Chapter 262: Plano Town (18)

This chapter is sponsored by The Bitch in the Fantasy World Patrons:

• Adventurer GrimV

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The man in his mid-30s with short black hair who got off the 6-meter-tall Primordial Beast turned to the Larker and Verin he came with.

Everyone in the arena stopped fighting and had their eyes on the four of them.

"Oc'toal, A'ra, Li'el, I'll leave the things here with you," he said in the Daemon language.

Oc'toal, the male Larker who appeared to be in his early 30s let out a sigh and smiled, showcasing his sharp teeth.

"Do we really still have to stick with the rules, Ronaldo?"

Pah.

"Ouch!" Oc'toal said and then turned to A'ra the Verin after having his leg kicked. "What did I do this time?"

"Were you even listening to our briefing earlier?"

"If we want everyone to see the potential of a new and brighter future, we should," Ronaldo said and then turned to the Royal Box. "I'm going now."

Vooom!

He turned into a blur.

The Primordial Beast turned to Oc'toal and A'ra.

"Your Royal Highnesses, I'll guard the skies as usual and keep a watchful eye in case you need me."

"Thank you, Li'el," A'ra said and nodded.

Oc'toal, on the other hand, had a carefree look on his face.

Li'el flapped his wings and then flew to the sky.

Booom!

They suddenly heard an explosion and turned to the direction of where it came from.

It was Zacharias. He swung his Mana Axe to the ground with [Explosive Axe], creating a mist of blood and a small crater.

A'ra's brows knitted together.

"Careful with that one. He's one of the people stated in the report. He's a Gray Cloak from the Wrath family and he has a Lore Magic that inflicts damage based on a target's morality."

Oc'toal got into a fighting stance.

"Based on a target's morality? Human Priests are really funny with their sense of morality."

Vooom!

Zacharias turned into a blur using his maximum speed. However, in the eyes of Oc'toal and A'ra, he moved at a normal speed. As a matter of fact, he was a bit slower. And they saw where he was heading -- the Royal Box.

Everyone in the arena resumed fighting.

Oc'toal's jaw dropped as he saw Zacharias jump into the Royal Box.

"He got scared?"

"Ignore him. Let's focus on the people here, save as many as you can," A'ra said.

Oc'toal let out a sigh as he dropped his fighting stance and lazily turned his attention to the remaining people in the arena.

"Remember, no True Death," A'ra reminded.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness," he said with sarcasm and then was about to move.

"Wait."

Oc'toal stopped.

[Plant’s Protection].

Translucent thick green roots appeared on his body before disappearing.

"Are you sure you're not in love with me? I don't mind shy women as long as they're as beautiful, smart and competent as you," he said with a grin and then winked.

A'ra shot him with a murderous glare.

Oc'toal bowed dramatically.

"I shall go now."

Voooom!

Whooosh!

Voooom!

Whooosh!

Voooom!

Whooosh!

He moved like a wind and with each enemy he passed through, a thin line would appear on their neck and then would shortly be followed with their heads falling off.

A heretic rebel approached A'ra and immediately knelt down on one knee.

"Your Royal Highness of the Shards!"

"Give me a brief report."

"Yes, Your Royal Highness!"

***

Vooom!

Ronaldo appeared at the Royal Box and his gaze immediately landed on Alcedes.

Seeing that no one attacked him but they all had their eyes on him, he made his way to Alcedes but stopped a couple of feet away before kneeling down on one knee.

"Greetings, Your Royal Highness. I am General Ronaldo G. Castlerock of the Housan Empire Human Army, the Fourth General of the Housan Army, and a loyal and faithful servant to His Majesty Emperor K'azare and the free citizens of the Housan Empire," he said in the Marbleam language.

Freca stepped forward.

"Your Royal Highness, there is no reason for you to waste your breath with such an individual. 

“This person is a low-born who was allowed to be appointed as the Supreme Captain of the Luxen Kingdom despite his unfitting background. And to repay that kindness given to him, he kidnapped and sold his Queen and Prince to the Undead Emperor.

“Allow me to remove this ungrateful and traitorous low-born from your sight."

Alcedes held out his hand.

"Duke Freca."

Freca returned to his gaze to him.

"Your Royal Highness, please understand that only poison would come out of the mouths of such low-born individuals."

One of Alcedes' entourage, a man in his late 50s wearing a green scholarly robe similar to the Royal Adviser and Assistant Royal Adviser but more gaudy, stepped forward.

"Your Royal Highness, what His Excellency Duke Freca said is true. Entertaining such individuals will only tarnish the image of the Royal Family. Not to mention he and his lot have also violated the treaty of the DG International Laws. This is already a declaration of war. The Marbleam Kingdom cannot show any weaknesses."

Ronaldo got up and then took out an Origin Crystal in the shape of a cube and engraved with Runes.

"Your Royal Highness, this is Communication Crystal. Once I activate this, a message will be sent to my companions to activate several Summoning Rituals in the towns and villages in the Marbleam Kingdom."

Alcedes knitted his brows.

"You're threatening us?"

Ronaldo shook his head.

"It's not my attention. But in order to have an audience with you, I'm left with no choice. I do hope you under--"

"Silence, low-born!" Freca interjected. "After attacking and murdering the good people of the Marbleam Kingdom, you're now blackmailing His Royal Highness with Chaos? How far are you willing to trample on the lives and honor of the people of the Marbleam Kingdom?" he said and then turned to Alcedes. "Your Royal Highness, give me the command right now." 

"Your Royal Highness," Ronaldo said. "I truly only wish to have an audience with you so that I can ask you to free the slaves, both human and demon-kin, here in the Marbleam Kingdom and then invite you to the Housan Empire to meet His Majesty Emperor K'azare and discuss a future where humans and demon-kins can live in harmony."

"Your Royal Highness, remember the crimes of this individual," Alcedes' entourage said. "If you choose to believe any word he says, I can only imagine the reaction of His Royal Majesty and Her Royal Majesty. I wouldn't even be surprised if your mother's health ends up failing."

Alcedes pursed his lips for a moment before finally nodding.

A satisfied look appeared on Freca's face and he bowed.

"Your reputation for being wise truly precedes you, Your Royal Highness, my precious grandson," he said and then returned his gaze to Ronaldo.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness, Duke Freca and Lord Bartolome but I will handle it from here," Lozario suddenly interjected.

Everyone turned to him.

"You, Viscount Lozario?" Freca asked.

"Yes, I, Duke Freca. As the ruler of Plano Town and Tapa Village, it is my duty to remove any unwanted individuals under my domain."

Freca let out a small chuckle.

"Oh Viscount, this traitorous low-born has the Fire Affinity."

"Fire isn't my only Affinity," Lozario rebutted.

"This one can also hold his ground against beings with 5 Magic Art Affinities. Go play with the others," Freca said and then began walking towards Ronaldo. "Or perhaps your family also needs help with that?"

Lozario mustered all of his strength to maintain a calm exterior as he watched Freca. But despite all that effort, an invisible searing heat still radiated from his body. In the end, ee turned away and headed to the edge of the Royal Box, overlooking the arena. His gaze landed on the people there and saw that all of his forces were killed, including Cruz and Marco.

Fernando, the Town Chief of Plano Town, stepped forward.

"Your Excellency, please allow me --"

Antonio, the Village Chief of Tapa Village, stepped forward.

"No, Your Excellency, please allow --"

"Silence!"

Both Francisco and Antonio stopped talking. As for Francisco, Lozario's personal bodyguard, he didn't say anything but stayed close to Lozario to receive any order.

Lozario focused his gaze on Oc'toal, A'ra and Li'el and then returned his gaze towards the corpses of his fallen forces, particularly at Cruz and Marco.

"I'm surrounded by lazy, hedonistic and incompetent people."

He activated a spell from his Lore Magic [Progenitor del Fuego].

The corpses of his fallen forces began disintegrating and transformed into a floating ball of transparent fire the size of an adult's first. They then began flying above the center of the arena and combining into one until it formed into a shape of a giant transparent egg made out of fire.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at the egg.

The egg continued to grow up to 5 meters until cracks began to appear on its surface.

BRA-CRA-CRA-CRACK...!!!

The egg split apart and a giant transparent fiery bird with a height of 5 meters and a wingspan of 10 meters emerged from it.

KROOOOO!!!

WOOOM!

The bird let out a loud crow that echoed throughout the Coliseo and then flew towards the remaining people at the arena.

***

A smile appeared on Freca's face.

"I didn't think he would use it."

He pulled his gaze away and turned to Ronaldo.

"Rejoice, low-born. You will have the honor to die at the hands of a high-born being like me."

[Mana Sword].

A rapier with intricate designs made out of blue mana appeared on his right hand and he got into a fighting position.

"You only have Fire, Earth and Soul, do you not? Do you also have Lesser Chaos? I certainly hope so because it's not always I get to kill powerful being and I want to savor every moment of it," he said with an anticipating grin.

A serious expression flashed across Ronaldo's face.

"I came here to talk to Prince Alcedes, I do not wish to fight."

"The Marbleam Kingdom doesn't negotiate with people like you, low-born."

Ronaldo activated two skills.

[Mana Sword].

[Mana Shield].

A broadsword made out of mana appeared on his right hand and a heater shield on his left.

Normally, a person can only activate one Mana Weapon at a time unless they were a Wizard and had the Class Magic Spell [Double Cast]. However, Ronaldo has a special Lore Magic that allows him to.

"If I have to put you down in order to get to him, then so be it."

He got into a fighting position as well.

Vooom!

Freca charged.

"Try not to die too quickly, low-born!"

***

Zacharias who was half naked after being struck with [Explosive Arrow] by Kyle earlier was now wearing a new pair of Gray Cloak and pants. He always has an extra set of clothes with him wherever he goes due to the nature of his work. He turned to Joseph.

"Let's do the Unlimited Life Formation and I'm going back to the pit," he said in Zonian.

Joseph, who was watching the giant transparent fiery bird at the arena, turned to him and raised an eyebrow.

"Haven't you had enough of fighting?"

"Those three demon-kins that Ronaldo came with, they are powerful. The Larker and Verin reeks of Royalty, especially the Verin, she had multiple gemstones on her face."

Call it fighter's intuition, sixth sense or whatever. But as a veteran fighter who's been in countless battles and has even died so many times, Zacharias has developed a skill that allows him to sniff out powerful beings with just one look. Whether it's how they move, how they talk, the equipment they wear, the expression on their faces or all of the above, powerful beings just have that distinct presence, demeanor or aura in them.

Jose nodded.

“I agree with High Brother Zacharias’ assessment.”

"High Brothers," Pen joined in.

Joseph, Jose and Zacharias turned to him.

"Please allow me to enlighten you all.

"The Verin, I believe her name is A'ra, one of the Princesses of the Shards of the Verin Kingdom. She is lauded for her beauty among the demon-kin kingdoms, she has 5 Magic Arts aside from the Lesser Chaos, she's around 85 years old, and she has the Verin Royal Family's Lore Magic.

"The Larker, I'm not 100% certain because the demon-kin I'm referring to isn't famous. But if he's indeed who I think he is, I believe his name is Oc'toal and is one of the princes of the Larker Kingdom. He has 5 Magic Art Affinities aside from Lesser Chaos, he is considered to be a genius because he was born with a very high connection to his Affinities that allows him to master his Masteries quickly, he has the Royal Family's Lore Magic, and he is I believe around 95 years old. Unfortunately, whether it was due to him being born a genius or not, he has little to no interest in training, fighting and politics and would rather sleep, drink and play all day which made him less famous compared to his siblings.

"We should do the Unlimited Life Formation with High Brother Zacharias, High Brother Jose and High Brother Nicandro as the Spears but we will keep them here with us."

Joseph turned to Jose.

"High Brother Jose, what are your thoughts?"

Jose was a Red Cloak with 4 Magic Arts. However, when it comes to fighting he wasn’t as proficient compared to Zacharias because during his younger years, he spent 18-23 years old in the Infantry Division and 24-35 years old in the Sea Division before finally retiring at 36 years old to become the Headmaster of the Marbleam Chapter Temple.

"If what High Brother Zacharias and Brother Inquisitor Pen said is true, then I agree with the plan as well."

Joseph nodded and then turned to Pen.

"Brother Inquisitor, you have the most knowledge here so I will hand over the Commander position to you."

Pen nodded and turned to the rest.

"High Brother Joseph will cast [Sacrifice] on High Brother Zacharias, High Brother Pedro will cast [Sacrifice] on High Jose, and High Brother Timoteo will cast [Sacrifice] on High Brother Nicandro.

"Brother Lieutenant Caleb and Sister Inquisitor Monad will provide battle support.

"And the rest will take turns in healing High Brother Joseph, High Brother Pedro and High Brother Timoteo and also await any special orders."

Everyone nodded except Vivian nodded.

Joseph turned to Zacharias and activated two Class Magic Spells.

[Blessing].

A red light enveloped Zacharias' body.

[Sacrifice].

This time around, it was a blue light.

The Class Magic spell [Sacrifice] allows the caster to take on 50% of the damage done to the target.

So in the case of Joseph and Zacharias, if Zacharias takes any damage, 50% of it will go to Joseph. And as long as Zacharias can heal himself and Pen can either heal himself or have others heal him, the probability of Zacharias dying was very low. The same goes for any status ailments. If Zacharias gets struck with something like [Poison Strike] and is affected by its weakening effect, 50% of it will go to Joseph.

However, if Joseph is the one who gets attacked, no damage will go to Zacharias unless Zacharias also casted [Sacrifice] on Joseph prior to being attacked. Moreover, a target can't have more than one [Sacrifice] spell on him/her. Only the first one will be recognized.

Zacharias activated a skill.

[Blood Drinker].

A red translucent aura appeared on his body before disappearing.

Vivian, who was standing at the side, had her mouth open behind her Inquisitor Full-mask.

High Brothers…?

Aristocratic Nobles…?

Royalty…?

What in God's name have I gotten myself into…?

She raised her right hand and stared at it.

It was shaking.

She also had butterflies on her stomach and her knees felt wobbly.

Why do I feel like I've jumped into a final boss battle…?

Just with Cruz, Marco along with Ca'rat and his three companions as well as Elio alone, in terms of stats, she could tell that they were more or less as strong as her. But for Zacharias, he was stronger that she could hardly track his movements. However, for Ronaldo and his companions and also Freca, they were a complete blur to her.

I don't think I'll even be able to run if they decide to chase me…

She balled her hand into a fist and gritted her teeth as she turned to Pen.

Damn you, old man…!

Was it your plan to give an early death all along…?!

What is the point of me being a rookie Inquisitor if I'm to be surrounded by people with such backgrounds and be thrown into battles with them…?!

I CURSE YOU…!!!

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Chapter end