The rise of a legendary warlock

In a place that could not be reached by anything normal, there existed a vast expanse. Here, the only visible elements were a bright blue sky devoid of a sun and an endless plain of grass. The grass, though short and barely reaching an adult's pinky finger, held an eerie quality. If a person were placed in this desolate realm, fear might well consume them. As they gazed ahead, all they would perceive was an unending sea of green merging seamlessly with the boundless blue sky, obscuring any hint of a beginning or an end to this world.

So, in this seemingly normal expanse, under a sky of plain blue, the grass stretched infinitely onward.

Suddenly, within a fixed region of this surreal landscape, the fabric of space appeared to distort, as if someone were forcefully cutting through reality. A peculiar portal emerged, its edges gleaming with a golden hue against the surrounding darkness. It was a space rift, yet unlike any other, it bore those distinctive golden borders.

From this enigmatic rift, dark silhouettes of tall humans gradually emerged. The first group of people successfully traversed the portal, confirming its nature as a conduit for living beings.

The numbers grew rapidly: 30, 45, 57, 69, 108. Individuals continued to pour forth, akin to a dam breaking and releasing a torrent of water. Numbers swelled, and even those who had emerged as merely a trickle began to fill the vast plain.

The initial arrivals took their time, exploring this space that had appeared to be separate but now felt more like a new world. Approximately three hours after the first wave of arrivals, nearly three-quarters of the population had crossed the portal, stepping into this unfamiliar realm.

About two hours later, all the people had successfully made the transition. Only one group remained, comprising the city's guardians, the king himself, his seven loyal Generals, each with their followers, and lastly, the inscriptions and rune master.

(Note: I might not explain this part in detail yet, but perhaps in the next chapter, I will delve deeper into it.)

After thirty minutes, the guards and soldiers commenced their entry into the portal, arranged in groups of ten. These groups consisted mainly of individuals armed with mage-like staffs, swords, spears, hammers, and various other equipment.

From 10 to 20, to 30, 40... and on to 100, 110... reaching 260, 270.

their numbers continued to accumulate. Much like the civilians, the soldiers, too, initially marveled at the breathtaking surroundings. However, they quickly reverted to their customary stoic and unemotional expressions.

One noteworthy aspect was the diversity in their armor; soldiers adorned in a variety of colors, such as red, blue, brown, green, purple, gray, black, and white. Additionally, soldiers often grouped together with those wearing matching armor, revealing a clear division even among the kingdom's military forces.

The soldiers didn't take long to traverse the portal, as their numbers were not as vast as the civilian population, which was only natural given not everyone would enlist in the army. At this juncture, space twisted in a location not far from the humans. A blood-red rift manifested in the distance, and from it emerged twenty-five individuals, led by one who walked ahead while the others trailed behind.

(Note: To clarify, the vampire clan brought only their emperor and the twelve kings, totaling thirteen, while the twelve kings each brought at least one of their strongest and most trusted generals.)

The arrivals, numbering twenty-five or more, observed their surroundings with insatiable curiosity. The leader among them displayed heightened curiosity, while the rest looked upon this place with astonishment. Suddenly, the leader sensed something amiss and swiftly turned his attention to his right, precisely where the human army was stationed. He extended his hands menacingly, seemingly preparing to harm some of the humans in order to test their blood.

At this critical juncture, as human civilians grew anxious and soldiers paled in anticipation, a light green portal materialized at the very moment the emperor of the vampire kingdom prepared to launch an attack. Simultaneously, a commanding and slightly irate voice resonated from the human portal throughout the entire space.

"STOP!!"

Following this command, seven figures emerged from the portal, followed by up to fourteen others trailing behind them. These twenty-one individuals swiftly advanced to the forefront of the human contingent, who regarded the approaching vampires with hostile expressions.

From the opposite side of the humans and vampires, the green-colored portal opened to reveal more individuals. Though they bore the appearance of humans, distinct features such as their pointed ears and emerald green eyes set them apart. They exuded an ethereal beauty and handsomeness, enough to momentarily disrupt the typically stoic and impassive expressions of the human guards.

Witnessing this development, the emperor of the vampire kingdom lowered his outstretched hands. While confident in confronting the humans here, he wasn't blindly so. He discerned the potential repercussions even if he were to vanquish them all—a medium-grade injury to himself and his followers. Adding the elves into the equation posed an entirely different challenge since it was well-known that humans and elves shared a closer bond compared to other races. Thus, two races—humans and elves—converging on the vampire kingdom would undoubtedly pose a significant threat. It was a stark reminder that even the mightiest could be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

Gradually, all the elves made their entrance through the portal, both soldiers and civilians alike. The last individual to step through was an extraordinary beauty—an elf possessing long pointed ears, a delicate yet captivating countenance that could inspire care, an enticing physique capable of seducing even the most pious, and a serene and noble aura akin to a tree amid a forest. She was attired in a flowing green garment, which concealed much yet revealed the graceful contours of her body. A small, green pearl adorned her forehead, intermittently releasing green energy. Once through the portal, her initial curiosity lasted mere seconds before she began surveying her surroundings, as if in search of something.

Eventually, her gaze shifted towards the human group, her eyes ascending slightly before settling on the twenty-one individuals who stood out with their distinct auras. Recognizing them as the temporary leaders, she decided to approach and pose a few questions.

As she drew closer, her delicate and composed footsteps resonated, causing the seven leading figures to instinctively straighten their postures. Even the two females among them, although for different reasons, stood with heightened poise compared to the men.

Upon reaching the human army, she spoke in a melodious voice that eased some of the prevailing tension.

"Is he not here?"

Her question left those around her briefly puzzled, prompting exchanged glances of uncertainty. To avoid making her feel ignored, a woman among the seven who wore a sky-blue outfit offered an interpretation.

"His Majesty won't be here today. He received reports that three of our scout birds were killed by dark-red creatures inhabiting the Forgotten Forest."

Upon hearing this, a collective gasp swept through the assembly, and even the vampire emperor and his twelve kings couldn't help but frown. The elf queen, still frowning, was about to address her primary inquiry when she sensed the opening of three more energy portals in this world's space.

In less than five seconds, three distinct portals emerged in various locations: one golden with a hint of red, another white with silver edges, and the last a blue portal. These gateways symbolized the arrival of the dragons, the wolfskins, and the beastkins, respectively.

Moments later, the kings of these three races entered through their respective portals. With their arrival, only one individual remained from the human side—the inscription/rune master.