Should I just give up?

You could hear the thinking gears turn in Declar's head as he couldn't fathom a stronger being than the old man.

Declar on the verge of giving up remembered his mother's last words

"Survive and avenge me, avenge your father and the Leonidas clan for this unjust act of the Evandros, to them become the retribution of Leonidas".

His resolve crystallized, he recovers from the shock of thinking of the unimaginable foe he will face in the future.

Barging his head into the ground once more, the impact echoed, blood gushing down his face, his unwavering determination etched an indelible mark of respect upon the old man.

Each drop narrated a story of resilience, painting a brutal portrait of Declar's will of never giving up on his revenge.

"Old man, impart me your strength and I'll do your will, your adversaries shall become mine, your burdens shall find a home upon my shoulders"

Declar's gaze was fixed on the old man as he expected an answer, he wasn't going to give up.

The old man shakes his head as he sighs and said.

"Come with me"

Declare was puzzled regardless he rose to his feet as he followed the old man.

They both walked for about fifteen minutes, Declar still puzzled but he followed diligently without uttering a word.

The old man stopped, right before him was a chasm, he spoke.

"Here boy, have a look".

Declar with his wobbly steps went to the edge to have a look for Himself, kicking some stones into the chasm, he watched the stone descent swallowed by the profound dark pit. Not a whisper echoed from the unseen depths below.

"In there are numerous beasts that live by only one rule, kill or be killed"

The old man said as he smiled at Declar, The next statement to come out of his mouth was a shock, leaving a heavy silence that lingered in the air.

"Jump"

~WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~

The wind blew sending shivers down Declar's spine, leaving him chilled to the bone.

"J-jump?"

Declar asked the old man.

"Did I stutter?, I said jump, you have seven days to climb back up here, if after seven days you are not back up I'd come to pick your corpse and bury you next to your mother, if there is a corpse to retrieve that is"

Cold sweat ran down Declar's forehead- No it was his whole body, he look down into the chasm once again.

'I know I said I'd do anything, but is this not insane?'

Declar thought, at the time the old man walked away from the chasm as if he was headed back to the shelter.

"If you can't do it, just come with me and forget about your revenge, recover and go far away from here and live a peaceful life".

The old man said as he looked back at Declar, just to find out he was talking to himself all this while, he used phantom steps to swiftly rush to the edge of the chasm, just to see Declare plummeting into the abyss.

~HAHAHAHAHAHAHA~

"He jumped!!! Haha what a brave lad!!! Interesting indeed!!!"

***************** At the Hexagon Table. ***************

Gracefully poised, Jack Tempest spoke.

"I'd like to congratulate the new master of the Blade fortress, we all know he has proven his strength to hold such formidable position"

Acknowledging validation, their head gently bobs in agreement as they look towards Axel Evandros, Helio looks around watching everyone bobbing their head he joined in.

A subtle yet affirming gesture, the rhythmic nod speaks volumes, silently confirming understanding and acceptance.

"Now the reason we are all gathered here… The Legion of Doom" Jack Tempest continued.

An icy gust, casting an ominous shadow. The air thickened, their eyes flared in rage, all smiles disappeared and unspoken tension seized the atmosphere.

Eyes met with a shared discomfort, and the room, once filled with cheer, now harbored a chilling undercurrent, This showed how much dread the name Legion Of Doom carried.

"We have won the war against them, but traces of their operations are still evident on the continent… "

Jack spoke as a map magically appears out of thin air, it slowly spreads on the hexagon table, it was a detailed map of the continent

Five circles of lights shone over the map pointing at different locations.

"Their traces have been found in Jorda, Kensar, Patabas, Lukat and Fropava" Jack said.

"They must have fled into hiding after their leader, Rokan the berserker was defeated by us" Caesar said.

"I believe so too," Jack replies. "Their traces has been found in one more location which was even quite a surprise to me"

Another circle of light appeared upon the map, everyone sitting on the hexagon table could not believe their eyes.

The sixth circle of light was shown right above a very popular place known to everyone on the continent, it was the valley of death.

Axel Evandros muttered in disbelief.

"but that could not be possible, Master Tempest".

Jack Tempest smirked at Axel and said.

"I'd have said so myself, but there traces of the Legion of Doom lurking in the premises of the valley of death, it would have remained unknown if not for this evidence "

The body of a beast appeared in the center of the hexagon table being suspended in the air by Jack Tempest 4th circle magic, telekinesis.

"Hmm… A Dark Nian" said George Adler.

"Very correct master Adler, This dark blood Nians was killed and one other was captured by the local hunters in Cartesika, where one of the entrances to the valley of death lies…."

"Thankfully they had skilled masters amongst them, otherwise I fear that would have been their end and the existence of the Legion of Doom would have remained unknown"

Jack Tempest continued.

"This is a beast made known to the continent after the appearance of the Legion of Doom, they move in packs and we all know how ferocious and untamable this beasts are"

"This is a serious matter, we need to address this with immediate effect, the people might be in danger as we speak". Thomas Henry added.

"Honored masters, may I humbly express my thoughts on this matter?"

Helio said, every member of the hexagon table had their eyes fixated on him as he uttered the sentence.

"What does a greenhorn have to say to a matter being handled by old hands of Wisdom".

Stavros Caesar questioned Helio.

"Let him speak, as long as he's sitted on one of the seats of the hexagon table, he is qualified to contribute to the matter and I do hope this doesn't happen again Master Caesar…"

Jack Tempest's eyes glowed as he gave a warning to Stavros Caesar.

"Ahem… pardon my behavior master Tempest"

Helio gave him a gentle smile as he continued…

"Thank you master Tempest, since we have another Dark Nian in holding, why don't we release it and let it go?"

Stavros Caesar flared as he confronted Helio.

"Release it?!!! I knew he was about to say something stupid… Why would we release a dangerous bea…"

Stavros Caesar couldn't finish his statement as Jack Tempest released his aura pressuring him.

~BRRRRRRDDDDDD~

The castle walls shook to the enormous aura of Jack Tempest as he said with a voice piercing the soul.

"I was sure, I warned you not let a another time come to existence master Caesar"

Everyone present at the hexagon table was forced to use their aura earnestly to protect themselves from this great force Jack Tempest released.

~KUAAACKKKK~

Caesar spat blood as he said with strained voice giving a slight bow and arms tightly clasped, he pleaded.

Jack Tempest's aura pressured Caesar greatly, under the weight of great pressure, he could not help but reluctantly descend into a kowtow position.

"I'm sorry master Tempest, I was moved by impulse".

"Impulse??? A master of the hexagon table moved on impulse?" Jack Tempest replied.

Stavros Caesar with nothing to say, overwhelmed in the sense of shame.

'This is one of the masters of the great hexagon table?' Helio thought as he looked at Caesar groveling on the ground.

The six masters are supposed to be the greatest masters- The world's greatest masters, but it looked as if Jack Tempest was disciplining an arrogant brat.

What Axel Evandros and Helio Dragonheart had just witnessed left them in a shock as they were just the new members of the Hexagon Table and a representative.

They were still unfamiliar with Jack Tempest, no wonder he's the leader of the Hexagon table, this incident made them realize, Jack Tempest is no master to be trifled with.

"Please quell your anger master Tempest"

George Adler said as he bowed and pleaded on behalf of Stavros Caesar.

Jack Tempest withdrew his aura and sighed.

"Thank you Master Tempest". Stavros Caesar bowed in relief.

George Adler shook his head in disappointment.

The whole room fell into a profound silence, The air hung still, pregnant with unexpressed thoughts as Stavros Caesar gently sat back on his seat.

"Please continue master Helio, I'm sure you weren't done talking before you were interrupted… Why do you suggest we release the dark Nian?"

Jack Tempest said with a total calm face as if nothing had happened.

"Ahem… yes, I believe releasing the beast would be the best strategy we can take, since dark Nians moves in groups there are definitely more in the valley of death"

Helio slowly gained his composure as he spoke.

"This two must have strayed from the pack because they were short on food and had no choice but to hunt farther away"

"Hmmm… I see so we track the released beast back to it's pack and possibly we can find the base of the Legion of Doom set up in the valley of death".

George Adler replied to Helios' words.

"Master Adler is as wise as tales proclaimed" said Helios as he took a bow in the direction of George Adler.

"I guess fighting is not all he knows, unlike his father, he has quite the commendable intelligence, I see why he sent you here in his stead". Jack Tempest said.

"I thank master Tempest for his undeserving praise". Helio replied

"Axel Evandros, I'd assign this task to you, form a team of elites to be sent down to Cartesika with immediate effect and carry out this mission with no flaws".