Tepo didn't panic as the situation suddenly changed. He was already prepared. A red stone suddenly appeared in his hand.
A small amount of force flowed from Tepo's hand into the red stone.
A brutal attack shot through the air. Everyone could already imagine Tepo's body sliced apart, and the Sun's Punishment destroyed.
But suddenly a red barrier appeared in the air. It engulfed the chair Tepo was seated on. The figure's attack couldn't even budge it.
"What?!", a surprised shout came form behind the figure's black mask.
Tepo grinned as the two brothers sighed in relief.
"Good job.", praised Lao Ru.
The figure was only shocked for a moment though. It quickly turned around, trying to flee.
A pained scream suddenly shook everyone's ear. Red lightning-like energy flickered. Another barrier had appeared. It shielded off the platform catching the assassin by surprise as he crashed into it.
A burnt smell spread atop the roof. The figure's high-quality clothes were seared. They rolled on the ground groaning in pain.
Tepo grinned as he looked at the angry Lao De:
"Thanks for your help. But next time just make sure your enemies are dead so we can avoid such surprises."
"Hmm?", Lao De blinked as he stared at Tepo in confusion.
But Lao Ru rose his brow in surprise:
"Wait? That hasty warrior is the assassin?"
"Yes. But judging from your voice you already know an assassin was around?"
"Yeah. He killed the soldier who delivered the first clue."
Now it was Tepo's turn to be shocked.
"What? But didn't the vice-captain say…"
"He implied it was done by the Hurricane Army, yes. I can only guess what his goals might be."
Tepo had an ominous feeling. But maybe this was just part of the covert struggle between two kingdoms.
As the warriors conversed the shadowy figure slowly stood up. He didn't complain, only staring at Tepo in hate. He lost. He lost to an aspirant.
The figure didn't complain or shout in anger. They just stared at Tepo as a single question played in their mind.
"You. Before I die answer me one question!"
Although he was annoyed by the man's tone, Tepo answered calmly:
"A question for a question."
"Whatever. Just let me know how you guessed I was still alive!"
"Easy. Because the beast roared in anger. I assumed that you, the prey, somehow escaped. And when those pirates died, I was certain that something was wrong."
Even the two brothers stared at Tepo in surprise. How perceptive! He smelled the danger from such a detail?
Meanwhile the figure was incredulous. They almost choked as a dry chuckle left their throat.
"That's it. Ha. All my skills honed throughout the years are going to waste because one beast showed a wrong reaction!"
Gradually the chuckle turned into crazy laughter. But the other warriors were unperturbed. They had experienced uglier scenes before.
However, Tepo still wanted to curb his curiosity:
"My turn to ask. When did you enter the dungeon?"
"Haha. Good question. Good question. Your brain is working well! I was among the first group activating the dungeon. I persevered so well! I had it all figured out!
But then others had to arrive just as I was ready to solve the dungeon! Haha. I curse you all! You all will die a gruesome death!
I knew those kingdoms wouldn't hold their words but didn't expect them to break it this fast! Hahaha!"
Tepo and the two bothers watched the masked figure with solemn faces. They couldn't underestimate this man who had survived such a long time in the dungeon.
Suddenly the figure's voice turned wheezing. Tepo stared at it in surprise.
A white patch appeared at the area where its mouth should be. Its eyes turned red. Blood trickled down. Until the last moment the figure stared at Tepo.
The young man shuddered. In the end there was no hate in the figure's eyes anymore. Those clear pupils seemed to stare into infinity, as if seeing through life, death, and the universe.
"Poison. How decisive.", commented Lao De dryly.
"Decisive and dangerous. Not just any organization can train such assassins. It's better if no one ever learns about how he died."
Hearing this, Tepo and Lao De nodded in agreement. The younger warrior was even more careful. He tapped on the red stone in his hand. Suddenly a ray of energy shot out of the barrier. A short while later the corpse had turned to ashes.
The brothers both approved as they watched the red barrier vanish. They finally stepped onto the platform as well.
Meanwhile, Tepo fiddled with the weapon's console. Suddenly a burst of steam shot out of the barrel. The temperature on the rooftop rose quickly.
Just as Tepo was about to adjust the weapon, a rough hand landed on his shoulder. The young man turned his head in confusion.
But when he looked into Lao De's excited eyes, Tepo already understood.
"Let me do it!"
Tepo smiled. The young warrior shrugged his shoulder as he stood up.
"Sure. Just put your hand here and you will connect with the machine."
Lao De sat down with the fervor of an excited child. He put his hand on a mark on the console. All of a sudden, the warrior's vision changed.
A vast landscape appeared in Lao De's view. It was slightly blurry, the thick black roots faintly appearing like a fibrous carpet.
The warrior was excited. He gave an order in his mind and his vision moved. Even the platform began to turn.
Finally Lao De stopped as a beast entered his view. The warrior didn't bother to guess where this beast was. It probably didn't pose any threat to the palace. It was simply unlucky.
Grinning excitedly, Lao De gave an order in his mind. Fire!
Suddenly it was as if a star rose above the palace. Fortunately, the warrior on top of the tower were protected.
An enormous heat burned the air itself. Beasts all around the blackened world looked up in horror. The sun itself seemed to pale in comparison.
A white light illuminated everything. Some roots spontaneously caught on fire. Doomsday had arrived for the empire's enemies.
Far away from the palace a massive beast trotted through the landscape. Its steps shook the earth in a large radius. A displeased breath uprooted a tree.
But suddenly the beast felt its instincts scream. Its mind burned. It felt death approaching.
The beast turned its head around. But even before it could register the attack, an unimaginable heat engulfed it. A broad ray of light seared its eyes, skin, muscles, and bones. It had no time to let out a roar as its throat burned away. A moment later only a few smoldering remains stayed behind.
Throughout the dark world many beasts shivered in terror. Memories appeared in their simple minds. Memories so deeply ingrained they would never forget them.
A few months ago, such an ominous star had appeared once. It killed one of their strongest ancestors. Back then it seemed their time had come and it was the empire's turn to strike back.
But in the end, nothing followed. The beasts didn't know that it was because the Sun's Punishment's creator didn't trust the emperor and took away the keystone.
On top of the tower Lao De laughed in excitement as Tepo and Lao Ru watched with solemn faces. From their position they couldn't even see the target. But they were certain that a powerful beast had died.
Finally, I understand why someone would take the keystone away. Such a weapon in the wrong hands can bring disaster. Well, in hindsight though the situation couldn't have gotten much worse than it is now.
Afterwards horror fell on the former empire. Lao De laughed excitedly as he extinguished beasts in all directions. Only after three more attacks did his brother pull him away.
"Let's stop for now. We need to plan how to reach the statue. Let's not fire randomly."
"Alright."
Lao De only agreed reluctantly. He had too much fun killing those beasts he couldn't even fight normally.
"So how should we proceed now?", asked Lao De.
"We need to figure out how the teleportation works. And how we can reach the statue.", answered Tepo.
Lao Ru gazed into the distance.
"We need some test subjects."
"Are you talking about the army, brother? But if they reach the statue, we would already be too late."
"No. There are better test subjects out there."
"Right.", agreed Tepo. "The forest is full of life. We just need to wait for them to move."
While understanding dawned on Lao De, his brother smiled calmly. The warrior looked between Tepo and his brother, almost feeling left out.
He was disgruntled but soon he remembered the feeling of firing the Sun's Punishment and grew excited again.
"If you guys agree I will try my luck and scout the area around the statue. Maybe I will notice a pattern.", offered Tepo as he approached the weapon.
"Sure."
"Go ahead."