Prologue

His footsteps reverberated as he walked down the hallway. He passively listened to the gossip of his members.

"Hey did you hear?! There's a new Campione!"

"I heard this one came out of Mexico!"

It appeared that yet another King had been born. With each step he took, he heard more rumors.

"I hear he's a battle fanatic!"

"He's already fought John Pluto Smith and King Kusanagi!"

"Wait he beat them? No way!"

"He even fought a Heretic God in Egypt right after!"

He sighed. It appeared that his kin was just like the rest. A destructive monster, blindly fighting anything that moved.

"I hear he's going to fight Lord Salvatore soon!"

"What?! He just battled a Heretic God and is already going to fight another Campione?! Is he crazy?"

"I hear that he's a vicious king who lives for battles!"

"I hear he's insane!"

"I heard that he found an artifact for that one god that ends the world…"

Alec opened his eyes as he pulled back the curtains of a window, taking in the sunshine. Behind him, stood his most trusted subordinate, Sir Iceman.

He stood with his ever present solemn expression, a face that projected his calm personality. As a Dutch mage who had been knighted in England, his physique attested to the title. With wide shoulders and a height that surpassed Alec's, he could be counted on to display his resilience at a moment's notice.

"Are the rumors true, Sir Iceman?" Alec asked as he turned around to address him. He was a handsome man with a tall and slender build who always projected a dignified aura.

"It appears that there is some truth to the rumor. We have gathered information that suggests a powerful artifact has been recovered by the new Campione's magical association. Whether it would be useful in the inevitable duel against the King of the End, it remains to be seen."

"Hmmm…interesting. I guess I will have to see for myself if this artifact is truly worth any attention."

"So shall I contact the new King for a possible trade?" Sir Iceman asked, though he already knew the answer.

"There is no need to do that. I've heard that the new King is quite the warmonger. I doubt such a brute would listen to reason." Alec curtly replied, dismissing the proposition.

Sir Iceman sighed. "My lord, I assume you mean to steal it. I ask that you reconsider."

"Why?" Alec frowned.

"All we know about this King is his apparent battle lust. While I have no doubt you can defeat such an adversary, I ask that you refrain from creating conflict for something that may or may not be useful."

"Well then…" Alec looked down as a nearby chess table. "I guess we'll have to make sure…" He swiped a chess piece. "That he doesn't realize that it was me correct?"

*Clik* Clang* *Bleek*

Ernesto fell hard on his back.

"Aaaggghh…that hurt." He groaned as he strained to get back up.

"Well I told you, teaching you the way of the sword wouldn't be easy." Doni replied.

As he spoke, a shadow jumped up from behind him and came down with alarming speed.

"Hiya!" Laura cried out as she slashed downwards.

Sidestepping slightly and disarming Laura, he bonked her head with the wooden hilt of his practice sword as she came crashing down.

She sat up and cradled her head.

"Owwwhahahow!" She cried out.

"Well you guys are getting much better at this than I thought." Doni commented with a smile.

"Ouch! Why do I have to even do this?!" Laura complained.

Ernesto stood up. "Because as my knight, I will not have you miss out on opportunities to make yourself stronger and more versatile."

"It's because you don't want to suffer alone isn't it?" Doni added.

Ernesto turned away. "I will withhold my response to that."

"Geez!" Laura yelled out.

It had always been like this. Whenever Ernesto found an interesting skill that could be learned, he made her come along for the ride. While spells like the Haste spell had been useful in battle, it was still hard learning them. Ernesto had almost a sadist side to him when it came to mastering powerful techniques. He was tough and unforgiving and pushed Laura to her limits. Yet in the end, those efforts bore fruit.

Ernesto stood up as Doni started to attack once more. Doni swung his wooden sword diagonally upwards.

"Squared Haste!" He shouted. He saw the dull wood swinging upwards and turned his body as he swung downwards. Yet suddenly, Doni moved forward and using the wooden hilt, landed a blow on Ernesto's side. He fell over and grabbed his side in pain.

"Good! You made me have to adjust myself!" Doni praised.

"I wish…that it sounded…more…aggh…sincere." Ernesto commented through his pain.

"Jajaja well being able to see Ernesto in pain makes this kind of worth it." Laura laughed out.

"Hardy har har, it's your turn." Ernesto stuck his tongue out with a smirk.

"Ahh but it's going to end up like always." Laura complained as she readied herself.

"Jeje just have *ouch* fun with it." Ernesto answered with a kooky smile.

"Just have fun with it he says." Laura grumbled.

"Ready or not, here it comes!" Doni chanted gleefully.

He raised the practice sword up and as he swung downwards, it disappeared!

"Squared Haste!" Laura yelled out. She saw the sword. She swung upwards to counter the blow but Doni quickly swung outwards and smacked the sword out of Laura's hands.

"Ow!" She cried out as she rubbed her hands. "You don't have to hit that hard!"

"Jajaja sorry about that." Doni carelessly smiled. "If I don't show some force then you won't be prepared when it's actually important."

He then added, "I still can't wrap my head around that spell though."

"What? The Haste spell?" Ernesto asked.

"Yeps! The fact that it slows down time enough for you guys to see my blade is commendable precisely because it's not an Authority. It's crazy!" Doni laughed.

"Well it definitely is handy. It's all thanks to a powerful mage known only by a few from this country. I was even able to get Laura to master it." Ernesto boasted.

"My lord, you are incorrect. I am able to use it but have not mastered it in the slightest sense." Laura chided.

"Ahh right sorry." Ernesto turned back to Doni. "So since you're so amazed by it, would you like me to teach it to you?" Ernesto asked in earnest.

"Hmmmm…..I'll pass." He answered with a carefree smile.

"Oh?" Ernesto looked questioningly. "Are you sure? I'm sure it'd be helpful for you."

"Hmmm…I don't see the point." Doni finally let out. "It's not really something I'd use. And if I won't use it, then why learn it? I'll just train my swordsmanship skills to surpass it. Not to mention I'm lousy at spells."

As he spoke, he remembered refusing Luo Hao's offer to become an apprentice under her. He couldn't understand why she became so upset after giving the same reason.

"Alright then. Maybe I can convince you another way! Squared Haste!" Ernesto yelled out.

Five second later, Ernesto's practice sword was knocked out of his hand and he landed on his butt.

Laura couldn't help but hold back a giggle. "Pffftt I really can't get enough of this."

"Your turn." Doni told Laura.

She sighed as she prepared her stance. While training was definitely worth it, Laura missed her simple life.

Before entering the world of magic and fighting Gods, divine beasts and other absurdities, she would spend her days refining her dancing. She always loved the various styles that could be melded together. She yearned for those days in which she could create works of art through the movement of her body. As she held her eyes closed and the world outside seemed to almost disappear, she tried to remember the steps that had guided her to bliss.

"Squared Haste.." She whispered.

*Shink* *Swoosh* CLANG*

Laura opened her eyes and saw Doni and Ernesto with surprised looks in their eyes.

"Whoa!" Doni exclaimed. He was blocking Laura's sword from striking his side using the flat end of his.

"Wh-what happened?" Laura asked as she withdrew the sword.

"Jajaja you tell me! I want to know!" Doni replied with a wide grin.

"Call it crazy but it almost seemed like….you were dancing." Ernesto replied with a confused expression.

Ernesto proceeded to describe the quick encounter. Doni had made an upward slash which Laura had proceeded to redirect by making the sword run along the flat end of hers as she supported it and flicked it away. She then quickly twisted her whole body making a horizontal strike which Doni was forced to defend against.

"What?!" Laura exclaimed in shock.

"It couldn't have been what I was doing! It was just some random dancing I made up on the spot. It couldn't have been the reason…right?" She thought silently to herself.

"Jeje you guys keep surprising me! Well let's see if you can match your knight, Ernesto!" Doni challenged.

"After a performance like that, how can I not? Let's go!" Ernesto yelled.

Five seconds later, he was hugging his head.

"Okay so maybe I can't match Laura." Ernesto complained in pain.

"Jeje it feels nice to be better than you at something." Laura haughtily commented.

Just then, a member of the Sixth Sun ran up with gasping for breath.

Ernesto straightened up quickly.

Laura stood in awe as he quickly recomposed a regal aura that stood in stark contrast to his playful demeanor.

"What is it?" He inquired.

"My lord, we have received terrible news. It appears that the artifact that was recovered for Your Majesty was stolen three nights ago."The member replied.

"Hmmmm…" Ernesto pondered in thought. If it was that artifact, then maybe his plans would have to be sped up.

"There were two members who sustained significant injuries."

Ernesto narrowed his eyes.

"Injured? Tell me their names." He ordered.

"Erica Gonzalez and Francisco Flores" He named.

At hearing the names, a dark expression overtook Ernesto's face.

"Doni, I will be away for a few days. I will be back as soon as possible to continue training."

"Alright, I'll chill here for a couple of days but if you take too long or I'll be gone. I have to get back to Italy soon." Doni warned playfully as he shook his finger.

"I understand. Thank you for your aid." Ernesto replied.

Her turned to Laura and grabbed her close.

"We will go to the capital now." Ernesto said in a stern tone.

With a whisk of air, they were gone.