Dark Magus Returns

There was no real leader in the Demonic Faction, just the stronger and weaker clans that everyone was aware of. However, there was a legacy.

The Demonic Faction, being the way they were, wasn't a faction per se, but due to the growing strength of the Dark Faction and Light Faction, they needed to do something otherwise risk getting wiped out.

The Neverfall Clan was well respected because it was their leader who had brought all the major clans together to agree practically an alliance to go against the other Factions.

There was still no clear view of which clan was the strongest, but all of those that had been invited by Belil were considered the strongest.

This consisted of the Neverfall Clan, with Belil at its head. The Behemoth Clan, the biggest clan in the Demonic Faction, with their leader Sha Mo.

Then there was the Lost Clan, with the leader Lince, whose true appearance was quite a mystery to most, due to parts of his body being wrapped around in black.

And finally, there was the Splitting Fang Clan, with the leader Yunro. Out of all the clans, the Splitting Fang Clan was the newest in age, coming up with new techniques but still following the philosophy of the Demonic Faction.

Because of this, these four clans were at the center of representing the Demonic Faction and when situations occurred like the Martial Arts Tournament, they were the ones that needed to make the decisions.

To each of these four clans, they were surprised when a letter had been delivered to them, from the Necroshade Clan. When reading the details of the letter, some of them had smiles on their faces.

Others threw the letter, not too bothered. While for a particular individual, his entire head was shaking with rage.

Having returned to the town of Flendon, the sun was starting to set, and that's when from the town hall, there was a visitor that had come in the middle of the night.

Entering into the town hall, Rayna had recognized him straight away.

"You're from the Neverfall Clan, right? Has my father sent you to deliver a message?" Rayna asked.

"This is a message from the Neverfall clan, but it is not for you young miss, it is for the Crimson Crane."

The Crimson Crane still hadn't quite established a preeminent residence in the town yet, helping with the building. Instead, they had been staying in the grand town hall in several spare rooms the place had.

It was as if Mayor Yarlston foresaw this would happen, and they needed places for guests anyway. A place where they could treat them well without forcing them to one of the inns.

Alba came over to take the letter; she and the others had a good idea as to what this would be.

Opening it up on the spot, she read the contents.

"Is it what we think it is?" Fixteen asked.

Alba nodded.

"It appears that our messenger managed to send his message; it's acknowledgment of our candidate taking part in the tournament, and also a meeting place for tomorrow," Alba explained.

Rayna let out a big sigh.

"I'm guessing there are further instructions as well."

"Right, from our side, along with the client, we are only allowed to send two people along with us," Alba said.

Looking around the room, they wondered which two would accompany Raze, but coming down the stairs having overheard everything, he had his own solution.

"That shouldn't matter too much," Raze said. "For what I have planned, instead I need to tell you about something else that you need to be ready for."

The next day, the day of the first tournament, had arrived. Up bright and early, Raze had headed to the border of the city where a carriage was waiting for them.

They were to travel to the meeting location where the other clans would be waiting for them as well. By his side was none other than Anna.

"Are you disappointed that I am coming along?" Anna said. "I guess it doesn't really fit into the rules since I'm not part of the Crimson Crane."

"I'm not disappointed. It just felt like the room had gotten incredibly heated over the situation, that was all. I know we had a deal, I don't know when Zon might show up near me again, or if he ever will."

"But there is a chance, and in return you don't explain to Alter a thing of what is happening here."

Anna nodded as the two of them moved along, and the tall, slight, dark red-pigmented-skinned woman was waiting by the carriage, but she wasn't alone, Rayna was also there as well.

"Even though I won't be going with you, I wanted to see you off," Rayna said, her cheeks turning slightly red again.

"I appreciate it," Raze mentioned. "If I could have brought three, I would have asked for you to come along. You have helped me in more ways than you can imagine."

"I have come to enjoy seeing this city grow, so I will let you know, that after all is done with the Martial Arts Tournament, I will be back."

Rayna wasn't expecting a response like that from Raze. In a lot of ways, it was the first time she had heard him say so many words.

Regardless, she smiled and gave him a wave as he, Alba, and Anna had entered the carriage on the way to the city of Repton.

Everyone felt a little more tense in the carriage. Raze imagined that neither of them thought that they would ever be in a situation like this, and honestly neither did he.

'When I used that book, I didn't think I would be involved in so many affairs in another world,' Raze thought.

Thinking about what he had been through to get to this point, the carriage was starting to slow down as they approached one of the main entrances of the city of Repton.

Looking out through the window, Raze could see quite a few people had already gathered as well.

Getting out of the carriage, an old gentleman, who had a beard that went down to his waist and was white in color, approached them.

"I welcome the Crimson Crane to this meeting," the old man said with a bow. "I am Elder Xank from the Neverfall Clan. I have been assigned to be the mediator in our affairs with the other factions, and also will be in charge of your program and our journey of travel."

"Please let me introduce you to the other contestants that have arrived."

Standing out in the barren wasteland, they could see four other students in a mainly black with a red trim uniform. They were not wearing the standard uniform of their clans, and Raze had also been given a uniform to change into.

Which he promptly did inside of his carriage before coming out again to be introduced to the others.

Along with the four students, just like with Raze who had Alba and Anna, each of them also had two members of their clans by their side.

Before the introductions occurred, Alba had a quick question to ask.

"I heard that there would also be two heads of clans joining us on this trip, that have been allowed by the Light Faction, do we know who they will be?" Alba asked.

"Ah yes," Xank said. "Lince from the Lost Clan will be joining us, and as for the other individual, it will be Sha Mo, from the Behemoth Clan."