《Ark of Invokers: Peace Island Arc》


 Prologue: Mideorell

    Somewhere in the vastness of the cosmos lies Mideorell, an enchanted world with an ethereal biosphere where elementals, mythical supreme beings called Corae, otherworldly beasts, Aevus eres, Parvos, Humans, and other extraordinary creations coexist harmoniously. Mideorell is a beautiful and prosperous world exceedingly rich in anima: a mysterious life force that enables its bearers to utilize its essence in a way which allows them to cast terrifying yet bewildering spells.


    150 years ago, everything came to a standstill when suddenly legions of Vanistas from the smallest to the gargantuan, appeared out of nowhere. The dreaded harbingers of death whose ferocity has no limit, mercilessly ravaged lands upon lands, nations upon nations, every single being they encountered pitilessly slaughtered. The rampant destruction was felt all over the middle realm, that even the majority of the most established and powerful kingdoms in all the seven primeval continents fell into rubble and ash.


    The Vanistas were so flesh-deprived that they devoured every living being indiscriminately¡ªthe young, the old, the healthy, and the sick¡ªthey killed, driven by nothing but pure vileness and lust for torture. It was horror like no one ever expected; Hosts of Vanistas infesting and destroying the worldly realm was beyond anyone¡¯s imagination, and that tragic day from 15 decades ago was eventually called ¡°The Great Downfall of Mideorell."


    It was the first time a high-ranking Vanista which was only mentioned in books and tales successfully crossed the middle realm¡¯s natural barrier. In the last millennia, only lower-ranking Vanistas were able to pass through small fissures called Abcyss; a weak small tear in Mideorell¡¯s natural protective barrier, to harass innocent victims, spread minor terrors, or butcher livestock. The escalation of the unfolding chaos was too abrupt it prepared no one, not even the mightiest highly decorated warriors.


    There are a lot of theories surrounding the existence of abcysses but the most studied one is the theory that they exist due to innocent blood spilled on the land: commoners as collaterals killed in the carnage for a war with no clear purpose, which then consequently corrupted and weakened Mideorell¡¯s first line of defense against Vanista infiltration: the World Tree Verdure Sphaera Barrier.


    All of the world¡¯s inhabitants, even the mighty Corae, who usually never meddle with the affairs of lesser beings, were put to a wary state as the Vanistas were wreaking havoc, disrupting stable ecosystems and altering the terrains of the land, sea, and skies.


    Before the Great Vanista Invasion, there were 380 nations scattered among the seven primordial continents, but now only 44 remain. One of the most powerful and affluent kingdoms, Polaris Avalon, sent summons to the other remaining sovereignties about making a united effort to mitigate the dreadful crisis jeopardizing Mideorell¡¯s future, discord was everywhere and these endless chains of disagreement only weakened their defenses even more, the order was thrashed and Vanistas bled out from the abcysses like blood and they took over the worldly realm.


    For a quarter of a century, the remaining kingdoms fought independently, but victory remained elusive. The population was rapidly declining. Current military technology and anima integration and manipulation knowledge at that time were not sufficient to take down even a Colonellus ranked Vanista.


    It was then that Evegenia Seigfreiheit, the brainchild of anima integration and manipulation research, and also a famous war Archimagus, decided to make her lifelong breakthrough research a reality. She established The Oath of Seraphims, an assembly mainly supported by Polaris Avalon and 20 other ally nations. Anima scholars, Anima engineers, and Anima prodigies from all over Mideorell were sky-ferried to Polaris Avalon to expedite and consummate project Adamus: an ambitious plan to make a binding contract with supreme mythical beings called Corae and harness their enormous powers to augment the capacities of a rare breed of individuals in terms of anima reserves, strength, and overall battle prowess.


    Finally, after more than 2 decades, project ¡°Adamus¡± was at long last completed. It was a historical moment for all creation; the worldly realm¡¯s inhabitants finally had a fighting chance against the insurmountable foes: The Vanistas.


    Project ¡°Adamus¡± is a complex anima integration and manipulation research that involved expectant mothers, whose water bags were about to break, the mothers were hastily moved to a facility called the Sky Sanctuary, a huge infrastructure whose walls are 50 meters high and 15 meters thick.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    It has the sun of the day and the stars of the night as its roof to accommodate colossal beings that pay a visit to their foreordained invoker. Pregnant mothers from all races undergo the ceremony of covenants, a three-part ritual that allows infants about to be born to form contracts with a particular Cora.


    Finally, children born with eligibility to form a binding contract with the Corae are awarded the honorable title: Invoker. They are to be the ultimate front liners in the epic war against the detestable agents of darkness. The last hope of Mideorell.


    The Peace Island: An Archipelago Kingdom


    In the enigmatic vast ocean of Mitis lies an archipelago called Peace Islands. It is made up of three larger islands and a few smaller ones, which are located at the center of an expansive, complicated ocean system that has been uncharted for many centuries.


    Many mysteries enshrouded the elusive islands because it is very difficult to spot, nobody even knew it really existed, mainly due to a constant veil of heavy rains surrounding its seas. Thousands of ships were wrecked and sunk due to the continuous torrents and storms, making it an almost impossible feat to access the island by sea.


    Another peculiarity is the presence of a baffling anomaly regarding the tidal and deep-ocean current system circulating beneath the calm surface of the sea, there are rogue undercurrents that travel at such high speeds that can incur irreparable damage, as the crisscrossing forces can rip even sturdy objects such as steel and reinforced materials. Hence, the safest way to enter the territories of the islands is by employing armored sky ferries.


    Sky ferries mostly made up of light materials such as wood and thin sheets of metal would be a very dangerous ride since the skies of the Peace Islands are constantly roamed by ginormous winged leviathans; docile, gigantic sea serpents who frequent the seas but prefer to have their meals airborne. Though usually acquiescent creatures, their humungous size is an obstacle that cannot be totally avoided by sky ferries in case of difficult weather or surprise encounters, thus collisions and accidents occur at times. They are found nowhere else since their main diet is only found in the nutrient-rich seas of the Peace Archipelago.


    A few years back, an armored sky ferry commissioned by the Polaris Avalon militia suddenly had to descend for an emergency landing because the vessel was gashed by an agitated winged leviathan whose having a bad day.


    The sky ferry landed in an unknown group of islands. Soldiers under the leadership of Commander General Omni Invictus Maximus was tasked to do a scouting mission around the vicinity to look for possible Vanista presence or worse, a Vanista nest.


    To their surprise, there was not a single trace of a Vanista found in the group of islands, and not even a single abcyss exists in the area. This made an impression in the mind of the Commander that this very place could be a haven that would be a fortress of prosperity, progress, and peace.


    Due to the archipelago¡¯s strategic and isolated location, the monarchy of Polaris Avalon decided to build a metropolis on the island for the elites of the kingdom to live in seamless serenity, safe from the relentless threats of the Vanistas.


    Numerous research laboratories, military industrial factories, sanatoriums, the Royal Military Lyceum, the Royal Invoker Institute, and several esteemed infrastructures were built on the islands.


    Coming of Age: Enlistment Day: Royal Military Lyceum and Royal Institute of Invokers


    When children in the peace archipelago and other ally kingdoms of Polaris Avalon reach 10 years old, they are required to study in the government¡¯s military schools where they are taught combat, anima spells, and war strategies.


    The middle realm is in constant chaos, and the ever-lingering threat of another Vanista invasion is a major concern for the remaining integral r¨¦gimes; thus, it was deemed necessary that a child must receive early rigid training to increase his combat and anima manipulation acumen.


    However, when a child possesses invoker powers, they are sent to a specialized facility called Royal Institute of Invokers, wherein combat, anima spells, and war strategies are incorporated into their invoker class training.


    Being a student in the institute will automatically grant the student and his family an honorable status. They will receive a monthly honorarium from the government, hefty enough to provide for their necessities and a few simple luxuries. This is the reason why many families, especially those who are on the lower spectrum of the social strata, earnestly desire to have children with invoker abilities.


    Eligible children in these training grounds automatically serve the government¡¯s militia. They are expected to offer their lives for the preservation of the worldly realm.


    The day of the enlistment is fast approaching. Armored Sky Ferries flood the Altar Ports from different regions of Mideorell.


    The eyes of the constituents are eagerly looking forward to witnessing the ingress of promising victors that will deliver the future from the clutch of the oppressors.


    Will the days of the long-awaited salvation finally arrive? Or will Mideorell plunge deeper into oblivion?

 Chapter One: Coming-of-Age Ceremony Enlistment Day

    The Vanistas declared a horrifying proclamation: In three months, three ally kingdoms of the Seraphim''s Oath will be reduced to rack and ruin. To add to the escalating hysteria, the forces of evil sent a slew of decapitated heads to the Seraphim''s Oath stronghold. The gut-turning hoard appeared even more sickening, embellished with it were several mementos belonging to notable invokers who had gone missing.


    After lying dormant for many years, the Vanistas declared their intent to retaliate against the kingdoms that had shown enthusiasm towards the holy grail of the anti-Vanista campaign. The news has spread among the concerned sovereigns, and it has everyone worried since a surprise attack by the ferocious Vanista army will undoubtedly wipe out an entire nation in a flash.


    However, on the more tranquil side of the middle realm, the Peace Island nation is celebrating the Coming-of-Age Enlistment Ceremony Day. Young warrior hopefuls assembled in anticipation of acceptance into the Royal Military Lyceum and Royal Institute of Invokers. Cheers and excitement filled the air. Nobles and esteemed warrior bloodlines from the different regions of the middle realm flocked the archipelago nation to grace this annual event.


    Screech. Thud. Ahem.


    "Lovely day, citizens of Peace Island! I am Mystea Vermillion, the Royal Announcer! I bet everyone is excited for the enlistment ceremony to begin because you have all been waiting for this day!¡± She struck a catchy pose and let loose a bombastic wink then went on. ¡°So, if you may, candidates, please go to your assigned ranks. In a few moments, after all these pleasantries, you will begin to train hard enough so you can stand side by side with the middle realm¡¯s greatest warriors! Wink!"


    A little further away from the crowd, two brothers stood quite a distance from the rest to avoid unwanted attention. Both are rather popular amongst the citizenry since one is a celebrated hero: Sylveir Vallenheim, 15-years-old, a high-ranking officer of the Polaris Avalon Militia, known as the ¡°Zero-Death Captain¡± data about him confirms that he has no casualties during missions and has an impressive 100% mission completion rate. The younger one is Ais Vallenheim; he is getting the other kind of popularity¡ªthe total opposite of his older brother¡ª he often gets the scoffs of the people around the city but he is stubborn and unyielding, making it even more tempting for others to sneer at him.


    "Syl, I am very nervous, but I am also very excited too. I have always looked forward to this day." He puckered his lips and looked at the peaceful blue sky with hopeful eyes.


    "Don¡¯t be, you always pulled it off, this day is no different than the previous ones, it¡¯s just a little fancier. But always remember what I have told you Ais, steer clear from the nobles, they¡¯re built differently." He patted Ais¡¯ back gently and looked at him with profound concern in his eyes. He knew his little brother was no stranger to trouble.


    "I will, brother, I swear. I just hope Father was here." Ais turned towards Syl¡¯s direction and looked at him with longingness. Ais was very close with the general. He was his ultimate ideal; he was like the sun that he always aspired to become someday.


    ¡°He is always proud of you; it is just that right now, the entire middle realm is in chaos, and as one of Polaris Avalon¡¯s strongest generals, they need him to beat the Vanistas¡¯ butts.¡± He smiled awkwardly and changed the course of the conversation it¡¯s his little brother¡¯s big day after all, he then added ¡°Oh, before you start running down the assembly area, here¡¯s another important detail. Don¡¯t freak out, okay?¡± he looked at Ais¡¯ skeptically then went on ¡°You will be enlisted at the Royal Institute of Invokers.¡± Albeit the warning, the tone of his voice gave it off casually, he reached down into his pocket and gave Ais a badge-like object.


    "Wait, what?! That is some out-of-this-world way of spilling the beans, brother! No this is too unbelievable! I, gosh, that is the Royal Institute of Invokers¡¯ official insignia?!" his jaw dropped in disbelief. Filled with excitement, he took the insignia, raised it in the air, and admired the very emblem of the training institution he had always dreamed of getting into for so long. His happy countenance suddenly dropped then he sighed "But I am not an invoker, I do not have a contract with a Cora."


    ¡°That''s fine, it''s all taken care of. I got your back. Just be yourself and everything¡¯s going to be fine. Live fully and freely, aim for the white river of stars, and maybe even beyond.¡± he looked worried as he stared into the distant crowd from the balcony. He knows Ais wouldn''t feel comfortable getting into his dream institution using unfair means. "But.."


    Tantara. Boom, boom, splat. Swoosh¡­.Rumble...


    Slipping in like a thief in the night, an uninvited guest, cloaked in a portentous garment appeared above the assembly area, he was defying gravity suspended in the air. The atmosphere then became oppressive and suffocating.


    Gone was the bright blue sky; and quickly in its place was a gray slate filled with thunderclouds punctuated by lightning bolts and thunderclaps. The chilly winds blew with unrest, signaling the unexpected turn of events that left everyone stunned, perplexed, and terrified.


    Howl. Slam. Swoosh.


    "This generation will satisfy the bellies of both the evil and the sanctified." The intruder¡¯s voice echoed throughout the grand assembly sending shudders to all who heard the puzzling statement. He peered below as if he was looking for a certain someone. After a few glances, he set his gaze towards the podium.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    There, he saw the platform teeming with strong and noteworthy invokers and warriors alike, but among them, someone stood out the most, it was Lady Magda Selbstlos, dressed in majestic white; a piece of snowy cloth covered her eyes that she never once removed; her silky ash blonde hair is very long, extending like an elegant vine which gracefully touched the ground blessing the path she treads upon.


    Lady Magda occupies the Second Seat of the Lex Liberators, a group of exceptionally powerful Invokers who are said to possess enough power to defeat ancient Vanistas. Distraught by the presence of a threat, she stepped forward, and set her gaze in the direction of the cloaked intruder; and with no time to lose, she firmly swung her mighty staff at him to serve as a firm warning to back off.


    ¡°You impudent coward. How dare you disrupt this regal gathering. Declare your identity nameless fool. I am Magda, second seat of the hallowed Lex Liberators, and I will make you pay for this drivel. ~ Ensnare the guilty for all eternity! Embrace of the Lady Quintessence ~¡±


    ¡°Useless. (Tinkle. Clink. Barrier Shatters). Really second seat?¡± the ominous intruder sneered.


    A huge object resembling an Iron Maiden suddenly sprang onto the scene; Nikola Altis, the Headmaster of the Royal Military Lyceum. No one had ever really seen his face as he stayed hidden inside the Iron Maiden-like armor most of the time, except for Leone Byrheimmer, his perpetual rival, the headmaster of the Royal Institute of Invokers. She is rumored to have a long-standing duel with Nikola that always ends in a truce because both of them end up too beat up to make the final strike to decide the victor. He then gestured to Lady Magda and Leone to join him and attempted to close the gap between them and the offender but they were deflected right away.


    ¡°Seems you''re a tough one gentleman let''s try this ~ Earth Terraform Stance (cough cough), Colossus of Heiricus! ~ Your Ladyship, if you may, a high-tier anima barrier to protect the children. I will try to pin him down with my Colossus. Now, destroy him, Leone!¡± He coughed then smirked at Leone.


    ¡°Don¡¯t order me around you sickly prick. ~ Oh King of the Beasts, devour the darkness and subdue thy enemies, Roar of the Feral Monarch ~¡± She aimed her burning fists towards the cloaked persona and fired a stream of smoldering flames.


    Hiss. Whirr. Boom. Spatter.


    ¡°Tsk.¡± the intruder clicked his tongue.


    Both Nikola and Leone¡¯s high-tier anima spells disintegrated with just one flick of the intruder¡¯s hand. The headmasters of the Royal Military Lyceum and Royal Institute of Invokers looked like entrants before him. They were stupefied by how easy it was for the enemy to extinguish their high-tier anima spells.


    ¡°This is getting boring.¡± The cloaked aggressor continued to mock Lady Magda and the others.


    ¡°Seems there isn¡¯t a reason to keep playing any longer. (Thrum. Rumble.) For destruction and creation, peace and disorder, the end and the beginning, to my ultimate sacrifice. ~ Cower in fear! Devour the light from above and below into the endless obscurity! Sempernus Torre de Lunaris! ~ "


    An enormous anima spell circle appeared, and soon after a deafening sound rang in everyone¡¯s ears, compelling all of those who can hear to block off the loud humming. The otherworldly noise disrupted the other anima spells eventually dissipating them all. Then, a huge infrastructure peeked through the fog, it loomed over the general assembly like a thick blanket of dark rainclouds casting its shadows to the ground, and its presence made everyone from beneath stare with awe and dread, resulting to a mass hypnosis.


    Clap.Rumble.


    Momentarily stunned by the quick succession of events and the hypnotism, Syl snapped back to reality, his elder brother instincts started to kick in. He shook Ais by the shoulders; he then instructed ¡°Ais, we have to run! Don¡¯t keep staring at them we have to escape!¡±


    ¡°Brother this is insanely cool! This is how strong people fight.¡± His eyes locked towards the action across them; unbothered by the gravity of the situation he continued to admire the display of strength before him.


    ¡°This is not the right time. We have to go Ais! Come here!¡± Syl screeched to get Ais into action.


    Syl grabbed him by the arm pulled him over, and dashed, they hurriedly climbed the steep stairs, but Ais¡¯ stride was lagging because he kept on looking back, when suddenly, as he was about to catch up with Syl¡¯s pace, he accidentally miscalculated the next step and caused him to stumble and fall and rolled over. Then...


    Thum. Boom! Swoosh. Whiz. Zap! Boom!


    ¡°Ais!" Syl let out a sorrowful cry. He saw it all, his little brother''s scared countenance, his body zapped and devoured by the detonations, a truly horrifying image against the background of multiple beams of high-tier light anima spells lambasting the assembly area forever etched in the eyes of the Zero-Death Captain. He could save anybody, but today he couldn''t save the person who meant the most to him.


    Pillars of light continued to fall and caused series of explosions directly hitting the assembly area where the candidates who froze in fear were. Fire razed the ground, and a thick black smoke whiffed and enveloped the area, everyone else witnessed the intensity of the attack but they couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Dust and smoke blown away by a passing gust of wind provided windows of clarity, and to their horror, the candidates who stood frozen in terror vanished into thin air. Gone without a trace, along with the enigmatic hooded figure.


    The regular citizens fled for their lives while being escorted by the royal army, many notable invokers entered into combat mode upon realizing the man before them was capable of wiping them out. But it was already too late.


    ¡°This is impossible! They¡¯re all gone. I, Mystea, the Royal Announcer. What am I going to say to His Highness?¡± her eyes scoured through the now empty space, tears cascaded down her cheeks. She turned towards Lady Magda at the sidelines. She finally spotted her ladyship, but her august stature was replaced with fear and trembling, unable to hold her staff firmly, her knees uncontrollably quivering.


    ¡°No, this can''t be, the children. I, even a Liberator.¡± A loud clinking reverberated in the silence, it was the heavy staff of Lady Magda falling to the ground, she soon fell on her knees and fixed her vision towards the horizon.

 Chapter Two: The Child of Light Meets the Savant Prince - The Beginning of Friendship or Maybe Not?

    ¡°Zzzzz¡­Zzzzzz¡­Zzzz¡­Syl is the food ready¡­Gasp?! Why did you cook Levy?! Nooo!!!¡±


    Who in the middle realm is sleeping soundly in this situation? Hey. Wake up. Hey!


    Oh, I fell asleep¡­Ugh, what is this heavy pressure? Where is this place? Syl, brother? Is anyone there? Total darkness ¨C My brother! He doesn¡¯t like the dark. Lux. Lux! Spear of Lucian! Lux! Hmm¡­ Some dark anima spell is sucking in my light anima spells. Let¡¯s increase my anima magnitude this time¡­Lux!... Not enough...Tsk...


    **Lux calls forth a torch made of light anima. Its main use is to provide illumination in dark areas such as labyrinths, dungeons, dense rainforests and caverns. The spell can also be used creatively, dependent on the caster¡¯s whim.


    Once he realized his endeavors were futile, he turned his head toward the nearby sound he had picked up a while ago. He was unsure if he had heard it right, but the voice sounded human to him. Ais realized he needed to find his brother, he shook his head and quickly initiated contact.


    Hi, is anybody there? I wasn¡¯t sure if I heard it correctly but there was definitely¡­


    Click.


    Shut your trap, conserve your anima, or else you''ll lose your chance of getting out of there.


    Ais¡¯ eyes widened, and his face lit against the pitch-black background upon hearing a reply.


    Oh, great! I''m so glad someone is out there. I thought it was just my imagination. What¡¯s your name? What in the world happened back there? Are you human?


    The nearby person was becoming more irritated. He was relentlessly bombarded with questions from a talkative stranger after all. He then finally changed his posture after hours of maintaining the same stance until some hideous snoring disrupted his chain of thoughts. He hoped that it was quieter but seeing he could not escape from the barrage he finally gave Ais an unfriendly reply.


    Sigh.


    Tsk, you''re more concerned with introductions than you are with freedom; you must be incredibly weak.


    "Oh. (Argh. This person is outright rude, but he¡¯s the only one I got, I desperately need information.) Do you know how we can escape from this place?¡±


    Ais waited for a few moments; he crossed his arms, then his legs, his brows inched closer and closer. He tried to wait for the person to respond but the other guy was taking his sweet time, unbothered. Finally, he violently rubbed his temples out of frustration.


    Then, his intrusive thoughts won, probably due to the cold shoulder. He tried to resist but he just couldn¡¯t stay still, so he began to use his light anima spells again, and this time he added more intensity and firepower. But still, all for naught. The dark enclosure kept on eating the light anima spell like it was a hungry insatiable void.


    He is still on it?


    Vexed and furious with Ais. His patience just couldn¡¯t handle someone who is deliberately trying to piss him off. He was on the verge of exploding.


    Hey, Simian, you never listen; I told you to use your anima spells wisely, but yeah, I see, you seem to be quite lacking up there.


    **A simian is a four-legged beast known for its loudness and playfulness. They are skilled tree-dwellers who eat mostly fruits. They are swift with superb shooting skills. They are also highly adaptable and quite unyielding.


    I¡¯m sorry I know I am very stubborn; I just really need to get out of this thing and find my brother. Help me, please.


    In the past when they were younger, Syl and Ais got lost in one of Peace Islands¡¯ larger uninhabited regions due to their undying thirst for adventure. That day, boredom was painted all over their faces while their father was busy doing his administrative military responsibilities, they glanced at each other several times, and at last, boom, an avenue for something fun. So, the two blended well in the crowd and impressively, away they went, the mischievous duo was able to sneak out and vanish from their father¡¯s sight, they wandered further and further, until they found themselves, now, lost in a gloomy thick rainforest full of gigantic trees, unique shrub and mystical flora. The place was supposedly an off-limits area, citizens were warned to never enter its confines due to the risk of never making it out alive, and the possibility of dangerous beasts lurking in the shadows. The excitement turned into fright. Deeper and deeper they went into the maze made of trees, winds blew, and old branches creaked, the leaves whispered amongst each other as if they were taunting the boys, it was pitch-black, absolute darkness, the sun¡¯s rays couldn¡¯t penetrate through the thick foliage which made the forest looked like it harbors a plethora of lost souls not able to find peace and purpose.


    Luckily, Ais was never scared of the dark probably because of his high affinity for light anima. Seeing his brother was not being his usual self, he assured him, took his hand, and the other he made use of his chubby little fingers and they emitted light, it constantly flickered but it made a huge difference, it was hard for Ais to cast an anima spell at that age, much more maintaining its form, but he made it happen, all because his big brother was scared and trembling. Syl has a deep-seated fear of the dark. He never explained why, but once he is in a place surrounded by a curtain of pitch-black darkness, he suddenly shifts into someone not befitting of a celebrated hero. Fortunately, the pair were eventually found by their father himself and they got a good beating from him.


    Could you zip your mouth and let me finish what I am doing?


    Hurl. Swish. Tinkle. Clink. Shatter.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    After he heard something shatter, Ais realized the other person was already freed from the dark anima enclosure. Careful not to enrage the only person who might have figured a way out he held onto his disdain and kept it to himself.


    "(This guy¡¯s temper is driving me crazy. He must be a noble. Syl was right they¡¯re built differently.) My bad, I''m just a little anxious since I¡¯m worried about my older brother. Did you just break free from the dark anima spell or whatever this is? Or?" he asked contritely.


    Tsk, that''s why I kept telling you to save your anima because you''ll need to perform a Full Anima Unleash ¨C Solverre, which I believe you''re incapable of, so might as well just faint and dream away until help arrives, or whatever.


    **Full Anima Unleash ¨C Solverre: Anima: the very essence of life, a mysterious force that endows life and ability to cast powerful spells, is housed, stored, and distributed by a living organism''s internal vessel system and regulated by a core. Anima circulates throughout the body like blood. Full Anima Unleash ¨C Solverre requires accuracy and mastery because it alters the natural structure of the anima core, its valve-like components, and vascular integrity. In stressful events, such as in life-or-death situations, performing demanding anima spells necessitates the release of large amounts or bursts of anima simultaneously, anima vascular systems in the body are equipped with valves that automatically closes to prevent extensive anima loss, preventing copious amounts of anima from escaping the valves. A high volume of anima flow rate is required to support large-scale anima spells and to make this possible, one must keep the valves open for a predetermined amount of time to allow the passage of voluminous unsuppressed energy.


    (This encasement keeps devouring our anima like it¡¯s snack, could this be a trap or something¡­ Performing a Solverre would rapidly deplete my anima reserve and that is not good. But,..) I was thinking about doing the same thing, you just beat me to it by a few flashes! Ais joked timidly, he was hesitant to do it, because there''s no turning back once he does, he might end up dead or trapped forever. After a few minutes he decided to do it anyway for his brother.


    Ais closed his eyes; the palm of his hands facing each other at the chest level, he maintained a small gap in between, then he took a deep breath¡­


    Here I go, Full Anima Unleash - Solverre: Quasar!


    **Quasar is a middle-tier light anima spell that deals light attribute damage to opponents, light particles spread out beautifully like a meandering shawl of glowing dust at first, then the intensity of the brightness grows as it charges up, and suddenly releases powerful pulses of fiery beams and bursts of light, knocking multiple enemies back.


    After the encasement broke Ais swiftly prepared for any possible surprise attack, he heightened his senses and sprang into a fighting stance like a feline falling from a height, but he was destabilized and flipped over uncontrollably swinging, after gaining control of his body once again, he felt all wobbly and dizzy. He then carefully turned his body around and scanned the surroundings. Reassured that he was not in danger, he relaxed, he looked at the other person and smiled awkwardly.


    ¡°Whew, I did a lot of stuff, so we are floating huh, haha, just my intrusive thoughts kicking in. I¡¯m Ais Vallenheim. I''m ten, Uhm, I like the sky and the sea. I have a pet. He¡¯s a winged leviathan, but he¡¯s weird since his scales are white. His name is Levy. Oh, yeah. (I don''t know what I''m talking about.) Have you seen my brother? He was with me not too long ago.¡± Chuckled nervously.


    ¡°Tsk, the name''s Kai, Kaireus Fyrirvon Alfverael-afram.¡± He shifted his gaze away a little bit, gesturing he was kind of embarrassed about something, he added. ¡°And no, I haven''t seen anyone else."


    (Clears throat.)


    At last! Haha! Boy, that was a tough one to pull off, thanks for your help, Kai.


    It''s Kaireus. Sure.


    My brother, the awesome Sylveir Vallenheim, is the Zero-Death Captain of Polaris Avalon Militia. He is really strong. Maybe, if we can find him, for sure, he will able to get us out of here in no time!


    Maybe. It must be quite convenient to be born into a good life, a father who is a high-ranking general, and a famous hero for a brother.


    Kaireus shot several cold, piercing glances at Ais, he examined him carefully, assessing from up close a member of the renowned House of Vallenheim.


    ¡°Luckily, my affinity is the mortal enemy of dark anima¡± Ais smiled awkwardly. "This must be some kind of an intricate dark anima spell that engulfs people in immense pressure until they lose consciousness.¡± he speculated.


    The two are now freed from their dark anima orbs. Kaireus stood frozen, keeping a cool posture as he continued to navigate his thoughts and make sense of what was happening around him. On the contrary, Ais was never in one place, he swam and swam around as though he was swimming in the sea that he so adored. Frolicking he went, he noticed a lot of dark orbs scattered around below. He went closer and checked, and indeed, they were the very candidates who were there at the general assembly area. But something was amiss. It was a subtle change but with careful inspection a trained eye would definitely see.


    Kaireus, you have to check this out! Something is wrong with them!


    Kaireus alerted by the sense of urgency in Ais¡¯ voice, he quickly went over to where Ais was. There he saw the candidates were unconscious, feeling that he missed some details he looked closer, and behold, their skin color appeared to be losing its usual hue. It almost looked like their skin color was turning pale and somewhat bluish suggesting a problem. They are no experts in amelioration anima spells but they know a thing or two about it.


    With his thumb and index finger pressed against his chin, Kaireus was trying to process everything and connect certain clues about the weird anima orbs. . He frowned, his forehead creased with lines indicating he really wanted to figure how to undo the dark anima spell safely. While being lost in his own world, little did he know, Ais was already up to something potentially dangerous.


    Worried about the candidates losing their blood flow and air supply, As he saw fit, he called forth several spears made of light anima and decided to act on his own. Kaireus was still trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together and solve the mystery behind why he and Ais were conscious while the other candidates in their orbs are asleep and slowly losing their vigor. But to his horror, he noticed the light anima spears dazzling and buzzing indicating the lethality of their sharp edges, he looked around, counted, one, two...TWELVE, then he heard a voice which sounded weird, like it was obviously forced to sound dignified and audacious. Kaireus jaw dropped as he looked at Ais and listen to him utter the most gnarly heroic spiel he has heard ever since they were devoured whole by the enormous towering infrastructure.


    Wink.


    We got no time to squander, they are in grave danger, these light anima spears will slice open these cumbersome dark anima orbs, and you my fellow candidates will be freed from darkness.


    **Light anima weapon: Weapons made from light anima essence are known to be the sharpest in all of middle realm. But it is also one of the most difficult weapons to wield since maintain its form needs precision and mastery. Light anima weapons are powerful but to keep their shape the caster must be highly proficient and possess a good amount of anima reserve.


    What do you think are you doing Simian? We still don''t know how these orbs work?!


    With his eyes squinted, he looked at Kaireus, and smiled in such perfect grace as if a halo of light shone behind his head.


    My friend, let me, it''s my time to shine...Pave your way through the darkness, Spears of Luuuuccciiiaaan!!!

 Chapter 3: It鈥檚 One Crazy After Another Crazy: The Dungeon Brouhaha!

    Buzz¡­ Whirr¡­ Shrill¡­


    And down to twelfth, refining to prime razor-sharpness¡­maximizing radial force¡­identifying the ambit of attack, multiple dark orbs detected at viable positions¡­Optimal momentum about to peak¡­


    Twelve light anima spears appeared and hovered parallel to Ais, they were quite rudimentary but the spears dazzled terrifyingly against the menacing darkness akin to lightning bolts summoned by a young deity.


    The spearheads screeched as Ais meticulously calibrated their shape, he refined their cutting edges to perfection, the light emanating from the spears then began to dim, and they started to spin accelerating to incredible speeds creating an illusion of a whirlwind made of light.


    Kai, who had been mesmerized by Ais'' light anima manipulation for quite some time, eventually snapped back to reality. He rapidly examined the situation and the available choices, if his hunch was correct, the orbs might be coated with a deflective dark anima spell on the surface given its absorptive property from the inside. Sweat dripped over his eyes, there was just no way Ais could hear him now. The whirling sound of the rotating light anima spears completely masked the sound waves. The moment Ais would launch the light anima spears, it could spell disaster: the fatal spears would bounce off of the orb''s surface at such high speeds that they could rip both of them into pieces while they were in the midst of countless dark orbs.


    (If I try to freeze the rotating spears this instant, I will use up substantial amounts of anima, I might also end up killing that idiot. Damn! If only the spears weren¡¯t moving at such high speeds, I could freeze them easily, but my ice sheet would slide off or even melt because of the generated heat as a result of the swift rotation. I¡¯m not even sure which among the dozens of orbs around us he is aiming for, Kaireus, think! Oh crap¡­If I do this, no, I shouldn¡¯t hesitate, WE WILL DIE!)


    Ais turned to face Kai and looked at his shadow closely. Despite the ongoing disruption of the high-speed illusionary cyclone of light, Kai seemed to have noticed the fleeting peek, but he was too absorbed, exposing himself to a total stranger was a no-brainer, BUT the situation was too dire to entertain misgivings now.


    (Let¡¯s play a game Oh Prince of Ice. If my gut feeling is correct.) ~ Volley of the Adroit Bersagliere: Sharpshooter Lucian ~


    Woosh!


    ** Volley of the Adroit Bersagliere: Sharpshooter Lucian: is an advanced light anima spell in which the caster summons multiple light anima spears, which surround and hover parallel to the summoner and rotate until they reach high speeds. A strong radial force exerted by the caster keeps the whirling spears in place as they rotate, this causes the speed to accelerate until it reaches the final momentum. This advanced light anima spell is highly operator-dependent; the caster must have a keen sight and faultless accuracy and precision. Once the velocity rises, the caster proceeds to conclude the attack by accurately and precisely breaking the radial force. The spears follow the determined trajectory plotted by the caster, causing tremendous piercing damage.


    Crunch. Crack. Hiss.


    Fortified glacial shields blocked all the twelve light anima spears from hitting their targets.


    Grins. (I knew it, I was right. This Kai, he really looks familiar.)


    Hey! Are you crazy?! Do you want to KILL us both?


    That was an impressive block Kai, who would have thought you could stop my advanced light anima spell in an instant, the precision of the Ice shields was astounding?! I knew you were an amazing invoker and WOW you''re using wor¡­


    IT¡¯S KAIREUS AND STOP MESSING WITH ME OR END UP FROZEN AND DEAD RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW! IF¡­ word gets out, I won¡¯t show mercy simian.


    Geez, Okay, K-a-i-r-e-u-s. I apologize for going out of bounds, but I just wanted to verify. I swear to safeguard your secret. And I honestly didn''t know; I assumed we could smash the orbs from outside. I was just trying to help.


    Don¡¯t ever DO this again! Sigh. (Why am I stuck with this primitive creature for goodness¡¯ sake.)


    Do I have to explain Simian? FINE. Those inside the transparent orbs are already sound asleep. When the person within is completely unconscious, the orbs take on a transparent appearance. We''ve been shouting all this time, but no one within the transparent orbs has heard us. Are we okay now?


    A wonderful observation! (He does have an excellent brain. Nevertheless, this guy is incredibly terrifying; I must be cautious from now on.) So, what do we do now?


    Kai threw a frightening look and replied, "We? I never said I was teaming up with you."


    Ais'' jaw fell. (This indifferent jerk is truly a hopeless case.) He continued to jest and infer possible cooperation to disregard the previous tense conversation between them, and said, "Well, an extra hand isn''t that awful, you know? So, (Chuckles), how will we save everyone?"


    I understand that you were trying to be a hero a while back with your remarkable light anima manipulation abilities, but you are not our savior, okay? I''ve told over and over again, if we can''t shatter it from the inside, there''s no way to break it from here. What more do you still not get?


    Ais was still adamant about saving the other candidates. He gazed at Kai with a serious expression, as if he was ready and willing to take a good beating.


    Kai finally understood Ais''s tenacity; he paused, glanced away, pushed his fingers against his brows, and let out a heavy sigh. He had never been so emotionally charged. He knew he was controlled, cool, and level-headed, yet he had a feeling something was amiss. He then replied timidly, after a long pause, "Let''s see, we''ll make a plan along the way."


    Ais'' face brightened up as Kai agreed with him for the first time. He realized he was also being too troublesome and watchful around Kaireus. The two never made an apology to each other. As they began to explore the depths of this oblivious dungeon, they began to confront the demons that lurked within themselves.


    But there were also a lot of things on his mind recently. Firstly, the majority of Mideorell is in bad shape, he wanted to be of help, even just in his own little ways, and finally, he was one step closer to becoming an official candidate for the Polaris Avalon Militia, but he was suddenly swooped up by a floating dungeon from out of nowhere. Most of the trapped candidates in the orbs were already unconscious, and Ais believes he bears the obligation of bringing them back with him. Finally, he couldn''t find his beloved brother, which is the greatest of all the weights he is currently carrying on his little shoulders. Ais simply couldn''t accept them all. Ais began to feel disturbed for the first time.


    Kai looked around and started to move. ¡°I will get out of here no matter what." He said.


    "Hey, don''t leave me behind.¡± Ais shouted, but he turned back again and whispered ¡°Everyone, we will return to come get you all out of here once we find the way out, we will be back I promise." Ais reassured the rest of the trapped candidates as he followed Kai and spun away.


    ¡°We¡¯re not even sure if we make it out of here, how much more for those losers who couldn¡¯t break free from their orbs.¡± Kai shook his head and continued to explore the rest of the dungeon.


    (I think he is just a Vanista wearing human skin, he is outright mean.) Uhm, Kai, how long has it been since that ugly hooded old man took us?


    "It''s KAI-reus. Finally, a non-annoying question. It appears that this place doesn''t adhere to the principles of time and space. It''s very interesting, if being here right now was related to anima research, I would be very much delighted to participate and...Oh...Nothing." he started talking enthusiastically, but he quickly returned to his phlegmatic demeanor after realizing he was showing another side of himself.


    (He can be this talkative too? What a capricious jerk.) Uhm¡­Okay?¡­ But seriously?! What on earth is going to happen to us then? Oh my, after everything I''ve been through. Are we going to be stuck here forever?


    "Not me, but I''m not sure about you," Kai said cynically, then smirked strangely.


    The two odd companions made their way deeper into the mysterious dungeon, swam around, and noticed that larger floating debris was becoming unsteady, but they quickly dismissed it since they discovered another cluster of orbs and chose to investigate.


    ¡°Look! Dark orbs!¡± Ais exclaimed, "Let''s go check it out. I see more orbs down below! Some of them still look pitch black." He added.


    They drifted to the dungeon''s lower levels, and the surroundings became eerie; on the upper levels, tiny glowing objects were more common, but on the lower levels, the tiny light sources became less and less visible, as if something ominous was keeping them from venturing deeper. Kai detected a slight sound emanating from one of the pitch-black orbs, but it was hardly discernible.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Did you hear that, Simian?


    Hear what? Hmmm¡­¡±


    I thought Simians had some of the greatest ears in the middle world. Guess it was just a myth.


    "Shhhh:¡­Ais cupped his hands next to his ears, closed his eyes, and focused to improve his hearing.


    Hel...p...is¡­


    "Gasp! A person! They both exclaimed.


    The two quickly drifted to the location of the pitch-black orb. This time, they had to keep a look out for floating unstable big objects, some of which were plummeting from higher elevations at dangerously rapid speeds. They also noticed several broken structures the size of a house swinging by them, which was becoming increasingly prevalent.


    He..lp.., is somebody out there?


    "She''s still conscious, but it appears she''s quite weak. We have to help her!" Ais remarked.


    "Hey, are you able to hear me?" Kai questioned. "I want you to pay close attention and concentrate." He said.


    (Oh, so he can actually be a nice guy too sometimes.)


    "Do you know how to perform Solverre?" Kaireus inquired earnestly.


    "My body is aching all over; who''s there? Wait, what, Solverre?...where am I?" Perplexed, she tried to speak logically, but it was clear she was in a lot of agony.


    Kai clenched his jaws, becoming increasingly impatient and agitated as more and more objects from above were moving erratically. Collisions were causing louder noises, and dust particles trickled gently, like sand through the other end of an hourglass.


    Ais sensed Kai was going to lose his temper again, so he came closer and motioned Kai to let him do the talking.


    "Hello, my name is Ais Vallenheim! What is your name? Listen, this person next to me is Kai, and he is telling you to perform a Full Anima Unleash or Solverre; do you think you can do it?" Ais explained carefully and gently.


    "Ais, Kai? What Full? It''s too dark; I''m scared. Father, please take me home." She kept expressing her anxiety and uncertainty.


    Kai took over and reprimanded her, "Put an end to your cowardice aside and concentrate! Do what this simian says, unleash large amounts of anima by casting an anima spell while on Full Anima Release ~ Solverre! Now."


    Something like this?! Full Anima Unleash: Solverre: ~ LIGHTNING REVELRY ~


    Bursts of lightning bolts spread like sea serpents chasing their prey ferociously, and the anima spell lighted a vast area of the ever-gloomy dungeon, revealing a terrible situation: above and below, hundreds of orbs were dangling, some of which bounced off after being hit by objects that moved slowly. The thunder was so intense that Ais and Kai had to shield their ears.


    Amidst the chaos, there stood a powerful-looking man with a flame-like mane. His eyes blazed, and jolts erupted all over his body, the sparks highlighted his battle scars, indicating he was a seasoned fighter.


    Elder sister Pri! It¡¯s me Edirygg, I¡¯m free! You¡¯ve got to listen to these guys! Gyahahaha!


    **Lightning Revelry is a mid-high-tier anima spell that conjures dark thunderclouds and unleashes massive lightning bolts in a designated region. The breach of the surrounding air causes roaring thunderclaps, stunning adjacent opponents.


    "Huh? Sister? Eh? Whoah, you''re huge!" Ais exclaimed, astounded that some random guy cast an anima spell that blasted their ears off and managed to escape from the dark sphere via eavesdropping. This guy happened to be the timid girl''s younger sibling. "I don''t even know what to say anymore," Ais exclaimed in shock.


    "Edirygg? Brother, I''m glad you''re well!" she said. Her brother''s familiar voice pushed her to follow Kai and Ais'' instructions, but she paused and whispered, "But what if you guys get hurt?"


    "Your name is Pri, right? I know there are so many questions in your mind right now, but things are quite crucial as of the movement and we need you to cooperate. You can do it; after you complete the Full Anima Unleash, you will be able to escape from the orb, the heavy pressure will vanish, and you will feel a lot better." Ais reassured her.


    "Yes, elder sister Pri, I feel much better now. You must hurry; the anti-gravity spell appears to be shaky, and large objects may fall on us at any time. "Gyahahaha," Edirygg added.


    Clink. Clank. Clink. Clank¡­`


    Simian, did you hear that?


    Hear what?


    Kai picked up on a subtle rumbling sound that only a trained ear can detect. The rustling sound resembled scales rubbing together in a slithering fashion. Kaireus recognized that if they continued to waste time, they might not survive this struggle, so he muttered. "Simian, something is not right; I can feel a terrifying presence right beneath us."


    I do sense it too; Something sinister is leering at us from down below.


    Edirygg peered through the shadows below, pointing his index finger downwards to discharge a lightning bolt, but Kaireus motioned Ediryyg over, suggesting he not do anything to anger the creature hiding beneath.


    "Pri, you''ve got to do it! Time''s running out!" Ais cried.


    "Don''t worry, elder sister Pri. Gyahahaha! Trust me, we''re going to be fine! I am here, hurry before we become monster feed Gyahahaha!"


    Pri finally decided to toughen up. She bit her lip and rubbed her eyes. Forced by the urgency of the situation, she took a stance and replied, "Okay, I believe you, Edir, my brother. We will get through this together."


    Full Anima Unleash Solverre: ~ Bloom of the Millennium Fire Oak ~


    ** Bloom of the Millennium Fire Oak is a powerful anima spell that summons a fire oak with exploding leaves and blossoms. Pri has control over how many leaves and blooms can explode simultaneously. It is extremely damaging and operator-dependent; attention is required as errant petals may activate suddenly and damage even friendly troops.


    "Guys, we need to get as far as we can from Pri, my sister can''t control the trajectory of the spell and the magnitude of the explosions accurately." Edir gave a stern warning.


    The pitch-black globe containing Pri appeared to be boiling, and steam poured out of the fractures immediately after. A thunderous explosion resonated across the dungeon, and a grand burning oak tree emerged, brightening the bleak backdrop. Later, burning leaves and gorgeous petals flew in enormous flocks, resembling a mighty firefowl.


    ¡°Madness! It was a terrifyingly beautiful anima spell Pri!¡± Ais commented.


    Gyahahaha! That¡¯s my talented sister! Ais Look out!!!


    Err, I warned you my Solverre may be deadly..Ick¡­


    Everyone! Use your anima sparingly, there¡¯s still so much we have to make use of it, we can¡¯t afford to deplete our anima reserves! Simian don¡¯t try any funny ideas.


    Yosh. This is fun! Full Anima Unleash: Solverre: Adroit of¡­mumble mumble..


    Gyahaha! The Ice guy has no chill, he sealed Ais¡¯ lips frozen! Gyahaha!


    Tsk, told you not to try stupid ideas.


    True to her words, the massive force generated by Pri''s Solverre swept away a significant number of enormous pieces of debris. The disturbance caused by the explosion caused the slow-moving pieces of debris to move violently, and the candidates had to avoid being injured by steering clear of both large and small drifting objects, as well as using some of their anima spells to destroy objects they couldn''t avoid. Soon, everyone noticed a frightening wail emanating from the depths.


    Pri had shivers all over her body; her instincts told her to move, but she froze when she heard the sound and asked "What''s that noise?" I detect an awful lot of anima from underneath!". "Edir! We have to flee because it is ready to do something terrible!" She added.


    Hiss! Hey why would you do that! (What a mean bastard!)


    Gyahaha! It''s one problem after another; continue your argument later, the beast down there...it''s starving! Gyahhaha!


    Kai let out a loud scream, his face filled with terror. "Run to the dungeon''s edges, cling to any rocks or fissures, and seek shelter!"


    Edir grabbed and hoisted her sister in an instant, striding with rapid speed. He then slid to the edge of the protruding rock and hid.


    Clang¡­Hum¡­


    Now what! Prepare for any attacks, everyone!


    "Kai! What is the sound? It''s like giant bells are ringing; my head is going to burst if this continues." Ais yelled in agony.


    "This dungeon is trying to murder us all! "Edir, we might not make it home," Pri remarked frantically.


    Static. Otherworldly chorus singing in incognizable language. Static.


    "Tell me the truth, or something beautiful. Oh, tell me the ugly truth, or something pretty. Which do you think can cut deeper? A rusty sword decayed by lies or an honest tongue? Choose you this day, lesser mortals? To live in a fleeting moment of truth or endure for a millennium made of days embellished with colorful lies? Time is stagnant here, and space is irrelevant. Choose you this day, devour them all Despair, and tell me if they¡¯re tasty." a mysterious voice resonated with a chilling and cryptic declaration.


    Static.


    With an angry grimace on his face, Ais turned his head to the direction above and exclaimed, "Who''s there? Set us free! Why are you doing this to us?" Ais then attempted to perform an anima spell, but he was hesitant due to the impending threat from below, so he chose to retreat and grab onto something.


    "Ais! Keep low! The rumbling returns! I suspect the beast is going to do something dangerous! Gyahahaha! Edir expressed concern.


    Tsk. This moron of a simian never fails to disappoint me.


    Edir hugged his sister tightly before turning to face Ais and Kai and exclaiming, "Hold on tight, boys! It''s coming!"


    The enormous, absurd beast that emerged from underground opened its big jaws and breathed deeply, sucking everyone and everything into its massive orifice. Except for one person, everyone else, was clinging to their lives.


    All of the unconscious candidates inside the translucent spheres were dragged into the awful creature''s maw. When it was about to seal its mouth, something unexpected happened.


    Kai. I trust you. The other candidates, we can¡¯t afford to lose them, I will bring them back. ~ Chains of Salvation: Radicles of the Sacred Anchor ~


    **Chains of Salvation: Radicles of the Sacred Anchor: is a high-tier light anima spell that summons a massive golden anchor with several limbs formed of chains of light, which move fluidly under the caster''s full control. The amount of chains is often proportional to the caster''s anima reserve.


    Just how much anima does Ais Vallenheim possess¡­This is amazing¡­


    Gyahahahaha! Down he goes! Elder sister Pri let me put you down first. Yohoo! Elder sister Pri, I''m going with Ais, figure out something, save us! Gyahahaha!


    NO WAY¡­ these crazy people¡­


    Static. Otherworldly chorus singing in incognizable language. Static.


    "Tell me the truth, or something beautiful. Oh, tell me the ugly truth, or something pretty. We are the three sieves. The three sieves will bring you salvation, or judgment. The three sieves will bear the hammer and dampen the hot rod. Pass the test of the first sieve, and your eyes will be opened to new dominions that you knew not before. We are the three sieves. The first sieve will set you free, or will damn you to hell."