The Ashen Dominion

(Kaiser's POV)

"Hwaaaaah~"

I woke up early in the morning, a yawn escaped my mouth. I was still a bit tired from training yesterday.

Though, I would say my condition is fine.

Which is good because I have a match later in the afternoon.

Anyway, I got out from the bed and fixed it. Not that I have a lot of stuffs to fix, I don't have a blanket and I only have one hard pillow.

"Hmm, I won't do my morning training today."

I then mumbled to myself after that. I'll just rest for now to save my strength and energy for later.

...

The Silver Place was pretty quiet this early in the morning. Not a lot of people moved around yet. Most of the fighters here would either still be sleeping, or they had just woke up like me.

I walked out of the room and stretched a bit, just wearing my dirtywhite loose shirt and pants. I headed toward one of the benches and sat down.

I'll wait here for a while until the breakfast arrives.

Moving on...

It's always a bit hazy this early... peaceful too. No noise or whatsoever.

"You're up early as usual."

Then just as I thought of that, I heard a familiar voice.

I turned my head.

Then I saw Viktor walking over with a towel over his shoulder, wiping his wet hair.

"Just finished your morning exercise?"

I asked his, raising a brow.

"Yup."

He answered casually.

"You?"

Then he followed.

"Just woke up. I'm not going to train today."

I said quickly to answer him.

Viktor smirked.

"Saving up for the match, huh..."

"Yeps, you got that right."

Then I smiled back at him. He sat down beside me after that too.

And we stayed like that for a while. I squinted my eyes as the bright light coming from outside the Silver Place blinded me a bit.

...

...

"Yo."

Another familiar voice came soon after.

It was Edmar this time. He walked out from his room while fixing his slightly messy hair with both hands.

"Morning."

I greeted him lazily.

"You're up early."

Viktor added, glancing at him.

"Mm. I woke up when I heard the guy next door screaming in his sleep."

Edmar let out a short sigh and cracked his neck.

"I actually wasn't planning to be up yet, but whatever."

He sat down on the other side of the bench, stretching his arms out to the side.

And just like that, the three of us were sitting side by side on the stone bench, in front of the Silver Place.

Waiting.

It didn't take long before a bell rang softly in the distance.

Cling~ Cling~ Cling~

The faint sound of trays and footsteps soon followed.

Then—

"TIME FOR BREAKFAST!!!"

A guard exclaimed that.

"Food's here."

Viktor mumbled.

"Nice."

I stood up right away.

And we lined up like usual. The line was short since most were still asleep.

Breakfast today was pretty generous, this happens sometimes—rice, eggs, dried fish, and hot soup. Nothing fancy, but it filled the stomach.

Me, Viktor, and Edmar got our trays, found a spot to sit at one of the empty benches again... then we began eating silently at first.

I took a spoonful of the soup. Not bad. The warmth hit the spot.

"Hmm~"

I made a noise.

Then Edmar broke the silence after me.

"So... about [Ashborn]."

He muttered, and my attention was immediately caught because of the topic.

Me and Viktor both paused for a bit.

I looked at him, and Viktor did the same.

"Mm? What about it?"

I asked

"I was thinking..."

Edmar spoke while scooping up some rice.

"I should probably start planning how to manage our members. We're getting more now."

"True."

Viktor nodded slowly, chewing on a piece of fish.

"We already have twenty-two total, right?"

"Yup. Mostly Copper Rankers still… but some of them got decent potential."

Edmar followed.

"Some of them are improving fast."

Then he added.

"Mhm."

I nodded my head a little, quietly eating.

Honestly, I'm glad Edmar's handling all that.

The members, the structure, the organization stuff. He got it all covered.

I'm really glad I recruited him and he actually joined me.

"Kaiser, any plans for [Ashborn] soon?"

Then, Viktor glanced and asked me that.

I raised a brow.

"Like what?"

"Like direction-wise. Where are we taking this group?"

I blinked for a second.

"Didn't you two already know?"

Then I answered with a question.

And before Viktor or Edmar could even say anything—

"I'm taking [Ashborn] out of this shitty place."

I opened my mouth and declared that.

"..."

"..."

Viktor and Edmar gor silent, but there's a bright smile on their faces.

Moving on, I ignored them.

"But for now, I want to keep growing it. That's for sure."

Then I continued with that.

I leaned back a bit, thinking out loud.

"Not just in numbers... but in strength."

I looked at them both.

"We have strong members now. And I want to raise more strong ones too."

"Hmm."

Viktor smirked, nodding his head.

Edmar nodded too.

"Then I'll make sure to keep things in order behind the scenes."

He said, fake grumbling.

"Perfect."

I gave them a thumbs up while munching on more rice.

"Let's make [Ashborn] a name people won't forget."

"Damn right."

Edmar grinned.

"Heh."

Viktor chuckled under his breath, then said...

"Do we even have a motto yet?"

I blinked at his question.

"...No?"

I muttered awkwardly.

Then Edmar suddenly spoke up with a joking tone.

"Ashborn — we may be born in ashes, but we'll burn you alive."

"..."

Me and Viktor both stared at him.

Then Viktor laughed.

I tried to hold it in but ended up snorting through my nose.

"Pffft—"

"Shut up...!"

Edmar rolled his eyes.

"It's a work in progress."

"Haha. Nah, that was fire."

I grinned ear to ear.

...

...

We finished our breakfast like that, just laughing and throwing dumb ideas for a motto.

Then not long after—

A faint bell echoed again.

DING— DING—

And then someone called out from near the side building.

"All Silver Rank fighters scheduled for the afternoon match, please proceed to the waiting area!"

Ah.

That's me.

I stood up, dusted off my pants, and picked up my tray.

"Well, it's time."

Viktor and Edmar stood as well.

"You ready?"

Edmar asked.

I cracked my knuckles.

"Yup."

Then I looked forward and smiled a bit.

Let's get this over with.

"Good luck."

"We'll watch your fight."

I heard Edmar and Viktor behind me.

...

...

*****

The waiting room is cramped, just an empty square room with two locked doors that you have no control in.

And standing alone in the middle of that calm—

"..."

Was me.

Kaiser.

I stood still, eyes closed.

Focused.

In my hand—my greatsword. The one I always used.

My forearms were wrapped tightly with metal vambraces. Scuffed and scratched from past battles, but still firm. Still sturdy.

And strapped on my back—three javelins.

I was prepared.

"Huuuuu..."

I slowly exhaled through my nose, lowering my center of gravity and letting my fingers lightly flex around the sword handle.

'Calm your nerves.'

This wasn't fear. This was focus.

I wasn't nervous.

No.

I was sharpening myself.

Like always.

...

...

A few more minutes passed.

Then suddenly—

BOOM—!!

A loud pulse echoed across the entire arena. A sharp, thunderous bang that signaled the start of the event.

Followed by—

"WELCOME, EVERYONE—!!"

A booming voice from the announcer.He sounds excited as usual.

"YEAAHHH!!!"

"JUST LET THE EVENT GET STARTED!!!"

"START THE MATCHES!!!"

."WAAAAAHHHHH—!!"

The crowd erupted with cheers after him.

"TODAY'S MATCH-UPS WILL FEATURE SEVERAL FIGHTERS FROM THE SILVER PLACE, ALL COMPETING TO PUSH THEIR NAMES UP THE RANKS!!! BUT MOST OF ALL—"

A pause.

"...WE HAVE A MAIN EVENT SCHEDULED LATER TODAY!! ONE THAT NO ONE SHOULD DARE TO MISS—!!"

Then the announcer declared that.

"WHOOOOOOOOAH—!"

"FUCKING START!!!"

The cheers doubled.

I stayed still.

Didn't move.

I simply lowered my sword… and stabbed it lightly into the ground beside me.

Then I sat.

Cross-legged.

Eyes closed again.

I had time.

After all, my fight...

Would be last in this event.

That's right— my fight is the main event.

...

Minutes passed.

Then half an hour. Then hours.

Then more....

Match after match went by. Dust flew. Roars echoed. Names were called.

Fighters came in.

Fighters were carried out.

The crowd was wild with energy. But I didn't look. Didn't flinch.

I was still sitting in the same position.

Even as the shadow above me shifted.

Even as the light moved slowly with the time.

I just breathed.

Steady.

Cold and ready.

Then finally—

After what felt like a long wait...

The announcer opened his mouth again.

"AND NOW—!! FOR THE FINAL MATCH OF TODAY'S LINEUP…!!"

He exclaimed much louder than usual

I could feel the arena hold its breath.

"KAIIIISEEEER—!!!"

Then the announcer called for my name.

"YEAAAAAAHHH—!!!"

"KAISER! KAISER! KAISER!"

"WHOOOOOOOOOOOOAHH—!!"

The crowd exploded.

My name had become something else now.

It wasn't unknown anymore.

Fwish~

"..."

I rose to my feet.

Pulled my sword from the ground. Gripped it tightly.

The weight of it, now that I stood—felt even lighter.

I cracked my neck slightly.

And took one slow breath.

"...Alright."

It was time.