Falcon

A few weeks later, in House Trillwolf…

In the lovely courtyard of a large and beautiful palace, there was a garden full of multiple spirit plants. A dozen or so maids kept scurrying around busily. A few meters away from the garden, a young boy practiced a fist technique repeatedly. The boy was wearing white training pants as he danced around the courtyard. Around his neck was a beautiful fang collar made from origin gold and spirit wolf fangs. His hair was dreadlocked and hanging down to his shoulder.

This boy was, of course, the young Josiah!

Jody's father had taught him how to hide his labor tattoos once Jody explained what they were. His father was greatly shocked at the time. Now, without the tattoos, he was smaller cuter version of Osiris. If not for his blue gem-like eyes, he would be the spitting image of his father.

Sweat dripped off Jody's little body as he continuously exerted himself harder. After practicing his form for three hours, Jody punched an iron sandbag for two more hours. This iron sandbag was of his own design. However, his father just had Ke Si do the work of putting it together. The bag had the resilience to resist the spells of a middle-class Origin Scientist's average BP, so the weight was quite a challenge for Jody. After exhausting himself, Jody retired to formulate his spiritual force, sitting on a lotus seat in the middle of a pond. A swirl of milky white energies was gathering, with the boy as the center of the surge.

'This Brave Fang Collar can augment my focus by 30% during meditation,' thought Jody. 'Add that to the augment I get from [Pharaoh's Law], and my energy control will dramatically improve while I meditate. Likely, no one can compare to me in this aspect.'

One month after his awakening, the now eight-year-old Jody was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the giant lotus flower seat, floating in a pond.

The pure origin mana in the surroundings was entering his body rapidly. Only, mana was leaking out just as quickly. Many of the maids in the surroundings had a decent formula base and thus could feel the mana fluctuations. They were shocked at the speed of Jody's absorption rate. They were then left speechless at his total lack of active refinement. He kept wasting so much energy. All the excess energy became dregs, some naturally producing mana, but none became rukh.

On the top floor of a pavilion to the west of the courtyard, a stunning woman wore all-white garments that made her look like an otherworldly queen. She was graceful, like a celestial maiden descended from the skies. She sat at a little round table on the balcony, drinking tea with another petite, pretty woman in a pink dress that tightly hugged her proud assets. Unfortunately, the latter woman, who would have been otherwise very pleasant to look at, was making a face like she swallowed a fly.

"How could this brat cause such a stir but fail to benefit in the slightest? It's an amazing waste." The petite woman was currently upset, grinding her teeth in frustration. "First, his mother becomes the Frozen Night Master, which I was able to accept slowly. After all, she earned it with skill and grace. However, what I can not accept is that this seed of hers is just as dastardly talented."

"You should watch how you speak, Enora. Our lord highly favors that boy, and who can blame him? He has caused such a disturbance in the surrounding primary heaven and earth forces without even possessing a mental formulation method. Such a bright star is our family's good fortune." Said the stunning lady in white with a voice entirely devoid of emotion. "My little niece is so excited to meet her big brother. Too bad she awakened so early and he so late. It may yet be another year before they meet. Vivian would be heartbroken if Josiah were abroad when Gyllian wakes up."

Others may not be aware of the boy's circumstances, but how could she not know? Most of the energy the boy took in would leak back out quickly, but that was only because he had yet to be given a mental formulation method. The Lord was still searching for one that was especially suitable to the child.

Osiris wouldn't allow Josiah to train in an ordinary method. This, of course, made Osiris' other wife, Enora, jealous on behalf of her own child. It had to be known the House Lord very rarely showed his kids any affection or even significant interest. He was typically far too busy. Take Kamila, for example. She had excellent talent revealed at her host awakening ceremony a few months after Jody's own. Two combat souls of a mysterious rank, Kamila's fate gem had exploded, and she had been experiencing her sage body rebirth for about as long as Jody himself at this point.

She was practically another powerhouse in the making!

Why were this House Lord's children so formidable?

However, like his first son, Horus, the House Lord only spoke some kind and perfunctory words at the ceremony. Actually, had it not been so eventful, he would have behaved in the same way at Josiah's ceremony. He hadn't paid any more attention to this daughter of his since that time, but what no one knew was that the Lord had to stabilize his foundation due to experiencing rapid advancement due his last duet with Isis.

It wasn't exactly like the lord didn't value his children. He was just truly too busy. He was, after, the medjai of a dynasty at war with a great demon. He led all the noble and humble members of the House, and they were a force comparable to Prism Rank sects!

The forces in the Great Motherlands were divided into six ranks, with the Prism rank powers counting as a fourth rank force. If the Grand Elders were factored in, then they would even approach legend rank status. In other words, House Trillwolf was a power that stood on the cusp of the fifth rank!

"Oh, Lily, don't tell me you've also been put under the mongrel's spell? Ugh." Enora slammed her teacup on the table before standing up abruptly. "When my Jumoke woke up, his wolf soul blasted away the door of the medical chamber, reducing the opening to glass shards and pieces of scrap metal! Jumoke will ascend the Scholar-level battle stage at the House's Young Wolf Celebration Dinner in six more months! At that time, we'll see who the true fortune of the family is, hmph."

Lylian watched placidly as Enora stormed out of the courtyard and onto the latter's personal wind spirit wolf, Morning Cloud, before releasing a sigh. The woman was going deeper and deeper into the dark, but at least her man had given the girl a glimmer of hope.

Lylian's face became soft and gentle as she glanced at Jody and thought out loud, "Such a diligent child. He follows his father's instructions to the acme. He performs sword and polearm training for four hours in the morning and physical training for eight hours a day before meditating on the lotus seat for four more hours.

"No...rather than meditation, it appears that he is attempting to form his matrix. He just doesn't seem to understand how to refine mana and rukh or where to guide it. Could he have inherited a legacy technique that he is attempting to comprehend? Alas, it can not be, or he would be able to advance. Unless he doesn't understand it enough?

"However, how many children can make this amount of commotion without sufficient knowledge? Plus, without any guidance, how well can he honestly do? How easy is it to eclipse the light of the sun?" Lylian's voice was hazy and angelic as she shifted her gaze away from Jody, staring at the setting sun on the horizon. "I only hope that once you finally shine, you can share your glory with your eldest brother and baby sister, little Josiah. My sweet child Horus would surely never allow anyone to harm his little brother or sisters. So you must never allow anyone to harm Gyllian as well. Since it's like this, I will never allow someone to harm Josiah. Otherwise, once Horus returns for the Young Wolf Celebration Dinner, he will surely fault me…"

🐉🐉🐉

Far away, somewhere in the Rodinia continent,

In a mystical region surrounded by rainforest, seven youths in black and silver robes could be seen pursuing a young man and a lady in yellow robes. Behind them was a single black-garbed elder that everyone seemed oblivious to.

Every now and then, a few of the seven youths would stop to attack. Light streams were constantly flying out from the magic staffs in their hands, transforming into different elemental attacks. Arrows of fire and ice crashed into the surroundings of the fleeing youths. The young man and lady were initially beautiful but had completely haggard appearances at the moment. They had competed with these youths for a treasure, and now they had to escape, or they would lose their wealth along with their lives.

"Hey, Goldwolf, you better hand over the vial of Lifetime Xeces Fluid!" said the leader of the thugs chasing them, "Your worthless master can't protect you in this secret realm!"

"Falcon, what are we going to do," said the beautiful young lady in a panic. She had already been escaping for so long, but these enemy disciples were simply too persistent! Her legs felt like they could collapse at any moment as she whined, "Black Mercury Sect will pay for this once my martial aunt finds out! Quickly, we must find a way to escape!"

"Don't worry, Alice. I'll protect you!" roared the good-looking young man called Falcon.

Surprisingly, this young man looked more than 60% similar to Osiris Trillwolf and 40% similar to Lylian Barong. This was none other than Jody's older brother, Horus Goldwolf! A pale golden armor suddenly condensed around Horus as if it transformed from his skin itself.

Horus suddenly stopped and turned to face the pursuing opponents, "Take a step back, Arthur! Your squad leader is in over his head. Don't make me use that thing."

"Oh?" said the thug in the lead as he stopped abruptly, signaling his companions also to stop. However, he only sneered and said mockingly, "Over my head, you say? You wouldn't dare, punk. Hand over the Lifetime Xeces Fluid and the girl. Do that, and I'll let you leave here alive."

Alice paled when she heard those words. Even though Falcon was famed at their sect for being a chivalrous gentleman, when it came to matters of life and death, people would often reveal their most savage nature. Any experienced sage was familiar with this, especially a beautiful youth like Alice. She had seen the darkness in the hearts of men early on.

However, Horus' face didn't change in the slightest as he responded plainly, "Not dare? Okay, Francis. Arthur. Let's play. Why don't we see exactly what I won't dare to do?"

With a flick of his wrist, Horus summoned a gleaming golden sword into his hand. The blade glimmered with an otherworldly light, and it seemed to pulse with power. The seven black-robed youths hesitated momentarily, but then they charged forward, their staffs raised high.

Horus moved with incredible speed, his sword flashing through the air. The first attacker swung his staff at Horus, but the young Goldwolf deflected the blow easily. He followed up with a swift strike, slicing through the man's robes and drawing a thin line of blood across his chest. The other attackers closed in, but Horus was too fast for them. He weaved between their attacks, his sword flashing as he cut through their defenses. In moments, four of the seven attackers lay on the ground, groaning in pain.

The remaining three hesitated, unsure if they should continue the fight. But Horus didn't give them a chance to retreat. He charged forward, his sword raised high.

"Stand down, Horus!" came a voice from behind him. Horus turned to see a tall figure dressed in black robes. It was his master, the leader of the Black Mercury Sect. The man's eyes were cold and calculating, and he held a staff in his hand.

Horus lowered his sword, but he didn't back down. "Master, these men attacked us without cause. They are bandits and thieves, and they deserve to be punished."

The Black Mercury Sect Leader snorted. "You are too naive, Horus. These men are disciples of the Red Lotus Sect. They are medjai hunters. I have a plan."

"No! Where did you even come from, master? This is too suspicious!" Horus' hand traced the ring on his left hand, and a groovy-looking talisman was retrieved. He began to chant obscurely before shouting, 'Appear!' The talisman lit up with white flames and emitted a blinding golden light that shot into the air.

"Fuck, Falcon, you're crazy, man," said the negus youth named Arthur. He had a spiked mohawk and beady eyes.

"NO!" the leader of the opposing team, a dark elf named Francis Black, was terrified when he saw the golden light.

That was a defensive talisman that didn't distinguish friend from foe. It would trap them all in stasis until help arrived. He couldn't help but curse himself for challenging this madman, and he quickly pulled out his own anti-communication talisman while yelling, "Appear!"

The talisman burned in purple flames before a purple light shot into the air and attacked the golden light in the distance like a deadly arrow, killing a golden dove. Francis Black pulled out another talisman and was prepared to shout! However, how could Alice stand by and let this happen? They would both die if that talisman were used, whether it was herself or Horus.

"SHIT!" Alice cursed, withdrew a long sword from the magic pouch on her waist, and slashed out with a soft but swift sword art!

"Die, bitch!" Francis Black was enraged when he saw this weak little girl attacking his esteemed self. His palm glowed with a deadly light as he struck out twice quickly, "Breath-taking Palm!"

Splat!

The first attack parried Alice's sword, and the second palm impaled her abdomen and came out on the other side.

"ALICE!" Horus' eyes widened incredibly as pain wrecked his mentality. Frightening power exploded from his body as his enraged voice echoed through the forest, "Francis Black, I'll kill you!"

"Haha, how? Didn't you just use the Myriad Changes Sealing Talism…" However, before the words could finish leaving Arthur's mouth, the nine youths all froze in place.

Suddenly, the Black Mercury Sect Leader had become the statue of an unfamiliar older man. Sitting on top of the statue was a small girl with big, sapphire eyes. She looked playfully the the youths before her, who were all slowing to a stop just like this old man whose disguise had faded.

"I wonder if he'll appreciate this favor...hm, maybe not? He doesn't know him yet...should I alter the records?" Topaz mused to herself.

Meanwhile, those youths were all frozen.

They were all stuck in their previous posture as if they were models in a museum. A distortion in space manifested, and the forest looked normal again, as if those youths were never there at all. All that remained was the statue of an elder with his hands outstretched as if sacrificing himself to save those behind him.

Yet, none were.