Let looked back to Philip Odysseus and his ragtag company. 

Thing had been going decently well these last few days. Well… unless we included minor problems such as giant termite attacks, bandits, random charlatan selling dodgy medicine, more bandits, couples of Atlanta’s men getting sick from consuming said shady medicine and even more bandit, things were looking up for the young man.

Alas, not everyone agreed.

“This is a waste of time!” Atlanta accused the very sky for their predicament. “Her Majesty might already be captured and we are wasting time chasing rumors.”

Philip sighed. If her advisors were like this, it was no wonder why Penelope’s track-record was awful.

“Like I said, we don’t have many choices.”

Atlanta growled at the young man.

“It is your fault! You should…”

“Ma’am,” a soldier — a sergeant — stumbled toward them. “Our men detect a movement south from here! A platoon holding Acrisius flag is marching toward us, and we see Lord Promtus’ colors amongst.”

“Shit,” Philips said.

“Gather everyone! We are moving!” Atlanta swallowed a scream. Along with Kakia, Promtus was one of the two S-rank whose decision costed her everything. “Dammit! How could he find us this quickly?”

“My guess is one of your men is feeding him information,” Phillip yelled, but something caught his eyes in the distance. A glint of sunlight reflected into his eyes from somewhere.

Philip squinted

It was a silvery bird circling in the distance.

“The steel falcon shall guide path to the fortress of Dawn,” Philip recalled.

“What the hell are you saying?” Atlanta screamed as the remnant of royalist gathered their belonging for a rapid retreat.

“It is what my friend wrote in his letter,” Philip dared to hope. “We are nearly there.”

…

Meanwhile, in a nearby ravine, Hikma De Darwin sat beside a group of naked blurry bandits with a company of golden octopus. 

Throughout their previous adventures, HD constantly improvised on their communication. Rem’s constant paranoia about being wire-tapped by an outer god pushed them into investing many hours to think of countermeasures. Thankfully, ZAWARUDO newest set of skills solved this problem. As a universal hardware housing, the system directly managed by the most powerful being in the multiverse, ZAWARUDO possessed the network security to put to rest Rem’s fear of being lured into 50 vs 1 ambush by magical Mark Zuckerberg.

“Ehto, why on earth are there so many bandits?” Hikma was sick of visiting bandits and brigands harassing the refugees, subduing the problem maker, and stripping them naked. With Centuria on a collapse, HD lacked any effective method to deal with the multitude of prisoners. Rem could always mindbreak them to submission, but alas the Congress of Hope already ruled out that option.

Hence the criminal should expect being stripe naked or beaten up so much they couldn’t cause more problem.

[Because war bred misery. And misery bred crime. To be fair, Melody suggests we pass them to Duke Minos.]

“He will kill them or sell them to slavery,” Hikma pointed out.

[That is why we are building a more secure evacuation route. Rem and Luxinna expected the recruit to be ready in few days. Luxinna herself just volunteered to help handle the bandit’s problem herself.]

Hikma glanced at the sky.

“Ehto, I am not so sure about this,” Hikma opened the discussion. “Not everyone in the civil war has a choice, right? Sure, most of them are a career solider who signed on to die, but some among them is your average John drafted by an overbearing noble to be used as a meat shield. Part of the reason we refuse to be an active participant is to avoid the blood getting on our hand, but if Rem throws the duke at each other, we will be swimming in bodies anyway.”

[Rem is struggling with that. Trust me, listening to him mumbling about needing the solution for that conundrum is rapidly driving Melody mental.]

“I know, but this entire mess doesn’t sit well with m. I grew-up in the Middle East, Ehto. The entire area is a war-zone. This hit too close to home.”

[I can’t relate,] Ehto admitted. [But if you want good news, Rem and Cytortia expect a project called the Empathy Machine to fix that problem. Oh.] Ehto’s transmission paused. [Oh, this could be serious.]

 “Ehto, what are you doing?”

[One of our eagle drones detects an approaching group of people — probably a remnant of the Penelope’s army. Acrisius’ force is pursuing them.]

Hikma listened silently and stood.

[Our newest Mana-sensor detects an S-ranker amongst Acrisius force with another reading on the way. You should hurry and don’t forget to give your new suit a test-run.]

Golden octopus beside Hikma began searching within Horizon Dawn’s vast inventory and swapping out Hikma’s gear in a sweeping golden glow.

During their journey, Horizon Dawn’s R&D made a new breakthrough on the Aria Steel fiber threated with dragon-base alchemic solution to create a new fabric. This, combined with interwoven core of [Paradiso] enhanced material, made an anti-magic suit that was both light and impervious to most hazard in Phantasia.

The golden glowed faded, revealing a man cladded in a padded trouser, a blazer-like vest embellished with material worthy of the joint effort from Phantasia’s best crafter, alchemist and designer. His boot and glove were plated with Alchemically treated anti-magic metal. Hikma swung a utility belt across his waist. Upon his chest and back was the proud emblem of Horizon Dawn.

Once again, he took a glance at the helm in his hand. It was black and featureless. Unlike his original helmet, Ehto, inspired by Earth’s technology, made it fully electronic. 

If Hikma had a complaint about his super suit, it was demanding shade outside from matted black.

Hikma slipped on the helm, clicking it in place, and allowing the HUD to light-up.

ZAWARUDO also produced another gear — foldable flight booster. The device resembled a box with two handles placed on an opposite side. Once pull, it would generate a sophisticate crystalline wing augmented with back-propulsion. Melody designed this device to aid him in reaching Mach-speed. But personally, Hikma believed that Melody just used this as a prototype for that gravitation repulsor she an Ehto planned to put on that bike.

Hikma swung the booster behind his back. [Nimbus] — miniaturized into a thin black ring by this ankle after creating his Origin — was cast. Hikma flew into the air and pulled the two handles using both hands and unfurled the crystal wing.

“How long will it take?”

[Approximately 2 minutes from your location at Mach-2.]

“Good.”

Hikma broke the air in a sonic boom.

….

Philip Odysseus knew he was toasted the moment the smog tainted with sparks of flame cut their path of escape.

Next to him General Atlanta downright baulked at the massive of incinerating death barring their path. She looked at the voluminous curtain of ashen cloud cutting the circular boundary upon them. The spell must stretch for several kilometers to form a wall of darkness which cut all escape. It was the perfect display separating A-rank from the S-rank — the strong from the godlike.

Soon, he arrived upon them.

“Atlanta, I never imagine we would meet like this,”

“Praetor Promtus,” Atlanta paled before one of Centuria’s S-rankers.

Promtus was an old man oozing with power and authority. Flowing cloud of pyroclastic swirled around his robes, levitating the elderly man into the sky with support of sparks and ashes, and clarifying his Cultivation Technique. The smog of his power blotted out the sunlight. His baldness, yellowing teeth and wrinkled forehead didn’t reduce his raw gravity. Hell, the scent of smog and burning Mana clotted the air so badly Phillip’s throat burned.

Each S-rankers in Phantasia was famous in both style and power. While Promtus’ black satin robes and few jewelries said little about his military career, his name did the job. He spent 20 years rising through the rank of Centuria military and achieved the rank of General before being ‘invited’ into the Divine Fist via the Mandatory Recruitment Order. Within the Divine Fist, he served the Heavenly Prism Court for 50 years, surviving its politics, back-stabbing and missions against World Enemy before achieving S-rank and choosing to return to Centuria as one of its two Praetors.

Atlanta gulped. She was about to face her elder and platoons of fresh troops composed of several A-rank captains and B-rank lieutenants. Just one of those captains was troublesome for her and she spotted ten leading an army. It was hopeless. The overwhelming crowd surrounding them must worth at least 10000 men. Her remaining troops were barely above 50. It was a total overkill display of power.

Still, Atlanta drew her sword.

Promtus sighed.

“Why continue to fight, Atlanta,” he waved his arms. “There is no way you can win.”

“Because I never betray the throne.”

Promtus snorted.

“Betrayal? It is Centuria who betrayed us. You are still young, Atlanta, but I know about picking a winning side. You must learn the need to pick a winner when the Divine Fist come for you. Many more talented men than me died because they couldn’t learn that lesson. Open your eyes! The royal family is weak. They have been getting progressively weaker for a decade. Everything I did is for Centuria’s prosperity.”

Atlanta growled.

“By starting a civil war? Allowing that traitor to rise and flip over everything our forefather built? How could you be so blind?”

Promtus’ voice was a full of frustration.

“You don’t know what Acrisius’ hand. He has a connection to change the world. You either follow the tide or be crushed by the wave,” Promtus looked at his junior. “It isn’t too late to defect. I can guarantee no harm will come to Penelope.”

Philip froze.

“You have her.”

“Well, that ship is fast, and she doesn’t shame our forefather with that last trick,” Promtus admitted with grudging respect. “But with Kakia pursuing her, the result is inevitable.”

“What?” Atlanta trembled. “Kakia! You let Kakia took the Queen.”

“She is alive,” Promtus said. “Beaten… yes, but she is still breathing. Kakia maybe rabid, but she can take order.”

Philip marched out angrily only to be stopped by an alarmed Atlanta.

The boy’s sudden reaction drew Promtus’ interest.

“Oh, I can’t believe such a failure such bravery. Alas, bravado without power meant nothing.”

Atlanta drew her sword, and the rest of her troop followed her action. Anyone of them who weren’t prepare to die already deserted the army ways back.

“Admirable courage, but foolhardy none the less,” Promtus raised his hand, churning the surrounding pyroclastic cloud into a wall of darkness and fire. “How regretful…”

It was then Promtus sensed something arriving at an concerning speed.

The object shattered the wall of volcanic ash and heat that could render mortal flesh into cinder. Crystalline wing flickered as the knight of Dawn disembarked from the sky and planted a kick right into the Praetor’s bald dome. The Mach-2 man protected by Horizon Dawn’s latest uniform, dynamically connected to Promtus’ face, and sent the old man tumbling away in a shadow of ashen cloud.

Atlanta, the troops, and Philip watched the hero landed before them a three-point landing. He rose tall. Atlanta believed his black helmet made him appeared taller than his height implied, but the specimen before her remained impressive. His height and built was average, but the man before her radiated reassurance.

Promtus quickly recovered from the kick to glare at the newcomer. Hell, cross that, everyone was watching the helmeted man.

It was Phillip who asked the question on everyone's mind.

“Who are you?”

Hikma turned to face the hopelessly outnumbered group.

“My name is Chronicler,” said the modulated voice. “I am a friend.”

…

“Young man,” Promtus was more intrigued than angry. “You have an incredibly poor choice for friends.”

“So I am told,” Hikma drifted his attention back to the threat at hand. “But I must disappoint you. I won’t change.”

Hikma turned to face the army surrounding him.

“I know this is expecting too much, but you wouldn’t mind letting these people leave, would you?”

The opposing side let out a gut-busting laugher.

Hikma sighed.

“I guess that is a no then.”

Promtus couldn’t help but smirk.

“You should be aware you are facing an army led by an S-ranker.”

“I am,” Hikma answered. “In fact, I expect the worst. Although, this is my first time fighting an official S-ranker.”

“Boy. I am more than anything your meager imagination can conjure.”

Promtus picked that moment to boast, but Hikma’s honesty upped the stake.

“To be honest, I can’t imagine anything worse than a fist that split heaven or speed so fast it turned the air into plasma,” Hikma reminiscence. “Seriously, Shishou don’t know how to hold back despite insisting otherwise. Before we start, please tell me you don’t have the greatest holy sword and demonic sword hidden in your sleeve.”

The entire army laughed. Meanwhile, Atlanta deflated. Oh boy. Their savior was mentally unsounded. The awe of Hikma entranced pretty much sank. Who could take those absurd statements seriously?

“What kind of plant are you on,” Promtus said.

“I wish I am on drug,” Hikma sighed. “I will take that as a no. Great. Should you go first or should I?”

“Very well,” Promtus made a kindly smile and made a gesture. Pyroclastic cloud floated and reshaped into a spear of ash.

“Atlanta, I will teach you what happens to fools. I hope you will learn well.”

Promtus was right. Atlanta learned well from the little accident, but in the way he hoped.

The old man made a mistake. He attempted to attack Hikma with elemental technique. For why that was a mistake, well, a picture told a thousand words.

…

Rank S: 30410

Hikma De Darwin

Chronicler of Arcane

Stat

Str: 2220 [A]

End: 3800 [A*2]

Mag: 13850 [S*2]

Wis: 5800 [S]

Dex: 4740 [A*3]

Skill

Active

ELEMENTAL LORD (SSS); Aqua Lorde (S), Aqua Genesis (S), Aqua Gift (S), Aero Lorde (S), Aero Genesis (S), Aero Gift (S), Cryo Lorde (S), Cryo Gift (S), Cryo Genesis (S), Geo Lorde (S), Geo Gift (S), Geo Genesis (S), Holy Lorde (S), Holy Gift (S), Holy Genesis (S), Pyro Lorde (S), Pyro Gift (S), Pyro Genesis (S), Electro Lorde (S), Electro Gift (S), Electro Genesis (S), Umbral Lord (S), Umbral Gift (S), Umbral Genesis (S)

Tenshou (A)

Paradiso (S)

Necta Floral (S)

Entropy (S), Reverse Entropy (S)

Tempo (S)

Realm of Conceptual Ink [SS]

• Denizen: Aegis (S), Yotun (A), Surtr (S), Terrafon (A), Mistral (S) , Tempest (A), Oceana (B), Yaga (B)

Passive

Defensive Mastery [A]

Memoria Revision [N/A]

World Supreme Magus [SSS] 

Ruler of Conceptual Spirit [EX]

…

From his Origin — [the Realm of Conceptual Ink] — a ball of azure light shimmered in watery glow emerged into the reality above Hikma.

“[Oceana],” Hikma didn’t even wait for the spear to fire before launching his Arcane. “Bring down the might of the sea.”

“Enough nonsense!” The S-ranker yelled, then fired his ashen spear.

A tower water of fell from the sky and blocked that blade of Pyroclastic. Promtus blinked. Water spell in such a landlock area? The boy must be pretty talented. Then several more columns of water fell from the sky and hammered into his army.

It was then Promtus looked up to see an endless volume of water beating down on him.

…

From Atlanta’s perspective, this mysterious Chronicler couldn’t be a human.

She witness a waterfall being sent from heaven. Multiple pillar of clear water clashed down on Promtus’ army as a herald to what would have to be an entire ocean. The luminous water deluged the area and churned into a swirling pool, which sent the entire army into disarray. She felt the ground bellowed shifted, elevating her up to witness the scene of biblical carnage.

“Help!”

“The water! It is too rapid!”

“Just who the hell is that guy!”

It was a swirling mass of water and chaos as far as can see. It was a 10 meters disk of conceptual water, stretching crossed the area of 63 km square. The liquid flowed like a high-speed shaker rejecting a chance for the Promtus’ troops to even found their footing. It was a man-made natural disaster which trashed the ten thousand strong army. The 9000 strong C-rankers were effectively eliminated. The 990 B-ranker was treading the stormy, turbulent water. The ten A-rank were still hanging with some spell or another, but their ridicule already vanished.

As for Promtus, he still flew in the air, but his confidence was gone. His mind quickly realized the boy’s cordialness wasn’t an act. It was genuine mercy.

Atlanta repeated Philip’s question to the mysterious stranger.

“What are you?”

The masked turned to face her.

“A friend,” Hikma turned back to face the S-ranker. “I am going to ask for the second time. Let them leave before anyone gets seriously hurt.”

Promtus gritted his teeth.

“Whatever you are, you are picking a fight with a wrong person.”