The knights followed the orders of the king, they went outside and the loud sounds outside the royal palace indicated that the fighting beyond the walls was truly intense.
A voice exclaimed, "Someone has slipped away." Upon hearing this, everyone inside the hall became alert. As they were on high alert, a scream rang out; the scream belonged to one of the top 10 rankers of the Xiao Sect. His entire left arm was missing, but upon closer observation, it could be seen that the attacker intended to cleave his body in two. However, the disciple reacted swiftly, causing the attacker to miss their mark and only sever the disciple's left arm.
"Damn it," both the headmaster and the king exclaimed simultaneously.
They were furious that someone had managed to sneak an attack on a disciple of the Xiao Sect. This was a significant humiliation and provocation to them.
After a few minutes, a second scream sounded, but this time it came from the intruder who was screaming. He had been about to attack Kallu, but the headmaster intervened, gripping him by the neck and demanding, "Who is behind this attack?"
The intruder remained silent, his eyes and body radiating heat. The headmaster recognized the signs and muttered, "Not good." He then tossed the intruder into the air. The king also reacted swiftly, delivering an energy punch to the ceiling of the royal hall, creating a hole of two meters in diameter. The intruder was propelled out of the royal hall through the hole. Within seconds, a terrifying explosion occurred in the sky, its shockwaves causing some minor damage to the buildings of the royal palace.
With astonishment, Asura remarked, "That was terrifying. If he had self-destructed inside the royal hall, I can't believe how many of us would have died." Kallu and Su Lin, who were beside him, nodded in agreement, as they truly believed that if they had faced that self-destruction head-on, the chances of surviving would have been extremely low.
After a few moments, more explosions resounded outside the royal hall. Following this, the knights entered the royal hall.
The Head of Knights, Sir Aric, approached the king with a determined expression on his face.
Sir Aric, the Head of the Knights, possesses a commanding and authoritative presence that naturally draws attention. His tall and imposing stature exudes an air of strength and confidence, making it clear that he's a leader of great significance. His well-built physique reflects years of disciplined training and experience on the battlefield.
Aric's face is rugged and weathered, telling tales of battles fought and challenges overcome. His prominent jawline, chiseled from years of determination, adds to his authoritative demeanor. Deep-set eyes, the color of steel-gray, are framed by furrowed brows that speak of a lifetime of responsibility and decision-making.
His hair, once a fiery red, is now streaked with silver at the temples, a testament to the years he has devoted to his duties. It falls in slightly unkempt waves, reflecting his no-nonsense attitude and focus on the greater tasks at hand. Often, a few strands might fall over his brow, giving him a somewhat disheveled yet purposeful appearance.
He saluted and began to explain the situation with urgency, "Your Majesty, it looks like we are a part of a planned attack from a powerful enemy. We dealt with the intruders, but their self-explosion caused two of our knights to fall and damages many buildings outside the royal palace."
The king seemed worried and his eyebrows came together. "Do we know who's behind these attacks?"
Aric's expression got tougher. "Right now, Your Majesty, we don't have clear proof of who's responsible. The intruder we caught didn't tell us anything and sadly chose to blow themselves up to escape. We're trying to study what's left behind, but the explosion was so big that it's hard to find much."
The king clenched his fist, showing he was frustrated. "This is a clear aggressive move to provoke us. They targeted the disciples of the Xiao Sect that we invited and went to such extremes with the explosion. It shows they have no respect for our kingdom."
Aric nodded as he agreed. "You're right, Your Majesty. We need to make our defenses stronger right away. I've told our knights to make the palace walls stronger and add more security measures. We have to make sure the royal family and everyone in the palace stay safe."
The king's eyes got firm. "Okay, Sir Aric. Get our troops ready and put extra effort into finding out who's causing this trouble. We won't let these acts of terror scare us. Also, contact the other elders of the Xiao Sect. They need to know we're standing together against this threat."
Aric bowed really low. "As you say, Your Majesty. We won't stop until we figure out what's going on and make sure our kingdom is safe. We're going to protect our land no matter what."
The king looked at the headmaster and said, "I hope you can lend me a hand."
The headmaster replied with a smile, "I'm always here to help. I'll also inform those elders to follow your commands when they arrive."
The king nodded gratefully, saying, "Thank you."
The celebration had concluded, but the king arranged accommodations for the guests to rest. They were free to depart the following morning, and if desired, they could request the assistance of knights for their safety during their return journey.