Chapter 1 - The Royal City of Estola

SOLARA'S Middle Region was home to the esteemed Royal City of Estola, a bustling hub within the Great Empire of Aeloria, renowned for its technological advancements.

Despite its modernity, the citizens of Estola led lives that were similar to ours in many ways.

The streets of Estola lacked private vehicles, which were reserved only for the royals or the elites of society.

These people possessed luxurious levitating cars, a symbol of their status, while the commoners relied on levitating buses or trains that ran on the remarkable force of elemental energy. 

These modes of transportation, though advanced, were no match for the magical mode of transportation that Estola boasted, the teleportation portals.

These mystical portals facilitated swift travel between different city zones, albeit for a small fee dependent on the distance covered.

Though slightly costlier than public transportation, the convenience and speed they offered made them a popular choice among the citizens.

Estola, the Royal City, was grand, but the resplendent Royal Palace was the jewel in the crown.

Its imposing architecture was awe-inspiring and regarded as one of the most phenomenal structures in the entire empire.

King Anderson, a young king from the esteemed Great Blackwood Family, had dethroned his predecessor, King Onam, less than two decades ago.

He had earned the respected title of Great Elementalist within Solara by commanding Level 50 Earth Elemental King status.

Despite his young age, King Anderson was a wise ruler whose confident demeanor spoke of a leader unyielding in his pursuit of justice and prosperity for his empire.

With each step in his ascension, he carried himself with the grace of a king born to rule, his presence radiating strength and charisma that left an indelible impression on all who crossed his path.

The Great Empire of Aeloria was vast, and it was overseen by Twelve Great Families, each entrusted with the governance of a specific city.

Under King Anderson's leadership, all Patriarchs, direct descendants and prominent figures of the main families were relocated to the Royal City of Aeloria.

Only the branch families remained, carefully selected to manage and secure each city efficiently.

These branch families were closely monitored by a few higher-ups of the main families alongside the younger generation of the main families.

This was part of the main families' younger generation's training under the guidance and protection of the Family Protectors at the Elemental Kings' level.

Communication between cities has become incredibly convenient, due to the latest technological advancements. However, long-distance travel was still a challenge for this empire.

To address this issue, the Elemental Array of Teleportation was implemented, which allowed for swift travel in emergencies. But this method was quite costly, as it required a lot of resources.

To solve this problem, King Anderson and his team of Elementalists came up with the idea to build a proper network of roads between cities.

This initiative aimed to safeguard trading routes and ensure quick emergency reinforcements could be dispatched.

However, these roads were not entirely safe, as wild Elemental Beasts and bandits often roamed them, constantly threatening travelers.

Civilians and merchants had to risk their lives to cross these routes, and if they dared to do so, they had to seek the aid of Adventurers or Hunters from the Associations, the Elementalists who chose not to pledge allegiance to any empire.

Despite the dangers involved, Adventurers and Hunters played a crucial role in safeguarding convoys hired by mission bidders.

They operated on a fair payment basis and committed to their tasks despite inevitable clashes with Elemental Beasts or bandits.

This intricate ecosystem was a mix of diverse entities, including civilians, merchants, transportation providers, Adventurers, and Hunters.

Each entity relied on the others, forming a symbiotic relationship that facilitated the exchange of resources, technology, and expertise, enriching the lives of residents in every city.

King Anderson's twenty-year reign was a great success that brought remarkable progress in power, technology, commerce, and security, due to a surge in the recruitment of Elementalists.

However, even amidst all the prosperity, a shadow loomed over the Royal City of Estola - the infamous Waste District. King Anderson had tried everything to eliminate the Waste District, but nothing worked.

That's why he called the Twelve Great Families to the royal city, hoping they could plan and work together.

Despite his efforts, he still couldn't find a solution and waited for the right moment to act against the entity that was overseeing the Waste District.

"Is there truly no way for us?" King Anderson asked, sounding frustrated.

The Twelve Great Commanders and the Patriarchs of the Twelve Great Families stood behind him, all their attention focused on Gate 1.

This massive iron door was said to be reserved only for the royal family, but in reality, nobody could open it.

They had tried everything, even attacking with their full power, but not even a scratch was left on its surface.

They tried to fly over it, but it felt like an Illusionary Elemental Array had been cast over it. No matter how high they flew, the door seemed to get higher and higher.

"I'm afraid so, Your Majesty," the Chief Commander, Zacrose, a serious middle-aged man, replied with a grave tone.

Together with him were the strongest Elementalists in the empire. If they couldn't handle the situation, they might need help from even more powerful Elementalists or empires.

But asking for their help could lead to the worst outcomes, like losing their land. Legends said that the absolute ruler of the empire was behind Gate 1.

This ruler didn't care about King Anderson or the elites. But if there were problems in the Waste District, the said ruler would punish those causing trouble.

"Damn it!" King Anderson shouted, hitting the iron door hard with his punch, solely relying on his physical prowess.

A loud noise echoed as King Anderson punched the door. However, despite his efforts, the door had remained unscratched.

Unlike his predecessor, the King knew that the entity on the other side of the door held great power and felt uneasy as long as it existed. He hoped to end it once and for all. 

Suddenly, the door shook, not from his punch, but as if it was ready to open.

Everyone grew tense as King Anderson attempted to release his hand from the door, but something seemed to hold it firmly in place.

"Huh?" King Anderson was confused.

"Why Your Majesty?" Zacrose asked, not understanding what was happening. 

A powerful force then hit the King before he could answer, sending him flying backward at a frightening speed.

"Your Majesty!" The Twelve Great Commanders rushed to the scene to assist the king. 

They braced themselves against the violent impact and managed to keep the king from flying further.

However, the force was so strong that it knocked them all back, and they ended up lying on the ground, far from where they had initially stood.

"What happened?!" exclaimed one of the Patriarchs, shocked by the state of King Anderson. 

The King's war armor, made of the most advanced technology and parts of the strongest Elemental Beast Kings' bodies, shattered at his abdomen.

"This is the first time he strikes back. That attack wasn't physical; it was an aura. I'm sure it is less than one percent of his full strength," explained King Anderson.

"Not even one percent...Your Majesty, should we reconsider?" suggested Zacrose.

Before King Anderson could respond, the iron door trembled once more, signaling its imminent opening.

They all felt fear. Every attempt to breach Gate 1 had been met with a formidable aura, effortlessly nullifying their assaults.

They stood prepared, their auras and powers at the ready, should they face retaliation.

Suddenly, the door was not opened but a space-time portal materialized, and a tall and imposing figure emerged, shrouded in a brown robe that concealed his features.

Despite the obscured visage, the aura was undeniably intimidating, rooting them to the spot.

"W-who are you?!" Darwin, the Patriarch of the Great Lukewarm Family, dared to inquire, his voice trembling with uncertainty.

"I am Kados," declared a voice that resonated with ancient wisdom. 

Kados's words carried a weighty aura, compelling most Patriarchs to kneel except a few. The Great Commanders and King Anderson managed to stand, albeit with effort.

"I am a humble messenger of Her Majesty, the ruler of this domain," Kados continued, his tone unwavering.

"Her Majesty?" King Anderson laughed, his confidence unshaken. "Aeloria is under my rule. I am the rightful king!"

His words surged with elemental power, a testament to his Level 50 Elemental King status. He hadn't displayed such strength in years, but he sensed the gravity of the situation before him.

This man, Kados, was not to be underestimated.

"It is Her Majesty's domain," Kados replied calmly, evenly meeting the king's gaze.

"Where is she, then? If this is truly her domain, prove it. Let me face her," King Anderson challenged, his pride wounded by Kados's assertion. With each word, his aura intensified, readying himself for a potential confrontation.

"You are not worthy of an audience with her," Kados stated firmly.