1 Chapter 01 : A battle in the capital

*Tic-tac, Tic-tac*

Lulled by the melody of the pointers, Arkelus Cronos was lost in a deep sleep. He was lying peacefully on his bed, his hands clasped on his stomach.

He wore a long sleeve white shirt revealing a bit of his pecs and black leather pants fastened by a brown belt with long boots.

With his blond hair parted in the middle and his angelic young face, Arkelus looked like a Sleeping Beauty waiting to be woken up.

*Tac*

Suddenly, the pointers in the magic circle above him stopped. From then on, the blue barrier that surrounded his bed shone with a blinding light before disappearing like shining dust.

*Fwoosh*

The torches lit up, illuminating the room and with that, Arkelus finally opened his eyes. They were bright blue like the sky and he had a deep gaze.

"Um... Looks like it's time," he said as he saw that the magic circle had disappeared.

He got up, did a few arm stretches, then sat down on the bed and there he began to think.

" What should I do now?" Arkelus wondered. The time had already come and he had to make a momentous decision but no answer came to mind for the moment.

After a moment of thought, he stood up, "For now, I need to know the current situation of the world. "

There was no need to make a hasty decision that could complicate things. This was what Arkelus decided.

He walked over to his open closet to get his things. Then he saw his emperor's clothes and his silver-colored armor with gold trim.

He smiled then touched the armor with his right hand. So many memories came back to him at that time. The battles he led, the encounters he made during his travels as well as his people.

"Surely they must be waiting for me," he thought, remembering them. Suddenly he pulled his hand away, and a blue magic circle absorbed the clothes from the wardrobe, leaving only a sword in its scabbard.

It was not very long or wide and had the strength of a cross. In the middle of the hilt was carved a dragon's head with two blue crystal for eyes.

"I will take this," he said before fitting the weapon to his waist with a belt.

When he was away from the closet, he see his face in the mirror then stop.

"I look a little younger than usual," he said while holding his chin. he was like a young man just in his twenties. But in fact it was not a big change so he ignore it.

Now in front of the door, Arkelus took one last look at the room where he had spent more than a century in seclusion, then he opened it.

In front was a magic portal leading to a given place of the world. This is how Arkelus disappeared behind the portal that sent him to his destination, the capital of his empire.

******

The sun had already risen a long time ago, and life was in full swing in the city. The streets were full of people going about their business.

"CLEAR THE WAY!" A man's shout suddenly alerted the crowd. Many turned to the scene that was causing all the commotion.

It was about five guards chasing a girl wearing a dark cape with a hood covering her body from head to toe.

These guards were desperately trying to catch up with the girl who seemed very fast. She weaved her way through the crowd who was wondering what was going on. But the guards still managed to follow her.

'Tsk, they're annoying,' the girl thought as she saw the guards who weren't letting go. It really irritated her.

She looked from left to right trying to find a way to escape them and suddenly she saw a deserted street nearby.

*whoosh*

With a quick movement, she changed direction and rushed towards it. The guards were taken aback not seeing the girl in front of them anymore.

"Where did she go ?" The captain asked but the other four didn't know either.

"Tsk, she got away from us," he concluded looking annoyed. But he didn't give up. He began to observe the streets from left to right and that's when he saw a figure far away in a street.

He smirked and then shouted, "Follow me!" then started running towards the figure. The others were surprised for a moment but followed him without discussion.

******

"Is it really the capital ?" Arkelus wondered, looking lost. He didn't recognize any place except the big castle that stood in the center of the city.

But even this one had changed in appearance. He was troubled by this and began to wonder. At first he just wanted to visit the city to see what had changed, but now this was worrying.

"I think I'll go straight to the palace," he said.

Just as he was about to leave, he saw a dark figure coming straight at him. Before he could dodge,

*Bam*

The figure hit him head-on but surprisingly he didn't move an inch unlike the other who fell backwards from the impact.

"What did I hit?" the girl wondered, stroking her head. This shock was similar to a collision with a wall. That is why she was surprised to see in front of her a handsome young man looking at her with a curious air.

"Are you okay?" Arkelus asked, holding out his hand. But she didn't answer and observed him carefully.

"He must be a warrior," the girl concluded. Based on the shock from earlier and his well-built body, that was the only possible explanation. At least for a human.

She got up on her own and then told him icily, "I don't need your help," then walked past him.

"Pretty cold," Arkelus commented looking at her. But he did not delay and went his own way.

"SHE'S THERE !" shouted one of the guards, pointing his finger ahead. They had finally found her after minutes of searching.

"Tsk...they found me," the girl said. Strangely she stopped and remained there as if waiting for them.

Arkelus who observed the situation wondered what was going on and who were these men.

"Hey you, you should get out of here before it's too late," the girl warned him menacingly.

Arkelus turned around then noticed the look she had, silver eyes giving off a murderous aura. He immediately understood what she meant by that.

He smiled for a moment and replied, "Thank you, but that won't be necessary."

"As you wish," she said before focusing her attention on the guards who had just arrived. She had no time to waste with him.

"So you're not running away anymore?" asked the captain with a mocking smile followed by the other four.

"You gave us a lot of trouble but now it's time to end it. If you tell us the reasons for your presence here, maybe we will spare your life," he added.

"I have nothing to say to people like you," she replied, then take out two serrated, razor-sharp blades.

Under her cape, one could see her black leather garments consisting of a sleeveless top, pants attached with a belt, boots, and hand guards.

"Fine, as you wish." The captain waved and immediately the guards drew their swords.

They advanced towards her while the captain watched them. Suddenly he spotted Arkelus who was leaning against a wall on the side, her arms crossed.

'What is he doing here?' He wondered then called out, "Hey you, it's dangerous in here." You should take shelter."

Arkelus looked at him for a moment and then replied with a smile, "Don't mind me." I'm just looking."

The captain was surprised for a moment but in the end left him. He didn't care for a stupid young man who wanted to look interesting.

He then concentrated on the fight that had just begun. The guards attacked the girl but none of them could touch her.

She was just dodging their blows without attacking. Angered by this, one of the guards rushed towards her with his sword in the air ready to deliver a mighty blow.

"HAAAAAH!" he cried as he swung his sword down. It was a surprisingly quick move.

But as always, she dodged to one side and the sword hit the ground,

*Bang*

The impact caused cracking sounds with debris and dust flying through the air.

"Tsk," the guard grew annoyed at his failed attack then raised his sword for a second rush. He hadn't said his last word.

What he didn't know was that it was already too late. The girl's blade was already at his neck and then,

*Slash !*

He was slit alive, his eyes wide as if to say "How?" then he fell to the ground under the wide open eyes of the other guards who were all equally astonished.

"Humph!" She looked at the lifeless body of the guard with disgust and contempt.

Only Arkelus and the captain had seen what had happened and they concluded the same thing, "She's really fast!"

"What are you waiting for? Attack all together!" shouted the captain who saw that his men were demoralized.

"Yes captain!" They snapped together and got back into position. This time their gaze was sharp and attentive. One misstep and they risked losing their lives.

The girl still observed them with the same cold gaze and she held her two blades firmly ready to attack the first comer.

There was a dead silence for a moment on this street. The next thing one could heard was the sound of heavy footsteps and swords slicing through the air.

This time the guards were coordinated in their attacks. When one missed, another followed immediately after.

Despite this, the girl continued to dodge. But it was getting more complicated with the guards starting to surround her.

One of the guards suddenly stepped forward with his sword raised like the previous one.

"TAKE THIS!" He swung the sword to his right but didn't cleave anything through the air. But this time the sword didn't hit the ground before he turned it and made a diagonal cut upwards.

The girl jolted for a second then protected herself from the attack with her two crossed blades.

*CLANG!*

The impact caused a loud sound and pushed her back but she quickly regained her balance.

For the first time since the beginning of the fight, they had finally managed to land a blow.

Without delay they launched for a second assault. Two guards attacked at the same time, each on one side.

*Swoosh Swoosh*

Both missed their shot. The girl's movements were still very fast. But they were already prepared.

After her dodge, the girl found herself face to face with the third guard who made a horizontal slash without waiting. This time they were sure to have her. She couldn't parry this blow.

*Swoosh*

The sword cut nothing.

" What the… ?!" the guard cried upon seeing the girl above him. She had avoided this fatal blow by jumping at the last moment.

Before the guard could react, he was greeted with a fast kick to the face.

*Bam!*

"ARGH" he let out a cry of pain before crashing to the ground causing it to crack.

'That was close,' thought the girl who landed on the ground. Although she was able to escape the blow, she knew that a second too late and she would have been sliced ​​in half.

"I have to get this over with as soon as possible." She assumed an attack stance, bending slightly and with impressive speed,

*whoosh*

She suddenly approached the two guards who were distracted by the scene earlier. They were taken aback but got into position hastily. Just as she was a few feet away from them, she took a big leap.

*whoosh*

"What ?!" The guards were surprised to see the girl flying over their heads and throwing herself at the captain.

"This is the end," she announced with a murderous look to the captain who couldn't believe his eyes.