In a large fortress, at the middle of the night he sat besides a wall gazing at the beautiful scenery of the moon cold wind passed by.
The man's thinning, raven-black hair are noticeable due to stress his light blue eyes, worn leather clothes and slight eyebags made him look quite miserable.
Lukas Midgar.
He gritted his teeth in fury and frustration.
"Am I truly this hopeless?..." He thought inwardly.
He punched the wall near him venting some of his fury and frustration. A small cracks spread across it.
"Five years and I'm still stuck as a 1 star at the peak stage..."
He clenched his fist tightly. It took some time to organize back his mind as he shakes the emotions stirring inside him.
Lukas couldn't help but curse at himself wondering when he could break through, to 2 star rank. He snapped out remembering something.
Right... The mission given by our captain we have to eliminate the enemy camp near our fortress by tomorrow, he sighed inwardly.
The given mission by their captain was his last chance to finally get his own badge as a commander in the military.
Morning crept in.
Lukas had three soldiers in his command from the military. They sat in Long bench enough for them to fit in.
The first person seemed quite sharp and calm but also gave one a sense of naivety, his sharp eyebrows and shaggy black hair, amber eyes. Paired together it gave one a sense of charm in terms of appearance.
The second person appeared uneasy nervously fidgeting his fingers. His brown eyes and brown hair was a perfect mix giving one also a sense of charm if one looked closely.
The third person meanwhile looked a bit cheerful and also beautiful her appearance was delicate like a flower her green eyes was both charming and beautiful. And her black hair with perfect bangs were aligned perfectly making her even more charming.
The three wore the same clothes there's some pieces of armor in their chest, shoulder and vital areas of the body and the other parts was only leather clothes.
One of them abruptly asked.
"Commander, what do you want us to do today?" Politely questioned by Artemis the soldier with the shaggy black hair and amber eyes.
Lukas nodded with a gently at him quickly explaining why he had called them.
"Today we will have our first mission together we need to kill the enemy camp. They could possibly be a potential threat to our base which is why the captain give this order."
Lukas explained calmly.
"But commander it's still our first month in the military, we're still only at 1 Star Master at the Mid stage."
Fiona reminded that they are still quite weak.
Meanwhile, Liam the most anxious of them also retorted.
"C-Commander we had just become a soldier for a month. W-Why are we going to an mission already?"
His trembling voice stuttered as sweat falls in his forehead, "We're going to get k-killed." he muttered scared out of his wit.
Lukas sighed. "Don't worry if everything goes fine everything will be easy." He replied.
Artemis pat Liam shoulder although he himself was nervous believing in their commander he still followed.
"R-Right. Commander is strong he will protect us..." He tried to console himself standing up and starts preparing his equipments.
Lukas glanced at the three soldiers feeling a sense of inferiority.
It's only a matter of time they surpass me...
He couldn't help but have a bitter smile on his face as just 1 month ago they are not even a star master.
It was as if the heavens are mocking his trash talents.
From the past 5 years he had tried to break through to 2 star rank but it seems really impossible.
Or rather would take a very long time to just breakthrough.
Unlike him, his soldiers have a vast amount of talent and promising future.
Lukas snapped out.
He grab his sheated sword. The others also start grabbing their weapons Artemis a bow, Fiona a staff while Liam a shield.
Lukas looked at the map that is given to him. The location marked by the map signifies that they are going to that location.
Following him from behind was the three Artemis, Liam and Fiona who are constantly looking around in case of an ambush.
"T-There should not be a beast kings here right?..." Liam muttered his movement stiff and nervous.
"No mostly the captains and the higher ups had taken them out. There could only be a feral beast at worse savage beast would come in our way."
Hearing that Artemis and Fiona was also a bit reassured that there's no beast king around since if they actually find one it will be their end.
"How strong will be our opponent?" Artemis ask while holding a bow, "I only have three Echo 1 Star Flashing Arrow, 1 Star Silent, movement and 1 Star Barrage Arrows."
"Don't worry there are only about 2-4 mid stage 1 Star Master I'll handle two at most and the rest is for the three of you." Lukas spoke.
"The mission already said there's only also a two early stage master at the 1 star rank." He muttered as they continue walking to the path marked.
The terrain was really bad, trees with sharp spike that could severely poison anyone who touched them.
But Lukas guides them perfectly. Until finally reaching the enemies camp.
There's a wall being built but it was only half done there's also about five tents, Lukas was very cautious as he silently command Artemis.
There's about two people on guard while the others was working to build the wall.
What caught Lukas attention was the strange symbols embedded in the wall which are the phases of the moon.
New moon, Waxing Crescent and first quarter of the moon all of it was embedded with blood, what's also strange was the Star Masters who is building it was extremely pale they seems more like a zombie than a human.
Lukas felt something really wrong at this point. He immediately stopped the command for Artemis to shoot his arrows and wisely decided to retreat.
"We're leaving something is not right in this situation." Lukas mentioned his thoughts.
Artemis and Fiona frowned at the same time,
"But commander, the enemy are already in bad shape isn't this the perfect moment to strike?"
Fiona softly asked.
"What she said was true why not ambush them now?" Artemis also replied a bit disappointed as he pull back his bow like Lukas commanded.
Liam watched from the side anxiously waiting for Lukas commands.
"Just listen to me. Let's first leave and tell this to our captain." He ordered trying to remain calm.
Hearing Lukas commanding voice they didn't said anything further and ready themselves to retreat.
The sun slowly sets.
Lukas who was from behind let them quietly go first.
He blinked, shocked to the overwhelming aura he was feeling.
Slowly a tall figure emerged from the dark.
"Who are you and how did you got here?" The mysterious man asked wearing a luxurious blue suit, his aura emitting from him was chilling to the bones.
Lukas froze midway as he turned around, Shit! Shit! I didn't even sensed his presence we could be beheaded at any time... He gulped trying to stay calm.
Even with my reflex echo I can't even sense him. Lukas thought inwardly.
The three also turned around oblivious of their situation.
The man before them was clearly a duke from the enemy side.
Lukas knows that because of his outfit and his aura alone with the big sword in his waist. But what he wants to know is what is a mighty duke doing here.
Lukas took some time to compose himself and immediately put the best poker face he could have.
"We're planning to join the nightfall kingdom can we?" Lukas asked calmly keeping an unreadable expression.
Artemis and Fiona including Liam was shocked and at the same time was confused.
Because the nightfall kingdom was their enemy and their commander suddenly saying they are about to join in the enemy side.
Surely it wouldn't make any sense.
The duke smiles but it didn't reach very far his face was strangely covered with mist due to the use of an echo that suppress appearance.
"C-Commander what are you saying?" Liam spoke as he was about to reach out to Lukas to ask him directly.
Just then the man spoke "Then if you truly want to join..." He paused for a moment before speaking in a dark deep tone.
"Kill this three. Then if the three of you really want to join us kill your commander." His eyes dripped with malice.
He was like a cat toying with a mouse.
Lukas gulped.
"Three of you! Formation now!" Lukas shouted. Artemis, Fiona and Liam unconsciously obey the orders.
Liam was in front shielding Fiona and Artemis they immediately prepared, ready to cast their echo's, with ease they made a perfect formation like a small triangle.
Their attention was shifted as the soldiers in front of them, one of the 1 star master suddenly mechanically shouted.
"INVADERS!" The voice echoes around them.
Instead of the soldiers that had a rank of 1 star master. A dozen of soldiers with 2 star and above showed up.
Slowly one of them speak in a bored tone.
"It's just some petty soldiers why be this alert?" A man with dark clothings, thick black hair and golden eyes scanned the surroundings
"Just keep the ritual going on. I'll take care of this..." He cracked his neck stretching slowly emitting a 3 Star rank aura.
"Ha, What the hell is actually happening..." Lukas panted feeling a deep sense of loss and helplessness