The ride was steady for a while, then slowly the rain began to dance across the windshield being carried backwards by the wind.
Jason, Jack and Ethan had already began reading the guidelines book.
The first few pages began with a detailed table of contents.
Past that was the ranking system where they were introduced to the ranks of people within the FBSA recruits were referred to as pawns despite being considered more important to national security than your average captain or major.
In addition to the fact that these ranks were specific to the FBSA unit of government defense while they also adhered to the officer ranking system in place by the land force military from lieutenant all the way to general.
Beyond that the ranks were not in order of status and prestige but in ability and utility the pawns were trainees, the knights/guards usually have some specialty in strength, combat and fast short movement, the castles/dukes have defensive and offensive abilities that could cover massive distances, the bishops/priest were individuals that have long range offensive, psychic or support ability with low defenses.
The queen/ace position was reserved for people that have a diverse set of abilities allowing them to excel and specialize in pure combat.
The king/’right hand’ was reserved for only a person intelligent enough to pull the strings of others without disrupting the natural balance that exist in the universe, anyone could apply to be the king.
They would have to complete the kings challenge within the administration to qualify to even face whatever challenge the current king had created.
The book went on to explain the ‘trial of the king’ where a challenger may face the current kings challenge.
Due to people not attempting to usurp the kings challenge in the past there had been created a routine 8-year nomination ceremony where 3 people were unanimously nominated to take the kings challenge and if they were to pass they were required to work as the ‘kings shadow/left hand’ for the 3 years and appropriate the throne for the remaining 5 years where they could create their own challenge for someone to try to usurp them or they could allow the previous kings trial and wait until someone passes the test so they can once again fall into the title of ‘left hand’.
As they read the guidelines the rain and the wind slowly picked up to the point where even the military grade Humvee could be felt shaking as it trod along the road.
at this point a beep could be heard as a mans voice started coming from the car speakers.
“Bishop Pen S, I need to speak with Knight Prio.” “Knight Prio, reporting, objective is secured we are currently en route ETA 1500 tomorrow afternoon.” The guard seated in the passenger seat reported.
“Got it, The Regional Queen says this storm is going to get tricky anyone moving an objective is encouraged to get out of this storm ASAP.
I’ve sent some experienced pawns that are up for promotion to secure your route along I-85 to I-40 that should get you out of range of this storm there is also a castle acting as their Halo right now, You will be within my own range until you get to I-40 so if you have an issue don’t be afraid to let loose.
Bishop Pen S, signing off.” Hearing the quick chat Jason, Jack and Ethan looked up from their reading thinking they were glad they had read as much as the first few pages.
“So how do pawns get promoted, and since we are a part of the organization now does that mean we are also pawns?” Jack began to ask as his curiosity got to him hearing about the pawns that are securing their route.
“Pawns go through testing and training to figure out what position they would best fit into, training consist primarily in combat and educational proficiency over core subject matters.
A careful observation report is reported to the king, and he will write up what we call a ‘Kings Plan’ that’s given to whoever it is for, detailing their strengths weaknesses and advice for their growth in the future.
Honestly, it’s probably the best advice I’d ever gotten it’s kind of scary to think about how smart any of the guys who become a King really are.” the guard said as his thoughts began to drift wondering just how anyone could analyze a person the way he had been analyzed when he received his own ‘King’s Plan’.
“From the pace of my breathing down to micro-adjustments in the way I walked and sat with even insight on how I trained my own internal energy without ever meeting me face to face or even talking.
Truly scary to think how much power those people’s brains have, as if fighting one of them wouldn’t be enough.” The guard continued to muse as he remembered the enlightenment from the words on his ‘Kings plan’ almost word for word.
“Yea, that is kind of scary, it kind of gives me creeps to even think people that smart exist, do you even know who the king is?” Jack inquired further, his curiosity and excitement piquing as if he were a kid again learning about something interesting.
“Not many people ever actually know who the active king is, as you may know Kings are divided by ‘Right Hand’ and ‘Left hand’ More often than not the left-hand fronts as king while the actual king ‘Right hand” remains out of the public eye and since there are so many ‘Left hands’ it’s almost impossible knowing who the real king is, unless you’re smart enough to figure it out from the public nominations, even then it’s hard because everyone nominated automatically becomes a ‘Left Hand'”.
“Wait so does this mean that Captain Aria is ranked King?” Jack asked as he was trying to understand just how powerful the person he met was.
“That is correct she is one of the many ‘Left-Hands’ I would stay off of her bad side if I were you, it will be a good idea for anyone to have decent relationships with as many kings as possible there human like the rest of us and some of them might tend to be a little vindictive” the guard said causing 2 of the other guards to give him a cautious side eye sending a chill down his spine.
Hearing this seemed to kill jacks’ curiosity as he seemed visibly confused about how the people that obtained the title of King created a hierarchy and system that seems to work so effectively especially if the last thing the guard said was true.
“Don’t think too hard, I had the same look when someone first explained the Kings to me.
You should just keep reading the book, it will explain more about how everything works smoothly, and the Kings are very open about how the Left-hands are primarily the front men its chapter three after honors and values, I think.
But it should explain how all kings should be assumed to be the left hand unless every one of them tells us otherwise, but its best if you read it I don’t want to ruin the fun.” The guard said before a loud boom of thunder caused the Humvee to shake.
“Honestly after hearing what you just said i feel inclined to think figuring out who the real king is a part of the kings challenge.” Jason said as he was sitting there pondering.
Hearing this caused the guards to let out a loud laugh in unison as if they had all just figured something out.
“I guess this is what separates everyone from a King or someone with enough potential to become one.
It took me 15 years working with the FBSA before I realized figuring out who the real king was is a part of the challenge.
Good work kid if you become king remember us small fry who helped you on your journey alright.” Knight Prio said from the front seat as he regained his bearings.
Hearing this Jason became slightly embarrassed that he had thought out loud for a moment causing him to look up at Ethan who still seemed to be absorbed in reading the contents of the book.
‘I might be able to put 2 and 2 together and read a room faster but he’s the only one I would call if I ever needed a problem truly solved.’ He thought to himself as he watched Ethan absorbed in the book as if it was his favorite comic.
Ethan looked out the window for a bit and just as he was going to go back to reading the sky boomed as a massive lightning bolt streaked across the sky.
A beep sounded in the Humvee “Castle Zero, The pawns along your route will need assistance defending the convoy, I am currently engaged in combat with a four-armed demon, if I don’t hold this one off the civilians all along the coast will be doo.” -BOOM – The radio was suddenly cut with a loud boom as the four-armed creature dropped down from the sky and punched Castle Zero destroying the phone that was in his hand.
The creature stood around 10 feet with bulging defined muscles.
Its eyes blood red with the face of an ogre with two giant tusks’ sticking up from its lower jaw.
It had a robe around its waist and tribal markings covering its arms and torso with broken chains on its hands and feet.
Its skin was a dark grey almost black making it look like a shadowy demon.
“I love that you humans thought the Veil that weakened our powers would remain forever.
I am but the messenger and this is my message Us creatures of darkness will reclaim this land that is rightfully ours!” The monster said in a stomach-churning demonic voice before pressing off the ground with such force that the ground beneath his foot began to break and made a small crater as he launched himself into Zero.
“Honestly, do you even know what you’re talking about?
I have no clue what this veil you’re talking about is, anyway when you send a messenger shouldn’t you bring some documentation so we could know you were actually here because without that I think I might be the one sending the message to your people.” Zero said as he could be seen standing firmly in place receiving the monsters charge as if it were full sized man unable to move a small child.
Feeling the strong resistance, the monster quickly jumped back instinctually as his senses began to flare.
“It’s been millennia since I have been able to feel my full strength and let loose, I have to thank you human for not dying instantly beneath my foot, for this I am going to reward you.” The wind began to speed up violently as if the storm was turning into a hurricane, the heavy rainfall turned into a full-on torrent of water as the beast reached out his arm and a sword made of water formed in it.
Seeing this Zero took a deep breath as his eyes turned completely white as he began to breathe out the temperature in a 30km Radius began to drop drastically turning the water falling from the sky into ice as a wall of ice also sprouted up in front of him.
The cold giant shards of ice flew into the monster cutting his body in many places.
Feeling this change the beast only grew more excited and the storm continued to intensify in the local region which also weakened the storm further out helping clear the route for Ethan’s team.
The beast charged in with a demonic smile revealing blood-stained teeth.
It smashed through the ice wall this time opting to grab Zero.
He grabbed his arm and yanked it meaning to throw Zero but his entire body seemingly shattered like ice causing the beast to be slightly stunned for a moment.
In the same moment of confusion Zero appeared behind the demon as he blew on the beast back instantly infecting his skin with some degree of frostbite before following up with a devasting blow that send the demon flying forward into a frozen swampy thicket.
“So are you just the messenger or the bringer of doom, because if you’re a messenger I have a message for you to deliver from my higher ups.” Zero said as he appeared on the beast sitting on its back as it was sprawled across the ground.
Hearing this and feeling the pain in its back the demon became enraged, “YOU DISGUSTING CREATURE I WILL KILL EVERY LAST…” The demon shouted as it moved to begin fighting again.
Zero had heard enough, he brought his hand down hard on the beast head shutting it up, he didn’t know if he killed it or knocked it out, but he did know if there were more of these guys, they were bound to cause a bit of trouble definitely if there were some stronger than the one he had just faced.
‘Bishop Pen S.
Good work Zero, you always make work so easy I love being in your region, I have a team coming to retrieve you and the research subject is there anything you want me to report to the Regional Queen?’ A voice sounded in Zeros mind, one of Bishop Pen’s abilities.
‘Nah I will report myself don’t worry about it, the storm should start dying down now I didn’t expect to actually encounter something in this storm I guess the King’s were right to believe so much all along.’ Zero replied before laying back on the beast body thinking just what else might be out there.