The Dark Order 1.11: Absolute Power

Begin with Chapter 1.1

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The rumors that sweep across Valon regarding the Northern Realm have grown into stories of nightmares and monsters. Some say a monstrous beast lurks within the fog, preying on lost wanderers. Others believe there's a spirit hidden within the realm that comes to life through the forest; its life force is said to radiate through the forest from the floor to the tree tops.

No one knows for sure.

No one's ever come back after they've entered.

That spirit might lie within the Elder Oak, which sits at the peak of the world. Its massive roots have stretched their way across the realm. Over the centuries, the forest has evolved to protect itself from harm—transforming the weather, the landscape, and the ecosystem.

Built to deter anyone and everyone, there's one entity that has no fear. It steps into the unknown happily, accepting all challenges and crushing any adversary with absolute power.

It's the Judge, Jury, and Executioner:

The World Government.

The highest authority in Valon. Once upon a time, when Valon was all but one land before the World Government came to fruition, the species of Valon knew not of the other's existence; they equally lived off the riches gifted to them by the Elder Oak.

That was before the seven-year war between the Great Elves of the West and the monstrous Orcs of the East. A feud that flooded Valon with bloodshed.

There seemed to be no end in sight until the war sank its murderous fangs into the Northern Territory. That fateful day altered the course of history.

Present-day Valon has reaped the benefits and nightmares. The centuries of war and species division have resulted in mass genocide, enslavement, and starvation. Many cities and towns are filled with citizens struggling to survive and are on the verge of collapse, receiving no support from the powers that be.

With limitless power, the World Government protects countries, cities, and towns of luxury and prestige. All heinous acts are punishable by imprisonment or death.

In the government-controlled world of magic, those without power keep their heads low and go about their lives submissively, consciously ignoring the realities around them.

However, many whose power is near infinite now set out to gain more, no matter the dangers or consequences that may follow. These unlucky individuals must walk across an Elder branch so large that the world beneath lies in complete darkness. Too thick to penetrate, the forbidden place is known as Heaven's Bridge, a world deeply shrouded in fog, ominously hovering over the unknown.

The bridge leads to the World Government Headquarters, known as Eden.

Within the World Government is the Sorceror Sovereign Authority. Secretive. Merciless. Unforgiving. It is magic. It owns, profits, contains, and destroys it at will. The head of the beast is made of the Holy Trinity- the highest-ranking members of the World Government.

Their subordinates, who possess realm-shattering abilities, humbly submit to the powers that be and execute all commands. These are Holy Generals, God's Arch-Angels, the equivalent of a Military Admiral.

There are FIVE in total. Each General has complete authority over their governing realm. Working best in the shadows, these individuals are mysteries; their names, abilities, and appearances are all unknown.

Beneath the generals would be the Holy Commanders, the equivalent of a Military Vice and Rear Admirals. There are an undiclosed number of Commanders, made up of mages, witches, and non-magic, who possess otherworldy powers and battle prowess. The non-magic have been blessed with tools and weapons infused with the most powerful magic to even the playing field. They're used as diplomatic figures. Traveling throughout the realms to keep peace among the races and species, they are the ambassadors of the World's Government's philosophies.

The Holy Commanders are owners of the Holy Bishops, the equivalent of Captain to Leuitenent Military Officers. These are advanced individuals whose lives belong to the Commander who brands them. Their existence is only to serve their Commander; they will bend to their will, and their existence can be erased for failure.

At the bottom of the todem are the Holy Knights, the government's lap-dogs, the most expendable. They are the equivalent of Ensigns to unranked; these low to high-level individuals are immune to any consequences for collateral damage. Usually, they are the collateral, with most coming from slavery, forced into a life of servitude.

Holy Bishops and Knights usually man the commands spread through the realms of Valon. These bases act as a deterrence for any creature wishing to incite chaos. These bases are meant to protect the people of the realms, however, many have been filled with personnel with hidden agendas. Fears of government justice spread throughout Valon. While many feel protected by the hundreds of bases scattered through every realm, there is hesitance.

While many bases do what's best for the townfolk, others take advantage of the little oversight, inflicting their form of governance in their domains. There is one Bishop per base. That's all it takes to ensure a peaceful existence for all.

Mercy for those who defiantly go against the laws and ideology of the government. Criminals of all levels, from petty thieves and revolutionaries to monsters of the dark. Everyone is assigned a bounty based on the crime. These bounties RISE ONLY. Once they have it, it will follow them until they are captured, die, or both. For those eager to discover the rumored world of riches that lie on the other side of the fog, they are captured alive, even if barely, and find themselves in a place known as The Nox.

A Maximum Security Prison within the very heart of the Elder Oak. A government-controlled stronghold that spawns four levels, and those found guilty are sentenced to death by a Seal, nightmarish entities locked away in twisted dimensions.

Unfortunately, many have fallen victim to the corrupted hand of the World Government and now must face death head-on in a never-ending battle to continue existing.

LEVEL ONE: Criminals with the lowest bounties within Valon, captured before they could ever build a reputation. Their bounties never exceed twenty million Rolkan.

They receive the Seal of Petrification. Prisoners are forced into a lifelong fight against the Relvik, the creature that governs this dimension. A horrific centipede that commands a legion of others, who race after prisoners, injecting themselves into their skin, slowly turning them to stone.

LEVEL TWO: This is for those with bounties greater than twenty million but less than fifty. These criminals are usually fast-rising and quickly gaining notoriety through their actions throughout the four realms. These individuals pose no threat to the stability of the World Government, however, their actions do not go unnoticed.

They receive the Seal of Enslavement. Prisoners are forced into a life of slave labor for the World Government, working under the direct and infinite watch of Cyris, a possessed witch who has eyes everywhere, always watching. Waiting. More than often, devouring prisoners whose will to fight subsides.

LEVEL THREE: Filled with those with bounties greater than fifty million but less than three hundred Rolkan, who endure punishment by self-infliction. They receive the Seal of Retribution. Locked in an undead dimension governed by Saigon, an immortal puppeteer controlling zombified doppelgangers as they chase and hunt prisoners, using their blood to quench the thirst of their devilish host.

LEVEL FOUR: For criminals whose bounties exceed three hundred million, who receive the Seal of Imprisonment. A dark world infested with Black Diamond Spiders, this is Madam Huntress's neverending lair. Her manor lies in the center, held above the Earth by webbing; prisoners fight for their lives against her horde.

No one can escape the sealed dimensions without corrupted magic. No one had ever escaped until Alexis managed to break free and his reckless behavior catches the eye of the SSA. What will happen to Alexis is still unknown...

Though he might die at the hands of his sister before he can succumb to the spider's toxin.

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..

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....To be continued.

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Chapter Twelve