Realm of Mysteries and Forgetfulness (1)

A few days later, five kilometers away from Orange Field City, seven figures were rapidly advancing towards the city at an astonishing pace. Their remarkable agility and the effortless mana flow made it appear like they were seamlessly integrated with the air. Their journey to Orange Field City was far from ordinary; they had a specific mission to eliminate three individuals. Despite being aware of the prowess of these individuals, they showed no signs of letting their guard down. Their speed remained relentless as they continued their approach.

Several hours later, these seven individuals were observed kneeling in a warrior-like fashion before three figures with a distinctive feature that made them easily stand out—white hair. Within what seemed to be three hours, these three individuals managed to defeat the seven semi-saints without even breaking a sweat. To comprehend what transpired during those three hours, one must view the events through the eyes of these seven individuals.

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Assassin number 1 POV

BANG! BANG!! BANG!!!

The resounding bangs jolted a man in his thirties awake from his peaceful slumber. Despite his youthful appearance, his actual age stood at 466. The Charles family held him in high regard due to his exceptional talent, achieving a Semi-Saint Rank at such a relatively 'young' age, earning respect from all. However, today, someone rudely interrupted his rest.

He groaned, both exhausted and irritated, "Who is that, and what do you want? Pray that your answer pleases me."

"Senior Draven, the family head has summoned you," the person said in a frightened tone.

Upon hearing the summons, Draven quickly rose from the bed and began preparing himself. A minute later, he left his room, walking toward the mansion where the family head resided. Moving swiftly, he soon stood before a grand mansion, marked by a prominent 'C' suspended in front—a symbol of the Charles Great Family. Without hesitation, he rushed in, entering a grand hall within seconds.

The walls are adorned with portraits, various light fixtures hanging from the ceiling, and chairs meticulously arranged around a large table with a massive chair at the head. Seated in that chair was an elderly man with a white beard—Old Charles, the Patriarch of the Charles Great Family.

Glancing at Draven without displaying any emotions, the family head gestured for him to take a seat before speaking, "Draven, I need you to undertake an urgent task for me. Our spies reported yesterday that Minister Chen is plotting a coup. I don't have all the details, but I want you to investigate. If your findings confirm the report, eliminate the minister and his entire family. Leave none alive."

"Should I bring anyone with me?" Draven asked.

"No, do this assignment alone. I want it done fast, so waste no time," Old Charles said with absolute conviction.

Draven nodded, rose from his seat, and left the grand hall. He swiftly headed for the weapons storage, gathering necessary supplies, and began making his way to the city's northeast side. After a while, he managed to infiltrate the Chen family mansion and meticulously started collecting intel.

Later that night, he overheard whispers emanating from one side of the house and moved stealthily in that direction. Taking refuge in the shadows, he patiently waited, hoping to uncover concrete evidence to justify his actions.

Three hours elapsed with no significant developments, and Draven began to doubt the accuracy of the information. But just as he was considering retreat, he heard a voice.

"Are preparations ready for the mission tomorrow?"

"Yes, that old bastard won't know what hit him," a voice replied.

"Remember to save that old bastard. He would die by my sword," the other figure spoke.

Draven, hidden in the shadows, recognized the voice. He knew this confirmed the report, so he immediately started moving toward the voices, but a sudden noise interrupted the scene before he could reach within 100 meters.

*Slice.

It took him a few moments for his brain to register what had happened, but when it did, he saw his arm lying on the floor, cleanly severed. He wanted to scream, but somebody had already appeared behind him and covered his mouth with their palm. The person then drove a dagger into Draven's heart before letting go of his mouth.

An unbearable pain surged through his body, but before he could pass out, somebody spoke to him.

"The cruelty of this world. It's a pity they only used you as their weapon when you could be so much more.

"I can save you, but you must pay a price for it."

"The price is to become my slave. I will even allow you to have your revenge after saving you."

Without hesitation, he replied in a choked voice, "Yes... I want... to... become... your slave... Please save... me." Immediately after uttering those words, his world plunged into complete darkness.

*********

Assassin Number 2 POV

"RETREAT! Every soldier, fall back to the stronghold." As soon as those words were spoken, many began to withdraw.

"Vidal, we have to retreat now. This battle is over. If we don't pull back, we'll die..." a soldier said as he started carrying another on his shoulder. The one on the shoulder seemed to be badly injured.

"Telio, retreat without me. I'll just slow you down..." Vidal spoke, expressing concern for his friend's safety.

"Leave no man behind, remember. That's the rule we made when we joined the army. I won't abandon you to the mercy of our enemies," Telio declared as he swiftly retreated with Vidal on his shoulder. Their bond as battle brothers is so unyielding that they refuse to forsake each other, even in the face of death. Such unwavering commitment is a rarity among people.

They arrived at their stronghold sometime later, and Telio immediately sent Vidal to the infirmary. However, upon reaching there, instead of treating Vidal's wounds, the nurses rushed to Telio. It turned out that in the heat of their retreat, an arrow had struck Telio in the back. But due to the adrenaline rush, he couldn't feel anything, and even though he had lost a significant amount of blood, he managed to carry Vidal to safety without realizing the severity of his injuries.

The nurses tried their best, but Telio had lost too much blood, and his heart couldn't operate properly. By the time his brain registered the situation, his heart had already stopped.

"NOOOOO!" Vidal cried out when he saw his friend's lifeless body lying on the bed. He blamed himself for being weak and useless. If Telio had just retreated without him, this wouldn't have happened. Vidal continued to blame and punish himself for the death of his friend, but suddenly, he heard a voice from behind him.

"You know he doesn't have to remain dead. I can save him, but the payment will be huge..." A figure with a dark cloak covering its entire body spoke.

Vidal immediately turned to the cloaked figure and said, "Whatever the payment is, I will pay. Even if I have to sell my soul to the devil, I will do anything to see my friend alive again."

"No need to be all dramatic. I am not the devil, and I do not take souls," the figure replied and then continued, "The payment will be your will of servitude. In order to save your friend, you will have to become my slave for all eternity."

"So tell me, Vidal, do you want to become my slave?"

"Yes, yes, I want to become your slave. Please save my friend," Vidal replied immediately.

As soon as he answered, the world turned dark and vanished.

******

Assassin Number 3 POV

The wind gently blew, causing the trees to sway, and birds soared through the sky. The scenery was breathtaking, radiating vitality. The rivers flowed with crystal-clear water so pure that one could quench their thirst and find nourishment without needing food. Friendly animals, including rabbits, cats, and dogs, roamed freely, adding to the idyllic atmosphere. In the heart of this magnificent environment stood a bustling house filled with people.

The richness of the surroundings echoed with the joyful cheers of the Wong family, a proud subsidiary of the esteemed Xian Great family. Their harmonious existence in this lush and vibrant haven reflected a life filled with contentment and joy.

Wong, the patriarch of this family, is a dedicated environmentalist whose studies and research have led to the discovery of numerous herbs, some of which became crucial ingredients in crafting high-grade pills and potions. These groundbreaking findings swiftly brought substantial wealth to the Wong family, elevating them to the highest echelons of society. Wong is revered by many for his contributions, yet, like any influential figure, he has also garnered a few enemies along the way.

Despite the prosperity, a shadow loomed over Wong's life when the bond between his family and the Xiao Family, which seemed unbreakable, took an unexpected turn. In a betrayal that caught Wong off guard, the Xiao Family moved to eliminate his family. It's a stark reminder that sometimes those we trust the most can be the ones to stab us in the back.

One day, Wong returned from a trip after being away for a month. Under normal circumstances, he would be welcomed with warm and welcoming hugs from his children and grandchildren. But on that particular day, he was greeted by the scene of the complete and total massacre of his entire family. Nobody was left alive.

Wong immediately broke; his heart shattered into a thousand pieces. What he was seeing was not something any man could endure. He witnessed scenes of mothers trying to shield their children from the attackers and brothers protecting their siblings. The scene was so heartbreaking that Wong failed to register a voice speaking from behind him. When he snapped out of his daze, he heard someone's voice.

"You and I both know who did this. The question is, are you going to do something about it or sit here and wallow in your self-pity?" a cloaked figure spoke.

"Who are you? And even if I want to do something, do you seriously think I can go against such a formidable force?" Wong spoke, trying to appear confident, but his teary eyes gave him away.

"Of course not. You won't have what it takes even to kill a chick. Don't overestimate yourself by projecting yourself to that level, even if it's just hypothetical," the cloaked figure spoke sarcastically.

"Then if you know this, why suggest it in the first place? If you don't have anything better to say, just leave me alone," Wong replied with a deep pain in his eyes.

"Straight to the point, kinda person I see..." the cloaked figure stated, then continued, "I can help you exact revenge so severely that they'll feel a hundred times the pain you are feeling right now. The payment is to become my slave for eternity."

"Whatever, it's not like I have anything worth living for anyway..." Wong replied, and immediately after uttering those words, his world darkened and vanished.