It was the moment history was made.

Phantasian historian still argued to this day about the significance of the Hidden Vault Showdown. After all, it was the moment the legendary Horizon Dawn publicly flexed its muscle and girth in front of the Phantasia in one of the most devastating records in military history. The battle was often overblown in epic proportion with sixty mythical retellings, each more outrageous than the last. Portions of chronologist insisted this was the birth of the Superpower Acropolis became. Other faction insisted Acropolis already founded before the first rock in the battle was thrown, but they agreed it was the beginning of the end for Tai Hua Tianshang’s ambition and the ghost of Christmas future for the Heavenly Daughter’s final defeat in the Saint’s Goodnight Campaign.

Retelling and movies portrayed Phillip Odysseus’ legendary rescue to a memetic height. Some said the Tai Hua Slayer Music (Shadilay by P.E.P.E) was on full blast when Dream himself kicked Acrisius in the nut. Many insisted the Architect of Tomorrow entered battle field a in tank accompanied by an orchestra of winged opossum playing bagpipe. Therapist cited that traumatised veteran of this showdown insisted Empress transformed into a dragon, which the fabled Phillip Odysseus rode away with Penelope while the Knight of Glass herself threw dynamite in the background.

Because of the Dawn’s tactic, it wasn’t surprising the survivor of this one-sided battle developed Psychedelic vision and intense trauma of explosive. Truth to be told, it was understandable for soldiers, nobles, ancient families and fail-to-be-kings to subsist on this overblown exaggeration of the event.

Afterall, insisting you lost because of a magic shroom was less bitter than admitting six people and one extra dealt you one of the most humiliating defeats in Phantasia history. Careers and ambition were shoved into the cliff of hell as the Hidden Vault Showdown pretty much stomp a final nail on Centuria’s coffin.

To fully understand the nuking of egos happened that day, it was vital to understand the force and investment being sent into the gutter.

…

Duke Minos spent weeks marching his army of 89,000 toward central Centuria. The morale was high as solider and heavy artillery rolled across the battlefield in an orderly manner.

Center of the march was a mobile commander's quarter drawn by two gigantic land dragons. Inside the luxurious, ventilated space a young man with blonde hair man in a silver suit was humming beside the dukes pouring him wine. Behind him, an old mustache knight in silver armor guarded the two with vigilance and discipline.

“Good tea, my friend,” The young man said.

“Thank you,” Minos replied.

“Quite an orderly army you have here. I believe our investment will be quite secure.”

Minos didn’t share such an opinion, “We shouldn’t underestimate Acrisius and Minos. Taking all our soldiers out to fight makes our base back home pretty vulnerable.”

“That wouldn’t be a problem. With the reinforcement from Aurorin coming to supply you, our back line is forever secure,” the youth addressed the old man behind him. “My personal butler, Ornith, is here. He will be more than enough against the S-ranks in this continent given the embarrassing loss of Lord Promtus and Kakia.”

The butler nodded sagely.

However, Minos couldn’t let go of his concern and the youth saw through it.

“Minos, my friend, do you doubt me, Balos Aurorin? My promise as 11th of the 33 Stars worth it weight in gold, and didn’t I promise you unquestioned victory?” the youth said.

“Yes.”

“Excellent,” Balos replied with a charming smile. “Come. Let us negotiate about our policy once we are done with this policy. Lady LinLey and the rest of the Aurorin are quite eager to build the future profit of our cooperation.”

Balos would later talk about a million other policy and alliance cooperation. The most often bought up being the right for Aurorin and its associate in the management for the future of Centuria. However, both the boy and the Duke understood that Centuria most vital role in the coming conflict was to act as an anvil when LinLey’s sledgehammer eventually smashed down upon Tai Hua’s army.

Soon, both of them realized you shouldn’t skip in modelling the future.

…

Meanwhile, Eurytheus also assembled his army of 66,000 which headed to the main battlefield at an adequate pace. Unlike Minos, Eurytheus’ army marched with the highest military technology from hoover craft to stealth tech.

A flying ship cruised above the army at an even pace. Inside, Eurytheus met with his investor.

They weren’t a happy camper.

One was a young man in flamboyant clothing with a thick glass and a headphone raising his voice to get the point across, “Eury, I hat to say this mate, but this stupid civil war is taking way too long. I don’t care how you get it, but I want result.”

“I need time,” Eurytheus replied.

“Bullshit, all those resources and you snag the feeblest amount of this rotting country’s military. What a joke! You think we would have the number to deal with those stuck-up elders after we are done punching out the other dukes. El Acerbia would already give three more promotions to that upstart little nitpick Cocogar before we are actually done.”

The young man in flamboyant clothing was Elish Metis. He was one of the Isle of Knowledge most prodigious lead researcher, specializing in sonic technology. He was also a member of the up and coming 33 Star ranked at 12th—only a spot below his rival Balos Aurorin. If anyone asked Elish, he would claim it was because Balos cheated by bribing the rankers. For everyone else, they would correct that assumption by claiming Elish was a pain to work with.

To clarify the obvious, yes, he had a rivalry with Cocogar and thus shouldn’t be compared to the Dawn at all.

Eurytheus tried to be diplomatic, “I would have already finished them if you lent me—”

“Shut the hell up,” Elish screeched, but for once he got a great reason. “Those shit you are asking for are top secret project. You should be grateful El Acerbia didn’t murder you a decade ago. You will not mention it again, man. Especially not in front of HER!”

Elish pointed at the young blonde girl in bard get-up playing a harp by flying ship window. Her beauty sincerely harmonized with the music of the world.

“Secret much, Elish?” the girl musically said as she plucked the harp to match her tone.

“Oh, shut up, hitchhiker.” Elish growled. “Go back to your stupid island, you bald harpy.”

“If manner maketh men, your manhood must be pitiable.”

Elish audibly snapped, “Oh, you fucking bitch, I am going to strip you naked and put you on a show in front of this flying ship”

The girl struck another chord, looking down at Elish through her upturn nose, “Try me. I want another boy-toy.”

“For someone who ranks below Amitate, you sure talk big,” Elish retorted. “Seriously, you lost to that oaf Salazar in a backstab. How can you be that dumb?”

It was that insult which finally scored a chink past the beautiful bard’s armor, “The match is rigged! I can get him in the rematch.”

“He is dead, you nincompoop. You can’t have a rematch with the dead. Seriously, stay where you are on the ranking. What kind of name is ZZZ Millione anyway? Are you parent drunk went they popped you out?” Elish pressed more button.

“Mind your bloody manners! My fans love it!” the female bard yelled.

“Your fans love your shitty music. I don’t!”

Eurystheus gazed at the view below. He was already losing by the major league and now he had to cope with the team that get along like cream-soup and sushi. This wasn’t worth it. No matter how many S-ranker these two could invite. Even if Millione’s concert was profitable enough to fund his spending bill. Even when El Acerbia threw another innovative asset his way. None of those were worth the bickering that kept his eyes wide open at night.

…

In the distance, a blue hair man watched the flying ship and the procession heading to the damnation land with a whistle upon his lip.

Wayward stretched himself from a fight. Sure, he held to the highest level of professional and standard, but he loved battle and carnage. Years of bloodshed had awakened the beastly instinct he could barely tame with benefit and reason.

In his view, if the cost was relatively within the acceptable margin, the fun of the fight was the joy of the job. Wayward was reasonable, but he wasn’t the saint. That symbol was being upheld by the Dawn. While killing those he like filled him with disgust, it was incomparable to the glee of crushing his challenger and improves with every step. Wayward didn’t start this way, but years of bloodshed and competition ingrain this combat seeking mentality that couldn’t be shed.

Hence, he wasn’t going after Eurytheus now. Centuria might be his birthplace, but he had almost no stake in its rise and declines aside from a reassuring feeling and a little sad pang in his heart. Eurytheus was his only target here.

That aside, he no longer had to behold to the standard of his profession. Yes, he could attack Eurytheus and take him out early, but that wouldn’t be the challenge to push against the obstacle surely facing him in the future.

What Wayward wanted from his trip back home was a glorified brawl.

And no, facts that the Dukes ripped his home to piece and their soldier enabled them surely didn’t encourage him one bit.

…

If there was one head honcho of this conflict, it would be Acrisius.

Despite the catastrophic loss of both Promtus and Kakia, he was confident. He got more troops than anyone combined and after a bit of threatening persuasion; he got further assistance from Nereo in form of a power-boosting serum and high-power artillery. Those weapons costed a petty penny, but Acrisius believed it was the price well spent.

He also the first to arrive into this Hidden Vault and landed a solid defender advantage. The only thing he needed to do was set the ritual, stalled the two dukes and retreated with everything he ever wanted.

To further boost his luck, the battleground was a valley, making it easily defendable in one entrance. Although it made retreat difficult, Nereo’s teleportation technology solved that problem. With such advantage, his reputation would be irrecoverable if he lost this.

“Duke Acrisius, long time no see,” said the dethroned queen dress in white ritual toga. It was a ceremonial dress for transferring the contract and possibly execution. “Being a traitor must bode well given your excellent health.”

“Beautiful as ever, my niece,” Acrisius smiled. “Say anything you want, but your defeat is written for all to see.”

“Defeat? Is this victory?" Penelope argued. "Centuria fractured in half. People are uprooted. Foreign interference is everywhere and you are about to start a war to give our heritage to an outsider. Why are you even doing this?”

Acrisius looked out at the sky, wrung his hand, rustled his hair and turned back toward his niece in a mixture of rage and exasperation, “Because I can’t afford to let Centuria fell in your hand!”

Penelope backed into a pillar in fright.

“Think about this, Penny. Stew on it for a second. I was active in military matters before you were, labored tirelessly for twenty years, dealt with our neighbor. I fight tooth and nails for this country only for your father to piss it down the rain and your incompetency to deal it a crushing blow. Enough is enough. I, more than anyone, prove myself the worthiest to be in charge! With me at the helm, I can make us the strongest of Tengen. Everything I have done is done in necessity.”

Penny stared into the raging uncle, “Then why don’t you say so! I never want that chair!”

Acrisius facepalmed as he lifted out an unsettling laugh.

“Never a cub live, or else you will face with the lion. Never let a hidden poison linger, or it shall be your end,” Acrisius eyed Penelope with hate and fear. “You might be harmless, but sooner or later your blood will shake dynasty. I cannot allow that to happen.”

“You are insane,” Penelope gulped. “You are talking about something that might happen.”

It was then the door swung and Nereo Melosov walked in with a chain… creature in tow.

“What is that?” Penelope shivered as she met the pupilless pool of red that was the creature’s eye.

“I am impressed, Melosov,” Acrisius gleefully inspected the creature. “I don’t believe that your claim about finally chaining Kakia and giving her an improvement.”

The creature growled at Penelope who fell down before such a terrifying presence.

Nereo gazed shone anticipation, “Yes, I live to impress. You should better get the Princess ready. We have a big project coming up.”

…

A certain distance away, in a white tent embroiled with Horizon Dawn’s insignia, Remus Breaker ceremonious presented Philip a long sword. Atlanta watched the ceremony on the sideline. Unlike her, which wore the Centuria’s royal garb uniform, Phillips was in his graduation clothing of a white cape and plated tunic.

“It is in our constitution to not be the tyrant who preordains men's path,” Rem started his speech. “However, we are here not to interfere with the fate of nations and people but to save a bond between two souls — the friendship between them. To build upon the sacred, not to extinguish or pervert its heart. To protect our sacred purpose, we trained you in the art to defend what you held dear and guided other to your path.”

Rem presented him with his sword, “Phillip Odysseus. You have persevered through our trail and tribulation. Now, say your oath. Not to us. Nor to a higher power, but to yourself.”

“I swear to uphold the spirit of liberty,” Phillip recited as he accepted the blade. “It will be my highest honor to partake in this eternal vigil. I need not for reward nor applause for I am doing this for no one but myself. My power is the weight of my responsibility.”

“Then stand as proud as your vow. I dub you the first of Acropolis Special Militia.”

…

Luxinna whistled from outside the tent.

“Wow, Rem is darn good at making ceremonies. Hey, Ehto, what is the Mana's signature telling us.”

At the cheap plastic table Horizon Dawn placed as operation center in their camp, Ehto scanned all the data from the screen and sighed.

“This is worst than we expected. Our reading suggests the Earthshaker is stirring. Worst, the sensor from the Leyline just sent me a comparison result on the Mana around here. The graph is daunting. Someone or something must be doping the Mana around the area for months. Either Acrisius woke the Earth Shaker naturally or…”

“Tengen will explode?” Hikma's heart sank.

Ehto groaned, “It won’t be that bad. Earthshaker will wake up 4 months later as a magical equivalent of flying nuclear meltdown.”

Hikma, who was carrying a bunch of measuring equipment, dropped the device on the table, “So, Rem is right. We can’t stop the first phase.”

“Boo hoo,” Melody who was screwing a tube of brown into a missile voiced her irritation. “If any of you got free time, can you come and help me and Cytortia finished our gimmick, please.”