Year 1125,Sumerion and Aetherion KingdomsThe rain had finally ceased, leaving behind a field strewn with the bodies of fallen soldiers from the day’s brutal clash. The Kingdom of Sumerion, under the command of King Mithras Arion, had claimed victory over the Aetherion Kingdom.This victory marked the beginning of King Mithras’s quest to reunite all of Sumerion’s fragmented territories, which had been split into Sumerion and Aetherion by his late father to quell any potential power struggles for the throne.Amidst the countless fallen, one soldier still clung to life. Hidden beneath a mound of blood-soaked corpses, he fought to survive.His name was Zyren Drakos. A soldier of Aetherion, he had been defeated in the battle that day.The young man’s eyes fluttered open. For a moment, he believed he had crossed into the afterlife, but the sharp, relentless pain coursing through his body revealed that he was still very much alive.His body was a tapestry of sword wounds, and an arrow had

Zyren limped southward, unsure where he was headed. The dense forest around him made progress slow, and he hoped beyond the trees he might find a village.Traveling while still recovering was tough. Occasionally, he had to push aside shrubs blocking his path. His biggest worry was spending the night in the forest. With his condition preventing him from climbing trees, he relied on the fire he’d made to keep wild animals at bay. He stayed awake at night, drawing on his past bandit experience to survive even the most haunted woods.The worst part about nights in the forest wasn’t the wild animals like tigers or wild dogs, nor was it the spirits, genies, or demons—it was the centipedes, snakes, scorpions, and mosquitoes.Zyren had already dispatched several centipedes and scorpions with a stick. If he hadn’t, he might have ended up injured from accidentally touching one of them.He collected the dead centipedes and scorpions, briefly roasted them over the fire, and ate them. Zyren had l

Running from a swarm of angry hornets is a far cry from a regular run; it’s utterly exhausting. Before Zyren could even reach the cave, he collapsed from sheer fatigue. The old man, who had been observing him from above, descended from the tree and effortlessly dispersed the hornets with a single wave of his hand, a chuckle escaping his lips.Moments later, Zyren regained consciousness.“Why didn’t you tell me today’s training would be like this?” Zyren groaned.“On the path to becoming a warrior, you never know who your opponent will be or when they will strike. Sometimes, their weapons arrive before they even reveal themselves.” “If you’re already complaining about being chased by hornets, how do you expect to become a warrior? Today’s training is over. We’ll continue tomorrow,” the old man replied sternly.With his body aching and weary, Zyren trudged home behind his master. He didn’t argue; instead, embarrassment washed over him. He realized that the strength he had once boaste

The old man simply sighed as the burly man, provoked by Zyren’s actions, approached them. He understood; he had been young once too.“You need to take responsibility, Zyren. This time, I won’t help you. That man is no weakling. But at least, neither of you has any internal energy,” the old master said calmly.“Don’t worry, master. I’m not afraid to face someone like him. I also want to see how far I’ve come since training with you,” Zyren replied casually, though his recklessness was clear in his voice.“Hey, field rat! It looks like you want to challenge me?” the burly man barked, his voice rough as he closed in on Zyren and the old master.“Yes, it seems like you’re looking for a fight. Let’s settle this outside!” Zyren challenged with a relaxed tone, though his inner anger was palpable.The two young men, close in age, stepped out of the tavern. The old master let Zyren act as he pleased, his curiosity piqued by his student’s progress.“Don’t regret it if I kill you today,” the tal

The old man arrived just as Zyren was on the brink of death, having inhaled too much toxic gas in Poison Valley.Despite the poison immunity training Zyren had undergone with the old man, it hadn’t been enough to keep him alive in such a treacherous environment.With a calm demeanor, the old man immediately attended to his disciple. He had anticipated that Zyren wouldn’t last through the first day, and this was all part of his plan.Wasting no time, the old man pressed several vital points on Zyren’s body before settling down cross-legged next to him.He poured his energy into Zyren, steadying the young disciple’s heartbeat. Though his pulse returned to normal, Zyren remained unconscious.Next, the old man took out several needles and carefully inserted them into various points on Zyren’s body, from head to toe.These needles were meant to enhance Zyren’s immunity, increasing his chances of survival in Poison Valley, and to induce a deep sleep until the following morning.Nighttime in