Chapter 376 World Changing Announcemen
The Behemoth Crane glided through the sky effortlessly, letting the people below admire it and wonder what was going on.
As the crane entered Trodar and was headed for Gilga, rumors were already starting to arise of a mythical bird flying through Trodar. Thanks to contact crystals, such rumors spread like wildfire as everyone was telling their friends and loved ones to go outside and watch the sky. Whenever the rumor was confirmed true, that person would then tell even more people.
That continued until a good portion of the Gilga citizens were awaiting the pass of the magnificent bird. The restaurants with street seating were unexpectedly slammed and the amount of business along the streets started to rival that of a holiday.
This continued for the latter half of the day until that awaited moment finally arrived.
While the sun was still crawling down the sky, a blip appeared in the distant sky. Gradually, that blip turned into a circle. That circle turned into a small bird. Then, that small bird slowly grew into a gigantic silhouette. Once the figure was recognizable as that of a crane, the citizens of Gilga were blown away.
It was a common practice of powerful experts or businesses to have a great flying beast for travel. However, they had never seen such a spectacular beast used for such a purpose.
At first they were in awe, like they would be for a shooting star streaking across the heavens. But they soon realized something. That beautiful crane-like beast was starting to slow down. The closer it got to the city walls, the slower it became. Also, the beast was growing larger and larger, beginning its descent.
That awe soon turned to something else. Some believed it was a powerful foreign dignitary. Others thought it was a wild beast in search of humans as food. Many were too curious to settle on a single outcome, impatiently wanting to learn the truth.
Soon, the giant crane had descended low enough to barely clear the tallest buildings of Gilga but it hadn't stopped going forward.
The streets of Gilga were flooded with people as the bird cawed and slowly glided over the city to grab the attention of the citizens. Mobs were following after the beast as typical carriage traffic came to a standstill due to the excess of pedestrians. But many of those riding in carriages joined the crowds as they learned what was going on.
Some people even thought they saw human silhouettes on the back of the magnificent bird. Not many believed those rumors but it added to everyone's curiosity.
Eventually, the massive bird flapped its wings and came to a halt in the air. Reaching it's long legs down, they carefully landed on the wall of a vast property, the greatest property in all of Gilga.
The crowds eventually caught up to the gigantic beast, trying to understand what was going on. Then, the people noticed figures climbing off of the crane and standing beside the beast atop the walls of the Leisure Guild.
It didn't take long for the gate beneath the crane to open up and for members of the Leisure Guild to join the crowd. Even Tralon exited the guild, catching the attention of everyone.
The citizens started to think that the legendary guild might be up to something. And since that thought went against the current belief that the guild was on the decline, their immense curiosity managed to grow even more.
"People of Trodar!"
A voice called out from the top of the guild walls. Finally, one of the people from the crane was addressing the anxious crowd.
"My name is Jack," the hero introduced himself. "I'm a summoned hero that was formerly with the Adventurers Association. But I must kindly relinquish my membership so that I can join the Leisure Guild."
Suddenly, an ocean of voices and gossip flooded the entire city of Gilga. Jack was about to continue when he caught wind of some of the things the people were mentioning.
"Does that mean the association is really through?"
"Did the association lose the battle in Federal City?"
"Is Federal City really in ruins?"
The things gossiped by the people were completely foreign to Jack, leaving him perplexed. With that in mind, Jack continued, "My leave from the association is a personal decision that I've been longing to make. Before I was summoned to this time, I was a member of this guild during ancient times. And seeing it's current state, how I could I not give it my all to help the Leisure Guild rise back to the glory it once held?"
The crowd roared in appreciation of Jack's words. Questions started coming from everywhere. But one question was quickly picked up by the entire crowd to make sure that Jack heard it and its many variations.
"Who are you?"
"What level are you?"
"Do you know the legend?"
Jack opened his mouth to answer but something else happened to steal his spotlight.
The sound of rolling thunder came out of nowhere. Clouds that seemed neither stormy nor calm rushed over the great spectacle. Lightning crackled and thunder rang as the clouds started to part.
Everyone below saw a figure descend in a pillar of light. No one recognized the man but his plain white clothing was eye-catching and untainted.
As the crowd was overwhelmed by the sight, Jack started laughing alongside Eedaj.
The two of them had chatted along the ride to coordinate this grand entrance and speech to mark the return of the gods to Trodar. But after all of that planning, they were upstaged almost instantly by Daruun's sudden appearance.
Daruun descended and landed between Jack and Eedaj, keeping himself the focal point of the event.
Crowds were getting larger and larger and Trodar's most important figures were starting to arrive as well. Some of the councilmen had mixed into the crowd, along with some of the greatest businessmen. How could they miss such a momentous occasion?
When those figures noticed Kims and Vixus standing beside Tralon and Argyle, they almost hit the floor. But their attention was also stolen away by Jack and then by Daruun.
"Citizens of Trodar!" Daruun spoke, acting as if Jack hadn't already spoken. "I know that none of you remember me, but I remember all of you."
With everyone's attention fully fixed on him, Daruun continued, "For millennia I've watched over Kartonia. Long ago, before those other foolish gods began a war that used you as throw-away pawns, I was blessed enough to aid the Leisure Guild rise to the forefront of the continent. And now, since the Holy and Chaotic Gods had long abandoned their duties, I'm back to help the Leisure Guild rise again and bring Trodar back to the pinnacle of the continent."
The people went ballistic! With his divine descent and his heavenly intro, the common people were already convinced of the speaker's divinity. And to mention that he was a long time supporter of the Leisure Guild struck a chord in their hearts.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself." Opening his arms to the crowd, Daruun spoke gently but his voice somehow filled the entirety of the city. "I am Daruun, one of the long-forgotten gods of Trodar. The few tales that still linger from ancient Trodar know me as the God of Fate."
The crowd started to whisper but it soon grew into a furor. People were thinking back to the ancient tales of Trodar, back to the fairytales about Trodar's ancient magnificence as the land that formerly housed the most gods. And for those that could remember that much, it was impossible for them to forget the all-knowing god that guided the Legend of Trodar long ago.
"Like before, I've come to guide the Leisure Guild again," Daruun continued as the crowd tried to bottle their excitement. "And to do that, I've revived the greatest hero to walk on Trodan soil. Standing beside me is the man that carved Trodar into the continent, the man that defied rival gods and all mortal expectations. As the founder of the Leisure Guild, he has achieved too much to place under a single title, earning the all-encompassing name, Legend."
Jack was frozen where he stood, eyeing Daruun carefully. He knew what Daruun was about to do but he also knew that he was about to incur the wrath of the gods. His body was too overwhelmed to function properly at that moment.
Even though Daruun knew that such an announcement was outside of Jack's plans and it would bring the gods' wrath upon Jack, he didn't hesitate at all.
The God of Fate paused and motioned to Jack with his right hand, shaking the crowds' bottled excitement to the breaking point.
"Behold! I, Daruun, the God of Fate, have brought back your greatest shining light and Trodar's greatest hope, the Legend of Trodar, Jack!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Shouts, screams, yells, shrieks. All manner of cries sounded out as the God of Fate introduced the greatest hero in Trodar's long history.
The only silent voice was Jack's. His mind went blank from the pressure of the crowd and of the unannounced consequences that came with his former identity.