Chapter 47: Hierarchy
As the soul beast charged quickly at Ruthar, Taraha stepped in between, positioning her body for a sprint.
"Watch carefully, Ruthar. I want you to study these movements," Taraha instructed, plunging Ruthar into a state of thought.
'She's trying to teach me something from this encounter,' Ruthar kept his focus on her, diverting most of it from the soul beast.
At first, he sensed nothing, but as time went on, he started to notice a distinct Mana and a surge of golden light emanating around Taraha's body.
This was no sword art; if it was, the surges would be around the sword. This energy enveloped her entire body, even disrupting the air in the vicinity...
'According to the novel, this is what makes a true Exorcist. This is her soul spirit.'
Taraha sprang forward with a gust of wind that almost knocked Ruthar off his feet.
With every step she took, she covered more distance than a normal human, reaching the beast before it could even sense her presence.
She slashed at its thick armored skin, cutting directly through it and the beast's flesh. The cut was not that deep, but the surges from her body made a larger slice into the beast, dissecting it into two halves, which fell to the ground, drenching the floor in blood.
'That beast was taken down by a simple slash!' Ruthar's jaw dropped, and his eyes flickered at the sight. The beast barely had time to react before it died.
"She barely used a percent of her soul power and precisely ended the soul beast. Do you know why it died after that hit?" Troma, who had been explaining up to this point, turned to Ruthar with a question.
At first, Ruthar wanted to reply based on what he had just seen. However, knowing a person like Troma, he needed to answer this more professionally.
Ruthar did not take long to formulate his reply. "This wasn't a true entity. It was more of a half-flesh, half-spiritual being; this means it's a Kaiju. A Kaiju can only be killed by destroying their cores, which Lady Tara did."
Troma nodded, impressed to see Ruthar had gathered that much from a simple analysis in a few seconds. "They don't call you 'scholar' for no reason. I am going to need your brains for the location we are headed to."
"And where is that?" Ruthar asked excitedly.
"Alchemist City for the sully."
---
Meanwhile, in the Spade Horus meeting hall, the council members and the King were gathered.
Just a few moments ago, news had reached them about the pressing urgency of spiritual beasts, especially the Kaijus.
King Ragorn placed his fingers along his chin, thinking hard on the report that had just come in.
One of the Spade Horus villages had been completely torn apart by dozens of Kaijus. While casualties were minimized thanks to Kimara and her forces arriving in good time, the loss was still a heavy toll on the kingdom.
"My king, these attacks seem to have occurred in other kingdoms, both the King's Horus and Diamond Horus," one old, wrinkled man stood up from his seat and spoke. He was one of the King's most trusted council members, going by the name Argata. Since he had been around long before Ragorn took the throne, his advice was highly valued. "I think these are planned attacks from a common enemy."
King Ragorn let out a brief sigh after hearing Argata's words. "An enemy? Who would dare challenge three kingdoms with attacks from mere Kaijus? Could it be the Clover Horus or some sort of long-forgotten organization?"
Another person in his mid-forties, clad in dark armor, rose from his seat and bowed before speaking. "I suggest we strengthen our forces around the kingdom, release more Exorcists, and probably use adventurers to help us track down the sources of these attacks. We might uncover crucial information from the shadiest corners." This was Billow, the Commander of Protection around the kingdom and its borders.
King Ragorn found truth in his words. Billow's strategy was seamless, as usual. "I approve of your suggestion. Resources are at your disposal."
As Billow was about to bow again, he remembered something. "My king, are you aware that three of your children have just crossed the borders of..."
"What!" Ragorn roared, his eyes narrowing at Billow, who felt as if his heart had been pierced. "Get me Kithara."
To his order, three guards ran out of the hall in haste.
'I see what this is... a rotten trap.'