Elfinhiem: Free The World

Akamless was a town woven from the very fabric of the earth, nestled in a valley cradled by rolling hills. Its buildings, mostly constructed from warm, honey-colored stone, seemed to grow organically from the ground, their rooftops adorned with moss and wildflowers. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, a gentle breeze carrying the sounds of birdsong and the distant tinkling of a blacksmith's hammer. The people of Akamless were as warm and welcoming as the sun that bathed their town in its golden light. They were a community of farmers, artisans, and merchants, their lives simple yet rich with a sense of community and belonging. Old Elara, the baker, was known for her sourdough bread, its crust crackling with a satisfying crunch and its crumb soft and airy. Her bakery, with its windows perpetually fogged from the warmth of the oven, was a haven for weary travelers and gossiping neighbors alike. She sees a lone traveler and offers some bread to him. "No Thanks" the man says, "I don't like sour bread" The town's blacksmith, Gorion, was a man of few words but strong hands. His forge, nestled beside the town's bustling marketplace, was a constant source of warmth and the rhythmic clang of metal. He was a skilled craftsman, his creations both beautiful and functional, each piece infused with his quiet dedication. The traveler then encountered a young girl. A spirited girl with eyes that sparkled like the river that flowed through the town. She was the town's storyteller, her voice carrying tales of ancient heroes and mythical creatures, her words weaving magic into the hearts of her listeners. Akamless was a place where time seemed to move at a slower pace, where life was measured in the rhythm of the seasons, where kindness and compassion were woven into the very fabric of the town's being. It was a place where Dyre found a sense of peace. He is there with one purpose though, holding a map with the location of a "blade" in hopes of finding a Great Sword That is rumored to reside in Akamless in the Mountain Peaks "Great Pond Of Tranquility". Dyre, continuing his journey, muttered "This town seems very nice, if I wasn't on a mission I probably would've stopped here for a little bit". Upon some more walking, Dyre found himself standing at the edge of the Pond, its surface like a mirror reflecting the sky above. A mist, like spun silver, rose from the water, swirling and dancing in the stillness. The air hummed with a quiet energy, a symphony of whispers carried on the breeze. The scent of pine needles and damp earth mingled with a strange, sweet fragrance, something like wild honeysuckle, but with a hint of something else, something ancient and unknown. The pond itself was an enigma. Its surface was still as glass, yet it seemed to pulse with an unseen life. Dyre swore he saw shapes moving beneath the surface, fleeting glimpses of fins and scales, and the occasional flash of iridescent wings. He imagined creatures of myth, ancient fish with eyes like glowing embers, and water nymphs with long, flowing hair, their voices echoing in the mist. The air was thick with a sense of magic, as if the very air itself was charged with power. It was a place where the line between reality and myth blurred, a place where anything seemed possible. He then looks up and sees a Cloaked Swordsman on the other side of the pond, a figure of imposing stature. His skin, the color of mahogany, glistened slightly in the sunlight. Long, curly black hair cascaded down his back. A dark, hooded cloak draped over his shoulders, concealing his physique but not the aura of power that emitted from him. A black and gold longsword, gleaming with intricate engravings, hung at his hip, a silent testament to his deadly skill. He seemed to be in a meditative state. Dyre thinks to himself "Hmm maybe I should go ask him if he knows anything about this map". Dyre reached out, his hand hovering just above the man's shoulder. He was about to tap him, a friendly gesture, when the man reacted with a speed that defied belief. A blur of movement, a flash of silver, and Dyre felt a searing pain explode across his skin. He stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock. He had been slashed. Not once, not twice, but nine times, the cuts are a stinging reminder of the man's sudden and brutal attack. Four on his arm, two on his torso and each of his legs, and one, a deep gash, across his cheek. The man had been a whirlwind of violence, a storm of steel, and Dyre had been caught in its eye. "YO WHAT THE HELL, THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR?!" Dyre roared, his voice a mix of anger and disbelief. The man stood silent, his eyes cold and unreadable. He didn't even blink as he launched into a second attack. This time, it was a torrent of steel, a flurry of slashes that seemed to come from all directions at once. The air itself seemed to crackle with the energy of the man's fury. Dyre, caught off guard once more, could only barely deflect the onslaught, his body a shield against the relentless assault. Twenty-two times the man slashed, each strike a blur of motion, each cut a testament to his speed and ferocity. Dyre felt the sting of each wound, the blood welling up on his skin, but he was too confused, too overwhelmed, to even think. Dyre's survival starts to hinge on his agility and combat prowess. He ducks, blocks, parries, and counters to avoid the deadly attacks. Amidst the chaos, Dyre manages to force out a few words, "I just want to talk," he mutters, "I have this map that - " "SHUT THAT SHIT UP!" The Cloaked Swordsman yells, abruptly cutting him off. Dyre looks up, his eyes widening as he notices the man's bloodlusted demeanor. For some strange reason, this slows Dyre and The Cloaked Swordsman is able to slice his arm clean off. Dyre's gaze drops, his eyes widening in pure terror as he sees his severed arm lying on the ground. A cold wave of realization washes over him. He can't help but think, "That could have been my head if I wasn't careful enough." The thought sends a shiver down his spine, reminding him of how blessed he is to be able to regenerate in this brutal fight. Dyre then reaches out to grab his severed arm but The Cloaked Swordsman continues his relentless furies of Slices putting Dyre on the Receiving end. Dyre asks "Bro what is even your name". Confidently, The Cloaked Swordsman says "Beat me before you die and then I'll tell you". Dyre thinks to himself "Ok this nigga is very obviously trying to kill me let me swing back and talk later". He hardens his forehead and his other arm, grabs the man's swinging blade pulling him closer and headbutts the man. Dyre then felt his hand start to burn as he grabbed the blade. Startled He lets go "What was that ?". The Cloaked Swordsman replies "My blade emits heat and You are a Lentum with no weapon… This is a terrible matchup for you". Dyre Then replies "One you don't know what I am and I hope you don't think you're the only one who can use flames!" Exploding His severed arm that's on the ground and then grows it back. The Cloaked Swordsman hurriedly dodges "Hmph, Nice Trick. If I was a complete amateur that would've worked on me". "Yea Yea whatever " Dyre replies as a blade begins to grow from the ground beneath him. The Blade was very Large in size and almost matched the height of Dyre. He began to grip the blade, threw it over his shoulder and said "Now it's time to really get down". The Cloaked Swordsman says "Idiot you know NOTHING about TRUE swordsmanship lemme show you something way beyond your comprehension". "INFERNO ASHEN RYU" The Cloaked Swordsman launches towards Dyre. But by the time Dyre could React it was already too late, The Swordsman was behind him with a fully Ignited Blade at His neck. "Well done Lentum," says The Cloaked Swordsman. Dyre, confused by his attacker's sudden change in demeanor asks "What do you mean well done? This fight isn't over". Growing spikes from his body forcing The Cloaked Swordsman to jump backwards, "The only creatures that are able to shapeshift to that degree are slime descendants, you can't tell me you aren't a Lentum". "Believe it then because i'm not one of them" Dyre then grabs his Earth Blade firmly. He then Stretches his arm out and jumps in the air and screams "SERPENT STYLE: REVOLVING SLAM !!" He begins rolling his body at extreme speeds in the air and drops on top of The Swordsman. The Swordsman sighs and takes a Samurai Stone Stance. "You know nothing about true Swordsmanship "YOU'RE JUST A NOVICE !!". He then Slashes at Dyre's Blade cutting clean through it, severing his arm again. Dyre Lands in disbelief. "Nobody has ever stopped that move before. So how did you cut through it ?". "Trust in your blade and it'll trust in you" The Swordsman Replies. Dyre pauses in utter awe of the corny statement this man just uttered out of his mouth and says "Please don't say that EVER again. But shit to get skill like that all I need to do is 'Trust my sword' then I'll trust it anyday… I just need to find one". "The names Licht by the way.". "Huh ?" Dyre Replies. "My name is Licht nigga" the Swordsman states, sounding a little irritated. "Ohhh", says Dyre. "Well, My name is Dyre" The two then shake hands. "SO, About this map you were talking about ?". "Oh yeah, I almost forgot," Dyre Replies. "Almost Forgot ?" Says Licht. "OF COURSE I ALMOST FORGOT, NIGGA YOU WAS TRYNA KILL ME". Licht lets out a chuckle and says "My fault, you interrupted my meditation". "Maaaan ain't nobody worried about your intimate time with your blade you be having," Dyre says. "I don't give a fuck what you're talking about I could've killed you if I wanted to" Licht states smugly. Dyre says "Yeah ok bud" and then asks "Can you help me find this Sword ?". Licht continues with his smug statements and says "If it means you're giving me a better battle than that shit then sure." Dyre and Licht begin to walk towards the location shown on the map. As the two were walking they started conversing about each other's past. "So Licht why were you all by yourself on that weird ass meditating timing". "I know nothing but the sword, Fleshly desires could never overcome the feeling and Love that comes from this blade". Dyre asks "So you don't want a wife ?". "No". "No Kids ?". "No". "No friends ?". My Blade is my only comrade". "Well damn nigga fuck you too" says Dyre. "I literally tried to chop your head off, No way you're considering me as a friend". "Yea that was a little crazy but I don't sense any Evil intent in you. If I did then that fight would've ended in a complete diffre-". He stops his sentence as the two encounter the location of the map. A Giant gate in front of an even bigger cave entrance. The Gate had Red markings on the rim of the cave that was leading inside of it. "Is this it ?" Licht asked "Yeah, I think so".