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“Is it true that the Legendary rogue who have been missing for quite some time is back?”
“If he is back then we can definitely win this battle!”
“I don’t know about that, many of the regulations experts went to hunt him down, the amount of people who have died in just this manhunt of his, if they were deployed in the war then we would have a lot more trouble.”
“Well he is the freaking Legendary Rogue if he was so easy to kill then how would he have dared to barge against that supreme expert amd return alive.”
“But at what cost-”
“We received the orders of the highest command to return to the headquarters as soon as possible and even the four heads are here so, I don’t think the rumours are baseless.”
“If we have the support of his prowess then we can definitely destroy the Atma Clan.”
..
Hushed and open debates rang out everywhere as various people of highest authority in the rebellion army called the Azad Army, against the Atma clan were gathered in a hidden mountain range as they assembled under the highest 5-Star order.
As these people were discussing about various rumours, planning and siege ideas amongst each other.
In the lower most, and highest secured corner of the headquarters the four head of the rebellion group who command the four armies bowed before a middle aged man.
“Teacher, you have returned!”
“We tried everything to find out about you but we have disappointed you.”
“Lady Eligus have died because of our incompetence please punish us.”
These four lofty heads who rallied armies against the Atma Clan and fought valiantly against them were currently bowing and asking for forgiveness towards Maroon.
Maroon looked at the four bowing before him and looked emotions as he shook his head, “It isn’t your fault, you have taken good care of our people through these tough times. If you would have personally acted then our whole cause would have collapsed with nothing left!”
Maroon assured them as he changed his demeanor and spoke in a stoic voice,” Let me repeat myself: Due to the injuries I have sustained my strength have regressed and I am nowhere near as strong as I used to be, do you still take me as your Master and leader of our Azad Army?”
“Yes!” All four spoke unanimously without any pause as if this was the most obvious thing in the world, Maroon chuckled with pride as he looked behind himself, “I have raised them as my own, they also know the burden of being discriminated and suppressed. As I have said they would always remain filial to me, Are they worthy now?”
As the four were confused at Maroon act of speaking to the empty space suddenly their eyes almost popped out as a dashing unknown figure was standing before him with no energy fluctuations on his body.
*Sheesh* *Clang*
Instantly they all pulled out various wands, staffs, sword as they pointed it towards the newcomer instinctively.
“Fall down!” Maroon shouted signaling them to lower their weapons. They looked confused as well as scared looking at the foreign person but ultimately decided to follow Maroon command.
“Quite a following you got here Maroon, they really are good. They seem worthy enough, give them that and distribute the task.” The newcomer was obviously Leylin who looked at the four with a glance and lose intrest, ‘Two of them are not spirit mark race members, this aura is familiar to Maroon’s daughter so, they probably belong to his wife’s race.’
Two of the four head looked nothing like the Spirit Mark Race members, they had fair skin but no way near the Spirit Mark members ghastly paleness and they had no markings or innate rune on their body. These two looked very similar to a normal human but had an attractive charm and Leylin could smell unique sweet fragnance oozing from their body relaxing the mood.
“Yes Master.” Maroon nodded happily after knowing of Leylin approval for his men and looked towards them, “All of you about the rumours that when I was young I received an ancient inheritance which is the main reason for my strength right?”
They all nodded, this is a very famous story about his legend as no one is willing to admit that someone who wasn’t overly genius from the start could have such an explosive growth without any outside help.
“The story has some truth to it, although I didn’t receive any inheritance but I was lucky enough to encounter my Lord, Leylin Farlier here. He became my teacher guiding me and he is now my Master as I vow to serve him forever. As the new appointed leader I decree a new verdict, from now on his orders are over mine and his commands are the most supreme in all of the Azad Army.” Maroon commanded seriously and sure enough he can see confusion and rejection on their faces.
“Here!” Maroon didn’t bother to explain, actions speaks louder than words as he waved his hand and threw four stacks of items before them, “In there you would find a technique similar to mine which helped me come this far, there is also many resources which can help you to grow explosively and become like me, look through it for a minute and decide. If you accept vow on your soul altar to serve him for all of your life and if not you are free to go but the conversation of the room must remain here.” Maroon said coldly but he was also inwardly nervous about their decision. Even though he has said they can leave, it would ultimately depend on Leylin mood to keep them around or just get rid of them.
The four looked at each other for a minute and gaze towards their pile of items which has an amazing physical strengthening technique and some resources which they have never seen but it looked very appealing for them somehow.
*Thud*
“I, Twain vows to always serve Lord Leylin through life and death.”
“I, Rehti vows to always serve Lord Leylin through life and death.”
Two of them immediately vowed and Leylin felt their life in his grasp the same way he did for Maroon. Leylin noticed how these two are from the same race as Maroon’s Wife, Eligus called Gandharva race.
Gandharva race is also inhabitants of this world’s but they live in seclusion. In reality many spirit mark race don’t even know about their existence because of their isolation which started far in the past as their Great One fall in battle and their race was left with no choice but to run away to keep themselves alive and not succumb to slavery from the others.
The Gandharva roamed from continent to continent trying to preserve themselves, after thousands of years they emerged again elsewhere but in this continent they are still suppressed and due to lack of ability to contact other race members in outside world they are forced to hide here.
Maroon himself didn’t knew about their existence, it was only when he met his future wife in an ancient ruins that he become aware of their plight. They are very low in numbers and although they are strong they aren’t good enough to make any changes to the overall situation. After Maroon married his wife the daughter of the previous chief their life intertwined with his own and they serve and support him wholeheartedly.
The other two also rummage through the technique and sure enough after some time they also vowed causing Maroon to sigh in relief.
“Okay! For now, your first tasks is maintaining the current state of affairs in the warfront and keep an eye on the outer forces, we cannot let someone else taste the fruits of our labour. And along with that collect various kinds of specimens, be they plants or animals anything of unknown purpose. As much ingredients, resources, stones, flowers and etc whatever you can and send it to the headquarters here.”
“Specimens?” They looked confused at the order but Maroon signal with his eyes towards Leylin and they understood,” Okay… Please rest assured, We will definitely fulfil this request!” The Spirit Mark race man patted his chest as he made the guarantee.
“Then I’ll be here waiting for good news.” Leylin smiled faintly. He was but a single person, with only so people and forces under Maroon. Matters like gathering ordinary specimens were best left to the inhabitants.
After his work was done, Leylin immediately retreated. He just gave them some substantial profits so that they would do his bidding, Leylin is currently trying to gauge the situation of this world and the ramifications of his actions. More importantly he also need to conduct various experiment with the new resources.
In the Spirit Mark World, The Ancestor of the Atma Clan isn’t his only concern there is also others who Leylin need to be beware off. Leylin wants to gain the control of the overall world and he wants to preserve it as much as possible causing the least destruction to the system and eventually devour it for himself, because he would rather have a slower progress to gain a whole meal than to rush and get undercook shit.
To Leylin time isn’t an issue, He has to make preparation in the Magus World and by the time he is ready to take action, decades may have passed here.
Soon, after the tasks were distributed the announcement of the return of Maroon was made as well as the support from the mysterious teacher of their new army leader. Leylin new servants spread the rumours themselves because a new powerful figure would put others on edge which would help them to observe others and the support from a mysterious figure would raise the moral of the army too.
The armies started to slowly inhibit the chaos from the war and dissolve their reigned areas all the while barricading the Atma clan. Large amounts of plants, animal tissues, and even rocks were sent to Leylin who isolated from the outside world and wholeheartedly experimented. This kind of opportunity to collect outside world resources are quite rare.
