"I see...you may all do as you please, just ensure no damage befalls my Varia household," Gareth stated his grey eyes indifferent his hand within his robes as he maintained his stand, he unlike the other men did not have a beard, his face was clean shaven without an ounce of hair, with exemption to his brows and lashes.
The 16 elders chargesd each of them wanting to Rip off Ivan's Life treasure. The greed of their cores blinded their rationality as they attacked with vigor.
Once they were within 10 meters of Ivan they all paled and fell to their knees.
"Aahh I didn't know it could be used in such a way," Ivan chuckled as he watched dull flickers of life energy rising from his 16 attackers all of which remained above their heads not wanting to desecrate the purity that was Ivan's.
Their completions grew paper and paper as their bodies visibly withered, they stiffles breathing as they felt fear in the depths of their cores.
"I believe that is enough Young man," Gareth's voice finally boomed. "You think so?! Would it have been enough if I was in their place?" he asked as if oblivious to their suffering.
"Need I remind that WE are hosting YOU despite your background you still need us," the man who had initially asked for Gareth's opinion chimed in.
"Aahh yes I'm a guest yet all of you Elders bare fangs at me without reason solely because if your mundane greed," Ivan fired back before shaking his head.
"Their lives are not worth the useless trash in my storage, but that doesn't mean I am easy to forget actions laced with malice," Ivan snapped as the life energy from the Elders condensed unit a singular stone which shit towards Kamila's brother who had at some point entered the Hall.
before he could even understand What was happening he felt himself grow stronger and stronger, his aura flared as he too broke through from Black core straight up to the 2nd level of Red core.
The Elders paled as they watched their vitality be used to grow another and their hearts turned cold. "I believe I've soared their lives right?!" Ivan asked as if he didn't just shorten the lifespan of the Elders.
"Reverse it!" Gareth demanded as his eyes remained indiffrent "I refuse," Ivan replied bluntly.
"Reverse it before I take drastic measures," he demanded once more. "Then do it, does it look like I'm the least worried about your retaliation, please don't overestimate your worth Little one" Ivan stated as he dispelled his life energy, "Now if you would excuse me," he walked forward past the 16 Elders, his every step lacked any cautioun or fear as he inched closer and closer towards Gareth.
***
Gareth fell into a deep contemplation, he along with a number of the elders we're against the idea of hosting a. unknown powerful cultivator whose base they couldn't see.
He had greatly scolded Getrude for inviting a potential threat but the woman clearly did not see the fault of her actions.
This infuriated Gareth who had been for the longest time the Patriarch of the Varia household. He knew full well of Franklin's potential, Getrude's son, he was more than two centuries younger and yet the amount of pressure he gave off while pursuing power was immense.
Gareth however did not wish to relinquish his reign...not yet, but the Franklin Family had reared on another pair of talents who seemed to be greater than their father.
Gareth couldn't stomach himself being replaced, he would never allow it, not because he loved to look down on everyone...no it was because after so many years he had felt it his bottleneck to enter the next was loosening, Abit more diligent cultivation and he would finally breakthrough.
He had sacrificed enough to climb the perilous mountain called Cultivation and thus cutting off loose ends would be nearly a flick of his wrist.
***
"From this day onwards Franklin's Family line shall no longer be part of the Varia's, they are to leave before sunset and never return for the crime of inviting a hostile into the Household walls and colluding with him to weaken our Family, Any and All who wish to oppose my stand shall face a harsher punishment" Gareth sentenced to which Kamila, Kaleb and Getrude stood shocked.
Franklin was Getrude's son, his family line being cut off would mean his wife and children not Franklin himself thus the decree was targeting the twins .
Getrude wanted to speak but Marcus'hand held her shoulder as he shook his head, her pleasing eyes met his but he just shook his head once more his message conveyed without fault 'Its hopeless'
The elders we're all wary of Ivan's background that backed with Getrude's report over the occurance at the mines, his power and what occured within the training hall it was best to say Gareth's decision was for the betterment of his family.
They had numerous young talents which could replace the twins, so it wasn't a loss to begin with, plus the current elders all had a bonw or two to pick with Franklin thus he took advantage of the presentable opportunity and nipped the bud before it sprout.
"But Patriarch we didn't do anything, we nearly went outside to train, accommodating Ivan was a collective decision!" Kaleb shouted after getting over his shock.
"My words are final," Gareth repeated.
"This is unfair...how is it our fault that you can't deal with him? How's it our fault that you tried to bully him? How's it our fault that you weren't strong enough to back actions? How the fuck was it our fault?!" Kaleb roared as his eyes trembled in rage, he had snapped and was venting from his heart.
" Watch your Tongue boy! The fact that you are still alive is us giving face to your father and Kate your mother, don't let it get to your head that we can't add another punishment in you," Simon chimed in, he had been the man that asked for Gareth's directives after a single exchange with Ivan.
" Your all just a bunch of bullies, or did you think we didn't notice, our resources reducing, the quality of our meal degrading, the respect of the maid and guards waning, the ploys of our cousin's growing more and more sinister...you never wanted us from the start did you?!" he bellowed but his question remained unanswered.