Descent

~Show me the goddess of adventure, well guess what? You've just showed me my life partner.

In a battle wrecked forest, a bolt of energy fell from the sky hitting the corpse of a dead soldier like lightning. The body of the soldier smoked as brutal wounds on his body healed at a fast rate. The energy didn't relent, so much so that the blood on his armor evaporated.

It then stopped as abruptly as it came.

The soldier's chest glowed for a while, before long the soldier opened his eyes.

Zain opened his eyes to a clear blue sky, lofty clouds and a... lizard with wings? It flew high in the sky vanishing into the distance.

Zain sat up slowly. His mind empty, but the strong smell of blood, sweat, grime and smoke woke his battle hardened senses.

He looked around to see fallen trees and rising smoke, armored dead bodies along with various types of beasts, some fantasy looking, others looked like sabertooth hyenas with canines that elongated out of their mouth.

He estimated their height to be around a meter and a half. They were strewn around as far as he could see alongside other dangerous looking beasts.

"..."

He subconsciously got up and grabbed a sword as he scanned the place for danger.

After a while...

Nothing? All dead?

He breathed out as he tried to make his sleepy mind work faster. He made a conscious effort to remember how he got here and why? As pieces of memories pieced themselves together.

'Dire warning bells... A monster wave discovered late... the villagers... A wave... intercept monsters... protect villagers?' Zain felt a headache as memories crashed together in his head like a turbulent sea, various emotions anxiety, fear, desperation still lingered in his heart.

Monster wave? And what's with this ancient looking weapon? Who still uses a sword design like this.

He observed the weapon in his hand.

Shaking his head he decided to try something easier. 'Who am I?' 'My name is Za... no Riot Silver? I am the second prince of Somer kingdom. I have an elder brother? no no no! This isn't right.'

Riot looked at his hands that looked young yet strong. He grabbed a nearby helmet and what reflected there wasn't a middle-aged looking man, but a young man that looked to be in his mid twenties. He had short white hair...

"Argh."

Riot's head throbbed at the contradiction, he remembered that this body previously had a light green hair. How did it turn white?! I... look like a typical suave villain from a throwback sci-fi movie. Wait! should that be my concern right now?

I seem to have reincarnated, but how did I die?

Riot currently couldn't remember much memories of his past life clearly especially the latter half, only bits and pieces. 'Planet Gauntlet... Star system marshal... Cold?...' He felt that it would take a while to recover the memories of his past life in entirety.

Sign! Forget it, i need to survive in this new planet first. To that end, i need useful memories of this life.

But first! I'm a prince in this world right? I need to check out how the Somer kingdom is doing. Hopefully the monster wave didn't head towards the kingdom.

While in thought, he replaced his ruined sword strap, found a sword in better condition and sheathed it. Unbuckled his glamorous cape as that was the cause of the previous 'Riot's death. He was pulled to the ground from behind by a monster, as another jumped at his neck. Riot winced at the memory of being bitten on the neck.

He put on his fallen helmet and felt strangely at peace. Wearing a full metal enchanted armor gave him a familiar feeling... like his mechsuit from his previous life.

According to his memories directing mana into the enchantment on armor's breast plate causes the entire armor set to become tougher and resilient against attacks.

Riot was pleasantly surprised that magic existed in this world, although his max mana was 'normal' (pitiably small) his energy level was at grade F which surpassed a normal person's which started at grade G. It was a way habitants of this world classified overall physical and mental ability. It continued upwards. A normal child could be considered to be at grade G-, while G+ would have the ability of an athletic man.

Riot grabbed a ranger bag filled with basic supplies and some daggers and began his journey. Ever since he woke up he'd being perceiving an enticing aroma that made him feel hungry. He wandered what it was, as he walked among the dead the aroma didn't go away it only made him more hungry.

'Strange.' Riot looked around at the gory scene.

He picked up a human arm dripping blood and sniffed it. A light flashed through his eyes.

Smells good! Wait why!?... Should I taste it?

Riot tossed the arm away caressing his head. 'No no no...wrong thoughts, maybe the fall damaged his brain. But shouldn't it have healed along with my neck wound.' Riot was puzzled.

As he went on more memories of this world emerged and became clearer. Somer was a small kingdom far north of the Truden continent. They were originally located in the Deso continent, but had to flee due to the high number of dungeons breaking out and their monsters wrecking havoc and reproducing at a fast rate in the wild.

Also with the threats from their deman neighbors they had to consider the kingdom's future. They found out that the Truden continent was protected by three great human empires, war temple and the church of light. They made a helpless choice to migrate here.

Because both continents where connected by land and they desired a peaceful future. They ventured out of their walls on a dangerous journey they believed was worth it.

On getting here they discovered that all lands in the central parts of the Truden continent where already occupied, then they migrated north which had great lands which was good, but lush forests which made it difficult to locate and completely eradicate monsters occuping the area, furthermore the church and the Zun empire which protected this region couldn't spare much resources for this area that was quite far from them.

But they settled here nonetheless they believed this was far still better than before, they could develop well, and for 400 plus years they had relative peace... until now.

Many other kingdoms had also joined them here in the north, they lined the boundaries of the great northern forest that stretched north endlessly. It is said a great black dragon said to be one of the deceased dragon King's generals lives deep within the forest, as well as other powerful creatures on par with the dragon. But it slept most of the time and rarely woke up.

Riot walked on trying not to get too close to the dead monsters, who knew which one was truly dead. He thought about extracting the mana cores off these monsters but changed his mind.

I am a prince now, not a soldier. I can avoid battles live in luxury all i want! It's not like i'm a mage that loves mana cores and need them to practice spells.

Prince Riot the second prince of a small kingdom of about 200,000 thousand citizens, some cities in the central part of the continent had more residents than them.

When he was younger. Due to not being able to create a mind space for storing learned spells. He was considered not to have talent in magic unlike his elder brother who became a mage.

'Riot' was sent to an imperial academy in the central continent to learn swordsmanship, battle skills, mana and energy control from experts.

He spent eight years training in an elite rank Allan sword style, which emphasized defensive combat and learnt a rank 2 sword skill called wind blade. The rank was not based on the strength of the skill, but the difficulty in learning.

The instructors seeing his normal talent and that he just barely mastered the the wind blade after such a long period of time, without even being able to advance to grade E, advised him to quit school and return home. In order not to keep wasting resources on tuition and accommodation fees.

For the much resources he spent just to learn an elite sword style and one sword skill the school gave him a 2 cubic meter spatial ring as a gift 'to thank him'.

He took their advise and returned home, after all, like many he didn't really like fighting and would rather live a peaceful life surrounded by thick walls and books he loved to read.

When he got home he was received gloriously, the citizens cheered and the soldiers saluted with pride. They believed they had someone more who could protect them and lead the kingdom to glory. 'Riot' didn't enjoyed it though, although he was not very talented he was insightful and new what they were thinking, he wanted to live peacefully and avoid responsibility.

His elder brother who was already a second circle sorcerer saw this and recommended to the king that 'Riot' be made vice commander of the army. The king thought about it and decided it was fitting, although he would love his second son to be the commander, he new he needed experience first.

'Riot' was bestowed authority and honor, he didn't refuse but accepted his fate. For two years he lived his life training the soldiers, patrolling their territory, fighting small skirmishes against monsters hidden in the forest which destroying farmlands and caused harm to the citizens, he attended banquets of neighboring northern kingdoms, built ties and many more.

Every time he got the chance he took out a book from his spatial ring to read tales and legends of adventurers and their quest for riches and fame around the world, which he immensely enjoyed, he always felt like he was there with them facing the unknown. And one of his favorite writers was one by the name 'whistling wind'. Although he knew many of these stories weren't completely true he relished them nonetheless.

'Riot' knew himself, he knew there was no way he could venture into the unknown without shaking due to fear. He was bold when he knew he could win and cowardly when the odds were against him even just a bit.

One day the warning bells of the outpost rang from deep within the northern forest, the signal was quickly transmitted by other outposts till it got to the kingdom. The officers yelled as soldiers moved quickly forming ranks and and taking defensive positions, some carrying arms boxes filled with arrows and cannon balls. Children cried as residents rushed to gather resources into their homes. They all knew what that bell meant— a monster wave... a really large one.

'Riot' steeled his heart as he rushed to don his armor, quickly heading to the king's chamber where he could hear the loud voices of men.

"My king we must close the gates immediately." The captain of the royal guard spoke.

"Close the gates? what about the villagers?! They haven't gotten into the walls yet!" The army Commander yelled.

The King looked conflicted.

The captain look at the commander and tried to calm himself. "That bell signals the highest threat level. We could be facing hundreds of thousands of monsters with varying strength! There might even be tier 2 beasts among them, tier 3 maybe! El only knows what abominations could be rampaging our way."

He immediately turned to the king and knelt. "My King. Please, we mustn't take chances, that signal has never been rung for the last 400 years. It was a signal our forebears rung when we still dwelled on the Deso continent. A signal rung when the Kingdom risked annihilation!" The captain roared.

"Striller! You speak to the king!" Eger Silver 'Riot's' elder brother warned. His wand glowing lightly.

"Forgive me, your majesty!" Striller immediately hit his head against the floor.

At this moment 'Riot' walked in and knelt before the King.

He looked at his father, seeing his worried eyes he spoke. "Let me go father, let me lead a company of riders... at least to buy time."