ã€ŠRecords of Renã€‹


 Chapter 1 - The First of Three

    On the marbled steps of theroyal academy library sat a man, plain in look and wear, sporting a brown bowler hat and obnoxiously round spectacles. His eyes were glued to a palm-sized book that rested on his lap. Occasionally, he would remember to stoke the ember in his pipe and take a few puffs, releasing grey smoke that resembled the overcast sky above.

    ¡°How fascinating,¡± thought Ren, his hazel eyes glistening as he pondered the book¡¯s biographical accounts of giant squids and megalodons at sea. These tales were likely exaggerated and incorporated elements of the fantastical to better deprive gullible customers of their coins.

    Knowing such didn¡¯t stop Ren from enjoying the content. So engrossed was Ren, he barely registered the ringing of bells in the distance that harkened the end of classes and the inevitable throng of students that would soon arrive for independent study time. Ren perked up to the growing sound of shuffling feet and incessant chatter as groups of teenagers dressed in long cloaks scaled the steps. Most of them paid no particular attention to Ren, subtly acknowledging his presence by stepping around him.

    From an onlooker¡¯s perspective, it would seem as if Ren was a permanent fixture that parted the horde of students going into the library, not unlike the way a stone parts the flow of water. Ironically, this metaphor wasn¡¯t far from the truth. After all, Ren was the embodiment of an absolute being, unbending to laws of the multiverse, unaffected by the vice-like grip of time, and unyielding even to will of Lady Fate. Everyone else were transient beings, fragile like chaff in the wind. Of course, those who passed by didn¡¯t know Ren¡¯s real identity, but subconsciously they felt the latent pressure of a superior existence.

    The students, in their early teens to late teens, inexplicably felt the need to avert their eyes when they neared Ren. On the other hand, the adults, mainly professors and auxiliary staff who were visiting the library after teaching hours, were more confrontational. Whether it was due to misplaced confidence that comes with age or arrogance as fully-fledged magicians, many of the adults stared at Ren as they passed with looks ranging from curiosity to contempt, but mostly the latter.

    Approaching the library, in particular, was a pair of professors, one handsomely tall with a nicely trimmed beard and the other noticeably less attractive and shorter, having a rotund stature. The shorter of the two men held an ivory cane crowned with a small statue of a golden eagle. The cane functioned as a walking stick for the plump professor, who moved with a distinguishable gait.

    Ren groaned inwardly upon seeing Professor Falter, the head of the offensive magics department. Among students he had been given a more derogatory nickname as ¡°Professor Fathead¡± for his lateral growth and his condescending attitude towards anyone he considered below him. Ren and Professor Fathead had fairly unpleasant interactions in the past. It seemed from the get-go, the man took a perverted pleasure in making Ren¡¯s life as difficult as possible.

    A small smile briefly flitted across the plump professor¡¯s face. It was undetectable to a stranger but not to Professor Falter¡¯s lifelong friend and colleague, Professor Noxus, the undisputedly more handsome of the two.

    ¡°Boris, I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s there to be happy about? The dean just assigned us a last minute research project that he wants delivered in two days. He¡¯s obviously targeting us. Fuck that asshole,¡± Noxus complained.

    ¡°There¡¯s always a silver lining, Matthias, even in the worst of situations, as long as you know where to look. Now see that new librarian sitting on the steps? I¡¯m very curious as to why Dean Vendel hired trash like him,¡± Falter responded, a savage glare in his eyes.

    Noxus glanced at where his friend was referencing, and sure enough, sitting on steps of theroyal academy library was the recently hired librarian who had all the faculty up in arms. Since the academy¡¯s founding two hundred years ago, never had a mundane entered the ranks of its faculty and staff until now.

    ¡°Uhh, yes, though I don¡¯t see how that helps our situation? What¡¯s he got to do with our assignment?,¡± asked Noxus, feeling slightly confused by the non-sequitur in the conversation.

    ¡°Nothing. I was merely referring to the long game we must play, my friend. Dean Vendel may be a shrewd man, but his latest hiring decision has exposed him to significant criticism. I¡¯m personally intimate with several board members who disapprove of Vendel¡¯s sympathetic attitude towards the mundane. If we play our cards well, perhaps it won¡¯t be long before he gets replaced. Wouldn¡¯t that be the ultimate revenge?¡± snickered Falter.

    Boris¡¯ craftiness came of no surprise to Noxus. Having known the man since childhood, Noxus was quite aware that his friend harbored big ambitions. Ever since Boris became the head of the offensive magics department, Boris had set his eyes on the next big prize, the deanship, and Noxus had no doubt he would succeed. Maybe someday Boris will even snatch the headmaster¡¯s role.

    After observing the professors from afar, Ren had the sinking feeling that he was the subject of their dialogue. He pocketed his book, sipped the pipe one last time, and glanced at his pocket watch.

    ¡°Half past four. The fated hour nears,¡± muttered Ren. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s going to rain.¡±

    ¡°Assistant Librarian Ren, last I checked, theroyal academy isn¡¯t paying you to loiter about it¡¯s premises. Pray tell me why you¡¯re enjoying the comfort of the pipe while on duty?¡± the plump professor called out.

    Ren stood up and bowed to the pair of faculty members.

    ¡°Esteemed professors, I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. My shift has not yet started, so I¡¯m simply enjoying the weather while I can,¡± Ren replied amicably. Outwardly, he was smiling, though it didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. Men such as them were a dime a dozen in high society. They held their noses high wherever they went, taking pride in their magical abilities and treating ordinary folks with contempt.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    Of course, Ren wasn¡¯t terribly impressed with the professors¡¯ meager control of magic. Throughout Ren¡¯s travels in the multiverse, he had encountered many extraordinary beings who could easily delete these arrogant fools: starfleet admirals, lich tyrants, angels, powerful sorceresses, immortal cultivators, divine monsters, celestial kings, and demon lords. Yet, the most memorable of these individuals were not those who could simply destroy planets or manipulate the laws of physics, but rather those who practiced humility and mercy despite having such great power.

    ¡°Hmph, I care not for your excuses. I expect all employees of the royal academy, whether on shift or off shift, to act befitting of their prestigious station,¡± sneered Falter, disapproving of Ren¡¯s tobacco addiction. ¡°Anyways, see to it that you report to me when your shift begins. I have a list of tasks for you to accomplish by this eve.¡±

    Taking Ren¡¯s silence as acknowledgement, the plump professor pompously walked up the stairs and into the library, followed behind by his friend who remained silent throughout the interaction. Ren watched the two disappear from view and sighed and began casually cleaning his lens with the corner of the coat.

    ¡°No, Andaleus. Leave them be. I hardly think their affront is worth having their souls destroyed,¡± Ren responded seemingly to no one. ¡°You should know that I think you¡¯re far too zealous for your own good,¡± he chuckled.

    Ren sat back down and waited, staring at the vast lawns and gardens that claimed the center of campus. The royal academy was a common example of tenth-century architectural fashion, which aimed to surround greenery with buildings. While aesthetically pleasing, the upkeep was probably quite costly for the school. It always puzzled him why humans had this fascination for outward beauty.

    Not more than half an hour later, Ren stood up again, this time rather excitedly. In the distance approaching alone was a young girl, less than fifteen years of age with light blonde hair and blue eyes. She wore a black cloak like the other academy students, but looked dispirited. Her shoulders were slumped and her eyes were glued to the ground as she walked slowly on the paved path leading to the library.

    The day had started off terribly for Anne. Firstly, she accidentally collided with Daniela, the most popular second-year girl at school, thereby eliciting the wrath of Daniela¡¯s fans. They dragged Anne to a remote part of the school where they strung her upside down and tortured her with hexes. The bullies were clever though and never used spells that left traces. Not soon after, she was harassed by Professor Falter, who recently seemed to take an unhealthy interest in her budding physique. The way he ogled at her sent shivers down her spine.

    Worst of all, there wasn¡¯t anything Anne could do about her situation. Unlike most of her affluent classmates, she came from an impoverished family and didn¡¯t have someone influential to protect her. The others could smell that weakness. It was why the other students always bullied her. It was also probably why the professor dared to treat her the way he did. Had he acted out his lecherous thoughts on Daniela, the daughter of West Lord Nigel, he¡¯d likely end up purifying cow manure in the Georgian farmlands for the rest of his life.

    It took all of Anne¡¯s willpower to hold back the flood of tears threatening to expose her emotional state. Anne always prided herself as a strong girl, so the gods be damned if she¡¯d show any weakness right now.

    Seeing the girl in a stupor, Ren solemnly approached. An umbrella suddenly appeared in his hand, springing open just as the first raindrops fell. Ren didn¡¯t like flaunting his powers, but once in a while he indulged himself in a harmless trick. In the entire multiverse, Ren was the only being who could cast null creation, the power to create matter from nothing.

    ¡°Miss, it¡¯s not good for your health to stand in the rain. May I escort you to the library?¡± asked Ren, jolting Anne out of her stupor.

    So focused was she in her own thoughts, she had failed to see the Ren approach or his display of strange magic. Anne looked up and saw bright hazel eyes behind a pair of ugly spectacles. They were a size too big for the man, ruining any prospects of him pulling off a scholar¡¯s look. Generally, she wasn¡¯t fond of sharing an umbrella with a stranger, much less with a man twice her age, but the intensifying rain removed any hesitation. Moreover, there was something about the stranger that attracted her. He looked disarming and safe, to say the least, but Anne would later learn just how wrong first impressions could be.

    ¡°Umm, okay,¡± replied Anne, keeping up with his pace.

    When they arrived under the cover of the library, Ren retracted the umbrella.

    ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± Anne said meekly.

    ¡°Not a problem, Miss,¡± nodded Ren. ¡°Let me introduce myself. I¡¯m Ren, the new assistant librarian at the academy,¡± he said, extending his hand.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re that mundan... I mean, I¡¯ve heard of you,¡± Anne blushed in embarrassment. ¡°My full name is Annabeth, but I just go by Anne. I¡¯m a second year student focusing on light refraction magic.¡±

    Anne shook Ren¡¯s hand.

    ¡°That¡¯s quite the cutting edge research you¡¯re working on. If I¡¯m not mistaken, it has interesting applications for field mirage spells and double cast illusions in combat situations,¡± Ren remarked.

    Anne¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing his comment. Seeing her reaction, Ren knew what he said piqued the girl¡¯s curiosity.

    ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to know that. These research projects dabble in advanced magics. How...?¡± Anne asked. She looked puzzled and wondered what Ren¡¯s real identity was.

    ¡°Haha, just because I¡¯m a mundane doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m uninformed. I¡¯m not a librarian for no reason young lady.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean it that way,¡± Anne blushed again. ¡°It¡¯s just that even the professors in other focuses are kept in the dark about theseclassified projects. You know, it¡¯s a sensitive matter due to the temporary truce we have with the Vahrillian Empire.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re completely right. All the more reason you shouldn¡¯t casually talk about these things with a stranger. How do you know I¡¯m not a Vahrillian spy?¡± Ren asked, pretending to get all serious.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, are you?¡± Anne shrugged. ¡°I think the school would¡¯ve done a thorough background check on you before they offered you the job.¡±

    Ren smiled when he heard the response. The girl was quick on her feet, exactly the person he needed.

    ¡°Touch¨¦.¡±

    Anne began feeling a little uncomfortable chatting with the assistant librarian in front of the library entrance. If the others saw her act all the friendly with the mundane, she¡¯d definitely be the subject of ridicule tomorrow.

    ¡°Umm, may I go in, sir?¡± Anne asked, trying to be polite.

    ¡°Oh, yes, of course. I must say it was a delight to meet you, Anne. By the way, other than an assistant librarian, I happen to be the proprietor of a procurement shop. So should you ever need anything, my services will be available.¡±

    He handed Anne a business card and followed the girl into the library. Before he closed the doors, Ren turned around and nodded at the sky. In an instant, the mad downpour stopped and the clouds parted. His work was done. Little did Anne know her destiny was completely altered that day, for better or worse.

 Chapter 2 - The Second of Three

    Deep in the folds of night, inside a lavish brothel, a man moaned to the sounds of flesh being whipped.

    ¡°You like that don¡¯t you?¡± cooed a pretty, semi-nude girl wearing only a garter belt and black felt stockings. At first glance, one could tell the red-haired girl was no more than sixteen, hardly the age to be working in such an occupation. But what a first glance couldn¡¯t tell you was that Yuna was a trained assassin, the product of a flourishing underground criminal society at the heart of Jandar, theroyal capital.

    ¡°Ahh, yes, please mistress, some more,¡± the man panted, a look of euphoria plastered on his face. There was brief look of disgust on Yuna¡¯s face, but remembering her job, she quickly licked her lips and dropped the feather whip in her hands. The man was lost too far in the moment to catch the pretense behind her facade.

    In all honesty, Yuna could hardly believe her luck. The man kneeling on the ground, fully nude and in bondage, was one of the eight great Maladars, criminal bosses of the highest order in Jandar. Who would''ve thought he had a fetish for dominatrices and young redheads. When Yuna had first been given her mark, she despaired since the man would have been impossible to approach by normal means.

    ¡°How would you like a taste of this¡­?¡±

    Yuna sensually reached down her crotch and traced a finger up her heavenly crevice, prompting the crime lord to salivate with glee.

    ¡°Yes, mistress. Please¡­¡±

    There was a primal look in his eyes, a type of lust that couldn¡¯t quite be explained in words. Yuna rolled her eyes. Most men were stupid, thinking only with their dicks. But thank god for them, or she¡¯d be out of job fairly quickly.

    Even though she was pretty sure she had him in the palm of her hands, Yuna knew better than to relax her guard at this crucial moment, lest she ruin six months of preparation. He was a Maladar after all, and people like him reached that position of power by being wary of everything. To make matters more complicated, there was a bodyguard in the same room, albeit he was likely too distracted by her naked torso to realize just how much danger his boss was in.

    She let the Maladar lick her feet and work his way up. A small calculated moan escaped her as she caressed his hair. The man¡¯s fate was sealed the moment he buried his face between her thighs.

    In one swift motion she released a hairpin and stabbed it into the man¡¯s nape. He stiffened and tried to struggle, but the ropes binding his arms and the toxin on the hairpin prevented him from doing anything. To muffle any excess sound, she pressed his head against her crotch.

    ¡°Quite a romantic death, I daresay,¡± the wicked thought crossed Yuna¡¯s mind. She pursed her lips, a look that would have melted many hearts.

    When the Maladar stopped fidgeting, she let him slump onto the ground. Knowing time was of the essence, Yuna whipped around just as the bodyguard noticed something was wrong.

    ¡°Hey, wha¡­¡± The bodyguard stopped mid sentence, surprise written all over his face when he noticed a thin dart protruding from his forehead. He dropped to the ground with a thud that was much louder than Yuna anticipated, prompting the guards outside to begin banging on the door and asking if everything was alright.

    Yuna had only enough time to don her dominatrix costume before the doors were busted open with magic.

    ¡°Aww, fuck,¡± Yuna thought, recognizing that a direct fight was disadvantageous. She didn¡¯t have her weapons on her, save for a few darts that wouldn¡¯t work without the element of surprise.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± a particularly menacing man questioned her. Yuna knew him by the nasty scar running down his left cheek, Dimitraus the Brutalizer, who had single handedly massacred a squadron of mage-warriors protecting the late crown princess. This man was dangerous.

    It didn¡¯t take Dimitraus long to piece together what had happened.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot of guts for murdering Maladar Febbuci. By tonight¡¯s end you¡¯ll regret every moment of your existence,¡± he growled. Dimitraus signaled the others to surround Yuna.

    Not giving them the opportunity to cut off her escape, she crashed through the nearest window, falling from the height of four stories along with shattered glass. It was a desperate attempt and not one of Yuna¡¯s finest moments. From this height, she¡¯d likely break a leg or even snap her neck. Incredibly, it seemed Lady Luck was on her side. She managed to land onto the awning of a nearby stall, which broke most of her fall.

    Yuna forced herself up, grimacing in pain. Right now adrenaline was the only thing that would keep her alive. From her peripheral vision, she noticed Dimitraus had jumped down as well with relative ease.

    ¡°Shit, he knows body enhancement magic,¡± cursed Yuna. Just when she thought luck was favoring her tonight.

    Yuna ran for her life, hoping to find refuge in the winding alleys and nooks of Jandar¡¯s slums where the brothel was situated. Left, right, right, left - a sequence of turns through the narrow streets in an attempt to throw Dimitraus off her trail. She hadn¡¯t felt the need to run like this since she was seven, working the slums as a pocket thief. However, despite Yuna¡¯s intimate knowledge of the neighborhood, she could barely maintain distance from her pursuer. Instead, she had the feeling he was slowly gaining on her.

    ¡°When your opponent thinks he has the upper hand he is actually at his most vulnerable.¡± Yuna recalled a quote from one of Master Icarus¡¯ lessons. Her training kicked into gear, calming her down. As she sped through familiar territory in the dead of night, she racked her brain for a solution.

    ¡°Play to your strengths, girl. I¡¯m more knowledgeable about the surrounding area, and I operate best in the dark. Now where should I go?¡± Yuna deliberated. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t there an abandoned warehouse nearby. Maybe I can set up an ambush there.¡±

    In that split moment, Yuna made a decision that changed her future in ways she could¡¯ve never foreseen. Had she simply chosen to prolong the chase, Dimitraus would have called it quits not long after. He owed a debt of servitude to Maladar Febbuci, but once the man had died, Dimitraus was effectively freed and had no obligations to avenge his former master. He simply put on a show for the others to avoid ruining his reputation and future job prospects.

    Unbeknownst to Yuna and Dimitraus, a figure stood high above in the air observing their game of cat and mouse. The mysterious individual wore large spectacles and a rusty coat, which fluttered gently in the wind. When Yuna made a turn towards the abandoned warehouse, Ren grinned. It seemed Lady Fate had brought them together whether she knew it or not.

    A second figure, bald and wearing a fashionable suit, apparated besides the levitating Ren.

    ¡°Andaleus, what¡¯s for dinner tonight?¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    The bald man, named Andaleus, bowed his head and replied, ¡°Your favorite, my Lord. Hand pulled noodle soup, compliments of Chef Kai.¡±

    ¡°Excellent, tonight¡¯s just getting better and better. Thank you, Andaleus.¡± The middle-aged man bowed his head again and blinked out of view.

    Ren weaved his fingers together and cracked his knuckles. ¡°Time to make my entrance soon.¡±

    ¡°Steady girl, steady,¡± Yuna told herself as she began regulating her breathing. She was hanging from one of the iron beams above, waiting for the right time to get a jump on Dimitraus. There was only one chance to incapacitate him, and if she failed, it would likely spell her demise. In a head-to-head confrontation, Yuna had no assurance she¡¯d come out on top.

    Dimitraus carefully stepped inside the dim-lighted warehouse.

    ¡°Typical of an assassin to hide in the shadows,¡± he scoffed, sniffing at his distaste for the occupation. They were weaklings who could only kill using tricks and deception. If he wanted to get this done and over with, he needed to spring whatever trap the girl had in store.

    ¡°Incendar,¡± Dimitraus muttered. A ball of fire burned above his left hand, providing a measurable amount of light for him to see.

    ¡°Come out kitty, kitty. Come out, wherever you are. I promise I¡¯ll make it quick and painless,¡± Dimitraus taunted. As he maneuvered past dusty shelves and rusted equipment, he made sure to strengthen his body with magic and protect his vital organs. As long as he could survive the initial attack, he could easily subdue the girl.

    Yuna held her breath, waiting for the perfect moment. ¡°Just a little bit more, just a little bit more.¡±

    When Dimitraus walked into her desired spot, she lashed out like a panther going in for the kill, deadly and efficient. Two darts pierced downwards through the darkness and towards Dimitraus, who instinctively looked up and tried to shield himself. One bounced harmlessly off his enhanced arm, but the other was true and found its mark. A one in a million shot.

    ¡°Arghhh,¡± Dimitraus screamed and knelt to the ground. It was an ugly sight - blood oozed out of his right pupil where Yuna¡¯s second dart had inserted itself. Taking no chances, Yuna dropped down and rushed towards the man, kicking him in the chest and sending him sprawling across the floor. It was actually unnecessary since the toxin in the dart would soon overtake his nervous system and send him into shock. However, fuck necessity. Yuna wanted to make a statement.

    ¡°I dare you call me ¡®kitty¡¯ one more time,¡± Yuna retorted. After hearing a muffled response from Dimitraus, she laughed. ¡°Hmm? I didn¡¯t hear you? This kitty¡¯s got your tongue?¡± she mocked.

    ¡°I said shut the fuck up, bitch!¡± Dimitraus yelled, getting up on one knee.

    ¡°Fuck, what!?? How are you able to move?¡± she gasped. The tips of her darts were soaked in a concentrated solution of Nitonian just this morning. A drip of the toxin was enough to kill a fully grown man.

    ¡°You¡¯re gonna fucking pay for taking out my eye. Shit, it was my good one too.¡±

    What happened next was outside of Yuna¡¯s expectations. Had she known how Dimitraus managed to slay dozens of royal mage-warriors, she would¡¯ve thought twice about vexing the man.

    Lifting his palm towards the girl, Dimitraus began uttering an ancient language. His hand glowed, sending forth a concussive shockblast that sent Yuna rocking off her feet and into an empty shelf.

    The spell instantly shattered half of her ribs. It was too fast, unlike any offensive spell she¡¯d ever seen.

    ¡°I hope you didn¡¯t die yet. I made sure to limit the damage,¡± said Dimitraus who walked over to inspect Yuna¡¯s condition. ¡°Good still alive.¡±

    ¡°You basta¡­,¡± Yuna coughed. Her body hurt like hell. Not only did she have broken ribs, her right collar bone had snapped from the impact. The situation was looking pretty grim.

    Dimitraus roared with laughter.

    ¡°You got spirit girl, I¡¯ll give you that. It¡¯ll make breaking you all the more pleasant.¡±

    With a single hand Dimitraus lifted Yuna off the floor by the neck. Yuna¡¯s limbs flailed about helplessly in response to the constriction of air. Noticing that she was about to lose consciousness after some time, Dimitraus relaxed his grip and slammed her back into the ground like an angry toddler abusing a toy doll. A normal human, subject to such torment, would have already fainted; however, Yuna was a trained assassin and had a much higher tolerance for pain, which made this ordeal all the worse.

    He sat on top of Yuna and pinned both of her hands above her head, fully aware that doing so would inflict tremendous pain due to her fractured clavicle.

    Dimitraus hovered near Yuna¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Do you know why they call me the Brutalizer? That¡¯s because I excel at causing maximum pain, so I hope you survive long enough to appreciate my art.¡±

    Yuna, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing her fear, spat in his face, which she soon regretted as the act caused pain from her broken ribs to radiate throughout her body.

    Dimitraus slowly wiped off the spit that had mixed with blood leaking from his injured eye. He then placed his hand on the girl¡¯s toned belly, causing her to recoil from the touch.

    ¡°Normally with pretty girls, I fuck them raw before I kill them, but you¡¯re gonna be an exception. You¡¯ve royally pissed me off tonight.¡±

    He began punching her in the abdomen - once, twice, thrice...each time a little harder than the last. The ancient Mavelians called the torture method ¡®death by repeat trauma.¡¯ It involved using a type of punching technique that radiated the damage into an opponent''s internal organs. After enough successive punches, the opponent¡¯s innards would turn into mush.

    Yuna screamed and screamed. The pain was too much, yet she forced herself to stay conscious. Given her injuries, if she fainted now, there was a good chance she¡¯d never wake up again.

    ¡°I can¡¯t die here, not now. I made a promise to her. Please God, please anyone¡­,¡± Yuna prayed silently, tears rolling down her eyes.

    ¡°Yes, I love tears. They¡¯re delicious, absolutely delicious,¡± Dimitraus roared maniacally. He was far too preoccupied to notice a man approaching from behind.

    ¡°Alright I¡¯ve had enough, you sick fuck,¡± said Ren, spooking Dimitraus.

    Dimitraus swung around and looked blankly at the intruder. He was half-expecting another assassin to arrive, but the newcomer looked more ready to crack open a book than to crack open skulls.

    ¡°Who the fu¡­¡± Before Dimitraus could finish question, he was flung across the whole length of the warehouse, leaving behind a trail of wreckage as he flew through shelves and equipment and walls. The man was unconscious long before he finally barreled through one of the warehouse¡¯s exterior walls.

    ¡°Dimitraus is alive, my Lord,¡± commented Andaleus. ¡°Allow me to end him. You needn¡¯t dirty your hands with such trivial tasks.¡±

    ¡°No. He still has a part to play before the end,¡± replied Ren, his eyes looking a bit distant.

    Ren knelt beside the dying girl and held her hand.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay,¡± he whispered gently.

    Due to the extent of her wounds, the life in Yuna¡¯s body was quickly extinguishing. Blood gushed profusely out of her mouth. The girl was only alive because of her sheer unwillingness to die. Unfortunately, no amount willpower could save her from the gravity of her injuries, so after a moment of struggle, Yuna breathed her last, ending the pain she had been enduring.

    It seemed to Ren that the fate of mortals was rather tragic. Their existences were brittle, easily broken under the weight of inevitability. At the same time though, he admired them for their ability to hang on to hope despite the crappy hands they were dealt.

    ¡°May I ask, my Lord, why you allowed the girl to suffer if you were planning to save her all along?¡± inquired Andaleus.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard of the saying, ¡®what doesn¡¯t kill you makes you stronger¡¯? This experience will change her for the better.¡±

    Andaleus declined to press further. Having followed his master for eons, he had learned that Ren saw the bigger picture, perhaps a picture no one else in the multiverse could see.

    Ren placed a hand on Yuna¡¯s cheek. The moment his fingers made contact with her skin, the girl¡¯s lifeless body miraculously regained its vigor. All the visible wounds on her body disappeared, replaced with unblemished skin. In fact, there was something different about Yuna - she now possessed a certain divine aura that was not present before. Ren carried the girl in his arms as if she weighed nothing and walked out of the warehouse and into the moonlight.

    ¡°What¡¯s her role in all of this?¡± Andaleus asked, curious at the way his master treated this girl. He had never seen Ren bridal carry a female. He could only imagine how many people would seethe with jealousy if they saw this sight - goddesses, angels, empresses, and even Lady Fate.

    ¡°A very important one, Andaleus, a very important one.¡± With that said, Ren disappeared into thin air with Yuna in his arms, leaving Andaleus standing there stunned. His master¡¯s answer was cryptic as always.

    Andaleus looked up at the full moon, suddenly reminded of a distant memory of when he was still a Paragon Emperor of countless universes. On that fateful night, under a similar full moon, he had asked his master about his identity.

    At that time, Ren, who was in the form of a child with bright silver hair and a lunar crescent mark on his forehead, grinned in a way that made Andaleus feel like a child again. His reply was something that Andaleus would never forget.

    ¡°Imagine the most powerful being in the multiverse. Now multiply that magnificence by the number of stars in the sky, and you¡¯ll have not yet begun to understand the beginning of my limits.¡±

 Chapter 3 - The Last of Three (Part 1)

    Knock. Knock.

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    Andaleus entered the study room carrying a silver tray.

    ¡°My Lord, would you care to have some freshly brewed Georgian tea?¡±

    ¡°That would be great,¡± Ren murmured, not bothering to look up from the thick tome that he was diligently flipping through. He was sure the blurb on the Archon artifact was somewhere in one of his books, but a whole night of fruitless searching seemed to suggest otherwise.

    Careful to avoid the clutter of books and papers, Andaleus strategically placed the steaming cup of tea on the corner of Ren¡¯s desk.

    ¡°Would you also like a slice of foam cake? I bought an entire loaf from the bakery this morning.¡±

    ¡°Oh sure, why not.¡± Ren sighed and chucked the tome onto a heap of books in the middle of the room. While gingerly sipping the tea, he watched Andaleus prepare the cake.

    ¡°There¡¯s obviously something on your mind, Andaleus. Are you going to tell me or do I have to prod?¡±

    Not surprised by his master''s keen intuition, Andaleus calmly finished preparing the food and set the silver tray aside, after which he returned his full attention to Ren.

    ¡°Forgive my ignorance, but there¡¯s something I don¡¯t quite understand. Since you personally handled the other two, why am I assigned to greet the third chosen? He is a prince after all. Wouldn¡¯t it be more beneficial if you were the one to make first contact?¡±

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m making a mistake then?¡±

    ¡°I would never dare second guess you, my Lord. I would simply like to hear your explanation.¡±

    Ren took off his glasses and massaged his temples.

    ¡°Well, truth be told, I¡¯m of the opinion that your alternate identity as South Lord Gherbal is more useful. If there¡¯s one thing I know, Jandarian royalty respects those with power and privilege. I imagine the prince would be more receptive to the solicitations of a S-ranked duke than that of a lowly assistant librarian and shop owner, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    There was a brief moment of silence while Andaleus struggled to avoid spitting blood. He pitied the fool who would dare underestimate his master. You would be better off having your soul completely annihilated than to incur Ren¡¯s wrath.

    ¡°After serving you for so long, I still don¡¯t get why you entertain Lady Luck by letting her choose our avatars. I detest her sense of humor.¡±

    ¡°Haha. My dear Andaleus, that is perhaps something you¡¯ll understand one day. Anyways, you probably best be going.¡±

    Ren telekinetically grabbed another book from the shelf and renewed his search. Realizing that the conversation was over, Andaleus grabbed the silver tray and promptly exited the room. There was work to be done, and Andaleus wasn¡¯t one to fail his master.

    _____

    A man, hidden by the dense foliage of the trees, cautiously crept towards a bubbling brook. He was tired, thirsty, and overall looking worse for the wear. Seeing that everything was in the clear, he dashed to the rivulet, eager to appease his thirst and wash the grime off his face.

    The water felt crisp and relaxing, a stark contrast from everything he had experienced since the bandit attack that left his entire caravan dead two days ago. Once he had wiped away the mud and dirt, the brook reflected the appearance of a young man in his early twenties, sporting dirty blond hair and a handsome face. He exuded an air of nobility, as if he was meant to rule lesser men. Apart from his dead personal guard, no one else in the caravan knew of his true identity, Darian Jandar, the Third Prince of the Kingdom of Jandar.

    Darian groaned and unwrapped the makeshift bandage on his side where he had been shot by a stray arrow. Luckily he had cauterized the wound with fire magic, preventing additional blood loss; now he hoped to Lady Fate he wouldn¡¯t get an infection. His skin had turned green around the wound, which was probably a bad sign.

    ¡°Well, maybe an infection wouldn¡¯t be so bad. At least it¡¯d put an end to my misery real fast,¡± Darian joked to himself.

    A ruffling of leaves nearby alerted the young prince, who unsheathed his sword.

    ¡°Show yourself!¡± Darian shouted.

    A tanned girl, in her late teens, stepped out into the clearing. She had an arrowhead aimed steadily at Darian¡¯s heart. Likely a local hunter was what Darian concluded based on her clothes and the two dead hares strung on her back. As long as she wasn¡¯t part of the bandit group that was tracking him, there wasn¡¯t a need for unnecessary violence. Darian sheathed his sword and put his hands up in submission, careful not to spook the girl and accidentally take an arrow to the knee.

    ¡°The Third Prince dies at hand of girl after being mistaken as a vagabond,¡± thought Darian, cringing at the prospect of the press catching wind of his hypothetical demise. He still had a reputation to uphold with the ladies of the court.

    ¡°Easy there. I mean no harm. My caravan was attacked by bandits, and I¡¯m the sole survivor,¡± explained Darian.

    The girl scrutinized him for what felt like hours. Finally, it seemed she believed his story and lowered her bow.

    ¡°Yah from the city? Pa says dem city folks talk all proper and fanny. Seems like he was tellin¡¯ the truth,¡± she said.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a resident of the royal capital. How far are we from the city?¡±

    ¡°Bout two days as the crow flies I reckon. Yah look like yah ain¡¯t gonna make it tho, not with thar nasty wound. Yah prolly got poisoned by dem bandit arrows since it¡¯s turning green,¡± she commented while keeping her eyes glued to his body.

    Darian¡¯s chiseled torso was free eye candy. His sweat had the unintended consequence of accentuating his well-defined abs and pecks. Out in the wilderness, specimen as fine as Darian were more precious than diamonds.

    ¡°How long do I have?¡± questioned Darian, perfectly aware of his effect on members of the opposite sex.

    ¡°Hmm, not too long I reckon, bout a day¡¯s time. Ma knows how to cure thar poison easy. Yah better come with me if yah wanna live.¡±

    Darian thought about his options, none of which were exactly promising. Either he risked dying from the poison, or he accepted the help of a complete stranger and put himself at her mercy.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go with you. I¡¯m Jasper,¡± lied Darian, deciding it was better to maintain his fake identity. ¡°What do people call you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Tabith,¡± said the girl. ¡°Now yah better do nuthin¡¯ sussypus or I¡¯ll put a hole in yah faster than yah could say Jandar. Gotcha?¡±

    The look that Tabith gave convinced Darian she meant what she said. Nodding in implicit agreement, he put his shirt back on and followed the girl into the forest.

    The pair arrived at the girl¡¯s residence slightly before dusk. The farm was well off the beaten path, as if situated to avoid detection, making Darian somewhat suspicious. Normally, farmers built their houses near major roads in order to take advantage of vital trade routes. Passing caravans and merchants were of immense importance to isolated farmers, who not only needed a venue to sell their crops but also a dependable supplier for equipment and materials.

    ¡°Might be unregistered Jandarian citizens, and judging by the girl¡¯s accent, her parents probably used to live in the slums,¡± noted Darian. The growing issue of faux-citizenship, people living in the kingdom without proper residence papers to avoid paying taxes, was a direct consequence of severe tax hikes in the past two decades, instigated by Darian¡¯s father, King Slyke Jandar. To counter the trend, the crown had imposed capital punishment for anyone caught illegally residing in the kingdom, a bit harsh if you asked Darian.

    ¡°Yah stay here and lemme do the talking. Me Pa ain¡¯t the welcomest person,¡± Tabith warned Darian before entering the house.

    While he waited outside, Darian made a mental note of his surroundings. There were three buildings in total, one was the main residence, the second was probably a storage hut, and the third looked like a barn used to house livestock. All in all, a typical farm, nothing out of ordinary except for its odd location.

    It didn¡¯t take long before the doors to the house flew open, and a gruff-looking man holding a loaded crossbow stormed out to confront Darian. Two females, Tabith and presumably her mother, hastily followed.

    ¡°Who are yah? What are yah doin on me farm?¡± he barked, pointing the crossbow at Darian.

    ¡°I told yah Pa. He got attacked by dem bandits, and he¡¯s hurt...,¡± Tabith tried to explain.

    ¡°Shut yah pipes, girl. I wanna hear him say,¡± the father cut her off.

    Having been held to an arrowpoint two times in the same day was a new experience for Darian. As the Third Prince of the kingdom, few would dare explicitly show him such animosity, and fewer would live afterwards. Frankly, he was getting a little annoyed by the man¡¯s antagonistic attitude, and it didn¡¯t help that the poison from the wound was starting to cause a maddening headache.

    ¡°I¡¯m just a lost traveler, sir. My caravan was attacked by bandits on the way to Jandar. They slaughtered everyone on sight, but I managed to escape.¡±

    ¡°Hmph! A coward then,¡± the father grunted. ¡°Where¡¯s yah wound? Lemme see it.¡± The man gestured with his crossbow.

    Darian rolled up his shirt, revealing a wound that was looking considerably worse now than in the morning. Pale, green spider veins propagated from the spot where the arrow connected.

    ¡°Ah Harry dearest, he¡¯s just a poor traveler. Look at thar wound. It¡¯s gotta be from dem bandits from Greenbarrow,¡± Tabith¡¯s mother interjected. She moved between her husband and Darian to better inspect the wound.

    ¡°Come dear, let me fix yah up. Yah lucky I have a batch o¡¯ poison cure made yesterday.¡±

    The woman pushed her husband aside and led Darian by the hand into the house.

    Harry had no choice but watch his headstrong wife bring the stranger inside their home. Something about the young man made him feel uncomfortable.

    ¡°Tabith, keep yah eye on thar boy. I dun trust him even if he¡¯s a pretty face.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Pa,¡± his daughter replied with unconcealed enthusiasm and ran into the house.

    ¡°Girls¡­,¡± the father sighed, shaking his head.

    Darian awoke later during the night. The herbal medicine he drank, which tasted like rotten eggs and bananas, seemed to work wonders. The headache had eased up, and his limbs didn¡¯t feel like lead anymore. He forced himself off the straw bed and silently made his way downstairs.

    ¡°Guess they don¡¯t trust me,¡± Darian thought, noticing his sword was missing.

    He stopped midway on the staircase and crouched down to better hear the hushed conversation occuring on the main floor.

    ¡°Harry dearest, I reckon he¡¯s just a merch down on his luck. I think yah being too sussypus o¡¯ him,¡± a female¡¯s voice spoke.

    The man, named Harry, replied, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for our safety, Daisy. Looka this sword. It¡¯s too damn fine for dem merchant folks. Thar boy¡¯s most likely one of dem noble folks I tell yah. I knew bringin¡¯ him in was a bad idea. What if he goes off and tells dem enforcers thar we¡¯re illegals and have dem hunt us down like animals? We gotta look bout our own girls.¡±

    ¡°Yah dun know if he¡¯ll do that, dearest.¡±

    ¡°I dun trust him, Daisy. I¡¯d rather be wrong and kill an innocent man than have the blood o¡¯ me girls on me hands.¡±

    Daisy couldn¡¯t argue with her husband when he put it that way, so she remained silent. Knowing that he had won the argument, Harry grabbed a small dagger and slipped it under his belt.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna slit the boy¡¯s throat while he¡¯s asleepin¡¯. I promise yah I¡¯ll make it fast,¡± Harry attempted to console his wife.

    That was all Darian needed to hear. It was time he made his exit strategy. Due to the darkness, Darian almost ran into a little girl, about five years old, standing at the end of the hallway, wearing a sleeping gown and holding an old bear doll.

    ¡°Ma says eavesdropping is rude,¡± the girl stated plainly.

    ¡°Uhh, hello there young lady. Your mother¡¯s right. I won¡¯t do it again,¡± responded Darian while giving the girl his most disarming smile. ¡°How about I let you hold on to my ring, and we¡¯ll keep this our little secret?¡± He handed the little girl an exquisite emerald ring.

    The girl examined the ring in total fascination. It was the first time she had seen such magnificent jewelry. In fact, there was no way she could¡¯ve known that only seven magic rings of its kind existed in the entire kingdom, and each were owned by a Jandarian prince or princess.

    ¡°Step away from me girl!¡± a voice belonging to Harry rang across the hall.

    Darian turned around to face the father, the man who planned to murder him in his sleep.

    ¡°I mean your family no harm, sir. Just let me go on my way,¡± said Darian, trying to pacify the man. At the same time, he inched closer to the girl. If worse came to worst, he would have to use her as leverage.

    ¡°Yah not foolin¡¯ anyone boy. I dun trust yah. Now, I said step away from me girl.¡±

    It seemed Darian and Harry were at a standstill. Whereas Harry was afraid Darian would use his daughter as a human shield, Darian wanted to avoid any unnecessary bloodshed since the family had saved his life after all.

    A sudden blood-curdling scream from outside broke the tension in the air. Following the scream was the sound of barking firehounds in the distance.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­Tabith?¡± Harry asked in surprise. He knew his eldest daughter was out finishing chores for night. He hoped to Lady Fate nothing bad had happened to her.

    ¡°Damn, the bandits caught up to me,¡± realized Darian. It was hard to forget the sound of firehounds after being chased by them for half a day. He thought he had lost them when he tumbled off a cliff two days ago.

    ¡°Look sir, you should go make sure everything¡¯s okay. I swear on my mother¡¯s grave that I will not hurt your daughter.¡±

    Harry was caught between a rock and a hard place. He was loathe to leave his youngest daughter, Rachel, in the hands of a stranger, but he also needed to check what was going on outside. While he wasted time being indecisive, there was a loud crash downstairs.

    ¡°Daisy!¡±

    The moment Harry scrambled down the stairs to check, Darian picked up the girl and ran to the nearest window. The rest of the girl¡¯s family members were either dead or were going to die. Darian, in his conscience, couldn¡¯t allow the young girl to also perish because of his mistake.

    To prevent access to the second floor, Darian snapped his fingers and set the hallway on fire. Because the whole house was made of wood, it began spreading extremely quickly, soon threatening the integrity of the house. He swiftly snuck out onto the roof with the girl through the window.

    From the roof Darian was able to count five horses at the front of the house - likely a bandit scouting party. This meant the rest of the bandits were still off in the distance, implying that Darian and Rachel had a chance to escape if they could get a horse from the barn.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name little girl?¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­umm...Rachel,¡± she replied meekly, too young to understand the urgency of the situation.

    ¡°Alright Rachel. I need you to hold on to me and the ring tightly. Can you do that?¡±

    Rachel nodded and wrapped her arms around him. Darian bit his thumb then smeared the blood over his emerald ring, which glowed when it absorbed its master¡¯s life essence. Each of the seven royal rings had a special ability designed to complement the user¡¯s weakness. In Darian¡¯s case, he was a good offensive magician, so when fully charged, his ring would emit a powerful B-ranked barrier protecting him for a short duration. It was the reason Darian had survived the fall off the cliff two days ago.

    Darian jumped off the roof with Rachel in his arms. The girl closed her eyes and screamed, thinking that they were going to fall to their deaths. When nothing happened, she realized that they were miraculously safe on the ground. She could hear the man¡¯s heavy panting as he sprinted to the barn.

    In no time, Darian and Rachel were off on horseback, increasing the distance between them and the burning house. Rachel started crying, unsure why the stranger was taking her away from her family. In years to come, she would have recurring nightmares from seeing flames engulf the only home she had ever known.

 Chapter 4 - The Last of Three (Part 2)

    The bandits were surprised that the house had randomly caught on fire. Of the total five in the scouting party, two had stopped in the field to deal the girl while the other three had entered the house. They killed the older woman and dragged the husband out.

    As they stood watching the house burn away, the bandits felt a bit uneasy since no one had been able to check the second floor for signs of the prince. In order to make sure they didn¡¯t screw up completely, they kept the sobbing girl and half-beaten father alive for the Captain to interrogate.

    ¡°It must have been fukin¡¯ Bignose who dunnit. He started that fire,¡± a brutish man with buck teeth yelled.

    ¡°Fuk yah Timwit. I did none of thar. Besides, it was me thar found this pretty sword for Cap¡¯n,¡± an even uglier man, called Bignose, shouted back.

    Whilst they were bickering, an imposing group of bandits on mounts approached. The members of the scouting party quickly regained their pose in the presence of their feared leader, Captain Maddog. He was given the title, Maddog, not because he was mad, though a case could probably be made, but because he was the type of person who¡¯d gladly sacrifice both his arms in a fight just to bite through his opponent¡¯s jugular. In other words, not a man you¡¯d want to tangle with.

    The Captain dismounted and sized up each of his subordinates. Behind him stood a hooded man, his face covered with a sash so that only the eyes could be seen.

    ¡°Whose brilliant idea was this?¡± Maddog asked, pointing to the burning house.

    There was no response. The bandits averted their eyes to defer responsibility.

    ¡°Cap¡¯n, looka this sword I got for yah,¡± said Bignose, hoping to gain their leader¡¯s good graces, and enthusiastically handed Darian¡¯s sword to Maddog.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Maddog muttered. He briefly looked at the sword before passing it on to the hooded man.

    ¡°He was here,¡± the mysterious individual swiftly concluded. ¡°This is his sword.¡±

    ¡°So where the fuck is he?¡± Maddog directed the question at Bignose and the others, who all looked equally clueless.

    ¡°Captain Maddog, there will be no payment unless I have evidence that the mark is dead,¡± said the hooded figure.

    ¡°I understand. You¡¯ll get your man.¡±

    Maddog turned his attention to the daughter-father pair. The girl was sobbing and looking completely traumatized by tonight¡¯s events. The father, however, was lying on the ground, a step from death¡¯s door. Maddog fumed just thinking about his subordinates¡¯ incompetency. The witnesses were hardly in the right state to say anything useful.

    He grabbed the girl by the hair, making her arch backwards and exposing her throat.

    ¡°Tell me, where is the owner of this sword?¡± Maddog uttered.

    Tabith whimpered, ¡°Please, don¡¯t kill me.¡±

    Tonight had been hell for her. Two unknown men ambushed her in the dark and brutally ravaged her body in every conceivable way. In seventeen years of her life, she had never felt this much pain, and even after they stopped, Tabith couldn¡¯t help but replay the moments of her rape.

    Seeing as the girl need some motivation, Maddog dragged her by the hair and threw her beside her unconscious father. Harry¡¯s jaw was smashed, therefore rendering him useless, so Maddog decided he¡¯d make an example out of him.

    ¡°And which genius forgot that you¡¯re not supposed to break a man¡¯s jaw before you get him to talk?¡± Maddog asked calmly, a sudden shift in his disposition, which made his men even more uneasy. Bignose and another bandit, who were among the three that had entered the house, pointed at Timwit.

    ¡°But Cap¡¯n, he fukin¡¯ bit me arm,¡± Timwit began arguing in his own defense. There was a look of pure panic in Timwit¡¯s eyes. The last man who had angered Maddog had his balls bitten off by the firehounds.

    ¡°Make one more sound, and your arm will be last thing you¡¯ll be worried about,¡± threatened Maddog, effectively shutting up Timwit.

    ¡°Now girl, I¡¯ll give you one more chance. Where is he?¡± the Captain asked Tabith again.

    ¡°I dun know. Really. I dun know. Yah have to believe me,¡± she cried.

    ¡°If you¡¯re going to be like this, why don¡¯t I show you what I do to people who lie to me.¡±

    Maddog drew a twelve inch blade from its scabbard and thrusted it through the base of Harry¡¯s chin. Harry¡¯s body twitched and twitched no more. On top of everything else that had happened to Tabith tonight, witnessing her father¡¯s gruesome murder was the proverbial straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. She fainted.

    ¡°Cap¡¯n!¡± shouted a bandit who rode over.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Maddog answered.

    ¡°We found a missing horse in the barn and a set of tracks leading west towards the city,¡± the bandit reported.

    ¡°That¡¯s our target. Let¡¯s go. We must catch him no matter what,¡± Maddog barked and promptly mounted his horse.

    ¡°Cap¡¯n, wut do we do with the girl?¡± Bignose asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about a useless whore. Leave no witnesses,¡± Maddog coldly replied.

    When the foul deed was completed, the bandit horde rode away, leaving behind two dead bodies for nature to reclaim.

    _____

    Darian and Rachel raced towards the capital on an old, malnourished farm horse, which was to say they weren¡¯t going very fast. The open road was dangerous, but Darian threw caution to the wind, knowing there was no point in hiding anymore. Their only salvation relied on them reaching the walls of Jandar safely.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Unfortunately, he had miscalculated the horse¡¯s endurance. Around early dawn, the animal¡¯s stamina gave way, and it stopped by the side of the road and wouldn¡¯t budge no matter how hard Darian tried to coax it. Things looked dire, as Darian could hear the howling of firehounds about half a league away.

    ¡°We have to run on foot now because the bad guys are chasing us,¡± Darian told Rachel. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we can make it,¡± he reassured her as much as he was trying to reassure himself.

    Although she didn¡¯t exactly understand what he meant, she got the gist that bad things would happen to them if the fire doggies caught up. In all honesty, Darian was at his wit¡¯s end. No matter if they left the road or stayed on it, there was no way they could outrun the horde on foot. He could only hope for a miracle at the moment.

    And so the miracle arrived in the form of a single carriage, bearing the emblem of a three-headed serpent.

    ¡°South Lord Gherbal,¡± Darian instantly recalled the head of the house that bore the emblem. Of all the people he could meet on this forsaken road, Lord Gherbal was one of a handful who could save them. Of course, the timing was strangely coincidental, so Darian reminded himself to be on guard even if the duke was known to be a good friend of his mother¡¯s.

    Darian hailed the carriage down, causing the driver to stop. A bald man, dressed in an imposing green cloak, stepped out.

    ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯m overjoyed to see that you¡¯re still alive. Your mother informed me that there was imminent danger to your life, so I traveled eastwards in hopes of finding you on the road. It was a longshot, but it seems Lady Fate is favoring us,¡± spoke Andaleus, playing the part of a relieved duke.

    ¡°Lord Gherbal, the pleasure is likewise. A bandit horde that has been tracking me for three days is approaching as we speak. If you were even an hour late, I¡¯m afraid you would be reading about my demise in the papers tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Fear not, Your Highness. I promise you no one shall touch a single hair of yours today,¡± Andaleus assured.

    Duke Gherbal¡¯s response was a great relief for Darian. He figured that a S-ranked magician such as Gherbal wouldn¡¯t need to go through formalities with him if the latter was also in on the plot to kill him.

    ¡°I see the bandits. Let¡¯s put the child in the carriage first. There¡¯s no point in running now,¡± Andaleus instructed.

    Tired in body and spirit, Rachel was more than happy to be placed inside the carriage by the driver.

    ¡°Will we be okay?¡± Darian asked, spotting at least fifty men and a dozen firehounds speeding towards them.

    Andaleus tried to replicate Ren¡¯s grin.

    ¡°If it is your wish, I can destroy them all.¡±

    ¡°Stay your hand, Lord Gherbal. Before you kill them, I would like to determine who¡¯s behind this scheme,¡± said Darian, once he ascertained Lord Gherbal¡¯s confidence in dealing with the bandits.

    ¡°As you wish.¡±

    The two men stood in the middle of the road, like heroes of old, waiting for the bandits to draw near.

    ¡°Who are you?!!¡± hissed the hoodedrider beside Captain Maddog. The mysterious man hoped to Lady Fate that the green cloaked noble wasn¡¯t who he thought he was.

    ¡°My identity isn¡¯t important. What¡¯s more important is the fact that you¡¯re attempting to murder the Third Prince of Jandar. I hope you know the magnitude of your sins,¡± Andaleus nonchalantly replied.

    Maddog roared with laughter.

    ¡°Oh I¡¯m sorry, I wasn¡¯t aware that we were chasing the famous Darian Jandar. My apologies, Prince,¡± he jested, causing his men to smirk. They obviously knew who they were trying to assassinate.

    ¡°I can grant you all a honorable death if you tell me who¡¯s behind this assassination plot,¡± Darian shouted.

    The bandits began laughing uncontrollably. It was two versus fifty. Even a five year old child could tell Darian and Andaleus were outnumbered.

    ¡°Why it¡¯s yours truly,¡± answered Maddog, not taking Darian seriously.

    ¡°What would you like me to do now, Your Highness? They¡¯re obviously not in the mood for words,¡± whispered Andaleus.

    ¡°Kill them all, but spare the hooded man. I think he knows something,¡± Darian muttered.

    Andaleus wasted no time complying. A simple wave of his hand and a giant ice crystal serpent materialized, surrounding the bandit horde. As a former Paragon Emperor, he could have eliminated their souls with a mere thought, but that would have required use of a power far greater than his avatar¡¯s limits. He would have to risk upsetting Lady Luck and hearing her nag, and frankly, it really wasn¡¯t worth the trouble.

    The bandit horde jumped at the sight of the massive ice serpent.

    ¡°A-ranked spell, Frozen Chrysalis Serpent. He¡¯s South Lord Gherbal,¡± gasped the hooded figure, whose fears were confirmed.

    ¡°What! South Lord Gherbal!!¡± Maddog spat. The blood on his face drained faster than water in a straining spoon. The bandits nearby who heard the magician¡¯s identity also despaired. It was not everyday you have to go face one of only three S-ranked magicians in the Jandarian Kingdom.

    Darian marveled at the spell. Being a fellow magician, he appreciated how much raw talent, skill, and mana went into conjuring the ice serpent. Lord Gherbal made it look easy, but that was to be expected of a S-ranked magician. To be ranked so high, one had to have mastery over anything below S-ranked spells, something the vast majority magicians would never be able to learn in their lifetimes. In fact, Darian was only a C-ranked magician himself, yet he was already considered an accomplished individual by most standards.

    One would have called the ensuing slaughter a bloodbath if there was any blood. However, the ice serpent killed not by ripping flesh or eating its victims but by turning them into human popsicles. A mere touch of its scales would freeze any biological organism at the cellular level. There was no time for the bandits to flee as they came to understand the meaning of hell. The ones who were level-headed enough to retaliate, such as Maddog, quickly realized that their blades simply shattered against the ice serpent¡¯s indomitable scales.

    ¡°Fucking hopeless,¡± Maddog exclaimed in anguish. His infamous bandit horde would be completely wiped out today by a heretical being. Life wasn¡¯t fair, and that was the last thought that ran through his mind before he suffered the same fate as his men.

    Luckily for Darian, he hadn¡¯t eaten anything in the last three days, or else the scene in front of him might have induced a violent vomit. The massacre had ended in mere minutes, leaving behind a field of human corpses. The bandits¡¯ faces were forever stuck at the exact moment they experienced sheer terror. Only the hooded man was spared, but it was clear to anyone watching the spectacle, his bane was also near at hand.

    Not one to give up until the end, the hooded figure released three Nitonian darts at Darian, a last ditch effort. Unfortunately, the darts froze mid air when they collided with an invisible force field that Andaleus had conjured without anyone noticing. Seeing all was hopeless, the man grabbed a dagger and attempted to end his life.

    ¡°Tsk, tsk. I didn¡¯t say you can die yet,¡± said Andaleus.

    The hooded figure suddenly realized, to his growing horror, that his limbs were paralyzed. Andaleus and Darian approached.

    ¡°As I said before, Lord Gherbal can grant you a painless death if you tell us who requested the mark on me,¡± Darian offered again, removing the sash covering the man¡¯s face.

    ¡°I will say nothing, Prince,¡± he hissed. ¡°And you will know nothing until the day your life is drained from you.¡±

    ¡°A loyal one he seems,¡± said Andaleus. ¡°We won¡¯t be getting much out of him, but perhaps there are other ways to uncover the truth, Your Highness.¡±

    Andaleus had recovered the three Nitonian darts and closely examined them. A look of understanding passed between Darian and Andaleus. The prince retrieveda sword, and in one fell stroke beheaded the man.

    ¡°Time is against us, Your Highness. I think it¡¯d be best we return to the palace. I¡¯m sure your mother¡¯s very worried about you. Moreover, I have terrible news for you, one that¡¯s probably better told when you are sitting down,¡± said Andaleus, inviting Darian into the carriage.

    The past few days had finally caught up to Darian, who didn¡¯t argue and climbed into the carriage.

    ¡°Hmm, probably not a good idea for these bodies to litter the road,¡± Andaleus thought.

    ¡°Incendarium.¡±

    A massive blue flame swept over and instantly incinerated the bandits¡¯ corpses.

    ¡°That¡¯s better.¡±

    Andaleus entered the carriage and ordered the driver to return to the city. At that very same moment, Ren grinned in his study chair. The game is afoot.

 Chapter 5 - Rens Shop of Antiques and Artifacts

    When Yuna ¡®died¡¯, an old memory flashed before her eyes, going back to the day she lost everything.

    In her mind¡¯s eye, she watched a family of four celebrating the Festival of the Masks, a popular triennial holiday among Jandarian citizens. Fireworks lit the sky with a reverie of colors, lovers shared intimate kisses in dark alleyways, and children screamed with delight at street performances. Almost everyone wore masks of varying caricatures to pay homage to Lady Fate.

    A six year old girl with lush red hair was being dragged along by her excited younger brother. She laughed with joy, clearly affected by the jubilant occasion. Out of the corner of her eye, Yuna¡¯s younger self saw her father lovingly peck his wife on the cheek. For a child, few things were more heartwarming than seeing one¡¯s parents display mutual affection. She looked up to the night sky and thanked Lady Fate for all her blessings.

    But Lady Fate is a fickle mistress. That night Yuna learned a hard truth - what the goddess could give, the goddess could as easily take away.

    Two individuals, wearing shapeless masks, moved purposefully against the crowd and towards the unsuspecting couple. A flash of exposed blade left Yuna¡¯s parents lying on the cobblestone, choking in their own blood. Yuna and her younger brother, Maximilian, having witnessed the transpiring event, screamed, but their cries were drowned by the maddening thrum of festivities. No one else in the crowd had noticed that two murders occurred right under their noses.

    The masked individuals charged towards the siblings with ominous intent. In the heat of the moment, Yuna pushed her brother into the flow of the crowd.

    ¡°Run Max!¡± she yelled before he disappeared from view. That was the last time Yuna ever saw him.

    The masked assassins loomed over her like the angels of death, but child Yuna swallowed her fear and raised her fists, which amused them. She tried to stall for time, yet without any training and having only lived to the tender age of six, Yuna¡¯s resistance proved futile. Hot searing pain penetrated her abdomen, causing her to stagger and collapse. Once on the ground, Yuna painstakingly crawled to her parents¡¯ bodies.

    ¡°Y...una, pro...tect y...our bro...th...,¡± Yuna¡¯s mother uttered with her dying breath.

    ¡°I will, mama. I promise,¡± the girl cried. Soon after she too fell into unconscious bliss.

    Yuna, unable to hold back the tears, watched the memory unravel like a tragic phantasmagorical play. Every moment accompanied gut-wrenching sorrow.

    The scene abruptly vanished, returning everything to pitch black. Then two angelic beings glowing in celestial splendor appeared before Yuna.

    ¡°Father! Mother!¡± Yuna called out, recognizing the faces of the angels belonging to that of her deceased parents. However, the beings merely stared at her impassively. A trumpet blew and they began synchronously chanting:

    Above the tomb of kings;

    Dispense the nine rings;

    From ashes it must die;

    From ashes it must rise;

    A treasure will unveil;

    A power to prevail;

    If a kingdom be saved;

    A price must be paid;

    Then the lords shall bow down;

    And the phoenix shall be crowned.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What does it mean?¡± Yuna asked but was ignored. The angelic beings kept chanting, iteration after iteration, until Yuna felt she was going to go crazy.

    ¡°What are you saying?¡±

    ¡°Why won¡¯t you answer me?

    ¡°Mother!¡±

    ¡°Father!¡±

    ¡°Stop!¡±

    Yuna woke gasping. The bedsheets around her were soaked in sweat. It took a few seconds before she found her bearing, recalling her fight with Dimitraus and feeling of laying on the cold warehouse floor as her life ebbed away.

    ¡°Wait, where am I? Shouldn¡¯t I be dead?¡± she wondered.

    Yuna noticed that she was dressed in a white cotton gown, the type that wealthy merchants wore. Judging by the quality of fabric and the quaint decor of the bedroom, the house obviously didn¡¯t belong in the slums. If the sounds of commerce and activity outside were any indication, Yuna suspected she was in a posh neighborhood of Jandar.

    Finding herself in an unfamiliar environment put her on high alert. First things first. Yuna needed to secure her location, recover intelligence, and develop a plan. She grabbed a gold-minted letter opener off the desk in the room. It would serve as a passable weapon until she could acquire something better. Even without a weapon, Yuna was fairly confident she could take on most grown men.

    The room was unlocked.

    ¡°Whoever captured me is going to regret not binding me with magic,¡± Yuna thought as she slipped out.

    Apart from the ticking grandfather clock, the house was devoid of sound, making Yuna doubt whether anyone was actually home. She familiarized herself with the second floor, especially lingering in kitchen once she confirmed there was no one else around.

    ¡°The life of the wealthy sure is good,¡± Yuna commented as she savored a particularly tasty piece of salted jerky. The foam cake was delicious too but a little on the sweet side.

    ¡°Watching you eat is starting to make me hungry,¡± said a voice from behind.

    Owing to Yuna¡¯s conditioned reflex, one moment the letter opener was in her fingers and the next moment it was sailing across the kitchen in Ren¡¯s direction. It happened so fast that if Ren had been a normal person, the letter opener would likely have snuffed out his life. Seeing the thing firmly lodged in the cover of the book that he used to shield himself came somewhat as a shock to Ren.

    ¡°Miss, I¡¯d really appreciate it if we didn¡¯t resort to violence.¡±

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Yuna snarled, more angry at seeing her attack blocked than having let her guard down. What would Master Icarus say? Either she was losing her edge, or this bespectacled man was more dangerous than he looked.

    ¡°That should be my question. I¡¯m Ren, the owner of this house.¡±

    ¡°What am I doing here?¡±The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Calm down, Miss. I¡¯ll tell you everything as long as I won¡¯t be target practice for anymore pointy objects,¡± replied Ren.

    Yuna smirked. ¡°That¡¯ll depend on the nature of your answer.¡±

    Setting the book on the counter, Ren moved closer to the girl, who tensed up like a cornered cat and backed away.

    ¡°Hey, easy there. I just want to be able to try a piece of my own homemade jerky before you devour it all. Oh, mmmfff, phis ish pretty good,¡± Ren sputtered with his mouth full.

    The conversation was going nowhere, which made Yuna more anxious. Was he stalling for time?

    Noticing the girl¡¯s increasing anxiety, Ren carefully filled two glasses with water and placed one in front of her.

    ¡°I just want to be clear. You¡¯re not a prisoner, so you may leave at any time you wish. But if you would like to know how you came to be here, we can talk about it downstairs. I don¡¯t like leaving the shop unguarded during business hours,¡± suggested Ren.

    Although Yuna¡¯s gut instinct was to incapacitate the man in front of her and return to the Syndicate, she was also extremely curious about what Ren had to say. After all, she remembered suffering fatal wounds when she fought Dimitraus, so in all respects, she shouldn¡¯t even be alive right now.

    ¡°Fine. I warn you though, don¡¯t get any bright ideas,¡± responded Yuna, grabbing the glass of water.

    Ren¡¯s house was designed to accommodate a shop on the ground floor and living quarters upstairs. When Yuna had first woken up, she was technically in a bedroom on the third floor. Just by learning the home¡¯s layout, Yuna knew that they were in one of the houses in the Ka¡¯Mai district, often described as the shopping district for wealthy Jandarian citizens. Only in this district were homes such as Ren¡¯s common. Nonetheless, this piece of information only made it more confusing for Yuna, who couldn¡¯t figure out how she went from dying in an abandoned warehouse in the slums to waking up in one of the richest parts of Jandar.

    The pair went down a level. Just as Ren had said, the floor was being used as a shop front. Rows upon rows of strange objects and antiques filled the shelves. In the back of the store was a circular table where they sat. This was probably where most business negotiations took place.

    ¡°Tell me what happened,¡± Yuna demanded, gripping the glass of water. Any object in her hand could be used as a weapon, which was the only reason why she brought it along with her.

    ¡°Around two days ago, I found you severely injured in a warehouse. It would appear that you had lost some sort of a fight. I daresay Miss, if anyone else had been there, you wouldn¡¯t be alive right now. I had to expend a considerable amount of my healing magic to save you,¡± Ren explained, adjusting his glasses. He didn¡¯t tell her the whole truth, just enough to make it believable. ¡°By the way, I had my maid clean you and change your clothes, so you needn¡¯t worry about any indecencies.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense,¡± Yuna interjected. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of anyone with the power to heal fatal injuries, not even the Pope of the Nyxean Church can do that. You¡¯re telling me that you can use healing magic surpassing the Church¡¯s?¡± Yuna raised her brow.

    ¡°The world is vast and mysterious, Miss. The bounds of possibility are merely constructs of your imagination and experiences. Have you ever heard of the black swan story?¡±

    Yuna shook her head and scoffed. What Ren proposed was preposterous - a man who could literally save you from near death would be worshipped like a god. He definitely wouldn¡¯t be this dingy shop owner.

    Ignoring Yuna¡¯s look of disbelief, Ren continued, ¡°A fisherman lived on a lake. Every day, for fifty years, he watched millions of white swans feed on the flora. One day he had an argument about whether black swans existed. The fisherman claimed there were no such things as black swans since he hadn¡¯t seen even one in fifty years. What do you think was the problem with his claim?¡±

    ¡°Simply having observed a lot of white swans is not enough to prove non-existence. In other words, empiricism can only get you so far,¡± Yuna replied, catching on to Ren¡¯s meaning. ¡°So I take it you¡¯re claiming to be the black swan and it was just my lucky day?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t claim, Miss. I simply am. Would a small demonstration suffice? I may need to borrow your glass.¡±

    Out of burning curiosity and a desire to understand what really happened, Yuna nodded and pushed the full glass of water across the table.

    Ren drank its entire content, then unhesitantly smashed the glass against the table with his bare hand. Blood snaked down his forearm. Some larger shards of glass buried themselves deep inside his palm and fingers.

    Even for an assassin, Yuna was impressed by Ren¡¯s ruthlessness. Who would¡¯ve thought this wimpy looking man possessed such fortitude.

    ¡°Now observe, Miss,¡± Ren urged, placing his bloodied hand at the center of the table.

    To Yuna¡¯s surprise, the twisted flesh and deep cuts vanished without a trace. Under the semi-dried blood, it was apparent that Ren¡¯s hand was now perfectly fine. Yuna inhaled deeply. Due to her extensive education and training from the Syndicate, she was knowledgeable about numerous subjects, including magic. What Ren had just done was simply impossible. No healing magic, even with the Goddess Nyx¡¯s blessings, could possess just potency.

    ¡°How in the holy hells,¡± she blurted. ¡°Who are you!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you. I¡¯m just Ren, proud owner of Ren¡¯s Shop of Antiques and Artifacts. Businessman, librarian, dabbler, and a bit of a recluse. But with these healing powers, you can imagine why I value discretion and secrecy. Any other questions?¡±

    ¡°...Why were you at the warehouse?¡±

    ¡°Believe it or not, Miss, I own that warehouse by the pier. In fact, I own various properties scattered throughout Jandar. I occasionally make trips to check the state of my assets, as any good businessman should do.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re stupid or brave to visit the slums at night?¡± Yuna asked suspiciously, realizing Ren wasn¡¯t being completely forthright. However, Yuna couldn¡¯t blame him for not trusting her. And whether she liked it or not, the man appeared to have saved her life.

    ¡°Why did you save me?¡±

    ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I have saved you? As a fellow Jandarian, I believe if we all treated each other with a bit more kindness, the kingdom would be so much the better,¡± spoke Ren.

    ¡°An idealist,¡± Yuna concluded. From her experience, idealists never lived long. In this cruel world, they either eventually succumbed to corruption or ended up dead like her parents.

    ¡°Since I owe you a life debt, I will agree to keep your powers a secret. But this will be the last time we meet, so I¡¯d like to give you piece of unsolicited advice before I go. Power and money is the name of the game in Jandar. You better lose your ideals fast or they¡¯re going to get you killed. Even your healing magic won¡¯t save you.¡±

    ¡°Well, I thank you for your concern, Miss. I shall keep in mind,¡± smiled Ren. ¡°How should I address you?¡±

    ¡°Call me Portia, but it¡¯s not like that matters,¡± Yuna replied with a tone of finality. Just as the conversation seemed to be wrapping up, the bell by the door twinkled, usually signaling the arrival of a customer.

    ¡°Grandma Nan, I¡¯m sorry to have called you on your off day,¡± Ren greeted an old lady with greying hair.

    ¡°Dun worry, me boy, this old body o¡¯ mine can still take a beatin¡¯ or two. So the young lady is awake?¡± remarked Nan. The elderly woman took a moment to scrutinize Yuna, causing the latter to feel naked under the woman¡¯s steady gaze.

    Liking what she saw, Nan broke into a wide toothy smile which showcased a couple of missing teeth.

    ¡°I like her. Perfect for yah me boy. Bout time yah found someone to settle down with. It¡¯ll do yah some good,¡± Nan sighed with delight.

    Ren and Yuna both choked at the same time.

    ¡°Ahem. Grandma Nan, it¡¯s not like that. She¡¯s just a guest,¡± Ren clarified, quickly looking at Yuna to get affirmation. Yuna eagerly nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Wha? I dund¡¯t heard what yah said. Guess me ear¡¯s gettin¡¯ bad,¡± Nan replied. ¡°Come dear, lemme show yah the wardrobe.¡±

    Nan grabbed Yuna¡¯s hand and pulled her upstairs. Strength developed from decades of household chores went into Nan¡¯s grip, preventing Yuna from slipping away. The girl stared daggers at Ren, who casually pretended not to see anything.

    ¡°Umm, it was a pleasure to meet you, Miss. Hope to see you again sometime,¡± Ren called after them. ¡°Grandma Nan, if you don¡¯t mind locking the doors when you leave.¡±

    ¡°I gotcha, me boy. You be going,¡± Nan responded from the next floor.

    Ren chuckled all the way to the door, but the moment he stepped out, a complete transformation occured. Gone were the oversized spectacles and messy brown hair, now replaced by an eye-catching, black-haired man wearing pristine white gloves, a tailored suit, and an expensive long coat. He looked to be in his early twenties and carried a long black cane that tapered to a silver point. If it hadn¡¯t been for his hazel eyes, there wouldn¡¯t have been any similarities between the old Ren and his new look.

    And despite the great number of pedestrians and carriages traveling to and fro on that autumn day, not a single soul had witnessed Ren¡¯s transformation. Nobility, rich scions, bankers, magicians, and wealthy businessmen went about their day in complete obliviousness to the godlike existence amongst their mix.

    For whom Ren graces, rejoice, and for whom Ren judges, despair.

 Chapter 6 - Angel of Death

    A horse-drawn carriage sped down the cobblestone road that led towards the West Pier in the slums. Inside sat two people, a male and a female, both neatly dressed in uniform standard consisting of blue slacks and blazers bearing the insignia of the royal family, a four-winged dragon.

    ¡°Sir, I can¡¯t help think there¡¯s a deeper connection between Maladar Febbuci¡¯s murder and the crown princess¡¯ death,¡± commented the female, taking her eyes off the case files. She wanted to talk or do anything to break the awkward silence in the carriage.

    Kavoch, who previously had his eyes closed in some sort of meditation, assessed the brunette rookie.

    ¡°Macy Valdaz, was it?¡± grunted Kavoch.

    ¡°It¡¯s Marcy, sir,¡± she corrected.

    ¡°Now why would you think that, kid?¡±

    Valdaz took the man¡¯s willingness to engage in conversation as a good sign. Ever since she joined the enforcement academy, it was her dream to work and study under the legendary, yet eccentric, Inspector Kavoch of the First Rank. You could imagine her excitement when the Chief paired her with Kavoch of all people.

    Knowing this was a rare opportunity to make a good impression, Valdaz straightened her back and responded, ¡°Based on the evidence we¡¯ve gathered, Dimitraus is suspected as an accomplice in the attack on the crown princess. However, not four days after the crown princess¡¯ death, Dimitraus¡¯ boss, Febbuci, is murdered in a brothel. Moreover, all of the brothel workers and Febbuci¡¯s men have gone missing. The timing is too much of a coincidence, sir. I believe there¡¯s a third party orchestrating these events.¡±

    ¡°Suppose you¡¯re right. What¡¯s their motive for killing Febbuci?¡± questioned Kavoch, clearly entertaining the young brunette¡¯s hypothesis.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s possible Febbuci knew too much about crown princess¡¯ death and was deemed a liability. As the way things stand, I don¡¯t think he ordered the hit on the princess, or at the very least he wasn¡¯t the primary mastermind,¡± Valdaz conjectured.

    ¡°Everything you said is plausible, but your theory is completely based on circumstantial evidence. Maladar Febbuci had a lot of enemies, for example, other Maladars and people who wanted a slice of his brothel business. For all we know, his death may be completely unrelated to the crown princess incident. We have yet to determine Dimitraus¡¯ exact involvement in both cases, so don¡¯t be too eager to jump to conclusions, kid.¡±

    Hearing Kavoch¡¯s assessment caused Valdaz to rethink her analysis. Fortunately, the conversation came to a pause at the right time. Not a moment later, the carriage made a complete stop.

    ¡°Inspectors, we¡¯ve arrived at the destination,¡± announced the driver.

    ¡°Keep your eyes peeled. Analyzing crime scenes is the foundation of detective work,¡± said Kavoch, adjusting his collar and stepping out. Valdaz enthusiastically followed suit.

    A greasy-haired, middle-aged man wearing the same uniform as Kavoch and Valdaz saluted them.

    ¡°Good morning, inspectors. My name is Varus, a third rank enforcer, at your service. I¡¯m the one in charge of quarantining the warehouse,¡± introduced the man. ¡°Early this morning, some dock workers alerted the authorities after they thought someone had broken into the warehouse. We found a massive hole in the south wall, which corroborates with their report. Would you like a tour?¡±

    Kavoch and Valdaz nodded and followed the man into the warehouse interior.

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying there are four different sets of footprints in this warehouse but no bodies?¡± Valdaz summarized after listening to the enforcer¡¯s brief. Based on the toppled shelves, damaged walls, and spots of dried blood on the ground, it didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out that some sort of conflict had occurred.

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Varus answered. ¡°Normally, a simple break-in wouldn¡¯t have warranted your attention, but one of our men found this on the premises.¡± The enforcer handed Valdaz a needle dart.

    ¡°This is similar to the dart that killed Febbuci,¡± remarked Valdaz, hoping to see a reaction from Kavoch, but the inspector remained as stoic as ever. ¡°It¡¯s possible Febbuci¡¯s killer made his way here from the brothel. The evidence at the other crime scene suggests at least one person had escaped out the window that night. What do you think, sir?¡±

    Kavoch looked somewhat thoughtful.

    ¡°Did we get official statements from the dock workers?¡± Kavoch asked the enforcer.

    ¡°Umm, no we didn¡¯t. The first responders were two new recruits, so there was a bit of oversight,¡± admitted Varus, shifting his feet in discomfort.

    Expecting as much, Kavoch continued, ¡°What happened over there?¡± He pointed to a half-decimated wall across the room.

    ¡°Oh, that. That¡¯s where it gets really weird,¡± said Varus. He scratched his head and answered, ¡°It looks like someone was smashed through the whole row of interior walls, all the way to the outside. Poor bloke, hate to be him.¡±

    Kavoch didn¡¯t look convinced. ¡°Someone or something...did you find anything outside the south wall?¡±

    ¡°Nope, and unfortunately it rained yesterday, so any signs of evidence tampering was washed away, sir.¡±

    Kavoch briefly closed his eyes and internalized all the details of the crime scene. Aside from the shoddy enforcement work, parts of the puzzle didn¡¯t quite fit.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be keeping the dart if you don¡¯t mind,¡± said Kavoch, his tone not leaving any room for discussion.

    ¡°Yes, of course. Feel free to have it, inspector,¡± Varus quickly conceded. Although it was against protocol, Varus wasn¡¯t stupid enough to disobey a superior¡¯s direct request, especially considering the man¡¯s reputation.

    ¡°One last question, enforcer. Judging by the thickness of the dust, this warehouse hasn¡¯t seen use for quite some time. Who owns this place?¡±

    ¡°Uhh, I¡¯m not sure, but I¡¯ll look into that and let you know as soon as possible. Anything else I can help you two with?¡± Varus shifted his feet again.

    ¡°That¡¯s all, enforcer, you may go,¡± dismissed Kavoch. The greasy-haired man looked somewhat relieved at his response and scurried away.

    Once they were alone outside of the warehouse, Valdaz allowed her curiosity to get the best of her, asking, ¡°Sir, is there something you can share with me? I feel like you know more than you¡¯re letting on.¡±

    She had been observing Kavoch the whole morning. Behind the dense beard and impassive disposition hid a powerful intellect. Whenever she looked into his deep grey eyes, she felt like she was always two steps behind.

    ¡°Perhaps. Tell me, kid, what did you make of those footprints?¡±

    ¡°Well, there were indeed four unique sets of prints. One seemed smaller than the others, so I think it likely belonged to a female and the other three to males,¡± concluded Valdaz.

    ¡°One was female,¡± Kavoch repeated, though not for his own benefit. ¡°And how do we use that information in conjunction with the evidence at the brothel?¡±

    Valdaz¡¯s eyes sparkled in sudden understanding.

    ¡°Febbuci and his bodyguard were both killed by needle darts, and there were no signs of blunt trauma on their bodies. If we assume Febbuci had a fetish for bondage then...so was Febbuci¡¯s killer a female assassin masquerading as a prostitute?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Possibly. It would explain how someone was able to kill Febbuci despite him being heavily guarded at all times. She simply assumed the guise of a brothel girl to get close to him,¡± confirmed Kavoch. ¡°Not bad, kid.¡±

    The inspector¡¯s praise caused Valdaz to gush inside.

    ¡°Now since you¡¯ve proven that you¡¯re not one of those brainless dolts, I¡¯m going to assign you a new task. Go investigate who the dock workers are and anyone they associate with. Report back anything that seems suspicious.¡±

    ¡°Do you think Febbuci¡¯s death has something to do with them?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say there are some irregularities in the enforcer¡¯s report that we have better resolve,¡± Kavoch replied mystically.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean, sir?¡± A look of confusion showed on Valdaz¡¯s face.

    ¡°You¡¯ll figure it out, kid.¡± Taking the needle dart from her hand, Kavoch walked away and disappeared back into the warehouse. The man was definitely an eccentric, but no less suave than Valdaz had imagined.

    ¡°Better not mess things up, Marcy,¡± she told herself. For some unknown reason, Valdaz couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that they were about to tread into deep waters.

    _____

    Two men strutted down an opulent hall in the royal palace. The palace was widely considered to be the crowning landmark in Jandar, boasting of idyllic fountains, exotic paintings and statues, beautiful murals engraved in the stone flooring, and hundreds of rooms for its guests and permanent residents.

    As they passed by, guards bowed and servants swiftly retreated to make way. One of the two men appeared grim, barely concealing grief behind his travel-worn face. He was Third Prince Darian, safely back from a harrowing experience on the open road, and accompanying him was South Lord Gherbal, an imposing man who possessed political clout surpassed by few others.

    Earlier in the day, the duke had revealed the devastating news of the crown princess¡¯ death to Darian. She was Darian¡¯s full-blood sister and had been murdered while returning from a diplomatic trip to the Vahrillian capital. Apparently the king and the Council of Lords thought best to keep the assassination a secret in order to prevent destabilizing the already precarious political situation in Jandar. Of course, such a significant event would hardly go unnoticed, thus rumors of her death had begun seeping through the city grapevine.

    The mood in the palace reflected the tension in the capital. Darian¡¯s sister was well beloved by the people. She was one of the main reasons why the growing rebellion, calling themselves the ¡®Rising Phoenix¡¯, hadn¡¯t achieved critical support from the population. With her death, the crown had lost its poster child.

    As the men approached the chamber at the end of the corridor, the hysterical cries of a grieving female grew louder. Tworoyal mage-warriors and an elderly man in a red tunic stood guard at the door. Upon seeing Darian and Andaleus arrive, the elderly man¡¯s visage considerably brightened.

    ¡°Your Highness and Lord Gherbal. Thank Lady Fate for your safe journey home!¡± The man rushed over to embrace Darian.

    ¡°You are a sight for sore eyes, Alaster. How¡¯s my mother doing?¡± said Darian, smiling and returning the embrace.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid the Queen is barely hanging in there. She didn¡¯t take the crown princess¡¯ death very well, and when we received news that you might also be in danger, I think it was too much for her,¡± Alaster sadly explained.

    ¡°Thank you for taking care of my mother in my absence.¡± Darian gripped both of Alaster¡¯s shoulders in appreciation.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    There would be a time to grieve, but it was not now. Following his sister¡¯s death, Jandarian politics was bound to become more turbulent. Ambitions among princes, princesses, and upper echelon nobles rang high, and if he and his mother were to survive this imminent storm, Darian needed to be prepared.

    ¡°I¡¯m but a lowly servant, Your Highness. It is an honor to serve the Queen. Would you like to see her now?¡±

    ¡°Your Highness, perhaps it¡¯s better that I also wait outside,¡± recommended Andaleus.

    Darian brushed off the suggestion with a wave of the hand.

    ¡°Nonsense, Lord Gherbal. Seeing that you saved my life, you¡¯re practically as close as family. I¡¯m sure my mother would wish to express her gratitude,¡± the Third Prince responded.

    Praise aside, Darian intentionally wanted Lord Gherbal to accompany him into his mother¡¯s chambers. Half of his mother¡¯s retainers were spies sent by other nobles to keep tabs on them, so he could bet they would report today¡¯s events. He wanted people to know that the duke was in his camp. Regardless whether that was true or not, it was the perception of it that mattered.

    Andaleus acquiesced. When the double doors swung open, Darian¡¯s chest pained at the sight of a woman crying on a beige recamier. In her younger days, Darian¡¯s mother was a jewel of the kingdom, having stolen the hearts of many eligible bachelors with her large eyes and curvaceous lips. At the moment, she was anything but elegant. Her face was a hot mess of smeared make-up and tears.

    ¡°Darling, is that you?¡± the woman stuttered, wiping her tears as she sat up. For a commoner, it would have been surprising to see the Queen regain composure in such a short amount of time, but those born in privilege and power, such as Darian, understood how crucial it was to manage one¡¯s image.

    ¡°Mother¡­¡± Darian knelt beside the frail woman and held her hand.

    She weakly palmed Darian¡¯s cheek and whispered, ¡°Lady Fate has heard my prayers. I thought I would lose you too.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere, mother. Besides, I have you to thank for sending Lord Gherbal to save me.¡±

    The Queen rested her puffy eyes on Andaleus, who seemed to be staring absentmindedly in the direction of the fireplace mantle.

    ¡°Ivan, is there something that catches your eye?¡± she asked, wiping the last remnants of her tears with a handkerchief.

    ¡°Oh, it is nothing, Your Majesty. I was merely entranced by the beautiful flower you have there. I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve ever seen such a color,¡± noted Andaleus.

    ¡°The Vahrillians call the flower, Indigis, a native plant in the northern Archean Mountains,¡± she explained. ¡°Now, I¡¯ve said it many times, Ivan, you may call me Catherine. You need not be so formal around me.¡±

    ¡°I dare not presume, Your Majesty. The walls have eyes and ears, and gossip travels much too fast for my liking. It is perhaps not in our best interest to break with formalities while in the royal palace.¡±

    The Queen nodded in understanding.

    ¡°What would I ever do without you, Lord Gherbal? For saving my son¡¯s life, you may ask anything of me,¡± the Queen offered.

    ¡°As a subject of Jandar, it is naturally my duty to protect the Third Prince. I would not claim a reward for that which is my responsibility,¡± Andaleus replied.

    Outwardly, it appeared as if Andaleus was just trying to be polite, but in reality, there was nothing Catherine could offer that would entice him. Even if she handed him the entire kingdom on a silver plate, it would pale in comparison to the glories of his past. His only pleasure now was faithfully serving his master, Ren.

    ¡°I will not take ¡®no¡¯ for an answer, though I understand there are few things a man of your position cannot obtain. Why not let me show you the full extent of the royal family¡¯s generosity then. Darian, go take Lord Gherbal to see Alaster, and have him transfer our ten-percent stake in the Royal Bank.¡±

    ¡°Uhh...yes, mother,¡± Darian complied, hardly believing what he had just heard. Shares of the Royal Bank were notoriously hard to come by. Aside from the king, his mother had the second largest stakehold in the bank, and now she was giving it all away. Darian led Andaleus towards the door, not before giving his mother one last look.

    ¡°Lord Gherbal?¡± the Queen called.

    ¡°Is there anything else, Your Majesty?¡± Andaleus turned around.

    ¡°Dine with us tonight, will you?¡±

    Andaleus held the Queen¡¯s inscrutable gaze before finally making a decision. ¡°As you wish.¡±

    When the door had closed behind the two men, the Queen laid back down on the recamier. The air near the fireplace mantle shimmered. A man appeared, dressed in dark grey garbs and covered entirely in devilish tattoos.

    ¡°Did he see you?¡± the Queen asked with her back turned to him.

    ¡°No, Your Majesty. My bloodline ability has never failed. Even if he¡¯s a S-ranked magician, he would not have seen me through my invisibility,¡± the man growled confidently.

    ¡°Good. You remembered my instructions?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. I will find them.¡±

    Content with his answer, the Queen closed her eyes and murmured quietly to herself.

    _____

    The sounds of shuffling cards and rolling dice could be heard throughout the gambling den known as the Golden Lair. Hired musicians, perched on a hanging loft, played soothing music on wooden zithers. Below, beautiful young women and men in promiscuous wear served the wealthy patrons who graced the establishment.

    At one particular gambling table sat a fair-looking man with hazel eyes, leisurely sipping on his pipe and playing a popular card game called Aces. The group of individuals sitting at his table were some of the biggest hotshots in the underground world.

    To Ren¡¯s left sat Boss Fatty, a putrid man who scored big after buying up brothels and whorehouses following the death of Maladar Febbuci. To Ren¡¯s right was Eva Lampier, an aging woman who made her claim to fame by manufacturing poison for sophisticated clientele. In the back stood Manager Lu, a black-haired woman who personally oversaw their VIP table. And last but not least, the man sitting directly across from Ren was Mister Martello, an informations dealer with deep connections to high society.

    Mister Martello carried himself differently from the others. From the way his groomed moustache curled and his shirt sleeves rolled, Ren could tell he was a man of finesse and precision. To excel in intelligence gathering, one needed to be detailed oriented, and for that very reason, Ren hoped to make a new acquaintance before the end of the card game.

    ¡°So what are yah doin¡¯ in these parts o¡¯ town, Mister...uhhh?¡± Boss Fatty casually asked, throwing a few additional bank notes into the pot.

    ¡°Kain,¡± replied Ren. He briefly glanced at Martello only to see the man looking completely disinterested in the conversation at the table.

    ¡°Kain, as in Goddess Nyx¡¯s angel of death?¡± Lampier inserted.

    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±

    Boss Fatty chuckled, which turned into a coughing fit. The fat on his body rolled and morphed with every jerk. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be damned. Pussyiest angel o¡¯ death I¡¯ve ever seen. Scrawny boys like yah better let real men do death¡¯s work.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to this fat fool, Mister Kain. I¡¯ve known him for a long time. He¡¯s just jealous. I like the way you are,¡± said Lampier. The woman winked seductively at Ren despite being almost three times the age of his current avatar. Ren shuddered, feeling like a youthful bunny caught in the crosshairs of an old feline. Had Lampier been privy to Ren¡¯s thoughts and his true identity, she would have coughed blood in indignation. Who was Ren to call someone old?

    ¡°Who are yah callin¡¯ fat, yah old hag. Desperate for dem young boys I reckon cuz¡¯ yah ain¡¯t gettin¡¯ any,¡± Boss Fatty rolled his eyes in disgust.

    Purple with rage, Lampier slammed her palm on the table, shifting the money and cards. ¡°Fuck you, you fatass fatty fatlord. You want to die?¡± She pointed a gnarly finger at Boss Fatty.

    ¡°Oh yeah? Yah think I¡¯m scared shit o¡¯ yah?¡± Boss Fatty also slammed his palm on the table. The contents of the game were now in danger of being displaced onto the floor.

    Seeing her most profitable clients get into fight was Manager Lu¡¯s worst nightmare. Given her customers identities, she had no choice but to silently tap Mister Martello¡¯s shoulder for help. The man sighed and raised his voice, ¡°My fellow friends, do I have to remind you of the rules in this fine establishment? I don¡¯t care what grief you have with each other, but it¡¯s probably unwise to incur the owner¡¯s wrath.¡±

    Although their wounded pride was no less hurt, Boss Fatty and Lampier stopped their banter, realizing that they had almost broken the cardinal rule of the Golden Lair. Neither wanted to mess with Maladar Proust, the crimelord who owned the majority of gambling dens in the city. In all Proust¡¯s establishments, there was a strict policy of ¡®no ruckus, no fighting, and no killing¡¯ on premises. Those brazen enough to break his rules were often found disembodied on the streets the next morning.

    ¡°Ahem, of course, Mister Martello. Thank you for your timely reminder,¡± Lampier responded.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± Boss Fatty grunted in displeasure, but he also stopped provoking the woman.

    ¡°Now, care to explain the nature of your visit, Mister Kain. I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve ever seen you in the Hapensburg District before,¡± Martello addressed Ren.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t, Mister Martello. And since you asked, I won¡¯t beat around the bush. I¡¯m here to acquire information regarding something rather sensitive. You¡¯ve heard of the break-in at the royal treasury two days ago?¡± questioned Ren.

    Boss Fatty, Lampier, and Manager Lu all reacted in great interest to Ren¡¯s statement. Meanwhile Martello cooly smoked his pipe, seemingly unaffected by the news.

    ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better, I would¡¯ve thought you were subverting my business. I wonder how many would have paid a fine sum for that piece of information,¡± said Martello. ¡°But to answer your question, yes, I am aware of the incident. I presume you would like to purchase information from me?¡±

    ¡°Forgive me, Mister Martello. That was not my intention. I would simply like to ascertain the nature of the contents that were removed from the treasury. I¡¯ve been told you¡¯re the one who might know.¡±

    Martello inhaled an extremely long puff. ¡°Say that I might. What can you offer that would make me divulge such a valuable piece of information? I hope you didn¡¯t come empty handed.¡±

    ¡°That I did not. I¡¯ve heard that money isn¡¯t your preferred mode of exchange, so I brought something I thought you might appreciate,¡± said Ren. From his pocket, he took out a small bronze dial with strange symbols.

    ¡°An ancient Mavelian seal breaker!¡± recognized Martello.

    Even for a veteran businessman like him, he had to try hard not to betray his surprise. The others looked puzzled about what the object was. Martello didn¡¯t blame them since the knowledge of seal breakers was monopolized by a few hardcore enthusiasts. He didn¡¯t even think one still existed.

    ¡°Does it work?¡± asked Martello, attempting to feign apathy.

    ¡°Hard to tell, but we both know that¡¯s not where its true value lies.¡± Ren slid the dial across the table. ¡°You may have it as a token of my goodwill.¡±

    Martello promptly pocketed the object. The less others knew about it, the better.

    ¡°Just wait till those old geezers find out what I got my hands on,¡± Martello imagined excitedly.

    ¡°I must say, Mister Kain, I¡¯ve been pleasantly surprised by your gift. Though I cannot offer you something of equal value, I have with me a sapphire medallion. You¡¯ll find it has many uses, including VIP access to the Red Clover Auction House where the items that you¡¯re seeking may or may not be auctioned. I hear there¡¯s a big event in a week¡¯s time.¡±

    Martello handed the medallion to Ren under the envious gaze of the others. Sapphire medallions were priceless and could not be bought on a whim. To have ownership of a sapphire medallion meant one¡¯s business opportunities were limitless. Just what in the world was that object, the others pondered.

    ¡°Well, many thanks, Mister Martello.¡± It was much easier than Ren had thought. With his purpose accomplished, Ren saw no more need to dillydally with crooks. He stood up, grabbed the medallion, and dropped a bank note on the table. ¡°I understand there are penalties for leaving a game early. I hope ten crystal coins would suffice as compensation for my inconvenience. It was nice to meet you, gentlemen and Lady Lampier. I hope to make a more intimate acquaintance next time.¡± Not waiting to hear a response, Ren walked briskly to the door where he was handed his coat and cane and stepped out into the night.

    Though no one showed it, Boss Fatty, Lampier, and Manager Lu were shocked at how casually Ren had given away that much money. An average citizen would be hard pressed to make a crystal coin in one lifetime. Even for Boss Fatty and Lampier, who were quite wealthy themselves, Ren¡¯s behavior seemed simply absurd. Boss Fatty sneakily signaled to two of his goons who immediately departed the gambling den.

    ¡°Well, shall we continue our game, friends?¡± Martello cheerfully suggested. He was suddenly in a good mood tonight.

    After Ren had left the establishment, he decided to take a walk and enjoy the fresh air. Despite having lived in Jandar for many years, he had never visited the Hapensburg District in the southern part of the city. Unlike the upscale Ka¡¯Mai District up north, Hapensburg was much more toned down and bourgeois. Many factories were located here, providing essential jobs to countless Jandarians.

    Since it was late, the streets were fairly empty, though there was the occasional straggler and enforcement patrol. Ren knew he was being followed - from the moment he had left the Golden Lair, two men had been tailing him - but proceeded without care.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just make them walk a bit more. Exercise is a good thing,¡± thought Ren.

    When a quarter of an hour had passed and Ren began to sense impatience from his pursuers, he purposefully entered a secluded alleyway, luring the unsuspecting souls into a trap.

    ¡°Is there anything I can do for you chaps?¡± confronted Ren, having instantly turned around before the two hulkish men could retreat into the shadows.

    Once they were found out, the two giants decided to end the charade.

    ¡°Hand all o¡¯ yah stuff over if yah wanna live,¡± declared one of the men. The one who spoke, Igor, pulled out a nasty dagger that glinted dangerously in the night.

    If Igor and his brother, Egor, had cornered any normal man that night, they would¡¯ve been able to successfully retrieve the coveted sapphire medallion. However, woe to them, for they had unintentionally tried to rob the one entity who governed a level of reality beyond all comprehension.

    ¡°Mmm, I¡¯d rather not, gentlemen. Allow me to suggest an alternative scenario. If you handsome chumps scramble now, you may still have a chance to live,¡± Ren advised. In the dark, Igor and Egor failed to see Ren¡¯s face turn sinister.

    ¡°Yah hear that bro? He called us ¡®chumps¡¯. I recall Ma used to call us that ¡®fore we fed her to dem fishes,¡± smirked Egor.

    While the brothers laughed at their cruelty, Ren began to giggle uncontrollably, louder and louder, until even the brothers were somewhat confused by the insanity of Ren¡¯s behavior.

    With one hand covering his darkening face, Ren spoke a single word, ¡°Judgment.¡±

    Under the weight of omnipotence, the plane of reality obeyed, subjecting Igor and Egor to an indescribable horror. The two suddenly found themselves void of all senses - sight, taste, smell, hearing, and touch. Then, they began reliving every cruel deed they had done in their past, though not as themselves but from the perspectives of their victims. All the pain and humiliation they inflicted on others became the source of their own anguish.

    While the brothers writhed in terror, their bodies slowly disintegrated. Ren kept them alive throughout the whole process, even as vital organs disappeared, ensuring that the brothers experienced every murder and torture they had committed. Their screams reverberated through the neighborhood, stopping only when Igor and Egor had entirely vanished. Upon completion of his judgement, Ren whisked their souls into the afterlife, allowing them to repent before the next reincarnation cycle.

    ¡°Maybe I delved too deep into the avatar¡¯s personality?¡± reflected Ren. Kain was a sadistic and manipulative avatar, befitting of Goddess Nyx¡¯s servant.

    In mere minutes, two less people occupied the alleyway. Since the deed was already done, Ren twirled his cane and skipped down the road, whistling a common nursery rhyme. In years to come, parents would tell kids of the angel of death that stalked the streets of Hapensburg at night. If you tried to listen closely, you might just hear a familiar tune.

 Chapter 7 - The Domain Administrators

    Ren stood alone outside near the entrance of his shop, marveling at the sea of stars that blanketed the night sky. No matter what world he was on, the beauty of the cosmos remained constant. It beckoned him in the same way a child would seek the attention of a doting parent.

    Pulling out his pipe, he lit the chamber with a spark of magic and began suckling the mouthpiece. He really enjoyed the moment, the soothing feeling of tobacco leaves and the crisp night air.

    The bell by the door rang.

    ¡°Is the girl finally asleep?¡± Ren asked, tilting his head slightly to acknowledge Andaleus¡¯ presence.

    ¡°Yes. It took a while, but I eventually managed to console her with a song, ¡®The March of the Last Pilgrims¡¯. Can you imagine that?¡± exclaimed Andaleus as he walked over.

    Ren chuckled and responded, ¡°What I can imagine is the look on Grand Arbiter Jung¡¯s face when she finds out her beloved Andaleus has been relegated to babysitting duty.¡±

    The comment produced an unlikely smirk from the bald man. ¡°I¡¯d rather take on the full brunt of an exploding star than entertain that thought. Which reminds me, I still haven¡¯t forgiven you for accidentally flying our starship into the red dwarf star in Tibor 7 that one time. Death by burning plasma wasn¡¯t my idea of a vacation, and let¡¯s not forget, we also lost that round because of you.¡±

    ¡°I remember. That did hurt quite a bit, haha.¡±

    Ren began laughing, which in turn caused Andaleus to do the same. In the cold pre-dawn hours, the duo enjoyed a comedic moment from their shared history.

    A breeze swept by, inducing Ren to cough violently. Andaleus extended a handkerchief, which Ren took and wiped the bright red blood off his lips.

    ¡°You¡¯re dying,¡± Andaleus noticed. ¡°Lady Luck expressly advised against using low level domain control. Bypassing the restriction exacts a heavy toll on our avatars.¡±

    Grinning, Ren stuffed the bloody handkerchief into his pocket and retorted, ¡°Yeah, yeah, I know. I misjudged Kain¡¯s potency and got carried away. Lucy could care less though. If both of my avatars die, she automatically wins this round. By the way, how was dinner with the Queen and her retainers?¡±

    ¡°The usual. Those elitists are insufferable. Whether they¡¯re nobility of a small kingdom or cosmic immortals governing the multiverse, they can''t seem to look past their egos and biases,¡± lamented Andaleus.

    ¡°Aw, come on. I¡¯m sure some good came out of it. I bet the Queen looked stunning.¡±

    Andaleus, out of embarrassment, was loathe to concede the truth. It was all because of the damn influence of his avatar.

    ¡°My Lord, surely you jest. I am as much a prisoner in my avatar as you are. You know I can¡¯t always suppress its feelings for Catherine.¡±

    ¡°Ooo, on a first name basis now are we?¡± Ren teased, watching Andaleus shyly avert his eyes.

    A crimson beam of light, like a shooting star, suddenly flashed across the sky, interrupting their conversation. Ren and Andaleus instantly turned their gazes south.

    ¡°That¡¯s going to be a problem. Would you like me to intercept?¡± asked Andaleus.

    ¡°No, not unless you want to destroy your avatar. Since your restrictions are heavier than mine, it¡¯s better that I handle the Domain Administrators. I need you to do some other things in the meantime.¡± Ren passed a piece of paper with instructions.

    Andaleus perused the list. Before departing, there was one last thing he wanted in confirm. ¡°Does our win condition have anything to do with the girl? Is that why you¡¯re making your moves now?¡±

    ¡°I see you¡¯ve been doing some investigating on your own,¡± Ren replied, eyeing Andaleus. ¡°Lucy only gave us one clue, which means it alone should be enough to point us the way. Admittedly, I was stumped for a while, that is until I stumbled across records of a certain fallen house, the House of Welcrest. Guess what their emblem was?¡±

    ¡°The Phoenix...Ah, I see where your theory is leading. I shall be going then, my Lord.¡± With a bow and swish of his cloak, Andaleus was gone.

    _____

    Yuna peeked out from a hidden window in her safehouse. In the late hours, large pieces of linen, hanging on thick ropes high above the streets, swayed back and forth under the wind¡¯s gentle embrace. To reduce costs, local textile manufacturers often air-dried freshly dyed linen in the open. Consequently, this part of the slums was nicknamed ¡®Flower Town¡¯ for its colorful decor.

    Glancing at the clock, Yuna decided it was time.

    ¡°Sorry, Grandma Nan. I¡¯m probably not going to have the chance to return this dress to you,¡± thought Yuna as she slipped out of an expensive white lace dress and changed into black garbs, the typical wear for Syndicate assassins.

    She smiled, recalling fondly of the morning spent with Grandma Nan picking out the dress. The experience was a departure from the norm. Ordinary things like gushing over cute clothes and applying makeup were luxuries that an assassin couldn¡¯t afford. If her parents hadn¡¯t died and Master Icarus hadn¡¯t found the seven-year-old her half-starved on the streets, then maybe her life would be totally different today.

    With nimble hands, Yuna wiped the makeup off her face, undid her hair, and equipped her katana and throwing knives. When one lived in poverty and vice, looking pretty often attracted unwanted attention and danger. Attractive girls like Yuna learned early on that, to survive, they needed to either obtain personal power or sell their freedom for protection. In Yuna¡¯s case, she chose the former and walked the path of an assassin.

    As a matter of fact, through discipline and hard work, Yuna had become one of the most promising youths in the Syndicate. At the age of sixteen, she was already a ki¡¯sha¡¯o, or rank two assassin, whereas most of her peers were either unranked or na¡¯sha¡¯o. Once she achieved do¡¯sha¡¯o, she would become eligible to participate in the Syndicate council.

    Someone knocked on the door. Five evenly-paced taps indicated that the visitor was the person Yuna had been waiting for.

    ¡°Open up, Yuna. Quick! I know you¡¯re in there!¡± a familiar voice shouted from the other side.

    Yuna unlocked the bolts and opened the door. Standing in front of her was a tall, blue-eyed boy, not much older than Yuna. A sheathed katana was buckled to his side and a bow and quiver slung on his back.

    ¡°Victor. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yuna inquired, hearing the urgency in his voice.

    ¡°You¡¯re alive!¡± Victor exhaled with relief and hugged her.

    ¡°Whoa, whoa, easy there Victor.¡±

    Victor¡¯s sudden closeness surprised her, since it was very uncharacteristic of him to openly display such affection. They were long-time friends, but he had always maintained a certain physical distance.

    Closing the door behind, Victor swiftly moved to the window and looked outside.

    ¡°Crap. They¡¯re already here. I see three of them,¡± he stated, gesturing at Yuna to come look.

    From above, Yuna was able to pick out three moving shapes enter the outer stairwell leading to her safehouse.

    ¡°You better tell me what in Goddess Nyx¡¯s name is going on,¡± whispered Yuna fiercely.

    Victor¡¯s face was all grim, replying, ¡°I¡¯ll make a long story short. The Syndicate has put a kill order on you.¡±

    ¡°What?! Why?¡± The situation sounded a whole lot worse all of sudden. It didn¡¯t make sense why the Syndicate, her own people, would go after her.

    ¡°Trust me, Yuna. I was sent here by Master Icarus to warn you, so we need to go, now. I¡¯ll explain everything later.¡±

    Although Victor¡¯s explanation spawned more questions than answers, Yuna agreed to ask him later. She pushed aside the doubt on her mind, such as why the syndicate wanted to kill her and, if so, why Master Icarus was betraying the council to protect her. Master Icarus was known for being extremely loyal to the Syndicate¡¯s cause. Rumors had it that she even exiled her own son for failing an important mission ten years ago.

    ¡°The stairwell is cut off. Is there another way out of this place?¡± asked Victor, scrummaging around the safehouse.

    ¡°Yes. If you pull that string by the shelf, a ladder will detach and lead to the rooftop. It¡¯s why I chose this place as a safehouse,¡± replied Yuna.

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go then.¡± Victor pulled his hood over and tied a sash to cover his face, which Yuna mimicked. Just as he pulled the string, the safehouse door abruptly blasted open, dust and debris flying everywhere. Three assassins stepped out from the cloud of dust, each brandishing a katana of their own.

    ¡°Shit! Go. I¡¯ll hold them off,¡± coughed Victor, unsheathing his katana.

    ¡°What about you?¡± Yuna questioned worryingly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine! There¡¯s still more of them out there. If you stay here, we¡¯ll be surrounded,¡± stated Victor.

    ¡°Traitor,¡± angrily uttered the assassin in the middle.

    ¡°Yuna, go, GO!¡±

    Hesitantly, Yuna heeded Victor¡¯s order and deftly climbed the ladder. The sounds of clashing steel sent Yuna¡¯s heart racing in fear for her friend. While Victor¡¯s blade skills were even better than hers, though she¡¯d never admit it openly to him, taking on three trained opponents was a daunting task. She hated ditching him, but he was right. With her familiarity of the neighborhood, she could lead the remaining assassins on a merry chase. It was better than directly confronting their opponents with a numbers disadvantage.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Out on the rooftop, Yuna came to a halt. A single female assassin, bearing dual mid-sized katanas, stood waiting.

    ¡°Guess you do make mistakes after all, huh?¡± mocked the girl.

    ¡°Cassidy,¡± Yuna replied, pulling out her blade.

    Yuna recognized the voice almost immediately. Cassidy was the last person she wanted to see right now. They joined the Syndicate at around the same time but were never able to get along. Over the years, their mutual dislike turned into a toxic rivalry. Yuna always came out ahead, whether it was during field performance tests or sparring sessions, which only further incited the other girl¡¯s jealousy.

    ¡°For old times sake, Cassidy, why is the Syndicate after me?¡±

    The girl shrugged. ¡°No idea. Do we ever know get to know the ¡®why¡¯? I just know we¡¯re here to kill you.¡± An evil smile spread across her face. She licked the side of one of her blades.

    ¡±If the mission is to kill me, why did they send a na¡¯sha¡¯o to do the job?¡±

    Cassidy snorted, which grated on Yuna¡¯s nerves. ¡°You didn¡¯t hear, I suppose? I¡¯ve just been promoted to ki¡¯sha¡¯o,¡± she bragged.

    It was Yuna¡¯s turn to smirk. ¡°I see. And how many of the do''sha''o did you have to sleep with to get that promotion?¡±

    ¡°You bitch!¡± Cassidy¡¯s voice turned furious.

    The girl angrily raised her blades and charged. Gripping her hilt tightly, Yuna parried Cassidy¡¯s aggressive lunge and proceeded to counterattack with a diagonal cut, which Cassidy expertly dodged.

    While the girls displayed their repertoire of advanced blade techniques, another assassin silently watched on a rooftop across the street. He held a Vahrillian crossbow, known for its deadly accuracy, and had the sight resting on Yuna. If Yuna had seen his face, she would¡¯ve have recognized him as Grimvick, a widely feared do¡¯sha¡¯o. Grimvick was cold, methodical, and efficient, the pinnacle of assassins. He also happened to be in charge of this mission.

    ¡°Useless,¡± the man scoffed, referring to the three assassins he had sent in. They couldn¡¯t even stop a single girl from escaping.

    After a dozen or so exchanges, the girls backed away from each other. Generally swordfights didn¡¯t last very long between combatants of widely disparate skill levels. The more skilled combatant would usually execute a decisive strike within a short period of time. But this wasn¡¯t the case between Yuna and Cassidy. They had sparred many times in the past and were familiar with each other¡¯s strengths and weaknesses. Hence, not one could find a critical flaw in the other¡¯s stance.

    ¡°Been a while since we last fought. You haven¡¯t improved,¡± said Cassidy, trying to catch her breath.

    ¡°Neither have you.¡± Yuna sheathed her katana and crouched, hovering her right hand just above the hilt. ¡°Let¡¯s end this. I¡¯ll show you what Master Icarus has recently taught me.¡±

    ¡°Impossible. The Dragon Reversal Blade Draw!?¡± Cassidy blurted.

    She cautiously altered her stance and nervously eyed the rooftop across the street. She couldn¡¯t back down now, not with Grimvick watching. Having no choice, Cassidy attacked once more. In three breaths time, the two came within range for the final exchange just as Grimvick fired the crossbow.

    Yuna sensed something was amiss, but she couldn¡¯t react fast enough to the surprise attack. The arrow caught Yuna¡¯s side, causing her to collapse on all fours, but not before she unleashed the Dragon Reversal. Her blade swung up in a beautiful crescent arc, like a dragon challenging the heavens and reversing its fortunes.

    ¡°Arghh, fuck!¡± Cassidy screamed, dropping both blades. There was a trail of blood escaping the deep gash in her right arm. ¡°Fuck!¡±

    Yuna spat a mouthful of blood and grabbed her side. Groaning in pain, she inspected the damage and knew that her prognosis didn¡¯t look good.

    ¡°Lady Luck really hates me,¡± thought Yuna. She¡¯d been flirting with death far too often recently, albeit this time she was actually going to die. For some reason, she suddenly thought of Ren, with his hazel eyes and oversized spectacles.

    Gloating at her opponent¡¯s imminent demise, Cassidy picked up a katana with her good arm and prepared to deal the final blow. Yuna stared the other girl down, defiant until the last breath, but the stroke never connected. With what could only be described as miraculous, the blade shattered into a thousand pieces when it was mere inches from Yuna¡¯s face. Then she fell unconscious.

    ¡°I hope I¡¯m not late, ladies,¡± a deep imposing voice resounded in the night. A bald figure wearing a wooden mask and dark green coat appeared from nowhere.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± stuttered Cassidy, her limbs dangling in shock. The very same question was also on Grimvick¡¯s mind as he observed from afar.

    ¡°A magician! How did he teleport here?¡± Grimvick wondered. For teleportation to work, in addition possessing highly advanced magic, the man would¡¯ve needed to draw two matching gateway circles, one at the origin and the other at the destination. It was inconceivable for the magician to have planned all of this ahead of time.

    Moreover, having seen the individual¡¯s powerful magic effortlessly shatter Therasian steel left an uneasy feeling in his gut. The magician screamed ¡®danger¡¯. Out of instinct, Grimvick loaded another steel bolt and fired at the interfering stranger. However, to Grimvick¡¯s alarm, the masked man casually flicked his wrist and deflected the bolt¡¯s trajectory, causing it to clatter harmlessly on the ground.

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Grimvick cursed. He had never seen anyone deflect his arrow. ¡°What was that inhuman reaction speed!¡±

    Drawing from years of experience in the field, Grimvick quickly understood that the situation had turned unfavorable. He signalled retreat. Cassidy, having no intention of fighting a magician, eagerly obeyed and escaped onto an adjacent rooftop.

    Andaleus watched as the assassins ran with their tails tucked between their legs. They were of no concern to him. Ren had only permitted him to save the girl, not purposelessly meddle with the Syndicate. With the danger neutralized, he examined the unconscious girl¡¯s wounds and decided to put her in stasis, as the damage was beyond his avatar to heal.

    ¡°Vita Crystallum.¡±

    Yuna outer extremities crystallized, then the fragments began expanding until every part of her was covered in a thirty centimeter thick crystal coffin. In this state, she was neither alive nor dead. Satisfied, Andaleus placed a hand on the chrysalis and vanished along with it, returning the neighborhood to its peace and quiet.

    _____

    ¡°Lord Vorgesson, the royal advisors have something to report,¡± spoke a young attendant, bowing in front of a willowy, old man in a dark blue robe.

    Despite hearing the message, Vorgesson, the renowned Royal Chamberlain, took his time carefully penning down his remaining thoughts on paper. When he had finished, he calmly placed the pen down and clasped his hands together. ¡°What is it, Tom?¡±

    ¡°My Lord, some of the advisors claim to have witnessed a scarlet night! Is it the aforementioned prophecy?¡±

    ¡°I have seen it myself. Tell them to keep their mouths shut until I get a chance to pacify the king,¡± ordered Vorgesson. ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone spewing nonsense.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Lord Vorgesson.¡±

    The old man got up and walked over to the balcony. He gazed at the moon with his hands behind his back.

    ¡°What do you think this all means?¡± asked Vorgesson.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, my Lord, but the prophecy isn¡¯t terribly reassuring,¡± answered Tom.

    ¡°Night of scarlet rays, the end of the king¡¯s days,¡± Vorgesson repeated the prophecy. ¡°Do you know the history behind the scarlet prophecy, Tom?¡±

    ¡°No, my Lord,¡± said Tom, shaking his head.

    ¡°According to ancient records, the last time that the sky flashed bright red, the Mavelians claimed that Goddess Nyx herself descended from the heavens. Forlorn with pity, she gifted them with innovation, inspiring progress that laid the foundation for future civilizations. For thousands of years thereafter, the Nyxean Church was the dominant religion in the region. In the ninth century, Pope Titus, after having been insulted by the Jandarian king at the time, cursed the king, resulting in the scarlet prophecy we know today. Thus began the decline of Jandar¡¯s relationship with the Nyxean Church.¡±

    ¡°I had no clue we had such a history, Lord Vorgesson. I had always been taught that the Nyxean Church betrayed Jandar during the Therasian Invasion, which was why we banned the Church from the kingdom,¡± remarked Tom.

    ¡°Heh. You¡¯re a smart boy. History is rarely as it seems.¡±

    Tom hid his surprise at the revelation, but he was curious and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Will the king be okay after hearing about this? Rumors have that His Majesty isn¡¯t quite right of mind as of late."

    ¡°Braveness and youth often go hand in hand. If certain ears had heard what you just said, they¡¯d be eager to relieve you of your head.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean what I said,¡± stammered Tom. ¡°I¡¯m just afraid of what this all means.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± assured Vorgesson. ¡°I was only joking.¡±

    Tom wiped the sweat off his brows.

    ¡°Truth be told, I don¡¯t know, Tom,¡± sighed Vorgesson. ¡°I hope this means nothing at all.¡±

    _____

    Despite Lord Vorgesson¡¯s wishes, the scarlet night would herald the beginning of great tribulation. Unknown to Lumeria¡¯s inhabitants, two powerful cosmic immortals arrived on the planet. As Domain Administrators, caretakers of the Titan Universe, they were the symbol of order and authority.

    The two entities blinked into existence in a particular alleyway in Hapensburg. They stood two meters tall, each wearing sleek, full-body mech armor designed to look imposing. Behind their tinted v-shaped visors were AI interfaces that connected them to the central intelligence hub.

    While Ren¡¯s and Andaleus¡¯ presences on Lumeria were unintrusive and gentle, the Administrators exuded dominance that barely concealed their scorn for lesser beings. Small creatures of the night cowered in fear. Newborn babies wailed in their cribs to the dismay of confused parents.

    If it hadn¡¯t been for Regulation CIX.009028, requiring all cosmic immortals to restrict their auras, the Administrators would¡¯ve had no scruples unleashing their full auras to lure out the rogue immortal. It would have made their jobs much easier, but it would¡¯ve also annihilated all life on Lumeria. The paperwork would get messy.

    ¡°Are you sure this is the source, Adjutant Minx?¡± questioned one of the Domain Administrators, a reptilian humanoid covered in red hexagonal scales. On the top left corner of his visor was the live feed of Adjutant Minx, a cute orange-haired Oscallion, famous for their telepathic powers and small stature. She was providing assistance to the Administrators behind a desk at HQ.

    Minx rolled her eyes. Lizcarians weren¡¯t exactly praised for their intelligence, but what they lacked in that department, they made up for with a high affinity for ascension. From the time they were born, Lizcarians began absorbing the cosmic ether at statistically-defying rates. Thus, Lizcarians were known to achieve cosmic immortality faster and more frequently than other species on average.

    ¡°Yes, Administrator Zvklevc. That¡¯s what the system shows. Approximately 0.0000035 cycles ago, Centarius Minor detected unauthorized use of Tier 5 domain control at this exact spot. The rogue subject ripped the souls out of two mortals and destroyed their bodies,¡± Minx responded.

    ¡°Did you process the souls for questioning?¡± asked the other Domain Administrator, a tall feminine man with snow-white hair.

    ¡°Yes, Grand Administrator Ethaelus. Unfortunately, we couldn¡¯t retrieve any latent memories.¡± Minx was a lot happier to respond to the latter. Like many others, she had a crush on him, not just for his looks, but also for his achievements in the Kerillian War. He had simultaneously defeated ten Paragon Advents at the ¡®Battle of the Iron Planets¡¯ while only being a Paragon Advent himself. This gave rise to his now famous alias, the ¡®Prince of the Iron Planets¡¯.

    Zvklevc secretly sulked, obviously noticing the energetic shift in Minx¡¯s tone when she talked to Ethaelus. ¡°Damn, partnering with him any longer is going to completely kill my game,¡± he mulled.

    Oblivious to his partner''s envy, Ethaelus furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Has Centarius Minor detected domain control on this planet before?¡±

    ¡°Let me check real quick.¡± Minx neurally sorted through trillions of file logs. ¡°According to the records, a Tier 6 domain control occured around 100 cycles ago. It was an authorized visitation from one named, Minerva Nyx, a Cosmic Advent. Oh, wait, I found another one. Interesting¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± asked Zvklevc.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know why this wasn¡¯t flagged. Centarius Minor picked up a Tier 6 domain control 0.000055 cycles ago. There are no other details, but it might have been our rogue subject. I¡¯m sending all the information to your suits.¡±

    ¡°It was a weak signal, possibly within the error parameters,¡± concluded Ethaelus once he had assessed the information.

    ¡°Well, the subject isn¡¯t escaping anywhere. The Quarantine Zone has already been activated. Let¡¯s just authorize an Aurealis Scepter and find him,¡± suggested the Lizcarian.

    ¡°I concur.¡±

    ¡°Requesting authorization for an Aurealis Scepter. Please standby,¡± spoke the AI¡¯s androgynous voice. Moments later the AI indicated that the request had been approved.

    Zvklevc raised his hand, summoning a magnificent silver rod. He then slammed the tip of the rod onto the ground. An undetectable shockwave propagated from the point of impact and quickly encompassed the whole planet.

    ¡°Hmm, strange. The scepter didn¡¯t pick up any cosmic immortals other than us,¡± commented Zvklevc.

    ¡°The subject may have already left the planet,¡± spoke Ethaleus. Either that or the rogue immortal was capable of hiding from the scepter¡¯s detection.

    ¡°This kind of sucks. Where do we look now?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be needing to worry about that,¡± said Ethaleus, noticing a figure blink into view in front of them.

    The stranger smiled and pushed up his large spectacles, which glinted in the moonlit night. ¡°Good evening, Administrators. I believe there¡¯s been some sort of a misunderstanding.¡±

 Chapter 8 - An Eventful Night

    The Edora Plane could only be summed up in one word, ¡®paradise¡¯. Three floating orbs, overlooking vast flower fields, provided light for the space below. Small birds and butterflies fluttered around appealing fruit trees, and cute playful animals found themselves at home beside meandering streams. An overall sense of serenity occupied the pocket dimension.

    At the center of it all was a two-story house made mostly of wood and Belizite, a type of blue, psionic mineral sparsely found in the Titan Universe. Under the veranda, an ethereal beauty reclined on a white leather lounge, savoring wine from a crystal glass. An attractive teenage girl stood behind, contentedly fanning her mistress. From the mysterious radiance emanating from the two individuals, it was clear they were far from ordinary beings.

    The celestial beauty, clad in silver fabric, exposed an unblemished arm as she extended the wine glass to her protege.

    ¡°Care to taste a sip of the 1947 Chateau Cheval Blanc, Gabriel?¡± she asked charmingly. Every word she spoke was melodic and resonated with unbridled power. ¡°It¡¯s a delectable little drink from a small blue planet they call ¡®Earth¡¯.¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m unworthy to partake from the same cup as your Divine Grace,¡± Gabriel adamantly rejected her mistress¡¯ offer. Despite her status as a Paragon Emperor, she would never dream to step out of line in front of her mistress, who was none other than Lady Luck, one of the only two Absolute Deities in the multiverse.

    The Goddess¡¯ lips curled. She swirled the glass of wine and took another sip. ¡°Suit yourself.¡±

    ¡°If I may ask, my Lady, what is it that we¡¯re doing here?¡±

    Her mistress gingerly shook the wine glass some more. ¡°Funny you should ask. Your answer has just arrived.¡±

    Gabriel looked across the lawn upon sensing a warp signature. On a small arched bridge, not more than one hundred meters away, appeared a man. However, unlike many cosmic immortals who often sought audience with her mistress, this particular guest emitted a very weak aura, so weak in fact, it probably wouldn¡¯t even register as a Tier 6.

    Gabriel excused herself and instantly apparated a few meters from the visitor.

    ¡°How dare you stand in the presence of her Divine Grace. Kneel and you may yet be spared,¡± Gabriel commanded, exerting a tremendous amount of pressure on the guest to make him forcibly submit. Nonetheless, to her utter bewilderment, the individual stood there, seemingly impervious.

    ¡°How?¡± Gabriel gaped.

    Not only was the pressure she exerted enough to crush a star, but more importantly, they were inside a domain restricted environment. Without her mistress¡¯ approval, even Paragon Emperors could not access Domain Control in this space. There was no way he could have resisted her power.

    ¡°Stop.¡± A jarring voice intruded her mind.

    ¡°But, my Lady...,¡± Gabriel tried to explain telepathically, but her mistress didn¡¯t care for an explanation.

    ¡°Ugh, alright, follow me,¡± Gabriel gestured begrudgingly to the man.

    When the guest had stepped under the veranda, Gabriel returned to her mistress¡¯ side, inwardly fuming at his lack of respect.

    ¡°Forgive her. Gabriel is still young and overly pious. She has yet to learn that not everything can be solved by brute force, nor is it often the most efficient,¡± Lady Luck remarked.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my Lady,¡± Gabriel pouted, feeling somewhat wronged. She was only trying to protect her mistress¡¯ reputation.

    The man shook his head and responded, ¡°It was not of any consequence. Your Divine Grace was protecting me the whole time, so I was not harmed. In fact, I¡¯m honored to meet this young Paragon Emperor. Her future achievements will be nothing short of cosmic shattering.¡±

    Hearing the guest¡¯s praise, Lady Luck smiled, a truly magnificent sight to behold. ¡°So then, to what do I owe the pleasure, Andaleus?¡±

    Gabriel hid her astonishment. If her mistress hadn¡¯t revealed the man¡¯s identity, she would¡¯ve never guessed that the individual in front of them was Andaleus, the strongest Paragon Emperor in the multiverse and the title holder, ¡®Conqueror of the Eternal Void¡¯.

    ¡°I¡¯m fairly certain you already know, my Lady,¡± said Andaleus. ¡°This visit is merely a courtesy.¡±

    Lady Luck examined her old acquaintance with a twinkle in her eye. ¡°It is done. I have taken care of the Domain Administrators. But as per the rules of the game, a favor given requires a favor in return.¡±

    Andaleus nodded, having anticipated her response. ¡°My master has given me the authority to accept any request in his stead. You need only to ask, my Lady.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I haven¡¯t thought of one yet, but I¡¯ll be sure to let you know at a later time,¡± said the Goddess shrewdly. She winked at Andaleus.

    Call it intuition or whatnot, Andaleus suddenly felt uneasy about giving her a rain check. Who knew what diabolical machinations Lady Luck had hidden in her sleeves? She was unfathomable like Ren. However, whereas Ren was merciful and generous, she was ruthless and self-absorbed, always scheming to benefit her side in the interstellar war against her sister, Lady Fate.

    ¡°If you wish so, my Lady,¡± Andaleus said hesitantly. ¡°I will take my leave then.¡±

    As Andaleus turned away, the woman spoke again.

    ¡°You have changed, Andaleus. I can sense there¡¯s something different about you.¡±

    The conversation took an interesting turn. Andaleus lingered, curious about what she had to say.

    ¡°How so, my Lady?¡±

    Lady Luck stood up, handing the half-finished wine glass to Gabriel, and gracefully walked barefoot towards Andaleus. She gently touched his face.

    ¡°It¡¯s your eyes,¡± she declared, removing her hand. ¡°It¡¯s become...soft...like Ren¡¯s. I don¡¯t see the same ambition and loftiness anymore. Whatever happened, my old friend?¡±

    The question put Andaleus on the spot. With much thoughtfulness, he finally replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Perhaps it¡¯s my perspective that¡¯s changed. I once prided myself as an apex being, surpassed only by you and Lady Fate. I''ve led cosmic armies, governed universes, subjugated the Eternal Void, but when I met Ren I realized all of my achievements amounted to nothing.¡±

    Lady Luck turned away into the distance, her gaze clouded over. Having said his part, Andaleus left the divine being to her own thoughts and departed.

    Following a long period of silence, Gabriel asked her mistress a peculiar question. ¡°Lord Andaleus spoke of ¡®Ren¡¯. Does he really exist?¡±

    Upon recollecting herself, Lady Luck returned to her usual charm. She sat back down, stretched her modelesque legs, and enjoyed the remaining wine.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Yes, Ren exists. Did you think not?¡±

    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯ve only heard stories of him, and all they seemed a little exaggerated.¡±

    ¡°The topic of ¡®Ren¡¯ has always been shrouded in mystery and controversy among immortals. To this day, many refuse to believe such an entity exists, and neither my sister nor I have sought to correct them,¡± explained Lady Luck. ¡°Think of Ren as a random variable - unrestrained and unpredictable.¡±

    ¡°Will he become an obstacle to our goals?¡± Gabriel asked, a fire lit deep in her eyes. It didn¡¯t matter who he was, but if he got in the way of her mistress¡¯ plans, Gabriel would not hesitate to cut him down.

    _____

    It took Zvklevc a moment to recover from the shock of seeing a stranger warp to their location, which theoretically should have been impossible because of the Quarantine Zone¡¯s containment effect. Wary of the intruder, the Lizcarian¡¯s aura subconsciously flared.

    ¡°You just conducted an unauthorized warp on a Level 4 developing planet! Identify yourself and state your business, immortal,¡± ordered Ethaelus.

    Ren touched his left shoulder with his right hand as the sign of the universal greeting. ¡°My name is Ren. Like I said, this has all just been a big misunderstanding. I have permission to use domain control on this planet.¡±

    The Administrators glanced at each other. The name, ¡®Ren¡¯, was uncommon among immortals for various unspoken reasons.

    ¡°We checked the planet¡¯s domain control log, and there are no active visitation permits. I¡¯m going to give you one more chance to tell us the truth. State your identification and purpose here,¡± said Ethaelus.

    ¡°I really am telling you the truth,¡± insisted Ren. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, please confirm with your superiors.¡±

    However, Ren¡¯s response fell on deaf ears. Having traveled this far to a backwater planet, the Administrators were not in the mood to accommodate what they perceived to be blatant lies.

    ¡°Be careful, Ethaelus,¡± Zvklevc transmitted via mind-speak. ¡°He¡¯s not registered in our database. Might be an intra-multiverse fugitive. Should we detain him and bring him back to HQ?¡±

    Grand Administrator Ethaelus silently agreed and tapped a few buttons on his armored forearm.

    ¡°As of now, you are being placed under the custody of the Titan Administration for suspicious activity and noncompliance. Any attempts to subvert the restraining process will be met with lethal force,¡± threatened the Grand Administrator.

    Ren sighed, hoping it wouldn¡¯t come to this. These Administrators weren¡¯t even listening to him. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this going great?¡± he thought sarcastically.

    Not one to stand down from unreasonable aggression, Ren¡¯s appearance subsequently transformed into that of a handsome man with jet black hair. More notably, however, was a wicked scythe in his hand. Known to few, the Tyrannical Void Scythe was an accursed tool that had once reaped the souls of countless mortals and immortals alike. Its previous owner was a dangerous entity who ultimately fell at the hands of Andaleus and Lady Fate. Figuring the scythe wouldn¡¯t see much use in the Eternal Void, Ren had decided to ¡®borrow¡¯ it for his own entertainment. Even now, he could remember the entity¡¯s livid howl when Ren had robbed it blind.

    ¡°That weapon reeks of bloodlust,¡± noted Ethaelus. One look at the scythe and he knew it had a dark history. Of course, he wasn¡¯t worried. As Domain Administrators, he and Zvklevc could still access domain control inside a Quarantine Zone. Against reality manipulation abilities, physical weapons were generally useless.

    ¡°Seems like he intends to resist, Administrators,¡± quipped Adjutant Minx. ¡°Sensors detect a high concentration of cosmic ether gathering in the weapon.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± Intending to impress his female colleague, Zvklevc stepped forward, casually stretching out his hand. In an instant all the houses on the street disintegrated. Living human beings, furniture, pets, and building materials were deconstructed into their base particles and then converted into a spinning vortex of energy that enclosed Ren.

    ¡°A Halcyon Energy Coil, huh,¡± Ren noticed. Although the energy prison posed a problem, he still had his trump card.

    ¡°Child¡¯s play,¡± Ren smirked, activating the Void Scythe¡¯s first tyrannical ability, ¡®Void Control¡¯. He swung the weapon, which cut through the prison like hot knife through butter, dissipating the energy coil and causing the space around them to bend and ripple. After some time the fluctuating space stilled, and the houses in the neighborhood reappeared. The inhabitants inside the homes continued their peaceful slumber, unaware that their physical bodies had just been destroyed and recreated in a matter of seconds.

    Both Administrators disguised their stunned expressions behind opaque visors. What they witnessed was simply heretical. To negate another immortal¡¯s reality manipulation without first superimposing or superseding control of the domain space required extraordinary amounts of power. It was akin to a brute force method.

    ¡°Holy mother of Lady Fate. Ethaleus, Adjutant Minx, did you just see that?¡± Zvklevc asked in the comms.

    ¡°Wow. That scythe must be at least a level 10 artifact,¡± Minx speculated.

    ¡°Yes, it seems like our friend here has an extremely domineering weapon,¡± Ethaelus agreed. ¡°But fortunately it appears there¡¯s a cost to using it.¡±

    The Administrator astutely pointed out Ren¡¯s weakness, evident from the blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. Due to his avatar¡¯s restrictions, Ren could only utilize a tenth of the scythe¡¯s true power, and even then he was suffering from a major backlash.

    ¡°Ah, this is not good,¡± Ren noticed. He didn¡¯t think the side effects were going to be this serious. All the bones in his body were literally vibrating from the energy rebound.

    Time for Plan B.

    ¡°Umm, Administrators, why don¡¯t we just call this a draw and have a nice sit down somewhere,¡± offered Ren, reverting back to his main avatar. The weapon disappeared from his hand. ¡°I happen to know an amazing salted porridge shop that¡¯s open at this hour. My treat.¡±

    ¡°Are you taking us for fools?. Since you¡¯ve chosen to resist arrest, it¡¯s too late to surrender now,¡± growled Ethaelus. A blue glow cocooned around his armor. The pressure emitted from a Paragon Advent was no joke.

    Ren began sweating. He was too weak in his current form to sustain this level of combat. If he attempted to access higher powers, the avatars would surely perish, a scenario which he¡¯d like to avoid if at all possible.

    ¡°My turn.¡± The Grand Administrator¡¯s eyes glowed blue, followed by a loud cracking sound as the fabric of reality tore apart. Ethaelus and Zvklevc stood their ground, unfazed by the reality rift that was occurring. On the other hand, Ren hunched down in pain, feeling like he had been pierced by millions of tiny needles.

    ¡°Damn, they¡¯re strong,¡± thought Ren, gritting his teeth. Not just any cosmic immortal had the qualifications to become a ¡®Domain Administrator¡¯ in the Titan Universe. To be honest, Ren was impressed by the Paragon Advent¡¯s ability to channel an advanced, surgical destruction convocation. The technique had originally been invented to shatter robust Malizine crystals in moon cores by stripping away the fabric of reality around the cores.

    ¡°He won¡¯t survive much longer,¡± assured Ethaelus. His aura grew in intensity for the finishing kill.

    However, before Ethaelus could reach the lethal threshold, Adjutant Minx screeched into the comms, ¡°Wait!¡±

    The Oscallion¡¯s shriek completely ruined Ethaelus¡¯ focus, causing the pressure on Ren to immediately recede.

    ¡°What?¡± the Grand Administrator asked irritably.

    ¡°Administrators, I¡¯ve just received an urgent message from high command. You are to immediately cease all operations and return to HQ. Attached is a freshly approved visitation permit for ¡®Ren¡¯.¡±

    ¡°What is this farce? I want to speak with the Magistrate who signed the permit,¡± Ethaelus snapped at the adjutant after viewing the documents.

    ¡°Umm, sir, it wasn¡¯t approved by a magistrate.¡±

    ¡°Who then?¡± Ethaelus barked.

    ¡°...It came from the very top...Grand Arbiter Jung herself,¡± answered Minx.

    Grand Arbiter Jung!!! What type of an existence was she? Even for the Prince of the Iron Planets, he understood there existed an unbreachable gap between them. Technically speaking, she was like his boss¡¯ boss¡¯ boss - a Paragon Emperor whose fame and reputation spanned the Orion Cluster. Why did she personally interfere in this matter?

    ¡°What do we do now?¡± questioned Zvklevc, looking slightly puzzled. ¡°We can still arrest him for resisting lawful detainment.¡±

    Ethaelus considered their options, and only one sensible decision remained. ¡°Confirming receipt of recall order, Adjutant Minx. And you may leave first, Administrator Zvklevc. I¡¯ll follow you shortly,¡± he instructed.

    Trusting his partner¡¯s decision, the Lizcarian lifted the Quarantine Zone and warped away. Ethaelus then powered his suit down and took off his armored helmet, revealing his snow-colored hair and a pair of red eyes.

    ¡°Consider yourself lucky, Ren. I don¡¯t know who you are or what you did, but we¡¯ve been ordered to terminate our mission. How are you related to Grand Arbiter Jung? Just who are you?¡± asked Ethaelus, refusing to let all of this go so easily.

    Ren shrugged and played it cool. ¡°Believe it or not, Administrator, I¡¯m a nobody. Who I am isn¡¯t important.¡±

    ¡°Somehow I doubt that,¡± scoffed the Administrator.

    The two fixed their stares at each other, neither making a sound. A casual gust of wind ruffled their hair.

    Finally, Ren broke the silence, saying, ¡°I can see now that you¡¯ll be a believer. If you want to have your questions answered, then visit the Hyperion monastery on the fourth moon of Lago. Tell Masmuda that ¡®Ren sent you¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Hmph.¡± Without another word, Ethaelus vanished into the night, leaving Ren alone on the empty street in Hapensburg.

    A growl rumbled in Ren¡¯s abdomen; surviving a close call suddenly made him very hungry. ¡°What an eventful night! I think I deserve a bowl of savory porridge,¡± he remarked, rubbing his stomach.

 Notice of Temporary Hiatus

    I noted in my other story, Rising Sovereign, that I''ll be putting this story on temporary hiatus. I''ve noticed while writing Records of Ren that I don''t have the prequisite skills as a writer to do it justice. The scope is too complex for me as an amateur author.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Consequently, I''m going to be working on my other story, which will be far simpler in scope and construct, to improve my writing. Rest assured, Records of Ren is my main story, so I will return to updating it in the future.

    Best,

    Happypandalord