Chapter 36: Azure Orb
At the edge of the world, the northernmost point of the Mycroft Continent, on the distant frozen tundra bordering the Empire, there stands a solitary peak piercing the clouds.
It spews hot smoke, releases black mist, and channels endless flames from the planet's core, turning them into flowing golden rivers that cascade down the mountain's ridges. With this boiling mountain as the origin, countless peaks and hills emerge, stretching into an expansive, boundless mountain range. Millennia of endless snowfall blankets these gray-black peaks in a layer of silver white.
This mountain was named after the reigning Emperor of the time, and because of its exceptional height, the prefix "Great" was added. Thus, its name is the Great Aias Volcano, and the mountain range is called the Great Aias Mountains.
Adjacent to the golden rivers of molten lava, water born from melting ice and snow flows down from the peaks of this extreme northern, frigid snow mountain range, gathering at the base into unfrozen lakes. A ceaseless river surges forth from these lakes, flowing into the distance.
The flow of water is the flow of life; the gathering of water is the gathering of life. With this as its origin, a black forest begins to take root upon the snowy plains. Signs of life appear, and magical beasts thrive here, relying on the geothermal heat from the Magellan Unfrozen River and the underground magma. On this frozen land where cold knows no limit, a region finally emerges where life can survive.
Thus, countless years later, humans came to this place. They felled forests, drove away magical beasts, built cities, forged fortresses, divided territories, and multiplied. With the Great Aias Mountains as their center, they divided the land into four territories, and this is the origin of the Four Northern Territories.
Now, west of the Great Aias Mountains, Moldova Territory, Black Forest Fortress.
In the reception room of the central tower, Brandon gazed at the man before him.
At this moment, Ying had gone to select armor, and Verdani had returned to her room to rest. With no enemies nearby, this Gold-rank swordsman could finally observe carefully this comrade who seemed so mysterious to him—this newly appointed Chaos Warden.
Joshua Radcliffe. A tongue-twisting name, but one seen often. As guardians on the side of order, the Kaos Family naturally kept a close watch on their counterparts in the far north. Brandon had probably seen the name Joshua a few years ago on a list of future Chaos Wardens, and recently it had frequently appeared at noble banquets in the Imperial Capital, as a subject of praise or skepticism.
After all, a lone rider galloping for seventeen days and nights, returning to his territory to slay all usurpers, advancing to the Gold-rank while killing another Gold-rank warrior—such a feat, nearly legendary, would not grow tiresome even after years of retelling. Even Brandon felt a stir of curiosity—he, who was extremely confident in his own strength, was very curious about just how strong this man, who in rumors had become almost an incarnation of the God of War, truly was.
However, upon learning that his beloved was in danger and her territory was besieged by a tide of frenzied beasts, the golden-haired swordsman immediately forgot about this matter. Understanding the severity of the situation, he set off at once, rushing to Moldova, intending to take the stubborn Countess away—but he failed. Even with supplies and ammunition exhausted, the violet-haired mage refused to abandon her territory. Helpless, Brandon could not bring himself to abandon her, nor did he have the chance to take her away. He had even prepared to die alongside Verdani.
No supplies, no ammunition, no morale, no stamina, and naturally, no reinforcements. Truly despairing. He had overestimated his own abilities and resolve.
Just as he was mocking himself, a red light suddenly appeared in the distance.
Dust rose and scattered with the crimson glow. Led by a black-armored warrior at the forefront, a handful of knights appeared from the distant horizon. They crossed mountains and hills and arrived at the battlefield. The swordsman could see the banner flying above this formation: a sword-wielding hand with a black background and gold trim—the banner of the Lord of Moldavia Territory, the Radcliffe Family.
Reinforcements?
But the numbers are too few...
Shaking his head, the faint hope that had risen in Brandon's heart was immediately extinguished. He sighed.
But could that black-armored warrior leading the group be the Joshua he had long heard of? To dare bring so few soldiers to reinforce... he didn't know whether to call it recklessness or courage, folly or confidence.
Is he really as strong as the rumors say?
Just as this question arose in his mind, reality provided the answer.
Yes.
The distant beast tide was broken through layer by layer by this group of knights whom no one had held in high regard. Their rapid charge stirred up a storm of blood and gore, causing chaos everywhere. Coupled with the Star-Yellow Fragment that had scattered most of the beast tide ahead, they advanced almost unimpeded, crushing everything in a straight line to the foot of the fortress.
Unbelievable, invincible, not like a mortal army at all, but like something from...
Unable to find a fitting adjective, Brandon took a deep breath.
All the credit, without a doubt, belonged to the warrior who had been at the very front, serving as the formation's battering ram and focal point.
His seemingly simple movements actually exerted every ounce of strength in his body, wasting not a single shred of excess force in his attacks. Breaking through the beast tide and slaying the swarming monsters was as fluid as eating and drinking. Though only at Gold Low-rank, he accomplished what most Gold High-rank warriors could not. If such a man could not be called strong, then there would be few strong people left in the world.
With such skill and power, he was certainly not a reckless, schemeless man incapable of planning. It wasn't that he couldn't or wouldn't think of strategies, but that his confidence in his own strength made such thinking unnecessary.
"It seems, Joshua, you have perfectly inherited the Order Force of the Radcliffe Family."
With a sigh of admiration, Brandon broke the silence between them that had arisen from Ying and Verdani's departure. He smiled and said, "Speaking of which, I haven't thanked you for saving Dani's life."
"Why do you say that?"
Feeling somewhat uncomfortable due to his overly tight clothes, Joshua raised an eyebrow slightly and said with some confusion, "If you're talking about the aid, it was only right. No thanks are needed. Besides, the Countess herself has already expressed her gratitude."
"No. If you hadn't come, facing such a desperate beast tide, Dani would have ignored her own body, used potions to suppress the mental backlash, and forcibly cast a grand spell... I know her. I know she would do that. That's why I thank you for coming, so that I wouldn't lose her."
Shaking his head, Brandon let out a light sigh. "I know you have many questions. The old Count died too early, leaving you without a complete inheritance. I can answer your doubts. Ask away."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Appreciating the golden-haired swordsman's direct attitude, and with the Countess absent, allowing him to ask freely, Joshua pondered for a moment and said, "Where did the Azure Orb come from? Why did my family accept the mission of becoming Chaos Wardens? What is the true nature of the Wild Gods? What lies behind the space-time channel..."
"Stop!"
Interrupting Joshua's barrage of questions, Brandon smiled wryly. "One at a time. How can I answer if you ask like that?"
"Then let's start with the Azure Orb."
Of the other matters, Joshua knew a general outline, but regarding this mysterious origin artifact, he was almost completely in the dark.
The golden-haired swordsman thought for a moment before answering, his expression somewhat subtle. "It seems the old Count never told you anything before he died... In truth, the Azure Orb has no origin. It has been in your family's hands from the very beginning, serving as... as the proof of generational inheritance and the head of the family."