Rebirth

The Magus Plane.

Once, it was an extraordinary high plane, which went on conquering other planes, accumulating resources and knowledge to strengthen those powerhouses known as 'Magi', individual capable of using spell matrices to unleash terrifying spells.

However, roughly two thousand years ago, all the high-rank magi disappeared from the Southern Continent. It was as if they had all vanished. Now, only rank 1 magi roamed through the Southern continent, with a handful of rank 2 magi.

In the Dalian Empire, famous for its legacy of knights and its magical organization 'The Citadel', a youth was breathing roughly. Called Greem Bluehill, he possessed white hair in spite of his young age, red eyes and a muscular body. Although he was only 15 years old, he had accumulated considerable achievement and he was recognized in the army as an [Imperial Knight], a title that was only given to those with enough strength and merit.

Currently in the training grounds, he was facing eight soldiers by himself, all of them being veterans who had gone through years of training and survived actual battlefields. They were the strongest soldiers in the 13th Battalion of the Desert Imperial Fortress, a ford that contained thousands of imperial soldiers, and became an unbreakable symbol of the Dalian domination in the Southern Continent, especially in the South.

Subjugating bandits and exterminating the monsters that were in the area, any soldier who was stationed in the Desert Imperial Fortress would become an elite soldier in a matter of years. Because of the danger, harsh living conditions and terrifying competition, it was actually a fortress where outlaws would be conscripted in order to avoid jail time. Because of their criminal nature, some soldiers were very stubborn, although order and discipline would be engraved in their bones and muscles.

No criminal would still be lawless after years of being beaten down continuously.

Out of the eight soldiers who had challenged his authority, four were already on the ground, knocked out. As for the other four, one had received a powerful kick already, and he could feel that one of his ribs had definitely been broken.

Greem smiled: "What is it? Are you really unable to continue fighting?"

The three soldiers nodded to each other and advanced in a formation, with the tallest soldier giving up his sword for a better grasp on his shield, while the other two were advancing with menacing spears.

Greem nodded at this formation, which was the first thing that you would be taught as an imperial soldier. However, Greem was not just a soldier.

In the Dalian Army, he was known as the [Grinning Knight], for he would always grin while fighting, which was terrifying to his opponents who would receive strong and accurate blows. Having defeated four desert bandits who had reached the knight realm in the past year only, he had been given the rank of [Lieutenant] by Baron Bromunt himself.

Greem Bluehill was a rising star in the Desert Imperial Fortress, nicknamed as the [Oasis] by the soldiers living in it. There was no soldier who had not seen him training, and although he would often be very brutal during spars, he was a man who would be even tougher on himself, going through dozens of hours of training a day, pushing his body to its utmost limits.

Having recently reached the knight realm, he had cemented his authority as the youngest lieutenant to have ever been promoted in the history of the Desert Imperial Fortress.

Moving forward, Greem seemed to see through their formation and instead of trying to dodge the incoming spears, he deflected them with his shield. Seconds later, a powerful blow obliterated the sturdy shield from the shield bearer, sending him flying onto the ground. The two remaining soldiers who had lost their footing from Greem's powerful parry, fell just as quickly, as the young Imperial knight quickly thrust his sword onto their chest.

Fortunately, spars with actual weapons were forbidden, so the soldiers would use wooden swords. Otherwise, it would not have ended with a couple of broken bones, but rather, death.

*Clap*

*Clap*

Although dozens of soldiers had watched this incredible scene, only one man clapped.

"Impressive, Greem...", a man, twenty five years old roughly, with a growing beard and blond hair, spoke, "But did you really have to beat them to this extent?"

Greem frowned.

Although his military achievements were respected by all, he had also drawn some jealousy from his peers, especially those who had been dubbed 'geniuses'. Having met someone with more talent than themselves, they treated Greem as an enemy, a political opponent, rather than an ally. In the 13th Battalion, there were three knights: Greem Bluehill himself, Arthur Greenford and John Warmth, the very man who was clapping.

Greem grinned, faithful to the title bestowed upon him, "They seemed to have been ordered to seek trouble, breaking the code of hierarchy. If they had done it out of their own accord, I would not have been so lenient. Were you the one who sent them?"

John Warmth's faith contorted, not expecting Greem to see through his act. He never thought that Greem would be able to defeat 8 veteran soldiers by himself.

'He was not even able to hold a proper sword, three years ago...What a monster...', John thought to himself.

"Actually, why am I talking to you? There is no way you would admit it yourself...", Greem grinned again as he walked towards a soldier who had regained consciousness, stomping his wrist

*ARGH*

A cry of agony reverberated in the settlement, but Greem quickly muffled it down, choking him: "Tell me, who sent you?"

The soldier tried to resist, but feeling that Greem would not stop unless he fainted, or even died, decided to talk: "It was...It was Lieutenant John!"

Greem's eyes turned cold.

"John Warmth...You went too far this time around. I will report it to our captain Arthur Greenford. The old man is known for upholding justice. Even if you are a lieutenant, you will not stay in the 13th Battalion with what you have done"

Returning to his personal tent, Greem took out a hidden chest, and took out a potion, before drinking it all. As if he were speaking to himself, he said: "Biochip, give me a body scan"