MMORPG : Ancient WORLD

Once Alex had checked his stats, he tested his skills, and while he was happy with everything, he was a bit disappointed after confirming that using the Ruler Pride did not push him to Elemental Ruler Rank.

Alex had already expected the skill to not work properly based on his past experience, but confirming the information still made him feel a bit disheartened.

However, he still had an idea he wanted to test, and if it worked, he would not be as strong as an Elemental Ruler, but surely he would be far behind one in elemental might.

So, to find a proper test subject, Alex left for the Empire of Iron to not only complete his last epochal trail but also test his theory to see if it held any ground.

The Empire of Iron was a land of the extraordinary convergence of technology and magic that had birthed a society unparalleled in its magnificence.

Here, the arcane and the futuristic are seamlessly intertwined, creating a land where sorcery and science merge to forge a unique civilization.

In the heart of the Iron Empire, cities rose like titans of iron and steel, their towering spires reaching heights that would seem impossible to the inhabitants of Earth.

Each city was a testament to the mastery of both magic and engineering, with buildings made from gleaming metals and infused with arcane runes that allowed them to stand as impossible-looking architecture.

Floating islands showcased the pinnacle of gravitational technology, as hundreds of futuristic islands hover effortlessly high above the land, connected by sky bridges and shimmering portals.

Transportation in the Empire of Iron was equally impressive, with sleek airships and maglev trains entering and exiting the void like ghosts.

The species that inhabit these cities were similar yet much different at the same time, as one could easily find the humans to be the highest in numbers, elves with their nobility and pride, dwarfs and gnomes with their love of craft, and other races unknown to the outside world, but all of them carrying a gift of technology.

Cyborgs, beings melded with both machine and magic, and Genetically engineered super soldiers were common among all races, but there were also races made purely of technology, and one prime example was the race of machine spirits.

A race of spectral entities who were inherently strong psychic beings capable of using abilities like telepathy, telekinesis, psychokinesis, precognition, mind control, and so on.

The machine spirits were very similar in nature to spectrals, wraiths, jinns, and so on, but throughout the ages, they had learned to use their abilities to mold metal to create bodies for themselves or work with other races to acquire bodies that fit them best.

These spectral races were known to live in seclusion in other empires, but in the Empire of Iron, they had become an integral part of society.

Alex's target was one such entity, namely the Iron Giant, renowned for its obscene firepower and resilience against mental attacks, though still below the Ruler stage in strength.

The trial required him to capture the machine spirit of an Iron Giant. While the easiest route would have been to purchase a captured spirit from the black market or find a weaker specimen, Alex, true to form, opted for the most challenging option, as he had done twice before.

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"A Year Later"

A month in reality and a year in the Ancestral Realm had passed, and today marked the day when Alex and the boys returned to the real world for a brief respite.

They had gathered to update each other on their progress, reconnect with their families, and temporarily relieve some of the mental pressure they carried within.

It had been agreed that each member of the organization would lead an independent life, grow individually, and confront their challenges autonomously.

There would be no concerted efforts to meet or share opportunities within the Ancestral Realm; their interactions were reserved solely for the real world.

In the training chamber, Alex, Venedikt, and Andrei were engaged in a practice battle, and the chamber echoed with the sound of their clashing fists and the thuds of their movements.

Alex was quick and agile, expertly redirecting attacks or avoiding them with fluid movements. His eyes were sharp, constantly scanning for openings as he evaded strikes and countered with precision.

Alex was like a shadow, always a step ahead, making it difficult for his brothers to land even a single hit, and every so often, he would trip Andrei or Venedikt but avoided landing any direct hits.

Andrei, with his massive frame, used his reach to his advantage, swinging wide and powerful strikes, as his style was a mix of brute strength and freestyle techniques, seamlessly shifting from heavy pushes to sudden takedowns.

Venedikt, on the other hand, was measured and calculating, predicting his movements and waiting for the right moment to create openings for himself or Andrei.

Their teamwork was overwhelming, as Andrei's strikes, carrying the weight of a giant, landed every so often thanks to Venedikt forcing Alex into vulnerable positions.

While Venedikt delivered sharp and precise strikes aimed at critical points, the vast difference in strength meant they did little damage.

"We sure improved a lot in the span of one year," Andrei said, panting as he stopped throwing punches.

"A month, not a year," Venedikt corrected.

"The time difference thing still confuses me, just like how we somehow become superhuman and can wield magic," Andrei uttered with a dry chuckle.

"So, who is going to be the first to tell about the annum spent in the Ancestral Realm?" Alex asked, glancing at his brothers.

"I'll go first!" Andrei said, his excitement palpable.

"I was sent to a minor domain named the Primal Beastlands, a place crawling with orc and ogre tribes locked in a civil war for unification."

"The entire land is a battlefield because of three leaders competing to bring the domain under their control," Andrei continued, pausing to catch his breath, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.

"Those green skins are a strange bunch, as there is Gruul the Conqueror, a massive Orc who believes brute strength is the only path to rule, and then there's Zargash the Cunning, an orc who employs traps and guerrilla tactics to wear down his enemies."

"Finally, there's Thara the Wise, a powerful sorceress among ogres, who rules with an iron fist, blending her magical prowess with strategic insight, as she believes that uniting the tribes through diplomacy and alliances is the key to lasting peace and stability."

"I haven't picked a side yet, but my trials are linked to this conflict, so from what I can tell, the trials will force me to join the struggle for unification sooner or later," Andrei said, sounding as carefree as ever.

"So, what side do you plan to join if given the choice?" Venedikt leaned in, intrigued.

"I can always create my own faction and challenge all three leaders for supremacy," Andrei said, with a wide grin as if he had already made up his mind.

"Just make sure you don't end up dead and thrown out of the Ancestral Realm," Alex said, not minding Andrei's desire to go against powerful figures currently far out of his reach.

"Ven, how did the annum go for you?" Alex asked, interested in knowing if Venedikt had found himself in an interesting situation.

"Nothing special," Venedikt replied with a sigh.

"I have found myself in the cumbersome situation of being the sect master of a dead sect with only a single disciple."

"While the rewards for the first epochal trial were excellent, and the same goes for the reward offered for the second yearly trial, the objectives are challenging to complete as they require me to do things not directly under my control," Venedikt said, with a vary smile.

"A sect master, huh? Sounds interesting," Alex said, before delving into more questions and sharing his own adventures with his brothers.