The capital of the Balka Empire, Arkham
Imperial Palace
"What will be my brother's next command?" In a room within the grand halls of the Balka Palace, a woman of breathtaking beauty shifted her gaze toward the window, directing her question to the man who stood steadfastly behind her.
With a bald head and a physique that boasted muscles sculpted with dedication, he towered above the ordinary stature of a human.
Deep wounds marred his face and encircled his eyes, serving as a visible testament to the battles he had fought.
Yet, upon hearing the woman's inquiry, he dared not display even a trace of negligence.
"Report, Your Highness!"
"The Emperor commands you to proceed with the planned action and await further instructions upon completion of the primary plan!"
The muscular man swiftly lowered his body, executing a respectful bow with one leg, his response infused with the utmost deference.
Upon hearing the man's response, the woman nodded subtly, gracefully pivoting her body to face the muscular man.
In an instant, his gaze fell upon an exceptionally striking countenance, one radiating beauty that surpassed the ordinary.
Her luscious, wavy tresses cascaded in a gentle waterfall of blonde-brown hues, reaching down to accentuate her shapely, curvaceous hips.
She adorned herself in a dress that revealed a tantalizing glimpse of her alluring midriff, enhancing the allure of her seductive belly.
The presence of delicate moles beneath her captivating eyelids further accentuated her extraordinary charm.
In a manner akin to a bewitching temptress, she possessed an irresistible aura capable of ensnaring any man within the grasp of her hands.
Nevertheless, the muscular man refrained from indulging in prolonged stares or casting a lascivious gaze her way, acutely aware that doing so would result in instant demise!
This woman held an exceedingly unique and prestigious position: she was Maria Alvas!
The second wife of Emperor Balka and the sole sister of Emperor Savaran wielded immense influence as a member of the revered Alvas family due to Emperor Savaran's rule over the western region of the human continent!
Her extraordinary allure was widely renowned throughout the untamed lands of the western region, and it was precisely due to this captivating quality that Emperor Savaran cunningly employed her as a diplomatic tool, forging a peace pact with Emperor Balka!
"Very well, make all the necessary preparations," she instructed, her tone carrying a hint of nonchalance.
"The man's sister is due to return within a few days, and we shall commence the plan without delay," she continued, her words dripping with anticipation.
Upon hearing the woman's instructions, the burly man nodded briskly, his response imbued with the utmost respect.
"As you command," he replied, but his curiosity getting the better of him, he asked tentatively, "Princess, concerning the poison employed, is its potency truly as lethal as rumored?"
"Indeed, it is a poison recently unearthed by the adept poison master of Savaran Palace, and its effectiveness has been confirmed through highly gratifying results," she replied, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
The muscular man offered a slight nod, indicating his comprehension, but before he could delve further into his inquiry, a gentle knock interrupted their conversation, emanating from the room's entrance.
A soft knock reverberated through the room.
"Mother, are you in there?" A sweet voice resonated from beyond the door, prompting Maria to cast a swift glance at the burly man, silently signaling him to depart without delay.
Understanding her unspoken message, the burly man dissipated from the room like wisps of smoke, vanishing into thin air.
In an instant, Maria's countenance underwent a remarkable transformation, with the expression of cunning and menacing smiles giving way to a gentle and serene smile.
"Please come in, my dear," she uttered softly, and in response, the door swung open, unveiling the presence of a strikingly beautiful yet modest-looking teenage girl.
"Mother, I hope I'm not interrupting," she said hesitantly, treading softly as she approached Maria.
"Of course not, my dear," Maria reassured her warmly.
"Currently, my dear, I have no pressing matters to attend to, so you are more than welcome to join me," she extended, her words accompanied by a serene smile that stood in stark contrast to her prior menacing countenance.
The teenage girl responded with a slight nod, settling herself on the edge of the bed, her countenance reflecting a tinge of sorrow.
"What troubles you, my dear daughter?" Maria inquired tenderly, promptly taking a seat beside her.
Upon hearing her mother's question, the girl's lips quivered, and tears welled up, brimming at the corners of her eyes.
"That's why Father refuses to spend time with me, and Sister seems to be intentionally avoiding me as well, which greatly saddens me," she lamented, tears glistening in her eyes.
Maria's countenance immediately darkened, and her hands tightly clenched in response.
However, she contained her emotions, allowing a gentle expression to resurface on her face.
"Take a deep breath, my dear." Maria comforted her gently.
"Perhaps they are preoccupied with their own responsibilities, which is why they are unable to spend time with you," she responded in a soothing tone.
The teenage girl nodded and tenderly rubbed her eyes, seeking solace.
"You're absolutely right, my dear," she replied, a tender smile gracing her features as she agreed with her daughter's innocent observation without pausing to consider the truth behind her own words.
Despite being ten years old and already possessing awakened core powers, the girl's demeanor reflected an innocence untouched by the harsh realities of the world.
Maria smiled affectionately and gently caressed her daughter's head.
"Well, would my dear like to play with Mom?" She asked, her fingers lightly pinching the girl's cheek.
"Yes, I'd love to!" the teenage girl responded eagerly.
Soon, the two of them rose from the bed and began to make their way out.
However, unbeknownst to the girl, Maria's gaze harbored an intense and sinister hatred.
"After dealing with your sister, it's time for your cherished daughter," she whispered grimly under her breath.
...
"Huh~ Huh~" Arthur panted heavily, his breath coming in rapid bursts, while beads of sweat streamed down his forehead and neck.
Leaning on the practice sword in his hand, he focused on regaining control of his breathing and steadying his fatigued body.
As he surveyed the scattered remains of the human puppets strewn across the practice field, Arthur's inner thoughts echoed with the realization that today's training had truly pushed him to his limits.
Taking a moment to compose himself, he released his grip on the sword and proceeded to stretch his waist and the rest of his fatigued body, warding off the onset of cramps.
"Now, it's time for me to unleash the power of the elemental arts!" he exclaimed with an exhilarated tone, anticipation coursing through his veins.
Arthur had neglected his practice of elemental arts since leaving the library, focusing instead on his customary physical training regimen involving martial arts, swordplay, and other exercises that maintained his peak physical condition.
This routine had been deeply ingrained since his childhood, and he dedicated himself to its consistent refinement in order to continually enhance his abilities.
Confident in his skills, Arthur believed that even without relying on magic such as elemental arts, he could triumph over an elemental adversary by drawing solely upon his expertise in martial arts and swordsmanship.
However, this assumption held true only if he faced an elemental with a core of two circles or less.
Any elemental possessing a core of greater magnitude would undoubtedly prove fatal to him, as human strength had its limitations and he had yet to reach the pinnacle of his own human potential.
Adopting a stance derived from his comprehensive study of numerous books, Arthur focused his concentration intently.
"Which flow originates from the heart and radiates towards the core encompassing it?" Arthur pondered, his thoughts guiding the mana flow to gradually surge towards his heart, subsequently streaming into the fire core revolving steadily around it.
"It worked!" Arthur's excitement surged as he successfully conjured the fireball, instilling him with newfound confidence as he continued the incantation with unwavering determination.
"Elemental Arts: Fireball!" he murmured, extending his arms and splaying his palms.
Almost instantly, sparks converged, forming an arcing trail of fire that materialized into a fireball roughly the size of a basketball, firmly cradled within his palm.
"Buzz!"
A crackling sound filled the air as the fireball blazed, causing the temperature in the vicinity to surge instantly.
Witnessing his initial endeavor unfold successfully, Arthur's eyes widened in astonishment.
"So, this is the manifestation of the "Elemental Fire Art: Fireball"—truly awe-inspiring!" He marveled at himself. He then extended his hand forward, closed his eyes, and concentrated with unwavering determination.
"Quickly decide the flow of mana and throw the fireball at the enemy."
Whispering to himself, Arthur swiftly established the mana flow and practiced the motion of throwing the fireball, carefully refining his technique.
Moments later, he swung his arm and released the fireball, swiftly severing the connection between mana and the fiery projectile.
"Boom!"
The fireball, roughly the size of a basketball, hurtled from his palm, rapidly accelerating forward and unleashing a powerful explosion upon impact, obliterating the human puppet before him.
The remnants of the scattered dolls were sent flying in various directions, engulfed in flames.
Witnessing the impactful explosion, Arthur couldn't help but be taken aback, but his triumph was short-lived as fatigue swiftly overtook his body, causing him to collapse onto the ground.
"Huh~ Huh~"
Gasping for air, Arthur grimaced in pain as he struggled to regulate his breathing once more.
However, the accumulated fatigue from rigorous training and the irregular manipulation of mana had taken a toll on his body, leaving him utterly drained.
Closing his eyes, he centered his focus on patiently awaiting the return of vitality to his fatigued form.
"It looks like I have to find a teacher to give me guidance because elemental arts are things beyond common sense, so it's not easy for me to master them directly in practice." He pondered inwardly.
Realizing the challenges of mastering the elemental arts without proper guidance, Arthur concluded that he needed to seek out a knowledgeable teacher to provide him with the necessary instruction.
Despite his innate talent, he recognized the limitations of relying solely on books to attain mastery in mana manipulation.
Lost in his thoughts, he was suddenly interrupted by a gentle voice calling out to him from across the field.
"Big brother, are you okay?"
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