Seeds of Hope

The Enemy King

The tent was dimly lit, the only source of light a series of candles arranged meticulously around a sprawling table covered in maps. The flickering flames cast eerie shadows over the parchment, giving the detailed lines of rivers, cities, and battle formations an almost sinister appearance. The man standing over them, their King, looked down with a cold, calculating gaze.

His hands, adorned with jeweled rings, moved with a careful precision as he traced the lines on the map, his mind working through the logistics of his next move. He was tall and imposing, his presence suffused with a quiet menace that seemed to permeate the very air around him. His armor, blackened steel inlaid with gold, gleamed faintly in the candlelight.

“Eidon has fallen,” he murmured to himself, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. “And soon, Meridia will follow.”

He leaned closer, studying the map of the Northern Continent, his eyes lingering on the various symbols representing his troops and the cities they had already claimed. Eidon was just the beginning. He had grander plans, and each piece was falling into place perfectly.

Or so he thought.

“My lord,” a nervous voice interrupted his thoughts, and the King turned, his gaze piercing the soldier who stood at the entrance of the tent. The man’s face was pale, his eyes wide with fear.

“Speak,” the King commanded, his voice sharp as a blade.

“The vanguard, my lord… they’re retreating,” the soldier stammered, his hands shaking as he held out a scroll. “The scouts reported a small contingent of Meridian troops, led by the Hydra Knights, engaging them. The bulk of our forces are falling back into the forest.”

The King’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous light flaring in their depths. He took the scroll, his fingers tightening around it as he read the hastily scrawled report. His expression darkened with each word.

“They’re being routed by a mere fifty men and some child?” His voice was deadly quiet, but the soldier flinched as if struck. “How could this happen?”

“The reports… they mentioned a man, my lord. He moved with impossible speed, cutting through our ranks like a demon. The men are calling him a ghost.”

“A ghost, you say?” The King’s lips curled into a mocking smile, but his eyes were cold. “So, the ghost has come to haunt us, has he?”

He turned back to the maps, his mind racing. The Hydra Knights were formidable, but fifty men should not have been able to turn back an army of tens of thousands. This “ghost” must be something more. But no matter—he would deal with this annoyance personally.

The King’s smile widened, his teeth glinting in the candlelight. “If they think they can hold Eidon with a handful of soldiers and a ghost, then they are gravely mistaken.”

He turned, his voice a harsh bark. “Release the beasts.”

The soldier’s eyes widened in shock. “M-my lord? The beasts? But they are—”

“Unleash them,” the King repeated, his voice brooking no argument. “Let them taste the blood of our enemies. If Meridia wants to play games with us, we will show them the true meaning of fear.”

The soldier swallowed hard and bowed deeply before hurrying out of the tent. The King watched him go, his mind already shifting to the next move in his grand game. He could almost hear the screams of the Meridian soldiers as the beasts were unleashed upon them, their howls and roars filling the night air.

“Let the real battle begin,” he whispered to himself, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Eidon: The Monster Invasion

The night air was filled with the sounds of battle, the clashing of swords and the cries of the wounded echoing across the plains. The Meridian soldiers, though outnumbered, had fought bravely, holding the line against the enemy forces. But now, as the first of the monstrous creatures appeared on the horizon, a sense of dread settled over the battlefield.

The beasts came in droves, their massive forms silhouetted against the darkening sky. Towering figures with thick, scaly hides and eyes that glowed like embers. Some were hulking brutes, all muscle and claw, while others slithered across the ground, their serpentine bodies covered in armored scales.

And leading them, like some twisted parody of a royal procession, was a drake—a monstrous, wingless dragon, its body covered in scars and chains that clinked ominously as it moved. Its eyes blazed with a savage intelligence, and when it opened its maw, the roar that escaped was deafening, shaking the very ground beneath the soldiers’ feet.

“Fall back! Fall back to the city!” Sergeant Smithson’s voice rang out over the chaos, his tone urgent but controlled. He swung his sword, cutting down an enemy soldier before turning to his men. “We can’t fight these things out in the open!”

The Hydra Knights moved with precision, their retreat orderly even as the beasts closed in. Roman, fighting at the front, felt the ground tremble beneath him as one of the massive brutes charged. He dodged to the side, his glaive sparking with electricity as he swung it in a wide arc, the blade biting deep into the creature’s thick hide.

The beast howled in pain, its blood sizzling as the electricity coursed through it, but it did not fall. Instead, it turned, its eyes locking onto Roman with a rage that was almost tangible. Roman grit his teeth, bracing himself for the next attack.

“Keep moving!” he shouted to the soldiers around him, his voice carrying above the din. “We can’t hold them here!”

The soldiers rallied around him, their faces set with grim determination as they fought to keep the monsters at bay. Roman moved among them, his glaive a blur of silver and lightning, cutting down any creature that came too close.

But it wasn’t enough. The monsters were relentless, their sheer numbers overwhelming. For every one they brought down, two more took its place, their roars filling the night as they pressed forward.

“Fall back!” The Sergeant yelled again, his voice straining with the effort. “To the city walls! We’ll make our stand there!”

The soldiers obeyed, their retreat turning into a desperate dash as the beasts closed in. Seargeant Smithson brought up the rear, his gaze sweeping over the battlefield. He could see the city walls of Eidon in the distance, the gates open and the archers on the battlements ready and waiting to start firing down at the approaching enemy once they got in range.

They reached the city and the gates slammed shut behind them just as the first of the monsters slammed into the outer defenses. The gates groaned under the impact, the wood splintering but holding.

The beasts roared in fury, their claws raking against the stone walls, their massive bodies crashing into the gates. The archers fired down on them, arrows raining from above, but it was like trying to kill an ocean with a bucket.

The Sergeant turned, his breath coming in harsh gasps. The soldiers around him were battered and bloodied, their faces pale but determined. They had made it to the city, but the real fight was only just beginning.

The Capital of Meridia

The atmosphere in the capital was tense, the usual hustle and bustle of the city replaced with a quiet, anxious energy. In the grand throne room, King Juelius sat on his throne, his expression unreadable as he listened to the reports of the ongoing conflict.

Beside him, Roman stood with Seth, Jessika, Z, and Lexi, the group huddled together as they waited for news. They had been summoned to the capital just after the battle in the forest, and the King had questioned Roman at length about his abilities and the events that had transpired.

A messenger burst into the room, his face flushed with urgency. “Your Majesty, news from the front!”

The King leaned forward, his eyes sharp. “Speak.”

“The enemy has unleashed a hoard of beasts upon our forces. They’ve fallen back to the city of Eidon and are making a stand there. They are holding for now but the monsters are battering the defenses.”

King Juelius’ face darkened, his jaw tightening. “Damn them,” he muttered under his breath, his gaze flicking to Roman and his friends. “We cannot let Eidon fall. If the beasts break through, they will ravage the countryside.”

“I’ll go,” Roman said, stepping forward, his voice steady. “I can help.”

The King shook his head. “You have done more than enough already. I will not send you back into that.”

“With all due respect, Your Majesty,” Seth interjected, his voice firm, “we need to help. This is our kingdom, our people. We can’t just stand by.”

“Seth,” the King began, but his son cut him off.

“Father, please. I’m not a child anymore. I can fight. We all can.” He gestured to his friends, each of them nodding in agreement. “If we don’t do something now, more people will die.”

The King’s expression softened, a mixture of pride and fear in his eyes. He looked at his son, then at Roman, weighing his options. Finally, he sighed, a weary sound.

“Very well. But you go with my blessing and my orders. You are not to take any unnecessary risks. Do you understand me?”

“Yes Your Majesty.” Seth nodded seriously.

“Where are the troops we sent? Are they close?” The King turned and asked one of his Generals.

“Aye, Your Majesty. They should be arriving shortly.” The general answered promptly.

“Good, Do we have any portaleers who can get these kids, sorry, these young warriors back into the fight?” The King asked, correcting himself after looking at his son.

“Yes your Majesty.” One man said and stepped forward.

“Good, take them back and then report here with any news.” The King said.

“Your Majesty.” The man said and bowed.

“Good, take them back and then report here with any news,” the King said. The portaleer stepped forward, ready to transport them into the battle.

Roman, however, hesitated, an idea forming in his mind. “Your Majesty, before we head to Eidon… there’s something I need to check.”

The King raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

Roman turned to Seth and the others, then back to the King. “There are stones here in the capital—testing stones, right? For checking stats and skills?”

The King nodded slowly. “Yes, but you said the system doesn’t grant you levels. You won’t be able to read your stats like the others.”

Roman’s expression was determined. “I know. But I’ve been able to cultivate in a way that’s… different. I think the stone might still reveal something about my progress. I’d like to see what I’m working with before I go back into battle.”

Seth exchanged a glance with Jessika and then to one of the King’s advisors who stood near by, Lady Syrrin the Keeper of the Stones, who shrugged. “It’s worth a shot,” she said. “At least we’ll know what we’re dealing with.”

The King sighed. “Very well. If this will help you, then by all means. Go to the testing chamber before you depart. But do not waste time—Eidon needs you all.”

Roman bowed slightly in gratitude. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The group was led through the palace to a large stone room, its walls lined with torches casting flickering shadows across the stone floor. In the center of the room stood a large obsidian stone, crackling faintly with magic. This was one of Meridia’s ancient testing stones, a relic designed to read the stats and abilities of any who touched it. Seth, Jessika, Z, and Lexi had each used one when they came of age, marking their place in the kingdom’s military forces. But this was Roman’s first time facing one and the one he faced was nothing like what Jessika Z and Lexi faced. Seth used this same one but for the others…this stones was 5 times the size and gave off a much stronger hum of power.

“Well,” Seth said with a smirk, “no time like the present.”

Roman approached the stone, a strange mixture of anticipation and anxiety churning in his gut. He placed his hand on its cool surface, and immediately, the air around him hummed with energy. The stone lit up, swirling with vibrant colors as it assessed his strength.

At first, nothing appeared. The others exchanged confused glances. “I told you, Roman,” Seth said, “if you’re locked out of the system, it might not—”

Suddenly, the stone flared brightly, the light so intense that everyone shielded their eyes. Roman gritted his teeth as he felt a surge of energy run through him, the stone reacting wildly to something deep inside him. Then, glowing text began to appear in the air above the stone, shimmering for everyone to see.

Name: Roman

Race: Human

Title: [World Walker], [Exponential Growth], [Cultivator's Body]

Level: ERROR

Cultivation Rank: Empowered Core

Physical Strength: 350 (Exceeds Normal Human Limit)

Agility: 680 (Greatly Exceeds Normal Human Limit)

Potential Growth: Unlimited

The room fell into stunned silence. Seth’s mouth hung open as he stared at the numbers displayed above the stone. “Three hundred and fifty…? That’s more than double the average strength of a trained knight.”

Jessika’s eyes were wide. “His agility too… And what is this ‘Cultivation Rank’? I’ve never seen that listed before.”

Roman felt the weight of their stares, the astonishment in their eyes. He pulled his hand back from the stone, his heart pounding. He hadn’t expected these kinds of results either. His strength and agility were far beyond what he’d thought possible, and even though the system still didn’t grant him levels, it seemed his cultivation had advanced more than he realized.

“I’ve been training—cultivating,” Roman said, still processing the numbers himself. “It’s different from your system, but it’s clearly making me stronger.”

Seth shook his head in disbelief. “Stronger? You’re a powerhouse! These stats… Roman, you could take on half an army by yourself.”

Roman winced at all the attention. “I’m not sure about that, but it means I won’t be a liability in this fight. I needed to know what I could bring to the table before heading into Eidon.”

Lexi whistled softly. “Well, I’d say you’ve got plenty to bring.”

Z remained quiet but nodded in approval. “Whatever path you’re on, Roman, it’s clearly working. And I think we’re going to need every bit of it.”

Seth’s eyes shone with renewed determination. “If Roman’s as strong as the stone says, we stand a real chance at turning the tide in Eidon. Let’s get back to the King and head out. We don’t have time to waste.”

Back in the throne room, the King listened intently as Seth reported Roman’s unexpected strength. The King’s expression shifted from disbelief to a guarded sense of hope.

“I didn’t expect this,” King Juelius admitted, his gaze settling on Roman. “Perhaps you’re more valuable to this kingdom than I originally thought.”

Roman didn’t flinch under the King’s scrutiny. “I’ll do whatever it takes to help, Your Majesty.”

The King nodded slowly. “Then may your strength be enough to turn the tide. Be swift—and may fortune favor you in Eidon.”

With that, the group moved to the portal, ready to be transported to the front lines. As the magical energy swirled around them, Roman’s thoughts raced. His strength had been revealed, but this was just the beginning. He had to keep cultivating, keep pushing forward if he wanted to survive—and if he wanted to help the people of this world win the war that was coming.

The portal shimmered, and with a final glance at the capital, Roman and his friends vanished into the light.

As Roman stepped through the portal and into Kenan, the first thing that struck him was the sheer scale of the city. It was massive, stretching far beyond what he had seen in Eidon. The streets were wider, lined with immaculate stone buildings, their surfaces gleaming in the sunlight. Unlike Eidon, where the scars of recent battles and destruction were fresh and raw, Kenan radiated a sense of order and prosperity.

The architecture was familiar—built from the same stone and wood—but everything in Kenan was cleaner, more polished. Towering spires loomed over the city, their intricate designs suggesting a wealth of resources and craftsmanship. Elegant carvings adorned the facades of important-looking buildings, and banners displaying the kingdom’s crest fluttered proudly in the wind.

For a moment, Roman felt out of place. Kenan was clearly a city of wealth and influence, and it showed in every polished corner, every well-maintained road, and every building that gleamed with prosperity.

Despite its beauty, Roman couldn’t shake the unease that crept in.

Roman took a deep breath and clenched his fists. Kenan might look perfect on the outside, but he knew better now. He knew that even a city this grand could fall, just like any other. Especially with the roaring monsters throwing themselves at the gates trying to get in.