Chapter 33.
Two long months dragged by as Drufas and his team marched through the Forest of Banishment, far from the safety of the capital. Every monster they encountered forced them into retreat. They were exhausted, filthy, and worn thin. Yet for all the danger of the forest… nothing had actually happened.
"Are you sure they're still here…?" Lily's voice was weak. She walked at the back like a dying wanderer.
"I swear this whole mission was sent to kill us," the Executioner muttered, slicing through a branch as if it personally offended him.
"Have faith, all of you. We're close… I can feel it," Drufas said from the lead. His smile had grown unsettling over the past few days.
He pushed aside another curtain of tall grass—
And froze.
His eyes widened, a grin stretching unnaturally across his face.
"We've reached it…"
"Yeah, yeah, you always say—" the Archer grumbled as he shoved through the bushes.
Then he stopped.
Completely silently.
"What are you—" the Executioner asked before stepping forward and freezing as well.
"...What… the hell…"
The sight before them stole every breath from their lungs.
A massive training ground far larger, far cleaner, far more advanced than anything found in the capital spread across the forest clearing. A fortress disguised as a playground of monsters.
At its center ran Prince Lucien.
Shirtless, lean yet carved like steel, his white ponytail whipping behind him. Sprinting at inhuman speed, he was chased by a humanoid Obsidian Panther, its claws black as death. Every time it lunged, Lucien countered with a violent shock of force, the ground cracking beneath their clashes.
To the right, Princess Jessica commanded fire, water, and sand with only her hands. Three elements twisting around her like orbiting planets, each obeying her absolute will.
"It's… them… the Prince and Princess…" Lily whispered.
Her eyes shifted again to Chris. Fighting Theresa in raw hand-to-hand combat shirtless, unflinching. Heavy strikes shaking the air.
Then—BOOM.
Magic exploded on the far side of the clearing.
Seraphine fought a massive forest beast alone, her hands radiating destructive energy as if her veins pumped pure spellfire.
"We made it!!!" the female knight screamed.
That was a mistake.
Instantly, every head snapped toward them.
Before Drufas could even breathe.
SHIING.
Solvian stood before him. Chris's blade was already at his throat.
"Who are you?" Solvian growled. He had grown taller, broader, his long blond hair flowing down his back. His aura alone was suffocating.
Drufas's team grabbed for their weapons—Except their weapons weren't there.
They turned around looking of them and saw them all held casually by Nekubuki, sitting on a tree branch, laughing softly.
"Looking for these?" he asked teasingly, long black hair fluttering.
"How did he—??" Lily gasped.
"I'm—"
"Drufas the messenger, right?" Chris interrupted, stepping forward. His mere presence felt like a command.
Drufas instantly dropped to his knees. "Yes, Master Knight… I am Drufas." His entire team followed.
Solvian lowered the sword. "What are they doing here?" he asked, looking to Chris for answers.
"We were sent by the king," Drufas replied.
Solvian clicked his tongue. "Tch… whatever."
"The capital… it's under attack," Drufas said. "The Slum Capital has launched a full assault."
Chris's expression hardened. "And the Crosses?"
"Stationed to protect the supply villages. The capital is defenseless."
"So the king summoned the two remaining Master Knights?" Seraphine asked, approaching.
"That, and… he requests his children join the war," Drufas answered.
Footsteps approached slowly and measured, calm and heavy with power.
Prince Lucien.
He walked with absolute control, each step radiating calculation. No unnecessary movement. No wasted breath. Only power.
Up close, it was clear. Lucien no longer looked like royalty.
He looked like a living weapon.
He stopped before Drufas.
"Kneel."
They obeyed without hesitation.
Lucien observed them one by one.
"Even if all of you attacked me together… you would still lose."
He turned away. "Go. Tell Father I—"
"Ignite my imprisonment," Drufas whispered. "The king has assigned us… to you, my lord. We are the team you will lead."
Lucien stopped.
Slowly turned.
His gaze was cold enough to freeze the sun.
"Then rest. Tonight and tomorrow. We prepare for war."
"As you wish… my lord." Drufas could not lift his head. None of them could. The aura Lucien released despite suppressing his Aetherion felt like a demon's hand pressing on their souls.
"You may rise," Lucas said cheerfully.
They lifted their heads
And their breath shattered.
Lucas's aura was immeasurably higher.
More primal. More ancient. More terrifying.
A presence that didn't feel human at all.
Drufas stared at him in horror. Not for the power the man held but–
The man standing before him was someone he never expected to see.
To be continued…
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