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And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
( Isaiah 32 : 17 )
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Ze marched toward the Elven village, the barrier had camouflaged the village, but the path created by Nala's breath marked the edge of the Elves' home.
It took him a few minutes to cover the distance, but the Elves were patiently waiting for him to arrive. The long-eared, long-lived, and peaceful Elves welcomed him with their pointed spears instead of open arms.
They were waiting for the instigator who had led the attack on their village to arrive, but it was clearly lacking as only two shiny-armored Elves were present. They held their spears in position, ready to engage.
Ze looked at the tall, shiny knights in armour.
"What a warm welcome for your guest?" Ze sneered.
'Good welcomes are reserved for good guests, (π_π||),' Zeru commented.
"I come in peace," Ze smiled.
{We bashed their door instead of knocking},
"I just wanted to arrive faster," Ze replied to Nala's telepathic message.
"Whatever," Ze looked at the shining armoured Elves, "Summon your leader. I am here for business."
The guards exchanged glances at his remark, which was not a request but an order. They looked at the boy who had the audacity to come to their domain, attack their village, and now order them to call their king.
Did he seek death?
They didn't know what caused his arrogance, as he didn't possess any mana. However, they were wary of the mighty beast he brought with him, for they could sense its power, not to be trifled with. The attack it unleashed, from their deduction, was as strong as an adult dragon's breath.
The attack would have shattered their barrier if it had been fired from a shorter range, but its power had diminished as it traveled further.
Now that he was near, they knew they would have to face the beast.
They raised their spears, prepared to fight and protect their village with all their might. Even if they failed, reinforcements were waiting.
*sigh*
A sigh escaped Ze's mouth. They were preparing to fight without attempting diplomacy. Well... he was the first to attack, but he had only wanted to find the village faster.
"Young human, kneel and do not resist. If you do, we will not show mercy," the shiny Elven knight warned.
Ze looked at the guard who ordered him to kneel. His face didn't show it, but his eyes betrayed him, filled with rage.
He who had made gods kneel, they dared to ask him to kneel. They must be asking for their deaths.
The guards unconsciously took a step back as they noticed the rage in his eyes, resembling that of a beast about to go berserk. It was on the verge of turning into a bloodbath.
*haaaaahuuuuuu*
Ze took a deep breath, calming himself. He wanted to tear them apart, but now was not the time. The rage in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by a sense of calm.
He looked at the Elven guards. He could kill them effortlessly, but he was here for another reason. They needed to stay alive for that to happen.
"Well, I don't want to," Ze replied to the demand.
He turned to Nala, who stood beside him, and placed Ignit, who had been on his hand this whole time, on Nala's head.
---(•_•)--- Ignit floated above Nala's head as it looked at Ze.
"Wait a minute, Dad will deal with these tree suckers," Ze responded to Ignit's gaze before turning to the Elven Knights.
Ze took a step forward, and the elves tightened their grip on their spears as they channeled mana. Green and blue energy emanated from their bodies.
Ze took another step and stood before the Elven knight, his long coat fluttering with his speed. Even the Elven knights, who were at the level of sword masters, couldn't keep up with his movements.
Without a moment's delay, his fist connected with the knight's armour below his chest plate.
*BOOM*
A thunderous boom followed as Ze's fist collided with the knight's armour. The knight, weighing around a hundred and fifty kilos with his armour, soared through the barrier like a rocket on a festive night.
(weeeeeee)
In a span of ten seconds, one of the Elven knights vanished from sight. But without concern for his fellow knight, the other thrust his spear at Ze. The spear pierced through Ze's side, fully penetrating him.
And then it disappeared into his shadow.
The knight looked shocked as his weapon was stolen from his hand.
However, Ze turned with a grin on his face, sending a chill down the knight's spine.
But in the momentary distraction caused by the lag in the Elves' cognitive function, Ze grabbed the shiny knight's helmet and planted it firmly in the ground.
*BANG*
Ze stood up and dusted off his hands as if he had just finished planting. He turned to Nala, who appeared unimpressed, and Ignit, who looked at him in amazement. Ze flashed a smile, feeling confident in his actions.
He then directed his attention towards the invisible barrier, taking a step forward. With a simple movement of his hand, he reached out and tore open the barrier effortlessly. Ze stepped through the torn opening and sarcastically remarked, "What a warm welcome."
An army awaited him on the other side. Considering the low birth rate and long lifespan of the Elves, their army consisted of hundreds of sword masters and arch-mages. However, they were taken aback by Ze's youthful appearance and the fact that they couldn't sense any mana in him. Ze smiled, causing confusion among the Elven army.
He scanned each member of the army until his gaze settled on a figure standing at the front. This person wore brilliant golden armour adorned with a griffin crest and was surrounded by golden knights. With silver hair tied back in braids and an otherworldly presence, he was clearly an important figure—the King of the Elves in all his glory.
"My a*s! Fran. You b*tch, come here!" Ze shouted at the Elven king, gesturing for him to approach. The king and his knights were taken aback by this audacious address, bewildered by a human who appeared much younger than them, calling their king by his name as if they were friends.
"You impudent child! How dare you address His Majesty without honorific? Have humans lost all sense of respect in their insignificant lives?" one of the knights shouted in outrage. Ze looked at the knight, putting a finger to his lips to signal for silence. He was growing impatient with their slow understanding of the situation.
"How dare you?" the knight shouted again, but Ze paid him no mind. Instead, he turned his gaze back to Nala and Ignit, who stood outside the barrier, patiently waiting for his signal.
"You can come in. It's just a bunch of sh*ts here," Ze nonchalantly invited them. His taunting remarks were heard by the Elves, causing them to grit their teeth. Though they were peaceful beings connected to nature, their pride still burned within them.
"They really came prepared," Nala commented, standing beside Ze.
"I know, right?" Ze replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. Ignit floated from Nala's head to Ze's hand, and Ze smiled at the cute puff of flame.
"Man, you need to leave your dad and explore the world, you know?" Ze said with a smile. Ignit protested in its adorable way, but Ze brushed it off.
"Whatever," Ze said dismissively. He looked back at the Elves, who were now focused on Ignit. The Elves, attuned to mana, sensed that Ignit was not just a spirit but an Elemental—an essence of the element itself. While humans might not have noticed, the Elves understood the significance of Ignit's presence.
"Yo, Francis De Griffin, I called you," Ze broke the frozen atmosphere, addressing the Elven king directly. The king of Elves looked at the human child who had called him by his name—a privilege only granted to a select few.
"Human child, I don't know who taught you manners, but your arrogance could cost you your life," the Elven king warned, his voice authoritative yet carrying a tone that could be mistaken for a woman's.
"Ah, man, I really hate your voice. Don't worry, I'll make sure you remember," Ze said confidently. He lifted his hand, and a golden aura enveloped his body, transforming him into a living flame in human form. With his golden flaming body and his shadow-stitched long coat, Ze invoked a memory in the Elven king—a memory etched deep within his mind.
"Kneel," a single word escaped Ze's mouth. It was a simple command, but the Elves felt a chill run down their spines. Their bodies moved on their own, compelled by an unimaginable force. Even those who resisted with their powerful wills felt themselves being clutched and forced to kneel.
The entire Elven army, including their king, knelt before Ze. None of them could lift their heads to look up; the power Ze possessed was overwhelming. Ze observed the kneeling army, impressed by the effectiveness of his command.
He walked up to the kneeling Elven king and crouched down to meet his eye level. Lifting the king's head, which had been lowered towards the ground, Ze locked eyes with him. The Elven king could feel the grip of dread tightening within his mind, reminding him of a fateful day.
"Good, you still remember. It's time to repay your debts," Ze's voice whispered into the king's ears, his tone threatening and cunning, like a snake ready to strike at any moment. ji
Ze stood up, his expression shifting from playful to serious. Ignit looked at him with pure eyes, witnessing the transformation in his demeanor.
"Get up, chop chop," Ze urged, his tone firm.
The dazed onlookers snapped out of their stupor, realising
the gravity of the situation. The Elven king met Ze's gaze, his body now covered in a sheen of sweat. The knights, previously bewildered, drew their swords, ready to defend their king from the unknown enemy.
Understanding the potential danger, they prepared to face it head-on, willing to sacrifice their lives to protect their leader and secure the future of their people. Sensing their determination, Ze couldn't help but feel impressed by their loyalty. However, at that moment, he decided not to harm them, as it would disrupt the smooth flow of his plans.
Raising his hand, the Elven king halted his knights, fearing for their safety. Ze seized this opportunity to establish communication and diffuse the tension.
"I, Zeru Flameheart, son of Callista Flameheart, extend my greetings to his majesty, the King of Elves," Ze spoke with a formal gesture, adopting the posture of royal etiquette.
The Elven king was taken aback by the sudden shift in atmosphere, but he quickly grasped the reason behind it.
"I apologize for the abruptness of my arrival and the assault on your barrier. I had to come here due to an emergency. My mother, Callista Flameheart, who fell into a coma three years ago, is now in a critical state. We have sought the aid of numerous priests and healers, but their efforts have proved futile. Thus, I have come to seek the elven elixir," Ze explained, his voice filled with a mixture of desperation and determination.
Ze knelt before the Elven king, his plea sincere and heartfelt. "Please, Your Majesty, help save my mother. I am willing to devote my life in service to you in return."
The Elven king felt a chill run down his spine as he listened to Ze's words. The boy who had once threatened his life was now desperately begging for assistance to save his mother. He couldn't shake off the foreboding feeling that his own demise was looming near.
Nala, who had observed the entire scene unfold, was left in awe and fear. The boy she followed seemed to possess two contrasting personas—a kind-hearted individual who showed gratitude to the villagers and a cold, formidable presence ready to unleash chaos upon his adversaries. It was as if he were a perfect embodiment of duality—an Absolute Chaos.
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