Vastport City is the capital of the Althea Kingdom. It’s a hub known for large-scale trade, auctions, sales, and pleasure. If you’re looking for a place that offers it all, then Vastport City is the destination.
The Althea Legacy family is the ruling family of the entire kingdom, and Vastport serves as their familial stronghold. They hold dominion there, and their prosperity has extended its blessings to other businesses and factions.
Life is good in Vastport, and businesses strive to meet its high standards. But, as with everything good, there is a darker side—the Dark Devil Church also maintains a presence there.
The Dark Devil Church branch in the Althea Kingdom is located 45 miles away from Vastport City, nestled within the Jkic Mountains.
Currently, three people are on their knees, sweating buckets. They are all wearing masks, but their sweat can be seen streaming down their faces.
Another masked figure sits on a dark, throne-like chair.
Behind him stand three individuals who, even when they were observed with the naked eye, seem to possess no presence at all.
“What did you just say?” the masked man asked, his voice icy cold.
“My Lord, the life crystal belonging to Lady Sandra cracked three days ago,” one of the three men on their knees answered, shaking like a massage chair.
“How?” The masked leader seemed to lose all rationale upon hearing this. He had just returned from a successful trip, only to be greeted with news he wasn’t prepared for.
“Lady Sandra said she was going to meet some business acquaintances, as you already knew, a week ago. However, six days ago, she messaged us and mentioned that she had chanced upon an atomic divine body, which you were also aware of.
But that was all she told us. A few days ago, we discovered her life crystal had cracked. We tried contacting her, but there was no response.”
A life crystal is an enchanted artifact that holds a fragment of one’s life force. As long as the individual is alive, the crystal continues to glow. However, the moment they die, it cracks or shatters.
Secret organizations like this one commonly use such crystals to monitor their members. Even most royals use them to ensure their prince and princesses are safe and thriving beyond palace walls.
Hearing that Lady Sandra’s life crystal had cracked could only mean one thing: she was dead, and there was no mistaking that.
“Did she leave a name for who these business partners were?” the lord asked.
“Yes. She was meeting with the Ashland Noble Family, the nobles of Caprath City, to discuss a potential Platinum-grade spirit root that had surfaced in the Alderford Merchant family.
However, her last message stated that she had discovered an atomic divine body and, along with the Ashland Noble Family, was working to secure it. That was all until her life crystal cracked a few days ago.
“I see. I want you three, along with these three, to go and investigate. If you find any foul play, use any means necessary to get answers. We don’t have much time, and the leader is expecting good results from us,” the lord commanded.
“My Lord, are we authorized to use any means at all for this mission? Lady Sandra was one of us, and if we do uncover foul play, can we go as far as total annihilation?” one of the three asked.
“Yes,” the lord replied. “Just make sure it doesn’t trace back to us. Also, ensure you locate the Atomic Divine Body at all costs. If necessary, eliminate anyone who knew of it and, if possible, erase their entire bloodline.”
The three on the ground and the three behind him left. They were Dark Assassins, mindless drones created by the foul experiments of the Dark Devil Church to work for them.
Over the years, they conducted many vile experiments just to create creatures and people with unique traits to carry out their deeds. Right now, the Dark Assassins are their best creation yet.
Sending them on a mission could only mean one thing: total annihilation.
The Lord who was left in the room removed his mask, revealing the face of a handsome middle-aged man. He sat there for a few minutes without saying much.
“Ashland and Alderford, how unfortunate you chose to enter my grip. Since that is the case, I must make sure you learn from your mistakes.”
Soon, he, too, was gone from the room. The Church is angry, and blood will spill soon.
***
Fisher’s Haven is a fishing city responsible for all the sea spirit beast meat that one would drool over. All businesses there are linked to the sea, and that’s what most thrive on.
This city is the closest to Caprath City and is the easiest route to leave Althea’s Kingdom. It has large ships that can take you anywhere on the human continent and beyond.
Currently, two cloaked figures were moving under the cover of night, heading toward this city. It didn’t take a genius to see they were sneaking around.
They stopped at the border separating Caprath City and Fisher’s Haven a few hours later.
“This is as far as I can take you. Take this pouch; it contains 30,000 spirit stones and some things you might need to leave the kingdom. Once things settle down, I will come find you,” one of the cloaked figures said calmly.
The other cloaked figure removed her hood, revealing a beautiful face.
“Thank you, John. I promise I will pay you back,” the lady said.
If Kent were around, he would recognize her as Lady Olive, the spy he caught. She moved closer and planted a kiss on the other cloaked figure’s lips.
She was the spy the Ashland Noble Family sent to infiltrate the Alderford Merchant Family.
The other cloaked figure was John Alderford, the head of the Alderford Merchant Family. The one who was supposed to interrogate and dispose of her.
“You don’t have to. This is all because of that brat. If he had left right after his job was done, none of this would have happened. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure there’s no next time.”
The two kissed for a few more minutes before Lady Olive crossed the border. John stayed behind for a while, his expression heavy with sadness, before returning to his family—the same family he had betrayed by setting a very dangerous person free.
Lady Olive traveled many miles into Fisher’s Haven before stopping. She turned back to face Caprath City.
“Oh, John, you should have listened to the brat and your bitch Cynthia by killing me. While I know you love me, I can’t say the same. Ah well, this was a mission, and I succeeded.”
Lady Olive retrieved two medallions from thin air and muttered an incantation. Moments later, the medallions burst into a cascade of shimmering light and vanished into the void.
“My work here is done,” she said, her voice cold and final. With that, she transformed into a dark crow and soared into the night, leaving behind one chilling prophecy:
“When twilight embraces the moon, the heavens shall rend asunder, and they will descend. Their vengeance will scorch the world, their fury shall drown the skies, and the frail worms who scorned the stars will tremble as the mighty fall.”