Alexander Granmarn, the current Holiness of Rünhaven, wielded religion as a tool of control, exploiting the fervent faith of the capital's inhabitants to solidify his grip on power. He manipulated the populace's reverence for the Highers, twisting their beliefs to serve his own agenda. Using the guise of divine authority, he condemned dissenters, branding them as heretics lacking in faith or even accusing them of dabbling in Dark Magic and Necromancy—a craft reserved for the darkest denizens of Arrithia. However, many of the inhabitants of Ayce were not well-versed in the broader complexities of the world beyond their island, making it easier for Alexander to manipulate and deceive them.
In his quest for absolute power over Rünhaven and, in his deluded vision, eventually Ayce itself, Alexander brooked no opposition. He silenced dissenters swiftly and ruthlessly, employing fear and intimidation to suppress any voices of defiance. Those who dared to challenge his authority found themselves imprisoned, exiled, or worse, subjected to his twisted interpretation of divine justice.
While Elsa, Kazuka, and the still-sleeping Menelik languished in the cellar beneath the church of Rünhaven, chained to the walls with their arms raised, Idris and Taharqa rode atop Frost Bears, their movements swift and determined. These Frost Bears, liberated from their original riders by The Old King, thundered through the deep snow with relentless speed. Using their formidable strength, they plowed through the thick snowbanks, their massive heads and icy manes cleaving a path through the wintry landscape.
As they journeyed northward under Loki's guidance, the scenery around them shifted and twisted. The snow piled higher, the landscape morphing with each passing moment. Behind them, the tunnels they traversed collapsed, closing off their trail. With the Frost Bears moving at a frenetic pace, shaking and stirring the walls of snow, Idris and Taharqa clung tightly to the reins, their bodies jostling up and down on the saddles. Idris attempted to peer into the bag tied to the saddle, but the bears' erratic movements made it impossible to focus.
Guided by Loki's magic scent, the Frost Bears pressed onward, their keen noses leading the way toward Mount Aglazad.
They were nearly halfway when Loki abruptly yanked on his bear's reins, halting it in its tracks, causing the others to follow suit.
"What's going on?" Taharqa inquired, but before Loki could respond, a deafening explosion of snow erupted to their left, revealing The Old King charging towards them, sword slicing through the air, sending a cascade of snow flying.
"Oh," Taharqa muttered to himself, realization dawning.
Their Frost Bears surged forward, but The Old King relentlessly pursued, slashing through the snow with each swing of their sword, rapidly closing the distance between them and Idris. Leaping into the air, they brought the sword down with a force that caused Idris to veer sharply to the left, nearly losing his balance.
"I thought you said Loki took care of it!" Taharqa shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
Idris grimaced as he steered his bear towards Taharqa, but before they could react, The Old King darted forward with astonishing speed. With a powerful swing, they used the blunt end of their sword to halt the Frost Bear almost instantaneously, sending Idris tumbling into the snow. The Old King then plunged the sword into the bear repeatedly, knocking it backward before turning their attention to Taharqa and Idris.
Taharqa scrambled over to Idris, grabbing him and pulling him onto his own Frost Bear. Loki swooped off his bear and positioned himself between Idris and The Old King. With a wicked grin, he brandished his sword—a stark contrast to The Old King's, adorned with a skull and bone-shaped hilt, emitting an icy blue glow.
"Watch a Warlord in action," Loki declared triumphantly as he pushed The Old King back with a swift kick before a swing of his sword.
Loki and The Old King started their relentless duel, their swords a blur of motion as they clashed with unyielding ferocity.
Their movements were a mesmerizing display of skill and determination, each combatant seeking to gain the upper hand over the other. Loki's agile footwork allowed him to evade The Old King's powerful strikes, while his own attacks were executed with surgical precision, aiming for vulnerable points in his opponent's defense.
The Old King, undeterred by Loki's evasive maneuvers, pressed forward with relentless force. Their swordsmanship was methodical and disciplined, every strike delivered with a calculated purpose. With each clash of their blades, they sought to wear down Loki's defenses and break through his guard.
As the duel raged on, the surrounding landscape bore witness to their titanic struggle. The ground beneath them was torn asunder by the force of their blows, sending plumes of snow and ice swirling into the air. Yet amidst the chaos, the two warriors remained locked in a deadly embrace, their focus unwavering as they fought for supremacy.
Back and forth they went, the tension palpable as The Old King distanced themselves from Loki and knelt down, their sword beginning to glow white. Idris and Taharqa both shouted out a warning to Loki, but he seemed unfazed by their cries. With a smirk, Loki pulled his sword back and thrust it forward rapidly as The Old King swung their own sword in a similar fashion. An array of white sparks echoed around them, the sound of metal clashing followed by thunder rippling above.
As the intense exchange continued, Loki's feet began to slide back slightly. Glancing back at Idris and Taharqa, who remained fixed on The Old King, Loki tightened his grip on his sword and began to cast a spell. However, his attention and mana were diverted, pushing him back further and causing him to slide. Idris and Taharqa's attention was drawn to Loki's struggle as he focused on his attack, still casting the spell, albeit slowly but surely.
The Old King suddenly vanished, reappearing behind Taharqa and Idris. Loki swiftly turned around, dropping his sword to use both hands to cast a spell. With a surge of magic, Dohon materialized right next to The Old King, swinging his magic arm forward and knocking them back into the hollowed-out area of snow with Loki.
Idris and Taharqa stood frozen in shock, but Dohon paid them no mind as he moved past them, sliding down the snowbank and walking up next to Loki, who had picked up his sword and was now facing The Old King, who had just regained their footing and taken a stand of their own.
"Enough," The Old King grunted.
"Oh, shit," Loki exclaimed. "They're not supposed to talk."
[Dungeon Master - Dragon Ranking - The Old King]
The name above their head appeared again, the words "Dragon Ranking" shifted back and forth, becoming fuzzy at times before switching.
[Dungeon Master - Higher Ranking - The Old King]
Idris and Taharqa slid down beside Dohon and Loki. "So, Dohon is your friend?" Taharqa asked, his gaze shifting between the two of them.
Loki remained silent, his attention fixed ahead, focused on the changed name above The Old King.
Taharqa clenched his fists, realizing the challenge ahead. "This is going to be hard without weapons or mana."
The Old King lifted their free hand, and both Taharqa and Idris felt their mana rushing back through their bodies. With another flick of their hand, they retrieved the book Loki had given Idris from the sack on the Frost Bears. As The Old King took it in their hand, it transformed into a deep, glowing turquoise short sword. Its material remained a mystery, but when they rubbed it against their other blade, it emitted a beautiful hum, resonating through the air like strings on an instrument.
Menus opened in front of Taharqa and Idris.
"Tell it what you desire," The Old King commanded.
Idris and Taharqa gazed at the gray, flat box hovering in front of them, words in white displayed on the transparent display.
[Command?]
"Bow," Idris immediately responded, and a black bow materialized in his hand, accompanied by a double-ended quiver on his back.
Taharqa deliberated for a moment longer before stating, "Wand." A black wand appeared in his hand, and he grasped it, feeling his mana surge toward his fingers and into the wand itself.
As the menus disappeared, The Old King lifted both their swords and pointed them forward briefly before dropping into a stance.
"You have your weapons and mana. Now, fight me," The Old King commanded.
Aura rippled out from The Old King in an explosion, fizzling the snow around them into vapor and creating an even larger field of hardened snow for them to fight amongst.
Idris reached into his pocket and retrieved the medallion from Maeve, but shook his head and tucked it back in before anyone noticed. Instead, he reached back and grabbed an arrow, docking it and pulling back on the string. The arrow glowed faintly with a yellow magical aura. "You better fucking know how to use that thing," he told Taharqa. "I ain't ever seen you use no wand."
Taharqa tightened his grip on the wand, and with a few twirls of his wrist, the tip illuminated in a pink glow. Idris smiled, then glanced at Dohon and Loki. "Higher Ranking. Last time I saw someone fight a Higher, they died."
Loki lowered his head with a sigh of laughter. "Well," they said, taking a deep breath, "let's hope we have better results."
Alexander Granmarn, the current Holiness of Rünhaven, wielded religion as a tool of control, exploiting the fervent faith of the capital's inhabitants to solidify his grip on power. He manipulated the populace's reverence for the Highers, twisting their beliefs to serve his own agenda. Using the guise of divine authority, he condemned dissenters, branding them as heretics lacking in faith or even accusing them of dabbling in Dark Magic and Necromancy—a craft reserved for the darkest denizens of Arrithia. However, many of the inhabitants of Ayce were not well-versed in the broader complexities of the world beyond their island, making it easier for Alexander to manipulate and deceive them.
In his quest for absolute power over Rünhaven and, in his deluded vision, eventually Ayce itself, Alexander brooked no opposition. He silenced dissenters swiftly and ruthlessly, employing fear and intimidation to suppress any voices of defiance. Those who dared to challenge his authority found themselves imprisoned, exiled, or worse, subjected to his twisted interpretation of divine justice.
While Elsa, Kazuka, and the still-sleeping Menelik languished in the cellar beneath the church of Rünhaven, chained to the walls with their arms raised, Idris and Taharqa rode atop Frost Bears, their movements swift and determined. These Frost Bears, liberated from their original riders by The Old King, thundered through the deep snow with relentless speed. Using their formidable strength, they plowed through the thick snowbanks, their massive heads and icy manes cleaving a path through the wintry landscape.
As they journeyed northward under Loki's guidance, the scenery around them shifted and twisted. The snow piled higher, the landscape morphing with each passing moment. Behind them, the tunnels they traversed collapsed, closing off their trail. With the Frost Bears moving at a frenetic pace, shaking and stirring the walls of snow, Idris and Taharqa clung tightly to the reins, their bodies jostling up and down on the saddles. Idris attempted to peer into the bag tied to the saddle, but the bears' erratic movements made it impossible to focus.
Guided by Loki's magic scent, the Frost Bears pressed onward, their keen noses leading the way toward Mount Aglazad.
They were nearly halfway when Loki abruptly yanked on his bear's reins, halting it in its tracks, causing the others to follow suit.
"What's going on?" Taharqa inquired, but before Loki could respond, a deafening explosion of snow erupted to their left, revealing The Old King charging towards them, sword slicing through the air, sending a cascade of snow flying.
"Oh," Taharqa muttered to himself, realization dawning.
Their Frost Bears surged forward, but The Old King relentlessly pursued, slashing through the snow with each swing of their sword, rapidly closing the distance between them and Idris. Leaping into the air, they brought the sword down with a force that caused Idris to veer sharply to the left, nearly losing his balance.
"I thought you said Loki took care of it!" Taharqa shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
Idris grimaced as he steered his bear towards Taharqa, but before they could react, The Old King darted forward with astonishing speed. With a powerful swing, they used the blunt end of their sword to halt the Frost Bear almost instantaneously, sending Idris tumbling into the snow. The Old King then plunged the sword into the bear repeatedly, knocking it backward before turning their attention to Taharqa and Idris.
Taharqa scrambled over to Idris, grabbing him and pulling him onto his own Frost Bear. Loki swooped off his bear and positioned himself between Idris and The Old King. With a wicked grin, he brandished his sword—a stark contrast to The Old King's, adorned with a skull and bone-shaped hilt, emitting an icy blue glow.
"Watch a Warlord in action," Loki declared triumphantly as he pushed The Old King back with a swift kick before a swing of his sword.
Loki and The Old King started their relentless duel, their swords a blur of motion as they clashed with unyielding ferocity.
Their movements were a mesmerizing display of skill and determination, each combatant seeking to gain the upper hand over the other. Loki's agile footwork allowed him to evade The Old King's powerful strikes, while his own attacks were executed with surgical precision, aiming for vulnerable points in his opponent's defense.
The Old King, undeterred by Loki's evasive maneuvers, pressed forward with relentless force. Their swordsmanship was methodical and disciplined, every strike delivered with a calculated purpose. With each clash of their blades, they sought to wear down Loki's defenses and break through his guard.
As the duel raged on, the surrounding landscape bore witness to their titanic struggle. The ground beneath them was torn asunder by the force of their blows, sending plumes of snow and ice swirling into the air. Yet amidst the chaos, the two warriors remained locked in a deadly embrace, their focus unwavering as they fought for supremacy.
Back and forth they went, the tension palpable as The Old King distanced themselves from Loki and knelt down, their sword beginning to glow white. Idris and Taharqa both shouted out a warning to Loki, but he seemed unfazed by their cries. With a smirk, Loki pulled his sword back and thrust it forward rapidly as The Old King swung their own sword in a similar fashion. An array of white sparks echoed around them, the sound of metal clashing followed by thunder rippling above.
As the intense exchange continued, Loki's feet began to slide back slightly. Glancing back at Idris and Taharqa, who remained fixed on The Old King, Loki tightened his grip on his sword and began to cast a spell. However, his attention and mana were diverted, pushing him back further and causing him to slide. Idris and Taharqa's attention was drawn to Loki's struggle as he focused on his attack, still casting the spell, albeit slowly but surely.
The Old King suddenly vanished, reappearing behind Taharqa and Idris. Loki swiftly turned around, dropping his sword to use both hands to cast a spell. With a surge of magic, Dohon materialized right next to The Old King, swinging his magic arm forward and knocking them back into the hollowed-out area of snow with Loki.
Idris and Taharqa stood frozen in shock, but Dohon paid them no mind as he moved past them, sliding down the snowbank and walking up next to Loki, who had picked up his sword and was now facing The Old King, who had just regained their footing and taken a stand of their own.
"Enough," The Old King grunted.
"Oh, shit," Loki exclaimed. "They're not supposed to talk."
[Dungeon Master - Dragon Ranking - The Old King]
The name above their head appeared again, the words "Dragon Ranking" shifted back and forth, becoming fuzzy at times before switching.
[Dungeon Master - Higher Ranking - The Old King]
Idris and Taharqa slid down beside Dohon and Loki. "So, Dohon is your friend?" Taharqa asked, his gaze shifting between the two of them.
Loki remained silent, his attention fixed ahead, focused on the changed name above The Old King.
Taharqa clenched his fists, realizing the challenge ahead. "This is going to be hard without weapons or mana."
The Old King lifted their free hand, and both Taharqa and Idris felt their mana rushing back through their bodies. With another flick of their hand, they retrieved the book Loki had given Idris from the sack on the Frost Bears. As The Old King took it in their hand, it transformed into a deep, glowing turquoise short sword. Its material remained a mystery, but when they rubbed it against their other blade, it emitted a beautiful hum, resonating through the air like strings on an instrument.
Menus opened in front of Taharqa and Idris.
"Tell it what you desire," The Old King commanded.
Idris and Taharqa gazed at the gray, flat box hovering in front of them, words in white displayed on the transparent display.
[Command?]
"Bow," Idris immediately responded, and a black bow materialized in his hand, accompanied by a double-ended quiver on his back.
Taharqa deliberated for a moment longer before stating, "Wand." A black wand appeared in his hand, and he grasped it, feeling his mana surge toward his fingers and into the wand itself.
As the menus disappeared, The Old King lifted both their swords and pointed them forward briefly before dropping into a stance.
"You have your weapons and mana. Now, fight me," The Old King commanded.
Aura rippled out from The Old King in an explosion, fizzling the snow around them into vapor and creating an even larger field of hardened snow for them to fight amongst.
Idris reached into his pocket and retrieved the medallion from Maeve, but shook his head and tucked it back in before anyone noticed. Instead, he reached back and grabbed an arrow, docking it and pulling back on the string. The arrow glowed faintly with a yellow magical aura. "You better fucking know how to use that thing," he told Taharqa. "I ain't ever seen you use no wand."
Taharqa tightened his grip on the wand, and with a few twirls of his wrist, the tip illuminated in a pink glow. Idris smiled, then glanced at Dohon and Loki. "Higher Ranking. Last time I saw someone fight a Higher, they died."
Loki lowered his head with a sigh of laughter. "Well," they said, taking a deep breath, "let's hope we have better results."
