The Dark Dragon's Vessel.

This smell... only brings despair. The smell of a nation once full of laughter and happiness falling, along with its people who fought with such desire and hope, they gave it their all, but it seems their best wasn't enough. 

Cries and screams filled the air, making it thicker. Some still try, hoping for a miracle, trying to protect their capital. Others have given up, their eyes were opened to the truth, and their hearts stopped denying it.

Fire, consumed every alleyway, the thick smoke burning your nose with its hot body. Buildings fell from the battle that was still physically ongoing, but at the same time had mentally concluded. 

On the other part of the battlefield, a boy stood his ground, against an opponent much stronger than him. Yet he didn't seem like he cared, it was a battle that couldn't be won, but he still didn't give any sign of fear.

He took a deep breath, burning his nostrils. This confirmed his idea of what was happening on the other part of the battlefield, it was sad but there wasn't going to be a happy ending after all.

All the time he had spent fighting in the war, was all for nothing.

The once-green grass has withered, losing its color. The sun setting gave the sky a color that resembled the fire burning through the city.

"What a surprise, I expected you to be fighting with the others who somehow still have hope, they must be cursed by an evil spell, no one who can think will still have hope in this situation. Aren't you going to fight for the capital like the rest of them, like a lieutenant should? Or are you done running away from me like a dog, are you finally accepting fate?"

 The boy's eyes fell, his black hair matching the mood of the battlefield. 

'The capital is lost. And we both know even with that rank, I'm nothing but a traitor to them, a monster just like you. In their eyes, were the same.'

Those words came out like thorns, he had never thought this sentence would come out of his mouth, yet time had proven him wrong.

'So il go for the second best option then, killing you! You deserve it after making my life like a living hell for the last three years!' How odd, In a situation like this... he managed to smile.

But that didn't do anything but amuse his opponent, his laugh proving his ego.

"I see, you really resemble Azel. This hatred against us dragons burning deep inside, I love it! It only makes crushing you better."

'If you crave to kill me so much, you only have yourself to blame for not being fast enough that day, if you were I wouldn't be standing here.'

"Am I hearing this right? I must be hearing things, there is no way a mere vessel is calling me slow. Do I have to remind you that they call me The Reaper Of Humanity, I got that title because of the speed I kill my victims."

The boy smiles. 'Kill the Reaper.'

Such a tragic scene, what could have happened for a city to turn into whatever monstrosity this is? Who could have caused this, we have to go back and see for ourselves.

One year ago.

The noise of clashing metal.

Two adventurers were exchanging blows, training for an unknown reason, and they seemed determined about it. But their stamina betrayed them.

"Man I'm beaten, how could the lieutenants fight for so much time, I don't have the soul capacity for that!"

"Of course you don't, your soul capacity is a mere E rank."

"It's not like you are any better dumbass."

"Yeah yeah. Also, speaking of Lieutenants did you hear they made that monster one."

"Oh yeah, I remember... who was he again?"

"You don't remember? The guy who massacred the entire prison he was serving his sentence in, the guy who killed Lieutenant Isaac."

"Oh yeah, I remember! What was his name? Max Salutis or whatever. Il beat his ass whenever I see him, my father was in that jail."

He said as he raised his sword in the air. But he felt his hand being grabbed by something as his friend's face went dark.

'Its Solutus, Max Solutus. And for you Lieutenant Solutus.'

A tall figure stood behind him, his black hair like a black hole, attracted attention, yet with such dark hair color, his eyes were like precious gems, like two big pieces of jade. His hair, left to grow long, was tied into a narrow braid, perhaps from lack of opportunity to cut it, or for reasons unknown.

On one of his ears, he wore a black earring, with crystals all over it, and on his hand a bracelet made out of blue metal, that held a big raven crystal.

With all of these sophisticated features, you would expect him to wear something exceptional, yet you would be wrong. His chest was covered by a plain white T-shirt, and his legs by a pair of black shorts.

But why? It felt almost illegal to wear such an outfit in the middle of the winter. Such a strange kid.

"O-Oh Lieutenenet, w-were sorry we were just joking around!"

After trying to justify their action, they made a run for it. Almost losing all credibility.

He scuffed. 'I don't have time for this.'

He walked through the streets, which like always were filled with people, but this time the laughter was switched with worry and anxiety. The people had terrified looks on their faces. What was happening?

He approached a gigantic building, by only the size you could tell it was important. The Guild Main House. The guild Is divided into groups, each having its own house and system, the most popular and big out of them was the Adventure Guild. This was where the important people from each group lived. The wood was much higher quality than any from the city, it had to have cost a living.

He walked inside and stepped in front of a door, opening it he was met by a familiar figure.

 A woman, she had short black hair that at the ends transferred to a shade of pink just like her eyes. Her suit could only mean how serious she was. She wore a pair of glasses that she used whenever she had to read something. Yet a little of her vision was blurred by her hair that direction was towards the inside of her face, and barely touching her shoulders.

"Ah Max, sit down. I've heard your request, are you sure you want to do this?"

The boy grabbed a chair and sat down.

'I've thought long enough, it's been two weeks since the war started, and I've wasted enough time thinking about it.

"But the Enubis Kingdom is probably the most dangerous place at the moment, given they border our enemy."

'I know, but that's exactly why, I want that damn reaper to know I'm alive.'

She looked at him for a bit, still thinking what judgment she should give.

"Very well, I Faye, Leader of the Alter Kingdoms Guild, give you the mission to fight for the Enubis Kingdom, in their battle against the dragons. You shall leave tomorrow."

***

Name-Max Solutus.

Class- Swordsman.

Style- Augmenter.

Soul capacity- CCC Rank.

Drives- Blue Lightning and Dark Matter.

Species- Dragon Vessel.

Guild's titles- The Dark Dragon's Vessel, Lieutenant Solutus.

People's title- Monster of the Alter Kingdom.

Soul class- Ruby.

Final ranking- CC Rank.

***