In The Realm of Gods

by Unknown

  “Young master Mathias, your father is looking for you. Let me carry young master Gabe.” A brandy-nosed old man walked over. This brandy-nosed old man was the Tulare clan’s housekeeper, Troy. In the entire manor, aside from the housekeeper, there wasn’t even a serving girl.

  Mathias no longer had any time to chat with Gabe. He immediately handed Gabe over to Grandpa Troy, and went towards the guest hall.

  “I wonder why father summoned me?” Although he was young, Mathias could sense that this time, his father had called him for something important.

  Entering the guest hall, in one corner there was a desk clock that was higher than Mathias was tall.

  This desk clock can be considered a high quality object. Generally, only wealthy or noble families had such a clock. At this moment, Mathias’s father was seated next to the fireplace. The flames in the fireplace burned, constantly crackling and popping.

  “Um? Why did father change his clothes?” Seeing his father, Mathias was filled with astonishment. While at home, his father normally wore only very simple clothes. Just then, while eating dinner, his father wore normal clothes. But now, he had switched to a set of very noble, beautiful apparel.

  Alistair’s entire body emanated an ancient, noble aura. That aura wasn’t the sort that money could buy. It was something which an ancient noble clan developed in its heirs. A clan which had survived for five thousand years. How could an ordinary noble clan compare?

  Alistair stood up. Turning around, when he saw Mathias, his eyes lit up.

  “Mathias, come with me. Let’s go to the ancestral hall. Uncle Troy, you know about the matters of my clan, so you can come as well.” Alistair smiled.

  “The ancestral hall?” Mathias was astonished.

  The members of the Tulare clan only stayed in the front side of the manor. The areas in the far back, virtually no one went there to clean. Only the ancestral hall in the back did they ever visit, once a month, to clean.

  “But this isn’t the time to sacrifice to our ancestors. Why are we going to the ancestral hall?” Mathias had a belly full of questions.

  Exiting the guest hall, Alistair, Mathias, and Uncle Troy, who still held Gabe, followed the blue stone path towards the back manor.

  Deep autumn. The night was as cold as water.

  The cold wind blowing, Mathias couldn’t help but shiver. But Mathias didn’t make a sound, because he could feel that something was different today. Following his father, Mathias entered the ancestral hall as well.

  “Clack.” The door to the ancestral hall closed.

  With the candles in the hall becoming lit, the entire hall immediately became very bright. Mathias could instantly see the many spirit tablets placed in the very front of the hall. That thick, dense cluster of spirit tablets spoke volumes as to the age of the Tulare clan.

  Alistair quietly stood in front of the spirit tablets, not saying a word.

  Mathias felt very nervous. In the entire hall, aside from the sounds of the whispering candles, no sound was heard. The quiet was terrifying, creating an oppressive feeling on the heart.

  Suddenly, Alistair turned and focused his gaze on Mathias. In a weighty voice, he said, “Mathias, today, there are many things that must be done. But first, let me tell you some of the history of our Tulare clan.”

  Mathias could feel his heart thumping frantically.

  “Our clan’s history? What can it be?” In his heart, Mathias was eager to know, but he didn’t dare to make a sound.

  A look of pride appearing on his face, Alistair said in a clear voice, “Mathias, our Tulare clan has existed for five thousand years. Even scanning the entire Kingdom of Silver moon, I don’t believe we can find a second clan which is as ancient as ours.” Alistair’s voice contained an absolute pride.

  Ancient. This was a word which some noble clans viewed with great importance.

  “Mathias, have you heard of the legendary Four Supreme Warriors of the Lemuria continent?” Turning his head, Alistair looked at Mathias.

  Eyes brightening, Mathias nodded. “I know. According to Uncle Davis, the legendary Four Supreme Warriors are the Demon Blood Warrior, the Purple Flame Warrior, the Tiger Striped Warrior, and the Undying Warrior.”

  Satisfied, Alistair nodded. Smiling, he said, “Right! Now, I am going to tell you something. The Four Supreme Warriors actually represent four ancient clans. And our Tulare clan is the ancient clan which contains the exalted bloodline of the Demon Blood Warriors!”

  Chapter 3 – The Demon Blood Warrior Clan (part two)

  “The Demon Blood Warrior Clan?!” Mathias felt as though his entire head was buzzing.

  In Mathias’s eyes, his clan was nothing more than just an ancient clan which had fallen on hard times. How could it be related to the legendary demon blood Warrior?

  “You don’t believe me?” A trace of arrogance could be seen on Alistair’s face. “Mathias, go up and take a close look at those spirit tablets. By now, you can read all the words on them. On the back of every single spirit tablet is the history of those departed forefathers. The three spirit tablets at the very top, are three who are demon blood Warriors!”

  Alistair took Mathias by the hand. “Come.”

  Alistair led Mathias towards the area behind the many spirit tablets. Lifting him up, Alistair said, “Take a close look at those characters behind.”

  Mathias widened his eyes and began to read.

  The words carved onto the uppermost tablet were etched very deep and very clearly. Those five-thousand-year-old characters told of an astonishing story!

  “Tulare, the very first demon blood Warrior of the Lemuria continent. In the year 4560 of the Lemuria calendar, outside the walls of the city of Norway, Tulare did battle against a Black Demon and a Titanic Frost Serpent. In the end, he slew both the Titanic Frost Serpent and the Black Demon, causing his fame to be spread across the world. In the year 4579 of the Lemuria calendar, along the coastline of the northern sea of the continent, Tulare did battle against a Nine-Headed Serpent Emperor. On that day, the waves crashed unceasingly and nearby cities crumbled, but after a vicious fight lasting a full day and night, Tulare finally executed the Nine-Headed Serpent Emperor…. finally, Tulare founded the Tulare clan, and became the first leader of the Tulare clan!”

  “Ryan Tulare, the second demon blood Warrior of the Lemuria continent. In the year 4690 of the Lemuria calendar, in the Cliff Range of Magical Creatures, he defeated and subdued a Guru-level Golden Demon, and became known as the Golden Demon Rider Guru! In the year 4697…”

  “Hazard Tulare, the third demon blood Warrior of the Lemuria continent. Born in the year 5360 of the Lemuria calendar, in his very first battle, he fought fiercely with a Guru-level Bloody-eyed Maned Lion in the Cliff Range of the Setting Sun. He defeated the lion, forcing it to scurry away and flee, causing Hazard to become famous throughout the world…”

  ….

  One mighty name after another, one amazing story after another, made the blood in Mathias’s veins pump all the more vigorously.

  “My clan, is actually the clan of the demon blood Warriors?” Mathias was extremely excited.

  Beside him, Alistair said in a low voice, “The first three generations of the Tulare family were all demon blood Warriors. Upon becoming a demon blood Warrior, one’s life expectancy would dramatically increase. The second generation demon blood Warrior didn’t get married or have youngsters until after he was seven hundred years old.”

  “And afterwards?” Mathias wondered. “Father, why doesn’t our clan have any more demon blood Warriors?”

  Alistair nodded. “To become a demon blood Warrior, the most important thing is the density and thickness of the demon blood which flows in our veins. The higher the density, the better. After many generations, the density of the demon blood in our veins has grown thinner and thinner. However…that isn’t an absolute. Because as time goes on, sometimes, out of nowhere, a descendant will possess a very high density of demon blood.”

 
; “After Hazard Tulare, the fourth demon blood Warrior appeared, nearly a thousand years later. And then, after fifteen hundred years passed, which is to say tens of generations later, the fifth demon blood Warrior finally appeared in our clan. But in the thousand years from then until now, not a single demon blood Warrior has shown up.”

  Alistair shook his head and sighed. “The fifth Demonblood Warrior only stayed on the Lemuria continent for around two centuries, before he disappeared. In the thousand years since then, our Tulare clan has totally decayed.”

  After a thousand years, even the most illustrious of families could decay.

  “However, our clan still has hope. Perhaps in the future, one of our descendants will have the requisite density of demon blood in their veins, and meet the requirements to become a Demonblood Warrior. If they meet the requirements, after just a few decades of training, they would be able to become a true, full Demonblood Warrior. And at that time, the Tulare clan would once more be restored to the glorious days of yore, when we were known as the Demonblood Warrior Clan!” Alistair’s eyes shone. “Mathias, you are six and a half now. According to our rules, at your age, the test to see if your blood has a high density of demon blood will be fairly accurate. Today, I am going to test you.”

  Mathias was stunned. “Testing the density of demon blood in my veins? Test me?” Mathias fully understood the implications of his father performing this test. This test would show whether or not he met the requirements for becoming a Demonblood Warrior.

  “Mathias, wait here. I’ll go get the ‘Demonblood Needle’.” Alistair clearly was very excited, as he immediately departed the ancestral hall for a nearby private room.

  “Demonblood Warrior? Will I really become a Demonblood Warrior?” Mathias was mentally fidgeting.

  Standing there, Mathias’s mind was a confused mess. He was filled with both eagerness and fear. He feared that the density of demon blood in his veins wasn’t high enough.

  “If I fail, I guess father will be extremely disappointed.” Mathias couldn’t help but think. Having grown up with his father and his younger brother, Mathias didn’t want to disappoint his father. But the density of demon blood in his veins wasn’t something he could decide.

  After just a short period of time, Alistair returned with a twenty-centimeter long needle that was extremely thin as he walked out from the private room.

  “Demonblood Needle?” Mathias guessed, as he stared at the long needle in his father’s hands.

  “Alright, Mathias. This needle will just barely break the skin when it goes in. It won’t hurt at all. Stretch out your hand.” Alistair smiled, and Mathias nodded. Taking a deep breath, Mathias stretched out his right arm. The slight trembling in his arm showed that Mathias really was very nervous.

  Not just Mathias. To tell the truth, even Alistair was very nervous.

  “Hold it.” Holding the translucent Demonblood Needle, Alistair lightly pricked Mathias’s ring finger with it, easily piercing the skin. Mathias felt a piercing pain, and the translucent needle immediately turned crimson as well.

  Hands shaking, Alistair immediately lifted the Demonblood Needle up and inspected it carefully.

  Raising his head, Mathias stared at his father, feeling extremely agitated. “Is the density of demon blood in my veins sufficient? Why has father stared at the Demonblood Needle for so long?” Mathias had a bad premonition…

  “Sigh…” with an exhaled breath, Alistair placed the Demonblood Needle off to one side.

  Hearing his father’s sigh, the nervous Mathias knew that the density of demon blood in his veins clearly didn’t reach the required level. His tears immediately began to flow.

  “Mathias, why are you crying? Don’t cry, be good, don’t cry.” Alistair immediately hugged Mathias. Seeing Mathias cry, Alistair felt sick at heart. After all, Mathias was still just six and a half. He was just a child.

  “I won’t cry. Yeah. Won’t cry.” Mathias sniffled twice, then forced himself to calm down. “Father, I’m sorry. I’ve let you down.”

  Hearing Mathias’s words, Alistair felt a warm feeling in his heart. He couldn’t help but hold Mathias against his bosom. “Mathias, don’t feel bad. I actually didn’t raise my hopes too high. Over a thousand years and tens of generations, no one has become a Demonblood Warrior. It doesn’t matter that you also failed. Father doesn’t blame you.”

  Feeling the warmth of his father’s chest, Mathias’s tightened chest gradually loosened.

  By this point, the two-year-old Gabe had long since fallen asleep in Grandpa Troy’s arms.

  “Mathias, at this point in time, the Tulare family just consists of you, me, and your little brother. I don’t have any extravagant hopes. I’ve never dared to dream of becoming a Demonblood Warrior.” Alistair laughed at himself satirically. How could becoming a Demonblood Warrior be an easy task?

  Mathias raised his head, staring at his father.

  Mathias rarely saw his father speak to him in such a manner. Normally, his father was always very strict and unyielding.

  Staring at the rows of spirit tablets, Alistair’s eyes were filled with a dreary sadness. “My true goal is actually to recover the ancestral heirloom of the Tulare clan, passed down across the generations.”

  “Our ancestral heirloom? What’s that? Why have I never heard about it?” Mathias asked curiously.

  Alistair proudly said, “Our ancestral heirloom – the war blade, “Slaughterer”. This was the weapon used by the very first leader of the Tulare clan, the very first Demonblood Warrior of the Lemuria continent. Alas…his descendants were unfilially. Six hundred years ago, because of poverty, a descendant who loved luxury actually sold our ancestral weapon for money.”

  As he spoke, Alistair was filled with so much fury that his body actually trembled.

  Shaking his head helplessly, he said, “Afterwards, every single generation tried to recover the war blade ‘Slaughterer’, but despite six hundred years of trying, none of us have succeeded. After all, when we sold the war blade ‘Slaughterer’, it was for the price of 180,000 gold coins of gold. 180,000 gold coins of gold! We aren’t able to produce such a vast sum, but even if we were, the current owner wouldn’t be willing to sell to us.”

  The ancient clan of the Demonblood Warriors, actually had sold off its own ancestral heirloom.

  This was a humiliation!

  The humiliation of the ancient clan of the Demonblood Warriors!

  Every succeeding generation had attempted to come up with ways to regain the war blade ‘Slaughterer’, but despite six hundred years of trying, they had never succeeded.

  As the current clan leader, Alistair also had this desire, but the clan’s economic situation was in dire straits. 180,000 gold coins of gold? Even if they sold off the manor and all their possessions, they might not be able to produce such a vast sum.

  The ancestral heirloom was lost. This humiliation constantly weighed on Alistair’s heart. He felt ashamed and helpless, and unable to face his forefathers.

  Seeing the look on his father’s face, Mathias consoled him, “Father, don’t be unhappy! I promise that one day, I will recover our family’s heirloom and bring it back to this manor.”

  “You?” Alistair chuckled. Eyes filled with love, he ruffled Mathias’s hair.

  In his heart, Alistair secretly said, “Mathias. Do you know, these words you just said…all those years ago, I said these same words to your grandfather as well.” Six hundred years of efforts had all failed. How could it be easy to accomplish? After all, the person who had purchased the war blade ‘Slaughterer’ couldn’t be any ordinary person.

  Why would they be willing to sell?

  Even if they were willing to sell, how could the decrepit Tulare clan afford the cost?

  “Father, you don’t believe me?” Raising his head, Mathias looked at his father questioningly.

  “I believe you, I believe you,” Alistair laughed.

  Father and son held each other close. Only three members r
emained of the ancient Demonblood Clan in this era. When would this decaying clan be able to regain the glory and honor it had in prior years? At this moment, lying against his father’s chest, Mathias’s fists were clenched tightly!

  Chapter 4 – Growth (part 1)

  The spring wind came, turning green the poplar trees near the empty space outside of Comox town. On the empty ground, a group of youths were ardently training. Almost a year had passed since the Demonblood test, and Mathias was eight years old now. Over the course of this period of time, Davis clearly saw that Mathias had only become even harder working!

  “Well done, Mathias! Hold it, hold it!” Davis encouraged from the side.

  Right now, Mathias was only wearing trousers. His upper body was covered with sweat, and his body, as taut as a drawn bowstring, was lying on the ground. His hands were pressed fiercely to the ground, as straight as tree trunks, while the rest of his body was motionless. He was supporting himself from a push-up position, with just his hands and the tips of his toes! His entire body was taut!

  The ‘Static Tension’ training exercise!

  A very simple yet very effective training exercise. If a person could reach the level of being able to maintain this pose for an hour, then his body would no longer fear ordinary swords or sabers.

  Drip, drip!

  Beads of sweat rolled down from Mathias’s forehead. The sweat entered Mathias’s left eye, and he couldn’t help but wince at the pain.

  “Mat is really amazing. Just eight years old, but he’s able to match the thirteen year olds in doing the ‘Static Tension’ exercise.” Some of the youngsters who had already given up were sprawled on the ground, chatting as they watched Mathias.

  “Mat, keep it up! Keep it up for the rest of us! Beat those thirteen year olds!” The golden-haired Howard shouted from the side.

  “Yeah, keep it up, Mat!” The other youngsters started to chant as well.

  Mathias was on extremely good terms with the other kids. Although Mathias was the child of a noble house, he was extremely kind to the youngsters of commoners, and often helped them train as well.