The rest remained in the center of the crater as a single piece. The impact was so strong that the surface, once made of ashes, had been compacted into solid ground. Sure, it was red-hot, but it was solid ground now. And so, two years after the impact, the gem decided it was time to get to work. The pulverized remains of the gem soaked into the ground and quickly changed its composition¡ªfrom barren dirt to fertile soil. But what good was that if there was no atmosphere? Well, the central gem took care of that too, creating one from itself¡ªa barrier made of what is now known as mana. The region underwent total terraformation, with water springing forth from the gem itself, the air being purified, and the temperatures dropping to a temperate climate. And most importantly, the creation of life that now inhabits this place. The gem''s influence caused evolutionary processes to accelerate. Within three months, that miserable crater had become a temperate paradise. But it wasn¡¯t inhabited by anyone¡­ at least no one sentient up to that point, apart from the insectoids, until one day, the Beasts appeared. Creatures that you and I know as anthropomorphic animals, whose civilization is currently in the Middle Ages. From the very beginning, the Beasts appeared according to their habitat: birds, reptiles, fish, and mammals in their respective zones. They eventually unified as a single race after two or three inter-species conflicts, thanks to the joint development of studying and using mana for magic. But this story wouldn¡¯t be told if something hadn¡¯t happened¡ªand that "something" is what I¡¯ll talk about now. A thousand years ago, out of nowhere, strange creatures appeared in rings three, four, and five to the Beasts¡¯ eyes¡ªwith almost no fur and no feathers at all: what we know as humans. ¡°What?! A human did what?!¡± exclaimed a burly wolf Beast. ¡°That¡¯s right, sir. A human managed to activate the portal of the former kingdom of Phareos. He appeared at midnight in the contenders¡¯ reception,¡± said the other Beast calmly, a salamander. At present, it is still that fateful night when the kingdom of Vereida fell and that messenger was sent through a portal to the central Beast kingdom, which is exactly where we are now. ¡°We can¡¯t overlook this. Where is he being held?¡± asked the wolf Beast. ¡°In the interrogation room. I saw him a few minutes ago. He looks confused and disoriented and doesn¡¯t speak any Beast or Valsago dialect. Our interpreters are doing their best to figure out his intentions,¡± explained the reptilian Beast. ¡°That¡¯s all for now, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Thank you for the report, Holvient. At my request, while the interrogation process is completed, give him a room and keep him under watch while he recovers,¡± said the wolf Beast. ¡°Three days should be enough to let him go if he has no bad intentions, of course.¡± ¡°Understood, Lord Prowler,¡± replied the reptilian Beast, leaving the room to return to his duties. ¡°What are those vermin planning? A kingdom invasion? Do they want to restart the war?¡± the king said aloud, rubbing his forehead with his hand. ¡°No. That can¡¯t be. Only a madman would do that. We¡¯ve worked too hard to destroy the human-Beast diplomatic relations built over the last century.¡± The Beast leader rose from his throne and made his way to the training grounds, passing through the corridors and halls of the massive castle. ¡°Tomorrow is the tournament. I don¡¯t want to waste my focus on some human who snuck into the castle,¡± he told himself. ¡°You better be training when I arrive, my contender.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Ah¡­ the Beasts. A magnificently powerful race, capable of achieving superior strength and magical ability compared to humans. That said, they tend to be hard-headed when things get complicated, relying on brute force before reason. There¡¯s no doubt that there are very wise Beasts, but their instincts prevail over everything else¡ªsomething that cost them many victories in the human-Beast war. Beast architecture is known for being gigantic and erratic, with many shortcuts built into their structures. With full mastery of magic, they didn¡¯t hesitate to use it; a human castle is four times smaller than a Beast castle. Everything is proportional to the Beast¡¯s size and the needs of their race. ¡°Hunter!¡± shouted King Prowler, his voice echoing across the training field. In the training field stood a young Beast with fur similar in color to the king¡¯s, wearing only dull red Arabian-style pants tied at the waist with a golden sash. He was fit, the muscles on his arms well-defined; it was clear he had trained for hand-to-hand combat. His upper body was much larger than his lower body. He looked quite busy, jumping from one training dummy to another, hitting them so hard that some burst from the impact of his magnificent punches. However, the force of the strikes made it so the young Beast didn¡¯t hear the king speak. ¡°Hunter Wolf!¡± the king shouted again. ¡°Huh?! Huh?! Who is it?!¡± Hunter asked, stopping just before landing another punch. ¡°What do you mean ¡®who is it¡¯? It¡¯s your old man! Get over here!¡± said King Prowler, calling his son joyfully. ¡°Oh, Father, it¡¯s you!¡± the Beast exclaimed happily, quickly making his way to his father. ¡°What are you doing here? Don¡¯t you have things to attend to?¡± ¡°Not at all. I have the night off. I saw you having fun with those dummies. I can see you¡¯ve grown a lot in that regard,¡± said the king. ¡°I¡¯m more than ready for the tournament. The other Beasts will run in fear just by looking at me,¡± exclaimed Hunter, laughing at how easy he thought it would be. ¡°I¡¯m the representative of House Wolf¡ªthere¡¯s no way I¡¯ll lose.¡± ¡°Well, the representative of House Wolf will have his fun tomorrow, then. It will be your debut in front of the entire central Beast kingdom,¡± said the king, patting his son on the back. ¡°The second reason I came was to give you a gift¡­ from your mother, for when you turned eighteen.¡± ¡°M-Mom? She¡­¡± The young Beast¡¯s sentence was interrupted by his father, who took a small wooden amulet in the shape of a mini totem out of the left pocket of his coat. It glowed with a phosphorescent green light. ¡°Take it. It¡¯s yours. She told me to give it to you on your birthday, though you¡¯re still about five months away, but I think it¡¯ll be useful to you tomorrow,¡± said the king, handing the amulet to his son. ¡°Mother¡­ thank you¡­¡± said Hunter, taking the amulet gently, feeling the strange yet familiar warmth it emanated. ¡°Your mother worked very hard to make that talisman. Enchanting a small object with that many spells is no easy feat,¡± said the king thoughtfully. ¡°She¡¯d be proud of you.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ she would be¡­ This is just a reminder of why we can¡¯t afford to forgive the humans and the atrocities they caused¡­ I swear that one day we¡¯ll wipe out those pests once and for all¡­ Isn¡¯t that right, Father?¡± ¡°Eh? Uh¡­ Hmm¡­?¡± The king hesitated at his son¡¯s words. ¡°Yes, yes, of course.¡± The young Beast, hearing his father¡¯s approval, smirked mischievously. The king immediately changed the subject upon seeing his son¡¯s reaction. ¡°I know your magical aptitude is low and your barriers are far from perfect. This talisman will cover all those weaknesses,¡± said the king. ¡°And how will I know when it activates?¡± asked Hunter, scratching behind his ear. ¡°You¡¯ll know when you see it. You know, I think you¡¯ve had enough training for today. Relax in the hot springs and get some rest. Trust me, son¡ªtomorrow will be the best day of your life.¡± Morning arrived. The smell of street food and beer filled the stands of the central Beast kingdom¡¯s battle arena. Beasts, packed tightly together, jostled for a good spot to see the spectacle that was about to begin. The king, along with his council and guards, watched from above on a terrace. The crowd¡¯s noise made the atmosphere electric; the aura of battle could be felt throughout the place. ¡°Welcome, everyone, to the fifty-first tournament for the throne of the central Beast kingdom!¡± exclaimed a bear Beast acting as the commentator, seated in a protected room with a panoramic view of the battlefield. ¡°As you all know, every ten years we test the strength of our rulers¡ªto see if they¡¯re still worthy of ruling our sacred lands!¡± Upon hearing that, the audience erupted, shouting, banging on the stands, making their excitement known. ¡°The rules are simple!¡± the commentator shouted. ¡°One by one, each house¡¯s challenger will fight the defending tribute. At the end of a round, both winner and loser will receive a panacea. If any challenger wins, the kingdom is immediately theirs. Without further delay, let the first contender enter!¡± The iron-barred gate opened. A mysterious figure stepped forward, carrying a blue banner with a logo of a hawk made from crushed white stone and water. ¡°Our first contender, from the icy lands of the seventh ring of Lydenfrost, representing House Hawk: Novell the Sorceress!¡± In the arena, Hunter was already waiting, the talisman he¡¯d worn since yesterday on full display. It looked like a simple accessory. ¡°That many layers of clothing won¡¯t make my punches hurt any less, little bird. Let¡¯s hope magic is on your side,¡± Hunter said mockingly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sweetheart¡ªI promise not to pluck you bare in the process.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Awww, what¡¯s wrong? Cat got your tongue?¡± Hunter continued mocking. ¡°That might work on Novell¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha! Looks like the pressure¡¯s made her a little crazy!¡± ¡°¡­but I¡¯m not Novell.¡± The banner of House Hawk burst into flames in the woman¡¯s hand. The fire spread over her body, engulfing her entirely. ¡°What the hell?!¡± shouted Hunter, confused. Before Hunter, the flames dissipated, revealing a completely different figure¡ªsomeone determined to win. That red-haired woman¡­ yes, I¡¯m talking about¡­ ¡°My name is Griezu. Among the humans, I¡¯m known as the Witch of the Seventh Ring, and I¡¯ve come to your tyrannical kingdom¡­ to claim what is rightfully ours!¡± Chapter 4. So They Called Me, The Witch of the Seventh Ring. ¡°¡­5324¡­ 5325¡­ 5326¡­ 5327¡­ I think that¡¯s more than enough¡­¡± Said the red-haired woman, sitting at a wooden desk with a candle lighting her workspace. The hut¡¯s shelves were packed with hand-bound books, and only a few of them came from outside sources. ¡°A few more¡­ a few more¡­¡± She kept talking as she crossed off another day on her calendar. As she spoke, her breath could be seen condensing from the cold she was exposed to. In her moment of concentration, someone suddenly knocked at the door. ¡°Griezu, are you there? The village chief called a meeting about tomorrow.¡± Said a woman with a high-pitched, off-key voice. ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± Far, far away from the central beast kingdom, in the frozen tundra of Lydenfrost¡¯s seventh ring, there was a village of human refugees: nomads who belonged to no kingdom, exiles or survivors of beast attacks. The village didn¡¯t have many members¡ªat most, there were 28 people. A third of them were women, and the rest were men. There were no children, but there were some pregnant women. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re still alive, folks,¡± said the chief. ¡°Enjoy the warmth while you can; the cold season is approaching and we¡¯ll have to migrate to the central rings soon. Does anyone have anything to report?¡± ¡°Food is starting to run low,¡± one of the attendees mentioned. ¡°We did an inventory of our supplies, and we only have enough for three months.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a sign we need to leave as soon as possible. We came here for her, remember?¡± The chief sighed and continued speaking. ¡°Anyone else?¡± Silence filled the meeting, and practically the only sounds were the crackling fire and the faint distant howling of the wind through the trees. ¡°I¡¯ve been watching the hawk beasts. They¡¯re preparing to send their tribute,¡± another person said. ¡°According to my predictions, we¡¯ll have a clear path to descend to the sixth ring at midnight.¡± ¡°Midnight?¡± one of them complained, crossing his arms. ¡°Why so late at night?¡± ¡°If you want to survive and not be found by the beasts, that¡¯s the time. The chief also wants to carry out his plan with the Witch, so that¡¯s the only viable time,¡± he responded. The others fell silent for a moment, looking at one another. ¡°You¡¯re talking about the gifted one, right? The one who can cast spells without even reciting them, the one with the pointy ears,¡± a villager mentioned. ¡°The Witch¡¯s magic is powerful, but I doubt she could even take on a beast,¡± a female villager argued. ¡°Seriously? After all this time, you still think she¡¯s not capable enough?¡± another villager snapped. ¡°Nonsense! If she weren¡¯t, none of us would be alive.¡± ¡°Only the best of the best go to the beasts¡¯ tournament,¡± another woman said. ¡°She saved us, yes, but those were everyday beasts.¡± ¡°Trusting her blindly would leave us humans even more exposed than we already are!¡± ¡°Oh yeah? Then why don¡¯t you go and try to protect us with your basic spells, huh?!¡± Suddenly and out of nowhere, the red-haired girl appeared behind them. ¡°How about you all just shut the hell up already?!¡± the Witch exclaimed. ¡°It¡¯s her!¡± all the villagers shouted. ¡°I told you there¡¯s nothing to worry about. Defeating a beast is easier than you think, you just have to put in the effort!¡± Griezu said seriously. ¡°Griezu¡­ uh¡­ you finally showed up,¡± the chief said, trying to deescalate the situation. ¡°I guess you were a little panicked about today¡¯s plan and showed up late¡­ hehehe¡­¡± ¡°Do I look like I just got back from a walk in the woods? Has the cold frozen your brains or what?¡± Griezu snapped. ¡°I¡¯ve been working day and night non-stop to be ready for today, and you¡¯re doubting me at the last minute?¡± ¡°I know there¡¯s no way to be sure, but¡­ if they went against their principles¡­ you¡¯d be surrounded,¡± a villager said. ¡°That¡¯s if she survives the mana sickness from using beast magic. I used to be a wizard apprentice in my hometown. Human magic always seemed too simple and boring compared to beast magic,¡± said a male villager. ¡°I couldn¡¯t move for more than three hours and had a few seizures, according to my master.¡± Stolen novel; please report. ¡°She uses beast magic?¡± a female villager asked, surprised. ¡°I-I thought she used advanced human magic.¡± ¡°Human magic is limited by the mana in the environment. Beast magic is limited by the mana within you,¡± Griezu emphasized. ¡°I¡¯ve been using beast magic for over twenty years. That long has made my body get used to the mana flow.¡± ¡°A human can¡¯t do that,¡± the apprentice villager objected. ¡°I¡¯ve always been curious about your pointy ears. You¡¯re the only one I¡¯ve ever seen like that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± said the chief. ¡°Don¡¯t bite the hand that¡¯s saving you. What¡¯s the point of questioning her if she¡¯s clearly on our side?¡± ¡°Some of you really don¡¯t deserve to be saved,¡± said Griezu. ¡°But if I have to do the impossible to save those who are worth saving, then I will. Chief, the time for the transport is near, I¡¯d better go prepare my things.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, of course, Griezu,¡± the chief replied, then turned to the others. ¡°You heard her, get your things ready. We¡¯ll head to the sixth ring once Griezu distracts the hawks.¡± Midnight was approaching. In half an hour, the villagers had packed up all their belongings and tents into carts. Meanwhile, Griezu returned to her hut. ¡°The time has come,¡± she said as she pointed her staff at the last written page of the book she was assembling. Instantly, without saying a word, half the books in the room came apart. Their pages were absorbed into the spell, slowly forming a single, thick book. ¡°My twenty years of work is complete. My Arcanicon,¡± she said, storing it in her robes. ¡°Ahh¡­ what have you gotten yourself into, Griezu? What have you gotten yourself into?¡± she said to herself while playing with the Arcanicon¡¯s pages. ¡°One day you¡¯re brewing potions and the next you¡¯re in a world you know nothing about,¡± she added, placing a hand on her chin, thoughtful. ¡°A hundred and fifty-one years go by faster than I thought¡­¡± Griezu took a deep breath to calm her nerves. ¡°There¡¯s no time to waste. Humanity¡¯s survival depends on me. The beasts will pay for the atrocities they¡¯ve committed. I¡¯ll show them who the dominant species is.¡± Determined to carry out her plan, Griezu and the others departed for the descent point. The journey was rough, the freezing weather biting to the bone, but thanks to Griezu¡¯s magic, they arrived safely. ¡°This is where we part ways, Chief. It¡¯s been a pleasure and also not really a pleasure being with you all these years. The next time you see me, I won¡¯t be a wandering witch¡ªI¡¯ll be the queen of Lydenfrost.¡± ¡°On behalf of the village, thank you for saving us all those years ago. Now go and fulfill your promise, Witch of the Seventh Ring,¡± said the chief, moved. Griezu nodded at him, looking him in the eye before turning away. With the help of her staff and magic, she rose into the air. ¡°¨¦nto¨ªrift!¡± Near the descent point stood the arch of the portal to the central beast kingdom, similar to the one in the kingdom of Vereida, but with different inscriptions. From above, the witch saw the hawk beasts lined up in two rows, creating a path for the tribute to walk through the portal. The hawk beasts wore oriental-style robes¡ªa haori with unique designs, fastened only by a cord with several flasks on it. The portal wasn¡¯t active yet. The witch spotted a very, very old beast, carrying a spherical rock between his wings¡ªlikely a piece of the meteorite from Lydenfrost¡¯s creation. Griezu descended cautiously into the thick foliage around the clearing. She watched as the portal activated before her eyes. The whole scene resembled a sacred ritual, meant to honor the hawk race. ¡°Now¡­ where¡¯s the tribute?¡± Griezu asked herself, constantly glancing toward the portal. But her questions would soon be answered¡ªthe tribute had arrived late to the farewell ceremony. And where was he? Right beneath her. Griezu realized this, and faster than lightning, pulled the Arcanicon from her robes. Flipping through its pages, she chose one and made it float using her staff. ¡°A shapeshifting spell should be enough to pass as him.¡± The Arcanicon page began to orbit the gem at the tip of her staff as she got into position. Her staff had a trigger, which she placed her finger on, ready to fire. ¡°Peipei! Quick, I need my tribute diadem! I can¡¯t leave without it!¡± said the hawk beast. ¡°I-I¡¯ll go get it!¡± said the hawk assistant. But then, a cracking sound came from beneath Griezu¡¯s feet. The branches she was hiding on began to break, and since her spell was ready in her staff, she couldn¡¯t prevent the fall¡ªlanding directly on top of the tribute. A loud crash echoed. Several guards tried to see what was going on, but the underbrush made it difficult to see clearly. The tribute passed out from the impact. Having a person fall on your head must be painful. Griezu quickly got up, rubbing her sore rear, and immediately cast her spell on the tribute, perfectly copying his appearance. She hid the unconscious tribute¡¯s body in the bushes just in time, as Peipei arrived to check. ¡°Novell?! Are you alright? I heard a loud noise coming from here,¡± Peipei asked, flustered. ¡°Yeah, yeah, all good. Just a branch that fell from that tree,¡± Griezu said. ¡°Alright, put on the diadem, quickly. You were supposed to be gone five minutes ago,¡± Peipei scolded. Griezu walked to the portal entrance, where the old beast awaited. ¡°It¡¯s time for the tribute¡¯s oath,¡± the elder said, placing his right wing over Griezu¡¯s head. ¡°Do you solemnly swear to represent the House of Hawk until your body ceases to exist?¡± ¡°Yes, I swear.¡± ¡°Then so be it. May the strength of the ancestors guide you on your journey.¡± Griezu stepped through the portal without hesitation, and it immediately closed. ¡°It¡¯s done. Time to return to the village,¡± said the old beast, spreading his wings. But suddenly¡­ ¡°Wait, open the portal!¡± It was Novell¡¯s voice¡ªthe real tribute. He came out from the bushes, covered in vines and leaves. ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± Everyone¡¯s faces showed astonishment and confusion. Their tribute was still here¡­ but if he was here¡­ who had they just sent? ¡°N-no-no-no-Novell! W-what are you doing here? How is this possible? Then¡­ who¡­ aaahh¡­?¡± Peipei stammered before fainting from the shock. ¡°Aunt Peipei! Are you okay? Answer me!¡± Novell shouted, rushing to help her. They say luck turns against those who deserve it the least. I¡¯ve also been told that luck doesn¡¯t exist, that everything is predetermined from the start. Whatever you believe, the result is the same: a clash of epic proportions between humans and beasts. The final battle that will decide, once and for all, which species reigns supreme.