69 In chains (1/2)

Helial raised up his sorrowful eyes as though his gaze could go beyond the ceiling and glimpse at the sky. Two shiny tears swelled up at the corners of his eyes, like dew on thin blades of grass. Helial took a deep breath, blinked his eyes to force the tears away and set his gaze on Crispius. The latter's eyebrows were slightly furrowed in the middle, in a strangely sympathetic expression.

”This soil and these people…” said Helial in a hoarse voice, before clearing his throat and going on, ”power grabs us, blinds us, exiles us in this limbo. People only seek power to hurt, not to deliver justice. If power is so important, why won't you step in in cases like this?”

But it was a rhetorical question. He didn't let the three Seniors a chance to reply.

”Because that is the duty of the new generations, yeah. Pathetical. The truth is that the entire lot of you has already accepted this course of events, unconsciously. Even you, Crispius, even you!”

Crispius violently knitted his eyebrows and snorted icily. But there was nothing we could reply. Helial was right; he had been overlooking these matters for a long time now.

As he shook his head, the most powerful of the three Seniors revealed a bitter smile and said: ”I'm sorry, but currently no one in Orma is strong enough to tell what is right and what is wrong. Not even our King, sadly.”

From behind Helial, Caesar had not yet uttered a word. Crispius' words though darkened his expression. That was indeed true; there was nothing he could do. Not even him could erase every domestic dissension in Orma. He wasn't that strong.

Suddenly, Binius addressed Helial and blurted out: ”You really speak about power?! Look at you! Chained to the ground and unable to move. Where's your power? Hahahah, you'll pay your arrogance with your life before the sun is set!”

Crispius heaved a sigh. As things stood, Helial had to pay with his life. He had killed three Goblins intent on raping a girl. Even though the mere thought of the **** flared Crispius up, this matter was pure politics and many spirits should have been placated that day, one way or another.

Unfortunately, Helial would never become the hero that Orma had been waiting for.

Helial curled his lips in a disdainful expression that vanished a second later, while his eyes began to emit a singular sympathy.

”Is that what you mean by power?”

Binius furrowed his eyebrows. He didn't get what he said, but a second later he wound up open-mouthed.

The cage of chains that pinned Helial down could have blocked the Meridians of anyone under the Fourth Phase. Not even a warrior in the Third Phase could have possibly wiggled out of them. And yet the Senators were witnessing an inconceivable scene.

Skill Activated:

Flame of the Qilin

A white flame reflected on Crispius' eyes. A terrifying abyss of white flames had just engulfed Helial and his chains. Every chain was slowly vaporizing. Helial stepped back into freedom.

Helial took a few steps forward until he stood a couple of yards away from the Seniors, whose expression had remained unchanged. Helial's expression betrayed a sort of worriedness for those three.

The gaze of that young guy struck Crispius deeply. Similarly, Binius and Philopappus kept quiet as Helial's eyes scanned them one by one. They were still shocked by his tyrannical power.

Caesar satisfactorily nodded to himself. He was ready to rush forward at any second if his disciple's life were in danger. After witnessing his strength for the second time now, he had made up his mind about saving Helial at all costs. Even if he hadn't left the slightest shed of face to that damned Senate.

You old fuckers. If you plan on laying a finger on my boy, I swear I'll dismember every limb of yours, along with those of that son of a bitch who craves my seat. A flash of fierceness glimmered its way out to Caesar's eyes as he stared at the Senate in malice. He gradually began to unleash his Aura to make everyone clear on his intentions.

Crispius awaked from his trance and panted. He unleashed his Aura, which collided with that of Caesar. Despite the fact that he was actually weaker than an Immortal, he wouldn't bow even before the two Immortals of Orma. He hadn't earned the title of hero thanks to chitchat.

Caesar ground his teeth; the power exuded by the King's Aura turned Crispius pale.

Everyone else, meanwhile, gasped and started shouting.

”Look!” said a Senate member.

”That Mana!” someone echoed him.

Caesar and Crispius withdrew their Auras and set their gaze on Helial.

There was no gust of wind, and yet Helial's clothes flapped fitfully. His eyes glimmered like two shining suns. Little Mana rivulets began to materialize all around him.

With the merciful glance that a god would throw to some poor humans, Helial finally spoke: ”I, Helial, swear on all the Mana that reigns in the universe that no evil thoughts on the Goblin population has ever blemished my mind. I swear to treat all Goblins in Orma like brothers, as long as they prove to be brothers instead of beasts. I swear to abide by the law and become his hands whenever due. I swear to never smear my hands with cruel acts towards just Goblins, as well as I swear to erase any Goblin that stands in my way with the worst intentions.”

When Helial ended his Mana Oath, his body was enveloped by a majestic divine light that made him look more like a god than a man. At the same time though, his ruthless resolution suggested that he looked more like a demon than a god.

Everyone witnessed the scene open-mouthed.

Helial had just delivered a Mana Oath in which he promised that he would protect every Goblin who had acted correctly. How many member of the Senate would have pronounced those words with his same casualness? Mana Oaths could not be broken, otherwise Meridians would be irreparably damaged, forcing him or her to live as a mere human for the rest of their lives!

No, no Senator would have sworn anything so irreversible. On the contrary, they were gaping at him in fear.

Every Senior, including the King, was now staring at him with eyes hugging fear.

Helial's words left no room for doubt. Helial was no evil; he only aimed at protecting every Goblin who deserved it and erasing those who perpetrated any dishonest and malicious act, be them powerful or not.