Rise of The Holy-Realm Rebel

Things sped up after the law-giving event happened. The rules were pretty much simple, most of them having to do with listening to given commands. There were also rules concerning how we related to each other.

Three hours after sundown was the maximum any prisoner was allowed to be outside our assigned sleeping hall. Yes, we'd be given halls which we'd all stay in. At least in divided groups.

No one was allowed to leave the gate without permission. Simply approaching it could get us killed.

Also, all forms of violence towards slave-mates would get the perpetrator a few days locked up without food. Any display of violence towards the soldiers would purchase the individual instant death.

After the rules-giving, we were asked to sit in groups of five each. No movements were allowed, and as expected, we cooperated. Thanks to our weak insides of course.

However, to everyone's delight, each of us was served a bowl of what looked like chunks of meat inside an orange soup. Needless to say, most of us dug in, uncaring about the possibility of adverse effects.

In fact, some hoped they had been poisoned, as it would quickly end their life of slavery before it even began. Alas, the Empire was indeed interested in having us as slaves.

I had initially been hesitant, but after seeing several others I could only suffer myself to eat. Those who rushed their meal ended up puking their guts out.

'Don't they know rushing food after not having so much as water in a long while would have that effect?' I shook my head, disgusted.

Nonetheless, probably due to how long it had been since I ate anything; but that meal tasted like paradise... A pity.

In my days of glory a whole feast would not have sufficed.

In no time we were done—All ninety of us assigned to that camp.

The party that departed from the dungeon had contained at least two hundred slaves. The rest had parted ways at some point during our journey.

About ten minutes after we were done with our meal and even having our fill of water, several armed men surrounded us, their hands on the hilts of their blades.

Then again, I couldn't exactly blame them. We were potentially their enemies and having energy coursing through our bodies could lead some to make desperate but stupid decisions.

Thankfully, no one attacked any soldier. And in fact, whatever goal that show of care had meant to achieve most likely worked. Many of us considered the chances of living there, so we decided to check how things would be.

In just a day they had brought down a significant portion of those men's hostility. Fortunately, I was never hostile, only that I desired to leave.

Those soldiers commanded us to move, separating us into smaller groups before leading us toward each building.

Nothing could prepare us for what we would behold upon entry.

"What… is this?" I muttered as my countenance fell to reveal the displeasure I experienced at the sight that lay before us.

The buildings inside remained spacious enough to contain us, at least if emptied of its miscellaneous contents. Still, the sight of heavy blood stains overshadowed any other detail.

It looked like a bloodbath had occurred within that building, and it didn't look like it happened too long ago either.

Needless to say, fury burned afresh in the hearts of those men as what was an unmistakable result of a massacre unfolded in their eyes.

All bodies had been disposed of, but the amount of bloodstains showed how it'd take many hands to get rid of them. Yet, the Empire's soldiers gave a command that nearly made even me snap.

We were asked to wash all the blood away, as it was to become our room.

My gaze turned severe but the expressions of my mates stood in darker realms. I could tell from what I saw that many considered suicide. For obvious reasons.

Those blood stains belonged to colleagues, who like them; had been carrying out their duties within that camp, only to meet an unexpected and gruesome end at the hands of the Empire, thanks to her greed.

It was nothing short of cruel to call those men to practically dispose of the heinous acts that were performed within those walls—Acts performed against their own brothers.

Fortunately, before anyone could make a costly mistake one of those soldiers stepped forward at the sight of the unmoving slaves.

He stretched forth his left hand and spoke. "We won't repeat ourselves. Do as you are commanded," he declared, allowing us to watch as the moisture around gathered to manifest into a small ball of liquid that quickly morphed to become a sharp-edged mass.

Pointing his palm at one of the walls the soldier allowed his creation to streak forward, striking the wall and digging deep into it before exploding.

The power within that manifestation would easily crush through the human skull.

"His Water-Craft is above average. He should be in the peak of the Plateau stage," I muttered, heaving a sigh. That level remained terribly low, but due to the nigh absence of those capable of such a feat, it had to be respected.

And of course, I could tell the depth of his level since I had once been in such a low state. There's also the possibility that I might need to restart, but I'll cross that bridge later.

There are three realms of power known to the entirety of man. These are the Earth-Realm, Sky-Realm, and the Heavenly-Realms.

Within the Earth-realm Exist four stages, namely the Plain-stage, Plateau-Stage, Hill-Stage, and the Mountain stage.

The Plain-stage serves as the lowest and the Mountain-stage is the highest.

Various factors stand as indicators for each stage, but the most significant one remains the quality of an individual's Solarin-Core.

Solarin is the name of the world's 'breath'—The essence that fills all living and non-living objects. It permeates the whole world and is harnessable by all living beings who decide to step on that path.

A person forms a Solarin-Core the moment they step into the Plain-Stage. They do this by tapping into man's innate ability to call upon the world's energy.

Do this long enough and a core will form, marking the start of your journey to higher realms. A journey it seems I have failed at.