“I am a diplomat from the Empire of the Sun. I demand to see your leader in the name of the Empress!”

Adam had no intention of fighting these men.

A week ago, after he returned from an expedition against the Voyagers in the Empire of the Sun with 2 kills under his belt, the Empress confessed a secret to him.

She didn't tell Adam everything she has learned from the story she read.

More than one hundred years ago, when the Protector first descended, the Empire of the Sun and the Empire of the Moon were just tiny factions. The continent was consumed by war as hundreds of factions fought for control. Thousands perished every day.

It was a time of great tragedy, but it was also a time of great progress. The Rune technology grew explosively. Every day, Rune-Crafters experimented with new ways to forge powerful weapons that could give them an edge in the wars to come. Some perished in explosions that occurred when the rune energy was too much for the engravings to contain. Others were successful, and that success would put them at an advantage until they were surpassed by others.

When the lone Protector descended, he announced his presence to the whole world. Everyone heard it, whether they were right below the Protector or a thousand miles away. In fact, there were tales that even the beasts knelt down in submission.

But the people of this world didn't believe in gods or deities. The faction closest to the Protector was frightened, but as fearless warriors, they turned that fear into arrows and stones that were flung at the Protector.

It was a mistake the people of this world would be paying for after 150 years.

The Protector massacred that faction with the snap of a finger. Literally. One moment he snapped his finger. The next second, all ten thousand some people of that faction were reduced to ashes. Every man and woman and children and elder. Every sword. Every crossbow. Every city.

Gone.

The Protector gave the rest of the factions a day to think about it. They could either bend the knee and accept the protection of the Protector Corps, or they could be erased.

Not a trace of them would be left in the world.

The people, the warriors, of this world gave themselves a third option.

They fought back.

When the Protector tried to return to Dimension EZ2943448 the next day, he found himself facing a barrier made up of the blood, flesh, and soul of those behind it.

In that day, the best Rune-Crafters in this world came together and developed a shield of theoretically unlimited power...as long as the energy supply could keep up. And what was the energy supply? The world itself.

When the Protector landed his first strike, every single piece of rune in the dimension exploded. Their energy were stripped away so quickly that no engraving could handle it.

When the second strike was landed, every single inhabitant of this world could feel their world growling in agony. The Protector’s attack was hurting the essence of this dimension. All of a sudden, every men, women, and children in this world received a message.

The dimension was dying. Without a new source of energy, all it would take was one more hit from the Protector and everyone and everything would be wiped out.

The dimension didn't have a conscious. All it has were instincts, and those instincts were asking for help.

At the moment, everyone knew what to do.

For their friends. For their families.

For their world.

Tens of thousands of men and women closed their eyes and clashed their rune energies against each other. Explosion after explosion occurred, each throwing countless balls of volatile energy into the air.

Energy that the dimension gobbled up and used to reinforce the shield.

When the third strike came, the shield stood strong.

But the inhabitants of this world didn't.

The author of the book was just a foot soldier, so he didn't know the reasoning behind this. After three strikes, the Protector turned and left, and the shield has stood tall every since.

The world was saved.

But at what cost?

During the last sacrifice, countless factions have lost all their combatants. Many Rune-Crafters were among those that have perished. Even worse, the dimension itself was heavily damaged. A large part of its energy was used up in putting up and maintaining the dimensional shield.

This was clearly reflected in what happened after the war.

Rune technologies came crashing down. The quantity and quality of energy that could be extracted and pumped into weapons and armors dropped significantly. A lot of skills with the runes perished alongside with those who knew them.

Once, the people of this world could engrave runes onto their skin and flesh. Now, they had to rely on external tools. Once, the strike of a single man could have the power that, nowadays, only a Formation could generate.

Entities like General Flores that are the best of the best could be no more than a foot soldier back in the days.

But those days were gone.

Or so the Empress thought.

Until she was contacted by a mysterious guest when Adam was away hunting down Voyager kill teams.

The messenger had runes on him. He told the Empress that as the war ended and the two empires rose to power, there were a few factions that survived. They retreated into the mountain ranges and sealed themselves from the rest of the world.

They called themselves Shieldbearers.

Their duty? To bear the shield and hold the line when the Protector inevitably returns.

Recently, the Shieldbearers have detected that a breach was made in the world shield. This prompted them to send out scouting parties and ready themselves for war. As the Empress and the Empire of the Sun clashed with the reaches of the Voyagers, the Shieldbearers carefully studied their enemies.

The messenger told the Empress they also had a man inside the Empire of the Moon. Benedictine, who has risen to power after the death of the former Emperor, who was suspected to be mind-controlled by the outsiders. When the time comes, the Shieldbearers would emerge from the mountains. The alliance between them and the two empires would no doubt crush the outsiders.

The Empress agreed, but she knew how vulnerable traditional armies would be against the variety of tricks the Voyagers had up their sleeves. This was why she sent Adam to meet the Shieldbearers. She trusted Adam could use them effectively.

Coincidentally, the two Voyagers encountered inside the mountains. Their brief fight ended up attracting a Shieldbearer scouting party.

Adam reached inside his watch and took out a letter. He tossed it to the captain of the patrol, who read through it. As he was done, he turned to Jean.

“And her?”

“She is one of the Voyagers.” Adam took a few steps back so the patrols could get a clear line of fire on Jean. He was told that the Shieldbearers had superior rune technology, and his feeling of threat from these patrols agreed with that. If all of these patrols opened fire...let’s just say Jean wouldn’t be enjoying it.

“Wait!” Jean threw her hands up as she tried to explain. “I am a messenger from Emperor Benedictine!” She knew Benedictine had contact with the Shieldbearers. With his memories in hand, she trusted she could fool these sentries, as long as…

And then two of the crossbowmen pumped two runed arrows into her arms.

As Jean hit the ground, groaning in pain, the patrol captain smirked.

“Do you think us fools? Emperor Benedictine has been dead for weeks.” He tilted his head as if he was insulted. “He was publicly executed.”

Jean’s hand immediately reached for her watch, but it was too slow. The two arrows in her slowed her down significantly. Before she reached her wrist, another arrow pinned it to the ground.

No way to get to her Wardens and Purifiers.

Jean’s expression didn't change as she ran through her options. She could see gauss bullets as they fly toward her, but the arrows were different. They didn't come out and then travel at a decreasing/constant speed. No. They came out, flew for a few milliseconds, and then suddenly accelerated. She was completely caught by surprise.

The runes must have some sort of accelerating the effect.

At least some of them.

Jean said some because she could feel other runes on the arrow constantly ripping away at her flesh and bone. Her zerg essence tried its best, but the wounds on her remained.

She was too weak to physically break out.

The patrol leader took a step forward as he drew his blade.

“Any last words, outsider?”

Purple runes focused on the blade.

Jean looked at him coldly.

Is this it? Is this the end of the journey…

“Wait.”

Both Jean and the patrol leader turned to the speaker.

Adam.

“She is just an underling. These Voyagers, they act in groups. Killing her is good, but taking her captive and getting information from her is better.”

Adam was too well aware of the danger of the Voyagers. Here and there, at least a dozen Voyagers have fallen, but it wouldn’t be long until the rest come together. Once they realize they were at risk of failing the mission, they would give it all they’ve got, and dozens of Voyagers working together and trying their best to complete the mission regardless of personal gain would be a force to be reckoned with.

He doubted even an alliance, including the new addition of the Shieldbearers, could stop them.

The patrol leader glanced at Adam before suddenly swiping his sword across Jean’s throat. Adam frowned, but he didn't say anything.

Jean coughed as a trail of blood appeared across her neck. Purple energy ravaged across her skin. As her body was being healed and torn at the same time, even Jean couldn’t keep herself from shaking in pain.

The captain waved his hand. As two men grabbed onto Jean and started escorting her away, he turned to Adam.

“These outsiders have come to wipe us out. Did you think I’ll let her go without a scratch?”

The patrol, Adam, and Jean moved across the mountains. On the way, several beasts tried to make a move, but the patrol members took care of them with ease.

Adam watched as a tiger-like creature leaped onto a patrol member, only to be chopped to pieces by the man’s purple sword.

These men were good. Adam estimated their CAS to be at least 200. This was terrifying. An average soldier in the Empire of the Sun was around 50. An elite guard was 70. Empress Guards were around 85. And that was just one man. If these Shieldbearers were able to form a formation…

He couldn’t help but ask a question.

“I’m sure your people are aware of the situation in the outside world. You can crush the two empires with ease. Why haven’t you?”

The patrol captain glanced at Adam. When the messenger returned, he carried a letter from the Empress telling the Shieldbearers about Adam’s background and accomplishments. This news was passed among the Shieldbearers. The captain had to admit he was impressed. It was difficult to turn against one’s own people and choose certain death over survival and profit. For this, he gave Adam his respect.

“Our ancestors,” The man paused. “they thought to control the world. Build an empire that would last a thousand years. For this, countless generations bled and died.”

“And then the Protector came. He erased tens of thousands with the snap of a finger. All the struggle. All the wars and accomplishments and glory and honor. They meant nothing. In front of him, we’re just ants.” He glanced at Adam.

“An ancient device recorded the Protector’s first appearance. I watched it. We all did. I can still remember his spotless white armor. I can still remember his words: ‘You are under the protection of the Protector Corps.’ The way he talked...it’s as if he’s a god, and we are the sinners awaiting his judgment.”

“There have been a lot of theories of why he left after three strikes. Some said he has shown mercy. Others said he was touched by our courage and sacrifice. But I think it was none of the above. I think he is angry. He is angry a group of mortals is willing to challenge a god, and he wishes to let us die slowly and painfully.”

He glanced at Adam again.

“That’s why you and your people are here, isn’t it?”

Adam was dead silent.

The captain continued.

“Well, no more. We say no more. Our ancestors swore an oath. The Shieldbearers will never turn their blades on their own people. Our blades will only be drawn against outsiders, whether they are Protectors or their goons. We swore that when the outsiders descend again, they will find an army ready to face them, not a group of fools fighting each other for the control of a tiny piece of rock.”

Adam bit his lips.

Suddenly, the woods and bushes disappeared, and Adam found himself facing a whole new world.

“We have arrived.”