"This is it," I muttered, lifting the drain cover just enough to peer out, my eyes scanning the surroundings. The air felt thick, almost suffocating, as if something was about to happen. I ducked back down, my heartbeat quickening, and glanced at Joshua. "What's the plan?"
Joshua's hand moved to his chin as his eyes narrowed in thought. "Give me some time with the 1st prince," he finally said, but the way his hand lingered showed he was weighing the risks.
I rolled my eyes, trying to lighten the mood despite the nerves gnawing at my gut. "Sure, I'd like a main of five minutes and a side of thirty seconds, please." My tone was sarcastic, but the tension still gnawed at me. "It's not going to be as easy as you think. The castle isn't exactly deserted…"
I stole a quick glance at my mana reserves. 50? Damn it, that's not enough for all of us.
"Fritz, what's your take?" I asked, shifting my gaze to him.
He paused, his jaw clenched slightly as he stared back at me. "I'll follow your lead," he replied, as he stretched his neck. He shifted his stance, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for the inevitable.
I turned to Joshua again. "You know where the 1st prince is, right?"
He gave a short nod, the muscles in his neck tensing.
"Good. Now, turn around."
I moved closer, tracing the invisibility rune onto the blazer on his back, my fingers moving quickly but precisely. As the symbol flickered into view, Joshua's form began to fade, his body turning translucent until only a faint outline remained. I could still see him, but to everyone else, he would be invisible.
"Fritz, you can't see him, right?" I asked, testing.
Fritz squinted, then shook his head. "Nope."
"Alright, Joshua, you lead the way," I instructed, my heart strangely calm, a symptom of being war-hardened I suppose. "Run ahead and don't look back. We'll be right behind you."
I took a deep breath, bracing myself. "Go!" I shouted, punching the drain cover up and springing out. The sun assaulted my senses as I emerged, the glare bouncing off the white gravel that crunched underfoot. The heat was oppressive, like an oven, but I pushed through it.
I sprinted up the slope we had used to sneak in a few days ago, the memory of that rainy morning in my mind. Joshua was light on my back, but the weight of the situation bore down on me. Reaching the door, I found it ajar, just as I expected. I dropped Joshua to the ground as a group of human guards turned their attention to us, eyes narrowing in recognition.
"Fritz, stick with me!" I barked, leaping through the doorway.
"Stop the Ubuians!" one of the guards shouted, their spears instantly snapping to attention.
I caught sight of Joshua slipping through the narrow gaps between the guards. Seizing the moment, I grabbed a spear, yanking it from a guard's grasp, and then slammed my shoulder into him, sending him crashing into his comrades. Fritz was right behind me, his fists flying as he dispatched each guard with brutal efficiency.
Joshua darted ahead, his feet barely making a sound. I followed, weaving through the chambers where more guards awaited. Each time I collided with one, I used their own momentum against them, disarming and shoving them aside before Fritz finished them off with a single punch.
"Oi, Matt, there's a lot of them," Fritz called out, his breath heavy.
"That means the Royal Alchemist isn't here," I replied, my voice trailing off as I spotted him—our worst fear made manifest.
Reaching into my interface, I swiftly pulled out my Quill and a seraphic stone, my hands moving with practiced ease.
"You think I'll just let you go?" the Royal Alchemist muttered, his voice a low, dangerous growl. In an instant, the room throbbed with mana, the very air around us thickening with power.
Wait... why is he here? That means he must've used a guard to plant his runes above our hideout. He probably knew exactly where we'd be. We've been playing right into his hands this whole time.
I glanced to the side, the runic symbols carved into the walls beginning to glow with a fierce, blinding light.
Uh-oh…
"Rune Identified: Pyroclastic Explosion."
Right—debris and superheated air.
"Rune: Winds," I chanted, tracing the symbol in the air with a flick of my wrist.
A gust erupted, redirecting the scorching air and debris away from us, funneling the destruction toward the Royal Alchemist.
"Fritz! Outside!" I yelled, grabbing Joshua's hand and leaping out the window. We landed on a narrow ledge, my feet barely finding purchase as I balanced precariously on the veranda below.
Fritz crashed through another window, the pyroclastic flow channeled harmlessly through the now-empty room.
A voice whispered in my ear, "Matthijs, up one, go in and turn left."
With a quick nod, I gathered all my strength and leapt, just managing to catch the edge of the next floor. I smashed through the window and rolled inside, only to be met with more guards, their eyes widening in surprise.
"There's not much time Matt! You just bring him there! I'll bring up the rear!"
I watched as Fritz fought like a demon, holding off the countless humans with sheer strength. His punches and kicks sent them crashing through windows or slamming into the walls along the corridors.
I turned and dashed, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Royal Alchemist flying alongside me through the outside of the window.
"How much further?" I shouted.
"Up ahead, turn right and straight to the end—that's his room," he replied.
I pushed through the guards, forcing my legs to move as fast as they could. Each second felt like an eternity as my muscles screamed in protest.
I swear, I need to exercise more after this. This is hell.
I glanced out the window again—the Royal Alchemist wasn't letting up.
"Joshua, go by yourself!" I shouted, grabbing him off my shoulders and setting him down. I continued to sprint ahead, my glare fixed outside. Taking a deep breath, I leapt through the window, grabbing the Alchemist mid-air and crashing us both to the ground. But to my shock, he remained uninjured and hurled me into the wall with unnatural force.
What is this strength… This isn't human.
"This isn't human strength? Not at all, of course not," he sneered. "But since you Ubuians love to use brute force to torture people, let me show you how it's done."
He stripped off his thick robes, revealing dozens of glowing runes etched into his burly, toned body.
Strength and hardness enhancement runes. I don't have the mana right now… Damn it, I can't do much except…
I brought my fists up, adopting a defensive stance. "Okay then, let's dance."
He dashed at me, ducking low to grab my waist. I tried to stand firm, but he lifted me effortlessly and slammed me into the ground.
Ugh… I can't match his brute strength
I kicked him upwards, but he didn't levitate. His float rune must be on the robe instead. As he crashed back to the ground, I launched a kick, but he blocked it with ease. He got up quickly, unleashing a relentless barrage of punches. Memories of close-quarter combat flashed through my mind as I weaved through his strikes with precision.
I can't let any of these hit me—each punch could be lethal.
Every jab I managed to land felt like punching a wall of bricks. No, his mass is the same, but I need to handle this differently.
I remembered the other advantage I had over the humans here: my extensive close combat experience.
He was strong, and his hardness rune made his skin like stone, but there should still be some vulnerabilities. As he lunged forward with another punch, I didn't block it head-on. Instead, I twisted my body to the side, catching his arm and guiding his momentum past me. He stumbled slightly, his own force working against him.
He charged again, more aggressively this time. I feinted a high kick, drawing his attention upward. The moment he raised his guard, I dropped low, sweeping his legs out from under him. His balance shattered, and he fell awkwardly, his knee buckling as it struggled to support his weight. I could see the strain in his movements, the hardened skin offering no help as the joint faltered.
In that split second, I surged forward, planting my foot firmly on the twisted knee before he could recover. The pressure built rapidly, and I felt the resistance give way beneath me. A sickening pop echoed as his knee joint finally gave out. The hardness rune might protect his skin, but it couldn't prevent a dislocation.
He grunted in pain, his leg grotesquely twisted as he lay on the ground. But with a stubborn will, he pushed himself up, forcing his body to obey despite the obvious agony. His leg trembled, struggling to hold his weight, but he managed to stand before I could strike again.
With his mobility compromised, I circled him, keeping the pressure on his other leg. Every strike was precise, calculated to wear him down without giving him a chance to land a solid hit on me. He was strong but also growing slower, each move becoming more labored.
Finally, I saw my opening. As he overextended with a punch, I sidestepped, spun behind him, and locked my arm around his neck, using my body weight to pull him down. With his injured leg and his own momentum working against him, he couldn't keep his balance. We crashed to the ground, and I tightened the chokehold, cutting off his air supply.
He struggled, thrashing and clawing at my arms, but his movements grew weaker by the second. I held on, feeling his resistance fade as his consciousness slipped away. Only when his body went limp, his breathing shallow and ragged, did I finally release him.
"Hah… Arrogance is always the downfall."
. . .
The door creaked open behind the 1st prince, his eyes narrowing as he glanced back. The room was empty, shadows stretching across the walls.
"Hello?" His voice wavered slightly, a mix of suspicion and unease.
"Hello, brother." The response came from the shadows, calm yet ominous.
The door shut quietly as if sealing them off from the outside world. Slowly, a figure began to materialize, stepping into the dim light. Joshua emerged, his form becoming solid, his expression stern and focused.
"Joshua?" The 1st prince's tone was a blend of recognition and irritation.
Joshua removed his blazer with deliberate care, draping it over the back of a chair near the door. He pulled the chair closer, the legs scraping against the wooden floor with a sharp, grating sound. He sat down, crossing his legs and arms, his gaze fixed on the 1st prince.
"What did you do to Father?" Joshua's voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of accusation in his words.
The 1st prince scoffed, shaking his head dismissively. "You know our father. He was too weak, too soft to do what needed to be done. He was never willing to take the steps necessary to kill the Ubuians. Always showing them a hint of care and concern, WHEN THEY WERE THE ONES WHO KILLED MOTHER!"
Joshua's eyes narrowed, his voice steady but intense. "No nation can be built on hatred alone. The church is the one spreading these malicious threats. These Ubuians aren't bad people. If we want to stand against the other nations, we need their help as well."
"Their help?!" The 1st prince's voice was incredulous, his face contorted with anger. "Do you not remember what they did to us? You're delusional if you think we can use them without angering the rest of the kingdom. There are riots whenever more than one Ubuian is seen in broad daylight." He strode forward, his steps heavy, until he stood directly in front of Joshua, his eyes cold and hard.
He kicked the chair out from under Joshua in one swift, brutal motion, sending him crashing to the floor. Joshua grimaced as he hit the ground, but his eyes remained locked on his brother.
The 1st prince loomed over him, his voice trembling with fury. "They tortured and razed our human kingdoms to the ground. Their prisoners of war suffered unimaginable pain before dying. Millions dead because they waged an unprovoked war."
Joshua pushed himself up, his glare unwavering. "And how is that the people's fault?!"
"THEN WHOSE FAULT IS IT?" The 1st prince's shout reverberated through the room, the silence that followed heavy and oppressive.
For a moment, the only sound was the faint murmuring of voices in the corridors beyond, the distant clatter of armor, and the hushed whispers of the palace guards.
Joshua's voice broke the silence, quieter now, but filled with resolve. "It's the Ubuian leaders. Back in their capital."
The 1st prince let out a bitter, snarky laugh. "How naïve."
Joshua's jaw tightened, his gaze steady and unyielding. "You're just ignorant. Violence only begets more violence. If we launch a campaign against the Ubuians and word gets out, do you really think we'll survive a head-on fight with them? Their strength is unmatched, and their numbers are vast. We can't afford to make more enemies, especially not now."
The 1st prince sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "So you would have us kneel before them? Betray our own people to save our skins?"
Joshua shook his head, his expression resolute. "No, brother. I would have us find a way to coexist, to build something greater than the cycle of hatred that has consumed our family for generations. We can't afford to fight a war on two fronts—against the Ubuians and our own people. We need to be smarter, more strategic."
For a moment, the tension between them was palpable, a silent battle of wills. The 1st prince's hand twitched as if tempted to strike again, but he held back, his eyes locked on Joshua's.
Finally, the 1st prince spoke, his voice low and venomous. "You always were the idealist, Joshua. But idealism won't save us from the flames of war. If you side with the Ubuians, you'll be as much of an enemy as they are."
Joshua's eyes hardened, a cold fire burning within them. "Then so be it. But know this—I won't let our kingdom fall into ruin because of your blind hatred. We can either find a way to peace or be consumed by the very violence you seek to wield."