Parallel - A Virtual Reality.

- Ding! You have successfully created a Basic Runic Weapon!

- You have completed the hidden quest: Better safe than sorry!

- The Scardinians now look at you favorably as one of their very own. Your work and progress have helped them to be assured in the next war, and thus, their morale is in an all-time high!

- Those who use the weapons you have transformed into Basic Runic Weapons will gain an extra buff when battling in the battle at Storm Lake.

- Your charisma has increased by 40.

- You…

A bunch of notification appear before me as I finish the last Basic Runic Weapon and a pleasant surprise happens.

"Great!" I shout with a wide grin; an unexpected bonus could easily determine the change in battle as I keep smiling.

"You finish'd, kid?" Gramps Jiuer leans on the door of my work as I give him a thumbs up with a wide grin. His previously tired eyes shine as he looks at me with a grin.

"Aight, I knew you would pull it off, heh" He steps up as he starts looking at the weapons and gives nod after nod.

"Go now, yer duty ain't here anymore" He waves his hand as he tries to throw me out of the room. I laugh at that and start taking my leave while saying yes.

"Take care, kid" He says as he continues looking at his weapons, but his aura clearly different than before. A feeling of sorrow slightly shows on his previous joyful composure.

I smile gently, and nod, "Don't worry, Gramps. Victory is going to be ours."

He nods as he continues to inspect every weapon at his grasp, and I leave the place.

As I get out of the place, the Scardinians look at me differently, warmth and respect mixed in between along with fighting spirit. I smile at them, showing confidence in every movement of mine.

Soon, I arrive at the barracks, everyone was there, training and talking about the division of the army. The only ones who weren't in a certain division were Zenith, Vladi and I. The reason for Zenith and I is because we both fight way better with no allies nearby, as Zenith's attacks tend to be on the very destructive side and I excel in fights of one against many, while Vladi, even when she is part of the Long Range Division, her speed and power gives her the freedom to act independently.

As soon as I enter, I see Arksen and Kagito training with the Vanguard division, specifically the Spear and Sword users as they move like a single unit. They were engaging in fights of mock war with wooden weapons. Healers were on both sides sharpening their senses to use their skill when needed. Juran was not part of the training, as he was basically the leader of that unit and his sole presence would make it pretty unbalanced.

'If it weren't for Juran, then we would be pretty screwed in terms of that division." I think to myself as I put my hand on my chin, while the Scardinians have Healers, they were still in the minority, and their skills were a bit rusty.

"Hey! I saw the notification of the finished Hidden Quest, great job!" A voice wakes me up from my thoughts and I look toward the person talking to me.

I grin at Isa who was smiling back at me, a few droplets of sweat could be seen on her face. I have to say, with the full plate armor and shield on, with that warrior-like face she exhibit when she is in training mode, she becomes quite a valiant knight.

"Hero Ardha to the rescue! You guys owe me a burger" I teasingly tell Isa and she chuckles, "So, how do you think we are for the war?" I ask her in a slightly more serious tone.

Isa's face frowns a bit as she says, "We have fully assembled the army and because they already knew each other, it was easy to create coordinated teams fast…"

I catch onto that last part and add, "But…?"

She closes her eyes as she sighs and open them slowly, "But I have a bad feeling." Her troubled expression showed that she didn't want to say anything more, not because of distrust but for something else.

I nod solemnly as I catch onto what she is trying to say.

'There is definitely a spy, and probably one of the core members, too.'

I smile to change the topic and say openly, "Don't worry, we are very prepared, so nothing will go wrong."

Isa nods at me and smiles back.

"Well, my team needs me, we have to go against a very serious person" she says as she starts walking away.

Then I look towards that direction. A black-haired young man wielding his Greatsword with a fully focused expression. I faintly smile while watching Zenith, the image projected from his eyes only showed one thing.

Resolution.

I shake my head and notice that another fellow is watching Zenith. It was no other than Isca, but then, he steps away and walks towards the shacks, from the distance I see Grudell and his groups talking with serious faces.

The whole camp preparing to fight soon. My blood start boiling with excitement, and then I notice another group with the same expression as myself. Aren and the rest of the barbarians were grinning back at me, and they were accompanied with a group of big Scardinians as they show fierce fighting spirit.

Suddenly, I wield my swords and step out of that place as a bullet hits it the next instant. I immediately spot a smiling Vladi.

All of us look at each other and I think.

'Well, well, I can't let my skill rust, can i?'

Time to ride the storm!

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"Your Majesty, it seems the enemy army has fully congregated now and are preparing to attack!" A lizardman kneels in front of a crystal throne in a cave that was hidden by a waterfall. An ice colored lizardman sat on that throne with a bored expression on its face, its whole body exuding an almost freezing aura. While it seemed similar to the rest of lizardmen, the aura he gave off was completely different, while its appearance was as beautiful as an ice sculpture made by the finest craftsmen.

Its eyes look at the lizardman kneeling in front, "Has the army reassembled?"

"Yes, your Majesty!" The lizardman answers fast and straightforward.

A smile creeps in the face of the Ice Lizardman, "Good. Good. I wonder if these vermin are going to attack soon. I really wish to get out of here to squash them to dust and retrieve what's rightfully mine" a vicious flash shows on the Lizardman's eyes.

"Worry not, Your Majesty Dorek, all the Scardinians tribes have congregated, thus, they will surely 'bring' the orbs to your Royal self!"

"Good. You can go back" Says Dorek as he waves his hand in dismissal.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Standing up respectfully, the Lizardman hurriedly gets out.

"Hmmmmm, do you have something to say, "Phantom General"?" Dorek asks as he looks to the space in front. Two figures were on each of his side, Zar the Earth General, and a big green colored Draco, the "Wind General", Qube.

But instead of the Wind General who was thought to be the Phantom General answering, a mass of dark shadow appears in front of Dorek. Golden eyes open inside of it, shining fiercely as it looks at Dorek.

"Remember, the Death Lord is mine, Dorek." A grating voice resounds in space.

"Hmph, a mere traitor dares to speak up against our Lord?" A deep frown appears on Zars face as it growls towards the Phantom General, the face of Qube is also full of distaste.

Dorek's eyes become sharp as it looks at the Phantom General. The fierce golden eyes calmly look at the Prince, ignoring the other two Generals.

"I won't go back on my words," Says Dorek towards the Phantom General, but then, his lips curls into a meaningful smile, adding "But, I am curious, why would you betray your people for this? Is it worth it to sacrifice your entire race for the sake of power?"

A terrifying glow briefly appears on the golden eyes of the Phantom General as they look towards Dorek, but soon, those eyes are closed and disappear in that mass of darkness. Soon, a figure steps out of it, giving his back to Dorek.

Black scales surround its whole body, its tail waving to the sides slowly. Its dark hair moving wildly with the darkness surrounding him. Not even sparing a look at Dorek, nor showing his face towards him, he slowly steps out of the cave.

"Don't overstep your boundaries, Dorek." He says slowly, his voice deep and somber as each step he gives is filled with mountain like heaviness.

The smile on Dorek's disappear as he looks toward the fading figure in front of him, which soon disappears from his sight.

BOOM!

Before Zar or Qube could say something, Dorek clenches his fist hard, provoking an explosion like sounds. His face cold and indifferent hiding his building rage.

"Little Scardinian, the boundaries of this King aren't something that as small as you can talk about"

Then, a sneer appears on Dorek's face as he says, " And��� I never promised to keep you alive, did I?"

Silence prevailed in place; no more sounds were listened.

Only in this calmness one could hear…

…The incoming Storm.