Dark Magus Returns
chapter-817

The Dark Faction had been under the rule of its new leader, the Dark Magus, for around a month or so now, and things weren't quite what others expected. Historically, when new leaders rose, they would often make significant changes to show their ambition and prove they were right for the role.

Either the leader would go on a voyage into the other factions and plan an attack to show their strength, or maybe there would be disruption in the Dark Faction over who was the leader, but none of that had occurred.

If anything, things felt the same, but it was an issue for most of the clans, not just in the Dark Faction but in all the other factions as well. It felt like the calm before the storm-that just one thing needed to occur, and that would be the catalyst to start it all.

The Crimson Crane and the rest of the allies with Raze had settled into the academy. It was their resting place. There were plenty of empty rooms now compared to before for them to stay in the academy, but they didn't just lounge around.

The Crimson Crane members were skilled in martial arts before, so from time to time, they would give special lessons to the students. The clan members were fine with this, knowing the strength of the Crimson Crane, a group of wanderers small in number but able to defend against the Behemoth Clan.

As for the others, they were somewhat off doing their own thing. Liam was hanging around with Zon and Anna more and stayed in the outer areas of the academy, where there were restaurants, shops, and a few housing areas just before one would enter the main academy but after the bridge.

Then there was also Amir, who essentially was running the academy as the principal, handling small matters concerning the Faction itself. Any questions that came up, at the moment, the Dark Magus was much more a figurehead, used as a deterrent.

While others were committed to their own training within the academy, they had several sections in the vast academy that allowed them to train on their own. Personal homes with large courtyards where they could freely use their skills.

After all, after facing the Dark Faction clans, they had obtained artifacts that were powerful but needed to learn how to use them in a valuable fight. It would take some time for them to increase their strength.

Currently, some of the Crimson Crane members, after finishing their teaching, had gathered in the library area. It was their usual spot as they came to converse. They were laughing and joking about what had occurred with their students these days.

"I can't believe you guys have such good classes," Forma said. "There's hardly anyone that even uses bow techniques, and everyone wants to learn their clan ways or prove that their clan is the best. How do you even deal with it?"

The small warrior slumped her body across the table as she continued to sulk.

"Cronker, you're so lucky you found such loyal students to help you out. You have your own group of assassins."

"I wouldn't call it luck," Cronker said with his arms folded. "Alba has asked me to try and increase those under me...which means we might be put to use. You should know the most dangerous profession in any clan or group is an assassin. They have to be prepared to die for the cause.

"I have only survived this long because I have been in a group like the Crimson Crane for so long."

There was a silent moment among them all as well, thinking about their situation. The Crimson Crane members knew that Alba always had strong ambition. She wanted to be above the great clans of the Factions.

Someday, she wanted them to act and grow, and now they were doing it in a strange way.

"I just want to know when we're going to get our weapons!" Lily complained. "I haven't even seen Raze this entire time. Have you guys?"

"I spoke to him from time to time," Reno answered. "I can assure you, he has been trying to create weapons for all of you, but he wishes to create the very best. For you to have something at the same level as what Tilion obtained.

"He is trying every day, but it seems like there is slight luck involved when creating these weapons, and he has been greatly unsuccessful in creating weapons for you all, but they will come."

Lily, Forma, Cronker, and Alba. All of them couldn't wait to see what weapons they would have, giving them a chance to be just as helpful as the others who had already received everything they needed.

"It appears that he has also been extremely busy during the day as well."

"Right," Keizer said. "He did invite me once, and that room was a complete mess. He seems to train more than any other Pagna warrior I know, but it was clear he was testing something.

"I know one thing for sure: that man is chasing demons. He's fighting demons in his sleep and every moment he's awake."

Liver was holding onto his shoulder, remembering the ringing pain from when he had been called in by Raze for a moment. He had just been used as a practice doll for new techniques. "I wouldn't be surprised if he came in one day and asked for all of us to fight him at once." It was getting harder and harder for them, day by day, to comprehend the strength that Raze had obtained now, but it also left them quite excited.

On the outside of the academy walls, a large tall man had entered wearing a long trench coat dragging along the floor. He stood there as he looked up at the academy wall.

"I need to warn him," Harvey said as he looked up, his hand pressed inside his trench coat. He patted himself a few times as if searching for it. "Right, no smokes." He then slowly lifted his hand out, covered in a red liquid, soaked in blood. "Before time runs out."