The Heart Of Chaos

"Dammit The hollows are too many—we've already lost almost half of the Slaves!"

"Everyone, evacuate immediately!"

From the skies, numerous flying ships began to arrive, carrying reinforcements. Rankers from far and nearby empires descended on the chaotic scene. Among them were the famed Drakon and Pen Dragon houses. Even the renowned hero, Kaedryn Von Drakon, had arrived, commanding an army of elite rankers and warriors from various empires.

Artheus Pen Dragon stood behind Kaedryn, his brow furrowed in disbelief as he surveyed the carnage below.

"The... Mourning Fiend... is this some kind of cruel joke?"

Kaedryn turned to address the warriors behind him with a serious expression.

"I brought you here to witness the reality of weakness. Look closely."

He gestured toward the grotesque abomination rampaging through the town.

"That is a Cataclysm-Class-IV Myth. It would take an Ancient Ranker to single-handedly defeat it. And as if that weren't enough, we're facing Minotaurs, Harpies, Basilisks, and even a Behemoth Cyclops—all Predator Class-II Mythical Beasts."

Standing behind Kaedryn on the flagship were not just soldiers but also the younger generation of Avalon's prodigies. Among them were Arthur Pen Dragon, Abaddon's best friend; Abaddon's three siblings; and a rising prodigy from the House of Duke Alaric.

"I didn't bring you here to fight that monstrosity."

Kaedryn continued.

"Your task is to assist the slaves below, escort them to the portals, and deal with the hollows. They are manageable. Do not fail the Empire—show the other empires what you're made of."

The prodigies saluted in unison, shouting,

"Yes, Grand Regent Kaedryn!"

With that, the flying ships descended into the chaos, the elders igniting their Astral Plumes—spectral wings of radiant energy that enhanced agility and granted flight regardless of ones Class. Only rankers who had reached the Imperium Rank could manifest them, signifying mastery over mantra energy.

Kaedryn summoned his energy blade and launched himself toward the Mourning Fiend, leading dozens of elders into battle. Moments later, another reinforcements of the S.T.E.E.L Organization elite soldiers arrived led by Archimedes and the Flame Elf, intensifying the fight.

Below, the town was a scene of utter devastation. Harpies cackled as they swooped low, their talons ripping apart flesh from fallen corpses. Minotaurs trampled the ground with their massive hooves, smashing everything in their path, while Basilisks turned victims into stone with their petrifying gaze.

A few miles away, Group Eight huddled behind a massive tree, trembling as they watched the nightmare unfold.

"What the hell... what the actual hell!"

Jane muttered in panic.

Abaddon's gaze was locked on the skies, watching as the flying ships descended.

"This... this myth must be a big deal. The sheer number of Rankers—it's like the whole world is converging here. How can one mythical beast cover the entire town in its shadow—"

He froze mid-sentence when he saw a ship bearing a golden flag emblazoned with a dragon.

"The Drakon family."

He coldy muttered to himself knowing very well his family had discarded him yet come to the aid of some town full of slaves.

Was he that insignificant to be lower than mere slaves in the eyes of his father?

Orlan, the elderly butler with fading eyesight, squinted into the distance. Though he couldn't see clearly, he could hear the venom in Abaddon's tone. Gently, he placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Nephew, it's alright. Focus on surviving."

Jane and Fatty, oblivious to Abaddon's turmoil, sighed in relief.

"If the Drakon family is here."

Jane said.

"We'll be saved. No one can harm the town with the hero present."

Fatty nodded eagerly.

"Grand Regent Kaedryn is unstoppable. Imagine being his child—the child of the greatest hero of all time!"

Their words only stoked Abaddon's simmering anger, but before he could react, a deafening roar erupted behind them. A Minotaur with its massive frame towering over the trees, stepped into view.

Its savage bellow caught the attention of nearby myths, who turned toward the group.

"Ah dammit! Run!"

Abaddon shouted, grabbing Jane and Fatty as the Minotaur swung its colossal weapon, obliterating the tree they had been hiding behind.

He gritted his teeth in frustration, asking himself.

'Why is my luck that bad, can't the universe give me a break for once!'

Exposed and vulnerable, the group had no choice but to sprint through the forest, pursued relentlessly by a swarm of screeching harpies with razor-sharp talons outstretched and ready to strike.

As their frantic escape continued, Fatty, panting heavily, managed to shout mid-run,.

"Boss, why aren't we heading for the town?"

Without breaking stride, Abaddon glanced back briefly to reply.

"Because the town is overrun! The myths are already flooding its streets and walls. Running there would only deliver us into their hands, besides —"

He paused mid-sentence, leaping over a fallen log that blocked their path before continuing,

"...if we head to the town now, we'll be easy targets for aerial attacks. At least the trees here provide some cover from those damn harpies. We need to lose the ones chasing us first!"

"Now move! Run like your life depends on it!"

"We're not going to make it!"

Fatty cried out with his legs trembling, as he stumbled over roots and debris.

"Just shut up and keep running, we don't have a choice!, I refuse to die here, now Keep running!"

The forest was now alive with the shadows sounds of destruction—branches snapping, ground trembling under the Minotaur's hooves, and the chilling laughter of the Harpies above.

It was a nightmare.

As they neared the edge of the forest, their path was blocked by a towering Basilisk that instantly hissed at them. It quickly advanced towards them with its serpentine body coiling as three golden eyes locked onto them.

"Don't look at it!"

Orlan shouted, grabbing Fatty and forcing his gaze downward.

Abaddon threw a rock at a nearby tree, diverting the Basilisk's gaze just long enough for the group to dart pass.

Fueled by adrenaline, they quickened their pace, darting through the dense forest. Eventually, they managed to lose the pursuing harpies and stumbled onto a narrow, well-worn path.

Its dirt surface hinted at frequent use, and in the distance, the jagged silhouette of rocky mountains came into view—a potential refuge.

Abaddon pointed toward the path.

"We head that way, or we'll die out here."

Fatty's eyes widened in alarm.

"Boss, we can't! That's the old mines. It's forbidden to enter. Even the rankers stationed here avoid that place!"

Ignoring the protest, Abaddon stepped onto the path with determination. Orlan followed without hesitation.

"Forbidden or not."

Abaddon said grimly.

"This isn't the time to care about rules. It's either break them or die following them."

Jane and Fatty exchanged uncertain glances before reluctantly following.

Meanwhile, back in the besieged town, the young prodigies of various empires were fighting valiantly, assisting the Slaves and Arcane followers in reaching safety. Among them, one figure stood out above the rest, catching the attention of his peers.

"Is that the one Father mentioned? The prodigy with a golden soul-ore?"

One young noble asked in surprise.

"Yes."

Another murmured, staring at the figure in disbelief.

"That's Arthur Pen Dragon. He only awakened a month and a half ago, yet he's already at the Silver Rank. People spend years reaching this stage, but he's done it in mere weeks."

"A dragon among sheep."

Someone else remarked.

"Give him five years, and he might ascend from the early stage to the advance Ranking, he is going to be the hero of our time."

On the battlefield, Arthur cut through the Hollows with ruthless precision, his golden blade a blur of devastating energy. With all the attention, all the glory now...he still felt lost, he paused as he gripped his sword tightly.

"Why do I sense as though someone close to me is around?, am being to harsh on myself or is the guilt of betraying my only friend still hunting me..."

"Abaddon..."

Channeling his mantra energy, Arthur unleashed a massive wave of golden energy from his blade, obliterating dozens of Hollows in one strike.

This feat left everyone around him, including seasoned elders, in awe. To channel mantra energy into a weapon typically required a Golden stage Ranker at its peak, yet Arthur had achieved it as a mere Silver Ranker.

In the skies above, the battle against The Mourning Fiend raged on, shaking the heavens themselves. Despite relentless attacks from eleven Imperium-ranked Elders, the Cataclysm Class-IV myth showed no signs of weakening.

"How is this even possible?"

Artheus Pen Dragon, Arthur's elder brother and Kaedryn's right-hand man, muttered in frustration.

Archimedes, observing from a distance, frowned deeply.

"How did such a monster appear here without any warning?"

He thought, glancing uneasily at Kaedryn, whose glowing golden Astral Plumes lit up the battlefield like a beacon.

The tension rose to a crescendo when the Mourning Fiend let out an eerie, silent whisper that chilled everyone to their core.

"Where… is… the… destined one?"

Far from the chaos, Abaddon and his group finally arrived at the ancient, forbidden mines. The crumbling entrance loomed before them with age-worn structure and pillars.

"This place doesn't look as terrifying as I imagined."

Fatty said, bending over to catch his breath.

Jane and Orlan were equally exhausted, leaning against nearby rocks for support.

Abaddon with his face drenched in sweat, wiped it away as he studied the mine's dark entrance.

"Standing out here is suicide. We're better off taking our chances inside."

Orland spoke whiles supporting Abaddon up.

The group entered cautiouslym. Once inside, darkness enveloped them, with only the faint glow of moonlight filtering through cracks in the mine's walls to provide a dim illumination.

"I still can't wrap my head around this."

Fatty whispered.

"How did a Cataclysm Class-IV myth just show up out of nowhere?"

Jane shook her head in disappointment.

"We came here to hunt myths, and now it's a war zone. Maybe we should wait this out and let the Drakons and empires handle it."

Abaddon's golden gaze flickered toward Fatty. Before he could respond, Jane studied his face in the dim light.

"Abaddon... call me crazy but you don't look like a slave. You're too smart—and too... noble-looking. Are you sure you're not from a house of Drakons?"

Fatty chimed in nervously.

"Yeah boss, I guess I wasn't the only one who thought that.The golden eyes, the locks, and that tainted brown dragon skin... You look just like them."

This comments made Abaddon give then a threatening gaze before he replied.

"I'm not a Drakon. I'm just a hunter. Now drop it."

Their banter was cut short by a chilling hiss echoing through the tunnels. All eyes snapped toward the entrance, where three glowing red eyes pierced the darkness.

"Guys... we need to get out of here—now!"

Jane's voice echoed in terror as the group scrambled to their feet and sprinted deeper into the mines.

Behind them loomed the horrifying figure of a Basilisk, a massive python-like creature with three glowing red eyes capable of petrifying anything that met its gaze.

The group raced through the dark tunnels as beast continued pursuing them with relentless ferocity. Fatty, struggling to keep pace, was nearly caught when the Basilisk's massive head smashed into the tunnel wall.

The impact sent cracks splintering through the stone pillars, threatening to bring the entire structure crashing down.

Rocks began raining from above, splitting the group. Jane and Fatty were forced to one side of the falling debris, while Abaddon and Orlan narrowly escaped to the other.

"Are you okay?"

Jane shouted from the other side as she peered through the swirling dust.

"We're fine."

Orlan replied quickly.

"But we need to figure out how to get you out of there!"

Fatty in a shaken voice blurted out.

"What do we do? That thing is still coming!"

Abaddon's sharp gaze darted between the collapsing tunnel and the approaching monster. "We can't stay here. We'll have to split up. You two take the other path—we'll meet up further ahead if we can."

Jane hesitated, but the urgency in Abaddon's voice left no room for argument. Trusting him, she grabbed Fatty, and the two bolted down the alternate path.

Abaddon and Orlan turned to race in the opposite direction.

After what felt like an endless run through the darkness, Abaddon and Orlan skidded to a halt before a massive stone gate with ancient carvings on its surface.

"A gate? Here?"

Abaddon muttered, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Orlan, breathing heavily, shook his head.

"I don't know, young master, but we can't stop now. That creature is still after us!"

With no time to lose, the two pressed their shoulders against the heavy stone doors. A deep rumbling filled the air as the gates groaned open, revealing a vast chamber shrouded in eerie silence.

Inside, the cavernous room was adorned with murals and carvings that depicted scenes of a forgotten civilization.

"What... is this place?"

Abaddon whispered as he cautiously stepped forward.

"Why do I feel so connected to this place, it's as if I've been here before."

Orlan followed closely as both of them continued advancing toward a raised platform that bore a sacred shrine.

The oppressive atmosphere made it difficult to breathe.

Then, cutting through the silence came an ominous voice that made Abaddon freeze in his tracks.

"Finally"

it hissed.

"You have come, child of destiny."