1 Chapter 1: The Scent of Blood

(...)

Sitting at the bottom of a large canyon was an encampment of soldiers, no smaller than the size of a battalion.

In the middle of the encampment sat a tent much larger than the rest. A place where the generals held their meetings as well as the personal tent of Vedious Zerx.

(Sigh...You'd think the Kingdom's knights would be able to hide their emotions from their faces a bit)

"General Vedious, has the King given his order on what to do with... him yet?"

Inside the tent were 3 other people excluding Vedious. A tall man who you wouldn't consider scrawny but wouldn't consider fit stood to his left.

He wore a gaudy robe that nearly touched the ground. His hands covered in rings, all glowing from the mana imbued in their crystals. Those materials in itself could have someone live a comfortable life for years within the kingdom. Each ring holds a single spell of the 4th tier enchanted to instantly cast itself by calling the name of the spell.

There have been many who were foolish enough to try and take them, yet, what awaited them was only death.

"Quiet Melv. General Vedious had called to talk to us not for you to talk to him. Know your place Lieutenant General."

Her sharp cold eyes cut across the tent in the direction of Melv. Known to the people as "The Goddess", her auburn hair tied in a ponytail and the glistening silver armour she wore could always be seen decimating her enemies across the battlefield. Her curves obvious with just a glance and a chest that would distract any man could have been her main weapon but, it was her sword skills second to none in the kingdom that was the most attractive. Even Melv, the kingdoms leading mage would need quite the preparation to fight her.

"Now now Ava, we all know what'd happen if Vedious gets impatient and loses his temper don't we? Let's hear why he has gathered us okay?"

Ava and Melv instantly stop their bickering. Cold sweat forming on their backs as they each start to remember the "impatient Vedious." The giant crater near the kingdom one of the memorable spots of the event.

"Elaine, while we are working I've told you to include General."

"Of course General Vedious. My apologies."

Elaine bowed her head slightly towards Vedious' direction. Her golden blonde hair falling in front of her. Well known for her wind enchanted arrows, she kills her enemy without even being seen on the battlefield.

As a behind the scenes fighter, although her fame is not as well known to the commoners as Ava, she is feared even more than Ava within the army. The bewitching smile she always has as the foundation of such fear.

"Thank you for gathering here on such a short notice. I know we've just completed a mission that's been going on for multiple generations but we now have a more pressing matter at hand."

Vedious looked at his three immediate subordinates. Each one at the pinnacle of strength within the kingdom. Even his childhood friend Elaine who he tried his best to stop, worked hard enough to challenge what is known as the peak of humanity.

"The King has ordered immediate termination of the Subject."

Silence filled the area for a while. The sounds of men walking in armor, chatting amongst their sworn brothers and sisters, easily being heard within the tent.

The Subject mentioned by the King was the man sitting on a rock near the rear end of the encampment.

He wore a mask that completely covered his face enchanted to never fall off and to even change his voice. No one has ever seen his face or heard his real voice. He joined the army a few years ago coming from a small village south of the kingdom known as Tahtil.

Since the day he joined, as swift as his movements were the speed in which each dungeon fell. Leading the army by himself, clearing waves of monsters and fighting on par with the Lords residing within. A man that many would think is a monster if it weren't for his human physique. He even referred to himself as Wolf.

Vedious continued.

"Ever since the day he cleared the dungeon himself two years ago, I have been tasked by the King to keep watch of him. To learn about him."

Vedious paused, gathering the information he collected to memory.

"His skill lies within his sword which even Ava cannot compare to. Though he hasn't used any magic in the past from what we've seen, even though it is hard to believe that he would have time to put in effort to study even magic, assuming he is able to use tier 1 or 2 magic would be safe."

The tension within the tent thickened. It shouldn't be humanly possible.

"Relay a message to each squad you're in charge of. Consider him as we consider the Lords in the dungeon. We will all have the same tasks."

Melv's face twisted slightly as he heard the possibility that the he could have knowledge of magic. Though tier 1 and 2 are not something Melv would consider even remotely difficult, magic is still something you must devote your life to to learn. Even among the students within the magic academy, breaking through to the third tier would take a few years of dedicated practice to accomplish. To learn the level just below that as well as having sword skills on the level beyond that of the best swordsman in the kingdom is something no one would be able to stomach.

Despite their feelings towards the target, it was an order from the King. It had to be done. The four people in the tent didn't actually hate their target. In fact many lives were saved throughout all kingdoms of the continent El due to this man. But once he didn't agree to being recruited by the Royal Knights, his future was already decided.

"Finally, send a message to all your units. Telepathy would be the fastest so Melv please, if you will. Tell them to ensure he cannot escape. I will try and convince him to join us once more. If that should fail..."

Another pause. They all knew what it would mean. How could these soldiers fight against someone who has saved so many of them? Why didn't he join under the King? Fame, wealth, women, land. He would've had it all.

"For the Yvnahal Kingdom."

"""For Yvnahal."""

In no less than 10 minutes after contacting with The Wolf, a body falls to the ground.