Chapter 83: Zone vs intent (2) (1/2)
The mana user needed six steps in order to reach the summit.
Reinforcement
Cladding
Materialization
Intent
Zone
And finally… Avatar.
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<<War zone: screams of thousands soldiers>>
<<Tyrant intent: Dragon Fear>>
The intent represented the will of a person to perform an action. Killing intent, fighting intent, Tyrant intent. Since a person could make different choices and perform different actions, one person could use thousands of intents.
But the zone was different. It represented the supreme truth laying in one heart. One person could only have one zone. Even though said zone could change.
As Sol reviewed the information about the zone, he knew why the Duke was showing him this scene.
The zone was the supreme truth. The zone represented the outlook of life of the user.
The zone was not only a supreme weapon but also a supreme weak point since not only it showed everything about the user, but its destruction could bring the user on the path of insanity.
Looking at the scene in front of him, Sol understood more than ever how gruesome war was.
There was no glory in war.
There was no joy in war.
Even the victor had to stand on the bodies of its soldiers.
Children who will never see their parents again.
Parents who will never see their children again.
This was the true ugliness of the thing known as war.
”Your highness, as of now I have lived for three generations.”
The voice of the Duke sounded so far away from him. There was none of the usual joy. Only gloom and sadness.
”I fought against Wratharis more times than I can count. I fought against the greedy dwarves. I fought against the cunning demons. I fought against the prideful elves. More than anything-I fought against the incarnations of gluttony. I have fought for so long. More than the number of years you lived.”
Sol listened attentively. This was the wisdom of the old.
”Your highness, do you know? I see each and every soldier as my own child. From the foot soldiers to the high and mighty generals. I see all of them as precious children of the kingdom I swore to protect all those years ago.
”Your highness. Let me ask you again. What is war?”
Sol continued to fight back the pressure of the zone with his intent. But inwardly, he asked himself the question.
What is war?
As someone from a modern world he could give many answers.
Literally speaking, war is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents and militias.
From an economical standpoint, war was a fight necessary in order to obtain more spaces and resources.
Ideally speaking, war is the place where heroes rise.
From a realistic standpoint, war is death and destruction.
From a cynical standpoint, war is the game of the higher ups and the sacrifices of the lower people.