Gerald floated like a specter over the desiccated landscape that separated the Drow Empire and The City's area of influence. He once again wore his full Black Onyx Brotherhood attire, with the black diamond brand clearly visible on his back.
He sped along the desert, his feet just barely off the floor, with a swirling mist of decaying gray dust circling around him. The Essence of the fallen was continuously being siphoned and refined into higher grades, losing size with every step. By the end of it all, after reaching the Spirit Essence, all that remained was a small drop floating above his palm.
On his path of conquest through the desert, he passed by many small villages or nomad tribes fighting against the invaders. There he helped them slaughter thousands of Orcs and hundreds of their marginally stronger, Elite counterparts. There was even an Ogre.
The fatty giant died just as fast as the rest of them, the enhanced durability and strength did nothing to save it from Gerald's Essence-draining grip of death. All it did was spread the name of Black Onyx. The symbol on Gerald's back quickly became a well-known one, especially among the weakest people of the desert.
***
In the hordes of monsters he slaughtered, there were a few Goblins among them. They were not many, and due to their weakness, did not pose any real danger to a grown Mortal. Also, because of their pathetic power levels, they were extremely hard to find. It was like looking for a particular grain of dust on a beach. From Gerald's perspective, they had the same energy signatures as dirt. The only way he could find them was by detecting their puny Souls, and even that proved to be too much work for no gain whatsoever.
He could literally get more by simply breathing than he would chasing those weaklings. He left those pests for others to deal with. If the foolish creatures didn't become a food source for the native creatures first.
***
Gerald's aimless search for a battle oftentimes led him to a fight where armies of various Clans battled against the hordes of invaders. Actually, they were more just pest control. As it was established before, the Orcs served as no more than a distraction to spread out the enemy forces. However, confusingly, no counterattack came.
Everyone expected the attacks to lead them into a trap, but nothing of the sort happened. Fights continued, day by day, yet there were always more corpses to be added to the pile. All of them were the same. All enemy forces, never before seen on the continent. It was weird.
Tens of thousands of Orcs and the like were killed, yet there was still no end to them. Scouting parties were sent into the Drow territory, yet they all reported back similar words. It was all more of the same.
The elite forces sent from The City were the only ones experiencing real combat. They clashed against the Drow and had to retreat, the ashen skins having used their superior magical artifacts to wound even old Sky Realm Cultivators.
It was a mess, and everyone was confused. Gerald included.
***
A group of Cultivators traveled quickly across the desert, their pale yellow and gray leather cloaks, the same color as the sandy ground, flapping wildly in the wind.
A giant black pillar appeared on the horizon, and as they approached, they saw it for what it was. A majestic battleaxe.
A skinny guy in the group whistled. "Oh, wow…"
"So this is the weapon? It's even larger than I imagined." The large man at the front added, looking at the weapon in awe.
There were four of them in total, approaching the Eclipse, three men and one woman.
"Huh. Looks like the information was accurate. That's surprising." The woman scoffed.
The last member of the group remained silent, satisfied to simply watch. His eyes followed the lines of the Formation burned into the landscape, pausing briefly at the black diamond around the Eclipse, and then at the same shape imprinted into the handle of the colossal weapon.
"It's always accurate. Once you pay that much, you get only the best of the best." The large guy said.
"Sure." The woman replied, the sarcasm in her voice revealing she thought the exact opposite.
The lanky guy floated closer to the Eclipse, eyes wide. The woman grabbed him by the hand and yanked him back. "Don't touch it! It could be dangerous." She hissed.
"I wasn't going to touch it!" The man said, offended, and shook her off, turning back to marvel at the weapon. He was totally going to touch it. "You really think we're going to find the guy?"
"Of co-"
Suddenly, they heard a soft pop as the space near them rippled and vibrated, and there stood another person. Four pairs of eyes snapped in his direction.
[Can I help you, gentlemen?] Gerald, who just appeared before them, graciously offered.
The big guy narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
[I should be asking you the same thing. You guys don't look like you belong here.]
"Of course, not! Why would we want to live in such a desolate place?" The skinny guy scoffed. "We come from the Empire…" Unprompted, he began bragging about how they were bounty hunters on a secret mission to find a certain guy.
[Oh, really?] Gerald asked curiously. [Do you know what he looks like?]
The guy shook his head.
[Then how will you know when you find him?]
"Hehe…" The guy chuckled and puffed out his chest. "We've paid a Diviner to give us a clue. He told us, find the weapon and you will find your man. And this is the weapons!" He gestured grandly at the Eclipse. "We think…"
[Huh… A Diviner? They can do that?]
"And much more! Although, that guy wasn't much help otherwise. He claimed that-"
"Stop talking!" The woman hissed. "That's private information, don't tell him that! We paid for it!"
The guy rolled his eyes. "It's fine, he's just a random guy, a nobody. So what if I chat with him for a bit? He's a native here, maybe he can help us. Besides, even if he tried something, he's just Level… Five?" He paused and looked at Gerald again from top to bottom a few times.
"Wait… Is this the guy…?"
"Are you serious?! I thought it was clear to all of us?!" The woman exclaimed in rage. The other two wisely nodded to confirm her words.
"If it was clear, then why would I be speaking to him?"
"I thought you were luring him into a trap! Lowering his guard, not making a friend! You idiot!"
Gerald awkwardly scratched his cheek as the two argued.
[So, uh… What's the bounty?]
"About half a million." The big guy answered and moved behind Gerald to block his escape. The mute moved upward to cut off his flight path.
[Oh, not bad… A bit on the low side, but… Who's the job for?]
"It was anonymous." The woman said and pulled out two nasty-looking blades. The skinny guy also took a fighting stance and brought out his weapon.
[Huh, no shit? And you are here for what? My head?]
"Pretty much."
[Hm, must have been some rich guy. I don't remember making any enem- Wait, no… Hei Yu? Was it him? That old bastard?]
The mute guy looked at him with a narrowed gaze before glancing at the battleaxe stuck in the ground.
"Hey, did this guy just call the Grand Elder Hei Yu an old bastard?" The big man asked with a bewildered expression.
"Yeah. And that alone is enough for his life to be forfeit." The woman confirmed with a smirk.
"He must be going crazy in his last moments." The stickman added. He held a longsword in one hand and absentmindedly moved it around as he spoke.
They were all as relaxed as they could be. Gerald included. He laughed. [Oh, don't tell me the old fart is still mad about losing his hand? Is that why he sent you?]
"How do you know about his hand?" The woman narrowed her eyes.
[How do you?] Gerald countered.
"We got our ways. But the details of his injury should still be a tightly guarded secret. As was his expedition to the north."
[The North? What does the North have to do with it?]
"It's where he clashed with the Dragon that took his hand, obviously." The skinny guy explained. He seemed to enjoy spreading rumors and spilling secrets.
[No, no, no… I took his hand, and I fought him here, fair and square.] Gerald said in a serious voice and an angry undertone. That was his work; nobody was allowed to claim ownership of his work!
The group of bounty hunters looked at each other and then burst out laughing. Well, only three of them laughed. The mute appeared nervous instead.
"No offense buddy, but you don't exactly appear strong." The big one said while wiping off his tears.
"Not to mention that you look nothing like a Dragon." The thin one added while giggling.
The mute and Gerald locked eyes and the latter grinned secretly while doing a sushing motion. The bounty hunter's eyes went wide in fear.
Fine clothes disappeared, replaced by red scaly skin. Gerald's body began growing at a rapid pace, and he soon towered over the group many times over. He roared into the sky as fiery wings burst from his back, flickering incessantly like living flames.
An oppressive Aura spread out, bringing with it immense pressure and heat, as well as the feeling of doom.
The mute immediately turned on his heel and stumbled as he ran, until he reached the edge of Gerald's influence, where he jumped into the sky and flew away as fast as he could.
[Dragon enough for you?] Gerald roared in amusement, his voice booming like thunder. Another wave of pressure came, and the three struggled to move or breathe, choking on air as his Aura began transitioning into a Domain.
The first to fall was the skinny guy, followed by the woman. They fell on their knees as blood began pouring out of their eyes and mouth as they clawed at their throat, struggling to take a breath that would not come.
Last to fall was the big guy who managed to resist significantly longer than the other two. In truth, none of them needed air to survive anymore, but the pressure squeezing them from all sides and the feeling of doom made them feel like they did.
Just when they thought it was over for them, the pressure lifted and Gerald lowered his head to their level.
[Consider this a warning, bounty hunters. A small taste of my power. Your silent friend over there had the right idea to escape.]
The woman crawled on the ground and coughed out blood as she struggled to speak. "Yes, my Lord. Thank you for your mercy!"
[My name is Gerald Fireborn! Leader of the Black Onyx Brotherhood.] Gerald announced, spreading his wings wide in a majestic pose as his powerful voice shook the ground. [Make sure to spread my name among your people, and bring them a message.]
The three lifted their head, waiting for his decree.
[These are my lands! You are not welcome in my lands. The mercy you were granted, will not be given again. The next time an unwanted visitor from the Empire comes, they better be prepared for death!]
"Y-Yes… Lord Gerald Fireborn! We will deliver your m-message."
Gerald grinned in a bloodthirsty kind of way, the flames from his wings swirling around his head like a massive flaming crown. [Do that. Oh, and one last thing. I got a message for my dear friend, Hei Yu. Tell him to watch his back. Tell him I did not appreciate his cowardly actions. Also, tell him I had recently gained a taste… for his flesh!]