The respite after the storm: The air in the sky was calm. The red clouds, made of the blood and suffering of humans, had dissipated. Finally, the sky showed the deep blue and its peaceful sun. The contrast with the past was palpable; the current calm felt like a balm after the storm, albeit a tense calm, aware of the fragility of peace.
All the people from the previous shelters that served as defense in the passage to the city were happy to see their leader back on his feet. He gave them hope and a new place to live, but he didn't want them to calm down thinking that civilization would return, as that would weaken them. Leon understood that true survival depended on individual strength, not on false security. His leadership was based on preparation, not complacency.
Instead, he led them along the most difficult path to the city, eliminating all difficult enemies, but leaving every citizen, every civilian, every person to strengthen himself. Many were injured, but their spirit was strong, they wanted to get better. Others fled and were killed by the beasts. It is clear that not everyone is made to survive in this cruel and ruthless world. The unforgiving nature of the world acted as a filter, separating the resistant from those who succumbed. Survival was a constant test.
Although the skill level and system were efficient, it wasn't enough for normal people to become strong easily; they needed time. Thus, little by little, the citizens of each neighborhood were sent directly to the city. Only those who could withstand the storm of the reality of this world could arrive and, with it, they would be rewarded with a home that they could build and live in. Clearly, this was hard to watch. Leon, the savior himself, was always standing at the entrance of the bridge that divided the exterior of the city of Cordoba, but that view was not pleasant: to see how people were attacked not only by beasts, but by humans who preferred to be scavengers or to be on the side of the beasts and gods of the rift. Leon's position on the bridge offered him a painful prospect, a constant testimony to the price of survival. The wind whipped his face as he watched the struggles, the echo of the screams reached him.
Not being able to do anything, because if he did it could create a total dependence between him and his people, so they will live thinking that someone would come to save them, they would not defend themselves because they would be waiting for him to arrive. That was the most difficult task as a leader; it was something that made him angry, but he had to remain unfazed. He must not show weakness, since he is no longer a simple man, he is the leader of the city, her hope. He cannot hesitate, he must make them strong and, even if they see it and ask for help, they understand it, they strive to improve and become stronger, they resist every step, every clash of swords, every death, every ferocious monster they encounter. This is how those who from now on will be called infernal citizens arrive in the city, those who have gone through hell itself to get here. The title of Infernal Citizens resonated with the hard journey they had endured, a mark of honor earned with blood and sweat.
No one has given them anything, no one has helped them; they depend on themselves, but still they know that their leader is always watching and that, if they have no more hope, He will come to save them, not because they are not strong, but because He is stronger. This was how the neighborhood of Villa Los Llanos, Ciudad de los Ni?os, Barrio Norte, the slums and many more happened that they did not know. Because by eliminating so many beasts, people were able to go out to defend themselves, they had the courage to get up and fight, because they had hope, thus creating again the province of Córdoba, the first province free of beasts and the first to unify all the races of the lands: Elves, dwarves, druids, dryads, giants, beastmen, draconians, dragons, undead, fairies, the only mystic being Ifrit, and a semi-divine being born on earth, a nephilim. The union of several races under one flag marked a new beginning, a melting pot of cultures and abilities forged in the crucible of adversity. This could be achieved due to the small races of each urban area, which were associated with some humans of the region. Many of the new races that were similar to the rift monsters invading the world did not agree with the elimination of humans because, in reality, many of them were once humans who were consumed by the rift energy maintaining their consciousness, but not their body. This detail added a moral complexity to the conflict, showing that not all creatures were enemies, but victims of the same forces ravaging the world.
Dragons were very proud and saw humans as inferior beings. They were ready to attack them to dominate them, going to attack the city in a pack, but that was a mistake that they would not forget. The arrogance of the dragons led them to underestimate human determination, a mistake that would cost them dearly.
Because there were those in the city who were leaders of their factions or were the first to face the apocalypse alongside the leader, these were divided by ranks. Among the weakest were the Outer Protectors; formed by Russo, Jamal, Chino and Valentina these were the ones who, in case of emergency, had to go out to defend together with the warriors of the gate any civilian who was in the battle and prevent them from reaching the entrance of the kingdom. His work, although considered the most basic, was crucial for the security of the city, the first line of defense against external threats.
Then they were in a higher rank because they had a lot of abilities or they had a divine contract with at least 1 god - the Guardians. These consisted of Pato, Ibarra, Julián and Sasha protecting all the cities in case of an invasion together with the elite: The Holy Knights, combat-trained citizens who had items or abilities that made them superior to any other monster below the "Neighborhood" rank. Their connection with the divine gave them considerable power, making them formidable defenders.
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Then there were those who commanded all these troops, the so-called The Rulers. These were a higher rung not only in power and intelligence, but they were always on the front line overcoming many tests being formed by Santiago, Marcos, Savitar and Victoria, they were put there after fighting in a test made by the savior of the city proving their worth and dignity. These were always in the public eye and were responsible not only for the protection of the cities they govern in case of a great danger, but also for maintaining order and training citizens by creating schools and training centers, besides that each one created his own faction in which they command and perform different tasks. Their leadership and experience made them pillars of society, responsible for the order and preparation of the city.
But for this there must be someone to help them and regulate their activities by giving them inputs and also help. These were the kings; well, in this case let's say they were The Queens of the city, those who commanded the battle against the lord of pestilence and have 3 gods under their contract: the great Rosary, ruler of the crimson flames, and the great Brenda, ruler of darkness and lust. These have the power to confront any being below the rank of province and are in charge of the protection of the entire half of the province, each with a side to govern and protect. Their power and divine connections placed them on a higher level, responsible for the security of vast territories. Their leadership in the battle against the Lord of Pestilence had turned them into legends.
Finally, there is the highest rank in the hierarchy - the rank of Monarch. This rank is occupied by the only one capable of stopping a provincial rank and facing a continental rank, but not defeating it yet: the savior and builder of this city and of all the surrounding cities
, but not yet to defeat him: the savior and builder of this city and all surrounding cities. León, the Monarch, represented the pinnacle of power, a symbol of hope and protection for all the inhabitants of Córdoba and its surroundings. His imposing presence inspired confidence and security.
All this made the attempted invasion of the dragons useless, since León ordered the queens to take direct charge of the problem and not have to have civilian casualties or wounded among their companions, so they defeated the vast majority of the dragons avoiding killing them in order to reach an agreement with the current monarch of the dragons in the province creating a mutual agreement by having both rulers a combat in which they were in a resounding tie recognizing human power entering into another period of peace and prosperity. Diplomacy, backed by military might, achieved a crucial truce. The fight between the Lion and the dragon monarch was a demonstration of strength and skill, a clash of wills that culminated in mutual respect.
It was this event that caused the fairies, dryads and some high elves (beings older than the common elves) to remove the barrier of the small world tree that grew in the province, heading to the main city Cordoba, where the monarch lived next to the small world tree, asking for an audience where these races together with their representatives asked for an alliance in exchange for please protect the world tree, the source of life of most mystical races, accepting the agreement. The alliance with the ancestral races represented an important milestone, joining forces against the threats that still lurked. The World Tree, a symbol of life and hope, was under the protection of Córdoba.
All this was carried out over 2 years where everything prospered as it should train people for what was coming. For two years peace reigned in Córdoba, a period of reconstruction and preparation for the uncertainties of the future. The city became stronger, both in its defenses and in the spirit of its inhabitants. It was at the beginning of that same third year of peace that the system finally spoke:
System event: Continental Conquest
Conditions: One person from each province in the half-year period must be chosen among all the people from each individual province as their representative for what will be given as a continental tournament where the winner of all the tests and of each combat will have the right to take the continent as his own and make of it what he wishes.
Reward for victory: Southern Continent: 10 levels for everyone in the province: you have the right to ask only 1 thing to the administrator.
Running time: 6 months, 182 days, 4,380 hours, 15,768,000 seconds.
The announcement resonated throughout the continent, a challenge that would test the strength and will of each province. The reward, however, was what really captured everyone's attention.
Everyone expected this, but what intrigued everyone on the continent the most was one of the rewards: to have the right to ask something to the creator and administrator of the system, a single question, something that everyone wanted to know, but many had questions: "Why did this happen?", "Why do we suffer?", "Why did the monsters come?", "When will this torture end?". They were all valid answers, but they could only give one. The possibility of obtaining answers from the system administrator himself was a unique opportunity, but the limitation to a single question generated great uncertainty. What would be the most important question?.
This was what was going through the Lion monarch's mind: only one question could be asked. This question will decide the fate of this world, something that could answer everyone's doubts or could lead us to total chaos. It was time, they had to decide, decide who they would send as a representative, which although it seems obvious to many for others was difficult because as they could be sure that they would only take 1 single person. This doubt was in the minds of too many people since the system had done them a disservice by constantly changing tasks and increasing the difficulty because the gods were capricious and wanted to see something better, others were kind but most were beings who wanted fame, fun, money, power, everything they could earn if their host or hosts made their name famous, so we won't know how this ended, maybe and that's how it is. as the system says or maybe it's something much worse. The responsibility fell on Leon's shoulders. The choice of the representative and the question to the administrator could change the course of history. The uncertainty about the true intentions of the system and the whims of the gods added a layer of tension to the impending tournament
Tell me guys what you think will happen in the next chapter you can give me your theories and I will answer but without spoilers
