'System can you explain Martial Art: One Punch for me?'
[Martial Art: One Punch]
A powerful martial art that lets the user defeat the enemy with a single punch. Created by a powerful bald man in another universe, this art is simple and deadly.
-Side effect: Being bald and dumb.
'What a terrible side effect. If I learn this, I will become dumb and bald? No thank you. What about gravity control?'
[Magic Art: Gravity Control]
Let the user control gravity within a certain range, affecting the weight of objects.
'That's it? So lame. Explain to me the last reward.'
[Shape Shifting]
An all-in-one ability that lets the user transform into any non-spiritual creature or entity. User will receive the talent, base attribute, and trait of the entity that the user turned into.
'Wait, what do you mean by that? So if I turn into a dragon, can I fly?'
[Yes. If the user turns into a powerful fire dragon race, user will receive a significant boost in stats and powerful control over the fire elements]
'That can't be. It has to have some limits, right?'
[User needs to upgrade this ability if the user wants to receive the true stats of a powerful entity]
'So if the entity I shift to is weak, I still receive its true stat? And if I shift into a powerful entity the stats and attributes I get would be weaker than its real stats?'
[Correct]
'So if I turn to an entity that has powerful regeneration ability, I can have regeneration as well.'
[Yes]
'Wow. I wonder what will happen if I transform into Dormaju, Jelestial, Galaktus, or maybe even Jhanos. Still… It's also very lame. Can I have a stronger ability instead?'
[User can shape shift to any form. User can even shift into a female]
'Ohh…. This is interesting.'
Edeline Rose Wildingham sat upon her luxurious couch within her royal carriage overlooking the scenery outside from the window. Outside the carriage, four Diamond Rank women on white majestic horses rode beside her. Surrounding her carriages were the other carriages that brought her subordinates to Ruandeurtin.
Her slender fingers caressed the smooth adamantite ring on her finger. The ring contained a power that let the wearer survive any attack, but the cost was grave. So grave she was afraid of using it. With her four Diamond ranks guarding her, she had never been forced to use it.
"Your Majesty." A female guard with a white robe entered the carriage from the front door. "We have arrived."
Edeline did not smile or frown. Her expression simply couldn't be read. The guard did not know how to react to her silence. She hesitated for a while, then bowed before exiting the room.
Her caravan entered the fort. The guards from the other carriages quickly went out and prepared a red carpet with golden lines on the sides. They circled the carriage, creating a parameter that prevented random soldiers from walking close. Female guards in full High-Knight armor raised their swords above the red carpet. Many High-Magicians cast a sphere of transparent energy around the perimeter.
Pharder, the captain of this fort, stepped out from the crowd followed by some of his attendants. His expression was nervous as he approached the carriage. A guard stopped him on his feet, and he did not dare to say anything even though the guard was lower ranked than him.
"Edeline Rose Wildingham, the empress of the Ceraisian Empire has come to visit. Show your obedience," A diamond rank guard said.
They all knelt on one knee, heads facing the ground. The side door of the royal carriage opened smoothly. And that was when the whole world stared at the figure coming out of that door. Shone down by the light of the three moons in the sky, her appearance was like a glistening, sparkling gem. Her beautiful black hair flowed down to her left shoulder as the guard softly took her hand and helped her in stepping down the steps.
Pharder still knelt and did not dare to look up until she called for his name.
"Pharder," she said. Her voice sounded so beautiful but strict and demanded obedience. "I am disappointed in your leadership for the last few years. Therefore, I will add five hundred High-Knight to this fort. They will be my eyes to watch your work."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You are dismissed." The moment she said that, two guards harshly pulled Pharder and shoved him away. Their treatment of him was harsh, but he couldn't say anything. The female soldiers had their eyes lit up when they saw this. Their lives here were miserable because of Pharder, and now the man did not even dare to say anything after such treatment.
They looked at the empress with greater respect than before. She was the reason why they became soldiers in the first place. To break the shackle men put on their legs, they had to wield the sword to break it. That was one of her sayings written in a book that spread around the kingdom far and wide. It was amazing to think that a mere book could affect so many people.
The guards lifted a golden chair behind the empress and let her sit down before they lifted the chair. The High Knight and Diamond Rank female guards moved forward with her at the center, pushing anyone that did not have time to move.
Her gaze was set forward while being basked with admiration from the female soldiers around her. She was a powerful woman with great authority in her hand. Every woman in the empire wanted to be like her. That was why they became soldiers.
The guards lifted the chair to the southwest gate. They didn't know why the empress wanted to go here, but they would never disobey her. Soon after, they arrived in front of a simple barrack with Mary and everyone else kneeling on one knee.
"You have done well, Mary," Edeline said after she noticed that Aldred was alive and well. "Congratulations on reaching the Gold Rank. Both of you."
The female guards flinched. The boy was a Gold Rank? How was that even possible?
"Thank you for the praise, Your Majesty, but it is because of the boy's effort that he could achieve this level of strength."
Edeline glanced at the boy who was looking at her with bright sparkling eyes. He was still as cute as she saw him the first time. She did not know his true talent at first until Mary told her about it. Reaching Gold Rank at the age of 10. Any ruler in any empire knew what this meant—the boy was a potential Adamantite Rank.
That also meant this place wasn't safe for him anymore.
"Boy, come with me." She entered the barrack. Aldred was too shocked to move at first, but he followed her inside. The guards stood outside the door.
Aldred was nervous when he entered the barrack alone with her. What did she want to talk about?
"Come sit with me," Edeline invited with a smile.
The boy let out a cold sweat and sat beside her. After knowing her stories from Mary, and the others, Aldred felt so nervous near her. The attitude he showed her and the emperor the first time they met was nowhere to be seen.
"Congratulations on your advancement," she said with a smile.
Aldred nodded a bunch of times nervously.
"You don't need to be so nervous, child. Let me ask you something. Did Mary treat you well?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. She treated me very well. Bartrem, Mareona, and the others also treated me well. They are my friends now."
"That is good." She caressed his head softly which made Aldred blush. "Do you know why we all fight, Aldred? You're still a boy so you might not understand."
"I understand, Your Majesty. You fight for freedom."
Edeline looked at the boy in a different light the moment he said those words. "You understand?"
Aldred nodded. "I have lived with Mary for a few months, and she told me stories about you and herself. I know why you all fight, and I think it's worth fighting for. I have promised them, Your Majesty. I will help you in toppling the emperor and let freedom be distributed to every man and woman across the empire."
Edeline widened her eyes. At such a young age, the boy already had the same goal as her. Such an ambitious goal might be too far to reach for anyone else, but the boy knew his own talent.
"Why are you willing to fight for our cause?"
"I think everyone deserves freedom, Your Majesty. No matter who they are."
"Such a noble heart. I wonder which god threw you to my palace."
Aldred blinked at that. The one who threw him was actually his parents, though they could be considered gods as well.
"Since that is the case, I will tell you a little secret. Your progress to Platinum Rank will slow down. No matter how talented people are, they always take a long time to reach the Platinum Rank, but there is a treasure that will help you with that."
"A treasure that can help me reach Platinum Rank?"
Edeline nodded. "Not just that. This treasure will also help you reach Adamantite Rank. To unlock this treasure, you need to collect three items from three different places. You have to start looking from Mount Fargon. Find the astrolabe and it will lead you to your next destination."
"But what about the others? I cannot leave them, can't I?"
"They will go with you. This journey cannot be traveled by you alone, child. No matter how strong you are, you will need allies to keep going. This treasure will be wanted by many, not just you. You will face them along the way." Edeline pulled her Adamantite ring and gave it to Aldred.
"Only use this ring when there is no other option."
"What is it for?"
"This ring will make you invulnerable to anything. Even to Adamantite Rank power. You can only use it once before you have to wait for seven days before it can be used again, and the consequence is very dire."
"What is the consequence?"
"I do not know. Some say it turns you into a madman, others say it will bring bad luck, but whatever that is, bad things always happen when you use this ring. So only use it when you truly need it."
"Thank you for telling me and giving me this, Your Majesty."
"No. I should be thankful instead. If you can reach Diamond Rank, my power and influence should be enough to make a few changes to the rules."
"When should I go?"
"As soon as possible," Edeline said. "Remember there are others who want this treasure, and they won't roll over for you to take it. You have to fight, Aldred."
Aldred nodded. "I will tell the others about this and make the preparation." Aldred stood up.
Edeline grabbed his hand. "Before that, can you sing a song for me?"
(Author note: Do not read chapter 60. It's very dangerous to mortal souls such as yourself. I am sorry but only the chosen ones can witness what is about to unfold. If you still want to read chapter 60 then I am sorry but you have to pay with power stones or golden tickets. Only with such a heavy requirement can I allow you to read the divine scripture of the Holy Land)
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