The atmosphere was tense while a group intensely stared at the red-eyed servant. The heated discussion lasted for several hours and the whole party inside the mansion was starting to get tired.
" Sir Yathuar, we are not forcing you to leave. At least until you sign a compliance agreement with us. " an armored knight persuaded the servant.
This morning, the soft tune bell rang and Yathuar was greeted by the knights of his brother, Zuckar. These knights are all called, "Principles of Zuckar". The narcissistic title was a lot for the people to say, and in turn, they were named as "Principles of the Sword".
It usually consists of 12 people, but the men persuading the Verri house was just 4. Do they think they will be able to entice with just 4 people?
If Zuckar was the sword of the nation, then these armored warriors are surely the daggers hidden behind the sword. To be specific, these people in clad armors were specially handpicked by Zuckar.
They are trying to set the nation straight and would participate in people's matters in behalf of Zuckar. The Grand Knight of the King would only handle things that are for the nation.
As such, he transferred the obligation to different people. Now, the rules of the land was that every being who wishes to live in this property will compensate or offer their services to the King.
Is it really the King, though?
"Huh? Do you understand your place, palace dog? As long as my master remains silent, I won't say a word! " Yathuar intimidated the folks. No, they weren't intimidated but they were scared of the fact that they would go back empty handed.
The air got completely gloomy and and the energy clashed instead of physical battle. Yathuar's energy was pushed back by the 4 knights.
'Damn.. there's 4 of them and I can't handle this much.'
" It doesn't matter anymore. We'll just force you." said a rough looking face knight. That knight stood up and held on to the hilt of his sword.
The other 3 stood ground and was cautious for the possible thing that might happen.
"Haapp!"
The unsheathed sword now formed a diagonal line. It was directed to Yathuar who was still battling the other 3's energy. "F#ck!" Yathuar exclaimed. He rolled to the left in avoidance and opened his vortex bag and took out a hilt.
"Hahaha! What's that? A toy?"
"Maybe he's scared he forgot to bring the blade!"
"Haha!"
The unknown and bizarre appearance of the hilt was subjected to be hilarious.
" Ugh.. and I thought this was cool." the dark blue haired twin of Zuckar muttered.
The knights posed for battle.
"What are you gonna do by yourself? Hah!" the rough looking face knight then charged. The remaining ones just stood there and waited.
"Is Gord gonna do this alone?"
"Yep. It'll be finished in no time."
" Yaaawwn. I just wanna go back. This is bothersome"
" Don't be like that. Captain will definitely kill you if he hears that"
The talk of the decided winner are heard and they watched their comrade.
Yathuar clicked his tongue and blocked the man called Gord. "Hey. Just accept the offer and we'll be on our way!" Another attack but it was blocked again.
" Haahh! " This time, Yathuar attacked and Gord was pushed back. Gord's sword still vibrated by the impact.
" Make me!" Yathuar did a stance. Gord was surprised and the anger flowed. "I'll kill you!!" a consecutive strikes were initiated but it was futile.
The smirking Yathuar mocked his efforts, " What? Are you guys trained or a beginner?" this enraged Gord even more.
Gord stopped and stood still. The tip of his sword touched the ground and chanted,
"Xiet Huoa Viemf. Cieaho Graoi Vudola!" he aimed his palm at Yathuar making him fly all the way to the other side of the living room.
"Heh-heh.." Gord wiped the blood beside his mouth and shot him with a cocking smile. "You persistent roach." He walked towards Yathuar.
" Hey Gord. Hurry up! You should've killed him faster"
"I know shut up, Velcro!" Gord shouted. He placed the tip of his sword at Yathuar's throat and prepared to stab him when,..
"What are you doing?"
The knights looked at the direction of the voice and their jaw dropped. Thraia in a loose dress long enough that it can be dragged along.
" W-w-w.." They were all speechless by the sudden appearance of the woman.
Thraia looked back and forth at Yathuar and the knights and turned around, "I'm sorry to disrupt your game." while she walked away.
" W-w-wait! My lady— eek!! " Before he can complete his sentence, a doll soul that was slightly visible stopped his action by pointing a sharp finger-like object.
"I'm not your lady.." she muttered, looked at the knights and rested her wrists on her waist. "Listen, I don't want to interfere with what you're doing and I will never. So,... " then, she walked away releasing her doll soul.
Velcro, a maroon haired man looked blankly at the woman and his fellow knights. He then smiled insidiously. He pulled out a glowing blue rope and circled it in the air.
The cowboy posture was a sure way to capture a bull. This time, however, it was a woman. "Hey, hey lady. Let's have some fun first~" He said as he tangled Thraia inside.
He dragged and dragged while Thraia struggled. The doll souls tried to cut the rope but the energy shattered. "My-my dolls... Let me go! You stupid oaf!" she bellowed in fear and anger.
The knights laughed and approached her. "You can't. These ropes are energy-proof. "Those smiles that was for friendly purposes was now filled with dirty meanings.
"Don't worry.. tell Yathuar we treated you well." said a knight whose name is Frano. The calloused hands reached out to her face and squished her cheeks. She struggled and shook her head.
"Hooo~ Just from the fiery actions she gets me hard!"
" Let's keep this from captain, Frano! Hehehe! " Gord laughed. Another member which looked at the situation in disgust way in silence and didn't really care about their plans.
A circle with a slant line in Thraia's back portion of her neck shone bluish light. This was the oath of their promise. It called and alerted Aenethi of every dangerous situations that Thraia encountered.
"You're gonna pay for this! You won't get away!" she shouted.
"That's what they all say before! Wuhahaha! " Gord who was now behind her unbuckled his belt while whispering.
"I was originally planning to kill Yathuar but I got this beauty instead! Hehe!"
"Yathuar! Yathuar! Wake up! " With tears forming in the corner of her eyes, she called. The man who was still unconscious lied there with blood dripping from his head.
" You can't, my lady! He has no chance of waking up!" The eyes of Frano became small and big from the ecstasy and chance to finally penetrate a maiden.
How much of a blow did he face that made him lose conscious? It was possible because of the sleep energy that the silent member blew towards him. He was not unconscious, but he was in a deep sleep.
Suddenly, when they were about to undress the struggling Thraia, they felt an ominous energy. The pressure was unlike before but the frequency of pressure was almost same as their captain.
They stopped what they were doing and looked around to search for the source of energy. They were trembling from the increase of energy and were hearing things.
*tap*
*clomp*
*tap*
Every step was heard throughout the room and they finally saw a figure. He was on the balcony stairs of the living room. The emitted pressure slowly reduced and the deep silver eyes was seen.
"Let go." The command was short but it was firm. They immediately pushed Thraia in her now jumbled dress. She felt sticky, and gross all around her body while she trembled. Aenethi looked at her and motioned his head to get away from the place.
" O-okay.." and ran towards the room on the second floor.
The knights was silent all throughout the scene. They felt the presence and they judged that they were no match for the guy. Still, they have been taught to keep their pride.
" I am the 9th Principles of Sword, Gord."
" The 10th, Velcro "
" 8th, Frano"
" ...."
The introduced themselves. ' Still in the mood for introductions?' They know that the first ranked retzi appeared and is now ready to join missions and spree with the people. But what they didn't know was that, the difference was too large.
They were actually just a bunch of worms in front of a real human. The teachings of Zuckar was, ' It doesn't matter if it's retzis or rautiers you don't belong to any of them so you can rule them all. You all are my selected knights, no one can harm you in that small system! '
As such, they didn't know how everything works but they have proven that they were indeed strong. Merely that, if faced with ordinary retzis and rautiers.
Aenethi looked at them and then at Yathuar who was in a trance.
Honestly, he was disappointed by Yathuar who was being played by the knights. " You.. the one who has no name" he declared, "Tell this to Zuckar." In a smooth process, he drew a line in the air and blood gushed out of knights' armor.
Except for the unnamed person. The person was startled and couldn't move but it wasn't apparent to the one looking.
" Deal with my ally, I'll deal with yours." the index pointed accurately at the person's abdomen and Aenethi drew a star shape in the air. This messed up the person's insides and knelt on the ground with blood pouring out of its mouth.
"..Y-you can't defeat.." finally, the silent member spoke. It was a voice that way deep for a woman, and light for a man. It was almost like a neutral voice.
Aenethi tilted his head at those words but shrugged it off. ' Another bullsh#t sprouting some villain lines '
Then he used his energy by lifting the bodies up and pushing them out of his mansion. He flew the bodies few meters up in the air before releasing the energy. It was quite of a fall that the person thrown out would die, but they were 'the knights' and they wouldn't die from something simple.
Well, not unless they are still full of vitality.
After finishing up the tasks, he kicked Yathuar's head that it fell off its body. " Tsk.. such uselessness." he wriggled his wrist and the bodies floated following him.
He entered an extra room and threw Yathuar's pieces.
He played a few more times by dismembering pieces of his body like puzzles and finally he called Thraia.
****
After a few minutes, Thraia who just came out of shower was still wrapped in towel. She came as fast as she could after just getting inside the bathroom.
She healed Yathuar with the usual complaints of "why should he live" or " why do I have to heal him" or " He's dead, why revive? ".
After the process, she asked if why he died. The answer was quite simple but it was enough for her to slap her brother. (She didn't do it.) The reason was, " Because he felt like it"
The whole scene finished and what's left was spread the news of him coming back in the palace, and the tournament.
Tournaments are held once every 5 years. Sure it seems like a long time, but it wasn't if you have a lifespan of hundred years or more.
One thing is, this tournament has a one quirk that lets the watchers enjoy, and the suffering be savoured.