《Guardians of Midgard: The Legend Begins》


 Prologue

    Once upon a time, in a faraway place, the all-father Odin rallied his troops to Asgard, kingdom of the gods of Midgard. His beloved son Baldur had been killed by Loki, and his fate was to be forever consigned to the underworld of Nifheim, ruled by Loki''s daughter. This was the first sign that Ragnarok--the doom of the gods-had finally commenced, as the wise Odin had predicted.


    The gods knew they could not escape their tragic destiny that was to come. Deep down, they knew their fate was doomed. The elves and the dwarfs answered to Odin''s call as they prepared for Ragnarok. This final battle would determine the fate of the Nine Worlds. The journey to Midgard, the home of the human civilization, had begun.


    Mankind, elves, and the dwarves fought side by side against Loki''s minions,the horde of the undead, the frost giants, and Surt''s fire giants. The fire giant Surt, wielding a flaming sword, was determined to lead the giants to victory over the gods.


    When the Great Winter came, darkness covered Midgard for three years in a row, with no hint of summer. Many were disoriented from the frigid blizzards. This led to mutiny, and human civilization fell into cynicism.


    Oath breakers escalated amongst the gods themselves. Discipline was lacking and eventually led to their demise, as the fortifications of Asgard and the bindings of both the pseudo-god Loki and his son Fenrir had been poorly supervised. As a result, Loki and Fenrir broke free of their fetters. Together, they escaped Asgard and regrouped with the frost and fire giants, setting out to do precisely what the gods feared they would do once their freedom was gained.


    The great world tree Yggdrasil, which represented the cosmos of the Nine Worlds, began to tremble from its roots up to the tips of its branches. Odin received that dreadful news and left Thor in command of the battle in Midgard. He opened and entered the Bifrost and returned to Asgard. Odin''s departure further decreased the alliances'' morale.


    The all-seeing Heimdall was the first to spot the vast army of the fire giants, led by Surt, approaching from the south of Muspelhiem; Surt''s flaming sword was glowing ever brightly across the cosmos. Naglfar''s ship sailed from Niflheim carrying a horde of the undead. On that boat was Loki and his wolf-son Fenrir, heading the boat, whose on a course towardV¨ªgr¨ªer¡ªMidgard''s largest battlefield.


    At Asgard, Heimdall sounded his horn Gjallarhorn and alerted the gods of a detached force of undead and fire giants approaching the celestial stronghold and led by Loki himself. Loki was cunning enough to fool Heimdall''s all-seeing ability by placing a decoy of himself on board the Naglfar as it sailed for Midgard and the final stages of Ragnarok.


    The final battle began and humans, with aid from the Valkyries from Valhalla, began to push back the undead invasion. However, the giants rampaged through the lands and destroyed the gods, destroying mankind''s morale. Fenrir, the great wolf, ran across the lands with his lower jaw grazing the landscape and his upper jaw touching the sky, together consuming everything in its path. Even the sun was engulfed into the belly of Fenrir.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Odin and Tyr confronted Fenrir and lost their lives as the great wolf Fenrir swallowed Odin whole. Odin''s younger son Vidar, in blinding rage, took up arms, slayed the great wolf, and relayed the message to his step-mother Frigga, the Queen of Asgard. Frigga wept, for the second time, for the loss of her husband just as she got over her beloved son Baldur''s death and died with a broken heart.


    Jormungand,the middle offspring of Loki, also known as the Midgard Serpent,slithered in from the sea and destroyed nearby villages. Outraged,Thor grew furious and unleashed the Warrior''s Madness. Thor went berserk, hammering everything that stood in his path until he met his arch nemesis. Thor delivered a decisive blow with his legendary war-hammer Mjolnir to the Midgard Serpent''s head, splitting the serpent in half. Unfortunately, Thor breathed in too much of Jormungand''s miasma. Looking up at Asgard one last time, he muttered his final words to his wife Sif and his children, and fell dead after walking ten steps into the sea.


    The God Freyr, though disoriented with the loss of his comrades,brothers, and sisters, cut down the many giants in his way as he approached the fire giant leader. Surt''s flaming, radiant sword swept across the globe, setting the world and the world tree ablaze. The battlefield was awash in the blood of mankind, the gods, and the beasts, bringing forth the conclusion. The God Freyr and Surt did battle. With Freyr''s magical sword lacking power, Freyr could not hope to withstand the strokes of Surt''s brute strength. Freyr was cut down by Surt.


    Heimdall and Asgard''s remaining forces repelled the invasion. Heimdall and Loki did battle, shape shifting into many different animals. Loki had the upper hand throughout most of the fight until he summoned a powerful black sphere of dark matter and cast it directly at the palace. Tragically, Heimdall drove himself into the sphere''s projected path, shielded the palace with his body. Heimdall died instantly, but miraculously, he threw his longsword at a long distance that pierced its way through Loki''s heart.


    Loki spun out of control and fell off the Bifrost and into the dark void.


    Bellow,Surt roared as he plunged his mighty, flaming sword into the heart of Midgard. The world, along with Yggdrasil tree, scorched as a great inferno roared around it. Earthquakes came and the land was thrown back into the sea. The pillar that Midgard held Asgard above crumbled. Asgard collapsed as its scattered ruins and remaining inhabitants fell into the eternal black void of the Ginnungagap¡ªtheir fate forever consigned to the underworld.


    Surt''s whereabouts remained unknown.


    Sif and her children vanished without a trace.


    The age of everlasting darkness, death, and repose did not last forever. Baldur returned from the underworld and reunited with his bother Vidar. Together, they reformed Midgard. Over time, the land gladdened and became more fruitful with the help of their immortality and godly powers. Baldur and Vidar became mortal as the Yggdrasil tree bloomed once again. Remarkably, two human inhabitants survived the apocalypse and were reawakened in the new green world. Their names were Lif and Lifthrasir.


    The children of Lif and Lifthrasir repopulated the new world while Baldur and Vidar watched on as the new guardians of the Nine Worlds. Vidar,unlike his brother, never settled down with one of the descendants of Lif and Lifthrasir. Instead, he set out to the underworld to free his kin from hell''s clutches. That was the last time Baldur ever saw his brother.


    Baldur grew old, and on his deathbed, had a premonition that Loki would return from the underworld with his minions to unleash a phenomenon that had been forgotten since the beginning of time and that a great peril for now the remaining Eight Worlds was yet to come. Baldur fore saw that Loki''s mischief would throw the entire cosmos into chaos. One individual would rise up and become a legendary hero. And he would become an obstruction to Loki. He was one of Baldur''s descendants. Eddie Ferguson.


    This is the tale of how it all began.

 Chapter 1: Eddie Ferguson (Vol. 1)

    It was the final day of the school year. Eddie was ecstatic and was looking forward to summer break, playing video games, reading manga,and watching Japanese anime all day on Cartoon Stream. His mother Cassandra wanted him to study more and she said she would work with him on his archery and fencing skills. He could never understand his mother''s motives because he was not allowed to join any archery or fencing club. He was annoyed by his mother''s lectures about how the art of archery should never be used for public festivities and sporting. Training with these skills would hone the body, mind, and spirit, she said.


    The bus driver pulled into the school parking lot and came to a complete stop. Grabbing his backpack, Eddie paid little attention to the commotion and chatter in the bus and headed toward the exit. He had few friends at school and kept mostly to himself. He was an outcast among his peers and was mainly treated like a scapegoat because his upperclassmen Brad Chickles and his gang always picked on him. Brad had a tendency to bully the geeks and special-ed students, and no other students had the courage to stand up for Eddie. Even worse, they occasionally would join in with the jests and public humiliations.


    Exiting the school bus, he felt a pair of eyes glaring holes into his back. He hurried away from the bus parking lot and entered the school''s plaza. There was no lunch to be served today due to the half-day schedule. Kids gathered in the courtyard and played around. Eddie exited the courtyard and headed toward the basketball court. An elderly homeless man, dressed in olive linen robes with a hood over his head, sat down on one of the concrete benches and glanced up at Eddie. Although quite a distance away, Eddie vaguely had a clear image of the man''s face.


    The man had a long sparkly beard, with his whiskered mustache overlapping it. An eye-patch was strapped over the man''s right eye. He was smoking a tobacco pipe. Bile formed in Eddie''s gut--the unexpected and uninvited guest had probably ruined his and his friend''s meeting spot on the basketball court. His only school friend Jacob Napkins,must have fled away due to this homeless bum. Maybe he should get the school security guards to chase this man away. On second thought, he should just leave the old man alone.


    Eddie cringed when the man''s eye stared through him with malice. He could feel the man''s killing intent radiating from him. It was like a sixth sense to Eddie. Suddenly, a hand latched onto his right shoulder, making him shudder in surprise. He turned to meet his longtime childhood friend.


    Jacob was born and raised in an African American family. Unlike Eddie, Jacob was a regular-ed student and a promising one with a high GPA rating. Most of the private junior high schools in the state of Michigan were after him.


    "Ready for some MMO action? Pizza is on the house," Jacob said.


    "Is it okay? Your parents won''t turn me loose?" he apprehensively asked.


    Being young, Eddie had little understanding of the racism crisis in America between black and white people. Would he be rejected? Countless thoughts ran through his mind. It was nauseating to think about how he would deal with possible rejection.Stolen novel; please report.


    "Hey! My parents are not like that. They will welcome you with open arms as if you''re part of the family," he laughed. "Don''t sweat it."


    Trouble came quicker than Eddie anticipated when Brad and his cohort of mischief-makers came after him.


    "Well well well! What do we have here? Two stranded geeks for the taking." They laughed.


    Eddie and Jacob''s only path to escape was blocked off. The gang was surrounding them like a pack of hungry wolves, eager to pounce on their prey. Eddie gritted his teeth. He did not want Jacob to suffer the same fate as him. Unexpectedly,Jacob had the courage to step forward and held out his hand, warning the gang from approaching any closer.


    "What business do you guys have with us?"


    "What business we have, he says,"Brad said sarcastically, as his gang members laughed. "Move it,four-eyes!"


    Brad grabbed the collar of Jacob''s shirt and shoved him to the grass. In the process, Jacob''s glasses fell off from his face and landed on the concrete sidewalk. The right lens cracked. Recovering his friend''s damaged glasses, Eddie plunged to Jacob''s side, but Brad pinned Eddie onto his belly. Eddie squirmed, but Brad had put enough of his weight by squatting and had immobilized him. Brad checked Eddie''s pockets to see if there was any cash. To his surprise, Eddie was not carrying anything,not even a penny. Eddie wailed and made a disgusted face as he inhaled Brad''s cruddy, bad breath, which smelled as if he had not brushed his molars for months. The stench was so foul that it gotten trapped within his nostrils.


    "Hey, Mr. Special-Ed. Where''s the money? You know how my business turns out without money," he spat.


    "Let him go, Chickles. There''s nothing to gain from all this bullying," Jacob said, getting to his feet.


    "Let us just go about our business and act like nothing happened."


    "This is my turf! I can do anything I want. When I want!"


    Chuckles escalated among the bullies."He''s asking for it," a boy named Alex muttered in Brad''s ear.


    "Alright, Mr. Tough-Guy. You messed with the wrong guy," he beckoned his pals and pointed at Jacob."Mr. Tough-Guy is all yours. Leave Ferguson to me!"


    Suddenly, the sky above them dimmed. The bullies halted and looked to the sky. The chirping of the nearby birds grew ever louder. Spontaneously, out of the blue, a flock of ravens by the hundreds soared out of nowhere and swarmed the cohorts. Talons clinched and tugged on the kids'' clothes. Brad''s lips were being pulled in a comical way. Not being fatal, the flock''s attach was both futile and relentless. A hollering and frightened Alex was hauled away by a dozen ravens, only to be dumped into a nearby small puddle of mud. Wailing echoed throughout the basketball court.


    "Let''s get out of here!" Brad squawked.


    The boys fled, while the flock pursued them until they were out of sight. Jacob helped Eddie to his feet,stunned and at the same time amazed at the event that had just occurred. They were the only ones left unscathed by the swarm of ravens. It was like the ravens had come to their aid. It was very eerie, Eddie thought. Looking ahead, the basketball court was empty. No sign of the homeless, elderly man. It made him shiver. There was only one exit from the court and that was in their path.


    "He was there," he pointed."Where''s the old man?" Eddie asked and shivered.


    "Huh? What old man?"


    "I swear! He was there right before you came."


    Jacob gave him a puzzled look.


    "He had an eye-patch and long beard and was smoking a pipe."


    Jacob shrugged, "Beats me. I did not see this ''old man'' when I approached you."


    "That''s very strange," Eddie murmured.

 Chapter 2: School Invasion (Vol. 1)

    Eddie fiddled with his pencil between his fingers while listening to his homeroom teacher Mrs. Boris lecturing the class about summer break. He had a tendency to slack off or fall asleep in class sessions. He was glad that Brad and his gang of bullies were not in class. He, for once, could enjoy a moment of peace. Not listening to the chattering from his classmates, Eddie pulled out his favorite Ramen Ninja Boy manga volume and began to read in silence.


    Others were playing board games such as checkers and chess. His classmates urged him to play with them, but he refused. Eddie was very talented in those games, but he would rather play video games with Jacob and his mother. There was an announcement being made on the school''s intercom. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to listen to the broadcast. It was the school''s principle Mr. Anderson. Eddie felt sudden chills rundown his spine. He hated this feeling because 90 percent of the time it was a warning that trouble headed his way.


    "Mr. Ferguson. Will you please report to the principal''s office, on the double?"


    Eddie''s throat became dry. He was right, or just maybe. Normally, if the school office was in need of a student''s presence for unknown circumstances, the office would have sent a notification ticket to the homeroom teacher. If a principle directly asked for a student''s presence over the intercom, it was a dire situation, and in most cases meant bad news, especially on the final day of the school year. Eddie could only guess that it had to be about the incident that he and Jacob had with Brad and his cohorts.


    His classmates remained silent. However, a roar of laughter could be heard from next door and the classes beyond his. Eddie became very tense from the chorus of roaring laughter until the students in the neighboring rooms were silenced by their teachers. He felt a hand on his right shoulder,snapping him out of his exploding thoughts.


    "There''s no need to panic,sweetheart," Ms. Boris said with a passionate smile. "It seems there is a bit of an emergency. Gather your things and head straight to the principal''s office."


    The entire school was a single building, only the basketball court, gym, playground, auditorium, and cafeteria had their own structures, isolated from the main building. It was rare that Eddie could walk the corridor and the lobby during class sessions after the bell had rung. The lockers and cubbyholes were clear of personal belongings. The walls were still decorated with art posters, drawn by students. Eddie saw several janitors whom he didn''t recognize and had never seen before mopping the corridor floor. His eyes never left them as he drew near one of them. Unexpectedly, the elderly female janitor spun around to face him,scaring the wits out of him. Her eyes were abnormally pitch black. Her face was pale and many wrinkles showed that she was aged.


    Her wicked smile made his heart hammer against his rib cage. She looked like a wicked witch, Eddie thought. Backing up, he was not aware of his surroundings when one of his feet slipped on the slick tile, and he fell hard on his behind. He grunted as he struggled to get to his feet, feeling the jitters and goosebumps numbing his legs.


    "The principle''s waiting for you,"she cackled like an old crone, proficient in the dark arts of witchcraft.


    Eddie took this opportunity to distance himself from the janitors as he made a right turn out of the sight of the laughing and wicked janitors.What the hell was that about! Today''s crazy!Eddie thought. Passing more classes, he noticed the classrooms were silent and there were no signs of life. He crept up to a classroom''s door and peeked through the glass. The room was dark and flashy blue strobe lights barely made the room visible. At first glance, Eddie thought the students were watching TV or a projected film. His stomach lurched as the classroom full of students all spun their heads at Eddie in unison. They looked hypnotized, no signs of life showed through their glowing eyes.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Eddie receded from the door frantically. He was startled by the sound and vibration of his iPhone''s it went off in his pocket. Students were allowed to carry cellphones but they were not allowed to use their phones during school session unless it was an emergency. He was surprised to see his mother''s number on the ID caller. There was no way his mother would call him during class sessions. Either this caller was a fraud and hacker or it must be an emergency.


    Trusting his instincts, he pressed the receive button on his phone. "Hello," he said. He was relieved to hear his mother''s voice on the other end of the line. Eddie could hear background noises and thought she was calling him from the Laundromat.


    "Mom! There is something weird going on at school. . . "


    "Eddie! You must listen toevery wordI say. Your school is no longer safe. You must not go tothe principal''soffice. Instead, head to the boys'' restroom."


    "Why is this happening to me?"


    "Just do as you are told!"she yelled. "Put your phone in your pocket and walk casually tothe bathroom. Do not draw unnecessary attention to yourself."


    Carefully slipping the phone back into his pocket without disconnecting the phone line, Eddie casually hurried down the hallway. It was vacant and there were no signs of life. Usually one could hear the chatter of students or teachers. More so, he could not clear the image of hypnotized children out of his mind. Dashing into the restroom, Eddie closed the door behind him. Eddie made sure that no one occupied the restroom but him by peeping underneath the doors of each toilet stall. To his relief, the bathroom was clear. Pulling out his phone again, he saw that the phone line was still connected.


    "Pair your Bluetooth ear budwith yourphone. This will allow you to be more proficient in yourescape andyou will have both your hands free to overcome theobstacles headingyour way."


    It took Eddie about a minute to pair his Bluetooth device with his phone.


    "Mom! Just please tell me what the heck is going on? Why are my classmates looking like a pack of zombies?"


    "I will go into details whenyou''resafely in my possession. All you need to know is that badpeople arecoming after you and monstrous creatures that you grew upreading andplaying video games about are very real. Goblins arescouring yourschool. The children have been bewitched by a powerful sorcerer. You have to enter the ventilation system and crawl through theair duct. It''s the only way you are getting out of that building. The air duct is right above you. Carefully climb the bathroom beamand pushthe ventilator lid up."


    Eddie carefully did as instructed. He hoisted himself up and came close to touching the lid until viscous poundings on the door spooked him. It sounded like someone was using battering ram to open the door. Eddie lost his footing and nearly fell back onto the concrete floor. His heart raced when the pounding grew louder. His mother was frantically screaming for him to hurry up. At any moment, the door would be breached. Eddie succeeded in opening the ventilator lid and hoisted himself above and through the opening.


    Just as he made it to the air duct, he heard the door being ripped off its hinges. He heard sounds of splintered lumber and loud clattering that made his belly churn. Tiny thumping footsteps grew louder. He was in the opening and had a clear view below. Shadows of the intruder grew closer. His mother told him to remain in position and silent, no matter what he saw. And then he saw it. The dark, greenish figure, half-naked and only wearing loincloth made out of rawhide. It began speaking in a raspy gibberish unknown to him.


    The creature was short, perhaps nearly the same height as Eddie and the children his age. He did not have a clear view of the creature''s face and he was fortunate that he was not forced to look at it. That meant the creature would have glanced up to the ceiling and caught Eddie peeping from above.


    The creature had long pointy ears that seemed all too familiar to Eddie. He did not need to see the creature''s face to know that it was a goblin that had come seeking him, or at least that''s what he thought the goblin''s intentions was, although it had a flabby belly. It goblin had a spiked club made out of timber, which he was dragging across the concrete floor; the club made a rattling noise. The goblin called out in its native tongue, clubbing in each of the stall doors until it was very sure the bathroom was vacant. Eddie was afraid to move even when he was sure the goblin had left the bathroom.


    "Son. Take a deep breath. Relax."


    Eddie inhaled and exhaled to make him calmer.


    "Good. Continue straight aheadand donot look back or stop for anything unless I instruct you to."

 Chapter 3: No Escape (Vol. 1)

    Crawling was an annoyance in light of the fact that the air duct was excessively small for him, making it impossible to sit up. The air channel itself was barely wide enough for him to move. Eddie precisely listened to Cassandra¡¯s directions. Every one of the twists and turns put a ton of strain on his elbows and knees. The air pipe led him to a janitor¡¯s room. Cassandra instructed him to the pipe¡¯s end and he did just that. Peering through the grate, he could hear a ton of activity yet no indication of the fiend.


    The sound of Cassandra¡¯s fast breathing came to a silent over the Bluetooth mic made Eddie recoil. The room abruptly got too quiet. His heart almost bounced out of his mouth when the vent cover popped open and the prickly head of the goblin erected up to look at Eddie straight without flinching. Eddie felt the oxygen deplete from his lungs, and his muscles tensed to the point that he couldn¡¯t shout. He was petrified for a brief moment when the goblin reached out to get him. His senses instructed him to get up and keep running for his life, but he discovered the brutal fact that he couldn¡¯t escape as he hit his head on the iron dividers of the air duct.


    He became light-headed. His vision was blurry. He could vaguely hear his mom¡¯s shouting over the Bluetooth. He had no clue to what extent he was dazed; however, he felt his shirt being pulled at and being moved ahead. With his heart hammering, a wave of new fearlessness gave Eddie an adrenaline surge, and he was looked the goblin straight in the eye. He got a decent look of the fiend¡¯s face. The goblin had yellow, beady eyes and war scars over its face. It had teeth. Snot hung from the side of its jaw as it snarled at Eddie, resolved to draw him down to the janitor¡¯s room.


    Being sufficiently cognizant, Eddie stuck both his thumbs into the goblin¡¯s eyes, gouging them. The creature hollered in misery but kept hold of Eddie¡¯s shirt and the weight of its falling body was all that was needed to pull Eddie down from the ventilation duct. Eddie was blessed with landing on the goblin¡¯s body, as it gave enough padding against the impact to prevent harm. Otherwise, he could have harmed himself with broken appendages or more terrible, a fall on his head, and snapped his neck like a twig. Eddie took a minute to clean himself before taking a gander at his environment. There was no chance he could return and move further down the air duct.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Change of arrangements. Exit the janitor¡¯s room while you have the shot.¡±


    Eddie¡¯s lower leg was grabbed by the injured goblin, keeping him from leaving the room. The fiend growled at him. Eddie equipped himself with a broom, which was the closest blunt object, and duly smacked the goblin in the back of its cranium. ¡°Get off of me, you stupid goblin!¡± The goblin soon lost consciousness and Eddie left the janitor¡¯s room with no trouble.


    Outside, Jacob was anticipating him, yet he had his back to Eddie. Eddie was worried as he drew closer to him. Jacob spun around with such fury that it caught Eddie off-guard. Jacob¡¯s eyes sparkled blue and Eddie knew his companion was mesmerized. Gradually, Eddie move at a slow as his companion¡¯s frightening gleaming eyes looked at his movements. Jacob then reached for a whistle, attached around his neck like a jewel, and blew it. The silence was broken with a horrendous ruckus that reverberated through the hallway.


    ¡°Leave! Go!¡±


    Groups of entranced children came spilling out from the classrooms. Eddie ran and did his best to listen to his mom¡¯s headings, which led him to the staircase. He could hear the entranced children shouting. He smashed himself into the push lever that opened the entryway. Going down the stairwell was impossible since he could see shadows spiraling up and cries and loud strides reverberating. Eddie gasped as he ran up to the rooftop. He was caught. There was no chance he could descend without taking a chance on his life.


    The youngsters followed and rapidly enclosed Eddie. Presently he had no spot to keep running, but the rooftop . Eddie sweated as a cool chill kept running down his spine. Such a fiendish sensation made him need to upchuck. His Bluetooth became static and he couldn¡¯t hear his mom. In the blink of an eye, a stately shrouded figure made its presence known. Underneath the shroud was a good looking man with dark raven hair that seemed all too familiar to Eddie. Still, he had never seen this man before. Eddie deflected his eyes when the man¡¯s eyes flashed red. It was just a brief moment, but Eddie saw tribal markings carved around the iris.


    He didn¡¯t realize what came over him. Eddie¡¯s senses had let him know not to look at the man without flinching. It resembled a scene out of the Ramen Ninja Boy manga where individuals of a specific ninja clan were conceived with red eyes with Japanese tomoe markings, which looked like tadpoles; the eyes had energy to cast illusions on individuals in a brief instant. Eddie realized that he was considerably more off-guard when confronting an enemy or foe in battle without looking at them straight in the eye.


    Eddie was caught.


    There was no escape.

 Chapter 4: Petrifaction (Vol. 1)

    Mr. Ferguson! Where are you off to in such a hurry?¡± The man grinned, mimicking the principle¡¯s voice. ¡°This is not the way to the principal¡¯s office.¡±


    Eddie gritted his teeth and clenched his fists as several goblins stood by the mystery man. Perhaps this was the sorcerer his mother was talking about. Eddie was drenched in his own sweat. He could not tell if it was from the heat waves caused by the sun rays or his own fear. They mystery man and goblins approached. Eddie backed up as much as he could toward the ledge of the rooftop.


    ¡°Impressive. You know how to avoid my eyes. You are truly her son. Now be a good boy and remain put.¡±


    The sorcerer motioned the goblin to restrain the boy. Eddie would have none of it as much as he could under his own power. He cursed himself for discarding the broomstick in the janitor¡¯s room. The first goblin, about his height, reached out and tugged on Eddie¡¯s shirt. Eddie sent flurries of punches. Some missed and some landed, but it had no effect. Another goblin slid in behind and lift him off his feet.


    ¡°Let me go!¡± Eddie screamed for his life. ¡°What do you want with me?¡±


    ¡°You have something I want that resides inside of you. Your father sealed it there.¡±


    Eddie continued to scream and attempted to wiggle his way free.


    ¡°If you cooperate with me, I promise no harm will come to you. Think about how sad your mother would be if you depart into the afterlife.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, today is not the day. The boy¡¯s mother shall not weep nor will the boy be yours.¡±


    The retort was the voice of an elderly man. Quickly, the chirping of a hundred birds followed the man¡¯s proclamation. Out of the blue, a score of ravens merged together and a man materialized from it. Eddie stopped thrashing about and tried to twist his head in the direction of the elderly man¡¯s raspy voice. The swarm of ravens blocked Eddie¡¯s view as he was instantly dropped by the goblins. Unlike with Brad and his cohorts, the ravens were relentless in their assault, gouging and pecking out goblins¡¯ eyes, and their talons tore flesh off of the goblins¡¯ bodies like a school of piranhas.


    Eddie recognized the elderly man as the old man he had seen earlier today at the basketball court. His mind could not process all that was transpiring as he got the wind knocked out of him when the man snaked his arm around Eddie¡¯s torso and vaulted off the rooftop, his backpack slipping off. A nauseating sensation washed over him as they approached their touched down. The one-eyed man waved his staff just before they would have fatally crashed into the ground.


    Violent currents of wind magically came out of nowhere and halted their descent. They were floating in mid-air, Eddie thought. It didn¡¯t take Eddie too long to realize that the ancient wizard was standing on a floating, bobbing solid surface. Before Eddie could analyze more of his surroundings, a pair of tender arms plucked him out of the old man¡¯s arms and held him in a passionate hug. It was his mother, Cassandra Ferguson.


    ¡°Mom!¡± Eddie exclaimed.


    ¡°Thank the heavens that you are alright!¡± She smiled. ¡°Be strong, my son.¡±


    ¡°It''s best that we keep the pleasantries for later. Hold on tight!¡±


    Cars were tossed around like beach balls colliding into structures and other vehicles, creating a chain reaction of combustion as an inferno lit the skies and vapors from the smoke permeated the air. Eddie could hardly believe his eyes and felt like he was dreaming. Eddie found himself standing with his mother and then on the back of a colossal bird. Its body was massive and its wingspan had to be around fifty meters wide. This had to be a dream, he thought. First goblins and a demented sorcerer, now giant birds. Eddie easily identified the species as he pointed at its head. ¡°It¡¯s a eagle.¡±


    ¡°An eagle,¡± she corrected.


    ¡°Not just any eagle,¡± the ancient wizard retorted, very pleased with himself. ¡°The bald eagle, and it¡¯s your country¡¯s emblem on its seal along with being the national animal of the United States of America.¡±


    ¡°Wooo! That¡¯s super cool!¡± Eddie exclaimed. ¡°And who the heck are you?¡±


    His rude demeanor toward the ancient wizard earned him a slap on the back of his head.


    ¡°Is that the way you talk to your elders! Show some respect,¡± his mother snarled while Eddie rubbed his head to relieve him of the throbbing pain.


    The wizard smiled, ¡°Nah. This boy is just like his father.¡± He laughed, ¡°I have been called Woden the Wanderer for long as I can recall!¡± Woden took his eyes off of Eddie. ¡°Save the chit-chat for later! We have company! ¡±


    Woden pulled a crystal ball from his robes. The ball lit up like a strobe light. The images of monstrous winged creatures appeared vividly. To Eddie, it was like looking through a zoomed-in telescope or a pair of binoculars. ¡°Blasted imps,¡± said Woden.¡±


    ¡°Imps!¡± Eddie exclaimed. ¡°Those ugly looking demon fairies? They looked like flying goblins to me,¡± he fumed.


    ¡°They are related to the goblin race. Some believe that imps are the fallen state of goblins just as dark elves are the fallen state of the elves.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s that possible? These imps should have perished under direct contact with sunlight,¡± Cassandra said.


    ¡°An enchanted spell of demonic shroud guards their skin, invisible to the naked eye. In the process, sunlight is absorbed by the shroud. I only know of a few dark elves in the universe who use this spell to make themselves immune to sunlight. The shroud can only be shredded by high concentrations of holy light. I will need time to weave the spell. Don¡¯t let them interrupt my incantation or all hope will be lost.¡±


    ¡°Eddie!¡± She beckoned. ¡°Take this and shoot them down when they come into range.¡±


    Eddie received a cold steel recurve bow from his mother. This was not his usual plastic traditional bow and arrow that came with a set of twelve arrows that had orange rubber head plungers for safety.


    Cassandra fastened the bow¡¯s straps around Eddie¡¯s lap, with a latex black quiver full of arrows mounted perfectly in place on his back. Eddie saw that the school was not in sight any longer. Observing his surroundings, he saw no signs of human activity. As they got onto the highway, a significant number of cars were stalled on the highway. The vehicles had their ignitions still on. The drivers and passengers appeared to be dead at first glance. The first thought that crossed his mind was that all this was caused by a sleeping bomb. However, Cassandra said that they were put to sleep by Woden''s slumbering spell.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± Eddie gritted.


    He was starting to abhor the goblin race even as his fear of them was diminishing ever rapidly. His muscles were tense. He was eager to shoot moving targets. This would be his first time shooting live targets, especially those that could bring him harm. He pulled out an arrow and examined its pointy tip. He was awestruck. This was the real deal. He never thought he would have the privilege to shoot such arrows. He watched his mother pull out her two-handed longsword from the leather knapsack. He should have known magic was at work. The longsword could not physically fit in the knapsack.


    He had little time to ponder and reflect on that as the swarm of imps was within a hundred fifty meters from the giant bald eagle, gaining speed very rapidly. Fortunately, the wind was to Eddie¡¯s back, making archery the conditions more amenable to long-range shooting. The imps appeared within his range, but the riders remained too puny of a target for him to hit at one hundred fifty meters. In his practice sessions Eddie nocked an arrow, drew back, and released in one motion. Once an arrow had been drawn back, it was essential that an archer not withhold the arrow for too long. Too much tension on the elbow would make the arrow deficient and inaccurate when it was released and sometimes the archer was prone to accidents.


    The tension on the bowstring was so intense that Eddie struggled to draw back the arrow, making progress only half-way. He had no confidence in his strength that he could shoot the arrow at the bow¡¯s full strength. The horde advanced closer in his range so that Eddie could put an arrow into the rider. The distance was challenging. Eddie inhaled as he barely was able to draw back the arrow. The bowstring slipped from his grip. The sound of a bowstring being released drew Cassandra¡¯s attention as she watched the arrow go sailing out of sight.


    Eddie¡¯s target shrieked in pain and spun out of control. From Eddie¡¯s vantage, he could not make out the details other than the creature crumbled into dust. The swarm of imps became disgruntled and baffled as to why their comrade was reduced to powder. A few more arrows then found their mark slamming into hunks of imp flesh. The stricken imps crumbled to pebbles. With his current archery skills and talent, he was having a field day, shooting imps with no difficulty. The imps were bunched so tightly in formation that even if he missed his intended target, the arrow would bury itself into the next target.


    The imps had noticed this, so the leader raised its long, pointy index finger above its head, signaling the entire swarm. They dispersed and widened the attack formation so it would make using rapid fire to hit every target in one cycle of firing nearly impossible. Eddie was talented enough to fire a maximum of five arrows rapidly in one 3.5 second cycle before adjusting his aim to take a different projected path. It took him nearly double the amount to release a volley of five arrows, obviously due to the nature of the tension during each drawback.


    As the imps drew nearer, the speed of the arrows and their accuracy increased with apace. However, the whimpering imps were massive in their numbers. There were not enough arrows to slay all of them and he, Cassandra, and Woden would be overrun by the horde, long before he could shoot all of them. Cassandra shouted out from behind, telling Eddie to not let any of the imps touch him or so much as breath on his skin. They had the magical powers to petrified their prey and adversaries into stone. Trepidation ran like a cold chill down his spinal cord. His stomach ached and his concentration nearly broke.


    ¡°Good boy!¡± She patted his head. ¡°You made them spread out the way I like it. Hold your fire and take shelter behind me. It will get a little bumpy for a moment.¡±


    Cassandra whistled harmonically. The giant bald eagle spun his head, staring at them with his giant, intimidating golden eyes. It stopped flapping as it prepped itself to make landfall. The eagle¡¯s momentum shifted in the opposite direction. It grew ever stronger and Eddie lost his footing. He quickly reached out with his free arm and clung desperately to his mother¡¯s leg. He knew if he let go, he would fall to his death. Cassandra gathered him to his feet and he stood behind her, snaking his arms around her waist for leverage. Eddie could not fathom how these two adults remained glued in position without so much as a flinch.


    Cassandra made short work of the first imp, cutting diagonally across its midsection, severing it in half, although it was not a gruesome scene, as most would expect. The imps turned to stone and dispersed into dust, looking like dry clay. As she expected, their insides and blood was not shielded from the enchanted shroud so that even one tiny nip anywhere on their bodies would be fatal. The bald eagle decreased its forward motion. It was pulled further back of the horde. The imps roared in anger as they were tricked and their mystical breath attack was interrupted. The southwest winds forced them to fly around in a half-circle to pursue the bald eagle for a second attempt.


    This time, they flew back into their original formation. Cassandra¡¯s trick and tactics wouldn¡¯t work a second time. The flight became stable once again and Eddie no longer needed to cling to his mother. Eddie grew concerned as the horde completed the pass around and positioned themselves at the stern. Eddie reached for his quiver and nocked another arrow. He was interrupted by his mother as she held his right arm from drawing back the bow string. Eddie looked at her with confusion.


    ¡°Save your arrows. There is nothing we can do. Our fate is now in the hands of Mr. Woden.¡±


    ¡°Someone called for an exterminator!¡±


    Woden was holding the All-Seeing crystal ball, levitating above the palm of his hand. It was very shiny and radiant. Eddie had to shield his eye from the searing rays of holy light.


    ¡°What the heck is that?¡± Eddie pointed ahead.


    The imps were humming in unison. A large cloud of pixie dust was oozing out from within the horde. Woden muttered a Norse curse word. Even Cassandra suddenly became pale. They could feel the massive accumulation of mana energy being manifested into a magical attack. Pixie dust converted into black mist.


    ¡°How clever of them. They mean to attack us with a long-range attack,¡± she said.


    ¡°Stone Breath, that¡¯s what we wizards called this magic ability. It literally petrifies almost anything that it comes into contact with,¡± Woden snarled. ¡°Stay back! Do not pass me or you¡¯ll be blinded by the holy, divine rays of the Unsighted Light.¡±


    Darkness from the wicked mists began to envelope them. In moments, they would be petrified. Eddie¡¯s heart raced. He dared not stare at the demise that was about to swallow him and the party into an eternal abyss. Woden roared. Streaks of sun rays lashed out like particle beams and collided with the mist. The imps and their magical, combined Stone Breath were being repelled and push back. Screams of agony and suffering made Eddie cringe as the enchanted shrouds of the shadow imps were disintegrated with sparks. Their exposed bare skin was the final nail in the coffin. Soon, the imps were no more, reduced to stone and dust that drifted away with the trade winds.


    ¡°Yay!¡± Eddie celebrated. ¡°Way to go, old man!¡±


    ¡°Very impressive! The forces of light and darkness canceling each other into a stalemate.¡±


    Wooden panted, ¡°This world hinders my mana. Nevertheless, trouble should not find us again.¡±


    Woden¡¯s eyes were wide, realizing he spoke too soon. Four hidden and unscathed imps emerged from the bald eagle¡¯s starboard side. Eddie was the nearest target. Three of the imps focused on the bald eagle while the fourth imp prepared to douse Eddie with Stone Breath. It happened so suddenly that Eddie and Cassandra could not react in time. Just a split second from Eddie and Casandra being blasted into a petrification state, Woden lunged and blocked the attack with his body, shielding Eddie from harm. With a final effort, Woden wove one last spell.


    The remaining imps were sucked into the crystal ball and sealed away into it as it began a metamorphic transformation in a transparent tesseract. Violet Norse runes were inscribed around the tesseract. Eddie and Cassandra were stunned by the sudden change of events. How could this have happened? How was that even possible, they asked themselves. Woden fought the petrification effects with all his might. All he could do was delay the inevitable. His legs were the first to turn to stone.


    ¡°I do not have much time left. Take this to Draco.¡± Cassandra received the tesseract. ¡°He will have the power to extract crucial information out of the imps.¡±


    ¡°You know as well that I¡¯m not allowed to step foot out of Earth.¡±


    Woden snarled, ¡°The entire cosmos is in great danger! Do whatever it takes! And you,¡± he referred to Eddie. ¡°This is not goodbye . . . or at least I hope so. This petrification was not meant for instant death. It incubates a living organism and preserves them for a year. Seek out all the required ingredients to make a remedy to reverse this spell. You have one year. Re-remem-ber!¡± he coughed. Petrification was completed as his body solidified into a statue.


    Eddie shed a tear, ¡°Old man! I will cure you. Believe it!¡± He pounded his chest with pride.

 Chapter 5: Cassandra Ferguson (Vol. 1 )

    Cassandra Cormack was the daughter of an important noble clan that severed the Rurik royalty family for many generations and became a knight. She became a heroic figure in adulthood, fighting in the Vanahiem Revolutionary War that ended the reign of the wicked, evil, imperial empire. She then married her longtime childhood friend and lover, Alphonse Ferguson. He was from Midgard and they married a year after the war concluded. They conceived a son and named him Edward after her father. Edward received his father¡¯s surname. Their son was nicknamed Eddie for most of his life.


    Her heart clenched seeing Eddie in despair. She knew this was not the time to get sidetracked as the bald eagle was petrified after taking several hits of Stone Breath. Its body was eroding. Fortunately, it still had enough body to provide protection and it made landfall before it could fall apart. They left unscathed. The highway was void of life. Eddie was surprised that his mother could haul Woden¡¯s statue over her right shoulder like a sack of flour, as if it was nothing to her. He was certain the statue had to weigh several hundred kilos. His mother was still full of surprises.


    They avoided the highway and trekked through the woods with little conversation for nearly two hours. Eddie could not remember the last time he had walked this long. His calves and feet were burning from all the strain, mainly from strolling up slopes and he started complaining. He was silenced by Cassandra¡¯s anger. They cleared the woods by late afternoon and arrived on a dirt path. Eddie discovered that their SUV was parked on the side of the road. Eddie could see gigantic talon tracks left by the deceased eagle earlier in the day. They loaded the statue of the wizard in from the side of the vehicle, folding down the passenger seats. And they were off.


    Cassandra filled in some details after he was passed out. A big surprise was that he was no longer in Michigan. In normal circumstances, he would have made a big argument about him going over Jacob¡¯s house, playing video games. However, he knew that Jacob and the children will be rescued, thanks to old man Woden. Cassandra explained that Woden was a wandering wizard who had been good friends with his father¡¯s side of the family for many generations. Cassandra never pressed on about the harsh reality that waited for him in the future. She knew that it would be a matter of time before they discovered the Kentucky Preserve. Eddie learned that they were going to stay over at her in-laws¡¯ place. She told him about his grandparents¡ªthat they were hard people and very strict, much more than herself.


    She had been driving for hours. Around eight o¡¯clock she pulled over to the side of the road, very sure that no threat was imminent. Cassandra wrote a letter and took a messenger pigeon out of its cage in the SUV¡¯s back. She attached the message with leather straps onto the pigeon¡¯s claw. The pigeon flew into the twilight sky and vanished. Cassandra never wanted to risk using her cell phone or any landline to contact her in-laws. She was exhausted and took a short nap while letting the car¡¯s engine cool off.


    Cassandra awoke to the sound of the pigeon pecking on the windshield to get her attention. Her tired eyes flew open with alertness. She thought it was a policeman tapping on her windshield. She sighed when it was her bird that had come back with a message. She looked at the time on her radio and saw it was well past midnight, about a quarter to one. She threw open the door, not caring about making noise, and retrieved the pigeon.


    The noise had awoken Eddie from his slumber. He found himself lying on the back seats of his mother¡¯s SUV next to Woden. It was dark, as if it were night. He had no idea where he was. Sitting up proved to be a nuisance as a kink in his neck developed while he was resting in that position. Small rays of light shone through the windshield from the driver¡¯s side. His mood brightened when the light showed the face of his mother hunched over the hood and apparently reading something in the palm of her hand.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Eddie yawned and stretched before letting himself out of the vehicle. As soon as his left foot touched the gravel, an enormous sword swung down just a hair away from cutting him in half. Eddie shrieked and tensed up. Cassandra cringed and dropped her sword as soon as she realized that it was her son. Her heart nearly leaped out of her mouth. She was that close from cutting into her son, missing his cranium by inches. Fresh tears flowed down her cheeks as she quickly embraced him.


    ¡°I¡¯m so glad that you are safe and sound,¡± she snuffled. ¡°Sweetheart, I¡¯m so sorry about everything.¡±


    Seeing his mother crying was a rarity. In fact, he could not recall the last time she has seen her in tears. His heart ached seeing her miserable.


    ¡°Mom, I¡ª¡±


    A siren from a state trooper car startled them. While she still had time, Cassandra carefully slid the longsword underneath the SUV, using her foot. She was careful so she would not appear suspicious about it. She knew it was illegal in most states to be carrying concealed swords and daggers in vehicles. The state trooper parked just two car lengths away from them. Cassandra wiped the tears with the back of her sleeve. Eddie was baffled and quite nervous. He didn¡¯t know what to expect from the officer. The state trooper wore the state trooper hat and had a police belt filled with mounted equipment and the typical weapons of a police officer¡ªa handgun and a baton. He flashed his flashlight at them. The officer¡¯s body was hidden behind it.


    ¡°Excuse me, ma¡¯am. Do you guys have any trouble?¡±


    ¡°There is no trouble at the moment, sir. We were just resting a bit to give time for the engine to cool down. We slightly overslept. My apologies for the inconvenience. I hope I was not trespassing.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely not. Where are you folks heading?¡±


    ¡°We are going to my in-laws because I have issues with my boyfriend back home in Michigan.¡±


    Eddie shrugged his shoulders. Cassandra avoided her son¡¯s eyes, hoping her son was still young enough to be unaware of the ways of adulthood. It would have been too awkward and mortifying to explain where and when she ever had a boyfriend that her son never knew about, knowing that she was just an ordinary ¡°homemaker¡± for nearly a decade. And that it was all just a fib to fabricate a story for the state trooper. She could not tell the officer the exact truth.


    The state trooper observed them curiously and with a little suspicion. Cassandra gritted her teeth as he shined his flashlight at the license plate. He then observed and inspected the inside of the SUV from the tailgate, where he found the recurve bow next to a duffel bag. Eddie did not like the look on Cassandra¡¯s face. It was pale as if she has seen a ghost.


    ¡°Very sweet piece, you have there. Going hunting are we, in this attire, hmm?¡± The man whistled.


    ¡°Oh, that,¡± she gulped. ¡°I¡¯m training my son to hone his archery skills as a hobby when we arrive at my in-laws¡¯ farmstead. I have his bow in the duffel bag if you want to check it out.¡±


    The officer cupped his chin and seemed pretty sure that her story checked out.


    ¡°By law, you are to conceal your bow when driving on highways or urban environment at all times. Fortunately, this is the wilderness, so you won¡¯t be charged with any felony. However, it is very dangerous to park and camp in these woods. There are cougars and other dangerous creatures roaming about. I highly recommend you hit the road. There is a motel about thirty minutes west down the road where you guys can get a little more rest.¡±


    ¡°Thank you very much, officer. We will shortly be on our way.¡±


    ¡°And don¡¯t forget to conceal that bow. Good day to you and your boy.¡±


    The officer touched his hat in a formal greeting like a cowboy before strolling back to his car. They waved at him as he drove past them. Cassandra sighed with relief. Eddie remained silent and was too nervous to speak his mind. She did not blame him. He was too traumatized. She gathered and sheathed her longsword and laid it on the floor behind both the driver and passenger¡¯s seats.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t ask me any hard questions about yesterday,¡± she said. ¡°I promise that I will fill you in on the details along the way and the rest with your grandparents. It¡¯s best we put more distance between here and your school.¡±

 Chapter 6: The Order Of Arkon (Vol. 1)

    Far away in a distant side of the world tree Yggdrasil was the world Vanaheim. It was once home to the Norse Vanir gods. Now humans and other races inhabited Vanaheim. Unlike Earth, which was pronounced Midgard in the Norse tongue, Vanaheim¡¯s technology never advanced beyond the thirteenth century. There had been five kingdoms that had been established by the order of Arkon, a council made out of five human kingdoms and their ministers. The leaders of other races and nations, with their politicians and ambassadors, made up the entire council. The entire Yggdrasil tree was under Arkon¡¯s jurisdiction.


    Within its jurisdiction, guilds made of mercenaries or current soldiers from any race were assembled to carry out missions that each kingdom and nation could not handle on its own. Missions had been usually bounty posters on notification billboards, ranging from D-rank to S-rank. Members of any guild were considered agents of Arkon. A guild could either choose to represent a nation or be independent. Most guilds remained independent mainly due to their allegiance with the order of Arkon. Each guild was appointed a headmaster or had one that founded a guild. Certain guilds were granted privileges by the council to have jurisdiction and guardianship over a realm of the Eight Worlds. For one hundred and twelve years, there was a particular guild whose jurisdiction was to keep unauthorized outsiders and invaders from Midgard.


    Its name was Guardians of Midgard.


    Its current leader was Stanley Ferguson. Well past his middle age.


    Eight years ago, his son Alphonse Ferguson and his wife were returning from their second year anniversary trip from Paris, France, when tragedy had befallen the Ferguson family. His eldest child¡ªKate Ferguson¡ªwas babysitting Eddie at the time, driving home to her lake house in Michigan, and was ambushed by a rogue guild Blackhaven. She was killed in a car accident and Eddie was abducted. Rogue guilds were not legit guilds. Any guild that was not registered under the order of Arkon was branded as outlaws.


    They held Eddie for ransom. In exchange, they wanted the Divine Chalice that had been sealed away in a dungeon at the Kentucky Preserve. The chalice itself was an ancient artifact that housed what many had called for centuries, according to legend, the Eternal Flame. It was kept on the Preserve since 1846. No caretaker or patron had any clue as to what the Eternal Flame from the Divine Chalice was capable of, only that the Eternal Flame was a massive fire magic that could sear an entire nation in seconds.


    Meeting Darkhaven¡¯s demands, they traveled to Muspellhiem, located south of the Yggdrasil tree and the world of hellfire and brimstone. According to his daughter-in-law, the exchanged was to be made by a masked man, holding their son. The exchange for their son went haywire. Eddie was recovered, but Alphonse went missing while in combat with one of Darkhaven¡¯s agents. It was discovered by Blackhaven that the Divine Chalice was a prison to seal one of the legendary Elder Dragons. Although it was believed by the great wizard Woden the Wanderer that Alphonse had transferred the dragon into his son as its new vessel and host.


    For eight years, Stan¡¯s family and his trusted guild colleagues kept the knowledge of Eddie being a container for one of the five Elder Dragons hidden until yesterday, when he received a message from a pigeon that a dark agent of Darkhaven had disguised himself as one of his classmates, approached Eddie, and nearly abducted him. Woden, in disguise as a librarian, watched and guarded Eddie from the shadows. Cassandra and his grandson escaped unscathed, but he was not sure the ancient wizard had the power to overcome the odds back in Midgard.


    Blackhaven was on the move once again. Stan knew that they would not stop until they successfully extract the Elder Dragon. The dragon¡¯s life force was soulbound to Eddie¡¯s soul. This meant the removal of the dragon from Eddie would surely kill him instantly. Stanley had cursed the forsaken gods when they took both his children. Now it seemed deja vu was commencing. Maybe this was retribution from his insurrection for not being in favor with the gods. Traveling to the Nexus was very exhausting.


    The Nexus was made up of eight portals that were constructed by the first civilization of wizards. It was designed to synchronize with the wormhole leylines that many scribes and scholars believed to be the roots, stems, and branches of the Yggdrasil Tree that connected the Eight Worlds and the entire cosmos together. No modern technology in Midgard had the ability to see the leylines that connected the Milky Way to other galaxies. Each of the Eight Worlds had at least one main portal. The elderly wizards constructed the Nexus so that it took two portals to open a stable wormhole pathway between two worlds. Traveling through it was like riding on a roller coaster for minutes.


    Stan mounted on his favorite brown stallion, cantered down a stone and brick slope that led up to the Nexus. In the middle of a plaza in broad daylight, soldiers and guards saluted and greeted him with warmth. His guild insignia, mounted on his saddle, was seen by the onlookers that gathered around him. Stan knew that it had been at least a decade that the inhabitants of Vanhold had seen anyone from Midgard. They were fascinated with the epic stories about Midgard¡¯s modern technology and its Earthling civilization. Earthlings were like celebrities, despite the majority of them being commoners.


    Stan waved at the assembled crowd with pride as he trotted past them on his brown stallion. Much as he wanted to get in the mood, he reminded himself why he traveled millions of light years across the universe. His grandson was in great peril. Stanley knew it within his heart that Blackhaven was after Eddie. Only a handful of people in the universe knew that Eddie was a vessel and container for one of the six Elder Dragons. It did not take a rocket scientist to figure out who was responsible.


    Stanley was dressed in a typical Old West cowboy attire with some knight armor garment that consisted of a black Stetson hat, white and black checkered long sleeve shirt with a chain mail draped over it, blue jeans, a brown woolen poncho draped over, an old-fashioned leather gun belt, and custom-made cowboy steel-toed boots of leather. He also wore a pair of armored gauntlets and a pair of armored leggings hidden underneath his jeans. He had three weapons. His primary was a longsword strapped to his back. On his waist, near his left hip, was a modified short barrel shotgun that was made for him by the CIA. He also carried a six-cylinder magnum revolver that shot armor piercing rounds.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Stanley trotted up a spiral stone walkway that led up to the palace of the citadel. Armored knights and patrols welcomed Stanley as he leaped from the saddle and tied placed his stallion in a stall in the stable. There was no need for identification as the guards knew who he was. However, they were a bit surprised to see him coming without any notification. The captain of the guards approached him, flailing his arms out.


    ¡°Grandmaster Ferguson! It¡¯s good to see you well. I was not informed of your arrival. Forgive me for my incompetence.¡±


    ¡°There is nothing to be forgiven, William, old friend of my son.¡±


    Stan shook hands with William, and they embraced each other like family members who hadn¡¯t seen each other in years. William Longhill was a childhood and best friend of Alphonse. William was from a wealthy merchant family and grew up in the northern district of Dragnar¡¯s Reach. He and Alphonse first met each other in an alley while William and his family were being robbed by cutthroats and thugs. Fortunately, William and his family were spared from death. It took the Longhill family a long time to recover financially.


    William was convinced that he needed to become a warrior to protect his family and their assets, so Stan enlisted William to join GoM (Guardians of Midgard). There he and Al honed their skills and became war veterans and heroes in the Revolutionary Vanaheimian War years later. Although he served as captain of the Citadel¡¯s knights, he was still a guild member of the GoM.


    ¡°What brings you to the Citadel? I¡¯m sure you never travel this far to have a chit-chat.¡±


    ¡°It is very urgent and essential. I request an assembly with Arkon.¡±


    ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll accompany you.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Stan shook his head. ¡°Have someone inform the minister of my arrival and requests. There is something else I want to speak with you in private.¡±


    William waved to one of his guards to approach Stan. Stan then proceeded to give the vanguard a parchment. William then led Stan to the stables where it was more secluded. The stable smell of manure, but he was well used to the stench after decades of raising cattle and horses on the Kentucky Preserve. The stallions grew restless as they yearned for a human to pet them. Stan then gave William a scroll.


    ¡°Go to the Guildhall after your shift is over. Everything will be explained in the scroll. Do not lose this scroll and let it fall into the wrong hands. A time of crisis is upon us.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± William seemed to catch on.


    ¡°I can¡¯t say much here. Too many ears are upon us here in the Citadel. All I have to say is that my grandson is being hunted by you know who.¡±


    ¡°By the gods!¡± William shrieked.


    The color in Williams face vanished. He was one of the few people in the universe who knew Eddie¡¯s secret and how it was linked to the eight-year disappearance of his long-time friend. When word came to William, it nearly tore his heart in half that his best friend was missing in action because of recovering Eddie from being held as ransom and leverage over the Fergusons. He and the guild searched in Muspellhiem for many months and it was treacherous. Too many fiends had forced them to cancel the search and rescue.


    ¡°This is madness!¡± he continued furiously. ¡°How did this come about?¡±


    ¡°There is a mole in our midst.¡± William backed away and nearly wanted to protest his innocence. ¡°Don¡¯t be alarmed. You¡¯re all I got.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m honored that you believe in me, but what will you demand from the order of Arkon? You can¡¯t possibly tell them what your grandson carries within him. You are going to cause nothing but mass hysteria.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s well beyond that. There is no use to cover up the truth. We must assume that Arkon has been informed.¡±


    An ominous feeling washed over Stan as he looked past William. A pair of vanguards with halberds and pikes was approaching them.


    ¡°Remember what I said.¡±


    A couple hours had passed since his reunion with William. He sat patiently yet restlessly at the round table in the royal gathering hall as it filled with ministers awaiting the ambassadors from each country. The hall was decorative with many intricate art portraits on the walls and an exotic mural painted on the ceiling. The five kings, most of the ministers and the knights of the round table made up the order of Arkon. The gathering of the five kings with their prime ministers made up the order of Arkon.


    King Rurik Knuttsson presented himself in the hall. King Rurik was the current king of Vanhold. Vanhold was home to one of the five great kingdoms of Vanaheim. It was the home of Cassandra and her slain kin, who pledged loyalty and fealty to King Rurik and his family. King Rurik had reached middle age with five children. His eldest child and son, Bjorn Ruriksson, was slain in combat during the Revolutionary Vanaheimian War and was regarded as a national hero. Bjorn came very close to becoming one of Cassandra¡¯s suitors at a young age when Rurik and Cassandra¡¯s father Edward Cormac, nearly sealed the deal with an arranged marriage between the two.


    Rurik announced that he would be the only king attending and be a representative in the other four kings¡¯ place.


    ¡°Now that were are all gathered here, this council is in session. According to the parchment, Grandmaster Stanley Ferguson of the guild Guardians of Midgard, what is the urgent crisis in Midgard that needs our attention?¡±


    ¡°The circumstances behind my son Alphonse¡¯s disappearance have resurfaced once again.¡±


    The crowd gasped.


    ¡°It¡¯s come to my intention that Blackhaven are on the move once again. Classified intel on the Divine Chalice not being lost has been leaked out to them. They know that we still have possession of the chalice and the Elder Fire Dragon. They have invaded my home world, allied with goblins.¡±


    ¡°This is outrageous,¡± Prime Minister Regis yelled. ¡°That¡¯s contradicting because the Nexus relay team never reported any activity other than the usual in the leylines. Do you have conclusive evidence? Or perhaps it¡¯s a fallacy you cooked up.¡±


    Regis¡¯ outburst was trying Stan¡¯s patience. Stan knew that there could be no mistakes nor could he afford to lose his composure in this heated forum debate. Stan glared at the Prime Minister with anticipation that he could be one of the perpetrators of the trouble. King Rurik was one of the few people in this world who knew about what resided in Eddie. Perhaps he should be suspicious of Rurik too.


    ¡°Very well then. It has come to this,¡± his faded blue eyes landed on the king. ¡°Your Majesty. It is time we told them.¡±


    Rurik¡¯s face was impassive. He was more wary than furious. He knew what Stan was about to say could throw the entire order into mayhem, and his life and reputation were at stake.


    ¡°You¡¯re aware of the consequences. I cannot interfere nor go against Arkon.¡±


    ¡°There is no other way. Sooner or later, the word will reach the streets about my grandson.¡±


    Tax Minister Sid coughed, ¡°Grandmaster, how is your grandson related to this crisis?¡±


    Stanley stroked his chin stoically. This was the moment of truth that would shock the universe.


    ¡°Sigmund, the Elder Fire Dragon, currently resides in him.¡±


    And then there was chaos.

 Chapter 7: Meeting Grandma (Vol. 1)

    It was 3:45 a.m. when Cassandra arrived at the designated location. She had driven for more than two hours straight since the encounter with the state trooper. There hadn¡¯t been any incidents ever since. She and her son had remained silent during the last two hours of the trip. Eddie was restless, perhaps too traumatized to fall asleep. All he could do to block out the horrific recent event was to focus on something else. He thought of reaching for his backpack but knew he¡¯d be scolded even if he attempted to unbuckle his seat belt.


    Eddie peered out the window, glancing at the pavement¡¯s central yellow lines. His tired eyes darted at the backwoods of Kentucky. This would be his first trip visiting his grandparents and staying over the summer, or until further notice. Eddie wasn¡¯t too sure if attending school would be safe anymore. Eddie could recall the events of his final school day at Kings Elementary. The trip from Michigan to Kentucky made his stomach churn. He was out cold for most of the day. His throat felt dry, and he asked his mother where they were.


    He was more hungry than weary. Only thing he had eaten in the last twenty hours was a pair of mouth-watering Hostess sponge-cake Twinkies. He wondered if the ancient wizard and his friend Jacob were okay. He pushed those thoughts aside when Cassandra made a sharp left turn off the pavement and onto a narrow dirt path leading into what looked like the wilderness in the dark. Soon they would come upon his grandparents¡¯ farmstead or what they called the Kentucky preserve. The SUV was bobbing owing to the bumps in the road. As they and the SUV made it in one piece through the woods, they came across a split, dome-like high hill that had a valley in the center, vaguely visible in the dark.


    The path continued into the valley and beyond. The valley was so narrow that both sides of the SUV were less than six feet away from the jagged walls. The dirt road zigzagged until it straightened for another eight paces. As they made it through the valley, the dirt path widened a bit. There was a pickup truck ahead of them. The person inside signaled Cassandra to follow, waving a flashlight. On both sides of the dirt road were erected galvanized fences. Each side had multiple warning signs.


    PRIVATE PROPERTY


    NO TRESPASSING


    ALL TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED


    ¡°What are Grandma and Grandpa like?¡± Eddie asked, breaking the silence.


    ¡°You were just two years old when they last saw you. Their house rules are very strict. Behave, and you have nothing to fret about.¡± Her smile vanished. ¡°Let it be a warning. Grandma has zero tolerance for disobedience.¡± Cassandra glanced at him from the corner of her eye and smiled. ¡°Brighten up, my boy. Can¡¯t have you pouting all summer long.¡±


    Eddie sighed, as his mother made another left turn. He vaguely could see the farm plains with several oak trees around a swamp pond with several geese swimming. His eyes widened at the spectacular site with interest.


    Maybe this trip will not be that bad after all, he said to himself as they passed a barn just fifteen yards to the right.


    The barn was no doubt ancient for its structure, but renovations kept it in top condition as it could ever be. Just fifty yards ahead of them was an old manor that looked like it was constructed in the 1800s. The pickup truck parked along a logged fence. Cassandra parked the SUV right behind it. She turned off the ignition and stepped out to meet the driver. Just before Eddie stepped outside, a scrawny man in his fifties came out in the open to greet them.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    He was covered in sweat, dirt, and grime. He was holding a hoe in his hand.


    ¡°Walter!¡± she exclaimed.


    ¡°Welcome back, my lady. I never imagined we¡¯d meet again under such dire circumstance.¡±¡°I am sorry for all the boat load of trouble.¡±</a>


    ¡°No, No. It will be my pleasure to train and have him under my tutelage.¡± Eddie stood there and watched on with curiosity, as his mother and the man embraced one another. Perhaps this man could be his grandfather or an elderly uncle of his. Cassandra beckoned him to join them. The porch lanterns from the manor made visibility more amiable. The man wore a plain white T-shirt and faded blue jeans that had tears from being worn out over the years. The man turned to face Eddie sternly and looked at him with curiosity.


    ¡°Well, look at you.¡± He continued, patting Eddie on the shoulder, ¡°There was a time that I used to hoist you over my shoulders when you were just an infant. Pity how times have changed.¡±


    ¡°Hi,¡± Eddie said shyly. He reached to shake the man¡¯s sweaty hand. ¡°I am Eddie Ferguson! Believe it,¡± he exclaimed proudly.


    ¡°Walter Cunningham. Nice to meet you too lad.¡± He hunched. ¡°Say, there¡¯s no mistake about it. You have your father¡¯s boisterous spirit and your mother¡¯s eyes.¡± His eyes looked past Cassandra to an elderly couple that was approaching ever so slowly. ¡°Best that I should get back to work before Grandma starts to throw a fit.¡±


    ¡°Nice meeting you too, Walter.¡±


    They watched Walter disappear into the cornfield.


    ¡°Cassandra,¡± a voice called from beyond the porch. ¡°Is that you?¡±


    Eddie turned to an elderly woman with slender, white mane and wearing a kitchen apron.


    ¡°Yes! It¡¯s just me and the boy.¡± Cassandra said and hugged the woman that Eddie assumed to be his grandmother. ¡°How rude of me to drop in at such a wrong time.¡±


    Grandma¡¯s frail hands clamped on Cassandra¡¯s shoulders, soothing her. ¡°Nonsense. You two had me worrying.¡±


    ¡°Where is Stan?¡±


    ¡°He just left an hour ago in the Nexus. He¡¯s going straight to the embassy to consult with ministers and to rally reinforcements from the guild.¡±


    ¡°By himself?¡± Cassandra asked with disbelief. ¡°What about Dale and Wilbert?¡±


    ¡°Dale flew to the Australian preserve a month ago, and Wilbert is currently off the preserve, scouting for enemy approach.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Cassandra sighed. ¡°Any word from the HQ?¡±


    Grandma¡¯s face became sullen and she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. Last contact was two months ago. Just before you came, Walter tried contacting the main office of the CIA. As expected, the CIA claimed they never heard of the GoM division being part of that organization. Good thing he used a landline off the preserve.¡±


    Cassandra thrust out her lips, ¡°We must assume the very worst. The CIA has been compromised.¡±


    ¡°Leave it at that.¡± She hugged Cassandra one final time and then her eyes landed on Eddie. ¡°Oh my, you have grown up. Come. Don¡¯t be afraid to give your grandma a hefty hug.¡±


    Grandma gave him a nice squeeze. He could smell the cosmetics and nice perfume off her. She held him by his shoulders. Eddie¡¯s heart squeezed as fresh tears rolled down her rosy cheeks.


    ¡°You look so much like your father did at your age,¡± she sniffled. ¡°I¡¯m glad that you are okay. Come. You two must be hungry and weary from your long journey.¡±


    Eddie could not disagree with that. He was so famished that he felt like he could eat a humpback whale. They followed Grandma to the porch.


    ¡°Well there is a dire issue, and it¡¯s owing to unforeseen circumstances. Woden has been petrified by Shadow Imps.¡±


    ¡°Oh my,¡± Grandma clutched her hands as if she was in agony. ¡°Has he passed on? Stan will be saddened by this news.¡±


    Cassandra shook her head, ¡°Not for the next twelve months if we don¡¯t reverse the spell. I¡¯ve brought him. The spell was intended to incubate Eddie.¡±


    ¡°I have the recipe for the potion. It will take time for me to go through my alchemy bible for the required ingredients. In the meantime, come inside. I¡¯ve prepared breakfast.¡±

 Chapter 8: A Shocking Past Revealed (Vol. 1)

    Later that morning, Eddie was awakened by his grandma. He and Cassandra were resting in one of the guests rooms. Eddie was so weary that he wanted to go back to bed, but the delicious smell of hot chocolate filled his nostrils. Then all the fatigue and ache in his muscles abated and were replaced by a cheeky smile. He jubilantly received the mug of fresh cocoa. He blew before taking several sips. It was delicious. His baggy eyes vanished instantly as he felt a slight surge of energy coursing through his veins.


    ¡°Delicious, isn¡¯t it? The brownies have such a fascinating recipe,¡± Grandma smiled.


    ¡°Eddie. What do you say?¡± asked Cassandra. Cassandra folded her arms and looked displeased with him. Eddie immediately recognized his mistake and lowered his head.


    ¡°Thank you, Grandma. For the cocoa.¡±


    ¡°Oh sweetie. You remind me of your father.¡± She patted his head.


    Eddie grinned. His mood brightened as the exotic armor set his mother was wearing caught his attention. Cassandra was wearing a suit of platinum armor. She was fully dressed like a knight. And her longsword was sheathed to her back.


    ¡°Wow! You look so super great, Mom!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, my dear son. It is my battle armor I¡¯ve had since a long time ago. It surprises me that it still fits,¡± she giggled. ¡°It¡¯s always been standard procedure for me to be suited up at all times when I was expecting a war. There is so much for you to know learn where I came from and the lifestyle I grew up with.¡±


    ¡°That is for another time,¡± Grandma retorted. ¡°He should know what is to become of him.¡±


    ¡°B-but . . . what about me? When are we going to go back home to Michigan?¡±


    The unhappy look in Cassandra¡¯s eyes made him think twice about asking further. Grandma had a tabloid folded in her arms. She placed it onto the table next to the bed. His heart lurched, reading the title of the front page, Ferguson Family of Two Missing. The photo on the front page was taken at his school with a wanted poster of him and Cassandra. Eddie vaguely could only comprehend the article with the current level of his reading skills and shrugged.


    ¡°It seems that your predicament is the talk of the day around the nation. They believe the horrific events that took place at your school were the result of a terrorist attack. A search and rescue operation has begun all over the state of Michigan. A reward has been posted for those who would discover your whereabouts.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Eddie sipped his cocoa. ¡°Now will be the time to tell what exactly all this has to do with me?¡±


    Cassandra and Grandma nodded at one another.


    ¡°I believe that it¡¯s your responsibility to tell him about what he houses within himself.¡± Grandma said in a monotone.


    Cassandra sighed.


    Grandma continued. ¡°Did your mother tell you that our family has Viking and Norse ancestral bloodlines? Did she preach to you about the gods of Asgard?¡±


    Eddie nodded obediently and said, ¡°Yes, Grangma.¡±


    ¡°Very good,¡± Grandma smiled proudly.


    ¡°I do not have the time to lecture you all the details," cassandra retorted. "However, you must have the will power to believe in your heart that all those stories I read to you when you were little are not a myth. The stories are very much real.¡±


    Eddie¡¯s mouth became dry, ¡°For real? The Thunder God Thor for real?¡±


    Cassandra chuckled. ¡°He once lived and walked among us just before Ragnarok commenced. Ragnarok, the doom of the gods and the universe, has already been destroyed and recreated by your mother¡¯s ancestor, the god Baldur and his brother. There are Eight Worlds besides this one with Asgard remaining in ruins for nearly a thousand of years. Only a handful of people in the world have this knowledge that was passed on to each generation.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Eddie was astonished by this revelation. It was like a dream had come true. Grandma held his hand and traced her thumb over his thumb. Glancing into her frosty blues, he felt very exhilarated and excited. In her other hand, there was an ancient leather parchment tied with a straw in the center. Laying the parchment down on the bed and unfolding it, he caught a glimpse of letters written in ancient Nordic runes. At the center of the parchment was a drawing of a large wicked tree that had each of its roots or stems connected to a list of names. In the center of a tree was the sun. He spotted his mother¡¯s name near the left top of the parchment, connected to a stem.


    ¡°That is a magical contract that grants access to the preserve. We, the Ferguson family, have been caretakers and guardians of this preserve for many generations. Our task is to run and maintain the Nexus that is a waypoint for travelers to cross the universe, to travel millions of light years in a fraction of time.


    ¡°Under normal circumstances, it¡¯s always been a Ferguson traditional that each generation goes on a treasure hunt to solve the mysteries of the preserve and the magical realms of the Eight Worlds of the great world tree Yggdrasil. This scroll was intended to be the prize. However, in the near future, we will face a great danger that started with your missing father,¡± Grandma said.


    ¡°What happen to Dad? Why did he leave us?¡±


    Eddie frowned. Grandma had a look of sadness in her eyes. Cassandra paced back and forth uncomfortably. Cassandra had been very evasive about the topic. She had told him his father went missing after a failed skirmish as a soldier and a scout. He stomached the possibility of his father might be dead.


    ¡°Your father went missing eight years ago. You were abducted by a powerful member of a rogue guild that calls themselves Blackhaven and were held hostage for ransom. Blackhaven wanted the Divine Chalice that was sealed in the dungeons on this Preserve. In the Chalice resides a very potent and massive abomination that can easily destroy the universe. Sigmund the Elder Fire Dragon. was released from its prison upon exchange with you.


    ¡°Your abductor was very cunning to fool me and tossed a dummy of you over the cliff and into the sea. I was foolish enough to dive after the fake you, ignoring your father¡¯s warnings. I soon realized my mistake. Upon returning to the surface, I heard a thunderous roar of a dragon. There was no sight of your father. I discovered you unconscious, shrouded in flames. I could feel the demonic aura coursing through you.¡±


    Cassandra paused momentarily and collected her thoughts.


    ¡°I panicked because I couldn¡¯t extinguish the flames even when it rained. Fortunately, the flames subsided. I called out for your father, but he was nowhere to be seen, so I took you back to this preserve and we examined you. We came to a conclusion that your father sealed away Konrad inside of you, rerouting the mystical astral plane from the chalice into you becoming the creature¡¯s prison, and you¡¯re now its vessel and host.¡±


    So much information was being processed through Eddie¡¯s mind that he could not think straight. Eddie felt like he was betrayed by the woman that brought him into this world, pitied by his relatives. He was hyperventilating. His heart felt like it was about to burst open. He did not know if he should be infuriated or saddened by this turn of events. He was a monster just like his favorite manga character, Ramen Ninja Boy.


    ¡°We kept this a secret for eight years,¡± Cassandra said with fresh tears running down her cheeks. ¡°We never told a soul about it. As of now, we must assume the worst¡ªthat Blackhaven knows that an Elder Dragon resides in you. They will come to collect the dragon. If they succeed . . .¡±


    Eddie was terrified. Cassandra embraced him with tenderness. ¡°I will not let that happen. I already lost my husband¡ªyour father¡ªto them. I will never lose you!¡± She sniffled. ¡°I had no intention of keeping this a secret from you your entire life. You must understand that I originally wanted to wait until you grew into adulthood. That¡¯s now irrelevant. I understand that you must hate me now.¡±


    Cassandra could no longer look her son in the eye. Eddie clenched his fist. His stomach ached seeing Cassandra weeping like never before. Quickly, he made a decision not to hold a grudge against his mother. He was right. He was no different than his favorite protagonist. Both of them housed immense, mystical creatures within themselves. Ramen Ninja Boy had colossal Nine-tailed Fox from Asian mythology sealed away inside of him right after birth by his father. The Nine-tailed Fox ravished his village, killing thousands, including his parents.


    Eddie reflected on Ramen Ninja Boy¡¯s life. He grew up being feared and shunned by the villagers nearly all his life. Ramen Ninja Boy was treated like a scapegoat and an outcast before he became a respected Ninja and a hero. It came with great responsibility¡ªbeing a vessel for colossal creatures. Eddie understood why he liked Ramen Ninja Boy. Most children would probably be so frightened that they would lose their sanity after having such a harsh revelation bestowed upon them.


    ¡°Do not blame her. Cassandra did what was best for you.¡± Grandma wiped his tears away. ¡°And I do not want to hear you calling yourself a monster! You are not Sigmund nor is he you. Remember that!¡±


    Eddie chuckled, ¡°Grandma, I am not angry. I am still a little lost as to what is happening and what I am supposed to believe. Mark my words,¡± he pounded his chest like a gorilla. ¡°I am not scared of anything! Believe it!¡±


    Grandma chuckled deviously, ¡°You will be, my grandson. You will be.¡±


    ¡°If you can let me be, I need to tend to the stables,¡± Cassandra said. ¡°I suggest my son should start with the attic.¡± Cassandra kissed his forehead. ¡°Behave yourself.¡±

 Chapter 9: Attic (Vol. 1)

    Eddie removed his shoes from the shoe rack and quickly put them on before following Grandma out of the guestroom. The interior of the manor was spacious. It looked like the hall inside of the Bishop Museum he had visited last year. There were two separate staircases on opposite ends merged together in the center of the second floor. From where he stood, the formation of the joint staircases looked like a gigantic arrow tip.


    The manor¡¯s inner walls were painted white and the great hall¡¯s wooden glossy tiles had the patterns of checkers. The manor had one golden immense lantern, suspended on an anchor chain from the ceiling. There were two portraits of a man and women, mounted on both sides of the second floor corridor entrance where the staircases merged. The first floor had four doors. The first door was the front door to enter and exit the manor.


    ¡°The door to your right as you can see leads to the kitchen.¡± She pointed at the left door, ¡°Beyond that door is the lounge. Not a place for children.¡±


    Strolling up the stairs, he had a better view of all the mounted tapestries and portraits. As he got to the second floor, he got a closer view of the two big portraits. A beautiful woman with a long mane of red hair, wearing a white wedding dress, might be Grandma, Eddie thought. To the left, a handsome man with spiky dark, blond hair wore an old-fashioned black tuxedo. The man looked like his father and he came to one conclusion.


    ¡°Is that Grandpa?¡±


    She smiled, ¡°He is. Quite the handsome fellow he was back in the day.¡± Grandma smiled radiantly.


    ¡°Where is Grandpa?¡±


    ¡°That, my grandson, is another conversation for another time.¡±


    A long red embroidered throw rug was spread across the corridor. There were four doors leading to four bedrooms. There were twelve portraits of exotic people and two of them looked oddly familiar to him. And there were eight middle-age armor suits lined up between each portrait. At the far end of the corridor was a stairway to the third floor. The entrance to the stairway was flanked by two more enormous Nordic suits of armor, each with a massive battle axe and a longsword from the ninth century. The ¡°armors¡± were facing each other in a battle stance.


    Eddie paused as if unsure how to walk passed the armors with their weapons hoisted offensively. Grandma cackled, patting him on the shoulder, ¡°They¡¯re the guardians Eric and Alexander. They protect the manor from intruders and unwanted guests. Come along. They won¡¯t be a nuisance in our presence.¡±


    He hurried to the stairway without so much as a glimpse at the armors. He knew that Grandma was just jesting. It was not possible for empty suits to operate on their own. The corkscrewed staircase had unlighted, exotic torches mounted on the walls, as the lanterns above illuminated the entire way. It was very rustic and ancient, Eddie thought. Ahead, there was an old glossy door.


    ¡°Here is where you will be staying. This is a sanctuary for children to protect them from the outside world.¡±


    Entering, Grandma flipped the light switched on. The attic was a wreck. Almost everything was flipped upside down, covered in cobwebs and dust, or stacked in piles. The entire attic looked like the aftermath of an earthquake that had been left undone for a decade.


    ¡°You got to be kidding me!¡±


    ¡°Consider this the start of your training. Welcome to Ferguson boot camp. I want everything stacked neatly and cleaned spotlessly,¡± she snickered.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°But that¡¯s a lot of work. And it may take me the entire summer,¡± he grumbled.


    ¡°Well then, I suggest you get started, young man,¡± Grandma sighed. ¡°Just for precaution and for your safety. You are not to leave the attic without permission from me, your mother,Walter and and my housekeeping maid. Lunch will be after your chore has been accomplished.¡±


    Eddie¡¯s shoulders slumped in defeat. ¡°What if I have to go to the restroom?¡±


    ¡°Ring the bell by pressing the button next to the light switch. My mad will assist you. Let this be a warning, the bell is not to be abused in any manner.¡± Grandma handed him a three-inch silver key in the shape of an eagle¡¯s head. ¡°There¡¯s a lair hidden somewhere within the pile. Inside is an automaton. It will be a very valuable asset beyond your wildest dream. ¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s an automaton?¡±


    Grandma squinted and smiled warmly, ¡°Some secrets are meant to be discovered. Now I leave you to your discovery of this mystical attic.¡±


    <hr>


    The attic was a mess, filled with cobwebs and accumulated dirt. It smelled of dust. There were stacks of old pictures and torn-up furniture. A ruined piano was positioned to the far left corner. Ancient music scores were scattered across the old floor coated in dust. On the left wall¡ªin the center¡ªwas a rustic wardrobe. An old-fashioned ruined rustic bed frame was on his right.


    Straight ahead was a dormer window that allowed the sun¡¯s rays to illuminate the room. You got to be kidding me! He face-palmed. Observing more, Eddie noticed something was not right. A strange presence lingered here. His jaded eyes followed the exposed rafters up to the roof. The room was narrower than he imagined it to be, given the size of the manor.


    The light grew ever brighter as the two panels of the dormer window flew open and a gust of air poured into the attic, stirring the dust particles. Eddie coughed as he put up his dukes to shield his face, racing towards the window. Just as he was about to close the window, a cluster swarm of yellow moved swiftly like an inverted twister across the courtyard, heading toward the attic.


    ¡°Shut the window or we¡¯ll be finished!¡± someone yelled behind him has he pulled the window closed and crossed and locked it. The rustling noise from the swarm outside buzzed in Eddie¡¯s ear. Turning to meet the person, Eddie gawked zealously at the maid who was five years ahead of his age. Judging by the way she dressed, she was a housekeeping maid. She was a beautiful lass with platinum-blonde hair. Her face showed that she was very concerned.


    Eddie studied her with a little suspicion because he had never heard her knock or enter and she had passed through the threshold without so much as a single sound. It reminded him of playing those Assassin¡¯s Creed games where you played as an assassin protagonist, using the ability of stealth to approach your targets¡ªmainly from behind¡ªto eliminate them. Just the thought of being one of those targets gave him goosebumps.


    He checked to see if she was holding any weapon or any objects that might be a potential hazard. She held one mop in her right hand and a pail of water in her left. Behind her were brooms and dustpans that she brought in without him noticing it. His thoughts wandered back to the window that was being attacked by the deadly swarm.


    ¡°Do not fret. It will pass over us,¡± she said.


    ¡°What about the other folks who are still outside? The bees will get them!¡±


    ¡°They have special wasp repellent and should be all right. Although, those are a very rare cluster of Yggdrasil yellow jackets. What you are seeing outside are not your average wasps you see every day. They are a very sacred species that are only seen as assailants to those who encroach upon their territory or projected path. They will attack without provocation anyone and everything that comes within eyesight.


    ¡°Just last year, the swarm attacked a mailman on the preserve, shortly after delivery. He was hospitalized in critical condition. Your grandparent¡¯s claimed to the authorities that it was very rare to encounter a cluster of wasps or bees on the property.¡±


    ¡°Wicked!¡± he exclaimed.


    ¡°I am Rosa and I¡¯m here to help you clean out the attic before nightfall,¡± she bowed.


    ¡°Are we cousins?¡± he asked out of curiosity.


    ¡°We are not. I am a maid and my job is to clean the manor and do the laundry. Do you have any more questions?¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± he cupped his chin, ¡°Grandma said I must find this automaton. What is that?¡±


    Rosa frowned, unsure what to make out of Eddie¡¯s question, ¡°According to history, it¡¯s a mechanical device built to look like us humans.¡± The look on Eddie¡¯s face told her that he was baffled. ¡°That¡¯s a topic for another time. I suggest we get straight to work, we¡¯re burning daylight.¡±

 Chapter 10: Breaking A Sworn Oath (Vol. 1)

    They spent the entire morning cleaning out the attic, wearing face masks, which were essential for protection against inhaling the dust particles that contained many types of bacteria. Eddie¡¯s orange Ramen Ninja Boy t-shirt was drenched in sweat and covered with cobwebs. His faced was smeared with dirt and perspiration. With all the hard work put into cleaning, he was very weary.


    His palms picked several splinters from charring rotting wood from old busted furniture. His hands were blistered and aching halfway through the renovations and helping Walter with the hauling of garbage. Waltzing up the staircase to the attic and back down repeatedly depleted most of Eddie¡¯s energy. His legs felt so heavy as if they were shackled to an anchor. He was panting very heavily and he felt the drum of his heartbeat.


    ¡°Breath, boy. Breath,¡± Walter came up from behind and patted Eddie¡¯s back. ¡°Drink. It will rehydrate you,¡± Walter offered Eddie a bottle of purified water. ¡°Let¡¯s take a break. Lunch will be here shortly.¡±


    Walter laid down an old-fashioned picnic blanket underneath a tree. The trade winds blew against his back from southeast. It blew the lush aroma of beef stew toward them, which tingled his belly. His stomach growled and he was famished.


    ¡°That¡¯s done. Let¡¯s get washed up for lunch. We don¡¯t want to get dirt and bacteria in your food.¡±


    They went back to the old school pick-up Ford F-150 that they had hauled the trashed onto. The body has been refurbished with a new jungle camouflage paint job. The driver and passenger bay remained intact as if from the day of purchase. Beyond the truck was an old-fashioned brick water well where Rosa was using a pulley to lift a pail from the well.


    As it surfaced, a leather bucket appeared, attached to the other end of the rope that was looped over the pulley. From the leather pail, water splashed like a waterfall as it rocked unsteadily. Rosa caught it and removed the latch from the rope and steadily transferred the water into metal bucket, miraculously spilling not a single drop. Watching her, Eddie reached out for the pail, but Rosa stopped him.


    ¡°Do not contaminate the water with your filthy hands, young man!¡± Eddie froze. ¡°Do not follow Walter''s practice. He has no manners and respect for natural resources,¡± she scowled, folding her arms. Eddie¡¯s hand remained frozen in position as if he was being scolded.


    ¡°Water is not going to waste. The remnants will return to the earth and help fertilize the garden. That¡¯s the cycle of life,¡± Walter said with sarcasm.


    The look on Rosa face reminded Eddie of his mother every time she got angry or furious with him. His mother Cassandra could be a very daunting woman. Even his caretaker and guardian told him stories that she got men to urinate their pants out of fear. Chills ran down his spine just thinking about it.


    Rosa crossed her arms and gritted her teeth, ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll have the young master dip his hands and wash his face in your water and force you to drink every pint of it, you ungrateful oaf!¡±


    ¡°Pay her no mind,¡± Walter muttered, gently nudging him on the shoulder. ¡°She¡¯s just an angry lass in heat. Her boyfriend went overseas¡ª¡±


    Eddie laughed uncontrollably, not recognizing what was happening as Walter slipped away from the water being thrown in their direction. Poor Eddie got his wits knocked out of him in a heartbeat. His humorous, cheeky smile was instantly reduced to bitterness as water sputtered from his mouth and nostril and he muttered incoherently. He was completely drenched from head to toe.


    ¡°You see what you made me do! It¡¯s for fault that the young master got doused!¡± She threw the empty metal bucket at Walter¡¯s head, but with great reflexes and quick footwork, he spun and caught it masterfully with one hand.


    She snarled in defeat, ¡°Sweetheart, my apologies. I¡¯ll be back with a towel if you need one.¡±


    Truth to be told, he felt a lot better and relieved, soaked in the fresh well water. ¡°Ma¡¯am, that''s okay,¡± he said shyly.


    ¡°Now. Now. Don¡¯t be afraid to ask me for anything. Communication is very essential, even in the presence of grownups,¡± she sighed. ¡°I suggest we get you dried off. Don¡¯t want you to catch a cold.¡±


    Rosa left their side in a hurry.


    Thinking back on the interaction, Eddie thought Rosa acted too mature for her age. The way she acted was as if she was an old crone, he thought. There was some mysterious chemistry between Walter and Rosa. By appearances, Walter may seem like a father figure due to the age gap to onlookers, but there was more there than met the eye. Walter and Rose seemed to be more like quarreling friends or lovers. Eddie was too young in age to comprehend that.


    Rummaging through his pocket, Walter pulled out a plastic bottle of hand sanitizer. He squirted a capful of the gel solution onto his open hand. ¡°This will help terminate most of the germs.¡± Eddie held out his palm and happily received the sanitizer. He mimicked Walter, rubbing it in with his two hands until it was absorbed.


    ¡°We have a little time, please do tell me about yourself?¡± Walter asked.


    ¡°Umm . . . I-I don-t know,¡± he stuttered. ¡°Ahh . . . I like to play video games. I like to watch anime on Cartoon Stream. I like to read my Ramen Ninja manga,¡± he smiled cheekily.


    ¡°Manga?¡± he furrowed a brow.


    ¡°You know! Japanese comics,¡± he shrugged.


    ¡°Oh! Never read anything from Japan,¡± he said, while scratching the back of his head. ¡°Reading is very comprehensible. Growing up, I wasn¡¯t allowed to read comics. My parents believed that a picture book story will not increase a reader¡¯s intelligence and that it¡¯s a good exercise to determine a story or a current event by words. Although, on Sundays, I used to sneak into the living room with a flashlight and read the Sunday comic strip special,¡± he reminisced, scratching his well-shaved chin.


    Eddie laughed at this thought while continuing to listen.


    ¡°Reading is a good hobby no matter if a book is judged by pictures or literature.¡± They laughed together.


    ¡°On to physical activities, your mother tells me that you are quite skilled with a bow. She also said that you possessed such great affinity with a bow that you may be a master marksman long before maturing into adulthood. Do you know how long you have been practicing archery?¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Eddie shrugged, ¡°Don¡¯t know. My mom and I shoot bow and arrow together when she does not work and has time to spend with me.¡±


    ¡°Interesting. Not too many children your age could draw back a bowstring (not a kid''s bow), especially at the age of ten,¡± he chuckled. ¡°How about we get a shoot in tomorrow afternoon if you¡¯re up for it.¡±


    ¡°Sweet!¡± he exclaimed. Suddenly he felt dejected for the reason he was on the Preserve. ¡°But will Grandma and Mom let me? It feels like I¡¯m being punished.¡±


    Eddie felt a hand rested on his right shoulder, making Eddie come to a complete stop. He was spun around to meet the man¡¯s squinted onyx eyes, gazing upon him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go pouting, young master. With every punishment, a disciplinary action is required to carry out each sentence. However, you¡¯ll find almost every disciplinary action you undergo because of disobedience or foolishness, each sentence is very rewarding. Disciplining is very necessary for physical growth and maturity. Everyone needs it, not only the punished. That¡¯s why the Boy Scouts and the military have boot camps.¡±


    Eddie gulped, not too pleased with the lecture as they continued their slow pace through the lawn. When he returned, Cassandra helped Grandma place a nice glossy, picnic wooden square table with four curved ends in the center of the mat. The table had two aluminum folding legs. The height of the legs only extended approximately two feet high, so everyone had to sit on the mat in a cross-legged posture.


    The table had a basket full of fresh baked French baguettes, a white butter dish with a block of low fat butter, a pot of delicious venison stew, and four dinner plates with metallic utensils placed neatly upon a sheet of napkin made out of linen. Eddie had only been on picnics with his mother and occasionally at school excursions. He had never seen such a well-prepared and luxurious picnic in his life.


    Drooling, Eddie heard his stomach rumbling at the sweet and tender aromas filling his nostrils. He could not wait to fill his belly with a bowl of stew. His cravings were interrupted when Rosa called out to him. She was waving a folded blue towel that had tribal art print that he could not discern. Holy smokes! That was fast! He could not believe how quick she was, as if teleported from one area to another.


    He happily received the towel and thanked her. Eddie''s mother and grandmother arrived at the same time. They did not looked happy.


    ¡°Why is he wet?¡± Grandma and Cassandra said in unison.


    Cassandra hissed.


    Eddie saw the devious glint in Grandma¡¯s eyes, seeing Walter and Rosa blaming and pointing fingers at each other. Grandma folded her arms and patiently watched them bicker with amusement. Eddie took the opportunity to wipe himself dry. He recalled Cassandra telling him to be aware of Grandma¡¯s sly and cunning jests. And that she was very uncanny to catch people off their guard with her devious remarks.


    To make matters worse, it was nearly impossible to distinguish Grandma¡¯s anger from her jokes. You had no choice but to play a mental game of cat and mouse. He marveled at how Grandma defused the situation with a cackle of laughter that seemed to end the argument in a heartbeat.


    ¡°You two get a room! You¡¯re dawdling around my grandson being very improper.¡±


    They laughed in a cheerful mood and Eddie joined in with them. The luncheon that afternoon lifted Eddie¡¯s spirit. Grandma¡¯s cooking had to be the best, next to his mother¡¯s. The spices and preservatives were well balanced with the tomato paste and broth that gave it sweetness with the potatoes, carrots, and celery. The meat chunks, which Eddie wrongly thought were beef melted in his mouth.


    The meat was not rough and rubbery. It was sublime. Telling Grandma how delicious the beef was, he received giggles from the ladies while Walter jested to Eddie that he was tasting the meat of a dog. The color in his face drained. He was pale and stiff as a corpse; his gut felt like it was being constricted.


    Walter shivered as a pair of deadly glares shot at him. He reassured Eddie that it was all just a joke and the meat that he was consuming was venison, the flesh of a deer. Eddie had never eaten deer meat in his life. This was his first. He was glad that he could finish his bowl of stew.


    Learning proper bread and butter etiquette, Eddie thought the skill was too fussy. He was told to not smudge butter on his bread directly. He observed how it was done when Grandma tore off a bite size, held it with her fingers, and used her butter knife to smudge the creamy butter onto the bread. She dipped it into her bowl, marinated it with the stew gravy, and consumed it.


    Grandma¡¯s cheeks brightly flushed red. Rosa poured them a glass of freshly made lemonade. There were slices of lemons within the pitcher to add more flavor to the beverage. The lemonade was very sweet and tangy. His face flushed red from the sourness that came afterward.


    In all his life, Eddie had never had lunch outside a residence, much less on a lawn. The only time he ate lunch outdoors was on school excursions and occasionally at beach parks with his mother. Eating in the presence of adults, Eddie thought it was best to keep quiet and never interrupt grown-ups while they were conversing about the Yggdrasil yellow jackets. A sign of apprehension was grimly written across Grandma¡¯s face.


    ¡°It¡¯s sooner than I anticipated,¡± Grandma said, ¡°However, you can put your worries to rest. The Yggdrasil yellow jackets are this Preserve¡¯s guardians and under my husband¡¯s jurisdiction. They would not have harmed anyone here that is on the list. They relayed a message to me.¡±


    Rosa coughed. She was mortified from her ineptitude. Eddie looked at her suspiciously once again. She shamefully never returned the glance.


    I closed the window all for nothing, Eddie said to himself.


    ¡°Is it a message from him?¡± Rosa asked with interest.


    Grandma shook her head and sipped her lemonade. ¡°All we know is Blackhaven has made landfall here, somewhere on American soil, and that they are after my grandson. The numbers are unclear.¡±


    ¡°It is very clear that they are working with the goblins. We should also assume that they are in cahoots with the orcs and any evil entity in existence. Blackhaven will never rest. They will never sleep. And they will never stop until they apprehend Eddie.¡± Cassandra fumed.


    ¡°As I feared. The orcs have legions of foot soldiers by the hundreds of thousands or perhaps millions. Their armor has been upgraded since the last century. Their shells are so shrewd that even a shotgun shot at point blank won¡¯t leave much of a dent. This Preserve will face a great peril,¡± Walter interjected. ¡°This state of Kentucky has been compromised.¡±


    ¡°Impossible! Nothing can breach the distracter spells¡¯ line of defenses without us noticing it.¡± Rosa gritted her teeth.


    ¡°Perhaps we have a mole within our midst,¡± Cassandra retorted.


    ¡°How did you come to this conclusion?¡± Rosa accused, ¡°We swore an on oath and pledged our fealty to protect this Preserve with our lives! There is no room for deception!¡±


    ¡°They knew exactly where to hit and where to locate me and my son. Why do you seem disobliged by my presumption?¡±


    Cassandra furrowed her brow.


    ¡°On the contrary,¡± Walter pointed out. ¡°The contract does not welcome evildoers. Nor does it accept individuals with future intent to endanger this land and its inhabitants. However, the contract cannot filter out change of heart,¡± Rosa looked at him with rage.


    Eddie watched and listened with curiosity. He felt like he had no place within the debate with adults, but he had a hunch that his visit here would be out of the ordinary. Observing the grown-ups, Walter seemed the most mellowed out of the three. Something about the man¡¯s foresight piqued his interest.


    ¡°Preposterous!¡± Rosa spat.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Grandma intervened. ¡°We will deal with the full brunt of the crisis when the time for it arises. Best we get started with the preparations. There is no telling how long we have before combat.¡±


    ¡°And the boy,¡± Walter pointed at him. ¡°How should we proceed with his training?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your call,¡± Grandma indicated to an irritated Cassandra.


    Cassandra sipped her lemonade and looked at her son with guilt. She had never intended for Eddie to live this way of life. She always wanted him to have a normal life and grow old in an age of peace and prosperity. Here on Earth, during the Modern age. Wars were very scarce, compared to the Magic Era of the seven other worlds. This was one of the main reasons why she discarded her highborn nobility for a normal life for a husband of her choosing and settling down with kids.


    She had made an oath to her husband Alphonse that their children should never live the savagery life of warfare and conflict. That oath now had to be broken for Eddie¡¯s sake. He will definitely need to bathe his hands in blood and severe his innocence to survive. Survival of the fittest. Only the most intensive, brutal training would guarantee survival. Cassandra now hated herself for what she was about to do to her son.


    ¡°One month. He will be trained the Spartan way.¡±

 Chapter 11: The Past Of His Parents (Vol. 2)

    The rest of the day went smoothly. Cassandra gave him a tour around the preserve. The stable was the first place he visited. It housed Kentucky¡¯s most prized stallions and mares. One particular mare that always been by Cassandra¡¯s side since she was fourteen years old remained on the Preserve for more than a decade before Cassandra was married. Her name was Lara. Eddie found it fascinating that his mother could communicate with her mare.


    Next was the barn, where all the other livestock resided. It was like the stable. The barn smelled of manure with dried hay. Nothing out of the ordinary. Returning to the stables once again, Eddie saw that Rosa had already prepared Lara for riding¡ªslipping the saddle onto Lara and fastening the bridle across her face. Eddie was astounded when Cassandra placed her foot in the stirrup and mounted perfectly on the saddle with no issues. She hoisted Eddie up. This brought back memories of Michigan when she used to take him riding on horses from Aunt Petunia¡¯s stable.


    Cassandra cantered across the lawn, bypassing the garden of flowers. Eddie saw a small swarm of dragonflies emerged from beneath the lotuses. His curiosity spiked when his mother waved at them.


    ¡°Wave, my son. Wave,¡± she hummed. ¡°They greet us.¡±


    ¡°But . . . those are dragonflies,¡± Eddie blanched.


    ¡°That is nothing but a mirage. Look again.¡±


    A sudden bright haze obstructed his vision. Out from the parted haze, the garden became gladdened with pixie dust. His eye widened with astonishment. Never before had his eyes laid upon such a magnificent panorama. The center of the garden had an erected platinum statue of a fairy, holding an empty intricate goblet. It blossomed with such a radiant light that he couldn¡¯t fathom it. The dragonflies changed into spirits that looked like young ladies. Their dragonfly wings shimmered with sparkling impact.


    ¡°They are fairies that serve as my handmaidens. I am their lost ruler Titania, renewed in human flesh¡± said Cassandra.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Eddie marveled about the unveiling of his mom being the Fairy Queen and the great horde of pixies that were amassed nearby. The more he became learned about his mom, he felt like Cassandra was an outsider.


    The pixies¡¯ fragrance had such a scrumptious honeydew smell to it. He stayed quiet as he watched and listened as Cassandra counseled with the pixies. He couldn¡¯t comprehend their dialect. Their vocals seemed like somebody fast-forwarding a tape.


    Next thing he knew, the group of fairies assembled around him with interest. Every one of them had conspicuous, blushing cheeks. Their reddening was very clear to Cassandra. Their alluring snickering made Eddie feel uncomfortable. Cassandra hissed. The flock scattered and fled in apprehension of their ruler¡¯s indignation. Eddie had seen this on multiple occasions, watching Japanese anime and perusing manga.


    ¡°Why do young ladies¡¯ face get red when they are around some young men? Do they have a fever?¡±


    Cassandra laughed, ¡°They were blushing. When individuals become flushed, they are filled with fervor and shame.¡±


    "I¡¯m a prince then. No miracles they needed to see me,¡± he giggled. ¡°I¡¯m like a rock star to them.¡±


    ¡°Pretty much. Trust it or not. You are the only living man and child among the pixie society, in spite of being conceived human. The catastrophe happened when Osborne, spouse of the first Titania, was killed in battle, amid the last skirmish of Camelot where both King Arthur and his illegitimate child killed each other in battle. Osborne was the savior to all fairymen. They all died quickly.¡±


    ¡°Ahh man. That is a bummer.¡±


    ¡°Some travel the world looking for their perfect partner. Despite the fact that there is a high value they may pay. Now and again, some pixies lose their powers and stay mortal forever.¡±


    For whatever was left of their trek, they stayed quiet until they reach an overlook bluff. The view was stunning, the striking dull blue shades of the sky converged with the orange cast of the setting sun. The streams below crisscrossed like the Amazon River and consolidated from left to right. The timberland was blackened from the absence of daylight. Flocks of geese moved southwest opposite them.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°How did you meet Dad? What was he like?¡±


    ¡°Your dad is much the same as you. Extremely tumultuous and full with energy. He¡¯s the sort of individual that can win the hearts of the general population with simply his voice alone. He was a war hero,¡± she said. ¡°I initially met him at a forum numerous years back at the Citadel. In the first place, I thought Alphonse was only a backwoods folk ordinary person that was out to demolish my life.¡±


    ¡°Why would he do that? Was he a terrible man?¡± Eddie frowned.


    Eddie could feel his mom turning out to be exceptionally tense, yet couldn¡¯t see the tears streaming down Cassandra¡¯s cheeks. He didn¡¯t recognize what came over him, yet something let him know that he was not going to like most of his mom¡¯s side of the story.


    ¡°We went to the same school here in Kentucky. Alphonse was my classmate in grade school and my associate amid the Vanaheimian Revolutionary War. He was a decent companion, like a sibling to me, before we became lovers. We got married after we won the war. My young memory of him was the most terrible. He generally used to ask me out on various dates, he sat alongside me, and he was too uproarious and impolite.


    ¡°I berated him and rejected him each time he asked me out. My eyes, like each young lady in my era, were on the nice looking, brooding bad-boy young prince. His name was Lancelot of Rivera. He was the child of an outstanding ruler. Each young lady during my era had eyes for him. His hair was dark as a raven, his agonizing attitude, his gifts, and identity made any young lady swoon over him. Indeed, even a few ladies that were twice his age. The motivation behind why I succumbed to him was that I was an outcast, regardless of being conceived a highborn noble.¡±


    ¡°So you and Dad were heroes? What was the war about?¡±


    ¡°That is another story for another time. I want you to hear me out and what I have to say.¡±


    There was a moment of silence as Cassandra gathered her thoughts. Eddie was eager to hear the rest of his mother¡¯s story. He couldn¡¯t help but think that her with his father were just like how the manga portrayed Ramen Ninja Boy interacted with the pink haired girl that he was besotted with. Her name was Hanami, which translated to flower in Japanese. Eddie always hated Hanami¡¯s character. She was bossy, very obnoxious, and violent. There was a boy who was considered to be a prodigy, born from a notorious noble ninja clan, that Hanami was besotted with.


    ¡°I was a little younger than you, no less than seven years old, when I was teased and bullied by boys and girls my age. Some commoners also dared to join in, despite my father being the baron of the fief I was raised in. This was why I had no love for commoners. That was one of the two reasons why I never liked Alphonse. Once the prince of Rivera and your father came to my rescue. It became love at first sight, at least that¡¯s what I thought back then. I soon heard the news from my father about my arrange marriage to Lance and it filled with me such joy.


    ¡°Alphonse did not take the news lightly and started to get into more fights with Lance. I first thought it was out of pure jealousy, but Alphonse warned me that Lance was after the dowry,¡± she said solemnly.


    ¡°Two years later, we three went to the same school where I would suffer from retribution by the hands of my first love. I should have heeded Alphonse¡¯s warnings. I was blinded by a sick, twisted fantasy that had cost me everything and my previous life.¡± She sighed, wiping away the tears.


    ¡°Not that it matters anymore. When I was lost and broken, I lost faith in mankind. I began to despise men for how they treated women, despite how I myself treated your father wrongly. He was always there by my side. And for the first time in my life, I was able to see Alphonse as my benefactor and love interest. We grew to adulthood, accomplished many guild missions, and skirmishes. I was discharged after the war, and I spent the rest of my days here on Midgard happily married to your father. And you know the rest.¡± She sighed.


    Eddie had the notion that Cassandra was leaving out a lot of information. He dare not pressed on about the prince from Rivera that once claimed his mother¡¯s heart. Eddie chuckled underneath his breath. His mother definitely was like Hanami. His father was like Ramen Ninja Boy. There was no mistake about it.


    ¡°How come they bullied you?¡± Eddie asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be a noble?¡±


    ¡°It was a result of my forehead being too wide for a young lady.¡±


    ¡°What!¡± He laughed. ¡±That is so stupid! I don¡¯t see anything wrong with your forehead. It¡¯s so pretty that it makes me want to kiss it!¡±


    Cassandra become flushed, reviewing the carnal connections she had with Alphonse, when he complimented her forehead just before the terrifying night. She was embarrassed by the idea of how similar Eddie was to his father. All the distress bellied up from inside decreased in a flash.


    ¡°You! Y-you are much the same as your father! You are just the second man to compliment my forehead,¡± she said, gratified.


    He gave her a thumbs-up and grinned.


    ¡°Hehe . . . you know what? Dad is not dead. I just know it! He¡¯s out there somewhere. If Dad¡¯s trying to reach¡ªcome home to us¡ªI will find him and bring him back. If he stays, I will beat him up and drag him back home. I will never give up. This is a promise of a lifetime. I will never go back on my word. Not ever! Believe it!¡±


    Cassandra was petrified.


    She was overflowing with sad recollections of Alphonse fulfilling his promise to her, presenting Lancelot to her. She would always remember the distress and anguish in Alphonse¡¯s eyes as he watched her clasp hands with Lance and march out into the sunset. She did not say that to Eddie. These kinds of pledges and oaths could pound a man¡¯s pride and heart. There would always be a chance that the Alphonse Ferguson she knew back then was not the man she had known eight years ago, or was no longer part of this world.


    Her first love showed her that lesson exceptionally well.


    ¡°It¡¯s getting darker. Let¡¯s head back before it gets dark.¡±

 Chapter 12: Calamity Approaches (Vol. 2)

    Princess Cecily Ruriksdottir crouched. She stalked a white rabbit through the foliage. Carefully, she drew back the string on her hunting wooden crossbow and quietly nocked a bolt. She halted and started aiming at her prey. Although she practiced a bow, crossbows made it much less difficult with built in-sights for a more accurate shooting than bow and arrow. She inhaled and slowly counted to three.


    ¡°Your Highness! Your Highness! Where are you?¡±


    Cecily jolted, which made her squeeze the trigger too early. The bolt missed its mark two centimeters to the left. The commotion agitated the rabbit and he fled out of view.


    ¡°How many times did I tell you, do not sneak up on me, Sir Robert.¡± She grumbled, ¡°Your intrusion has cost me a rabbit.¡±


    ¡°Forgive me for my incompetence. It¡¯s my sworn duty to guard you with my life. Your father will have my head if anything were to happen to you. Now hand over the crossbow, Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°Not until I hunt down one rabbit.¡±


    Sir Robert rubbed his chin, then snarled. Sir Robert was very handsomely built man in his early thirties. He had a mane of dark brown hair with a nicely trimmed goatee and square face. He was wearing a fine iron chainmail and dark silver iron armor. He served as one of Vanhold¡¯s royal knights sworn to protect the royal family.


    ¡°You know your father is being summoned to the Arkon? It would be a shame if you missed your ride. Who knows how long until another opportunity to Arkon will come.¡±


    ¡°There has to be some mistake. It¡¯s not until another fortnight.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid the time has come. The king departs this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s best we be on our way. This better not be a joke.¡±


    ¡°I swear on my life, Your Highness.¡± He reached out, ¡°Crossbow?¡±


    Cecelia sighed and handed him the crossbow. He then lifted her over the saddle before mounting the stallion. The stallion canted and went into a full gallop, leaving the forest behind them.


    She was ten years of age, just as Eddie.


    Trotting through the overgrown pathway back to the fortress, their path was suddenly blocked by several timbers in the roadway. There was no way through. They would have to trek. An uncontrollable jitter spiraled down her back. She could feel the tension in Sir Robert¡¯s lower abdomen building up. The smell of burnt timber permeated the air. A black haze of smoke was seen rising from the eastern side of the Black Forest.


    The stallion became agitated and wary, sensing the danger that approached them. Sir Robert sensed the impending danger just in time to crook his head to the left as an arrow chafed alongside his right cheek. Sir Robert gripped the reins with brute strength and tugged on it. The battle horse hollered and reared on its back two hoofs. All in one motion, the stallion spun in the opposite direction and went into a full speed gallop.


    ¡°Hold on tight, Your Highness!¡±


    Cecily cringed at the eerie figures in black rustic armors armed with pikes, swords, and axes, rustling from within the woods, flanking them from both sides. The figures were in hot pursuit.


    ¡°Orcs!¡± He snarled. ¡°It seems the village is under attack. We have no choice but to take shelter at the Temple of the Gods.¡±


    ¡°But the villagers¡ª¡±


    Sir Robert shook his head with concern, ¡°We will mourn the loss once we are out of harm¡¯s way.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Capture the princess! Kill the bodyguard,¡± one of the orcs said.


    ¡°It seems like they are after you for ransom against your father and the entire kingdom! We must prevent that at all cost!¡±


    Most girls her age would have screamed in fear, but Cecily was well trained in military arts. She gritted her teeth and knew she would not show these foul fiends any fear. It was clear that she was the key to the destruction of her kingdom. Most kings would sacrifice their children for the sake of their nation, but she believed that her father¡ªKing Rurik¡ªwas more of a traditional father that cherished their children first before anything. She was very optimistic about her safety being top priority. Sir Robert was right. She could not afford to be taken captive. She forced herself to push daunting thoughts of her being abandoned by her father and focused more on the peril before her.


    Sir Robert took note that the archers and javelin throwers were not sending hazardous projectiles their way. This ensured that they didn¡¯t mistakenly maim Cecily. Up ahead, the orcs formed a wall with their iron-plated shields. There was no way around the barricade. Sir Robert hauled forcefully on the reins and brought his stallion to an attacking stance. The stallions front two hooves trampled through the center front line of the wall formation. At the same time, Sir Robert, with lighting speed, brought his lance down in fine arcs, slashing thorough the front ranks. The orcs were disoriented and disorganized, unable to counter attack. However, more orcs emerged from within the woods and joined in the fray.


    Sir Robert took the opportunity to vault off the saddle with Cecily in his arms. The battle horse was pierced to death by numerous stab wounds from pikes and swords before it was decapitated by an orc. Sir Robert was saddened at his stallion¡¯s passing. It was his favorite battle horse. Cecily covered Sir Robert¡¯s back as she sent a crossbow sailing into the orcs¡¯ hoard. Several orcs hollered and shouted curses as each bolt found its mark between the openings on the chest plates. Yet the number of orcs kept increasing. Sir Robert knew he couldn¡¯t fight at one hundred percent while Cecily stood next to him. Escape was out of the question. He admired Cecily¡¯s bravery, not showing fear of the enemies that swarmed upon them.


    Cecily yelled when the first orc managed to snag her arms, tugging her further away from her bodyguard. Just in the nick of time, a symphony of trumpet sound silenced the orcs. Cecily¡¯s heart lurched as she recognized her father¡¯s war-band. And there she saw in the distance, hundreds of King Rurik¡¯s war banners. The orcs became agitated by their newly impending doom. Javelins thrown into the fray by the king¡¯s men impaled the orcs viciously. The orc that currently grabbed Cecily faltered to its knees, eyes rolling in disbelief as a javelin tore through its jugular.


    Cries spluttered as the orc commander sounded the horn for a full retreat as one by one the orcs were cut down. She watched as her father plunged his falcon sword Basilisk straight through an orc¡¯s heart. Stan shot the orcs beside him. His shotguns gave off a thunderous boom, startling the orcs momentarily. Morale was lost. Cheers were loud. Tears of joy ran down her cheeks as she sprinted and embraced her father passionately.


    ¡°By Freya¡¯s skirt, you are alright!¡± Rurik cupped her soaked cheeks and brushed her cheeks clean with his immense, calloused thumb. ¡°How fares the villagers of Wayfarer Lodging?¡± Rurik asked Sir Robert.


    Sir Robert shrugged his shoulders, ¡°I can¡¯t be certain because Her Highness was out hunting stray rabbits during the horrific events that transpired. I can only assume the worst.¡±


    King Rurik shook his head mournfully, ¡°We shall not let their death be in vain.¡±


    ¡°Good Lord! I''m getting too old for this!¡± Stan sneered.


    There was laughter.


    Stan reached out to shake Cecily¡¯s hand.


    ¡°You sure do have your mother¡¯s eyes, just as my grandson has his mother¡¯s. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Your Highness.¡±


    Their greetings were halted when a sudden sinister aura was felt. With it came the putrid stench of ivory mists, which quickly blanketed the land. It was the foulest stench that mankind could ever breathe in. Flies swarmed the battalion. Inhaling clean air was not possible where they stood. In this situation, they were sitting ducks. Rurik¡¯s eyes followed his daughter¡¯s. She pointed up toward the sky as something tremendous was soaring down upon them with incredible speed. Spores flung from its scales, scattering in all directions.


    ¡°Dragon incoming!¡± Sir Robert shouted out orders. "Formation!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s no ordinary dragon,¡± Stan said with concern.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be! It¡¯s Nidhogg! Everyone fall back to the keep!¡± Rurik shouted commands.


    ¡°The Elder Dragon of the undead?¡± Stan muttered with disbelief. ¡°According to the legends, each of the six Elder Dragons is said to be as gargantuan as a mountain range.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just his avatar, Lord Ferguson. It¡¯s been sighted roaming the Eastern Sea of Desolation Basin.¡±


    ¡°Look! Something emerging from within the spores!¡±


    Corpses and skeleton warriors began to flank Rurik¡¯s army. The orcs that had retreated returned to the fray. Cecily could no longer hide her fear as her stomached churned. Rurik cursed as the commander, a decayed corpse of fallen female commando, gave the command to attack.


    ¡°Kill . . . everything!¡±

 Chapter 13: Arrival Of The Hawk Cavalry (Vol. 2)

    The battle between mankind and undead commenced. Killing the undead can only be done by decapitation and incineration. One little bite from the undead is more than enough to convert the living into zombies and ghouls. It is essential not to let the undead grab a hold of you. They will devour the living or transfigure them into undead thralls.


    All over the field, decayed thralls started lumbering forward, dispersing everywhere, not bunched in tight formation. Orcs have a jarring resemblance to the human race, only with pointed ears and fangs like their goblin cousins.


    They were equipped with black, heavy armor, well-crafted from the fires of Mount Mordredu¡¯un. General Yabba was in command of the orcish army. He waited patiently while the undead had their fun with the pitiful humans, wearing them down before his army would join the fray.


    Yabba¡¯s armor was among the more exotic in the orcish infantry. His black, heavy armor was set with a few modifications. The right spaulder was adorned with thorns. His gauntlets artistically exposed most of his arms. War scars slanted across his face. Much of his hair was gone. Only a few wiry, stubborn strands of the left side bang remained intact. Menacing, slitted red eyes stared in the far distance toward the human army.


    Yabba never expected to encounter King Rurik so soon. The original plan was to ransom his daughter for the keys to activate all the Nexus portals. It didn¡¯t matter if the king remained alive or dead because Yabba¡¯s necromancer could extract information from within the dead king¡¯s memory. With the keys, his race could travel anywhere and begin their campaign to conquer most of the Eight Worlds of the great Yggdrasil tree. Yabba smiled with unrestrained mirth¡ªthe thought of obtaining the human king¡¯s knowledge filled him with so much joy.


    King Rurik, a war veteran and a legend, reformed his lines on the tundra plains. The trumpets and drums played a symphony, rallying the troops who assembled pikemen to form a spike wall, parallel to the forest behind their backs. The units of swordsmen filled in around the pikemen. Rurik and the cavalry held the center units of the battalion, carrying javelins for mid-range attacks. Behind them, the archers nocked their arrows on bow strings, awaiting orders.


    The massive horde of undead marched to within a hundred meters of Rurik¡¯s army, while orcs took refuge at a chokepoint that blocked Rurik¡¯s path from retreating back to Vanhold. Rurik stoically raised his sword, signaling the archers. ¡°Wait for it!¡± Rurik commanded.


    ¡°Take aim!¡± Archers drew back their arrows.


    ¡°Fire!¡± Rurik swung his sword down. A spectacular volley of fire arrows rained down upon the restless warrior ghouls, setting them ablaze. The corrupted toxins within their bodies were highly flammable, like gasoline. A chain reaction caused a gap between the two armies. Screeches of agony from the undead made the king¡¯s daughter, Cecily, cringe.


    From the midst of the screeches came the sound of thunderous horses drumming in unison. A cavalry of undead horsemen plowed through the wave of inferno and dispersed. They formed a single-line, basic all-out attack formation, more organized than the thralls. They wore robes with hoods over their heads. As they approached, the humans caught better glimpses of the dark-robed skeleton warriors. Most were equipped with pikes and lances for longer reach.


    The undead cavalry galloped relentlessly. Rurik and Sir Robert rallied the pikemen to guard their flanks as some of the undead circled around them. The head-on collision was inevitable. Hooves smashed into the front lines as soldiers were trampled to death. The riders maneuvered a counterattack and thrust their spears into the hearts of soldiers. Screams of agony caroused around Cecily as she witnessed her men being slaughtered like cattle. Her stomach twisted into a knot as a man just twenty paces away from her was slain with several spears pierced right through his armor, impaling the man¡¯s abdomen. The king¡¯s archers released another volley of fire arrows that found their mark inside the further column of the approaching horde. The main undead unit moved ever close.


    The first wave of cavalry charged. Hooves slammed into and trampled the pikemen. A whole infantry of pikemen was decimated within seconds. Another wave of undead horsemen began their charge toward the disoriented and broken line of defense. Sir Robert would have none of that as he growled and swung his lance with furious diagonal strokes. He accumulated a massive amount of mana on the tip of his lance, thrusting it through the ground. A massive earthquake momentarily disrupted the battle as the tundra plains cracked and split open. The charging undead horsemen had no chance to evade or escape falling beneath the fissures in the earth to their doom.


    ¡°Remind me not to piss you off,¡± Stan joked.


    "I¡¯m just getting warmed up,¡± he replied.


    The cavalry of the undead were being led by a champion, Lieutenant Uschya. Uschya was a female elf who was vanquished hundreds of years ago. She lost the duel with Nidhogg, and her life was forfeited. Her corpse was reanimated and now served as one of Nidhogg¡¯s minions.


    Her vast knowledge of the world of Alfheim¡ªthe home world of the luminous elf beings¡ªmade her very useful for skirmishes and invasions. She had been terrorizing elven villages for centuries, wielding intimate knowledge of the terrain to her advantage. One of her favorite hunting grounds was the elvish kingdom of Elkwood.


    She resurrected the dead to increase her army. Unlike humans, converting elves was no easy task. Their spirits do not depart from their vessels. A deceased elf¡¯s body does not normally rot and decay like other living beings. Their bodies are absorbed with the spirit itself. The elf¡¯s spirit returns to the Yggdrasil tree, and they are reborn as humans. Likewise, when good humans die, they can become elves or go to the halls of Vahalla. To convert an elf into an undead, the necromancer must corrupt the elvish divine mana within their spiritual bodies. Once corrupted, this prevents the elf¡¯s body from being decimated, keeping the vessel intact as a corpse.


    For the past fifty years, the elves had kept up a formidable defense against undead raiders. Uschya knew that the elves relied on human worship for this defense. Their powers grew ever stronger with the enchantment of prayer. The old ways of ceremony persisted, mainly human sacrifice offered to the elves. The barbaric, human sacrifices to the Aesir Gods of Asgard had long been forsaken due to a belief that it brought calamity to the elves, resulting in bad omens that led to epidemics and curses placed upon their villages and kingdoms. Opportunistic Uschya ransacked vulnerable villages with her horde of darkness that raped the lands of Alfheim. Her victories and conquests were short lived when a certain human guild suddenly became a hindrance.


    She could never forget the scent of Ferguson. Stan Ferguson was her archnemesis. His guild missions in his prime and younger years were elven requests to fend her army off their lands, protecting them from the relentless undead invasions. Stan by that time was a champion and an adventurer, befriending many elves. Likewise, he would make rivalries out of some who dared to challenge his prowess with a sword and war-hammer out of envy or respect.


    With Stan¡¯s intervention, Uschya¡¯s armies were slain, and her lands were taken away from her. The corrupted lands beamed with life again, as she and what was left of her army vacated the world of Alfheim thanks to the divine powers of the elves. Alfheim was liberated from the undead. Uschya hibernated for many years in the straights of the Sea of Desolation. There, her master told her of Ferguson¡¯s origins, that he resides in the sanctuary world for humans, Midgard. She had finally found him again on a battlefield.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°Ready the catapults! Aim for the northeast column!¡± She bawled commands. ¡°Make them bleed!¡± Her vanguard motioned the catapult crews forward.


    There were ten catapults in her army, and the crew consisted of undead who lumbered forward, pushing the catapults into position. The catapults were mainly constructed out of timber and bones of beasts. The bones were merely decorations. Soon after, the catapults launched lumps of rotten flesh. On contact, the flesh dispersed into a spray of decayed mist, full of acid.


    Screams filled the battlefield as a horrifying scene unfolded before Cecily¡¯s eyes. Her father¡¯s troop¡¯s flesh and armor melted. Only skeletons remained. The front lines of pikemen and swordsmen were broken. Her father, Stan, and Sir Robert were screaming orders to hold the line in tight formation.


    ¡°Retreat back into the forest while we still can!¡± King Rurik shouted.


    Just as he said that, the avatar of Nidhogg finished his pass by and was in position to attack Rurik¡¯s army. It exhaled a beam of ivory mist. The forest behind them was seared in a sea of emerald-hued flames. King Rurik looked at Stan and Sir Robert, and all nodded their heads. They knew their fate had been sealed. Their only objective was to push forward into the core of the horde, despite their low numbers of infantrymen and horsemen.


    The orcs reorganized themselves and began marching from the chokepoint on a divided hill. They marched forward with jungle trolls and ettins. Within minutes, they would join up with the undead. Trolls and ettins were known to charge in and break an enemy¡¯s defenses by clubbing, punting, or trampling their foes to death. It would prove too perilous for the human army.


    ¡°There is no way out of this madness,¡± Sir Robert growled. ¡°We are sitting ducks! Why doesn¡¯t he just blast us and be done with it!¡±


    ¡°Easy, General. Perhaps the dragon¡¯s being cautious. Nidhogg knows of its weakness. One fire arrow will light it up like a Christmas tree. Tell your men to aim for the meat bundles these creatures throw at us,¡± Stan suggested. ¡°That will buy us a little more time. We need a distraction to lure its flight trajectory within range. We have a little time before the orcs¡¯ reinforcement joins in. We destroy the avatar, the morale of the undead will break, and they will depart.¡±


    Several volleys of rotten flesh were catapulted. On Sir Robert¡¯s command, the archers directed their sights onto the incoming projectiles heading their way. The projectiles did not make it to their destinations as acid showers of the remains fell short of the human army, rendering them harmless. The troops cheered.


    Nevertheless, Rurik knew that once the archers depleted their arrows, there would be no hope for survival. He knew they were nearly out of time. A drastic decision had to be made. He would miss his family and his kingdom. The key he held like a necklace to activate the portal was the only way any outsider across the vast universe could enter the world of Midgard. His family was chosen as the key bearers, and this responsibility had been passed down from many generations, to him.


    ¡°No,¡± King Rurik. ¡°Even then, we will still take massive casualties if we clash directly with the trolls and ettins. I will buy you and my daughter a little more time. We will make way and distract the enemy.¡±


    ¡°No, Father! You can¡¯t!¡±


    King Rurik stepped down from the stirrup, removed his helm, and looked his daughter in the eye. Fresh tears rained down Cecily¡¯s cheeks. Rurik cupped her face. ¡°Be strong, my little munchkin. You will grow into a fine lady one day and become a benevolent queen.¡±


    Rurik then glanced at his right-hand man, Sir Robert. ¡°Go with Stan and make your way back to Vanhold. Warn Vanhold they will be besieged by the orcish hordes and the undead by next light. Evacuate the villagers and meet back with Stan.¡±


    Before Sir Robert could reply, Stan had cut him off and pointed above them. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that will not be necessary,¡± he said with mirth, grinning.


    As he said that, a loud shriek of a horn sounded. The darkened sky suddenly beamed with light. The undead were unsettled, and the orcs shielded their eyes and grunted in pain.


    Chirping bellowed from winged, shadowed figures descending from above, hidden behind the overwhelming light. In seconds, a massive herd of giant, rough-legged falcons came swarming down upon the horde. They were equipped with specially made saddles, and riding them were luminous elves equipped with golden scales, plated armor with the finest craft of mithril chain mail.


    Enemy archers on the ground that were heavily equipped with crossbows shot their bolts. The falcons were so agile that they outmaneuvered most of the projectiles headed their way. Bolts that found their mark were deflected and spiraled away in many directions as they made contact with the hawks. Their feathers were highly concentrated with mana, solidifying their bodies, hardening them to impenetrable steel.


    The trolls and ettins came charging, kicking anything that stood in their way. They gave out a roar in unison as one of the trolls threw its club weapon into the swarming flock. It managed to get a lucky hit. The sound of a solid object colliding with metal followed directly after the hit. The bird was dazed as it lost consciousness. The elven rider lost control of his bird and braced for impact. He fell from his bird but was intercepted before his body slammed onto the land. The troll grabbed the unconscious behemoth and tore the giant hawk into pieces. Uschya hissed with disapproval.


    Some of the elves started harassing Nidhogg. The hawks¡¯ talons ripped apart the undead, easy as peeling an orange. The battle came to a decisive end when the horde could get nowhere near the humans as the elven hawk-riders formed a single line, horizontally shielding the front of the human army.


    The giant hawks chirped and flapped their massive wings in unison as rapidly as a hummingbird. One could barely make out the afterimages. Potent hurricane-force winds formed into one massive wind gust. The horde was violently thrust back. Their artillery was destroyed. The giants did their very best to stand their ground and withstand the full brunt of the wind that exceeded well over a hundred miles an hour. Luck was not on their side as they lost their grip on the land and were thrown back, their bodies skidding across the plain until they were out of sight.


    Some of the elves who never partook in the attack sounded their blow horns as the horde began their retreat. The hawks¡¯ wings came nearly to a complete stop, but were still mobile enough to keep them hovering. Rurik and his men cheered on. The plains and the skies became clearer when the hordes retreated through several swirling portals summoned by Nidhogg. The dragon was not too pleased with the defeat as he watched the minions enter the portal before departing back to where they came from. The orcs surprisingly joined them. This confirmed that they were in alliance, Stan thought. Using the binoculars that he brought from Midgard, he watched as the undead departed. He shivered when he recognized the undead elven necromancer Uschya, who was looking straight back at him with a menacing glare.


    ¡°By the gods! It¡¯s her! The Baroness of Death!¡± Stan said with disbelief.


    Sir Robert glowered. ¡°That explains why they were able to infiltrate this far inland,¡± he said grimly. ¡°I heard stories about her, growing up at Willow¡¯s Bay. She had terrorized the harbor, sinking merchant boats and stranded frigates. Sailors were lost and presumed to have joined the horde of the undead until Woden the Wanderer and his followers had driven them out with holy magic.¡±


    ¡°Where do you think the story came from?¡± Stan chuckled. ¡°I was there long ago when you were still swimming in your father¡¯s loins,¡± he said while out of earshot of Cecily.


    The remaining orc raiders retreated with their general into the portal. Yabba took one last glance at Rurik before joining his henchmen. He was more than furious with the loss of this battle. He was not looking forward to the trip back to Mount Mordredu¡¯un in the heart of Muspellheim. He knew the chances were likely his king would execute him on the spot for his failure. If he lived, he would not only seek his vengeance against Vanhold. He would rejoice the moment he bathed in the blood of humans after his clan made landfall in Midgard. He gave Rurik one last glare before stepping through the portal.


    ¡°Form up!¡± Rurik shouted. ¡°Let¡¯s welcome our elven saviors.¡±


    Cecily took another glance at her surroundings. The putrid, ivory mist that had plagued the sky and battlefield had been decimated during the wind attack. They were surrounded by corpses and human skeleton remains from fallen soldiers that took the full brunt of the acid showers. She shuddered at the thought of these remains being resurrected and coming back to haunt them. Now she glanced toward the massive squadron of elven hawk-riders in the hundreds. Their intimidating presence was like being in the presence of the gods. Her eyes followed one who was descending toward them. He was equipped with more exotic and exquisite-looking armor than most of the elves. The crown this elven man wore told her that he had to be one of the elven kings her mother told her bedtime stories about.


    She saw the look in her father¡¯s eyes become cold as ice.


    ¡°Just my luck,¡± King Rurik snarled. ¡°By the gods of all of the elven kings! Is this your doing, Ferguson?¡±


    ¡°King Elwin¡¯s hawk cavalry is of vital importance and a great asset to have on our side in case we face orcish drake-riders in the near future. They are masters of destroying artillery equipment and machinery with flaming spitballs,¡± Stan replied.


    ¡°Greetings, Master Stanley Ferguson and all humans. I have journeyed far from my domain.¡±


    King Rurik snarled. Sir Robert remained passive, while Stan chuckled at the elven king. This was going to be a very long day.

 Chapter 14: Kings Rurik And Elwin (Vol.2/Raw)

    Chapter 14 (Raw)


    Two hours have passed since the battle outside of a ruined village of Ahmad. King Rurik sent a unit of what was left of his vanguard to investigate Ahmad and rescue any survivors if there was to be any. His vanguard didn''t like the fact that they were leaving their king''s side untended. It was quarter to seven in the evening when the king returned to his men and the Elven hawk-riders army.


    News spread like wildfire of Stan''s return to the Citadel. Princess Cecily stood on the parapet of her father''s keep, staring out into the horizon where the sun began to set through her eyeglasses. Its beautiful orange gleam was very spectacular to onlookers. Fortunately for her, where she stood was the best scenic point in the entire kingdom. There, she listened to her father, King Elwin and Stan conversing tactics. Her maid Matilda would approached called out to her with utter concern as she stood to close to the wall''s edge. One mistake such as a slip of footing could be fatal, sending tumbling over the parapet into the moat that was no less than a hundred meter fall to instant death.


    Cecily awed as her eyes could not take the eyes of the handsome redhead Elven king. His hair was almost crimson as the Thunder God Thor and her idol Cassandra. He had a nice trim goatee. His golden armor was very exotic with the falcon crest engraved into his chest-plate. His pointy like ares just like the orcs made him look more monstrous than human much to Cecily''s intuition.


    ¡°My spies stationed at Muspelheim reports orc are amassing vastly in numbers,¡± King Elwin said it solemnly. ¡°The Elven council has made a decision that this matter cannot be ignored. We acknowledge the alliance between elves and mankind. The likes have never been seen since Ragnarok.¡±


    ¡°All do respect, your Majesty. Ragnarok is nothing but a myth. A fabulous fairy tale that was written by an Earthling scholar of the twelve century.¡± Sir Robert said. ¡°Still, how can we be sure to trust whatever Woden the Wanderer says?¡±


    King Rurik gritted and glared at his right hand man as he brought his fist down onto the planks of a large rounded dinning table. ¡°Do not forget what the Great Wizard after all he has done for us for many generations. And don''t forget who he was the All-Father before Ragnarok robbed him of nearly everything he had in his previous life. ¡±


    ¡°I assure you. The events are legit. Woden has been since the first generation of elves. My great grandfather served beside him in his sons during Ranarok. He was there when the absolute Thunder God Thor and the Midgard Serpent battle to the death and joined them into the afterlife,¡± King Elwin said. ¡°Woden is cursed to forever walk the Midgard for all eternity, watching over his creation and descendants.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure we have more pressing issues to debate about,¡± Stan cut in. ¡°The orcs and the undead are truly troublesome that we must not take likely. King Elwin, what I''m about to say to you may anger.¡± King Elwin nodded in compliance. ¡°My daughter in-laws first husband, Lancelot of Reveirra¡ªthe Phantom King is still breathing.¡±


    ¡°Damnation!¡± King Elwin slammed his goblet onto the round table, rattling the dishes filled with nourishment. The atmosphere in the room became tensed that there was an absolute silence. ¡°Is this true, Ferguson?¡±


    ¡°Very much and I have every reason to believe that he was behind the attack on my grandson''s school and nearly abducted him. A close associate of mine was able to make it out of Langley with his mind intact and was able to record everything on film on his phone.¡±


    Stan received many blanked stares and shrugged shoulders. He grinned, knowing that this side of the universe that most people have little to no knowledge of the modern world of Midgard and its advanced technology of skyscrapers, automobiles, electronics etc. King Rurik is the only person that had knowledge of Midgard. Not as much as is daughter in-law Cassandra.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Still can''t believe he''s alive. I would love to run my lance straight down his throat after what Lancelot did to my master and his family on his daughter''s wedding night.¡±


    ¡°The sooner we head to my place, every will be much clear. Lancelot body is being consumed by the darkness of the Eye of Ymir. He needs holy a divine source of mana or energy to battle the effects of darkness corroding him. This is why he hunted many elves and devouring their souls.¡±


    ¡°You mean the Imperial Star that the Cormack and Riverra Clans guarded for many that has been lost of these two clans?¡± Sir Roberts asked skeptically, scratching his chin.


    ¡°The Imperial Star?¡± King Elwin. ¡°I thought the eye was lost during the Cormack Clan massacre? So that explains why Lancelot is a Phantom Charmer.¡±


    ¡°Phantom Charmers? They are Hel''s godi. How in all the names of the gods did Lancelot become a disciple of Hel?¡±


    A godi has interpreted to be the male counter part of a volva. They are Nordic shamans and priests that well trained in in the deadly arts of seidr. They are well known for casting runes like a dice and read the signs the Aesir and Vanir gods bestowed upon them. Reading the signs gives the shamans a warning of what is to become of the future and the choices they must make.


    ¡°I''m curious Lord Ferguson. What does that man want with the Sword Empress? According to my sorceress, Lancelot had no love or affection for her during their childhood.¡±


    Cassandra is well known throughout the universe as being the Sword Empress very talented in wielding a sword and her legendary collection of legendary sword which includes Excalibur. The sword in the stone King Arthur wielded. Little is known about her being the reborn Titania in the flesh.


    ¡°Of course he does not! All that man cares is power and himself!¡±


    The men turned their heads in the direction of the elegant woman that entered the room. She was well dressed in royal garment. She wore an intricate crown. She is Rynna Olafsdottir. The queen of Vanhold. Her cosmetics and perfume filled the dinning with such an exotic aroma. Sir Roberts lowered his head, stood up from his seat and bent the lady. ¡°Milady, welcome back.¡± He greeted her warmly and returned back to his seat.


    Stan wisely bowed his head in respect, ¡°Your Royal Highness,¡± he kissed the top of her hand. Likewise, King Elwin greeted her too.


    ¡°Lord Ferguson, would be so kind I join in the conversation.¡± Her husband grunted disapprovingly. The room filled with laughter, but Rynna hushed them with a threatening glaring. Rynna was indeed one of those aggressive and dangerous women. She had an onyx eye with silk like black hair trimmed just above the nape of her neck. Stan saw that she had her blue and while stripe scabbard to her side with a meaning dragon mural. In that scabbard was the legendary sword Frost Fang. Legend has it that who is able to wield the sword and survive its power will be able to control the Ice Elder Dragon.


    ¡°Are you positive that lunatic is alive? That is certainly not good news. And I''m not just talking how weak footed and a damsel in distress whenever she crosses path with that man!" She said with a harrumph.


    King Elwin and Sir Robert shared the same, ¡°Why was not I inform about this?¡± King Elwin bark.


    ¡°Now you are now informed,¡± King Rurik said it with an apologetic tone. I see where this is going. Going after the powers of the Fairy Queen.¡± King Rurik scratched his chin with an apprehensive look on his face.


    ¡°That''s why we cannot afford for her to come into any contact or know about his existence,¡± Rynna said. ¡°We must come up with a coherent plan to keep them apart! All her focus should be guarded, protecting and training her son for the battle that is about to come against Blackhaven. Make no mistake about it, dear husband. They will.¡±


    ¡°The queen is right. It will be a major complication. King Elwin, I ask for your assistance to gather a team of your most elite assassins. Make it a high priority that we rid of this man as soon as possible before the battle of Blackhaven. Cassandra will return to the fairy Queendom and make fortifications for the last line of defense.¡±


    ¡°Then me and Cecily will accompany you gentle to Kentucky.¡±


    ¡°Damnation! Like I will let that happen! Midgard is no longer safe to travel back in for the between dimensions,¡± Rurik slammed his goblet onto the table, spilling the remaining of his wine. ¡°You two will stay put behind these walls!¡±


    ¡°Vanhold fortifications are strong. The Fairy Queendom is the safest and secured place in the universe. Men can''t enter the Queendom. Only the male offspring of Titania and her spouse can enter. We are much safer there. Besides, there is some punishment that needs to be inflicted on that woman after keeping me out of the loop of her exile and marriage,¡± Rynna then looked to the balcony with a mischievous smile, ¡°Besides, I want our little girl to teach that boy of Cassie''s a lesson.¡±


    Stan sighed. This was going to be one reunions that will be like a ripe apple turning rotten in the matter of seconds, Stan sighed. Even his wife could not control his furious daughter in-law.

 Chapter 15: Ways Of The Cultivator (Vol. 2/Raw)

    Chapter 15 (Raw)


    A week later.


    Eddie woke to the sound of drumbeats. The sun had already risen. He was late. He cringed in fear that he would suffer the wrath of his mother if he overslept. The drum beats suddenly became silent when he peered out the window of the room he was currently sleeping in. He had mistaken the sound of drumbeats from horse hoofs. Cassandra dismounted her mare. Morning hadn''t been in the brightest of mood lately. Eddie''s heart lurched as fear began to take over his judgment. It all started On the second day of his stay here on the preserved when he was in for a brutal awakening on that morning 6:30am. Cassandra poured a pale of ice cold water onto his face. The shock immediately awakened him. He was led into the back yard and was given a brief lecture that he was not to address her as ¡°mom¡± and refer to her as ¡°master¡±.


    The first day of training proven to be brutal for Eddie as he did sprints around the preserve and doing push ups and sit ups in the morning at first light. In the afternoons till 5pm, he did chores which was help paint the renovated barn and split timber with a hatched. Eddie developed blisters just in a few days into training and it hadn''t been a pleasant experience. The hatched had some weight to it the made very difficult for a scrawny child such as Eddie to wield with proficiency. Balance was the key. Gripping the hatchet closes with the head relieve the tension of the tool''s weight. However, each stroke lacked sufficient power. However, the opposite could be said if gripping the hatchet at its bottom. More power was applied if gripping the handlebar near the bottom of the hatchet.


    Walter warned Eddie gripping too low could be very hazardous as he won''t have a firm grip on the hatchet and it would certainly fly out of his hand when he drew back. He split 150 logs per day and at the end of the week. By the end of the week, he grew strength in his right arm and wist to have better control of his strokes. Walter was very strict, but very considerate and patient with him, unlike his mother whenever he disturbed, agitated or angered her. He got smacked in the face. Only one incident that made spun Walter''s anger towards him when he dropped the bucket of paint due to muscle fatigue.


    At the final day of the week, Cassandra and Grandma had restrained his arms and legs with enchanted Mythril shackles with Nordic rune engraved These shackles were specially crafted with no chains like as if it were a pair of exotic wrist and ankle bracelets. Then Grandma and Cassandra spoke an incantation in the Norse language. As he remembered that, he felt a sudden rush of gravity flow became so dense that he was immediately shoved to the floor. He could not get up as he felt such force depressing him to the floor. He was frightened and cry out for help. Grandma lowered her head an exited the room. Cassandra had such a sinister smug when she rebuked him.


    Cassandra tossed him his Iphone. Eddie with great effort caught it and glanced at the screen. The voice memo and video application was opened and the recording had started. Any noise and voice would be recorded and saved on the smartphone.


    Eddie followed his mother out side the manor.


    ¡°From now, rather or not our relationship as parent and child shall resume is not important. Your normal life as an ordinary boy is over. What''s important is your survival. For the next three weeks, your main training begins. I will train you how to survive, how to fight and become strong beyond the physical limits of a human being that is even modern day science and medicine could never achieve. You will experience pain and fear beyond your wildest dreams.


    ¡°I can imagine you must be feeling the effects of the mana that I stored within those shackles being meshed with your mana core. The pain of been pierced by one-thousand needles and being depress under a bulldozer. This is the first stage of body tempering. Your undeveloped mana network forcefully absorbs the mana. This is an unnatural way to speed the cultivation process of cultivating mana in energy attacks and magic.


    ¡°Manais the essence of spiritual energy in the universe. Some traditions and cultures have different names formana. As in Asia its called Qi and Haiku. Japanese ninjas even called it Chakra. It''s the very same foundation chakra system found in your Ramen Ninja Boy comic book.Manacan be utilized to enhance one''s body for offensive and defensive. Highly concentratedmanaattacks can generate more destructive power than melee attacks. It''s more than possible for a practitioner to split a five ton boulder in half just in one stroke with their bear hands. It also can be done with weapons. Although that''s another topic for another time.


    ¡°As for defense, practitioners can harden their bodies, increase speed and sharpen their five senses. All this is the Body Tempering process of becoming what is known as a mana cultivator. Mana cultivators comes in variety of practitioners of the military arts to martial arts. However, there are only two ways that a cultivator can utilize mana to achieve one''s desire to attack, defend or conjure something out of nothing by weaving seidr.¡±


    It was too much information for Eddie to gather in, given to the uncomfortable situation that he was in. All he could do was focus more on the excruciating of his body being crushed by this unknown force that was holding him down. However, some of the things that Cassandra brought up that he was familiarized with likemana, chakra due to reading plenty manga and playing rpg (role playing game) video games on his Playstation 4 and desktop back home in Michigan.


    ¡°Seidr is the Norwegian ancestral and the root name for magic. Magic is a very informal way saying Seidr and is forever scorned by Christianity and the Vatican. They believe that practicing magic as they refer to as ''witchcraft'' leads to the dark-side. You will later come across this topic in school someday about religious beliefs or you can just google it on your Iphone in your spare time.¡±


    The pressure around Eddie dissapated. He sighed if comfort as he stood up.


    "Allow me to demonstrate the usage ofmana."


    Cassandra closed her eyes, taking in deep breaths. Eddie felt a tremendous pressure weighing down on in as if it was the end of the world. The flicker of movement of Cassandra''s hair caught his eyes. Her eyes abruptly opened, glaring straight at him. Eddie shuddered with cold sweat dripping down his face. He nearly fell back down when he felt a cool breeze braced his left cheek. Moments later, Eddie heardthe sound of twigs snapped in half.


    Spinning around, Eddie was able to see the top right half of an oak tree fell down with a thunderous thump. Soon the other half of the tree fell in the opposite direction. The tree bark was diced in chucks nearly down to its roots in a blink of an eye. Eddie could not believe his eyes as he stood there in a daze of shock and awe at the. This was no way it could be accomplished too quickly based on human standards.


    If Eddie''s life was like an animated cartoon, his eyes would pop out from his socked and opened so wide that his lower lip would fall drop like an anchor down to his feet. That was how much in state of shock Eddie was experiencing. The fairies gathered around and applaud Casandra for her performance.


    the field and glanced in the direction of the mother and son pair. Then he glanced up to the sky. There was a gargantuan crack in the sky that seemed to stretch on for miles. The crack was dark as the abyss as it began to sucked in the clouds and anything within its range. Even some of the daylight began to fade as if a solar eclipse was about to occur. The crack itself appeared to be like a black hole before it dissipated. Daylight was restored.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Walter''s eyebrows creased and was in deep thought.


    Incredible precision and absolute control of mana and display of Sword Way. Her mastery of Sword Way must be at least a God Tier. Heh! Truly deserving of the title Sword Empress. There is no one in the universe under a hundread years of age will be her rival. Her talent and strength are too terrifying that she could this planet in half in a single stroke of her Sword Way even if the mana here on Earth is very faint for cultivation. Whatever it has nothing to do with me.


    Walter resumed his task hoeing the fields while Eddie broke out of his stupor and shocked state and proceeded to pick up a chunk of tree bark and inspected it. The cut was very smooth that if one were to rub their fingers on the flat surface they would not get a splinter. Eddie than shot back a glance to Cassandra with a dignified look. Her posture remained the same. Very stoic with her arms crossed against her chest.


    Eddie was about to voice his question when suddenly he witnessed his mother coughing out blood. Eddie cried out and ran up to Cassandra. She held up her hands, signaling to him the she was alright.


    "I may have overdone it," she coughed. "There is need to worry. I will now explain what I have performed. When a cultivator makes a successful progress throughout their cultivation pilgrimage, very special, talented cultivators will comprehend what is called a Way. The Ways of the Cultivator are a classification. A way is what you can either refer to an art or skill that a person''s might and will becomes a weapon.


    "A way is very comprehended as a supplement for weapon users. This is more advanced than simply applying mana to a weapon as a way could be said that it has a mind of its own, following the will of its master. As you''ve witnessed, I''m not armed with any weapon. As you gain higher tier and mastery of a way, having a weapon may be useless.


    "Having to comprehend a way to a higher level may result in your weapon being dismantled if at a lower grade or the higher grade weapons won''t bring its full potential. There is a setback you must be aware of . . . unleashing a way consumes more mana, will and soul power than anything in this universe. This means a great toll would be put on the cultivator''s body. As my advice, use a ways as little possible and only use it if you have confidence to land a finishing blow in one strike.


    "Ways come in many forms of weapons. The way I use happens to by sword condensed from my mind. This form is known as Sword Ways. Another form that you will be familiar with is the Bow Ways. You will be to condense a an arrow just with your mind alone. The lists of forms can go on, but you get the idea.


    "Now make sure your iphone is still recording because I will explain the three basic tiers of a way. First is the Elementary Tier. The very basics where every cultivator starts. Follow with that will be the Intermidiate Tier and High Tier. Breaking through each of these tiers means higher comprehension. With ever comprehension comes great power."


    Eddie was astounded. He was speechless and could not believe what he was seeing with his own two emerald hued eyes. It was pure magic beyond the scopes of modern day science. Eddie could not wait not wait the see the recording of the lecture and performance given by Cassandra. Eddie had ideas of posting the video on YouTube when he goes home after Summer Break. The big question remained in his mind if he and Cassandra had a home to return to.


    Eddie could not imagine his pursuers ransacking their house with the lost and destroyed belonging. He only hoped that his Playstation 4, desktop and his collective volumes of Ramen Ninja manga were not lost if such an event were to take place, otherwise, his childhood source of entertainment would never be the same again.


    Cassandra seemed to quest what was on her son''s mind.


    This boy I tell you . . . worrying about trivial things! She coughed.


    "With that said, comprehend ways will give weaker cultivators a trump card to attack and defend against stronger opponents. Now how to explain how cultivators get stronger? An increase of strength, toughness and mana is done by a breakthrough. Breaking through to a single layer within a realm or advancing to the next realm will make a cultivator more powerful."


    Eddie nodded, pretending to understand. Cassandra sighed and frowned. There was too much info that has to be crammed into a short amount of time. Eddie was not the most brilliant and average elementary school student of his grade. He needed a lot of tutoring to avoid flunking. She stressed how much of a burden it will be on him if she had to make a decision to cut out part of his education to balance out with cultivation. She could only put her hopes on the knowledge Eddie gained by playing video games, watching television and reading comics


    "Mom . . . a-um . . . I mean master? Is everything okay?" Eddie asked, looking very gloomy.


    "Pardon me. Do you remember playing your father''s classic Playstion Japanese role-playing games? Do you remember the numerical level up system that increases the stats of all characters and creatures? You start off with the digit number. Give me an example of how max numerical level you can level up into those games?"


    Eddie rubbed his chin. He was not sure where Cassandra was getting at with the sudden change of topic about his past experience with RPG games. Nevertheless, he knew what she was talking about. Leveling up makes the characters'' strong in an RPG. The higher the level, the more powerful the characters'' become. It will increase stats like Health Points, Mana Points, Power, Toughness, Vatality, Agility, Durability, Intelligence and more. However, there was always a limit to how much a character could max out. This was called a level cap.


    "Dad''s Final Fantasy collection is level from 1 to 99 and 1 to 100. Some of the RPG and MMORPG''s I played have up to levels 20 and 40. But I don''t get it. Does playing these video games has anything to do with cultivation?" Suddenly, a thought suddenly processed in his head as if a light bulb had turned on. Cassandra was about to answer when he cut her off, "I get it! I get! Leveling up makes a cultivator stronger. How stupid of me!''" Eddie berated himself from catching on slowly.


    A wry smile could be seen on Cassandra''s face. Not because Eddie caught on slowly, but his interruption would have been more than enough to give him a spanking on his behind. But she let it slide for now and the punishment would be added on the next day of physical training.


    "Good! Leveling up has the same meaning as breakthroughs. Lets used the Level 1 to 100 to gauge a culitavor. Now you understand the beginning of cultivation will be the Level 1. Getting back onto topic, comprehending a way at the Elementary Tier will give you the ability to kill above five levels from your current level in a single strike. You can perhaps land a critical blow on cultivator seven levels higher than you. All this can be done as a Level 1 cultivator."


    Eddie was startled. He defeated characters several levels above the player''s character or characters was not uncommon in RPG games. There are spells and skills known as "buff" that could increase a character strength and stats to fight beyond their current level. But defeat a character five levels in one stroke as a level 1 was just wishful thinking. Unless if the game designed a cut scene during a boss fight, it was impossible to accomplish that feat, let alone try to inflict a critical hit on someone that was seven to eight levels high. The only possible way to achieve such a miraculous result is to activate a cheat code.


    "Very cool! It''s like a super buff! How powerful is the Intermidiate Tier way?"


    "Minimum required level . . . about 15 or higher to unleash a way at that caliber. Anything lower than that, you are just asking for death. So do even think about asking about it."


    "Holy smokes!"


    Eddie could only imagine the backlash. There were even such taboo skills that would sacrifice a character''s life to cast it at an opponent in RPG games. He started to shiver of the notion being in a life and death situation on a battlefield.


    "Another thing to take note is that once you past a certain level of cultivation. Your current comprehension of a way will not match the current strength as your cultivation. This means your way will be weaker. Using that level 1 to 100 scales again, an Elemtary Tier way approximately has a the power of a Level 12 cultivator attack.


    "Let''s say you are Level 15. The power output of the way you unleash will much weaker that you throw a punch. This is very important fact that you must be aware of all times. Your comprehension of ways must always be above your level of cultivation or else it would useless to you in the future. Unfortunately, comprehending ways is much more difficult than leveling up your cultivation. This has always been a major setback throughout the history of mana cultivation," She she shook her head.


    What! This is dog poop!


    Eddie screamed his brains out.


    From that point was the beginning of his miserable training.


    Day one of training for a week would be thought to be the most simplest task of having to complete a single push up, a sit-up exercise and stand up on the tip of his toes. That was not to be as he remained prone motionlessly prone as if he was paralyzed from the neck down. He could not even speak. All he do was lie motionlessly on the lawn all day and listen to Cassandra and Grandma arguing. He was thankful that he was lying flat on his belly that his face would not be directly affected by the sun with minimum sunburn.

 Chapter 16: Power Of The Elder Dragon (Vol. 2/Raw)

    Chapter 16 (Raw)


    Don''t be disheartened. It is better this way. Till this day, theres has not been any young cultivator to comprehend the ways under the age of forteen on record. On average, it will take about a cultivator to comprehend at the Elemantary Tier at their late twenties. Teenager cultivators that comprehend ways are considered Demonic Class prodigies and Peerless Emperor and Empress genius candidates in the mana cultivation world.


    "You are only ten. Very young, but already a master bowman in this world as a normal human is by all means a miraculous accomplishment. With your mastery over the bow and arrow will no doubt propel you to comprehend a Bow Ways with your first ever breakthrough to becoming a new born mana cultivator. You will have a major avantage over your generation."


    Cassandra was not happy nor upset. If such news were to leak out, a massive uproar would spread across the universe like the plaque. Cassandra felt that Eddie''s archer talent was top notch that he would easily be a top ten finisher in the world competion of archer to all ages. Because of this, she beleived the Elementary Tier would not be his limit when the time came for his first breakthrough. His comprehension may break through the Intermidiate Tier and High Tier at once.


    This would be unprecendented event. Nothing but a myth and fair tale coming to reality in the eyes of those who now stood on the apex of cultivation. There was simply no way that her legendary status would act as a detterance and protect Eddie. Not just the top notch rogues from big criminal organizations such as Black Haven would be after him, but the S-ranker old foggies from big clans and dynasties would come out of seclussion to hunt her son.


    However, she knew deep within her heart that Eddie''s fate has been predetermined. He was destined to walk the path of life and death. Bloodshed would follow him throughout his cultivation pilgrimage. Besides her, only a few knew the true origins and identity of the elder dragon  currently incarcerated inside of her son''s spiritual sea of consciousness.


    The secret about her son could not be kept from the world of cultivators forever. Some day, Eddie''s secret would leak out and a greater calamity will befall him. The dragon inside of her son is a bane to all creatures of life and the most feared since Ragnarok. The entire Yggdrasil Tree will see him a Five-Star enemy to all living creatures and must be killed at all cost.


    Eddie saw Cassandra''s eyes flickered and her complexion became gloomy. He was reluctant not to say anything and kept to himself to avoid agitating her any further.


    "Listen up! I''m going to explain how the three types of forms a person breaks through to become a cultivator. The first form is called a Mana Warrior. This is the most common form out of the two. The second is a Mage. Mages are cultivators the practice in Magic''s to become a magician and wizard. The third form is Radiant Healer.Out of the three forms, Radiant Healers are rare to be born into the world.


    "Mana Warriors are cultivators that tempered their bodies with mana to become powerful, tough and fast. A Mana Warrior Has three basics forms. They are basically fighters, warriors, soldiers, martial artist or anything that resembles an attacker and defender. Mana Warriors come in the five most common classes, Warrior, Tanker, Ranger and Assassin.


    "There is a slight difference between a Warrior and a Tanker. A Warrior specializes in offensive while a Tanker is heavily suited in heavy armor, equipped with a shield and a choice of weapon. Three most common weapons for a Tanker are a sword, battle axe and a lance. Although Tankers have brute strength, they specializes as a defender. Their armor protects them in longer battles than normal soldiers. What really makes the a true defender is that their shield can cast a very potent array barrier to protect the first line of army from invaders and incoming projectiles. This works well at a castle walls too.


    "A Ranger specializes in long range attack as a marksmen. The most common marksmen are bowmen or crossbow users. In this modern age, their are guns modified to shoot bullets condensed out of man without shell casings. That''s for another topic to discuss for another time. Rangers specailizes as scouts that can find people, a place or a thing. They are very proficient as trackers too. They could find just about anyone within the terrain by following footprints, traces of presence such as blood from a wounded person in the environment. Traditional Rangers dressed in cloaks that blends in with the forestry with perfect camouflage. Rangers are known to be foresters and best display their abilities as a forester by setting up ambush rally points or behave as assassins within a forest.


    "I shouldn''t explain this class too much what an assassin specializes in and their output appearance. You generally have an understanding what an assassin does for a living after reading those comics of yours."


    Cassandra brushed aside her long, elephant  crimson mane with her hand as to clear her face. Eddie remained poised and eager to hear more of Cassandra''s lecture.


    "A Mage is like a Mana Warrior that gathers the energy of the universe and combines them with their spirit power. The two creates mana and it is distribute to the mana network. However, unlike Mana Warriors, Mages do not temper their bodies. They manipulate mana from their mana network to create seirdr also know as magic.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "There are promotion from Mage to an Archmage. Arcmages are promoted to a Wizard. Wizard is the top of the line for mages. The top wizards that stood at the apex in the cultivation world are granted the title ''Great Wizard''. In the entire universe there is only three active wizards that achieved that title and one of them happens to be the Lord Woden the Wanderer. The classes for Mages will be discussed for another time. Any questions so far?"


    Eddie was flabbergasted as he shook his head. It was like a his favorite video games and movies coming to reality.


    "Before I go what a Radiant Healer is, you will need to know that people can be born as mana cultivator straight out from the womb. Most of this cultivators have what is called a Blood Limiter. A Blood Limiter is a type of Seidr, ability skill that rare cultivators inherited from birth and can be passed down to the next generation through descendants. Most Blood Limiters originates fron the bloodlines of the gods and creatures that stood at the top during ancient times.


    "Lets use the god Heimdall for reference. Do you remember the Norse bedtime stories? A little pop quiz for you. Who is Heimdall? What ability does he have? Do you remember? . . . hmm?"


    Eddie rubbed his sticky chin, trying to think back about the tales of Asgard. The god he paid most attention to was Thor and his father Odin All-Father. I didn''t too him too long and guessed the correct answer.


    "Heimdall is the god who guards the rainbow bridge of Asgard and has the ''All-Seeing Eye'' ability to see anywhere in the Yggdrasil Tree."


    "The All-Seeing Eye is a Blood Limiter Heimdall had passed down to his children through his bloodline. This is the one of many Blood Limiters in the vast universe. It is important to remember that anyone with a Blood Limiter cannot be taught and copy outside the cultivator''s family. Blood Limiter comes from the cultivator''s bloodline."


    Eddie nodded with approval.


    "It''s like the ninja clans in Ramen Ninja Boy. Those ninja clan members are born with specail type of Nin-jutsu. The Bloodline Break," Eddie said it with pride. "Other ninjas outside of a clan cannot have a Bloodline. Only way to obtain one is by tranplanting, body snatching or injecting DNA from a ninja clansman into them. That is only way a ninja is not from a clan can have a Bloodline Break."


    "This . . . is," Cassandra was flabbergasted by Eddie''s response. Eddie was a true fanatic and imagine himself to be Ramen Ninja Boy in reality. From the costplay orange jumpsuit down to Ramen Ninja Boys trademark slogans and behavior was mimic by him. Cassandra, like a good parent, monitored what Eddie read on the internet. She was very selective in what Eddie could read and what he could "not" read. This impllied to video games and TV shows.


    She knew about the different genre and demographic of manga. The popular manga demographic in the market and online are Shounen manga, which are aimed towards teenage males audiences under twenty. The female counterpart manga were called Shoujo. Cassandra had maimed. She had to determined if Shounen manga were to gory and violent for Eddie. Ramen Ninja Boy manga was a Shounen and met the requirments


    Cassandra does not follow the story. She had a basic understanding of Ramen Ninja Boy manga. The main character was a talentless blond hair ninja that loves to eat a bow of ramen for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He had a mythical Asian mythology Nine-tail Redfox sealed inside of him. He choosen to be a part of a three-man cell team that usually consist of two males and one female ninja the same age as him. They were assigned an instructor by the Ninja Academy to train them personally an accompanied them on missions.


    She could not get into the story because the there was a one-sided love triangle between the three young ninja. Ramen Ninja Boy had an infatuation over his female teamate that dated way back when they were still cadets. The female character had no feelings for him. She detested Ramen Ninja Boy because she had a crush on the other male teammate which was the number one graduate cadet. Ramen Ninja Boy was dead last she felt like he was being a nuisance and was out to ruin her life.


    It had reminded Cassandra of her painful and heartbreaking past romantic relationships. This was more than enough for her not to follow the story. However, when she heard the words Bloodline Break blurted out from his mouth, her heart froze for a split second. She suddenly felt an ominous feeling within her gut. Every time shelt this way, something bad always happen. The last time she felt this way when she lost the husband she was current wedded to. This was no mere coincidence.


    She''d seen many strange seirdr curses and karmas in her life. However, Eddie''s karma was linked to the manga he cherished. To her, this was unprecedented.


    "Never mind," she sighed. "We can close the Blood Limiter topic. I must quickly wrap up lecture before your batter drains. Back on topic with people being born a mana cultivators. This leads to the final form. Mana Radiant Healers are normally born from a woman''s womb.


    "They are healers that specializes in healing people and other living creatures. Mana Radian Healers are best known as medics in the cultivation world. They can regrow limbs, cure cancer and ressurect a  person back from the dead. They don''t have any class, but they have two titles. Divine Doctor and Holy Exalt.


    "Title of Divine Doctor is given to a Radiant Healer, if his or hers medical skills reached the top in the cultivation world. The title Holy Exalt is given to Mana Radiant Healers that choose the path of a fighter. They will be able to manipulate the holy element as a offensive skill. Only the strongest are given the title Holy Exalt."


    "There is a one to ten star rating to gauge the power of a Mana Radiant Healer. The first star is the weakest. The hugest is ten stars. When reaching the third star, a Mana Radiant Healer can start practicing Holy Arts to become a fighter.


    "It is unfortunately that if a person is born as a Mana Radiant Healer, they cannot become Mana Warrior, tempering their bodies just like mages.  mana Radiant Healer''s are born with what called a Holy Core in the place where your Mana Network is locates. The mana gathered in your network gets a absorbed by the Holy Core. However, there are special cases that a person can be both Mana Warrior and Radiant Healer at the same time such as myself."


    Cassandra pointed at Eddie''s right cheek. Eddie shrugged, not understanding. However, when he glanced down, part of his shirt was stained with a red color. His complexion became green. He rubbed his thumbed in a crisscrossed motion and there was blood.


    "That''s about it for today. You can stop the recording."

 Chapter 17: Indecision (Vol. 2/Raw)

    Chapter 17 (Raw)


    Eddie felt as sharp pain jabbed into the nape of his neck. The wolf pack leader had a firm grip on Eddie neck. Another bit Eddie in the left ankle just of the tendon. The remaining wolves found spots in Eddie''s defenseless guard to sink their fangs into. Eddie felt like as if he was riding on a roller coaster ride with head and limbs being yanked in many different directions. He had no control over his body. He face smacked the lawn with such brute force that he he feared his nose had broke. That was the least of his worries as his agonizing screams grew ever louder as he thought the flesh was being torn from his body and devoured. Conjuring all his might, Eddie pushed up with his arms and dragged his knees, slightly etching forward.


    The wolf pack was startled the boy''s bravery. Suddenly they seized their attacks and began encircling the boy once again as if they wear playing with their food. Eddie didn''t have to see, but he knew that he was a bloody mess. The leader of the wold pack let out an horrifying howling as it lead the second assault on Eddie. Eddie was not quite defenseless as before as he subconsciously sat up and awaited for the first wolf to pounce and go for his face or throat. Eddie block well with his arm, shielding his face from being mauled. The pain was very excruciating as it was being crushed under the jaws of the wolf pack leader, but his adrenaline and will to survive.


    Mustering all the strength to his feet, Eddie pushed upright with the wolf directly above and sent it flying out of sight. His eye grew wide with surprise and excitement, but he had no time to ponder and celebrate is brief victor when the pain inflicted upon him and the angry roar snapped him back to reality of his predicament. The fear no longer lingered within him. It was replaced with new found courage and rage. For once in his life, Eddie disregard his safety and life and let the darkness and fury from with him consumed his will. The wolf leader howled before inching and ready to pounce with the intent to kill.


    The air around Eddie began to swirl into a cyclonic wind funnel. His skin glowed like an orange strobe light. An aura appeared out of no where and shrouded Eddie like a cloak. The shroud of condense mana became transparent as boiling hot water. The bubble splashes that came oozing out from the shroud transformed into magma. Eddie held out his right hand like a stop signal. His hand pulse for a split second. Mana started accumulating mana to his palm then in a blink of an eye a fireball that suddenly taken the shape of a human hand lashed out at the wolf pack. It was nearly twice the size of him.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    A tomahawk flew in from the west, which was from Eddie''s right and cut the fireball in half before it had any chance to reach the wolf pack. Then the tomahawk the reverted back to its original location as if it was called back upon its wielder. No doubt the work of seidr. The pack scattered and fled in fear. Eddie went on all fours like a hound then glared at the approaching adults. His body started undergoing transformation and he looked more inhuman by the minute. The iris of his eyes became slit. Golden pupils replaced Eddie''s blue eyes along with him developing dragon fangs and claws. And lastly the aura around Eddie set him ablaze. The lawn and wooden posts fences were set ablaze and. The mansion and building were in danger of being set on fire as the gust began to blow wildly across the preserve.


    ¡°Put out the fires! Quickly!¡± Grandma screamed.


    ¡°By the gods! What has become of the young master,¡± Rosa said exiting the manor with concern.


    The sight of Eddie terrifies her.


    ¡°Never mind about that! Go into my study and fetch me my potions!¡±


    Walter water hosed the fires and prevented most of the damage from reaching the garden and buildings. The fairies were weaving some form or pixie seidr Cassandra approach her son with little to no caution about her safety. Grandma warned her not to get too close, but she ignored her mother in law. All she cared about was getting her son back to normal. The demonically possessed Eddie growled at her with disgust as she approached him unarmed with arms sprawled open.


    ¡°Eddie-boy! Stop this madness! Don''t let that ''thing'' control you!¡±


    ¡°Wait! Stop!¡± Katheryn (Eddie''s Grandma) started chasing at Cassandra but it was too late. Cassandra embraced her son and soothed him.


    ¡°Everything is going to be alright, sweetie. It is all over now. Mommy apologizes for everything. Please find it in my heart to forgive¡ª¡±


    Eddie plunged his right arm into Cassandra''s chest with arm halfway in. In that wicked moment, Eddie regained consciousness. His arm felt sticky and warm. He looked up at his mother''s face. Her eyes were wide opened as if something surprised her. Then she smiled sincerely. How he missed that smile. It made feel at peace. The pure irony of a harsh reality stripped him of that peace when Cassandra spontaneously coughed out blood. Some splattered over his face. Cassandra''s legs buckles and she fell hard to the ground as her blood soaked the earth.


    Countless thoughts ran through his head. Confusion. Sadness. Sorrow. The demonic aura began to dissipate. Eddie''s human form restored in several seconds. Eddie couldn''t believe what he saw as look to his arm covered in his own mother''s blood. This cannot be real his mind spoke. Grandma Katheryn and the crew came to Cassandra''s aid as she was in pain. Eddie started crying and that was the last thing he would ever remember of this event when a came from behind middle aged native American man brought the butt end his tomahawk down in between Eddie''s shoulder blades and he was knocked out unconscious.

 Chapter 18: Like A Ticking Time Bomb (Vol. 2/Raw)

    Chapter 18 (Raw)


    Such an unambitious son you have.¡±


    ¡°Master,¡± Cassandra said while splitting out blood. ¡°That was not necessary everything under I had everything under control!¡±


    ¡°My dear apprentice. You still have much to learn. Your attachment to your son impairs your emotions.¡± He snorted, ¡°you are not fit to train the boy. For now on, I will see fit to his training. From this point on, the boy''s mana core is very unstable and it could rupture. The sole cause of it is likely the Elder Fire Dragon''s mana doing. It took advantage of your mana that was synchronizing with the boy''s core. The leak will worsen as the seidr seal that is currently incarcerating the dragon inside of Eddie will deteriorate and that would be the end of this world.¡±


    ¡°Pardon me, Lord John. Is Sigmund really that powerful?¡± Walter asked with doubt. ¡°How powerful are these creatures. I find it skeptical. ¡±


    ¡°Woden spoke of elder dragons are enormous as a mountain range. If I have to give a precise estimate, they are nearly the sizes of the Himalayas.¡± John said.


    ¡°By the gods, forget how something that enormous could ever fit inside an two year old infant! Something that colossal can obliterate this world!¡±


    ¡°That''s just the icing on the cake. Cassandra''s Hand of Mojlnir destructive power can generate over one thousand megatons. For an example: according to scientist, the dinosaurs go extinct millions of years ago when an asteroid the size of an island, miles wide slammed into this planet with a destructible force over 100,000 nuclear weapons. Each nuclear weapon is of the hundredth megaton scale. Every surface of the planet was vaporized not even bacteria survived. The sun could not penetrate the earth''s surface for more than a thousand years.


    ¡°A similar calamity will befall this planet if Sigmud should ever reemerge from his incarceration. This time the world would not freeze for thousands of years. It''s blazing mana will scorch every surface of the earth for all eternity until it decides to destroy the Earth''s core and be done with this planet. Or he could choose to obliterate this planet and its solar system of the constellation charts of the Yggdrasil Tree. Woden believes, according to his estimate that Sigmund primary breathfire attacks can generated over 500 trillion megatons of kinetic energy. ¡±


    John starred cold at Cassandra. ¡°The Greeks long ago believe an artifact that contains all the evils in the world. According to the legends, a woman name Pandora was the first woman created to walk upon earth. She was known for opening an artifact. contained all the evils in the world. This jar was better known as the ''box''. When she opened the box, all the evils flew out such as ''death'' and ''anger'' before she could close the box, sealing ''hope'' inside.


    ¡°And that my dear is the Pandora''s Box you''ve just opened. Death is only the beginning of our eternal nightmare and despair. We will become its corrupted minions. Each elder dragon has the ability of corruption, like the Undead King Elder Dragon Nidhogg has the corruption to resurrection of the undead and Shialla the Frost Elder Dragon has the corruption of ice and turn almost any living thing into a Frostspawn. We are still fortunate that Sigmud failed to escape from its captivity, but time is not on our side. ¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°Then how do we shut this Pandora''s Box,¡± Katheryn spat sarcastically. ¡°The sooner we seal away that demon''s mana the better.¡±


    ¡°That''s not possible. There are only two ways to close Pandora''s Box. One is to kill the boy. Or we pay a visit to the Whispering Sisters.


    ¡°On Hel''s names as if I let you do that!¡± Katheryn retorted violently. ¡°Not even the Sisters! They demand too much and only in return when they sentence us to death even if no bargain is to be made. The only way out of that shrine without a sealed contract in your own blood is your life. Don''t you remember what happened to your daughter when she fail to end her deal of the bargain?¡±


    John furrowed a brow, ¡°The choice is yours. Allow me to take my leave an tend to my wounded hound.¡±


    ¡°Mother, master''s right. I have ever intentions of seeing the sisters again. But I dare not leaving Eddie''s side for a longtime. Never imagine this quest would come so soon.¡±


    ¡°You''ll know that they will do everything in their power to make you fail a bargain.¡±


    ¡°I can''t be harmed by them immediately. Their power mainly derives from the Fairy Queendom. As their sovereign, they must obey the laws set by the first Titania. Even they can''t sentence fairies to death.¡±


    ¡°My dear daughter in law, you always one one to walk the plank towards a school of hungry sharks,¡± She glared. ¡°Do as you wish. Walter will see to your wound. By the looks of it, its not healing at a normal speed.


    Kathryn gathered Eddie into her arms and marched away just as Rosa hurried past her with a wooden case in her arms. The cover had tribal markings of Valkyries. In the case were the vials of potions. Walter''s primary profession on the preserve was to be Stan''s number one Potions Master.


    ¡°Lady Kathryn is right. I can feel the corruption spreading throughout your body. It is having a significant effect of your regenerating abilities. I fear my potions won''t help. Cassandra, I recommend you return to the Fairy Queendom and hibernate in the royal chamber to cleanse you of this corruption.¡±


    Cassandra grunted with disapproval.


    ¡°I don''t have time for that. My son needs me! I need to be by his side!¡± Cassandra coughed in between each sentence.


    ¡°Malady,¡± Rosa attempts to comfort her.


    ¡°Just give me the damn potion!¡±


    Inside the case was a potion, to relieve a person from the symptoms of elder dragon corruption. The vial had a ultraviolet hue to the liquid substance that Cassandra drank. She shivered as the effects had such a burning sensation spreading throughout her body. Cassandra mustered her will to fight against a brief moment of pain. The corruption aura within her chest area began to dissipate. Her wound started healing more rapidly. Katheryn sprinting back towards them, looking very surprise and energetically.


    ¡°Come quickly! He''s be back!¡±


    ¡°That quickly,¡± Rosa marveled with excitement.


    Cassandra winced as she stood up to her feet. Her armored had a cavity the size of a baseball the went straight through her heart. Several fairies clustered around her and started repairing the celestial armor.


    ¡°Easy does it,¡± Walter said with concern.


    ¡°Stan has brought with him the king of Vanhold, traveling with his wife and daughter. And the Elvin king of Elkwood is also here with his henchmen and many more. They request your presence, Cassandra.¡±

 Chapter 19: Guildhall (Vol. 2/Raw)

    Chapter 19 (Raw)


    Meanwhile.


    Dragnard''s Reach was one of Vanahiem''s largest cities that hosted the most famous guilds in all the Eight Worlds. Its location is the kingdom of Vanhold. Each guild trained or enlisted warriors from all corners of the Yggdrasil Tree and became guild members of a specific guild at the hall regristration, which was located at the City Lord''s manor. They were paid mercenaries and bounty hunters to go on quests to vanquish all those who pose a threat to the Eight Worlds.


    It is also the home of several guilds such as Guardians of Midgard Guild and Falcon Guild. The city was fortified with a kilometer radius stonewall. 70% of the structures were constructed out of limestone. Several poor district erected wooden homes for the commoners, peasants and serfs. The guildhall of GoM were constructure out of wood as the guild structure itself being a tavern. In the tavern, Diana drank wine from a silver goblet.


    She was the first princess from the Southern Sun Kingdom the current caretaker of the guildhall. Diana Rosewell dressed an an outing blue dress with an expose cleavage. She had long platinum blond hair and rich deep, blue sea eyes. Their were children hide and seek and the men drowned themselves with mead and honey ale. Due to inactive members, the guildhall was force to become a full time tavern for the public.


    ¡°Your Highness. Why don''t you come join us gentlemen. Seeing you brooding everyday ruins the aroma of this fine ale,¡± said a brown hair man in his mid thirties. He had long brown hair with a well grown beard. His abdominal and legs were more one the obese side while his arms, pectorals and neck were bulk like a power weight lifter. He his name was Brett known as Brett the Ox Brute.


    He was Dragnar''s Reaches number one blacksmith. Brett was infatuated with Diana for a very longtime. This was the reason why he was Diana''s number one customer when came to alcohol beverages and the best deal when comes to craftsmanship. He would refine and forge her some of the best melee weapons that is under the divine realm in the entire universe. It was a pity that he belong to the Falcon Guild.


    ¡°No thanks,¡± she gritted her teeth while Brett''s palls chorused in laughter.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± he sneered. ¡°You are such a delicate, feisty lass! No one here is going to bite yah! I''m a man of my word when I say this. I''ll take responsibility of you and give you the world. That is only that if you accept my hand in marriage.¡±


    ¡°Sir! You drink too much! Better call it a night!¡±


    ¡°Right! Right!¡± He laughed. It was already evident that he was drunk, which made Diana more vigilant around this brute . ¡°How about head over to my workshop on the way out and spend the remainder of the night with, me¡± he grinned, implied with a foreplay intent.


    The pub erupted with laughter once more, before she could retort, a purple mist began to flood its way through the front entrance, ¡°This is . . .¡± her her complexion became very pale as the poisonous vapor permeated through the entire guildhall.¡±


    Poisonous fumes were everywhere as a chorused of coughs sounded throughout the guildhall. Men that were not sobered and profound in drunkenness were the first to die as they vomited out blood. Their eyes, nose and ears bled out horrifically. Diana was quick to activate the guildhall''s defensive array. The array look liked a shining hologram of Nordic rune hieroglyphics.


    Mana became visible as it looked like a transparent dome was enveloping the entire interior of the bar. Leylines began connecting the runes together like a constellation of stars. The arrays itself gave of a spectacular light blue color as it absorbed the poison cloud like a vacuum. The danger momentarily passed. Diane knew it was just brief and her first course of action was the safety of the children that were playing hide and seek in the bar.


    ¡°Romeo! Leon! Sophie!¡±


    ¡°Aunt Diane. We okay.¡±


    Romeo said, squirming from under the table closet to the counter. He and the two children were hiding under one of the round wooden tables. Upon inspection, they appeared to be in good health. Diane sighed in relieve. Overall, there were only two men confirmed dead.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°By the gods! Who dares to attack?¡± Brett furrowed his brows very upset.


    Just before Diane could retort, a sickening tremor followed with the sound of a boom rocked the entire guildhall as if a 6.0 earthquake were happening. A second attack with the sound of a sonic boom was more devastating. Miraculously, nothing from within the interior of the guildhall took too much damage damage as the people were bracing themselves from the attacks. The array formed a barrier and took the full brunt of destructive force. Cracks started forming from the ceiling as the rafters shuddered and creaked violent.


    ¡°Brett! Dou you fell that? Its got to be at least 4-Star Revolver Core cultivator.¡± One of Brett''s buddies said.


    ¡°Wench,¡± Brett spat as his eyes became cold and glared at Diana. ¡°Who did you offend to invoke such retaliation? What has you guild done to make such an enmity! Depending if we survive through this ordeal how much your guild have to compensate for the lost of live of my brethren! ¡±


    ¡°I don''t know!¡±


    ¡°How bold,¡± he took his blood-lust eyes away from Diana once again as glanced up at the ceiling. ¡°To think that anyone would be brave enough to to cause trouble in this city. We just need to hold on until the city''s protective Spirit Barrier activates executes the assailants.¡±


    The Spirit Barrier was believed to be a spirit of a young woman that protected the foundation of Dragnar''s Reach for centuries. Their could be no fighting. No violence whatsoever. That was the law. Those who disobeyed or brake these stipulation was automatically executed on the spot rather if they were residing in their residence or roaming the streets. All parties would be severally punished no matter if the person was using self defense. The Spirit barrier still considered self defense a misdemeanor.


    Listening to Brett, Diana felt as if her guts were twisting. The Spirit Barrier was actually The Protector that guarded the guildhall for many years and was in hibernating, recovering from the previous war. They were on their own. The array cracked and weakened significantly. A loud explosion destroyed part of the rooftop. Parts of the rubble fell and everyone managed to escape unscathed.


    ¡°Protect the children!¡±


    The men were drunk, slowing their reaction time. But their will and determination to live on had made the effects of the alcohol boast heir strength. The hops that Diana used to brew ale were not ordinary and can only be brought in the holy Fairy Queendom. These were known as Miracle Hops. These hops can boast strength and increase endurance temporarily while the top tier hops can improve cultivation for Mana Cultivators to level up to the the next stage. These types of hops are extremely rare and the price for any alcohol that was brew from these hops were nearly priceless that only the rich could afford it.


    Brett rallied his henchmen and engaged the assassins in close combat. Brett hammered away with his famous combat two-handed, war-hammer and pulverized and that cross his path against him. The assassins were dressed in all black cloak with hoodies and a veil to conceal their identities.


    Chaos and bloodshed spread throughout the tavern with war cries and agony. Diana brandished her enchanted whip and slashed out, destroying tables. Each lash generated mana output attacks that were shrewd as a blade and cut into the assassins with lethal result such. Her eye darted to the next person and her whip lashed out fast like a viper and constrict the assassin''s neck. With a simple tug, the persons neck was snapped has he fell lifelessly.


    The chaos in the tavern soon came to an end when no more further invaders infiltrated the guildhall. Before they could inspect the the bodies, the tavern light up with a florescent strobe lights. The souls of the dead were departing from the corpses and flew out the opened hole in the guildhall''s roof. Everyone''s complexion became paled. They had all thought of the same thing.


    ¡°Helheim Assassin Court!¡± Everyone exclaimed in unison.


    Outside the guildhall were several members of the Bloodsword Guild on the bluffs, watching the scene unfolded. Everything was not going according to his plan. Grandmaster Blood Overflow stroked his shinning, gray long beard. The powerhouses of GoM were not present, so dismantling the guild shouldn''t be too difficult. So why did the thralls of the HAC (Helhiem Assassin Court) failed?


    ¡°Impossible,¡± one named Buck Tooth spoken. ¡°How could this be?¡±


    ¡°I have underestimate those pesky rats,¡± Blood Overflow stroked his beard once again. ¡°What''s done is done. We can''t change history. Summon the beast tide!¡±


    ¡°But . . . what about the city? The people?¡± Buck Tooth Said with disbelieve.


    The creases increased on Blood Overflow''s cheeks. His heart was racing. He knew from this moment on, the Bloodsword Guild will go rogue as many innocent blood will be on their hands for all eternity.


    ¡°Collateral damage was inevitable. We must hide the truth at all cost. There can be no witnesses. No survivors. After this, I must travel to Neflheim and asked for an audience from the Ancient Soul Clan. Only the Soul Clan can give our guild sanctuary and insured that HAC will not seek retribution against us.¡±


    Buck Tooth nodded dejectedly. His hand rummaged through his jerkin and pulled out a small pocket bone flute. The head joint had the shape of an human skull. He began playing several chords. The eyes of the skull on the head joint glowed red. The melody rippled through the winds. The starry sky spontaneously became cloudy. The ground suddenly shook beneath them.


    Thunder roared from the skies as lighting stretched across the mountains that lit the entire city of Dragnar''s Reach like a Christmas tree. Then suddenly, the sky became distorted. There was a gigantic crack in the sky. The crack black as the abyss. Something was coming through the crack. The citizens only could watch on and sucked in breath horrified to the point of near death.

 Chapter 20: Merits Lodging (Vol. 2/Raw)

    Chapter 20 (Raw)


    Merits Lodging was home to villagers that lived a non hostel viking peasant tradition. The villagers dressed in casual Nordic clothing. The men wore tunic and trousers made linen, animal skin and wool. The women wore long dresses. A pinafore was wore over each of the dresses despite the winter condition.


    The village was located at Vanahiem''s northern continent through the ice grave of Bjorns Pass. The villagers were mostly anglers and hunters. They trade for a living. Paths were blanketed with snow. Merchant faerings were seeing, entering the glacier fjord. Some vessels carried six wooden barrels of herring while other rowboats carried six barrels of oysters. No more than two people occupied each fearing.


    Only three faering could moor at a time along the planks of the harbor. The receiving crew gathered the barrels and hauled them onto a wheel cart. Off to the market those barrels would go. The village''s structures were mostly homesteads that had wooden dome roofing. The main and important structures were great lodges. Every roof was covered in snow.


    In the sunlight, the snow thawed out and draped down from fascias only to refreeze into sparkly, icy stalagmites, hanging down from rooftops. It was a nice sight seeing to travelers.


    An arctic gust blew swiftly in from Bjorn''s Pass. A woman, waiting out a pub patiently spotted party of three dwarfs and a halfling heading down the slope. The first dwarf in the front was your average obese size dwarf. They called him Grundi ¡°Scarred-Beard¡± Skaggisson. The title ¡°Scarred-Beard¡± was earned, defending a siege attack on the guildhall ¡°Guardians of Midgard¡± as a guild member of GoM. His chin was grazed by an assailant''s overhand slash with a sword to the chin, chopping off his goatee.


    No hair grew on the slanted scar across his cheek. Grundi wore a black steel chain-mail, gauntlets and leggings. A black black fur coat was worn over the torso. He carried a black battleaxe over his shoulder. His onyx eye darted to the village


    and its inhabitants.


    ¡°A fine village! The smell of fresh fish tingles my beard! Wanteth to lie by hearth with an elegant plump, drinking ale mead dawn,¡± Grundi chorused in laughter.


    ¡°Boss want''s to slack off as usual,¡± Holgar murmured.


    Holgar ¡°Brown-Fist¡± Baldrickson earned the titled ¡°Bronze -Fist¡± at a relatively young age. Brown-Fist meaning dirty fist. Growing up into his teens, Holgar was a farmer. He lived with his folks the outer banks of Glenn''s Bend. One night, human raiders rode up the channels with their longboats. They pillaged his farmstead and village and left no one alive. They sold the women and sold the children they held captivity into slavery.


    His kin was slain in combat and he was among the captivity. Holgar was rescued when another group of humans ambushed the raiders and set the captives free. The group of humans that rescued him were from GoM. They were good humans that protected the realm of Midgard. Although, the billboards that posts guild missions will make partake and any request across the Eight Worlds.


    The guardians were kindly to escort his race back to Nidavellir. No longer having a family or a kin to return home to, he asked to be enlisted. To his surprised, a young Grundi took him under his wing. Holgar became part of the guild.


    ¡°Nah . . . he y-ain''t. He''s fantasizing, basking-nin the glory of lif-fen dat skirt,¡± Thorbal retorted a bit too loudly.


    Thorbal ¡°Rough-Hammer¡± Durginsson another GoM member was know for his toughness, vigor in combat and his defensive tactical training as a proctor at GoM. Thorbal and Holgar have been childhood friends, growing up in the same village. Unlike Holgar, Thorbal managed to escape with his family from Glenn''s Blend. However, he was determined to rescue his long time friend and departed from his family.


    Backtracking his footsteps to the village, but he was ambushed by the raiders and taken into captivity. He was rescued a reunited with his friend Holgar. However, the whereabouts of his family were unknown until months later after Torbal joined GoM.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Bloody Hel! Will you three just shut up! One more word and I swear I''ll turn you three into goblin droppings!¡± Draco yelled.


    Draco was a young halfling mage, skilled in the art of water magic, trained under a great wizard. Draco was well known for his rowdy behavior and clumsiness.


    ¡°Who brought Rumblemouth along?¡± Holgar muttered to Thorbal.


    The two chorused in laughter. This was more than enough to fuel the halfling''s rage. Draco, in a foul mood, raised the the staff above his head. Mumbling with gibberish incantations, the blunt head of the staff began accumulating moist particles, amassing into a swirling sphere made of water. With a quick overhand swing from his staff, a spiraled water-spray, beamed horizontally at a rapid pace.


    Grundi heard a gurgling of water, combined with the horrid screams of his comrades. Turning around, ¡°Woooh!¡± Grundi exclaimed, biting his lips, as the bundled form of Grundi''s friends, covered with snow and frozen water collided into him. He became part of the slickly bundle, skying the steeps of Bjorn''s Pass.


    The spectators from bellow spotted the tumbling bundles of frozen dwarfs manifested into a boulder. Frantic screams from the hysterical villagers escalated rapidly. Mainly scrambled to get out of the snowy boulder''s projected paths as it bulldozer anything that got in its way while other hurried back to their homesteads and embraced for impact. Only one who was brave to meet the boulder head on.


    A person, dressed in brown linen robes stepped out from the tavern. The hood over the head masked the person''s face with shadows. Just glancing at it from a distance was like looking from a distance was very intimidating. The person in robes brandished a Katana with her right hand defiantly and very determined to halt the snowball''s progress. Incredibly, she slashed at an angle and made solid contact with the snowy boulder.


    The boulder instantly split in half. Remnants of frosty flakes flew straightforward out of harm''s way. Villagers gasped and were astounded by the person''s feat. Dazed, were the three dwarfs, cuddled and intertwine like a ball of yarn. A scrawny man that towed a wheelbarrow full of fished evaded the incoming bolder but his wheelbarrow was unfortunate.


    Quickly, the woman in robes held her hand out to aloof and furious man and silenced the crowd, ¡°I''ll take responsible for this idiotic farce! All damages will be paid in full!¡± The lady in robes said, tossing a tiny pouch filled with gold coins in the man''s path. The man happily excepted the payment.¡°Carry on! Nothing to see here!¡±


    The villagers went bout there daily lives. The lady in robes folded her arms, very displeased with the dwarf. Grundi was the first to have a clear view of the woman''s face and it was an all too familiar. His breath labored roughly, sighing out misty condensation. His frozen mustache twitched with excitement momentarily before his mood was halted,when a pair on angry jaded eye glared profoundly into the depths of his soul.


    ¡°Why am I not surprised. I''ve been gone for five years. Still, you guys have a penchant of causing trouble. Not only for yourselves.¡± She hissed. ¡°I had to fill out a lot of paper work despite being gone for eight years and millions of light years and many galaxies across the universe I was taking care of my ill father! What you buffoons have to say for yourselves?¡±


    Her words cut like blades. Grundi dare not to speak. One wrong slip of the tongue could be costly. Holbar pointed behind, still shivering from his soaked armor and tunics.


    ¡°Lady Ayame. That blasted halfing! The fault is his alone . . . cast''n his seidr!¡±


    Draco, very proud of his handy work. Sliding down the slope, trotting into the village, Draco''s mouth went agape when all eyes were on him. Hearing the dwarfs rambling about made him even more wary of his surroundings. The figure in brown robes , towering over his dwarfish companions glared at him. He dreadfully knew who was under the hood. She was no ordinary human lass to trifle with.


    Dracco that stood just ten paces away.


    He shivered from those pair of jaded eyes carved profoundly into the depths of his soul. He knew that not even being comrades and members from the same guild would save him from her impending punishments. He swallowed hard, and proceeded with caution.


    ¡°And you,¡± she hissed, ¡°learn to control your anger! I Swear . . . your magic will be the death of me.¡±


    ¡°M-my humble apologies. I will full responsibility for my action, Lady Ayame Akasuki¡ª¡±


    The halfling received a light thumping on the cranium. With enough strength the blow Draco took from Ayame, he tripped over his own leg and fell hard onto his behind while leaning against the wall of the tavern. Accumulated sprinkles of snow fell from the rooftop, dousing the dismayed halfling''s head.


    ¡°Do not speak my name! Have you gone daft!¡± She grinned her teeth in anger. ¡°Now lets not squander anymore precious time,¡± she said it with monotone.


    She raced through the threshold of the tavern. When she was out of sight, the three dwarfs laughed and made humorous faces to Draco and jested, drenched in a puddle of snow as the started to follow after the redhead. Draco childishly stuck his tongue.

 Chapter 21: Gate Of Death (Vol. 3/Raw)

    Chapter 21 (Raw)


    The tavern was very lively with jazz bands and villagers who were filling their gutty bellies full of mead and ale. Like Alaska, back in Midgard, the northernmost of the continent were Riverside was located, there was no twilight and darkness of the night. During this time of season, the tavern was open twenty-four seven. Kegs and flagons were stored in the storage room where Ayame and her party avoided company of bartenders and customers.


    Ayame Akasuki is a modern day Japanese Samurai from Midgard. Her birth place was Kyoto Japan. She is seventeen years of age. Her family is the secret Akatsuki Clan. A clan of risen samurai warriors that was founded thirty five years ago and became one of the newer international branches of GoM. The CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) and the Ministeris of Japan. Her parents and Stan were well acquainted with on another. At the age of twelve, Ayame''s parents were assassinated.


    Her uncle Sato Akatsuki became the head and patriarch of the clan. Ayame trained in Kenjustu. The Way of The Sword nearly her entire life.


    They sat at a round table made out of timber. Mugs of ale were filled, although Cassandra was not in the mood to drink ale. Instead, she drank one cup of tea she brought from Midgard. She thank Patty, the tavern owner for helping her smuggling a cargo that she was about to discuss with her comrades. She waited patiently has the hungry dwarfs and halfing helped themselves with supper and a mug filed with mead. Good spirits they were in.


    ¡°A fine mead! A fine meal!¡± Grundi chorused. ¡°Me want more! More!¡± He pounds his cup on the table.


    The room erupted with laughter, all except Ayame. Time was against her. She knew it would be a matter of time before Blackhaven discovered the location of Kentucky preserve. She cringed thinking what would became of her friend''s only son Eddie Ferguson. Knowing that Blackhaven''s foolish endeavor to seek out and capture all Elder Dragons, they will never stop hunting him until their goal has been achieved. She knew that Eddie''s soul is bound to the dragon''s life force.


    She hear enough of the dwarfs'' bickering and Draco''s whining. She reminded herself why she came back to the forgotten realms. Picking up a silver spoon, she tinkled the side of her glass teacup. Everyone stopped there festive activities and gave their full attention to her.


    ¡°There will plenty of time for chattering. Times of the essence,¡± she sighed. ¡°I gathered you all here individually because I received grim news from the Grandmaster. As of know, its been nearly twenty seven hours since the intergalactic breach, which revolves around the Grandmaster''s grandson, Edward Mathew Ferguson (Eddie''s full birth name) . There seems to be many leaks. Whoever leaked confidential information about the boy being a vessel to one of the legendary elder dragons put this boy in grave danger.


    ¡°Blackhaven, as we speak is on a manhunt to hunt down Edward, and I''m afraid times is not on our side. We need to know the exact location of their guildhall and headquarters if were are to mount a cohesive operation to eradicate Blackhaven.¡±


    ¡°We will need clearance from the council. The council forbids all legit guilds to wage war against rogue guild without provocation or clearance from Arkon,¡± Draco retorted.


    ¡°Bring them on! I prefer we take the fight''in to them!¡± Grundi boosted.


    ¡°Me fight''in too. Me swords dis crave''in for some Blackhave''in blood!¡± Thorbal said.


    ¡°For Alphonse and Edward, we dwarfs march into battle . . . I say!¡±


    ¡°This is unacceptable! We will be force to disband and be sentence to the gallows or be thrown into the lion''s pit! Exiled at best from Vanahiem! ¡± Draco said with such frustration. ¡°We cannot go against the council''s decree, my lady!¡±


    Ayame''s knitted her brows, crossed her arms and sternly look on with stoicism. Thorbal smirked mischievously, whipping his lips free of mead.


    ¡°Isn''t that right? No combat experience . . . heh,¡± he spat. ¡°Pack ya belong''ins and march all the way back to Yakshire where thou belong and continue to plow the cornfields if thou scare of ya wits to get ya hands dirt''eh,¡± he and his dwarfish comrades chorused in laughter.


    ¡°This is the reason why I don''t work and associate with his kind on a daily basis. They have no formal manner to society. They bark like stinky dogs and charge in without a cohesive strategy. It''s a bloody miracle these dwarf still exist.¡±


    In a way she agreed with Draco. They do have a foul lack of manners but in a festive way. However, you would never find a more loyal and brave brother-band of warrior in the Eights Worlds other than the dwarfs. The would fight to the death down to the last woman and child.


    ¡°Halfling! Me dare ya call me a stinky mutt one more! Thou find me fist down ya throat!¡±


    ¡°That''s enough,¡± she hammered her fist onto the table, dishes and utensils vibrated in unison. ¡°I did not summon you guys here to throw a bar fight! I suggest you dwarfs get along with Draco,¡± she the broke the stupor with her fake cough. ¡°As I was saying prior to this farce, we need to know the exact location of their guildhall.¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Ayame rummaged with the pocket of her her inner winter cloak an pulled out an transparent a jaded scroll. The etching of runes from the Old Norse language were written on the parchment. The dwarfs were awestruck while Draco''s mouth dropped agape. He knew that object too well with many years of tutelage under master Wuton''s training. This was magical scroll that is able to create portals that was powerful enough for one person to travel across the universe from one end to another within just a blink of an eye.


    The jaded scroll seidr was more of reverse summoning spell than a teleportation spell that can grant the user and their traveling to any precise location to a person, place or a thing. As long as there were no potent anti teleportation and summoning array active in the selected area.


    Draco knitted his brows. He was shock.


    ¡°Where! Where did you get that? If I''m not mistaken, that''s the Gate of Death. That is some series dark and forbidden Seidr parchment. It requires a sacrificial ceremony.¡±


    ¡°I visited the Whispering Sister.¡± Every male present sucked in breath with grim expression. ¡°The Gate of Death parchment has been forged by the sisters. A sacrificial ceremony is not needed.¡±


    ¡°What they asked in return?¡± Draco asked solemnly. ¡°Not only that it was a bloody miracle you sealed a deal and escaped with your life. I hope you are aware that of the consequences of sealing a deal.¡±


    ¡°That I can''t disclose that.¡±


    ¡°By Thor''s Hammer! What have you done! Not even master can save you from the Whispering Sister and Arkon.¡±


    ¡°Fret not, Draco. If word gets out, your master will take full responsibility for the spell as I will take full responsibility for this operation. It is all thanks to Wotun notifying to King Rurik that our guild has been provoked by Blackhaven. I now have his support. We will not be judge without a fair testimony.¡±


    Draco sighed, glancing at his three dwarfish companions, still seated at the table. ¡°Clear the table! Secure any lose objects! This could get rough.¡±


    They prepared. Draco weaved an soundproof spell that prevented any noise from leaving the basement. Ayame laid the Gate of Death parchment onto the table. Draco waved his staff, mumbling a few phrases in Old-English, vaguely audible. The staff''s head danced and bobbed over the parchment as it was resonating with wight light. The lanterns started to dim and faded black. Bolts of electricity ravaged its way from within the parchment, lashing out at anything in its way. The table was set ablaze. An ultra violet sinister energy residue, shrouded the parchment.


    Whirlwinds blew violently, everyone except Draco took cover under the rounded table as it rocked from the relenting winds and powerful soaring bolts. Follow after that was a loud boom and hard thump above them. Power was restored to the lanterns. The smell of burnt timber permeated the air. Ayame was first to her feet. Her eye felled upon the charred table. It was inscribed with the texts, written in Old-English. The halfling fainted. The dwarfs crawled frantically to his aid.


    ¡°Halfling! Don''t go pass''n out on me,¡± Grundi slapped his cheeks.


    ¡°Leave him be. He''s exhausted from mana depletion.¡± she said it apprehensively.


    Just before the parchment activated, a buzzing noise was sounded. The guildhall tattoo each member received upon become an official GoM guild member had special features such as distress calls whenever Dragnar''s Reach or the guild was under attack and besieged.


    ¡°Clever fools the Darkhaven are,¡± She snarled as. ¡°We have no choice! Back I must go alone. You three, return to city. Any objections?¡±


    ¡°We dwarfs will follow you to the ends of the great Yggdrasil Tree, if needed¡± Holgar retorted. ¡°What about the halfling?¡±


    ¡°I''ll bring him. His magic be a vital essence in my journey.¡±


    A tremendous fear washed over them. Black misty fumes came oozing out from the charred parchment, spiraling counter clockwise upright. Roars of a thousand lions shook the pup to its foundations. Above the basement, the bewilderment and startled people could rampant about. The Guardians never took their eyes off from the gatekeeper as they watched the black, foul mist manifested into an apparition of a hooded skull of a phantom lord.


    It''s red menacing eyes held such malevolent of killing intent the they were almost immobilized from the emitting fear. Dark fiends such as ghoul lords, phantoms, wraiths and dragons have magical ability to emit fear among the living. This was no ordinary foe. The apparition took the for of a human skeleton death reaper.


    ¡°Guardians of Midgard. You summoned me from my slumber? Make haste or your souls will be devoured.¡±


    ¡°It is I¡ªAyame Akatsuki.¡± She quickly retorted before any of the dwarfs could flapped their gums and inappropriately provoked this entity. She never expected I the gate keeper of death to be so aggressive and threaten to devour its summoners'' souls.


    ¡°I and my companion the halfling wish to be transported to the location of the rogue guild Blackhaven.¡±


    The apparition frowned, ¡°I can''t directly take you to the location because that area is guarded with many arrays that conceals its location from the rest of the world. But I can transport you to the nearest location. The Death''s Nest.¡±


    ¡°Deaths Nest!¡± The dwarfs exclaimed in unison.


    The apparition dispersed. Its remnants gathered and reformed itself into a portal to the next dimension with a swirling radiant crest of light. Immense bone fingers claws clung the portal''s outer rings. The magic of immobilizing phobia subsided. However, the effects of fear still lingered. The brute chill of fear still made them quiver. Ayame had fought in many battles and slayed many fiends and monstrous creatures that had more then enough power to obliterate cities with no difficulty just like taking candy away from a baby.


    She had only once experienced fear from charms was a dragon that she and her old friend Cassandra had slain twelve years ago. To counter fear, an alchemist they met in created a set courage potions that increased brevity once the potion has be consumed. Victory over a dragon had cost the lives of her guild-mates and friends. She remembered Alphonse Ferguson nearly got his left leg amputated, due to infections from the dragon''s jagged tooth. It was thanks to the elvish medicine that his leg recuperated enough to avoid amputation.


    The dwarfs bid her farewell as they head for Dragnar''s Reach.


    ¡°Ayame, my dear! What in Frigga''s great name is going on!¡± Patty demanded. Her ruby, red as landed on the phantom and her complexion nearly became pale. ¡°Such a sinister seidr.¡± She trembled.


    ¡°I summoning my trip to the location of my enemy. Till we meet again.¡±


    She carried Draco and entered the portal.

 Chapter 22: Sigmund (Vol. 3/Raw)

    Chapter 22 (Raw)


    It''s been many hours, days or weeks since Eddie had been confined in a windowless dungeon with no doors or gate, filled with debris. There was no way Eddie could tell how long timed had Anxiety was starting to get the best Eddie as he was screaming for help and in return all he got was his voiced, echoing off the brick walls of the dungeon. Luck finally found him when he found passage through the pile of debris and ruined furniture. He was covered in filth, scouring through what appeared to be remnants of an old fashion shelve for toys. The felt insects crawling over him. Light began to dim as he squirmed more profoundly. Small light beams seeped through the openings of the debris were only his light source.


    His vision slightly blurry. Observing his surrounding to get a better picture where he was, he found himself, locked in a spacious dungeon room filled with rubbish and debris. There was no door. On the brick walls, he saw skeletons of human remains shackled and hung alongside the dungeon brick walls. Most children his age would have screamed, but he was more intrigued and astonished than scared.


    The passage was too narrow that only children could fit. The tunnel beneath the pile had some twist that made it more difficult to maneuver. How long he had been under the wreckage he couldn''t tell, but he knew he had been crawling for quite some time. Eddie lifted his shirt and shield his face from the dust that he might inhaled. Mom told him that most house dust contains germs and bacteria.


    The air around him suddenly shifted as the silver key in his hand started to glow in his pocket. Eddie shrieked as the floor suddenly beneath him gave away. He slid through slope face first. Bracing himself for impact, he protected his face with his arms, sliding out from the slipway. He landed in a haystack. His shirt and pants were filled with hay. He removed much of them as possible before glancing about a the slipway.


    ¡°Grandma?¡± He shouted. ¡°Is anybody up there?¡±


    No response. Eddie''s stomach churned. Was this the punishment that Grandma had in store for him because he could possibly killed his own mother? There had to be a logical explanation to all of this. Of course, Eddie thought. It''s all the work of seidr. Observing his surrounds, he was one in a dungeon of a castle. There were mounted torches that made the room more visible. It was not a dungeon at all. He was in an very ancient outdated armory. There racks filled with melee weapons on the left side. The right, had all the archery from crossbows to bows, musket and rifles.


    Forwardly, passed the set of weapons had nothing but pitch black. Eddie picked up a pebble the size of quarter coin and flung it into the dark. He waited a minute and there was no sound. It picked up another pebble, but this time choose to toss it up right and let if fell onto the brick floor, leaving a loud echoing thump. The first stone had traveled father than he thought.


    ¡°Whoa!¡± he exclaimed awfully. ¡°What is this place?¡± Eddie stroked the longsword with his index finger. To his surprise, it never accumulated dust at it would normal do after many years or centuries. This placed looked as it was well maintained. Hauling it was a mistake that nearly cost him his right arm. The sword was too heavy to for him to wield and it feel out of his hands very dangerously, clattering on impact with the ancient stone floor.


    ¡°Oops,¡± he berated himself. The longsword was too heavy to hoist over his head, so he leaned it against the wall, making sure it would not fall. A hideous roar caroused through the slipway had made all the hairs on the nape of his neck pricked. His skin was crawling with goosebumps. ¡°That does not sound like good news.¡±


    The roar came again very louder that it shook the armory like an aftershock. The ceiling cracked as showers of wall dust rained upon him. Eddie''s heart raced. Gathering hit wits, he removed one of the wooden traditional bows from the rack. The length of that projectile weapon was nearly the length of him. Studying it, it was the first generation recurvebow from Renaissance Era.


    Testing the dexterity of the bowstring, Eddie drew the bowstring. Failing to do so, so he disregarded it and selected a more modern brand. He selected a compound bow that doesn''t require any strength to nock an arrow. This bow was made out of black stainless steel and it was a compound crossbow. Eddie trained with bow and arrows since he was five years old back in Michigan. His precision and accuracy was superb for a mere child his age. He could shoot a soda can hundred yards away. Eddie drew the bowstring and locked in the notch. A compound bow would certainly increase his firing range.


    The spillway light up with spectacular orange eyes. Now he could hear the beat of drums playing. Maybe it was the racing beat of his heart. Grabbing the quiver off the rack, fastening it around his waist, the archery rack suddenly shifted rapidly into the abyss corner of the armory and vanished from sight.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he said to reassuring himself, ¡°this is starting to get weirder by the moment. I must be dreaming.¡± He glanced at the melee weapons. The drums were getting louder that Eddie spontaneously reached out and grabbed the the ten-inch survivors hatched. Like the set of long distance weapons, the shelve with the melee weapons vanished.


    More torches had lit further away. He was now able to see the entire room. He was in an underground sewer. He could see multiple spillways on from right to left side of the sewer much higher up. Forward, there was an altar or murals, glowing green. The distance to the other side of the sewer was half a football. Eddie starting jogging, putting the drumming and roars behind him.


    Suddenly, the drumming came to a complete stop. Then suddenly, the spillway was flooded with swirls of inferno. The blazing flames ravaged the sewers as it took form of a gigantic beast nearly two stories high. Fear had mad him fumble a arrow. He had no time picking up from the floor as he reached for another from his quiver and hesitatingly took a shot at the gigantic fiend. The arrow was on target as it passed through the fire demon''s mouth. The arrow was incinerated. The menacing beast roar with anger.


    The bow fell out of his hand instantly as he sprinted full speed. The strap kept the bow slung to him. It was dangling from the side of his waist. Heat wave after heat wave surged pass him. Eddie sprinted into the abyss like corridor trying to put distance between him and the inferno creature. In moments all light and audio became silent. The corridor was pitch black that he couldn''t see a thing. Then the most eerie feeling besides not being able to see thing is that he could not feel his feet making any contact with the floor as if he was floating.


    In the far distance, a shooting star zipped past him on the right. Then the room came to life with the image of constellation of stars and outer space. Eddie floating into as stars and meteorites passed him. His body drifted out of control as if he were swimming in a stream. He approached a meteor field. He imagined colliding into of those monolithic meteors would be very unpleasant. Using his swimming instincts, he swam clear of the meteor only to have another to obstruct his path.


    Weaving around each meteor got cozier. As he made the final past immense meteor, he drifted clear of the field. Ahead was an asteroid that glowed florescent green. Drifting closer, he passed several debris that were ruined ancient statues of an unknown civilization. He could see a ruins of was once to be an advance kingdom, ruled by far superior beings that gone far beyond the limitations of mankind, seated very well on the asteroid.


    There were busted stone stairs leading up to the ruins as the magical gravitational pull was wheeling him in closer. All


    gravity had return once he stepped foot on the steps. There was no way he could get to the higher floor without the stairway intact. A yellow shimmering light blinded him. His dukes were shielding the bright golden beam from his eyes. As the light decimated, Eddie opened his eyes and saw a spiral transparent rainbow pathway that led up to the ruins. Testing the path with his right foot, stomping the rainbow. It was solid as concrete. Eddie cautiously walked the pathway cautiously. There were nothing but stone pillars that stone pillars that once held the upper floors of the hall or chamber in place.


    Debris from the ancient ruins great hall or chamber had no gravity to them, so they remained floating and drifting all around. Out of curiosity, Eddie pluck one floating pebble and observed it with curiosity. Nothing about the pebble was out of the ordinary. Eddie released, thinking that it would still float. Instead, it dropped as it had gravity, clattering next and anchored there.


    ¡°Woo! That''s weird. This place is very strange.¡±


    ¡°Indeed it is young one.¡±


    ¡°Who said that,¡± he jolted. ¡°Who''s th-there?¡± he said it faintly without courage.


    ¡°Welcome to my domain, young master Ferguson. I have been waiting for your arrival for a very long. You are worthy of knowledge that only a few humans in your world possessed.¡±


    Eddie thought he was staring at an apparition as it appeared out of nowhere. What he was staring at was a silhouetted face of a dragon''s face about six feet fall, embedded in flames. One monster after another, Eddie thought as he became more frightened.


    ¡°Do not be alarm. Come closer. No harm will come to you.¡±


    ¡°Where am I Am I in the dream or something. I do not understand what I''m seeing¡ª¡±


    ¡°And experiencing? Not very far from the truth. Your body is resting in a comma while your mind has been pulled to my domain. This domain operates in deepest part of your subconscious mind. I can control your intellects and all matter that makes your mind. I can manipulate the images you see, feel and experience every mirage I create. I have complete control over your senses.¡±


    ¡°I don''t understand,¡± he shrugged, ¡°Hows this happening? Did Grandma punished me this way?¡±


    ¡°Your grandmother loves you dearly, young master Ferguson. She will never abuse you in any manner. This is no punishment. They do not know that I''m speaking with you.


    ¡°Where am I? Who are you? What are you?¡±


    The creature chuckled, ¡°You already know the answer to that. I have been with you almost your entire existence. I have been in hybridization for nearly ten years but I know whats transpiring around you through your eyes and ears.¡±


    ¡°Your that Fire Elder Dragon ?¡± Eddie shuddered.


    But at the same time, he was excited to meet such a godly creature in person.


    ¡°I''m am Sigmund. The Nine-winged dragon of the Nine Worlds. As for this location, this astral plane is or was once Asgard. The kingdom of the Aesir Gods all in ruins.¡±


    ¡°Asgard . . . wow! Nine-wings? Awesome! Just like the Nine-tailed fox inside Ramen Ninja Boy!¡±

 Eddie Ferguson: Thanksgiving At Grandmas (Special Non-canon One-Shot Story)

    Yo . . . my name is Eddie Ferguson! I am a Mana Cultivator of the Soul Realm and professional monster-slayer! Today is a special edition of Guardians of Midgard! We are here in my grandma''s place. Today is Thanksgiving day. You know . . . when a bunch of pilgrims and Indians get together for a feast. Something like that hehehe,¡± Eddie with his free hand scratched his itchy behind.


    ¡°Eddie-boy! Stop filming.! Go wash your hands before you eat!¡± Cassandra said as she walked out view.


    She was in her usual crimson attire with a white kitchen apron over it. Her beautiful long red hair swayed back and forth in the wind.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen. Allow me to introduce to you my mom. She is Cassandra. Born and came from the Cormack Clan. One of the highborn noble clans of Vanhold. She became Mrs. Ferguson when she wed my dad. That''s not all! She has the female lead role of Guardians of Midgard. Isn''t that super cool? I know it is a very uncommon line up of main characters.


    ¡°It''s rare you see parent and child in the lead gender roles. Who cares if the male and female main characters must be same generation. People will soon understand how much impact she will have impact she will have on my life and story. After all she''s a legendary Mana Cultivator, queen of the fairies, and she single handed destroyed her first husband''s empire. And she is the latest Peerless Empress on the Imperial Destiny Edge list.


    ¡°The downfall of all this that she has too many guys and suitors drooling all over her like mad dogs despite my mom has a forehead wide as a watermelon and her chest are bellow average woman standards. It''s very annoying and I disapprove of it. I can''t wait till I find my missing dad¡ª¡±


    ¡°That''s enough! Give me that phone,¡± a furious and embarrassed Cassandra increased her pace across the garden to the fairy shrine.


    ¡°Ahhh . . . wait . . . Mom.¡± Eddie took several steps back and was about to flee for his life in fear of being ground for the rest of his life.


    ¡°Hey! Cassie! Come help me with ushering the quests for the copyright universes!¡± Said Diane.


    ¡°I''m coming! This is not over.¡±


    Eddie let out his breath, ¡°Guys that''s was a close one! Otherwise stream time would ended on a terrible note. Lets go meet the fellows.¡±


    Eddie went into the stable were his mother''s and his colt named Blaze were. Eddie then focus the camera on the horses.


    ¡°These two horses belong to me and my mom. The black little fella is Blaze. Believe it or not, he is a Fire Elemental Mustang that I during my adventuring in the Dragon King trial in Valhalla. Super cool . . . isn''t.¡±


    Eddie continuing touring around the preserves. He has introduced the dryads and the fairies. He also met Walter and Rosa and introduced them to his streaming channel, which is being currently broadcast on Twitch TV. Then he entered the manor where a lot of actives are being take place in preparations of Thanksgiving meal. Although, the males are mostly chilling out either watching TV or surfing the PC in the living room.


    ¡°Hehehe! Stretch! Stretch! Squat! Squat!¡± Said the old geezer on an exercise mat in sweats. The scene looked like an atrocity in Eddie''s eyes as he watched the man mimic the women being trained by Chuck Noris.


    Eddie sweat dropped and did not knew how to proceed how he should explain to whoever is streaming online from all over the world.


    ¡°Guys! This is Woden the Wanderer. The Great Wizard. It may not look like it, but this old geezer is indeed the legendary Odin All-father.¡±


    ¡°Yo! Old man! What are you doing!¡±


    ¡°Young man. My old bones are stiff being in a petrified state for a very long period of time. A good morning exercise shall relief that.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha! You are just like Master Roshi!¡±


    Woden knitted his brows, ¡°I do not know any Roshi.¡±


    ¡°What!¡± Eddie was flabbergasted, ¡°How can you not know about Dragon Ball Z. Never mind! Just enjoy your exercise.¡±


    Before Woden could respond, Eddie was all the way on the other side the living room, approaching the sofa and flat LCD Samsung television.


    ¡°Let''s see who we have here. Oh it''s Grandpa and Piggy watching the NFL thanksgiving games. For those of you that don''t know my grandpa, he is the current Headmaster of the Guardians of Midgard guildhall and the caretaker of this preserve. And you see beneath his feet is Piggy. Piggy is a talking pig that I met in the Jaded Forest. And who is this . . .¡±


    The moment his eye landed on the animated, cartoonist individual.


    ¡°Wooo hooooo! Touchdown Cowboys!¡±


    ¡°Homer Simpson! It''s really him. Guys take a look,¡± Eddie cried out in joy.


    ¡°Hey kiddo¡ªwill you tune it down a bit! We are trying to watch the game,¡± Homer said. Then his cell phone rang. ¡°Hey Marge! Did you got the tickets to the New England Patriots game? What! What did you say! Why them! The Denver Broncos sucks!¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°He''s been saying that ever since he brought the team way back when John Elway was still QB. Don''t tell him I said that,¡± Grandpa Stan muttered in winked at him.


    ¡°You get back here! Stop it at once!¡±


    Said a teenage Japanese female with a Katana strapped to her back, running down the manor''s staircase that led to the upper floors. Naturally, Eddie knew who this was.


    ¡°Hey it''s Ayame nee-chan. She is one of the youngest members of Guardians of Midgard. She is a ''Modern Era'' Samurai from the Akatsuki Clan from Kyoto Japan.¡±


    ¡°It''s ''Big Sis'' to you! Quickly! Help detained this little rascal!¡±


    Eddie barely had enough time and evaded the shadowy figured that try pounce on him. He got a good look at the creature. It appeared to be a goblin of some sort. Not just any goblin, but a mutated halfling that he knew all too well.


    ¡°It''s Gollum! Gollum from Lord of The Rings is in the house!¡±


    ¡°Where is it! Where is it! My precious! Where are you!¡±


    ¡°Ahhhhh!¡± The Tv set was demolished and Gollum pounced on Woden the Wander.


    ¡°Will someone dispose of that fiend!¡± Grandpa Stan said furiously as his new television was destroyed.


    Eddie chased Gollum outside into the courtyard. The sky suddenly became dark. Thunderous roars shook the entire preserve as threw giant winged creatures came souring down from the heavens, threatening to devour everything in sight. It was three dragons that came into came into view. One of them happen to snatch Gollum, within its mouth, but did not inflict harm on in.


    Eddie''s eyes landed on a woman dressed in white. Her long hair was white. More on the platinum side. There was another person riding one of the three dragon, but Eddie could not have a clear image from the angle he at.


    ¡°I do not know that person. Who is she?¡±


    ¡°Of course you wouldn''t. Given fact of your age, you have yet to watch the Game of Thrones. That is Daenerys Targaryen; better known as Khaleesi from House Targaryen. She is the sole survivor of her kin. Like you, she has a special status among dragons. It is said that no one other than House Targaryens could raise and command dragons. Being said the last Targaryen, people call her the Mother of Dragons,¡± Ayame said.


    ¡°Mother of Dragons? Heh! I''m the King of Dragons. Believe it!¡±


    ¡°Your not a full-fledged king yet. You haven''t completed the Trial of Mutiny to win the acknowledgment of all dragons.¡±


    Eddie sighed. By the time he gathered his thoughts, everyone had gathered in the courtyard. There was even the halfling Draco and the three dwarfs. Eddie''s eyes lit up as he saw some one from the Naruto universe.


    ¡°It''s the Shark-Face bastard! Is Ramen Ninja Boy here too?¡± Eddie exclaimed with excitement.


    ¡°You mean Mr. Uzumaki? He will not be joining us today. He''s too busy getting drunk in his office and neglecting his own family. A waste of seven years of my life reading that manga.¡±


    ¡°He has a family?¡±


    ¡°He married Hyuuga Hinata.¡±


    ¡°What! I don''t believe it!¡±


    ¡°You can google it on wiki if you do not believe me!¡±


    ¡°Why that girl? She''s too weird and creepy!¡±


    Ayame could not help, but laugh.


    ¡°Hey! You are still streaming live. Do not offend fans from the Naruverse because they worship Hinata like a goddess,¡± she patted Eddie on the shoulder.


    The three dragons mad landfall. These were the three out of the for dragon''s Khaleesi raised from birth. She stood off the dragon and Grandma and Grandpa welcomed her on the preserve. Next to her was a man the Eddie knew all too well. The man had such fine silver long hair.


    ¡°Geralt?¡± His mother said solemnly.


    ¡°It''s really him! Geralt of Rivia! Ladies and gentlemen! Are witnessing this? This is The Witcher. A true professional monster-slayer! Believe it! But it seems like Mom and him know each other.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty. You look very lovely as usual! When was our last meeting? You were a young teenage lass. Now you sure grown up and becoming mother.¡±


    ¡°Hey Billboards! Who is this handsome man,¡± said a blushing Diana.


    Diane was a princess of the Southersun Kingdom and another Guardians of Midgard member. She and Cassandra go way back of as childhood friends. They were rivals and competing for Lancelot of Rivvera''s heart. That was until that unforgettable tragedy. The Cormack Clan massacre.


    ¡°Someone that will steal your thirty plus year virginity in a heartbeat if you are not careful,¡± Cassandra said it disdainfully.¡±


    Diane complexion became pale. She never said another word in front of them. Didn''t have the courage to speak her mind. Geralt smiled and chuckled.


    ¡°I''m looking for Alphonse. Is he available?¡± Cassandra sorrowfully shock her head and explain to him what had become of her missing husband. ¡°Such a pity! He was gone for a decade? Too long. Mark my words, I will travel throughout the other copyright universes and search for him.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Geralt,¡± she cupped her hands together and slightly bowed in respect.


    At that time, a spectacular scene was taking place. The Dragon Heavenly Crown suddenly materialized onto Eddie''s head. Khaalesi''s three dragons reacted to it. Even Khaalesi was very frighten of the aspect of her children harming Eddie. However, all eyes were on Eddie''s head. The Dragon Heavenly Crown.


    ¡°Absolutely marvelous. My son Baldur''s Dragon Heavenly Crown hasn''t been seen in eons has reappeared and soulbound to the boy. What an unprecedented achievement at such a young age,¡± Woden the Wanderer said. ¡°If he survives the Trial of Mutiny. His future will truly be unfathomable.¡±


    ¡°Eddie-kun!¡±


    ¡°Eddie-boy!¡±


    ¡°Young master!¡±


    Three voiced shouted in unison as Eddie approached the three dragons with anticipation. There was no fear in his eyes. Only excitement. He extended his palm and brushed the three dragons'' nostrils. They crouched and wagged their serpent like tails like dogs.


    ¡°Nice! Very nice! You breed good dragons. Not as big as the ones I know.¡±


    Seeing the golden, flame crown on Eddie''s head, Khaalesi half knelt, ¡°His Grace is too kind.¡±


    Eddie got close to her. With the crown currently activated, his six senses have been sharpened. He his noise is more potent than a dog. He could hear people having conversation, more than a mile away from his location. He could smell the scent of fornication filled his nostril, giving him an unpleasant felling.


    ¡°You smell like men.¡±


    Everyone became flabbergasted by Eddie''s speech. Khaleesi became mortified that she fumbled the words in her.


    ¡°Now that''s enough! Lets head in side. The food is getting cold,¡± Grandma said.


    Everyone headed inside forgetting a wailing Gollum that was in chains. The three dragons seemed to watch over him. As they head to the dinning area, the potent aroma Thanksgiving refreshments filled their nostrils. Their tummies ached. They soon will come to a major disappointment because all the food on the table have been eaten by another famous character from another copyright universe


    It was Goku from Dragon Ball Z.


    ¡°Hehehe opps. I got carried away,¡± he grinned and scratched the back of his head as if he was not at fault.


    The dinning hall erupted into chaos. Eddie dropped his XS Iphone, which his broadcast signal on Twitch TV and pointed angrily at the Saiyan. If looks could kill. Then Goku would be dead on the spot.


    ¡°Ahhhhhhhhhh! Who the heck invited Monkey Boy!¡±


    The End

 Chapter 23: Vahalla (Vol. 3/Raw)

    Chapter 23 (Raw)


    Sigmund furrowed an eye. He was disgusted that he was being compared to a fiction mythical being. Searching Eddie''s memories, the Nine-tailed fox was a malevolent mythical beast that was responsible for the protagonist Ramen Ninja miserable childhood and on several occasions demonically possessed the boy similar to how he done with Eddie. While the fox has every evil intentions to escape or control the protagonist, Sigmund would certainly do the opposite and only with special circumstances. He has grown quite fond of Eddie and he reminded Sigmund of his past as a former Fire Giant of Muspelheim.


    Eddie rubbed his chin thoughtfully ¡°Why am I here?¡±


    ¡°To see if you have what takes to be my companion. My host. Before I can fully acknowledge you, must past the trial. Searching your memories I''ve know of the humans that are after you to get to me. They hunt my kind. We elder dragons are massive in size. We are more powerful enough to destroy a single planet in one stroke. We elders with the exception of me consider humans of be very weak and puny as bacteria. But these bacteria you people called are Blackhaven.


    ¡°I don''t know much about them and their numbers. But what I do know is that Blackhaven''s elite members are immortal. and their leader isan evildoer that has been forgotten in time and has everything to do with your parents and you meeting ''him'' not once but twice. He''s knows your parents. He''s come for me through you. Hmmm . . . but I felt something that seem off about him. It seems like his endeavor is after something else that is not related to me.¡±


    No. Eddie thought. He could not meant the hooded guy at back home in Michigan that pursued him and his mother with an army of goblins and imps. Everything seems to be getting very complicated with each secrets being unveiled before his eyes, He seriously was going to have a chat with his mother when or whenever. The thought of mentioning his own mother harshly brought him back to reality, making his tummy ached. He could not forgive himself for killing Cassandra. The women who had brought him into this world.


    Sigmund sighed as he read Eddie''s thoughts clear as day light, ¡°Your mother is alive and in a lot of pain, but she will manage. And you guessed it right.¡±


    Eddie sighed with relief.


    ¡°Okay. Since you have everything I want to know. What secrets that Mom has yet to tell me like who was that guy?¡±


    ¡°His name is Lancelot of Riverra. He was the second born and ''illegitimate'' son of Ivar Riverra from a kingdom that for many generations was named after Riverra Clan. That I will leave that up to your mother. It is not my place to speak of the relationship she ''had'' with him. Or of with your father.¡± Sigmund said with a monotone voice. ¡°Lancelot has gained incredible power since childhood. He lusts for power and it seems like he has turned his eyes towards my kind. What he has inside of him will throw the entire Yggdrasil into chaos as if it was to fully take control of him.¡±


    Eddie shivered. He did not anticipate reality to have such a great peril heading his way.


    ¡°That''s a story for another time. In the mean time, you''ll have to proof to me that you''re the one ''he'' spoke of.¡±


    The iron gate behind Sigmund opened. Eddie''s stomach rumbled as he could smell the same fire embers of the fiend that he escaped filled his nostrils.


    ¡°This is the great hall of the after life. The Aesir Gods called them Valhalla when ''honored'' the souls of the dead are usher by Odin the All-Father and the goddess of fertility Freya also home to the Valkyrie war maidens. Inside the hall you will meet Efroot for the second time. He is one of my general and the guardian of the legendary bow Ichaival. A bow that is capable of shooting ten arrows at once.


    ¡°Before you are to meet Efroot, you have to defeat five of his acolytes. Each acolyte is the source of his invincibility. Efroot cannot be physically mental harmed in any manner. To spice things up, each of these acolytes are descendants of Baldur the god of peace and forgiveness. Baldur strictly order me to not anyone that does not come from his family tree besides Odin to enter the hall.


    ¡°You have been selected to enter the hall and complete the trail that Baldur prepared for his ¡°true¡± descendant he''d predicted that will be the ''promise child''. A messiah is destined to stop Loki and prevent him from bring forth the second Ragnarok since ancient times. Only a hand full of humans in your world know this. Loki will suddenly resurface and bring along him the Seven Deadly Sins and he will once again throw the entire cosmos into chaos.¡±


    ¡°Wha . . . you mean the Loki? The Trickster? The god of mischief? The Frost Giant that made a blood pact with Odin?¡±


    Eddie said it with fear.


    Sigmund remained silent for a split second, gather his thoughts. ¡°Before you enter, let me tell you a story how I met Baldur after he was resurrected. During ancient times after the events of Ragnarok, the doom of the gods. Midgard became gladdened with life once again. Baldur, son of the All-father and queen of Asgard was resurrected when his brother Vidar had accomplished Hel''s many trials. In exchanged, they gave up their immortality and godly status. However, they kept their refined skills and seidr spells. Upon resurrection, Baldur lost the ability to wield a sword as a warrior. Instead, he live the life as a farmer and shaman. From what he lost, he gained a prominent seidr. The ability to see into the future. `


    ¡°Baldur predicted that with the help of Hel, they could free their father Odin from the bowels of what was once the great wolf Fenrir. Their expedition to free their father is how I first met Baldur and his bother Vidar in Muspelheim.¡±


    Sigmud went into a moment of silence, gathering his thoughts, ¡°During the time of Ragnarok, I was incarcerated for going against my brother''s wishes to my¡ªthe fire giants against all civilization during Ragnarok. My brother sentenced me to death as he said I should become one with Muspelheim. My body to merge with the rivers of fire and magma. My spirit was sealed at the bottom of an abyss in a location the orc race made home to. They call it Mount Mordredu''un.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Baldur approached me and promises me new life and escape from captivity in return that I use my mana to help free their father. At first, I did not trust the small folk that resented the giants for many generation, but I had nothing to lose. I was already dead and nothing more than a wandering spirit. Baldur crafted such an exotic golden chalice. It became known as the Divine Chalic. He said here it will be my den and residence. This was how I escaped the outside world.


    ¡°Baldur and Vidar traveled through many lands and visited what remains of the Nine Worlds. Asgard as you know it has been destroyed. The cosmos also know as the universe was one vast land. Yggdrasil, the ash world tree. Upon Loki''s death, his body was full of dark matter. A very dark source of seidr that was coursing through his body was released into the Ginnugangup. The Ginnugangup was split into many dimensions and in time became you earthlings call space and outer space. Each world became a single planet, located in different galaxies across the cosmos.


    ¡°A mere life form such as human the depend of oxygen will not last a minute in the Ginnugangup. For Aesir and perhaps Vanir Gods, it will be harmless for them to travel. Since the cosmos is so endlessly vast, its possible that they could get lost in time if they don''t find the roots of Yggdrasil. The roots are leylines that Odin believed to connects every star and galaxy together through waypoints. Using seidr, they could warp to any waipoint, using the Bifrost.¡±


    ¡°Bifrost! The rainbow bridge!¡± Eddie exclaimed with excitement. ¡°Mom told me stories about the rainbow bridge. How it connects one galaxy to another and was once that main bridge of Asgard that connects to the other Eight Worlds.¡±


    ¡°That''s a story for another time. As I was saying, when the Odinsson brothers found their father in the center a faraway galaxy far south of Midgard''s galaxy the Milky Way, entombed in the deceased Fenrir''s belly as your earthling astronomers like to call it the black hole. Even with my help, it took with all their mana and physical strength to wrench their father out and returning safely to Midgard. However, with nearly all the seidr extracted from the Odinsson brothers, they became mortals and time would play a factor in their life spans it did with Baldur.¡±


    ¡°Baldur aged and death came for him once again. On his death bed, he had one final premonition into the far future that Loki will resurfaced from the depths of Niflheim and finish what he started. The exact time when he makes his presence known to the universe, the messiah from Baldur''s family tree will be born to fight Loki and the forces of darkness. To confirm the identity of the messiah, I was given a task by Odin and Baldur to appoint a trial to each Baldur''s descendants that seeks the Throne of Accession in the halls of Valhalla. The throne that once belong to the king of Asgard himself.


    ¡°Valhalla is now a dragon sanctuary thanks to me and Odin. It contains other human life forms and dinosuars. Valhalla contains every single race of dragons species. Dragons have been an endangered species since the beginning of time due to their low birthrate. To complete the trial, you must obtain Ichaival from Efroot, journey through Valhalla and slay the guardian that guards the throne of Asgard. This is by no means any mere guardian. You will have to face one of Nigghod deadliest avatars that has been laying dormant for centuries that even other dragons don''t dare to approach it.


    ¡°I don''t care for any of this! I don''t want the throne! I want to get out of here!¡± Eddie gritted his teeth.


    ¡°You cannot until or at least until you defeat my general, his acolytes. If you refuse, I will take your life and your body will be added to my collection. Know this, it will sadden me if I had to resort to that and I do not want to make enemies with your family nor the Great Wizard Woden.¡±


    Eddie quivered and froze with such great phobia. Sigmund sensed how suddenly tense Eddie became.


    ¡°Listen to me! What your mother said is true. In order to survive you must become stronger. The path you must walk for the rest or your life will be harsh. Each obstacle you overcome, the next one becomes more difficult. Searching through your from last year memories, I found your endeavor to one day be a ruler of the nation that you currently reside in. The president of the United Stated of America.


    ¡°You want people to acknowledge you; treat you as someone important and not a defect. By all means, this is a wonderful opportunity to develop your leadership and diplomatic skills as a ruler as the next Dragon King, Baldur''s successor. Unfortunately, it is not that easy as it sounds. You must convincing if you don''t want the dragons see you are a delicate snack instead of a potential ruler. Nevertheless, they see humans as cattle.


    ¡°With your current level and skill, there is no way you will be ready for Blackhaven, If you are cut off from support from your mother, her fairies and the guild. You have no one and nothing to support you besides me and you are no where no near of controlling me and my mana. But if you succeed the throne, you will be granted vast support from legions of dragons, fighting by your side on your command that even Blackhaven themselves will be s in their boots. If you are anything like your idol Ramen Ninja Boy, then you shall be successful.¡±


    Eddie gulped down his saliva. He know what Sigmund meant. Ramen Ninja Boy had this ability by birth to talk his way out of danger and persuade people, especially, villains to see to see the light. Among the Ninja Boy fandom, the audience like to call it the ¡°Talk no Jutsu¡±. Eddie wasn''t sure to sure that he he could convinced a den full of dragons. Although what made the thought much less eerie than the thought of being burnt alive of chewed on the is the thought of how glorious it would be to be riding one dragon with a horde of its kin and the numerous pranks that came with it. For instance; a fly by over Brad and his gang''s houses. Eddie snickered at that thought.


    Sigmund glowered and furrowed a brow with distaste at the boy''s devious thoughts.


    ¡°Be rid of those devious thoughts. One day that mischievous behavior yours will be the down fall of you just like it was for Loki.¡±


    Eddie clenched his fist and gritted,¡± What! I''m never will be like him! He''s evil and I''m a good boy! Believe it!¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Sigmund said it sarcastically. ¡°Best that you get started You do not want to miss your grandfather''s return with allies from Vanhold, Elven kingdom of Elkwood and . . . Shialla the Elder Ice Dragon residing within her princess vessel.¡±


    Eddie briefly felt Sigmund''s fear when he mentioned the name Shialla. Eddie wasted no time entering the entranced to Valhalla. Eddies vanished before his eyes. Countless thoughts process through the 9-wings mind. He was not completely honest with Eddie. Sigmund did not have a brother or any siblings. He was as in the legends or what the human earthlings call a myth. The Fire Giant king. The king of Muspelheim, Surt.


    No one but Odin All-Father and Baldur knew the exact truth how he vanished after he lit up the entire cosmos with his radiant, flaming sword The Sword of Surt. The War God Frey killing his way into the Giant race and exterminating most of the Frost and Fire. Surt sacrifice his body and put every single mana and energy into one final attack, which ended cutting through Frey''s attack and extinguishing his life.


    It wasn''t for Baldur, he would not have been reborn and his soul and subconsciousness would have already decimate into nothing. They reason he kept this from Eddie because Eddie grown up on the Norse stories and believing Loki and Surt were bad antagonist.

 Chapter 24: Cultivation Realms (Vol. 3/Raw)

    Eddie shivered as he felt his skin having chicken skin. It was very dark. The scenery was a gigantic cave a starry sky with golden stars. Occasionally, he could her whispers into the gusty winds. In front, the smell of sulfur and molten rock filled his nostrils. There was a glow of orange in front no more than fifteen paces. As he got closer, Eddie could see that it was the exit to the cave. An immense heat wave slammed into his face.


    Eddie wiped the perspiration off his face with his dirty right hand. As he entered the next level of Valhalla, Eddie was ecstatic at the magnificent scenery. He was at the bottom of a spacious chasm. In the center was a gargantuan, flaming sword that reached all the way up to the heavens. Eddie glanced up, trying to see how high the chasm and the sword. It was impossible to see the top as. He couldn''t even see the hilt.


    ¡°Wow! Such a big sword!¡±


    ¡°Impressive! Isn''t it, child?¡±


    ¡°Who . . . who''s there!¡± Eddie screamed in terror.


    Eddie felt a demonic pressure crushing him. All the air in his lungs were nearly depleted. He was going to suffocate to death. A crimson, blood silhouetted object emerged from the flames of the gargantuan sword. It was flying at a slow pace, the closer it gotten to Eddie, the pressure increased. Eddie falter to his knees. Eddie was about to blackout.


    ¡°Such a weak, pathetic earthling. How was it possible that your are the chosen one? I do not sense your mana cultivation. Perhaps you haven''t started your cultivation pilgrimage. You are not a mana cultivator. You can''t withstand spiritual of the basic mana Layer Realm. Better I just just devour you in one gulp.¡±


    Eddie coughed and vomit out blood. Tears of blood flow down his cheeks.


    ¡°Fortunate for you, I can''t immediately take your life on the spot during the trial. Or else my spiritual subconscious will be extinguished. That''s unless you give up. What do you say . . . heh heh!¡±


    It laughed as it released the pressure on Eddie. All of his blood began accumulating into a single sphere. The sphere of blood was adsorbed. Eddie coughed and forcefully intake oxygen. Finally, he was able to breath and got a look at the curse object. It was a halberd over six feet long. It had a demonic looking to it. The head of the blade was had an eerie looking dog or wolf head that hat had eyes and moth that could move. It was alive.


    ¡°A talking halberd!¡± He exclaimed with excitement and fear. This had to be a curse object that his mother told him about. A blood contract can be signed.


    ¡°Not the expression I was expecting, kid. So what is it going to be? Will you accept my power or will you challenge me to the next level?¡±


    Eddie shrugged and frowned.


    ¡°You are really daft. To advance through the trial, either you acknowledge me and be become my host or you''ll have to get by me. Option one: wield me and my power; you''ll have to satisfy my hunger blood. You''ll need to walk the Path of Slaughter and accumulate blood from your kills. If you fail to satisfy my hunger, I will devour your blood essence and your life will be forfeit.


    ¡°Option two: get by with your life on the line. Do you best to escape me because I will not stop chasing you through the ends of Valhalla. And the same fate awaits you.¡±


    Eddie grinned and gave the halberd a cheeky thumbs up, ¡°I''m not afraid of you! Just like I''m not afraid of the big, bad dragon inside of me! I''m not afraid of you too,¡± he laughed. ¡°I will make you my dog! My weapon! Believe it!¡±


    The menacing, hound halberd caroused in laughter, ¡°Boy! I starting to like your tone! Come and embraced the power of the Halberd Demon Chaotic Blood Arts. Your journey begins! Use me as your heart desires!¡±


    Eddie grasp the halberd. It was very long for his height. Surprisingly, the halberd was very light. Eddie gave a several sloppy jabs and a stone boulder crumbled too dust in front of him. He sulked in breath as the halberd in his hands vibrated with a excruciating sting of a hundred honey bees. Overall, he was very ecstatic, wielding an enchanted halberd. He had the feeling that a normal human would explode into meat pudding.


    ¡°Careful! You need to start from the basics and stabilize your four mana foundation even if you never cultivated mana before or you will receive a backlash.¡± The cursed halberd said coldly as it sensed Eddie''s mana network. ¡°Especially when your cultivation or mana network has been crippled.¡±


    ¡°Mana cultivation . . . crippled?¡± Eddie shrugged.


    ¡°It means that you will never be able to learn and cultivate mana in your entire life. There are methods to heal a crippled cultivator''s mana network. It is very rare to discovered them. Only an Five-Star Radiant Shaman and above can perform the healing process. They could even attach and regrow limbs. Good luck finding one that will help you. They are difficult to encounter in this vast universe.¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Eddie frowned and immediately became dejected. How was he so post live and protect himself if he could never cultivate? Better to commit suicide. However the demonic halberd chuckled, sensing his thoughts.


    ¡°That implies to internal cultivation. Not ''external cultivation'' with the assists of Celestial Armaments such as myself. You will cultivate my powers with your will power and muscle memory. This require tremendous amount of practice and patients.¡±


    Eddie became even more excited, but it he was still new to the life of mana cultivators.


    ¡°You are a novice to the realm of cultivators. There are realms that a cultivator establishes his or hers mana network. Breaking through each realm, the mana cultivator becomes stronger and faster. The higher you climb, the more difficult it becomes for one''s cultivation to advance to the next realm.


    ¡°The first realm is the Tempering Layer Realm. This is the first stage of mana cultivation. There are nine layers in total. Once you exceed all nine layers will you be able to step into the Soul Realm. Once you reach the Soul Realm, you will be able to synchronize mana with your soul to perform Seidr and pure mana energy attacks. You will also be able manifest your mana to create your mana Spirit Armament and equip it at will. Depending on your talents, your soul will transformed in the most suitable armament. Armaments mostly took form of a weapon.


    ¡°Above the Soul Realm are three core realms such as Illusive Core Realm, Revolver Core Realm and Absolute Core Realm. Once you able you establish your mana core. Next are the three profound realms. If a cultivator steps into the Earth Profound Realm, the will harness the energy of the world. Upon reaching the Sky Profound Realm, one would be able to hover and fly without a mount or warship. ¡°Lastly, if a cultivator ascends to the Profound Heaven Realm, they will shed away their mortal flesh and stepped into the realm of immortals along side the elves.¡±


    Eddie furrowed his brows. His comprehension skills were very low that he hardly understood what the halberd said. It was the same facial expression that he always made during classroom studies and lectures. This was the reason why Eddie was afraid to give direct answer to pop quiz questions or lectures in front of the his regular education classmates. Most of the time, his responses are inaccurate and incorrect.


    ¡°I sense your feelings. Stress not. Your mind is not needed to process all of this. You will feel the difference in mana cultivation when you are able to have break through. All of this is not process through knowledge. It is process through your senses and instincts. You will know how strong and weak a mana cultivator is and your current realm without being taught.


    ¡°However, I should mention a few things if your cultivation reaches the Profound Heaven Realm. Profound Heaven Realm experts will lose the ability to reproduce when they surpassed half of their mortal lifespan. They will become infertile for the rest of their life. This also implies if one cultivation cripple after entering the Profound Heaven Realm.¡±


    ¡°I don''t get it. What do you mean by reproduce?¡±


    The spirit of the halberd was stupefied and wanted to ram its head against a brick wall. Where did this kid received his education from?


    ¡°I swear on my master''s name that you are the most dumbest youth I ever stumble upon in my entire existence! Most living beings are born into this universe by their parents. This is what it means to reproduce.¡±


    Eddie was mortified. It felt like he was being lectured at school in front of regular students. Nevertheless, he had a general idea what reproducing meant.


    The halberd started glowing with crimson aura. Then it transformed into a wooden staff that has a carved spear pointing head. Eddie was dumbfounded as he witnessed the Celestial Armament transformed into long shaft. The head of the shaft was carved into a triangular pointy head. This would allow Eddie to jab and pierced through objects or his adversaries. Eddie''s complexion became sour green.


    ¡°No complaining! The current you are not worthy of my complete form. Now lets begin.¡±


    For the next several days, the armament trained him how to use the proper stance and a jabbing technique call the One-Thousand Dragon Roars. It is basically a simple thrust or straight, forward jab of a spear, lance, pike and halberd. The reason why the technique was call the the One-Thousand Dragon Roars is an army of one-thousand pikemen mana cultivators'' thrusting in unison are cable of not only repelling back an gargantuan army. They could obliterate a battalion with the capacity of a million soldiers in a blink of an eye.


    Days turn into weeks. Weeks turned into months. In that time Eddie learned how to swing, sweep, parry and block another weapon no matter the length. Not only that, he started cultivating. In a short span of time, he went from a commoner to the Fifth Layer of the Tempering Layer Realm. Also, having to obtain aCelestial Armament, he never needed to worry about nourishment and starvation. As long as he kept feeding the halberd blood essence. In return, his body will be provided with nutrients just like splitting a profit.


    He has hunted demonic beast has he continued journey through Dragon Sanctuary of Valhalla. When surmounting each peak, there was a portal that took him to a far distant location in Valhalla. Each portal leaded to a different sub-realm. There are a total of six sub-realm that were connected to the Divinity Abyss. Four of Valhalla''s plains were trial grounds for junior cultivators bellow the Earth Realm. The last two plains were the Dragon Sanctuary and the Fairy Queendom.


    Eddie must journey through the four planes extinguished in order to advance up to the next location. After extinguishing an acolyte. Eddie is then instantly teliported back to the chasm and me must climbed up to next peak and enter the next portal. Climbing can take days or even weeks to surmount a peak. Passing through a location and extinguishing an acolyte and its minion approximately took Eddie a year to accomplish.


    Eddie was astonished to learn that his mother''s fairy nation was part of this realm. Now he really was looking forward to see what a nation full of fairies looked like and his mother''s throne. Now Eddie felt like this trial was now worth it.

 Chapter 25: Dangers of The Divinity Abyss Trial (Vol. 3/Raw)

    Rosa left Walter''s study after returning potions as she crossed the garden with the fairy shrine. Several onlooking fairies spotted Rosa and followed her with interest. Not suspiciously. Rosa glared and hissed at them and spoke the fairy language for them not to leave the garden unitedly. Before she could finish her speech, a beam of rainbow light flew across the lawn and they were heading straight for the manor as there seemed to be loud, angry shouter coming from the conference.


    ¡°What in the bloody Nine Worlds is going on?¡± Rosa asked.


    ¡°Milady, it appears that the truth has come out,¡± Said Alvina. One of Cassandra''s most trustful fairies. ¡°Her Majesty is in great distress.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rosa asked.


    ¡°Just see for yourself.¡±


    Rosa entered the manner, pushing her way through the armored Elvin knights mixed in with King Rurik''s vanguards.


    ¡°How long you known? How long were you guys were willing to keep this a secret from me!¡± Cassandra was apprehensively shaken.


    ¡°Honey, it not what you think,¡± Stan cut in, but that was all he could say when Cassandra had more to say.


    ¡°It''s not what I think? Honestly . . . I feel betrayed by my father in-law.


    ¡°Cassie! No one has betrayed you! You do not understand the dire circumstances that needs your focus elsewhere. Lancelot is the last thing that should be on your mind. Your son . . . my daughter should be your first priority. Let the gentlemen deal with that sociopath. Ease your mind!" Rynna sighed.


    Cassandra furrowed her brow and snarled before sighing in defeat. They were right.


    ¡°Very well then,¡± Cassandra then face her fairy lieutenant and spoke in the pixie language, ¡°Zara, prepare to open the shrine passage with haste. No longer than half and hour.¡±


    Zara in her golden, shinning dress bowed, ¡°As you wish, Your Majesty.¡± Zara had blond long with a black hairpin to pin her left side bangs. She had such elegant blue eyes that would get almost any male lusting with a simple glimpse even if she is no taller than the size of an average adult human hand. Zara flew away from the conference room.


    Cassandra hurried through the corridor. Rynna and Grandma trailed behind As their towards the spare room on the first floor where an unconscious Eddie was currently resting, Cecily galloped like a horse that she nearly bumped into Cassandra.


    ¡°Cecily! Why are you running indoors? You know that it bad manners! We are quests at the Ferguson Manor!¡±


    ¡°My apologies, mother.¡± Cecily panted and took a deep breath. ¡°The sleeping boy started to burning up! He''s floating in his sleep!¡±


    ¡°What!¡± Cassandra''s heart felt like it sank to her feet. Before Cecily and Ryyna had a chance to respond, Cassandra already hurried past Cecily and she stood next to the bed where Eddie. Eddie''s body was suspended and hovering nearly the room''s ceiling. His body was on fire like a phoenix going through the cycle of rebirth. . In his place is a floating, shinning chalice. ¡°It''s the Divine Chalice! One of the Nine Mystic Trinkets of the universe,¡± Rynna marveled.


    Cassandra reached out not caring for her safety. All she could think was embracing her son as he seemed to be shrouded in flames that could incinerate any living thing in seconds upon contact.


    Rynna''s eye flickered as the Elder Dragon Shialla told her that Cassandra would be severely injure. ¡°Don''t touch him!¡± She cried out.


    It was pointless as Cassandra was about to pluck her son''s, hovering comatose body, Eddie''s body was instantly incinerated. However, there was no ash. Sparks dispersed like shooting stars.


    Trepidation immediately could be seen from Cassandra''s eyes as she stared at the empty bed with blankets. The sheets, pillow and blankets were not burn. Her hands brushed the sheets. She could feel the warmest of her son''s normal body temperature. Not the scourging heat that could be felt earlier. Cassandra then looked to the back of her right hand to see if the forbidden mana seal she imprinted would lit up. This was a curse seal with the name Blood Lotus. This curse seal works like a double edge sword. This seal would be activated upon Eddie''s death and seek out the person and everything that was responsible for Eddie''s demise and attacked their souls. Their cultivation would plummet. This was the first side of the Blood Lotus skill. The seal also works like a tracker. The target or targets could be tracked anyone across the universe. They could not hide their location from Cassandra has long as they were still cursed.


    Cassandra sighed with relieve. As the Blood Lotus sealed was not activated. This meant that Eddie was still alive.


    ¡°Edward has been forcefully selected be to take part in a ten year Divinity Abyss Trial. The participant will under multiple challenges to climb to the top of the abyss. The Divinity Abyss is located in the Dragon Sanctuary and its known as the Forbidden Domain. The Dragon Sanctuary is one of the four planes of Valhalla!¡±


    ¡°Great Wizard Woden!¡± Cassandra was flabbergasted, staring at a spirit version of Woden the Wanderer materialized out of the blue in a ghastly form. He appeared to be wearing the same wizard cloak on the day he was petrified frm the Petrification Poison. Cassrandra felt cool sweat trickled down her spine. She once ventured inside the Dragon Sactuary during her youful days as a teenager and nearly escaped within an inch of her life. She vowed she would never go back to that domain and her husband helped her sealed the entrance from the the Trial Ground plane and the portal inside the Fairy Queendom.


    She then calm her thoughts and asked, ¡°Are you certain that he entered the Dragon Sanctuary?¡±


    Before Woden could speak, Stan entered the room and coughed, ¡°It''s true. What your boy is going through is a long, forgotten trial of the Ferguson Dynasty. It is to test those who are born on my side of the family. They will undergo a trial by climbing the Divinity Abyss. The challenger has one month to complete the trial in the given time or he or she will fail. Upon failure the challenger fortieths their life. However, the challenger has the right beforehand and exiting the trial.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Woden''s eyes became misty as he was in deep thought, ¡°However, do to unforeseen circumstances, Edward is force to complete the trial and cannot forfeit and withdraw from Vahalla. He can only complete the trail if he wishes to live and return back within one month''s time, which is equivalent of ten years spent in the Divinity Abyss.


    Cassandra punched down and with a loud bang; Eddie''s twin sized bed in half. A momentof silence has passed throughthe room as everyone was flabbergasted as she was furious.


    ¡°As I feared,¡± Stan said with a gloomy tone. ¡°He has to face off against the seven acolytes of Efroot. According to Ancestor, each acolyte has stepped into the core realms. The final acolyte, which is the captain has surmounted the Earth Profound Realm.¡±


    It was already common knowledge that Efroot was well known as a guardian of the Trial Planes area and one of the Sigmunds generals and undisputed champion of the Drestroyers. Its was indistructible. Nothing could harm it. Woden and Stan gave an explanation about the existence of the acylytes. By eliminating them, Efroot would lose his invincibility shroud. They explained further that if Eddie does not slay Efroot within the time period of ten years, all the acylytes he''s slew would be resurrected, resulting failure. Upon failure, Eddie would be sentenced to death by Sigmud.


    Cold sweat trickled down her spine. She could only imgine the hardship and life and death situations her son would be facing, and not to mention a decade in the wilderness of a dog eat dog world. Mystical and demonic beast would not be the only thing that would threaten to claim his life. There were many rogue coltivator in the Trial Plain. Her heart felt like it was being stabbed a thousand times. She knew that Eddie''s mana network was currently unstable that he could not harness mana and cultivate. This meant that he was a cripple. A cripple that world would be courting death.


    Even if he some how manged to survive for ten years, he would never be the innocent, bostrious boy that wouldn''t even harm a fly would turn into a cold blooded killer. Being stranded away from modern civilaztion would regress his knowledge. His IQ would hit rock bottom and must likelly he would have to restart his edcuation all over again. This was most likely the outcome of because of his comprehension disability that he would forget how to read and write. This was one of the reasons why Eddie''s require Special Education, starting from kindergarten.


    As much as a major setback it would be to restart his education, it was much easier than restoring a destroyed and unstable mana network and restarting one''s cultivation from scratch. The amount of time and recources to accimulate for each breakthrough in most situation once in a life time for a cultivator, especailly, when one has shed there mortal flesh. No matter how she though about it, she could only hope her son would survive. Then she will deal with the aftermath and consequences.


    ¡°I''m afraid with my grandson''s current talent and level of intelligence will be the death of him. Lord Nine-Wings cannot interfere.¡±


    ¡°Preposterous!¡± Woden stroked his shinning, silver beard. ¡°My son would never designed such an inheritance trial to shackle its challengers to death. Every individual¡ªthat includes a person that no cultivation and no battle experience¡ªhas the potential to complete and inherit the Heavenly Dragon Crown and become the next ruler of the dragon race,¡± Woden said with a prideful tone. ¡°Each challenger will come across a Celestial Armament. It is in their right to challenge it or automatically sign a blood contract. The Dragon King Trial is design to temper one''sbody and luck. One would be transform from a mundane individual to a powerhouse warrior if they survive and complete the Dragon King Trial.¡±


    Everyone sucked in breath. It seemed like Eddie would be experiencing hell for a decade''s worth of time in Valhalla. Even the mentioning of an immediate encounter with a Celestial Armament was very rare that even Cassandra has yet to obtain one in her sixteen, plus years as a mana cultivator. And it''s extremely difficult to have one submit to you. The worse Celestial Armaments to obtain are the the Demonic Grade as each and everyone of those either housed the spirit of a demon or an evildoer mana cultivator expert.


    One lucky enough not to be devoured or possessed by the demonic spirit would still become an evildoer and a wicked individual. Cassandra gnashed her teeth. Although, she respected the Norse gods from both sides of the Vanir and Aesir, she couldn''t help herself from forming a biter resentment towards Baldur. She could not accept the way his trial butchered his descendants. Not to mention one of his descendants happens to be her only child.


    ¡°One should not think too much. The path of the one who wields that Celestial Armament is decided by his or herself. Not all are deemed become nefarious beings. Even someone with an occupations as a doctor has the prospect of turning for the worse.¡±


    Everyone nodded in agreement.


    ¡°What really needs to be focused upon this coming invitational of my wildhunt is Efroot. We all hope that Edward enters the Trial Planes. If he does make it up to that point, he will need some assistance. As long as Eddie slays all the acolytes, Efroot''s invincibility cloak will be disabled and it would be fair games as who gets to kill it first. Let me remind you all again that if Efroot is not slayed by Edward, he will die on the spot even before he could ever have the chance.¡±


    ¡°Humph . . . That won''t happen. I will be the one that stands guard over the area. No one will be able to slip pass me,¡± Cassandra said. ¡°This invitational is of little to no importance to me. You guys can compete for the title.¡±


    Cassandra sighed. She entered the last invitational at the age of fourteen and became runner-up while her second husband took home the title for the Ferguson Dynasty. Despite the loss, this was event marked on of the turn around points of her complicated romantic life. Alphonse Ferguson started warming her heart. She never thought the geeky, troublesome boy that she thought was out to ruined her life would changed her life forever. He was a man that was very loyal and dedicated to make her happy. That meant he would support her if she chosen another man over him again. Thinking about him, made her heart sudden churn. More than eight years since Alphonse had vanished from them.


    ¡°Cassie! You are still exiled and you cannot roamed outside of Midgard without Arkon''s consent,¡± Ryyna said it solemnly.


    Stan made strange coughing sounds. This was more than enough divert everyone''s attention to him.


    ¡°To be quite frank. This may come as a surprise. During the summit of Arkon, I was able to temporarily pardon her exile. Thanks to the Great Wizard (Woden), I was able to negotiate a spot for daughter in-law in this upcoming invitational as an additional training for my grandson. Never would I imagine the outcome leading to such a grand, universal gathering.¡±


    The night remained in a chaotic mood as the chattering continued on for several more hours.


    Time flew by quickly as three weeks have passed. Cassandra, Rynna and Cecily walked into to the portal from the Fairy Queendom to the Trial Planes of Valhalla. This time, participants from the Five Kindoms of Vanaheim and from the universe also entered the Trial Planes from their prospective location. Soon the Woden Wild Hunt Invitational would commence.


    In a blink of an eye, nine years have already passed by. Eddie still kept his ten year old appearance. His appearance only aged about two weeks from the time he started climbing up the chasm. As of now, has surmounted four peaks and killed all acolytes as he entered the portal to the Trial Plane. External cultivation currently level . . . Rank-Eight of the Soul Realm.

 Chapter 26: Thorstein (Vol. 3/Raw)

    The Jaded Forest was currently Eddie''sfinal location. The forest itself had been covered in a purple cloud miasma for centuries. Rumored has it that a beast tide five hundred years ago came down from the heavens and swarm the human inhabitants. The inhabitants were nearly eradicated. The survivors fled and no longer been able to return to their lands. The beast tide for centuries has spawned numerous species.


    Beasts and mana cultivator both possessed mana within their bodies. While cultivators have to temper their mana core by completing the breakthroughs throughout the three core realms to fully established their Mana Core. Beast are born with mana core or cores from birth. These cores are called Beast Cores. Quality of each beast core can be determined by rankings. Rank-One Beast Cores obtained the level of a Tempering Layer Realm.


    Three stages that determine the potency. Primary, Middle, and Peak. For instance: a Primary Rank-One possessed mana of the lower tiers of the Tempering Layer Realm. The middle stage has potency the mana of a Fifth layer and above and peak stage would surmount the highest layer of the Tempering Layer Realm. This implies for the a Rank-2 Beast core and its stages are equivalent as the Soul Realm.


    Among the species of beast, were the Jaded Rhinoceros that occupied the outskirts of the forest. One unlucky fellow had encountered one of this these fiends. The individual was named Thorstien. He was a former human, transformed into a boar from a Volva''s curse. For the rest of his life, he was to live out the remainder of his live as a wild boar. He had happened to stumbled across a zerg and now is being pursued by fifteen Rank-Two Jaded Rhinoceros and one Rank-3 Jaded Rhinoceros.


    ¡°You ungrateful fiends!You are very lucky that my Battle Spirit is having a breakthrough and cultivation have been sealed to the Tempering Layer Real or else this father would have refine your core and turned you into jerky.¡±


    Thorstien continued to gallop away from Jaded Rhinoceros zerg. He was grunting like a wild boar as if it was about to be slaughter on a chopping block like a domestic hog. However, he came to a dead end at the edged of a cliff that had a outcropped rock. He backed up snarling and baring his fangs. Behind was a waterfall that had a hundred plus drop down to the stream. Thorstien knew that his body would not withstand the drop.


    He knew that its either he jumps towards his death or devoured on the spot. Before he could make his decision, an angry roar of a youth had startled the zerg as they momentarily stopped their pursuit and glanced around to see where the direction the roar came from. They appeared not to be intimidated and frighten. Suddenly, the air around him began to distort as a crimson flash zipped past him.


    There was an explosion of mana condense energy. Immediately, half the horde had been wipeout. A small figure descended down from the skies as it met the Rank-3 Jaded Rhinoceros head on. Thorstien squinted as the sun ray flashed within his eyes. As he got a better image of the human figure. His eyes widen. It was a youth. A very young half naked boydressed in wolf pelt. He was wearing an orange headband. His hair was gold like blond. The boy''s jaded eyes seemed all too familiar.


    In his hand was a eerie wolf head halberd. The rhinoceros roar as an almighty aura enveloped the youth in dominating fashion. Its back toes kick back like a bull, indicating that it was going to charge. The blond hair boy faced drenched in perspiration as he was being overwhelmed by the Jaded Rhinoceros''s aura. Thorstein felt his gut churned as he was about to expected the boy to be pulverizedor devoured.


    The ground rumbled like an earthquake. The Rank-Three Jaded Rhinoceros charged ahead with its horn aimed at the boy. The blond head boy remained calm and pointed the halberd in the direction of the charging beast. At the tip of the halberd glowed crimson red and unleashed a horrifying, evil aura. A bubble sphere of condense crimson blood the size of a basketball accumulated at the tip of the halberd.


    ¡°Lacerate!¡±


    The boycried out and the bubble of condensed blood bursts into a ray of light and shout out like a bullet, impacting the body of the rhinoceros. It''s body skidded across the forest for several hundred meters in miserable state. The blond head boy appeared to be exhausted as he sighed, watching the rank-three fleeing in the distance.


    ¡°Incredible! This kid indeed is a rare genius able to repel the attack of a peak rank-three mystical beast with the cultivation of the Soul Realm is just mind blowing. At his current age, he has to be on the a Peerless Emperor potential and on the Junior Demon ranking list,¡± Thorstein said.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°Ahhh! Why can''t I kill it? Party pooper!¡±


    ¡°Boy! You are very lucky that you were able to scare it away. Or else, with your current cultivation, you would just be an afternoon snack in the eyes of that peak rank-three beast!¡± TheCelestial Armament said. ¡°Hurry and loot the blood, flesh and cores of its companions."


    ¡°Whatever you say, Doggy!¡±


    The blond head boy did just that that. All the blood started accumulating and was absorbed into the halberd. The flesh of a mystical beast could be devoured by a mana cultivator could temper their bodies and stabilize their cultivation. Some beast meat could increase one vitality. Mystical beast meat could only be devour by mana cultivator and not ordinary folks, which are label as commoners in the world of mana cultivation.


    On the boys waist was a mystical storage satchel capable of storing item and belonging in an astral plain. Even storing food would not age or rot. When everything was set and done, Thorstein was courage enough to approach the half naked young lad. Suddenly the boy spun around and pointed the halberd at Thorstein''s throat.


    ¡°Hey its a pig! What''s a pig doing in this forest?"


    ¡°Such naivete! It''s just a ordinary wild boar! It''s flesh won''t provide you with any benefits other than being nourishment for commoners.¡±


    ¡°Doggy! I want to kill it! I haven''t eaten pork chops in awhile. Roasted pig on an open fire sound just fine,¡± the boy licked his lips as if recalling the deliciousness of pork meat he consumed in the past. Back in Midgard, his mother baked delicious roast pork.


    Thorstein''s complexion became pale.


    ¡°You ungrateful lad! How dare you threaten me! Begone or else you will suffer the consequences! You do not want to anger my master!¡±


    The blond head youth was flabbergasted and at the same time astonished as a mere boar dares to threaten him and speak in human language with a human vocal.


    ¡°Super! A talking pig! That''s supper cool! Can I keep it?"


    Thorstien became stupefied as the boy had suddenly sealed his killing intent and suddenly had the intention of making Thorstien into his pet. Thorstien was not daft as he stared at the blond head youth appeared to be daydreaming. It was obvious that he was communicating to someone or something through telepathic transmission. He took this opportunity to flee the dangerous boy.


    ¡°That was close,¡± said Thorstien as he putted much distance between him and the boy. Only the gods knew what fate awaited him if he stood around any longer. He approaching was on the outskirts of the Jaded Forest. Soon he would depart from the forest and make his way back into Iron Fist village. Just before he approached the beginning of the trail and the exit, he was cut off when several arrows started flanking him.


    Ordinary arrows had no effect on Thorstien, so he was not in a panic. He was surrounded by mountain bandits. There were thirty bandits. Only three of them were mana cultivators in the late Tempering Layer Realm. One of the bandits took out a portrait.


    ¡°It''s him. Get the thieving swine!¡±


    Most of the bandit were either swordsmen or were equipped daggers. They quickly swarmed him. Thorstein roared, establishing an almighty spiritual pressure. Know of them got within a foot of Thorstein as they were blown away. The only ones that were not effected were the mana cultivators of the Tempering Layer Realm. The scrawny bandit was ranked three. The second bandit was a greasy, obese fellow with the a Fifth Tempering Layer Realm cultivation. The third, a chubby fellow had a cultivation of the 7th Layer.


    Thorstein started molding chakra from his mana network. Three spiritual war-hammer were conjured and floated around him and twisted around him like a tornado. This technique is called the Spiritual Warlord Hammer. It is a balance offensive and defensive mana skill that protects the caster and attacks incoming assailants and it the skill itself automatically attacks any hostile within range.


    This is a basic Spiritualist technique for beginners. There are advance and elite versions of the Spiritual Warlord Hammer. The basic version could summon up to three hammers the max. Only peaks experts of the Tempering Layer Realm and above could summon three hammers at the same time.


    ¡°There is no were to run! You can either tell me were you hid the treasure armament or we will we drink your blood and feast on your flesh to night!¡± Said the chubby bandit.


    ¡°Over my dead body,¡± Thorstein charged towards the three bandit mana cultivators.


    The three hammers that shielded him flown forwards like a homing missiles. Thunderous booms caused a mini tremor to generate. The hammers caused little to no damage. This was within Thorstein''s expectations as he fled once again. The overgrowth path in front of him made him detour through and around as he carefully avoided the territories of a gargantuan Venus Fly Trap and a Devil Snare Vine.


    He could hear the sound broken branches and people stepping on dried leafs about a quarter mile behind him. The three bandit cultivators were cursing and shouting. Suddenly, the forest became silent. Following that, multiple horrifying screams could be heard from behind. The bandits were ambushed the mystical beast plants. The Venus Fly Traps devoured any band that got within range and the Devil Snare Vine roots twirl and pulled encroaching bandit beneath the ground. Anyone caught would become fertilizer for the demonic plant.


    ¡°Ha ha ha! Serves them right!¡±

 Chapter 27: Princess Victoria (Raw/Vol. 3)

    Thorstein stopped laughing as a spiritual pressure around him began to generated that made him nearly puke out blood. Someone with high cultivation realm was approaching. Three figures on horseback began began to surround him. He was overwhelmed by the spiritual pressure. A beautiful teenage blond female around the age of sixteen. Apparently she appears to be a knight from Thorstein''s point of view. The two males behind her wore ordinary armors and they appeared to be in their twenties.


    Their cultivation was at the peak of the Soul Realm. Thorstein could not see through the female''s cultivation. He could fill a powerful aura radiating of this lass. He could feel his internal organs started to rupture. The perfume on this female was strong for his nostrils.


    ¡°Hello. How may I be a service to the young lady?¡±


    ¡°Look! It talks! Should we skin it alive after it coughs up the location of the treasure,¡± Said the man name Bjorn.


    ¡°Silence!¡± she snarled at her two body guards. ¡°My Lord, I was told that you stashed one of the nine mystical artifacts somewhere. Will you please not make any trouble for this princess,¡± she pointed at herself."I wish to borrow the artifact if My lord is willing.


    This girl had such a resemblance to a person that he knew from his teenager days as a former human. Curiosity got the better of him and only he could asked, ¡°May I asked which country Your Highness is from?¡±


    ¡°Trash! What gives you the right question the princess?¡± Said the other man named Bivar.


    ¡°Silence!¡± She slapped Bivar on the back of his head. ¡°The next person that interrupts him not will have their salary suspended for the next three months!¡±


    Both the males sweet dropped. Not being paid for three months on duty was something that these two bodyguards could not afford to happen to them. How would they put food on the table, provide for their family and pay tax.


    ¡°My Lord. Forgive me . . . as I was saying. My name is Victoria Rosenbar second generation princess of the Southern Sun Kingdom. My mom is the current queen on the throne. ¡±


    ¡°I see. No wonder I see the resemblance. Your auntie must be Diana. I do know them. Your Highness, may I asked. How well is the relationship between the two. Last I heard they had a fallout.¡±


    Victoria''s eyebrows furrowed, ¡°More than just a fallout. They always argued and treat one another like enemies every time they meet. Although aunt Diane treats me nicely. All because of ''that man'',¡± she grind her teeth angrily. ¡°My lord may I ask who your are? It seems like sir has history with mother and auntie?¡±


    Thorstein sweat dropped. His throat felt like it was clogged. His heart raced. He did have history with these two women. The younger sister of them became his guild companion while the was acted as his older sister. Both sisters became other infatuated with him when he matured into adulthood. Unfortunately for them, he had only eyes for his wife. That was when he was human. Looking at Victoria, she appeared to be in her teens. When Thorstien''s wife gave birth to his son, he had known the Southern Sun Country Queen had a six year old daughter.


    Thorstein had way of knowing how long he had been trapped here in Valhalla ever since he was cursed from a volva and transformed into a pig. The volva''s companion was a black robed man with a golden mask. The battle with the masked man left him severally injured while the volva had cursed him at the same time. All this was very worth it while he was able to claim back his one year old son and did not exchanged his the Divine Chalice with the enemies.


    Thorstein was eight percent sure that the volva was his elder sister that went missing for sometime. He hate to face a possible reality that his older sister had sold out their family and abducted his boy. It was not for the deal he made with Nine-Winged Elder Dragon, both him and his son would have likely perished and the elder dragon with the chalice would end up in the hands of the enemy, which he believed it to be Blackhaven; a rogue guild that specializes in hunting down elder dragons.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Something complicated and should be left in the pass. The treasure you seek belongs to my master. It is something that no one, but my master, me and his bloodline can wield. However, in return, I will compensate you, your mother and your auntie.¡±


    Victoria knitted her brows. This was not what she expected to hear. The treasure really held no importance to her but her mother. However, other competitors from around Vanaheim were after it. If she couldn''t have it, than no one will. However, this talking boar seemed to be close with mother and auntie. She would have two choices, which is to trust. She could only pick one of them. If she did not trust the beast and believed that her mother and auntie were on hostile terms, then she would slaughter the boar before it could betray her and endanger her bodyguards when the time became right.


    However, if she choose to back stab him, without knowing the possibility Thorstein''s friendship between her mother and auntie would before consequential on her part. She had no other way of knowing if Thorstein was a friend or foe. She made up her mind.


    ¡°Swallow the Heart Demon pill. If you have any ill intentions. The pill will devour your heart and soul.¡±


    ¡°Amazing! A Rank-Five Pill! How did you obtain such a pill in your possession?¡±


    ¡°By lucky chances. Are you going to swallow it or not? My patients are growing very thin.¡±


    Victoria the pill into his mouth. Thorstein swallowed. His tummy felt like his body was on fire. He felt like he was going through a tribulations of multiple breakthroughs in his cultivation. He knew that it was impossible because his cultivation had been sealed, preventing him from stepping into the Soul Realm.


    ¡°Now its done. You''ll have to accompany me to Spirit Mountain. That is were my master is and treasures that I accumulated over the years. Within the collection of my hoard, there are somethings that I would like to give to your mother and auntie.¡±


    ¡°Spirit Mountain? That''s only a domain for Spiritualist. We won''t be able to enter.¡± Bivar whined.


    ¡°I''m sure my lord has his way getting us in. Don''t you,¡± she said to Thorstein.


    Not too long after Thorstein with his new party departed from the area, the haft naked blond head youth arrived at the location. Naturally, this blond head youth is Eddie Ferguson. Although he kept his ten year old appearance, he was able to maturenine years into the future, honing his battle and hunting skills, advancing in his mana cultivation. His combat and battle experience was not inferior from a veteran soldier from Midgard.


    Eddie was mounted on a Fire Elemental Mustang. It was a colt without a saddle. The mystical flames that its body produced enveloped Eddie like a harness. Both of their bodies were in synced. This meant that he telepathically communicate with the pony. The colt''s mana condense flame skills could be said to be an extension of limbs as it could take physical form. This was crucial were it wanted to grow Pegasus like wings for flying. This was very crucial because the control the foal have over its mana condense flames would prevent Eddie from falling off, especially, when the pony had to do aerial barrel rolls. This meant that Eddie''s position would be inverted.


    Lastly, the colt''s flames would not harm Eddie.


    Eddie first encounter this fire elemental pony during his duel with the first Destroyer Acolyte. Its mother died during an ambush, claiming lives of her two offspring, while she was giving birth. Eddie intervened in time and battled the acolyte to the death. Winning took ever ounce of his strength and tremendous amount of pain to prevail. Eddie was sad to see a family torn to shreds. He was given a task by the mare to protect and raise her child.


    The mare said he could have their beast core before she channeling her blood essence into her new born son. She said that now her son has the potential of a Rank-Seven beast. Eddie was dumbfounded just hearing that. He new the ranking system of mystical beast. Doggy told him that from Rank-Seven and forward are legendary tier for beast. He was astonished that this little beast has the potential of the legendary ranking, despite only being a measly Rank-One beast.


    On the mare''s last breath, she wish to hear the name of her sound. She left the naming of her child to Eddie. It was not difficult for him to come up with a name. The name Blaze was given to the new born foal. According to Blaze''s race, Doggy told him that they are classified as conjuring mystical beast. Mystical beast could be stored on the subconscious mind. They would be in hibernation until summoned upon. Eddie pledged a blood pact with Blaze as it could now enter and exit Eddie''s mind at will. Blaze have been traveling with Eddie for five years. Although it aged very slowly.


    ¡°Looks like this the place that pig went to,¡± Eddie said.


    ¡°What a mere coincidence. This happens to be the Spirit Mountain. Unexpectedly, we arrived here so soon only being in this location for a week,¡± Doggy said.


    ¡°What! Spirit Mountain! So fast! Lest go hunt down Efroot! Believe it!¡± Eddie pounded his chest with excitement.


    It has been a long time since he last saw his mother and grandmother. The sooner he finished this trial, he could return to home.


    ¡°Don''t get ahead of yourself. You know why this place called Spirit Mountain? There is a very powerful World Spirit. Many Battle Spirits in that mountain are under her control. This will be the toughest battle yet. Are you prepare?¡±


    ¡°Doggy, how long are you going to keep barking!¡±


    This brat I tell you! Doggy snarled.


    ¡°Blaze! Full speed ahead!¡±