Prolog + Chapter 1 Submit to Humiliation

PROLOG

"They finally come!" said one of the people.

Another chaos happened at this time. New villain organization started to surreptitiously operate in public. And this is the third time this week. Fliers were spread on the street. 

The challenge to become "The New," was spreading like a virus. People start to wonder about them, their intention, and their purpose. 

The agenda behind all of this was only to get the emperor's attention. Because when he realized, it would be late to take the action. 

That man behind understood this so well. When someone like that emperor was placed in a tight situation, a reckless decision couldn't be avoided.

And Inside the same exact flier that people get, the leader of The New was introduced as 'Shadow'.

Under people's curiosity, he never appeared. This was what made the game more interesting for him. The one and only 'shadow' behind all of this. The man who was no longer a boy, but a courageous and fearless man, who fears nothing.

CHAPTER 1 - SUBMIT TO HUMILIATION

"Can you look at that?" The sound of people murmuring came from the crowd. 

"Boy, wouldn't you get up and fight?" Said one of the men behind that young boy. 

A fight that happened took a longer time than what people thought. The ruthless knights, a wrecked boy, the tension, and the blood. It was witnessed by people around them. But no one ever dared to reach out their hand, it was high tier Bismouth either way. 

Gold knights Bismouth, were the most trusted knights in the empire. King Esten personally chose them as his right hand. Same with Gold Healer Sora.

Turning back to more than thousand years ago, this world did not look so beautiful as it is right now. Because of human failure and greed, people were living in hell. Barren land, poor water, and dry river. They could only take until the earth has nothing to give. 

Before the end of humanity, heaven sent five great sorcerers to help them. With the blessing of Deity, they created a beautiful world with fertile land and the never ending flow of flourishing resources. Following with the knowledge that helped humans for decades. 

But like the nature of humans, people start to feel unsatisfied with what happened. they started to blame the unfairness of Deity, and asked for more power. 

With the heavy feeling of envy towards the sorcerers, they ask heaven to be given the same knowledge and power. And as a form of pity for them once again, Heaven let the sorcerer live as a human to spread the knowledge and power among them. 

It was a given at that time that sorcerers could share and teach the humans some of their power. And people called them users, meaning someone who could use the blessing from heaven. 

Bismouth for those who could transfer their mana energy to tools and weapons.

Sora who could transfer the healing energy using water as the transition. 

By the times, people could become Bisouth and Sora naturally by learning, since the knowledge to learn was given to them by the sorcerers.

But different from other humans who learn, the descendant of sorcerers is the most powerful one. They could get the same real power as the heaven sorcerer. Controlling all of the energy and using it wherever they want. And not leaving the heavenly language and chanting they got from Deity himself, at that time, it's their nature for the descendants of sorcerers to make everything possible .

They help humans willingly by the will of Deity. But only one descendant per sorcerer would have the power at the same time. So then they called the chosen one as a Chanter. And they made those five descendants as their ruler, until the root of the dark, shadowing humans once again with the sin of greed.

Back to the present time, the fifteen years old poor boy, who laid on the cold damp road in the middle of the city, was famously known as a low tier Bismouth.

"Damn.. this poor boy should never have tried to be a knight. How useless." Said one of them laughing. 

The Eagle sign, which was engraved on their armor, giving them power as the brave knight of Wouster Kingdom, under the Emperor of Esten. And no one dared to confront them. It was the second reason people only stood-still watching it. 

"What a stupid. He should just use their power at the barn." Said one of the knights. "I don't even know what the commander saw in this piece of trash. Gold knight only accept a high tier Bismouth."

"Well. Everyone can learn as a Bismouth but the high tier is given by Deity. Even a beggar knows their place!" 

They laugh.

Drake, who could only listen and endure, biting his lips until it bled. His body was unable to receive any punch or attack, and his swollen eyes prevented him from seeing clearly. The mockery, their satisfied feeling. It was like adding vinegar to his wound. 

Another kick landed on his face. "Look at this. How dare he steal the important decree from His Majesty. That's why we were not able to follow the order!" 

One of them pulled his hair, and forced him to stand. "Detain this boy and his family!" 

He who lost all of his hope, from his swollen eyes only could see his grandmother in the middle of the crowd, the one and only his family "No.." He whispered before a blackout came .

Later that he knew, another nightmare was waiting in front of him. 

______

"Wake up!" Someone splashed him with water. 

It was not that he didn't want to wake up. But he couldn't make his eyes open. The rotten smell of woods and humid air, the laugh that never stopped. He was so sure they brought him to some abandoned basement. And even after this, he won't submit to their request. 

With heavy chains holding both of his arms, he couldn't do anything to wipe his face. It's hard for him to breathe with his nose. 

They wanted him to submit. But this is the biggest dilemma for him. 

Drake was a man of his words. While having the promise to work for the kingdom and people, the truth was coming so hard. What's the point of his resistance until now? Nothing goods came from it.

 He was raised by his grandmother, who was strictly an uptight person. And until now, he thought obeying the law was the least he could do to keep his family safe. His grandmas always told him to follow their grandfather's steps, protecting the emperor and the kingdom.

"On man, boy, if you're useless as a user, then it would be better if you just live as a normal. You just bring misery to your family." Someone said, and it was followed by the slap sound at the same time when his grandma screamed. 

"NO!!" Drake tried to open his heavy lids. And under the dim yellow light, he saw his grandma on the floor. 

"Don't you dare touch her!" The chain on his body prevented him from moving. It was so desperate for him at this time. "Please…"

"Speak you trash! Confess that you stole the decree. Then we will let your grandma go." Said the man who sat on the chair. Without the doubt, he was obviously the commander. 

Drake moved his sight to him, and the realization washed over him. He is Hugo, the fifth commander of the Gold Knight. He knew him for sure. It was him who accepted Drake into his division. And it was also him to let the other subordinates bully him for the last fifth month.

When Drake was accepted into his knight division months ago, he couldn't believe that such a great opportunity existed for a low tier like him. He felt that he could reaching his dreams to become the greatest knight. After all, his loyalty without a doubt was real from his root. But right now, the reality seemed so far.

The other knight never stopped pushing him around. And it was worsened by his sharp instinct of people's emotions. That sharp feeling of other people's presence, only became a burden for him. Enduring the abuse while receiving the strong hatred and humiliation. If his heart could kill it, it would be the best.

They always used him as a punching bag. But he never quit. Because of his promise to grandmother, he couldn't quit. Though deep down, he no longer wanted to do anything with these horrible knight. The disappointment to find the knight that he respected so much was just another corrupt and horrible bunch of people, would never be erased from his memory.

Under his shaky breath, his voice came out hoarsely. "You .. bunch of people never stop." 

Drake didn't take anything. But those people in the first place, wanted him to confess what he didn't do. He knew nothing about the decree. So how could he steal it. 

"This is so fucking annoying! If you want to waste my time, you better think twice." Hugo stood, only to kick him multiple times.

"People ,, " Kick

"Like you.. " Kick

"Should never be born…" Kick

The hardest kick landed on his stomach. "Fucking useless! Confess or I will kill your grandma.. " 

with this last blow finally Drake give up his pride. "I will, I will confess everything. Let her go." he coughed, the blood splattering everywhere. 

His heavy body fell shamefully on the ground. And now, his eyes were on the same level with his grandma. Her unmoving body looked so fragile. The strongest woman he knew, had to endure everything because of his stupidness. And with his pride crushed, Drake uttered the words from his bleeding mouth, "I did it, I did steal the decree."