Monarch Rank

The Azure Feather Sect had always been the epitome of a place shrouded in both mystery and valor. Its uniqueness wasn't merely due to the fact that, among the five sects, the Azure Feather was perhaps the only one in a somewhat friendly alliance with the Mainland and its Queen. Boasting a rich and timeless history, it's no wonder that scholars and kings would climb the famous Blue Mountains to reach the summit where the Elven sect resided.

Situated within a grand hall, where the cavernous walls were adorned with crystals, stood two aged Elven elders dressed in white. They waited anxiously by the foot of towering stone doors, covered in deep golden runes. (See 'Way of the Spirits' (3) for reference)

Elder Bai, the elder woman, regarded her counterpart, Elder Mu, with an indifferent glare. "Shouldn't he be out by now?"

"Be patient. He's been in the trance of secluded cultivation for quite some time. I imagine these things take time," Elder Mu replied.

A deep sigh escaped Elder Bai's lips. "We shouldn't have allowed him to do this, not now when we need him the most," she said, her expressionless gaze revealing a twist of repressed anger.

"He had ****. We all understood the sacrifices after the fight with the great demon. Every sect lost something dear to them."

"But none of them lost their sect leader! Don't you find that odd? Tsk! No doubt that ambitious Razziel is involved somehow," she quipped.

In response, Elder Mu could only wordlessly stroke his forked beard, too weary these days to delve into the unknown halls of conspiracy.

"I wonder if he'll despise what we've done?" Elder Mu reflected internally.

"Heh! You mean allowing some of our best talents to become pawns in the schemes of the royals. The Sect Master will feel sick to his stomach once he sees what's become of his sect. If only we had heeded those warnings long ago."

"We couldn't have known this would be the outcome. After the slaying of the great demon, the world was a fractured mess! Don't you see, someone like Razziel was necessary," Elder Mu spoke with passion.

"Ha! Whatever helps you stomach the poison we've created. Nonetheless, with the sect master's awakening, we might have a chance to..."

The two elders suddenly felt a stir of darkness crash against the air. Their brows lifted as they exchanged an uncertain glance. No words were needed; they both understood that something deeply dark had emerged.

Both Elder Mu and Elder Bai, acting on instinct, flashed to one side of the room and parted the closed doors with a swipe of their hands. Once the doors opened, they sped down the spacious hallway. At their level of ability, locating the source of the disturbance wouldn't take long. Elder Bai bit her thumb, drawing blood, and swiftly drew a rune which conjured a disk with glowing runes.

A small ball formed from the rune, turning into a translucent mirror. Suddenly, both elders could see the area where the spike of Qi had originated.

A gasp escaped both of their mouths in turn.

"W-wait...Th-that is..." Elder Mu said, a look of deep shock crossing his gaze.

Elder Bai looked deeply concerned, yet unsurprised.

Elder Mu caught this and turned to her, "Elder...w-what is this? That black egg? You were supposed to dispose of it. Why is it still here?" he demanded.

"Tsk, this is not the time. And did you really think I was going to destroy something this profound? Or have you forgotten who conjured this thing into existence? Heh, this might be our only clue left of their 'kind.'"

Elder Mu's glare was filled with disgust. But before he could voice his heart's truths, a baleful aura suddenly filled the halls. The two Elders moved swiftly, arriving at the particular hall in moments. They spoke a soft incantation, prying the swirling seal apart, and entered, immediately repelled by a torrent of dark energy.

The air was thick with a callous, gassy black smog, and at the center vibrated a crystallized black egg. The elders were utterly shocked, slowly comprehending the situation.

"T-the egg..." Before Elder Mu could finish, a loud roar shook the entire mountain. A tremor, like a quake against the world, sounded, followed by a bright light emanating from the egg. The two elders extended their hands, constructing a barrier of the purest Qi to contain the energies.

Just as they braced for what seemed like the world's end, a benevolent and soft voice emerged.

"Well-well, it’s been a while... my most loyal disciples." Relief and reverence filled their hearts.

There was only one entity that could invoke such a response within them.

As the egg continued to shine brightly, another silhouette appeared: a tall, grandly dressed Elf with pale blue skin and pointed ears, his platinum curly hair and slightly aged appearance commanding respect.

Their hearts stirred with happiness at the sight of this benevolent being.

"Sect Master!" they exclaimed in unison.

The bright light eventually ceased, revealing a towering dark shadow looming in the dust.

The two elders and the imposing ethereal figure watched as the shadow slowly emerged from the smog.

A screeching howl filled the air, and a pair of bloody carmine eyes shone dreadfully through the shadows. Adorned with scaly black wings, the reptilian body was packed with muscle and baleful energy. The creature, with a long neck and a maw fashioned like those of ancient, heaven-shaking beasts, was a black dragon.

But before anyone could react, the dragon glanced at the trio and unleashed a terrifying pressure that shook the entire mountain.

"Stay behind me..." the Sect Master murmured, waving his arm to conjure a large violet pillar that shielded everyone. The energies clashed, engaged in a terrifying deadlock.

After a tremendous bang swept through the hall, the elders finally opened their eyes to find the overbearing dragon gone.

Fear gripped their hearts as they searched the hall.

"It’s gone... I can feel it already fleeing the mountain," the Sect Master said with a slight smile, turning around, his golden irises shimmering profoundly.

"S-sect master... it's a pleasure to see you again after so long..."

"Hahaha, you both still do that. No matter... First, why is there a monarch-ranked dragon here?" he asked sternly, his gaze piercing through the cavernous walls in the direction the dragon had fled.

Both elders exchanged worried looks before Elder Bai exhaled deeply.

"S-sect master... During the blessing ceremony... Ahem! There was a... complication, which led to the altar being tainted in an unprecedented manner. This callous energy was born, leaving behind a black egg," she explained.

Visibly shocked, the Sect Master inquired, "And who... which of the young hopefuls used the altar last?"

The two elders gulped nervously.

"Sect master, what Elder Bai is failing to mention is that we have concealed a great tragedy. A halfling was allowed to study within our sect. Touched by the fates, he was predicted to become a savior or a destroyer. The boy failed to garner support from our spirits... and from that calamity, the black dragon was born."

"Strange... who is this youth? Why wasn’t he cast aside if he harbored such darkness?"

"S-sect master, he is the son of..."

"Eleanor... Your disciple, Sect Master."

A bright smile crossed the Sect Master's face. "Hahaha, of course! Who managed to tame that haughty Elven girl who also defied my teachings?"

Elder Mu remained silent, leaving Elder Bai to explain.

"Az... Azrael... the adopted son of the last King of Lucien."

The playfulness vanished from the Sect Master's eyes. "Oh dear... My disciple bore a child with the Nephilim race? I imagine the fates have been in turmoil ever since."

He pondered in silence, then decisively said, "Alert the sect masters, the guild leaders, and the King and Queen. Tell them a monarch-ranked beast has appeared, and I fear it brings calamity."

"S-sect master... what do you mean?" Elder Mu asked, shaken.

"Do you know these realms are 70% beasts? There are creatures so mighty that their awakening could collapse the realms. If that Monarch beast disturbed their slumber, we face a dire issue."

"A beast horde?" deep shock filled the two elders gazes

"Indeed. Hahaha, quite the warm-up. Inform the sect leaders. I'll slow down that mighty creature. It’s likely seeking its master."

"Its... master?"

"Yes, the halfling whose accursed blood created it."