The figure was moving straight towards the ruby, its intention clear: the dragon breath. As he turned his back to the ground, trying to enter the temple.
The people flashed out, bolting at lightning speed. The moment they had been waiting for was here.
A figure was gliding on the ground, shimmering circles around his legs. He was smiling earnestly, quickly outmatching everyone, zipping past the figure about to take the ruby.
Suddenly, a light flashed out. The rushing figure stumbled forward, his body rolling uncontrollably, smashing onto the boulders that surrounded the ruby. His eyes showed disbelief. He couldn't believe what had happened; they quickly dimmed, full of horror, a light mark on his neck bleeding furiously.
The rushing figures were dumbfounded. They quickly halted their steps, not daring to charge carelessly. Had a murder just occurred? How could that be? Killing was not uncommon in this world; many people would be assassinated or die during battles. But killing in front of witnesses was rarely seen. What's more, on the fire mountain, knowing there were elders waiting down the mountain, it was one of the highest crimes. Who was this person? Was he not afraid?
"Well... we finally meet again, old friends," the figure said, turning to face the crowd. The ruby was just there, but he didn't take it. He took off his hood, revealing his figure.
"You..." Amarok recognized the figure. It was Kleid. But now he looked different. His face was pale, his eyes devoid of life.
"Why did you have to do that? Why?? Why did you have to go against me? First at Wandleaf and then at Alden... Why... Life didn't give me a dime, but I worked it out," Kleid said, throwing Mist on the ground.
"I had to work... work... and work... bear their insult and mockery... and work. But you," he said, piercing his sword into Mist after every word. She cried out, but her voice was low and broken, as if she had already cried to the point of fatigue.
Blood littered the ground, consumed by the flames that surrounded them. The crowd shuddered at the horror.
"Today we shall make things even," Kleid said with a smile.
The celestial guardians moved out, the five of them dashing towards Kleid. It was exactly for this type of situation that the Aetherial Midrel had sent them. They simply couldn't stand and watch. They were the law.
"Get the hell out of here," Kleid roared. One of the celestial guardians waved, drawing a rune in the void.
They had all formed a hexagon around Kleid; the intricate markings of the rune shone. Golden light flashed out.
"Die," Kleid's sword shimmered with a faint green. He slashed out. Before the golden light could connect, it came to a brutal halt. The air cried, and a sharp cry shattered the silence.
The celestial guardian looked horrified at her hands; it was bleeding nonstop. Both had fallen on the ground. Her body trembled in fright.
The figure who had verbally clashed with Amarok was in front of her, his body enveloped in a bright luster. A white-gray rune had formed a field in front of him. He was frowning hard. If he hadn't intervened, she would have died.
The other celestial guardian had already arrived near Kleid. The celestial guardians were mainly rune sorcerers, but some of them were rune warriors. Her sword sliced out; Kleid's body blitzed, the flames shifted. He stepped sideways. The sword hit nothing. At the same time, a green light flashed out; blood tainted the void. The celestial guardian's arm was severed. Kleid's sword whistled, a faint line drew on her neck.
Behind him, the other guardian was shaken, her hands trembling. The rune spear order was unleashed; spears whistled forward.
Kleid shifted his body, spinning to face the guardian. The spears zipped past him, shattering the ground upon impact.
The celestial guardian was baffled as she tried to turn and run, but Kleid's figure was already facing her. Blood tainted the ground, her body falling lifeless.
"It has nothing to do with you; stand down," he said. "But..." The two who could still fight hesitated. "You wouldn't be punished. It's an order; stand down." The celestial guardians were shaken. But noticing his expression and knowing his status, they stepped back. What's more, one part of them felt relieved; they knew deep down it was useless even if they tried. They felt shame for them, considered as law; it was a heavy blow, but who could say they didn't fear in front of real power.
"I don't really care how many you are. I just want his head... no, their heads," Kleid pointed with his sword, an evil smile on his face.
"As Lowe hair, I now declare, take it if you can; no one will help them and no one will intervene. But you will have to give me the ruby," Liviam said. All of the celestial guardians were at the second rank, rune sorcerer — a Disciple; they were higher in number too. Yet, they were effortlessly killed by a rune warrior of the same rank. It was unheard of; he knew better than anyone what those ranks meant. A rune sorcerer was naturally stronger than a rune warrior, but unless... Yes, that was it, resonance. Liviam's face turned serious.
The crowd frowned; things were getting out of hand. They all stepped back, allowing Amarok and his group.
"They might try to run away. In that case, one might luckily escape. I can't take that risk," Kleid said.
"They wouldn't flee with all of us here," he said calmly. The crowd was now furious; what was he trying to do? They clearly understood his words. "Lowe hair!!!" If that was the case, all of Lower Elysium would be under his palm in a few years. Yet, at the same time, they didn't know Amarok and his group and had no reason to go against them.
They just stepped back, blocking the mountain descent. They didn't do anything else, but their actions alone were enough.
"Blood my sword wants, and blood it will have," Kleid said, raising his sword.