After the warning, I received from the State Officials I made haste so that I could get to the Martial Citadel as fast as possible. I didn't want to be caught out in the open considering the area was high risk.

I wasn't even sure if they had found out that I was the culprit of their Clan members’ death or if that was the reason for their War but I didnt want to stay and find out.

I decided to travel through the night or at least until I got tired and was a good distance away from the area.

Unfortunately, it seemed it was fate for me to be entangled in this War.

An hour into my mad dash up the road I heard a noise come up from behind me. It was a group of four carriages and four Beast Riders, they were galloping at full speed down the road, it was obvious they were in a rush.

Although it was annoying I decided to get out the way and move over to the side of the road so I wouldn't get trampled on.

Before they reached me the Beast Riders galloped on ahead at blinding speed right to where I was standing, the Beasts releasing a terrifying aura and very intimidating noise.

They looked like Horses but were of a grey color with a yellow and blue mane and super fierce eyes almost as if lightning itself was staring at you, they were probably the biggest Horses I had ever seen.

I knew what the Riders were doing; they were making sure I wasn't a threat.

Although they were but a few meters away from me the Riders didn't say anything, they merely stared at me in an imposing manner, daring me to try anything with their glares.

It actually really pissed me off but I knew better than to start a fight out here. I might've gotten stronger but not to the point where I could just pretend like I could kick anyone's ass. Old man Kemoro once told me there were few individuals in Volunterra that were unrivaled and had nothing to fear and even they were always vigilant.

Let alone all the other Experts below them.

I swallowed my pride and waited for the carriages to pass me without saying anything, lest I offend the men in front of me.

When I saw the carriages pass by I noticed that there was a familiar image imprinted on the carriage door.

It was the emblem of one of the Warring Clans on the warning paper. I took out my paper and looked at it. It was the Emblem of the Sparking Light Clan. confirming the Caravan belonged to members of the Sparking Light Clan, instantly I started sweating all over my body.

Even though I had no grudge with them they were still in some way connected to me. Were they going to kill me on the spot just to make sure I wasn't an enemy?

The Officials had told me both clans had been behaving viciously and ruthlessly during the whole disaster.

One of the Riders looked at the paper with the big words “WARNING” imprinted on it. A big smirk appeared on his face before his face turned serious again and spoke to me.

“Don't worry kid, stay in your lane and you're in no danger we’re nothing like the Titan Hand Clan, soon things will be resolved.”

I guess the fear was evident in my face, now I felt embarrassed. Damn my cowardly character traits still haven't left me.

After a few seconds the caravan left me behind and the Beast Riders, after lingering a while in order to be cautious, did so as well after seeing I wasn't a threat.

They soon quickly caught up with their comrades. The speed of those horses really was impressive. They made me start contemplating whether I should get myself some sort of Beast for transportation purposes myself since I really was getting tired of walking.

After some time I lost visual on the caravan as they went over a steep part of the Road that probably went over a hill.

When I couldn’t see them anymore was when I finally let out a breath of relief, I really didnt want any part in this whole ordeal, especially because I felt I was somewhat to blame for this whole thing.

The last thing I needed was to be hunted by 4 Clans at once what a nightmare.

It had only been a few minutes after the caravan had gone over the hill and that I had resumed walking when a massive explosion like thunderous noise came from the same direction.

Soon fire and smoke could be seen rising above the top of the hill. I didn't know what to make of the situation at first but after a couple of seconds of shock and panic, I composed myself and got off the road, and ran towards an area with the most cover.

I didn't want to get caught up in the crossfire.

I hid at the base of a hill directly opposite the direction the fire was coming from. The terrain was quite mountainous but I managed to find a couple of bushes to hide under.

Soon when the ringing of the ears caused by the noise of the explosion dissipated, it was replaced with the screams and noise of people in agony, horses neighing in panic and anger, and the sound of battle.

As time went on the noises only got louder, I started realizing I would be stuck in my spot for a while after some thought.

I filled myself with courage in the end and made a decision, I crawled my way to the top of the hill where I could maybe get a view of things and hopefully remain undetected and get a better idea of what was going on.

Soon I reached the top of the hill, and from the vantage point I got from it I could see the wreckage of the caravan engulfed in fire completely destroyed.

There were also huge craters on the road as if someone had scooped huge chunks of it off.

The fire and the destruction looked like the scenes of a nightmare under the moonlight.

Despite the fact that I had a better view, my human eyes were horrible at seeing in the darkness and the incident was still quite a distance away.

I could only hear muffled screaming and noise from the direction so I still couldn't figure out what was going on.

Suddenly inspiration hit me and I took out my Guider pointed it towards the direction of the scene and clicked on the [Environment Observation Augmentor] option and clicked on the eye Icon.

Soon the details of the tragedy in front of me were revealed to me.

Men in garbs of yellow, white and blue, were either blown into pieces, being slain or fighting for their lives.

The ones who were on the offensive and doing the slaying were a bunch of men armed to the teeth either with melee weapons or guns, their onslaught was ruthless like a bunch of wolves slaughtering sheep.

The few men of the caravan who were still capable of fighting back were being besieged by several men with either big noses, big hands, or big mouths.

The scene was madness, and I had only been some tens of meters away from getting caught up in this wreck.

I noticed an Icon at the side of the Guiders surface blinking, it was in the shape of an ear.

Almost immediately I surmised what it was for and I clicked on it eagerly.

Like I had thought as soon as I clicked on the Icon I could hear what was happening through my ears as if I was directly at the scene.

The screams of pain and rage became almost surreal and now I could even hear crying and people begging to be spared.

This wasn’t just a battle this was War.

After some time of observing I heard a thunderous and authoritative scream that overpowered all the noise that had permeated the whole battlefield.

“ENOUGH!!!”

From the direction of where the voice came from a blinding flash of light appeared followed by lightning-like energy that ascended up into the sky and then descended instantaneously vaporizing more than 30 of the marauding men that were around the battlefield.

Then I saw him, a normal-sized man with a goofy black beard with blue shaded locks and a goofy 4 lock mustache.

He wore a blue and black robe with wide short sleeves and wide cuffs at the end of them. The robe also ended with a slick triangular tale and hem.

He honestly looked like a badass Ranker and I could tell he was powerful just from one look.

On his right hand, he wore a black gauntlet, and on his left, he carried a slim metal staff with a sharp-looking yellow blue crystal embedded at the top.

From that alone one could immediately tell this person was probably a powerful Magon and the attack from before was his doing.

As soon as the men in blue and yellow garbs saw him those who could still move scrambled to his side and behind him, there was a mix of terror, hope, and excitement evident on their faces.

“Binomas come out and face me like a man after your cowardly sneak attack, you still dare not reveal yourself! Isn't it me you want! Come! Let's end this as we should have done so from the start, I challenge you to a Ranker Duel Binomas Head of the Titan Hand Clan. Do you accept or are you going to hide like a coward as you always do?”

“Hahahahaha, of course, I accept why wouldn’t I, today I avenge the death of my Son, but still calling someone a coward those are some big words coming from someone a whole subrank higher than me, had you been more decisive perhaps you could have saved most of your men. Instead, here you stand in their pool of blood talking about righteousness and manhood don’t make me laugh. As a fellow Ranker, you should have these words ingrained into your soul ‘ in War and Battle all is fair lest you forfeit your life’ am I wrong Shoton.”

Shoton flinched but he didn't lose his composure at the sight of the towering man that appeared from the shadows.

“If you think you’re going to mess with my emotions with your venomous words don’t waste your breath Binomas. But you are right I should walk the walk you are only a mere A rank while I’m at the peak of AA Rank come at me with whomever you want it makes no difference in the face of true power all schemes and tricks are worthless.”

Binomas laughed, even more, he wasn’t phased at the fact he was a lower Rank.

“Brag about your Rank all you want it doesn’t change the fact that today this place will be your grave, as soon as the time is right my help will appear don’t you worry about that. Let tonight be the end of this war Shoton prepare.”

“Typical cowardly Evolved relying on idiotic schemes, you think I cannot sense your friends, very well then well play it your way. Behold the power of an Archmage!”

Shoton took out a white orb with the hand that wore the gauntlet and started unleashing vast amounts of blue lightning energy on it. Everything he threw at it was absorbed by the Orb, soon the Orb changed color and lit up.

After a bright flash, innumerable amounts of light blue sparking balls appeared all around Shoton. They lit up the night even more than the raging fire creating a zone that was free of darkness.

“Jolt Elementals!” Binomas screamed in surprise, but soon he calmed down and looked at the Orb in Shoton’s hand.

“Hahaha you had me there for a moment Shoton, don’t think I’m stupid your no Summoner this is the product of that item in your hand. But now here’s the question, how many times can you use it before you run out of mana huh Shoton? Hhahahaha thank you for the gift in advance Shoton.”

After his taunting words, Binomas brandished his massive club-like axe and took a fighting stance with his massive hand covering his face.

Shoton also took a stance although it wasn’t one I was familiar with or one that looked designed for any kind of fighting.

“Indeed this is the doing of my “Lightning Elemental Summon Orb” but none can use it as I can, if you wish to take it from me then show your skill and shut your trap. Defend yourself, you lowly Warrior.”

From Shotons being, the electrical energy that surrounded him converged into the tip of his staff, and after he lowered it five massive beams of light shot out straight towards Binomas faster than one could blink.

Binomas who seemed to have already been expecting such an attack blocked with his massive hand, which I had just noticed, was covered in a massive stone-like gauntlet.

The veins on the Gauntlet lit up and surprisingly he managed to withstand the powerful attack as it looked like it was absorbing the energy that was thrown at him.

Shoton was also momentarily surprised before he regained his cool aura almost instantly, proceeding to power up his attack.

“So you've got yourself a new toy Binomas, good only like this will this duel be worth my time. Fight for your life Binomas only by struggling will the shed blood of my clansmen be paid for and their families appeased.”

Soon the attack ended and a bit of the shade of the darkness returned. Binomas although he looked a little worse for wear was unscathed.

“You Magons really are cheap, too bad you Volunterra Magons will never be as powerful as those from Manafort, or else I might truly never dare to offend you. But in the end, you are only a bunch of useless knockoffs!”

Through his gauntlet, he fired back a singular beam that was bigger but almost identical in color to the one Shoton had produced.

Again Shoton was momentarily stunned but he only snorted in displeasure as his robe lit up. An electric field surrounded him and an invisible force stopped the light beam straight in its tracks and dispersed it.

Truly this was a high-level Ranker battle.

Only Kinis and Likus were comparable in power to these individuals.

I thought I had gotten stronger, but even though I was farther away and more experienced I still felt the same feeling of powerlessness and awe I felt back then when I first experienced a battle between Potestera’s powerful Experts.