Denied Offer

"And then, out of nowhere, The One appeared right in front of the Moissanite Commander, mere steps away from him. Instant transition was believed to be impossible, but according to witnesses, that's exactly what it seemed like. The commander, taken aback and filled with shock, dropped to the ground in a crouched position, fear consuming him for a moment. This was a man known for his bravery, yet he couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the presence of The One. The guards swiftly rushed forward to protect the royal figures, but as they approached the mysterious stranger, their bodies inexplicably froze in place, unable to move any closer. The cloaked figure pointed directly at the commander, who, at that time, was one of the most formidable wizards in the history of summoning. The One challenged the commander to a duel, and in accordance with the sorcerer's code of unity, such a challenge could not be refused in a situation like this. However, what was expected to be a fight turned into a complete massacre. The commander stood no chance against the stranger's extraordinary magic. After displaying his overwhelming power, the victorious One offered a treaty to the Easterner's king. The emperor, listening to the audacious conditions proposed by this unknown individual, found himself both amused and provoked. He launched an unexpected attack on the stranger himself, believing his own strength to be superior and hoping to provide a challenge. However, all efforts proved futile as the King eventually succumbed before the unbeatable might of the stranger. Disappointed by yet another unwarranted attack, The One expressed his disdain for humanity, highlighting how his previously rejected conditions were meant to serve the collective future of all. But our insatiable greed and hunger for power sealed our own fate. With his threat concluded, the One vanished in the same manner he had appeared.
Shortly after his disappearance, reports flooded in from all corners of the world, describing sightings of a cloaked stranger who challenged the dominant powers in each region. Only a few managed to survive these encounters. However, that wasn't the worst of it. After being rejected everywhere, the stranger unleashed his true punishment. A bone-chilling fog spread across the lands, accompanied by the release of monstrous creatures upon the capitals, all striking simultaneously. During that time, there were few alliances in place, and those that attempted to offer aid found themselves hopelessly outnumbered. These creatures were monstrous abominations, twisted amalgamations of tortured animals fused with large mineral fragments to acquire deadly abilities and immense size. They laid waste to many prominent sorcerer cities and proved nearly invincible.
This marked the beginning of what became known as the artificial war. Son, why this sudden curiosity about it?" Ben asks gently as he pauses from his digging, wiping his forehead and glancing down at the boy, who now seems less interested. Undeterred, the boy continues to dig. "Just curious," he replies with indifference. Ben sighs, a tinge of disappointment evident on his face as he shrugs. "Fine, then why are we discussing this? You wanted to learn more about magic, right? Your father specifically told me to leave you be when it comes to this stuff anyway. We both know it's an unfortunate topic to delve into. Besides, you should show some respect," Ben's frustration boils over as he snaps at the boy, disappointed by his lack of enthusiasm after investing so much effort into recounting the story. The Son, sensing the disappointment welling up within Ben decides to walk away silently, striving to maintain an indifferent expression, even though deep down, he felt quite the opposite.