Prologue(1)

[An Island within the infinite Ocean]

As darkness loomed in over the starry night, a storm cloud brewed above. A sudden flash of lightning illuminated the sky as a thunderclap bellowed in the distance.

A spiraling fortress lay beneath the turbulent sky. Built on an abandoned island far from civilization, the isolated structure was layered in powerful barriers and secured with multiple forbidden curses.

The stronghold was the most secure prison in the Ziadane empire. Despite its majestic appearance outwards, underground it festered innumerable networks of dungeons that served as prison cells for criminals who had committed heinous crimes.

In addition to its fortified defenses, every prisoner was bound by dense kulver chains that hampered magic, thereby crushing any hopes of escape.

In the unlikely scenario of an outbreak, the incarcerated were immediately killed by the prison's elite guard, all A-rank mages hired exclusively by the Warlock association.

Every single day, hundred of low lives, traitors and criminals were dragged in chains to be imprisoned underground and rot for eternity

Today was no exception.

Rustic chains scraped against the ground.

-Clink

-Krgghh

Prison guards tugged along the inmates, leading them underground.

However, one peculiar prisoner stood out. A man completely restrained by chains from head to toe, not allowing any movement at all, with only a small gap barely allowing him to breathe.

He showed no emotion or reaction to the loud hollering and insults thrown out. For he was a man who saw the bigger picture, the very picture he intended to paint for the world tonight.

As the prisoners were shoved into their cells one after the other, this man's journey continued downwards to a point where the screams of his fellow inmates had become a distant echo.

The silence overpowered any noise underground, he could hear his own heartbeat louder than the storm raging outside.

However, he was neither anxious nor distressed, instead, the man gave off an air of indifference.

As his journey finally came to an end, his chains were replaced by humongous handcuffs.

These were not ordinary either, each cuff was enchanted with gravity magic, and was harder than mithril.

The guard then shoved him in a solitary cell and locked it from the outside, ensuring no possibility of a breakout. However, as he saw the carefree demeanor of the man, a certain discontent arose within him.

He scoffed at the audacity of this prisoner.

"Huh, bastards, all act tough in the beginning but always give up after a few days."

He had no doubt that this prisoner would be no different.

To his annoyance, the man showed no response, merely glaring back at him.

"Tch worthless bastard..."

In the end, the guard walked away choosing to not waste his time anymore.

-------------------------

[A few hours later.....]

The storm showed no signs of dying down, as six figures emerged from a shadow portal, and approached the perimeter of the fortress.

Suddenly, a device on their wrists buzzed.

"It's time" The gaunt swordsman whispered, unsheathing his blade.

Umbral shadows began to encircle his lean figure as his eyes shined off a dark glow.

"Hmmph! Finally, I was getting tired of waiting."

A giant within the group gathered a large amount of mana enlarging his hammer and instantly struck the ground, releasing countless shockwaves that erupted forth.

The island trembled beneath his blows, as his attacks shook the prison.

His monstrous strength had shattered every barrier blocking their path.

" See that Maximus? I told you the warden was weak"

He chuckled smacking the ground creating gigantic tremors that were met with pulsating golden barriers.

A furious shout echoed within the group as a man with a fiery aura barked.

"Watch it, some of us are trying to concentrate here".

He was not a big fan of the reckless shockwaves that tore apart the ground.

Fortunately, this had been their plan all along.

A man wearing a black suit started fiddling with his white gloves, he then put on a strange mask to hide his identity. Something the others had already done.

"I thought I told you to use our codenames, and don't underestimate the warden. A few hundred years ago he was one of the few S+ mages specializing in defense.".

Although he had just warned the others, Maximus had no intention of staying outside the battle. An ominous aura exerted from his body.

This simple action was enough to put the others into caution, a destructive pressure filled the atmosphere where these 6 mages gathered.

The fiery magician smirked.

"Don't worry Max, I am not that easy to kill."

Running his had through his hair, the man stretched out his arms, earning another glare from Max

"it's time to start the show"

He clasped his hands together, embers erupted from within him.

Instantly, most of his body had turned to flame, his figure flickered and shot up towards the sky.

In the middle of the pitch-black night, it seemed as if the whole sky had lit up!

As the guards looked towards the source, a flaming phoenix had appeared out of nowhere!

However, to their dismay, the phoenix was dashing down with all its force towards the fortress. This was an attack that could not be dodged.

A truly divine technique.

The phoenix was akin to a meteor, its sheer speed could not be perceived. It struck the ground completely destroying a quarter of the area.

The attack directed towards the prison engulfed everything in between. A massive explosion erupted from within, sending numerous shockwaves through the earth.

The other mages simply observed, feeling no need to take part in this massacre.

After seeing the explosion, the mages instantly flickered away.

They all had their own task and once the battle had started it would be very difficult to accomplish.

witch pulsing her aura to communicate as she got ready to charge in.

"Queen, it seems we have to rush in now, I sense he has received the signal and will start moving soon."

" I agree."

A strange aura surrounded another young girl as she sent 2-3 summoned ravens to survey the situation.

Inside the fortress....

All hell broke loose. Guards were running around trying to confirm the situation. Even though only 1/4th of the prison was attacked, this did not mean that the other areas were safe.

A guard with a red helmet could be seen dashing upwards towards the top of the tower.

As soon as he reached the top, he flung the office door open and saluted.

"Warden Bartholomew Sir! Vice-captain Geralt reporting for duty"

The warden was already aware of the attack but could not do much. If he were to face the attackers directly, there would be no telling what would happen to the defences he had planted. His job was not to kill the attackers but to defend the fortress.

However, judging from the grand explosion a few minutes ago, the enemy was no simple mage. Someone who could execute that level of attack was no amateur.

Bartholomew grumbled, as he furrowed his brows.

" Report the situation, what's going on outside"

The warden was a high-class paladin who had retired from the frontlines. Alas seeing the solemn expression on his face Geralt could not help but worry himself.

"Yes sir! We have confirmed that a single mage had executed that attack. It seems the earthquakes earlier could also be his doing"

He narrowed his eyes, it seems his hunch had been right... this was no simple break-in attempt...

"Hmmh.. Where is that mage now?"

"He's isolated in sector three. The emergency squad has already engaged him. His flames are also spreading through the area, we already tried a plethora of ice and water magic, but they weren't extinguished."

The warden clenched his jaw and barked.

"Someone's idiotic enough to attack this place for sector three?" His eyes narrowed.

All the high-class prisoners were stored 10000 feet underground, there was absolutely no way for them to escape even if all the guards on the top were slaughtered.

The warden glanced towards the turbulent sky, this was not going to be a quiet night...