Long ago...
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.
.
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In a city that could easily pass for an ancient metropolis—were it not on a planet far from Earth—the twin suns blazed brighter than ever.
The once-bustling streets now lay unnervingly vacant, though the occasional flutter of birds' wings and fleeting human shadows prevented it from being a complete ghost town. Strangely, the city appeared devoid of life—or so it seemed.
A bird's call echoed in the distance.
As one's gaze turned skyward, a distinctive figure came into view: a hawk, but not just any hawk. This avian had been meticulously trained for the role of an air scout, its eyes radiating an unusual and remarkable intelligence.
From the hawk's vantage point, the landscape unfolded like an intricate tapestry—a patchwork of structures stretching endlessly, devoid of humans and domestic animals. Only a few peculiar, low-slung mutant beasts roamed the city's outskirts, serving as eerie reminders of the life that should have thrived here.
Yet, the hawk remained unwavering in its flight, slicing through the air with unparalleled speed. It gracefully executed a series of maneuvers, from soaring heights to daring descents, even spinning in ways that defied gravity.
After a continuous two-hour flight, the hawk let out a piercing screech, a sound potent enough to shatter the eardrums of any ordinary human.
**Screeeech!**
Just a short distance ahead, an ancient castle revealed itself, its magnificence evident even from afar.
With grace and precision, the bird descended upon the castle, executing a graceful dive, then soaring aloft before skillfully adjusting its wings to land effortlessly at the castle's very heart.
In this captivating setting, an imposing figure stood—a person so immobile and unyielding that they could easily be mistaken for a living statue.
Unperturbed by the robust winds that swept through this part of the castle, the man clenched his fist and extended his arm, a wordless summons to his avian companion. Without hesitation, the hawk alighted on the man's silver-clad iron arm. They shared a silent connection, locking eyes, a testament to the profound intelligence that radiated from both man and bird.
The man stood at an imposing height of roughly 10 feet, clad in armor reminiscent of a knight's, though not as encumbering. His appearance bore a striking resemblance to that of a Spartan warrior.
In an instant, the man's eyes underwent a transformation, casting a vivid green glow. As his gaze met the hawk's—whose eyes had been pitch black until then—the bird's irises ignited with the same luminescent green as the man's.
Moments later, he nodded, pivoted on his heels, and with the hawk perched confidently on his right shoulder pad, he proceeded directly toward the main castle.
Similar scenes unfolded throughout the castle, but in various directions.
Another man faced the north side with an outstretched arm, and within six seconds, a brown-hued hawk gracefully descended to land upon his gleaming silver-armored limb.
In the eastern precincts of the castle...
In the western quarters of the castle...
The man in the western sector was the last for his hawk to alight. His eyes, too, radiated that eerie green glow, and just like his counterparts, he gave a subtle nod.
Yet, instead of following the others in their swift departure, he paused, gazing out at the city. A profound sense of reverie seemed to hold him in its thrall.
Time blurred in that moment.
After what felt like an eternity, he blinked and offered a bitter smile, visible through the open visor of his helmet. Then, he turned away, setting course for the main castle where, ostensibly, everyone in the city had converged.
---
In another corner of the world, a colossal castle rose to towering heights, reaching up to 1,500 feet and extending 2,000 feet in circumference.
Its structure appeared to be forged from dark concrete, occasionally emitting ominous waves of dark dust. This foreboding castle nestled within a forest known as the "Demon Forest," not far from another eerie expanse referred to as the "Forgotten Forest."
Within the castle's ominous walls, an assembly of dark creatures, radiating an eerie dark-red energy, stood in eerie silence. They awaited the one who stood amidst what seemed to be a morbid collection of countless bones—skulls of birds, lions, human limbs, and human skulls.
The commanding figure leading this formidable assembly of over one million dark-red entities bore the visage of a three-horned goat fused with a human form.
His sharp, elongated teeth added to his hideous and frightening appearance, while his dull red eyes exuded an unsettling aura. His very presence emitted a potent scent of blood, as if he had just emerged from a brutal and gory battlefield. This dark-red creature served as their general, and his weapon of choice was a colossal hammer that, too, emanated an eerie dark energy.
Much like their master, these creatures wielded weapons that seemed almost alive, emanating a dark-red aura that mirrored their malevolence. Surveying his vast army, the general nodded and cleared his throat, addressing them with a loud, hoarse, and repugnant voice:
"As you all know, this marks the onset of an invasion against the other races, a prelude to their ominous ritual. The second general is en route, and we shall march forth immediately, heading due south to the human kingdom!"
**Roarrrr!!**
A bestial roar reverberated throughout the entire forest as more than a million beast-like creatures erupted in raucous cheers of excitement.
"Remember, capture the women and subject them to torment before we use them as sustenance. Spare no man—their fate is death," the general proclaimed, a sinister grin hidden beneath his helmet.
**"CHARGE!!!!"**
**"Charge!!"**
**Roarr!**
And with that, the horde of over one million dark-red creatures surged forward, heading directly toward the city they dubbed "Humbli Kingdom" in the south.
---
### Author's Note:
Hey everyone, before I wrap up, I want to ask for your patience. This chapter isn't the main start of the novel, so if you'd like to skip ahead, you can jump to the "End of Story" marker (which will likely appear in Chapter 10). From there, you can start reading the next chapter, titled *Zilon*, where the main story truly begins.
**Note:** For those wondering about the book's name, I've changed it from *The Birth of the Legendary Mugus* to *The Rise of the Legendary Warlock*. I've also made some adjustments to the writing, so don't worry—it's not the same as before.
Thank you for your patience, and I'll see you in Chapter 2 (Part 2)!