Clay

Chapter 2 - Clay

Venera, a vast world stretching thousands of miles, is home to nine mighty empires. These empires include the Human Empire, Dragon Empire, Elvin Empire, Dwarven Empire, Katan Empire, Vampire Empire, Warewolf Empire, Beast Empire, and Dark Empire.

A dense forest named the Dark Forest separates these diverse empires, harboring a variety of creatures, from friendly ones to ferocious savages. Due to the challenging nature of the forest, traveling between empires proved to be quite a task, but with determination, many empires created routes and gates to move more efficiently. 

In the Human Empire, specifically in the small kingdom of Rainy situated in the far south, a lively celebration was taking place in a village a few kilometers from the capital. The festivities were in honor of Clay, a young prodigy whose recent accomplishment was the talk of the town.

The reason for the joyous atmosphere is that Clay, their prodigy, had been chosen to compete against heirs from the seven great families. The competition aimed to provide Clay with the opportunity to enter the Tomb of the infamous Deity of War, Nino.

Nino, renowned for his strength during his prime in the Katan Empire, accumulated vast resources. So the opportunity to enter his tomb and gain access to such wealth was something many craved, to the point of being willing to kill for it.

However, Clay's achievements incited uneasiness among the heirs of the seven great families. Fearing the potential gain Clay might secure, they began plotting to hinder his chances of entering the tomb, going as far as considering acts of violence, even murder, to achieve their goals.

In a secret meeting room in one lavish building, the seven heirs meet up...

"I say we just get rid of him and be done with it. No matter what, the seven passes to the tomb will be ours" spoke one of the heirs, his tone, full of arrogance.

"Are you out of your mind? Killing him should be our last resort. The people are backing him, and they're well aware of the rivalry between us. If we resort to murder, the public will undoubtedly point fingers at us," remarked a blue-haired lady, attempting to highlight the seriousness of the situation.

"Are you serious right now? I expected you, of all people, to be the first one ready to take him out. What's the matter, Celina? Got cold feet about killing your boyfriend?" teased a young man with slightly muscular features, addressing the blonde-haired girl named Celina. 

In the Rainy Kingdom, people widely know that Celine and Clay are friends. However, what many people don't realize is that Celina was only getting close to Clay because he's good at solving puzzles, and her family had discovered a secret passage in some old ruins a few years back. She didn't care about Clay as she just wanted to use him to open the ruin.

"Clay isn't my boyfriend, and if we're going to carry out this plan to kill him, we've got to make it look flawless. So, if you think you're up for it, go ahead and give it your best shot. Celina responded.

"What's the plan then? We've got only seven Passes, and there are seven of us. Killing Clay seems to be the only way we can all get a pass into the tomb," said a young guy in a calm yet sinister tone. Later, he will be known as the heir of the Cooper family.

"Well, I'm clear on my stance—we should get rid of him. If you can't bring yourself to kill for the invaluable resources in the tomb, then one of us won't be able to enter the tomb. As heirs of the seven great families, we're above mere village orphans. They have no place with us at the top of the food chain," asserted Nathan of the Nuel family. His cruel look alone shows he is willing to do anything to get what he wants.

"We can also cripple his cultivation. That should be enough to render him incapable of entering the tomb," suggested the heir of the Cooper family, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Or would that break your heart, Celina?

"Look, I have my reasons for getting close to Clay, but he's far from deserving my affection. How can a naive orphan like him be worthy of someone of my stature? Honestly, none of you are worth my time. You all gave up pursuing me when Clay showed up, revealing your true colors as a bunch of cowards."

"However, crippling him isn't a good idea. Just imagine, that if we stop him from entering the tombs, not everyone will believe that Clay's suddenly become a dummy.

"Think about this: even if we harm him, others will notice. His teacher, a skilled alchemist, can easily figure out what happened to his student."

Even though this messes up my plans for him, the only way to make sure we can enter is to end his life. But we can't just act without a flawless plan."

"Since I seem to be the only one thinking ahead, how about I take control of this, and in return, all of you contribute 10% of what you gain once we enter the tomb?" Celina spoke with a calm yet sinister and cold tone. She is more than prepared to kill the one she called a friend.

"Dream on," scoffed the heir of the Mical Family, the strongest among the seven of them.

"Just because you've got brains doesn't mean you're in charge of all seven families. I know you're only doing this because, among us, you've got weak offense and defense. Don't forget, I'm the muscle around here, so I should be the one calling the shots."

"Well, Mr. Strongest, why don't you enlighten us on how you plan to take down the prodigy who awakened one of the strongest ice elemental powers when he was just 10?" retorted Celina.

"Strength doesn't automatically make you a strategic genius. I might be the weakest here, but I can take you all down without you even realizing how it happened. I've got my way, and if you want a clean and practical approach, you better pay attention."

"Stop the argument and foolish comments. Celina, what's your plan?" asked the heir of the Tettah family, the calm one in their group.

"It's pretty straightforward. I'll exploit the trust between us to poison him." She said with a straight face.

"Jasey, I hope you can use your connections to get me a vial of Bone Chilling Poison. Just a vial will do." She asked making the plans known to her companions.

Bone-chilling poison is a sly, colorless, and odorless toxin. Ingesting it slowly saps your stamina and health painlessly. Some call it the ultimate poison. Sure, it's easy to cure for those with deep pockets if caught in time. But for someone like Clay, it's game over.

"Don't act all shocked. This is the only way I can give him a merciful death. He trusted me, so this will be a breeze. I won't delve into the details, but mark my words, Clay won't be coming back from that month-long hunting quest." She said with a killer smile. It appeared she had made up her mind to kill Clay without a second thought.

***

And just like that, a month and a week had passed since Clay and the others set out on the quest to compete to access the tomb of the Deity of War. The families in the village, along with Clay's companions, eagerly anticipated the return of their loved ones from the dangerous forest expedition.

The village buzzed with excitement. As the first members of the hunting party emerged from the thick forest. Families erupted in joy. Tears of relief and happiness flowed as reunions took place.

However, a shared anxiety lingered among the families—the absence of Clay, the village prodigy. Grandmaster Julius, a wise and authoritative figure in the Rainy Kingdom, watched the reunions with a measured gaze. He had mentored Clay and witnessed the young mage's growth and potential firsthand.

Clay's companions, who had ventured into the forest with him, also felt the collective unease. Whispers of concern circulated among them, eyes scanning the returning members for any sign of the prodigious mage. 

As time went by, Clay's absence became increasingly noticeable as the crowd thinned and most hunting party members returned. The village held its breath, the joy tempered by the worry that their prodigious mage had not returned.

Grandmaster Julius, a pillar of strength for the community and Clay Master, stepped forward, his voice carrying across the gathering. "Patience, my friends. The forest is vast, and the challenges are many. Let us remain hopeful for the safe return of all who ventured into its depths."

Hearing his words, the villagers clung to the hope that Clay would soon emerge from the forest's shadows. The air was thick with uncertainty as they waited for news of the young mage who had embarked on a quest with the potential to shape the destiny of the villagers in Rainy Kingdom.

An hour passed, and those who weren't bound by blood but were friends with Clay and had ventured into the forest with him returned with tears streaming down their faces. A cloud of confusion lingered over the crowd, but the seven heirs instantly knew what had happened.

"I'm sorry, Grandpa Julius. Clay sacrificed himself to save us. Our uselessness has cost him his life. Despite his depleted health and stamina, he faced a formidable Alpha Beast so we could walk out unscathed," a young man said, tears streaming down his face.

After a few seconds of crying, he continued his report "However, before he died, he entrusted this Beast core to us to hand it to you, believing it would promote you beyond the master stage," the young man explained.

The moment the beast core was removed, a mix of reactions appeared on the faces of those gathered. Some faces showed jealousy and envy, unable to fathom the honor granted to the old man. Others displayed admiration and some greed, recognizing the Core's significance and potential for alchemical mastery. Possessing a Grandmaster core was not just a personal achievement but a matter of great importance.

The human empire is the weakest in all of Venera, so a Grandmaster core is something of high value.

"Where is his body? Since he died defeating the monster," inquired one of the village elders, seeking closure for the fallen hero.

"Before we could pick him up, something dragged him into the trench," replied the young man, his words hanging heavily in the air as many started shedding tears.

******

In a distant and seemingly untouched forest, within a trench, a hovering cocoon continued to emit a formidable aura that sent all best within the 20km radius away.

At the same time in a faraway world, a 23-year-old young man felt an irresistible pull into a realm beyond mortal comprehension. A force, powerful and unyielding, tugged at his very essence. Though he struggled against it, He ultimately surrendered to the compelling energy. He dissipated in a burst of radiant dark golden light, vanishing from existence.