29 Empire Leagues

In the morning, he woke up with more power than before. 'Is it just me, I feel more energized.' A familiar voice he hadn't met in weeks spoke, "It's because of your nature as a vampire my perverted host." He retorted, "Just because I give them what they want doesn't make me a pervert Hirani." Although he could not see her, he could tell that she rolled her eyes. Not wanting to talk about her host's 'problem', she warned him, "Last night, a demon hunter followed you here to the graveyard. Your wish granting night caused you to release much of your essence. She detected the essence and followed you here. Luckily, the demon hunters association called her back."

'Demon hunters association?' Despite knowing much about Terradeus, he didn't know much of this mysterious group. All he knew is that they were at least a millenia old and that they consist of the most powerful demon hunters and angelic entities including the nephilims, human angel hybrids. Based on what he had read, there were not much occasions where they would intervene. According to their history, they would only appear if the threat is capable of making mankind extinct or enslaved in Terradeus.

'What's the demon hunters association doing here?' It seems odd that they made an appearance here. Even one hunter sent is already an omen to what dangers lurk nearby. 'Anyways, I still have a tournament to win in a week's time.' Apparently, he could bind sword skills to himself instead of learning it. Doing this will allow him to have many skills and that he can execute the skill using different swords without having to relearn parts of the skill.

However, binding is not easily accomplished. He has to refine the skills and practice it over and over again despite already learning it. Binding requires one to gain fragments of the skill by training it. Only active skills need binding, passive skills do not. However, only weapon based skills need binding, ones that can be done by chanting or by willing it cannot be binded and will take up active skill slots. Common skills require 100 pieces while every 2 ranks up will have that number multiplied tenfold.

Since many of his skills are Platinum, Epic, Imperial and Pseudo Legendary skills, he would need to get 1,000,000 skill fragments for his platinum skills, 2,500,000 fragments for his epic skills, 10,000,000 fragments for his imperial skills and 25,000,000 fragments for his pseudo legendary skills. To start training up and binding his sword skills, he went back to The Belial Lands. Back there, he found Theresa building a white chapel, engraving runes on the two pillars that support a balcony above the entrance.

He quickly asked her to activate the hyperbolic time chamber and he commanded all three of his summoning monsters to enter the enclosed stone arena for training. He asked her to set it at maximum time difference of 10× and for it to last 6 days. Before entering in, he noticed that there are more time runes and arrays present around the domed arena. 'Wow, she really is dedicated.' He had to admit that she would be the best assistant to anybody. She took an initiative to upgrade the arena's time field.

Not to mention, some of the runes there are so advanced that even Sebastian didn't know what they are. Originally, he chose her because she's a saint and a powerful healer and white magic user. He would need her to keep his future empire's stability and to ward off evil enemies. He now knows that pseudo divine rank servants are always more useful than they seem. Then again, they are all beings who were once almost gods.

As he enters the arena with his summoning monsters, the door slammed shut and the air turned a faint green for a few seconds as the time separation spell is casted. Inside, he trained using blindfolds as his night vision will allow him to see in the dark. Without blindfolds, he would only only receive 1-4 fragments per succesful skill execution. For every 5 senses that are dulled when training and executing the skill, the fragments earned would multiply by certain numbers.

He also asked his dandelion monster to imprint a parasite on him to block his taste and smell senses. The total multiplier would allow him to receive 20 to 400 fragments per successful execution of his skills. Using his fast reflexes and extremely accurate muscle memories, he trained his sword skills for binding but not before telling all three of his monsters to spar against each other and train their combat standards.

With his fast reflexes and multipliers for being an Immortal-8 rank in his cultivation, he can easily execute skills in 0.2 seconds. At this rate, he easily earned 500 fragments of a skill in a second and binded a platinum ranked skill every 33 minutes. After a week's time inside the stone time chamber, he had managed to bind 17 Platinum skills, 15 Epic skills, 11 Imperial skills and 3 Pseudo Legendary skills. Over the week, he only had a total of 11 hours of rest as the rest of the time is spent gathering fragments for his skills.

He also found out that his skills could evolve to those of higher ranks by gathering 5× its previous amount of fragments required. So, he planned to evolve them all once. The evolution took 5× the normal amount of fragments and it took 5 weeks to evolve them all. He now had 17 Epic skills, 15 Imperial skills, 11 Pseudo Legendary skills and 3 Legendary skills. Like a robot, he spent the last 2 weeks within the arena training and binding a mythical skill he bought which required 9 days for him to bind called Void Maelstrom.

When he executes it, he summons a giant maelstrom made of void energy and solar wind from a black hole. All enemies outside are dragged onto it. Only enemies of 1 rank below and above can escape its pull and not be absorbed but instead repulsed. The maelstrom's rotating winds require an attack 100× times stronger than the user in order to break through and disperse it. Inside the maelstrom, the enemy's power is slowly drained to grow the maelstrom and temporarily strengthen the user while summoning 2 to 4 void spears every 10 seconds to attack the enemy.

The skill he learned helped him defeat all his summoning monsters in the few sparring matches they have. His swordplay also increased quite greatly. He had a 5% increase in his accuracy and some of his attacks managed to reach 100% on the milimetre accuracy scale. He could also feel that he is getting closer to reaching stage 3 of the sword scripture, Dimension. After the spell ended its duration signaled by glowing green runes illuminating the dark chamber, the stone door opens and he along with his summoning monsters exit the chamber.

When he went out, he became surprised when he felt that the ground it soft through his shoes. He looked down to the ground and saw grass. 'Grass? Shouldn't I be inside the Belial Lands?' The ground beneath him should be red or littered in ashes with spiderweb like cracks appearing occasionally, but instead it is green with grass and when he looked around, he saw a valley of green with white flowers, grass, trees and houses. He looked up to see a blue sky but its edges had a sinister red that expanded even further beyond the blue sky that only covered the peaceful looking valley.

'The sky is still red beyond the valley which means I'm still inside the Belial Lands. Could I be in the far future?!' He felt a little anger and fear mixed up. What if he really is warped into the future. All of his plans would collapse and he would have a far harder time because he could be transported to the time when Armaggedon occured. He went towards the town situated around half a mile from where he is. Before walking at his super fast vampire speed, the familiar voice of Theresa called out to him from behind.

"Master, where are you going?" She asked. He looked back to see Theresa guarded by two tall knights in silver armor with a pair of angel wings on their backs. He then asked her with a slightly perplexed expression, "Theresa, why is the valley green and who are they?" She replied with a smile before replying respectfully, "While my lord is training in the time dome, I came across a group of lost adventurers attacked by monsters. They were a large caravan numbering a few hundred who were heading towards the Fallen Citadel for treasure hunting before being attacked. I saved them and built a habitable space for them here to help lost people recover and live. I hope that's okay."

'You are always filled with wonders aren't you Theresa?' He inwardly smiled, grateful at Theresa's initiative to help and serve better instead of being forced to act on her master's commands. He replied in a friendly tone, "Well, you did an amazing job. By the way, have you elevated again?" She nodded. He could already feel that her aura had jumped a rank from before, she is now an eternal ranked. Eternal ranks can live for up to 10 millenia and can stay youthful until their natural deaths.

Eternals also have heightened senses and an awoken 6th sense. Some could even have 7th sense and immortality, the difference in power is also great. 'Well that's quick.' He thought. All of his servants just rapidly elevated, he felt the need to catch up and began to plan ahead in his mind. After a quick minute long conversation with the demigod saintess, he left back towards Horizon city to register for the empire leagues.

The registration is carried out in front of a large colloseum shaped arena on a long medium sized wooden tables with nobility like men carrying out the registration with the participants. As he registered himself, he felt patting from his back and turned his head to see a familiar young man with golden hair and blue eyes. "Congrats on your overwhelming victory, Dark Prince Sebastian." He spoke. "Oh Stefan, good to meet your acquaintance again. Here to watch?" Sebastian asked.

Stefan replied, "Well, since your stronger than me, It's helpful that we both see each others strengths and flaws. Watching you fight can help me and help you, since those empire kids could probably fight equally with you I can help you with this." In a sudden, his voice is heard reverberating inside Sebastian's mind saying, 'I have telepathy. I'll give you hints during your fight if I see any difficulties.' He replied with a hint of annoyance, 'Isn't that cheating?'

'Well since you don't want it, I'll just give you some briefing on your enemies. After all those empire guys could probably give you a hard time.' Sebastian replied, 'Very well then.' Upon finishing his registration, the official handed him a tournament token to be shown when purchasing anything in the city and when the match is about to start to participate. Stefan asked to have some breakfast together at the best place in the city. Before they went there, he checked the updated arena board to find that his first match is in 3 hours and most of the participants are not registered yet.

Since Sebastian is a registered participant of the tournament, he is given a 50% discount on any meal he orders and a line cutting privilege. He just needs to show his golden token to any of the restaurant's workers. He took him to Sundrop, the top restaurant on breakfast and desserts in the city. Sebastian just order some red wine while Stefan ordered cakes and chocolate desserts. When they are all served, most of the table is full with sweet desserts and Stefan quickly wolfed down and devoured all of the cakes and dessert like a black hole.

"You are a sweet tooth aren't you?" Stefan nodded and continued devouring all of the desserts like an endless expanding abyss while Sebastian savored the taste of the red wine. Apparently, red wine tasted somewhat like blood for vampires. After finishing the desserts, Stefan ordered another batch of desserts and devoured it as quickly as the first. Sebastian wonders how he doesn't get bloated despite eating tons and tons of sugary meals.

Since they didn't take much time at all on their breakfast, they waited the rest of their 3 hours by walking around and getting to know each other. In their 3 hours, Stefan revealed himself as a prodigy of his kingdom under the ageing king's tutelage. His kingdom had no princes and so the king had chosen him to be his successor upon his death. He also managed to win a bronze medal in the tournament's kingdom leagues. They went back to the arena board to find out his first opponent.

His first opponent is an assassin named Kilsa, an immortal-6 rank from the Augur Empire. The general, king and archmage meet up with him and Stefan before the match to wish him luck before going to their respective seats in the arena. When the fanfare is blown, the arena gates open and both of them entered the arena. Kilsa had an hourglass figure with pink hair and green eyes. She wore a black bodysuit with some silver patterns and held two silver daggers with a faint emerald glow.

Suddenly, Hirani's voice spoke into his mind, "Sebastian, your opponent is another player." After she told him, a green arrow shaped marker appeared on her head. Her valkyrie Jinra also alerted her of Sebastian being a player and a green marker also appeared above his head. "Another one like me, I think it's the first time we met. Hi, I'm Sebastian." He extended a hand to her and a warm expression on his face. Despite her being his current enemy, he hadn't met anyone like him yet so why not try to know each other before fighting.

She let out a short chuckle before shaking his hand with a smile and replying, "My name's Kilsa, it's also nice to see ya." Upon seeing him smile, she had to hold back a blush. She had to admit, he is just too hot and can't help feeling weak in her knees. However, she needed to fight him after this short talk. She needed to protect someone. As their short handshake ends, the fight begins. Sebastian quickly dashed towards her in a blurry flash and punched her straight in the abdomen.

She flew away and crashed into a wall. This time, he just released a suppressed assault as his normal punch would break her whole form permanently. Her mind went blank for a second before her valkyrie used a healing token to awaken her. Even though she had been healed, it did not remove the sharp pain on her abdomen. She could even feel that her body leaked blood from the inside but it slowly healed, albeit painfully. 'Why is he so strong?' Her valkyrie replied, "Kilsa, Sebastian is one of the top 100 in the leaderboard. Don't continue fighting him."

She gritted her teeth at the pain and replied in quite a raspy voice, 'So What! I can still beat him.' "If he were serious, you would've been dead!" She and her valkyrie kept arguing in her head, leaving a confused audience and Sebastian looking at the silent but clearly angry assassin. 'Should I end it?' He asked. "Hurry up and finish it." She replied. Hirani didn't want to wait, she had recently developed a liking to watching fights. At her suggestion, he punched her with more force as to place her in a coma.

He concentrated his blow so she would collapse in place. Before she could even notice, she had collapsed and entered unconsciousness. "Sebastian wins the first match!" The crowds cheer at the announcement while Kilsa's figure is placed on a stretcher and escorted to the arena's clinic. The rest of his matches ended in a similar manner except that he waited for them to attack. When they attacked, he saw them as if time slowed down. They were easily defeated by being struck once or twice.

The only one managing to put up somewhat of a fight is an Eternal-1 rank named Elfred, an elf who used magic charged arrows to fight. He lasted half a minute with Sebastian before he inflicted him with a gash using the Twilight of the Dragon King's blade. As he won many overwhelming victories, his name became more famous throughout Terradeus. More girls would flock to him while he rested before his next match. He marked some of them to be his victims for the night with a kiss to the neck when he calls his chosen to speak privately with. Then, he erased their memories of their private moment.

His final opponent would be Lucius from the Morning Star Empire. "You're going up against him huh?" Stefan is very aware that Lucius is easily the strongest of the empires. Lucius had won for the past 6 consecutive years and is an Eternal-3 rank powerhouse. They say that his power is equal to an Eternal-6, a Great Genius of Terradeus. As powerful as his friend is, there is no way that he could defeat an Eternal-6 rank. Only a Peak genius can, an peak geniuses only appear once a few decades or even centuries.

Not to mention that they would be considered a threat and executed if the royal family is an evil or conceited one. The climax of the tournament is between the newcomer Sebastian the Dark Prince of Agareth and Lucius the Dominator of the Morning Star Empire. His victories in the empire leagues has brought a good amount of attention to the agareth kingdom with trade deals and collaborations being discussed. Of course the king couldn't attend this match as he has to handle the rest, so he sent his daughter to watch for him.

The general, the archmage and the princess had a little debate on the victor. With the princess and the archmage betting on Sebastian and the general siding with Lucius. The spectators of this match had surpassed the arena limit of 100,000 people. The respective archmages of the kingdoms and empires present used their magic to broadcast the upcoming fight to their respective countries.

The fanfare is blown and the dark prince and his opponent the dominator enter the medium barren battlefield. The battlefield had a 100m radius and the blue sky above it is filled with mana crystals designed to record and broadcast. Upon their entries into the arena, the crowds went wild and cheered on the two combatants. The spectators are broken into Sebastian's fans and Lucius'. Lucius had short golden hair like that of a prince, prideful orange eyes and a prince charming like face that could easily win most girls over.

He wore medium golden armor and used a holy silver lance with a golden handle. He appeared to be in his early twenties and towered a few cm taller than Sebastian, their eyes locking on each other with interest. Breaking the staring game Lucius commented, "So this is the dark prince, I am interested." Sebastian stayed quiet as he sensed a very faint dark aura emanating from his opponent. One that felt more sinister than a demon's, he cautioned himself by drawing out both of his swords and stanced himself offensively.

Then, the fanfare is blown once more and he fight begins. Sebastian charged at him at speeds only the empire cultivators could see yet blurry. A shockwave formed when he clashed against a surprised Lucius who expected a weaker opponent. Sebastian didn't push forwards but instead jumped backwards and used the Imperial Skill Darkness Break. He charged at Lucius, transforming into a large flash of black light. Upon meeting the lance, cracks started to spread from it and dark energies begin to push back the defending Lucius.

After a few moments of defending from the strike, Lucius is pushed back from the resultant force. He is pushed back a few yards and almost lost balance. Sebastian actively attacked him with a barrage of slashes, stabs and combo moves. He could barely react against the barrage of attacks he received and most of them managed to penetrate his defenses. Getting dead serious, he activated his berserk skill and began overwhelming Sebastian. His combo moves and attacks didn't effect him as much as before and he could barely parry against his enemy's attacks.

In a moment of weakness, Lucius used his own combos and skills to destroy Sebastian. After noticing that his opponent heals up every time he lands a lethal blow, he starts to become frustrated and used more powerful skills to erase him completely. He paralyzed him before flying up and charging an attack similar to frieza's supernova, albeit brighter. Unbeknownst to him, Sebastian has immunity to paralysis thanks to his regeneration and poison element and regains a pocket of time to think and react in.

He activated death's origin's berserk skill and used sword reaper to stab his opponent thrice in a second. Lucius loses his concentration from the pain spreading from his dying heart and clutches it, leaving a massive ball of fiery energy floating in front of him. Using his time advantage, Sebastian pushed the ball towards the dominator. Slowly but surely, the ball started to drift towards the dominator's direction. When he notices that his attack seemed to be hurled at him, he attempted to stop it with his hands.

Unfortunately, Sebastian slashed his stomach in half with a powerful slash that left his hands numb. He turned his head towards Sebastian who shakes his hands rapidly to dispel the numbness and glared at him with contempt at his defeat by an unknown newbie. Before being eradicated by the fiery ball of pure destructive energy, he let out an angry groan at his enemy before a massive burst of fiery light illuminates the whole city, surpassing the day's brightness. All monsters and people in a 5 mile radius turned to look at the light's direction and gazed in awe.

Meanwhile, a beautiful black haired woman with very pale blue skin, sharp black nails wearing a torn black dress snapped in pain as she sits on a throne of stone. In front of her is a throne room like chamber in ruins. Cracks all around the ground letting ominous pale blue mist seep out and royal carpets and flags with scratches and mouth like holes all over it.

The woman let out a pained groan and asked herself in annoyance, "Who dares to kill my champion!" She commands the abyssal mist to form a mirror and saw her champion's killer. She commanded the mist to move into the magical mirror with killing intent. "Now to watch my enemy's painful demise." She laughed evilly as her voice echoes throughout the empty, cursed stone walls of her prison.