Forty-Five Years Ago

Holy-Land was a very large and flourish island that could substance themselves with plenty of resources on land and its surrounding coastline. There were plenty of rank-D and rank-E of monsters and plants to kill, so many young novice adventurers would want to travel and explore the area, especially the North Gate. A vast green land of jungle terrain and cluster of large mountains with many open caves and tunnels to explore. It was a place for new recruited young soldiers to start training and quick to gain combat experience.

Having a military base was all thanks to the man that everybody named as King of Weapons. He had prevented a massacre of the Beast-folk with the help of powerful people from Central Plain and Holy-Land. A sanctuary for the homeless and injured Beast-folk was granted on the Holy-Land, an island opposite the Evo-Beast. Or another name labelled by the rest of the world as Demons. Soon, Holy-Land turned into the second military base to train soldiers for the army in the Celestial Kingdom after the outbreak of the Demons attacking the world. So, if the Demons made attempt to attack the Beast-folks, they would need to pass Central Plain and Little Plain. But the Demon need to bypass the heavily guarded army of Celestial Kingdom and other strong adventures in the two continents with strong reinforcement from Holy-Land and that would take too much effort. After a few years, the Demons attacking the Beast-Folks slowly declined.

Later, citizens of the Holy-Land as well as the Beast-Folks from the sanctuary had turned independent adventurer to start a living hood or joined military training and hoped to join the army in the Celestial Kingdom. As Beast-Folks and humans were training together in the military, it greatly strengthens the army of the Celestial Kingdom, maintaining a balance of peace. With the King of Weapons approval, within every two years the Holy-Land would hold a tournament to see the fruition of the young soldiers’ hard training. The top five participants would have the qualification to join the army of Celestial Kingdom.

However, a battle between the King of Weapons and the Demon Lord erupted at Central Plain and both suddenly disappear. Nobody knew whatever happened to them until suddenly a dragon ring landed on Holy-Land and another dragon ring landed on the Beast-Folk Sanctuary. This marks the death of King of Weapons as many recognized the dragon ring belonging to him and a young Nead, managed to get his hand on the dragon ring.

“My Lord, we managed to retrieve the item that crashed in the west garden” said the scruffy bearded soldier gestured a young boy to present a wooden tray with a seal box. “It took us two days to dig deep enough to get it. Luckily the building didn’t collapse on top of it or else it would take us much longer”

Nead took the box from the young boy, and he opened the lid to see a black dragon-like ring. He immediately recognized the ring from all the tales about King of Weapons wearing dragon rings on his fingers. “So, the rumor about the King of Weapons and the Demon Lord battling at Central Plain and both perished at the end, is true. This ring is the living proof; the almighty King of Weapons has sacrificed himself for us. What a shame, he could be so helpful with my future scheme. I guess I must scrap the idea then, Nemrac”

“Should you not try it on, my dear? The ring itself is frightening enough to make people tremble. The ring itself could be very beneficial to us”, as the pregnant woman, Madam Karm fanning herself while she looked at Nead. Even their five years-old son, E-sor agreed with his mother, sitting on his mother’s lap, “Yes father, it’s like the ring has a life of its own, searching for a new owner. Maybe that person should be you!” E-sor said with excitement.

 Nead smiled and patted on little E-sor's head. Before, he slowly wore the ring on his finger for the first time. His mind was transcending to unknown space as he saw data images about the usage of the ring during the time when King of Weapon was alive. He even got shown how King of Weapons created special techniques for the weapon that the ring could transform at a later stage. By the time Nead’s mind returned back to his own body, everybody was worried as they clustered around him.

“My dear, what happened? You went into a trance, eyes rolled back to your head and sat still once you wore that ring. Is everything alright now? Do you feel any different?” Madam Karm said with concern as E-sor was still crying. Nead jumped from his seat and laughed out loud. His action stunned everyone in the hall. He turned to the Nemrac, “Quickly, call the carriage. I must see my father and my brothers”

Meanwhile, at the Beast-Folks Sanctuary, an old Beast-Folk knocked on Allak’s front door. The maid of the house opened and asked, “Hello Ennud, is there a matter you need to see Lord Allak?”

“Please, if you don’t mind”, the old goat-like Beast-Folk wearing a grey long tunic said as he lifted his straw hat off his head. “Follow me then”, the female maid escorted the old Beast-Folk to Allak’s study room. “Take a seat, I will get him for you”, she said as she left the old Beast-Folk alone in the room. He immediately sat on a long wooden couch with large fur covering it. A small round table made of bamboo was opposite to him as well as another same couch facing him. To his right side, was a large desk with a lot of paperwork and books stacked on top and a large chair. The double glass doors were giving a beautiful scene of the woods and the downward view of the houses from afar.

“Ennud, my old friend. What a pleasure it is to see you. I thought you were very busy with the timber business that is thriving at the moment”, Allak smiled as he gave a slight tap on Ennud’s shoulder, refusing him to stand up. “My Lord, your kindness is always a pleasure to see. It’s all thanks to you and Madam T-rab, I could have my own business and able to support my large family. I’m so in debt to you that I know I must find a way to pay you back”. Slowly Ennud pulled out an item from his pocket as Allak was sitting beside him. “This ring crashed landed at an empty site where we had already removed the trees. The ring borrowed itself into a tree trunk and set it on fire. We quickly put out the fore and after looking through the charcoaled log, we saw a red ring with a dragon's head. I think it’s best you should look at it”, Ennud opened his palm and Allak saw a shiny red dragon-like ring.

“Please take it”

Allak’s eyes widened and immediately recognized the ring but after a few seconds of thought, he refused Ennud’s offer, “No friend, it came from your site, then it should belong to you. I have no need for it”

However, Ennud pushed the ring onto Allak’s hand, “I know for the moment I saw it, this ring has some mysterious power and would be a waste on an old Beast-Folk like me having it. As the head leader of the Beast-Folks Sanctuary, you should take it and decide what to you with it.

Before Allak was able to refuse again, T-rab walked into the study room, “Ennud is a wonderful Beast-Folk, and his gesture of kindness should not be taken lightly. Thank you, Ennud. My husband will gladly take it, and your debt to us is written off. Isn’t that right, my dear?” T-rab slowly walked up to Allak as she pulled him away from the couch. Allak looked at T-rab for a moment before he replied to his wife and then to Ennud, “Yes, you are right. I will take this ring, old friend. You can return to your business and no need to worry about it” Ennud smiled as he stood up, a slight gesture to bid his farewell.

Once Ennud had left the house, T-rab turned to Allak who sat on his large chair and had already left the ring on the table. “I don’t want to keep the ring. We’re happy now and the Beast-Folks are starting to enjoy a peaceful life again. Having the ring belonging to King of Weapons is not a good omen” Allak frowned as his voice began to shake.

T-rab walked over to Allak and placed her hand on Allak’s furry cheek. “Don’t forget the promise you made to our family, your father and my father, that we will always protect the Beast-Folks from harm if we are still breathing. It’s our duty as the largest Beast-Folk family in Central Plain so ensure that the Beast-Folks under us are safe and sound. Having the ring is just a safe keep, at least Ennud doesn’t have to worry it falls to the wrong hand. So, to keep it safe, best you put it on your finger”, T-rab gently slipped the red ring into Allak’s finger and immediately his eyes rolled back. Allak’s experienced the same transcending moment as Nead before he returned to himself.

“Allak, my dear, are you alright?”, T-rab asked as she wrapped her hands around Allak’s hand, wearing the ring. Allak turned to T-rab and said, “You are right. The ring is too dangerous, and I should hold on to it for safety”

Moments later, Nead and Nermac arrived at the largest mansion built in Holy-Land. A grand building built on a moat hill with towers and walls surrounding the bottom hill. The carriage arrived at one of the entrance gates to the mansion, passing underneath a large stone arch as many soldiers were patrolling the walls.

Soon, Nead barged into the grand hall of the mansion where his father, the ruler of Holy-Land and his other three elderly brothers were discussing important matters before they got interrupted.

“What is the meaning of this? Can’t you see we have matters to discuss. Go home and play husband with your loving wife and child” one of Nead’s brother shout when he saw Nead entering the room”

Another brother spoke with a gentler tone, “Please, little brother, you should go home” He was much similar body-build as Nead except for a long black beard and hair reaching past his shoulders. He placed his hand on Nead’s shoulder to prevent him from getting closer to their father.

His father was sitting on his throne, a three-step high balcony as his head was resting on his hand and the side of the throne. His eyes stared at Nead emotionlessly but continued to observe as the brothers trying to make Nead leave the hall. Suddenly, the screaming of pain filled the hall as a bloody arm dropped on the stony floor. Blood splattered across the floor and within a moment, the three brothers were slayed by Nead holding a claymore in his hands.

As Nead slowly walked up to his father, his father raised his head and spoke in a monotone, “That belongs to King of Weapons”

“Well, it belongs to me now. I’m the new owner of Dragon’s Ring: Claymore and also the new ruler of Holy-Land. Rest assures, I will be a better ruler than you, father” After Nead’s last words, he slayed his father and sat on the throne. Nermac finally arrived after securing the carriage and when he saw the bodies of Nead’s brothers and his father, he was speechless.

“My Lord?”, Nermac asked with a shaky voice as he felt his throat was very dry at that particular moment. Nead looked at Nermac and commanded, “Kill all the people within this mansion, I don’t anyone to know about this. Then announce the sudden illness fell upon my father and die. But in fact, it was my brothers who murdered him, and they are all executed by my hand for their treason”

“Yes, my Lord, I will do that straight away”, Nermac turned and was about to leave the room when Nead called again. “Nermac, in a few days, send letters to announce me as the new ruler of Holy-Land”

“Understood, my Lord”, Nermac made a quick bow before he disappeared from the bloody hall.

The sudden announcement caused the whole citizen of the island shaken after hearing the tragic death of their ruler and his three sons been executed. But everything was soon forgotten as time gone by after the ceremony was held to appoint Nead as the new ruler of Holy-Land. Immediately, A four-day banquet was held and soon those sorrow stories about the old ruler was washed away from their minds.  Nead ordered all the blacksmiths of the Holy-Land to make only one type of weapon so he could train his soldiers and strengthen his force.

Weeks later, Nead received a report from Nermac that the Beast-Folk also obtained a dragon ring by their appointed leader Allak. “My Lord, what shall we do about the other dragon ring?”

Nead swirled his glass of wine as he looked up at Nermac, “There is no need to be so concerned about Allak and those Beast-Folks. They are happy as they always are and even grateful that the Holy-Land divided a piece of land to them. What I really like to know is the power of Allak’s ring? Have you any information about that part?” Nermac cleared his throat in an awkward way before he replied, “I’m afraid I have nothing about that. My spies had followed him every single day and saw nothing of him using a weapon of any sort”

Nead gurgled down the wine and smiled, “Clearly, he’s a pacifist and it might play well into my hands. Set up a meeting with Allak tomorrow afternoon at the gazebo in the south garden. Now leave me be and let me enjoy my dinner with my family” commanded Nead as he began to eat his food from the plate of roasted meat and vegetables. “Yes, my Lord”, Nermac immediately left the room, leaving Nead and his family enjoying their meal at the newly refurbished hall.

In the middle of his meal, he turned to his wife who was silently eating her meal, “Karm, my dear wife, would you be so kind to occupy Allak’s wife for me. I would like to deal with him alone” Karm’s hands stopped and smiled, “Of course my dear. It would be a pleasure to have a nice chat with T-rab”. Both smiled at each other and returned simultaneously enjoying their dinner.

The next day was a beautiful day as small creatures were making chirping sounds on the trees and water triggering from a man-made waterfall in the middle of the south garden. Allak and Nead were already sat down on rounded stone seats underneath the gazebo, enjoying some cold fruit juice as the temperature was quite hot, especially for Beast-Folks.

“Thank you, Lord Allak, for taking some time to meet me. Getting the Beast-Folks to settle a new place must be tough after losing so many things”, Nead said with concern.

“Lord Nead, you jest. Clearly, you’re the more important figure in Holy-Land and the sudden tragic of the old ruler and your brothers must be extremely painful to bear. Everyone on this island is on your shoulders now and if you have any need of my help, I would love to assist you in any possible way” Allak took the cup from the table and drank some fruit juice.

“Well, since you offer, Lord Allak, I do have something in mind, and it needs you involve making it work. As you know, the tournament is like a test to allow the best soldiers to enter the Celestial Kingdom army. Since you and I have the rings belonging to the King of Weapons, we could pass on that technique to the young soldiers respectively and strengthen the force of the Holy-Land. By sharing combat information, this could also strengthen the bond between humans and Beast-Folks"

Allak thought that the idea of sharing information would greatly benefit his own kind and agreed. “Very well, if you believe that’s the future of the Holy-Land. I will do my best teaching them for the next coming tournament”

Nead smiled at Allak as held his cup up to Allak,“A toast to a new era and a bright future to Holy-Land and Beast-Folk Sanctuary”

They shared the drink together and when Allak was about to leave his seat. But Nead raised his hand to stop him and said, “If it’s not too much, could I ask for another thing. I really like to keep the moral high in the army so, maybe we could grant one wish to the Champion of the tournament to award their hard work and encourage the soldiers for the next tournament. What do you think of the idea, Lord Allak?”

Allak believing everything was beneficial to both side and agreed to the terms.