366 Legends
Millenia ago.
…
Before a grand man-made mark that rose from the ground, a legion of powerful warriors stood at attention while gazing solemnly at a man with a tall frame standing in front of them.
He oozed of so much power that the weather was beginning to change just by him standing somewhere outside the chamber that he was supposed to reside in before the coming clash.
The clouds were swirling directly above, the snow flying around to swat against the faces of everyone present.
A heavy downpour began, unjustly moisturisong the legion below, a strange transition from the relatively silent skies and calm weather that had prevailed just seconds ago.
The army of powerful warriors did not mind all this however. They retained their cool as they awaited what was about to be announced.
After a full minute, the man before them finally opened his mouth to speak.
“Men of war. Men of vigour. Men of great power. Today, is not a day for celebration. The completion of our tower is but a tragic marker in time. It is meant for us to sink our minds into the reality of who and what we are. We are murderers. Killers of our own kind. Nothing can justify the way we draw extensions of ourselves in violence. For this very purpose, this mountain, this obstacle, this fortress has been built up! For them! For us!”
“All those fiends that disgrace the glory of the Deities shall fall here! Regardless of their humanity! Regardless of their lack of it! Let the shadow cast by this fortress be a reminder to you all that this place, is where blood shall fall and stain the thick of the world for generations! Not for the love of war! Not for vain victory! But for hatred and ideal!”
The soldiers felt the voice of this man as he spat words after word ripple through them.
These words were meaningful.
They were cruel but real.
The man’s image as he stood before the fifty meter tall and thirty meter wide tower complemented this image greatly.
“Let these words be etched into your very soul, as you may very well lose it following what you’re about to see and experience!”
Gulp!
The dread inflicted was nothing to scoff at.
“I shall appoint one of you as Master of the fortress, as General of the Grim Tower. Look at this man as you do me and listen to his words without stutter or stagger.”
BA-DUM!
BA-DUM!
“Sila Oinhold! Rise and take the helm to your legion!” the man said with authority, prompting someone within the rows of perfectly organised stationed warriors to shoot forward with his gaze showing both trepidation and zeal!
***
A five meter tall structure lay on the ground, its torn and jagged edges digging into the snow and then further into the ground while the whole thing leaned on its side.
Its thirty meter girth gave it a grand appearance despite its cracked visage which was smothered by a thick layer of ice that hid the reddish blocks used to make it.
The white and colourless portions on the surface of the tower, the different appearances of ice, released a chilling steam that was undoubtedly mixed in with thick bursts of mana.
Atop this tower was a cone-shaped roof whose construction was nothing short of legendary and immaculate, giving the piece an expensive visage while a torn flag erected on the pole above it gave a glimpse of past glory.
The image displayed on the pale flag could no longer be seen but one individual among those around could remember every detail and clearly express what each meant.
The piece of soul that lay moulded into Skullius’ own could only see through the Discount Human’s eyes.
The Grim Tower.
It was once a formidable fortress build to withstand a heavy charge of powerful experts.
It had been equipped with the finest runes.
It had been equipped with the most powerful arrays in Pelian.
It had housed the most powerful warriors in that war.
But now, it was one tenth of its size, frozen by the frost gathered over tens of thousands of years.
The rest of it was there behind the wooden fence as blocks that were scattered around haphazardly, giving it a visage like that of old junk.
‘<Sigh>…’ Sila’s voice echoed in Skullius’ mind. For a moment, he felt the deep frustration in Sila’s voice as the man no longer irrationally blurted everything on his mind.
For once, he didn’t sound like a madman.
Bits of his memories surged as Sila recalled the blood that stained the Grim Tower back then.
The battle that lasted 146 days…
The final bout where he tried to coordinate with his Grand Commander to beat the waves of enemies.
Enemies of the Deities under one man who had begun on the path to Divinity.
‘My honour… This is what became of it after all these years?’ Sila said in a deep voice, a melancholic breeze brushing past the Grim Tower to match the feeling of emptiness he felt. ‘Pathetic…’
Skullius squinted his eyes.
Come to think of it, he hadn’t really thought about Sila beyond their cooperative relationship. He hadn’t even considered where the man came from, his story.
All he knew was what he required at the moment, that Sila was a well of knowledge.
Skullius was about to appraise the tower when…
“This Tower existed in its peak state tens of millenia in the past during the Second Grand War. Many legends surround this construct and these remnants prove some of them. For instance, the interior and exterior of the Grim Tower is coated with thousands of defensive and offensive runes that are still functional even until now, which is why the Tower is largely unexplored and untouched. Even moving it physically or through spatial means is impossible and studying the runes that make it so dangerous is beyond the knowledge of everyone who has ever tried,” the guide explained with a voice that demanded attention.
The rich men and women who listened to his words nodded and took down notes with sophisticated cursive while others discussed in low voices among themselves.
“Grand Commander Jusfic Doeson along with an unnamed General who was supposedly the Tower Master are said to have led the charge against one of the Unions of Fulgardt the Immoral but unfortunately, they were outmatched. Apparently, when victory seemed so close, one of Fulgardt’s Chosen Four appeared on the battlefield and changed the entire course of the battle.”
Skullius felt a tremor of emotion that ran through his soul.
Sila’s soul burned with fury, but only for a few moments.
‘Unnamed General, is it? Hmmm. It was not enough that my woman was lost… but my pride too? Pathetic,’ he said in a broken voice that disallowed Skullius from interrupting with any remark.
‘PATHETIC!!!!’
Skullius was startled by Sila’s anguished shout.
He could feel that the man was buried in tumultuous emotion.
‘Tomato flinger. I have seen enough. Walk away…’ Sila said in a commanding voice that made Skullius hesitate only for little bit before he turned around.
He took one last look at the remnants of the tower and walked away.
When they were a sufficient distance away, Skullius was about to ask Sila the hundreds of questions he had but then…
…!
The Discount Human felt it again!
Someone was watching him!
Unlike last time, he didn’t release a burst of mana to scour the area as that could be bad for him if he was to stumble upon an irritable powerhouse in the city.
Instead he quickly turned his gaze to where he felt the piercing gaze from and…
…!
‘Tomato flinger… that man is bad news. You better run,’ Sila said in a voice that wasn’t as loud but dank in cautionary warning.
In Skullius’ eyes was reflected a man who stood atop the roof of a building – an inn presumably from the homey decor that invited all to come and dine.
The man was quite a distance away but Skullius could see his figure clearly, especially the shiny thing on his shoulder.
Indeed, this man seemed dangerous.
Skullius didn’t take any more time to think.
He activated [Great Rush I] and burst down the corner at incredible speed!
‘Shit! I better get out of the city first! I’ll figure out how to deal with him then!’
The Discount Human zoomed past the streets and leapt over people and small buildings alike, exhibiting a shocking level of flexibility with his manoeuvres!
He zig zapped through the town as he headed for the entrance to the town, covering a vast distance within a few seconds!
At this point, Skullius activated [Elevated Mana Manipulation] to try and scout whether or not he was being pursued.
His sense didn’t pick up anyone who was running at a quick speed which baffled him greatly.
‘I have a really bad feeling about this…’ Skullius thought as he turned down the corner into another street.
“Stop.”
Skullius’ entire body shook, a tremendous force staggering not only his body but his soul as well as right after, the Discount Human found himself unable to move!
…!
Along with the sudden voice, the pain that came with hearing it and the image of a man who stood before him, a guidance field notification popped up in Skullius’ vision.
[An external force assaults your soul. Doom Factor 2 takes advantage. 41%]