10 The First Opening
"Now that you're on board, I will pass to the next topic," Fray said, addressing the group with a focused gaze.
The room hushed, everyone awaiting Fray's next words.
"Actually, I don't just know the past; I know the future," Fray continued, making eye contact with each person. "Shortly, alongside the challenges of the Old Continent, there will be a big continental war. Millions will die, and the Dalma family will be wiped out."
"Come on, now you're talking nonsense, kid. Just when I was starting to believe you," Adam scoffed, leaning back with annoyance.
Ignoring Adam's disbelief, Fray pressed on, "The Dalma family has many enemies, and soon we'll be the enemy of the whole continent. Iskar City will face terrorist attacks, and our citizens will die. I won't go into details, but I need you to know the dangers we're up against. It's a motivation for us to get stronger as soon as possible."
Doubt crept into the group, and a sense of fear started to take hold.
"And that's not even the worst part. The shield has only twenty years before it collapses, and the beings outside our continent are unimaginably powerful. Some creatures can destroy our entire continent single-handedly." Fray
Elisa thought, (If what Fray is saying is true, can we really become strong enough to face these threats in just twenty years?)
Checking his pocket watch, Fray continued, "Now, let's talk about our future plans."
In the novel, Luke, despite having every advantage – formidable allies, a potent weapon, innate talents, and even powerful knowledge – ultimately fails to save humanity.
From Fray's perspective, the biggest reason for his failure was his reluctance to share. Luke hoarded power and knowledge, driven by a desire to become the strongest, he always occupied every opportunity for himself even if it was best for someone else he never shared, only to discover in the end that he wasn't enough.
On the contrary, Fray, having fought a solitary battle throughout his life, understood the significance of a team, recognizing the weaknesses of going it alone.
Right from the beginning, Fray committed to sharing everything – information, power, and secrets – to build the strongest team. He knew that creating a formidable team was the only way to confront future threats effectively.
Thus for the next hour, Fray shared any information he deemed beneficial for the group, divulging secrets and strategies to strengthen themselves.
Despite giving them only surface-level knowledge, the group now holds a level of insight into the world that exceeds the understanding of any currently living human.
After laying out his plans and emphasizing their flaws and low likelihood of success, Fray concluded, "That's the overview for now; I'll provide more detailed information at specific stages when the timing is right. Any questions?"
"So, let me get this straight. You don't just want to control the Dalma family or the human continent; you want to take over the whole world and get rid of every other race except humans?" Adam asked, looking puzzled.
"Haha, I really like this plan," Casper chimed in with enthusiasm.
"This path is very risky, and death or worse could be on the table. Just so you know, sacrifices and guilt will be part of it. Knowing this are you still on board ?" Fray asked.
"Okay, if what you're saying is true, I don't see any other choice," Elisa admitted with a sigh.
"You still haven't proven what you're saying is true," Adam added, sticking to his scepticism.
Suddenly without answering Fray, rises from the conference table, before proceeding to the balcony's edge.
Observing their Fray's actions, Adam, Elisa, and Casper exchanged puzzled glances. Casper, seizing the initiative, followed Fray, positioning himself at his side, looking at the expansive ocean where Fray was fixing his eyes.
Responding to the unfolding scenario, Elisa decided to join them, standing side to side with Fray and Casper.
In a somewhat irked tone, Adam finally stood as well as he inquired, "What are we waiting for?"
Mumbling as he consulted his watch, Fray offered, "The current time is 11:44 and 30 seconds." Initiating a countdown, he began, "10-9-8..."
The trio patiently awaited the conclusion of Fray's countdown, prompting a series of exchanged perplexed expressions. Concluding with "3-2-1," Fray prompted anticipation among the group.
The group, stirred by a mixture of intrigue and uncertainty, scanned their surroundings, awaiting the revelation promised by the countdown.
Just as the group poised for a collective response, an unprecedented phenomenon seized their attention.
Emerging from the ocean's heart, a colossal pillar of golden energy surged skyward, casting an ethereal glow upon the city below and instilling an unexpected warmth in the once-clear sky.
In a synchronous display of wonder, seven additional golden pillars materialized in distant horizons, each from a unique direction.
"..." The group, momentarily awestruck, exchanged glances, struggling to comprehend the surreal tableau unfolding before them.
Fray, fixated on the energy pillar, disclosed, "There is one crucial detail I have yet to share with you all. The Old Continent will open tonight."
As the pillars reached their zenith, they fractured the fabric of the sky itself. Massive dimensional rifts unfolded, like cosmic scars tearing through the veil of reality.
Thus the pillars start vanishing slowly leaving behind them seven fractures, pulsating with a mysterious energy, emitting an otherworldly hum that reverberates through the atmosphere.
The group, beneath this celestial spectacle, stood in collective awe and uncertainty. The sky, once a canvas of darkness, now bore the intricate marks of a cosmic event.
As the energy poles vanished, several digital-like windows materialized before the group, displaying messages of invitation and information.
[The Old Continent is open.]
[You are invited to the Old Continent.]
[The old continent will open for nine hours, please choose your journey.]
[Congratulations, you are invited to the Old Continent. You have received the System window.]
"Those are the portals to the other continent," Fray declared, his gaze fixed on the deep fractures in the sky. He continued, "So is this enough to prove that what I said was true?" Fray inquired, scrutinizing the expressions of the group.
"It looks like we don't have any choice," sighed Adam, accepting the reality of the unfolding situation.
"As I promised, I will join you," Elisa affirmed with a calm voice.
"Finally, some action! Haha. Yes, Young master, I will follow from now on," Casper eagerly proclaimed, barely containing his excitement.
"Good, because today we will enter the Old Continent," Fray declared with a serious tone, surprising the group.
"You said that it would take humans several days to come up with a way to enter the old continent, and no one will enter at first," Casper pointed out.
"Yes, I hate to say it, but it's almost impossible to reach the height of those portals," Elisa added.
"After several days, a scroll with the power to fly to that height will be created. Using it, humans will enter in the second opening. But I have another way to enter," Fray explained, revealing the metal stamper he had found.
"The Stamper!?" Adam mumbled in astonishment.
"The legendary weapons weren't the only things that the ancestors left for the ancient families; they also left six unique stampers just for this moment," Fray disclosed.
"So, we can enter using the Stamper?" Casper inquired.
"Yes, but before we enter, we should register ourselves as a guild," Fray announced, commanding, "System window."
Fray worked in the system window as the trio looked on, patiently waiting. Suddenly, a window appeared in front of each of them.
[You have been invited to be a co-founder of a clan; please come up with rules and a name for your guild.]
"Rules!? What does that mean!?" Adam asked inquisitively.
"Well, as I mentioned before, a guild is a team, and it has many benefits. The guild will always enter at the same place, and the rewards are more significant than those for a single person. But the most useful aspect of a guild is the rules. As a guild, we can establish any rules we want for each other to respect, and if anyone breaks those rules, the system will alert the others," Fray explained.
"It's truly useful. So, what rules should we put here?" Casper inquired.
Thus, the group spent several minutes discussing their rules until they settled on five:
[Rule 1: Forbidden to disclose any information related to the guild.
Rule 2: Forbidden to kill guild members.
Rule 3: Never disobey higher ranks' orders.
Rule 4: Never do anything that could hurt the clan.
Rule number 5: Once you enter the guild, it's forbidden to leave.]
