Zachery turned to face the rallying Primerian warriors, his [Lion's Might] activated. The entire army was suffocated by his aura, as everyone tried to avoid Zachery's sight.
Zachery took a step forward, while the Primerian army took a step back. It was almost as if a lion was playing with its victim.
Zachery smiled as he watched the old general confer with his superiors about the rank of warriors they would send. Zachery just leaned on his sword, which he had planted in the ground, and picked his ears leisurely.
When the commander's caught sight of the young emperor's uninterested stare, his nerves pricked. They finally stopped talking, and the old general came forward, bellowing out what he and his officers had discussed.
"Emperor Alexander Leonis, for offendi-"
"Oi, old geezer, I was the one who accepted this whole facade and gave you an easy way out with your head still attached to your body." With a scrunched-up visage that screamed contempt and disdain, Zachery aimed his black armoured finger at the old man and grumbled.
"Stop saying you're trying to give me a sentence." He raised his finger up and swayed it upwards like a pendulum.
"I am the merciful one who does not want commoners to shed blood in my capital." Otherwise, I would have just slaughtered everyone here." Zachery sighed, his face filled with contempt for the general.
"Also, I don't think you c*nts have the time to deal with me when the beast tide and the cults come knocking at your door. You'd need manpower, right? That wouldn't happen if I just slaughtered everyone, would it?"
The commanders' and the old man's emotions darkened with each word Zachery spoke.
It was accurate! If they lose a large number of Ranked warriors in this conflict, the situation inside the holy capital will spiral out of control. Mutant Warriors were difficult to develop because they had a death rate of at least 90% when they tried to break through.
If they truly sustained losses, the beast tide would have to be fought with by stronger warriors. If higher-ranking fighters cope with the beast tide, the factions that don't have to deal with the beast tide will surge in like hungry hyenas, all vying for control of the Holy Capital.
"I don't have time to waste, so bring the people who want their death fastened so I can get some quiet," Zachery yawned as he went slowly forward and stretched his hands and legs.
The old guy gritted his teeth since he had nothing to say to Zachery, but his mood changed dramatically as he felt a hand on his shoulder.
He smirked as he was really eager to see the young emperor suffering under their schemes.
Five golden-armored individuals with haughty expressions came forward as a number of voices rose.
"This is an honorful duel, why is there more than one person in the ring!"
"Yeah, all the trials till now were conducted by a single person. Why, is there a sudden change in your Hatheth?!"
"Yeah, stop changing rules to your will, you Primerian scums!"
A swarm of voices erupted from Zachery's army side, expressing their displeasure with the current scenario. Zachery cocked his head as he observed the hungry grins on everyone inside the ring.
"The sentence of Emperor Alexander has been changed from the normal to a much harsher one for the crimes of blaspheming on our Goddess and speaking illicitly of our Goddess. If the emperor survives the ordeal, the justice he receives will be unquestionable."
When they heard that claim, the audience became more agitated, but Zachery's raising of his palm instantly silenced them.
Zachery nodded towards the old man as he waited for his opponents to enter the ring, but the old man's voice resonated in Zachery's head as he examined each golden-armored figure one by one.
Zachery had to say... one could never underestimate the wisdom of the old. This was a really good scheme they had put together in a short amount of time.
But, regretfully, they had assumed that Zachery's power had been nerfed to Rank 1. It was not what they thought, but what Zachery had allowed them to witness. Most of them were on this battlefield and had assumed Zachery's prowess ended at Rank 1.
And now it was time to punish them for it.
A female encased in golden armor smiled sinisterly and gazed at Zachery like he was fresh meat; she was a peak Rank 2 Mutant Warrior and the strongest of them all.
She was so free that she didn't even attempt to keep her guard up. She flitted her feet with delight as she gazed at the alarming golden vertical pupils, since...
Her eyes switched from Zachery to Nessa, and her spine tingled and her face turned hot. Her stomach clenched as she gazed lovingly at Nessa.
If she killed the emperor, the Primerian higher-ups had to compensate her. And it was evident what she was about to ask because her attention was nearly glued to Nessa.
The five Rank 2 Mutant Warriors had agreed to a term. She, the most powerful of them all, would be the one to kill the emperor. But, just in case, if anything went wrong, the other four had to step in.
That was why the other four were virtually digging holes in Zachery's body as their eyes as they looked at Zachery for any minimal amount of time. But they were almost astonished by how still he was.
He was looking at their captain with no expression on his face, like what he was looking at was a stranger's corpse.
"Ahh, what do I do with you, Alex?" As she got closer to Zachery, the female stated as she grasped her cheeks with both hands.
"You're going to die, there's no doubt about it." She closed her eyes as she moved her head in melody, but she opened her eyes and stared venomously at Zachery.
"But what are you going to do when your beloved is widowed?" At the same instant the word ended, a dragon aura erupted and fell. It was not Nessa's, but Haraclov's. But he couldn't do anything about it.
If he interfered with this charade of a duel, then his name would be dragged through the mud! and he couldn't let that happen!
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