In the skies far above Angaria, there was a small place which would look very peculiar to anyone who managed to find their way there.
It wasn't that anyone could fly in that direction and be able to view this very special place, but that only those who were invited could find it, and when they did, they would have no choice but to pause in the air and stare.
It was…a simple bar, made of wood. It was relatively small- from the outside, it looked like it could contain at most 10 or 15 people, and it had a commonplace design that was popular in almost all the forces in the Central Continent.
Of course, the most incongruous thing…was that it was floating in the air, with clouds passing through it occasionally.
One other thing that would strike anyone perceptive was…that it was surrounded by the most terrifying of formations, which rivaled the best that were deployed around the sects in the Big Four.
Like all bars, this one had a sign that swung lazily in the gentle breeze that one could only enjoy if they were this high up.
"Order of the Chevaliers".
It was an odd name, using an archaic word that was seldom used in conversation.
If one managed to somehow gain permission and enter, they would be greeted by the most common of interiors, although one wouldn't have expected too much anyway, if they judged this place using the exterior.
One thing which did stand out…was that there were innumerable names scribbled onto the wooden walls of the bar.
"Kuhever, of the Fortress of Unyielding Might. Path:Unparalleled Might."
"Janice, of the Sect of Hedon. Path:Fearful Night."
Phrases like these were all over the place, and currently, one of the three men inside the bar was idly reading them all while nursing a glass filled with some sort of a golden liquid between his hands.
He had broad shoulders, and his features were those of someone from the army who had lived through numerous battles. They were rugged, with many scars, and a nose that looked like it had been broken one too many times that it stayed crooked.
He was wearing the common clothes of traders seen in the Central Continent, almost as if he didn't care about his appearance, and hence, his companion stood out due to the contrast.
He was wearing all-gold robes which glittered even though there was no light, and he had delicate features that were currently flushed due to the wine he had just gulped it.
He hiccupped, and seeing this, the third man, a bartender wearing a formal vest that was remarkably similar to one seen on Earth, put on an expression of disdain and said, "Galagor, Ireallywish you would not make such sounds in this sacred establishment. You disgrace all the thoughts left behind by those who wrote their name and their Path on the walls. The Order has always been about class, and those gentlemen and ladies embodied it beautifully. Alas, in this age…we have you."
Smiling sheepishly, the golden-robed man cast a spell and cured himself of his condition.
Looking at his companion who was so avidly reading all the names, he asked, "Every time you come here, you're so absorbed in those writings. I've been meaning to ask…why is that so? Surely, as a Hero, you can memorize them all directly, right?"
The bartender buried his face in his hands as he heard this question, and the words actually caused a heavy atmosphere to engulf the room.
Feeling it, the golden-robed man straightened his slouched back and gulped, wondering whether he had gone too far.
Thankfully, that atmosphere faded in a moment, and the man answered with a gravelly voice.
"I may be able to remember the name, but each letter was written when each Hero was resonating with their Path. The objective behind the rule that all those who are invited to the Order must do this, is that it will stay behind as a resource for future generations. If one is following, or trying to follow a Path similar or the same as any of them, they will be able to gaze at these letters and glean insights into those Paths."
The golden-robed man got a surprised expression on his face as he heard this.
Raising his eyebrows, he exclaimed, "But I saw them, and noticed nothing…"
"That is because you look. You do not see. To see, one is required to open their mind, and their heart. You are only opening your eyes."
The golden-robed man looked like he wanted to ask further, but he gulped again and stopped himself on remembering what had just happened.
Coming to the point, he said, "So, why aren't we stopping the Mad Doctor? We have nothing against the King of Lanthanor, right?"
This question made the man give up his observation. Turning around on the barstool and nodding at the bartender who was calmly polishing a glass even though it looked as if it was squeaky clean, he waited for him to refill his glass to full before taking a sip and answering.
"Yes, we have nothing against him, and I actually like him. I see what the Head sees in him. However, he is not worth us blowing our cover. We are only acting as if we are displeased with him so that we can infiltrate the ranks of those Heroes who are most likely to defect. Most Heroes among those are weaklings, but some…are extremely dangerous, with powers that they have hidden so well that I doubt that even the Head knows of them. But if it does look like only death is his fate…I wouldn't mind stepping in to alert the Head. And besides…pressure pushes people in ways one cannot predict or imagine. He has been stuck in the Champion realm for a long time. I am interested to see if he will be able to break through…"
As the last sentence of the man drifted off into nothingness, the golden-robed man took another sip of the irresistible wine and said, "If he has a really incredible Path, will we take him into the Order even before he becomes a Hero?"
Sighing, the man replied, "That is not for us to decide. Besides, have you forgotten about the true seeds of the Big Four? Their Bloodlines and Champion Paths are kept so secret that not more than 5 people even know of their existence, throughout the continent. It is only if he surpasses them will he be a candidate, and if he does that, we will have to first apprehend and question him regarding the source he has gotten his powers from. At this crucial time, we cannot afford to take risks. Depending on how he breaks through, I will decide whether he deserves my attention. And if he does…I will make sure to imprison him, if needed, so that he can grow strong enough to make a difference in the struggle that is coming. It will be for his own good. Keep a close eye, Galagor. You are a talent, but I have a feeling that he might outshine you."
The golden-robed man frowned as he heard this, but he cheered up with another sip.
Suddenly clapping his hands, he made a large display trinket appear, on which the Mad Doctor could be seen approaching the formation that surrounded the newly formed Alliance.
As all three men in the room focused their attention on it, the same was done all over the continent by the Heroes who had all agreed to not step into this conflict, for one reason or another.
Meanwhile, on the border of the Alliance where the newly built wall stood tall and proud under the sun, Kellor and Eloise were standing together while awaiting the arrival of the man who had just awakened in the Sect of Hedon.
This was the direction that one would come in if they traveled, or teleported in a straight line from the Sect of Hedon, so because the Mad Doctor would not be afraid of anyone or anything in his path, this was definitely the one he would choose.
Besides, the King had already detected him breaking through, and he had given them the message that his arrival was imminent.
"The others are ready. I, for one, am excited to see what the King has planned."
"Me, too. I hoped that he would kill this bastard…but that's too farfetched, right? Even with breakthroughs, the distance between an Amateur Champion and Exalted Champion is too high, right?"
Eloise looked like she was half hopeful that Kellor would say no, but he just shrugged and smiled.
"If there is one thing I have learned in all these years serving our King, it is that he shouldneverbe underestimated. Here he comes."
In the horizon, there suddenly appeared…a comet-like object, which was barreling toward them with an unthinkable speed.
No sooner had they spotted it, Kellor got an expression of panic on his face and shouted, "Incoming threat! Alert the King!"
Right on cue, Eloise frantically exclaimed, "Oh, no, he's not in the Palace! He should retreat to it right now! I'll contact the commanders who are with him! Even if we lose our lives, we will protect him!"
The Mad Doctor had been happily laughing to himself on the way, and as he heard these statements, his laughter went up a notch.
Amusing. Either they were acting, or they really were panicking this much.
Either way, he didn't care. He knew that the amount of time he had was more than enough for what he wanted to do, so he decided to just follow the flow, first. After all, what kind of trap could they spring on him, an Exalted Champion? Arrogance dominted his mind, and he looked forward to crushing any and all countermeasures there might be present just so that he could see the look of despair on the kid's face.
He broke through the flimsy barrier that was erected hastily in a moment, and he casually shot two fists at the two who had just shouted. These fists looked life-like even though he had conjured them in barely a second, and there itself, he saw the difference between his former level and the level he had reached now. There was at least a 30% increase in power, and although he knew that there was also some drug pumping through his body which was making him stronger, it was a momentous leap.
The wall collapsed as if it was made of paper, and in the rubble, the bodies of the two could be seen. They only looked like they had suffered minor injuries due to the defensive trinket that must have activated, but just as he was about to launch another two fists to finish the job, a shout interrupted him.
"You! How dare you-"
BAM!
Another fist flew at this newcomer, whom he recognized as a commander of the kid.
He flew backward as the trinket which sprung up to protect him shattered right away, and the Mad Doctor followed.
"No, Aran! Retreat! I'll-"
In the distance, another commander had appeared, and seeing that it was the kid's father, the Mad Doctor changed targets and flew after him.
Seeing this and getting an expression of horror on his face, the commander started fleeing, and while the Mad Doctor followed, he finally saw his main target.
All this had happened quickly, but he had been led a few kilometers inside the border of the Alliance by this point.
There was only arid land here, as they had already passed the locations where populated settlements had been present.
The King of Lanthanor stood calmly on the ground, and he said, "You came here for me. I had no hand in the deaths of your sons, but I know that you won't listen to logic. Come. If I am destined to die today, then I shall do so in the embrace of the land that has given birth to me. Come, Mad Doctor. Let the Heavens bear witness, and know that I, Daneel Anivron, chose to stay and stand even though fate itself seems to have conspired against me. Regardless of whether I fall or live, my name will not be forgotten for generations. Can you say the same, oh so-called Champion?"
The jibe made the Mad Doctor frown, as the anger that was iconic to him finally sprung up and took the place of the joy that he had been feeling for finally waking up.
"Enough with the nonsense.Die."
With this simple reply, he shot forward to attack.