Chapter 11: Demirva Ridge

“That’s the level of strength that truly makes one unbound...” Zax murmured to himself in resignation, after watching the three Martial Mortals flying away.

The registration was finally over, as the last expert to join the High Rankers’ trials walked out of the Mercenary Association’s building and nobody followed in.

RRURA!

RRURA!

RRURA!

An extremely loud siren at the top of the Mercenary Association’s building and resounded throughout all of Glorious Ground.

Zax raised his head to the sky, as everyone around him did. From above the clouds, two huge objects were descending, heading to the plateau outside the city.

“Zeppelins!” Aghast, Zax watched with a slacked jaw.

The immense airship was only mentioned in Kingdom Earth in records from before the great immigration period and now the spectacular flying machinery that was bigger by a large margin than any means of transport in his cloistered home was right above him.

The two zeppelins were not quite those in Zax’s history books or in the movies. In shape they were similar, but internally they were definitely different since those currently in the sky had a blue glow coming out from their engine cars. Plus, the design itself was more present era accurate...

“Participants of the High Rankers’ trials who were listed for the test are to arrive to the zeppelins’ landing area and board them in an orderly fashion. Further instructions will be given once you’ll take off”.

The loud alarming sound of the siren was replaced with a notification.

“Participants of the High Rankers’ trials who were listed for the assignment, your certificates are active as of this moment. Please followed their instruction and be sure to not lose them until the end of the trials”.

“Mm?” Zax felt and tiny electric discharge from the finger’s size, paper thin red certificate in his hand.

In a matter of a fraction of as second, the certificate embedded itself in Zax’s hand and then, under his skin, it slid to his wrist. It happened so abruptly that Zax was about to carve it outside, but eventually stopped when he noticed his new companions patiently trailing the process.

A second electric discharge ensued and an imprint of what seemed to be a map, appeared on Zax’s palm.

“Son of a bitch!”

Someone cursed in an enrage tone.

“Mother fuckers!”

“Are they fucking insane!”

“Burn their mothers in a bowl of rotten fish soup!” Fengar shouted in solidarity with the other foul mouthed participants.

“So ... I gather that we are required to go to somewhere bad?” Zax asked the poised Vouvik who view the map in his hand wordlessly.

The imprint vanished from Vouvik’s palm as he lowered his hand. It did not surprise Zax. He could feel that the certificate connected to his nervous system and he, at will, could make the imprint appear and disappear, zoom in and zoom out – with the down size of having to feel the uncomfortable electric discharge each time.

Vouvik looked at Zax for a silent moment before saying. “It’s a map of the continent ... It seems that the directive of the assignment, this time, is an A to B race”.

This much Zax understood on his own by seeing the green route marked in the map and the timer at its top edge that just about indicated the span of four months.

“You can’t go there! No matter what, Zax, wait another four months for the next trials. I’m sure Miss Xinia would agree, just don’t be stupid and go there!” Mendor yanked Zax, to be certain that he reads the map right, and as he became more assured, his tone turned more severe.

The imprint vanished, and Zax withdrew his arm back. “Tell me what the problem with the route of the assignment is?” Zax told Mendor, a bit irritated by his domineering demand that followed no explanation.

“This is serious, Zax, I’ll tell you, but only if you promise to wait the four months”. Mendor was truly shaken and steadfast in not letting Zax go.

“Father, should we give up?” Shouva held her father arm.

“It is path from the lower side of the continent to the higher side through the Demirva Ridge”. Vouvik ignored his daughter’s hesitation and so answered Zax instead. “Only foreigners may not know it, but the Demirva Ridge is the most dangerous place in the Western Continent, an unsafe place that even first level Martial Mortals do not take lightly”.

“Exactly, father”, Shouva said worriedly. “The first level trials supposed to have an Advanced third level Core Master’s difficulty, not something that even Martial Mortals would feel threatened by”.

“Shut up! You Greenhorn Shouva! Shut up, all of you cry babies!” Fengar screamed with annoyance. Turning to Zax, he raised his palm to his eyes and said. “Demirva Ridge is the badass place around and you can see how bad by just taking a look around. Nevertheless, this is the assignment and I, for once, don’t plan on having a prefect strike of failures. Come if you want, otherwise, beat it! Vouvik, I’m leaving!”

In a feat of rage, Fengar stormed through the crowed.

“Shouva, once in a while an assignment like this one resurface and many choose to forfeit. You are old enough to decide for yourself”. Vouvik said and turned after Fengar.

“Zax...” Mendor tried to plead with him one last time.

“I’m a traveler, Mendor, I have my share of risks and dangerous experiences. Whether I’ll forfeit or not, this won’t be the last of my troubles”. His response was clear as he tapped Mendor on the shoulder and left, as well.

Shouva was not accounted with Mendor, therefore she said nothing as there was no one to listen to her when she succumbed to the mindset of the three previous three, along with many others around, and ran after them.

“Due to the complicated route, it was probably purposely calculated that way, but it would take us about until the next trials to reach our destination. If you want to buy provision or anything else, you’ve got an hour. When you are finished, head to the frontal city’s entrance or accompany me there now”. Vouvik ordered.

“Greenhorn Zax, it’s best if you fill all the compartments in your belt with Linder Seeds. See you later, Vouvik”. Fengar said and left.

“Father, I need you ring”. Shouva stepped closed to her father as she asked.

Vouvik nodded, and that was about all of what Zax could see from his reaction.