Chapter 306: Lorius (1/2)

Confusion filled Arthur's mind when he saw the scene before him. He now had an arm. Gala, Dia, and a giant man were restraining him. In front of him was the duke, bloodied, his arms gone, and pale.

His metallic arm, which looked a lot like the arm he summoned before against Ellen, started disintegrating into countless light particles.

”What is...” His throat hurt when he tried to open his mouth. The voice that came out sounded nothing like his own but like rusted gears unable to turn.

”Don't talk, Seika. We need to get you away for now.” Gala said as she wiped away the blood trickling down her mouth.

”Did I do this?” His voice was still hoarse, but Arthur gestured with his chin toward the duke. Gala paused and nodded. ”Then, let me finish him off.” His voice was unwavering, and mana exploded from his body.

The mana made the surrounding air heavier; it was rich and potent. It had the same presence as the power of Seikas, but this felt like a mountain compared to a rock.

”No, Seika.” Gala's forehead was full of sweat. Why did he suddenly change? ”The duke is using the royal artifact. He won't die. The only one getting hurt will be you.”

Arthur turned to the duke as he heard Gala's words. He was a mess, but so was Arthur himself. He could use the mana of creation again, but it was a strong possibility that he'd damage his soul again if he overdid it.

”Let's leave.” Arthur nodded at them. He turned to Dia, who was holding him back as well. ”I presume you are the Knight of Honesty.”

”Yes, Seika.” The giant man nodded with an uncomfortable expression. The man in front of him was nothing like he had heard.

”How did the duke find out about our plan?” His words were sharp, descending like a crushing mountain on the Knight.

The Knight of Honesty frowned. He had only felt this way to his majesty, Solomon. The young man in front of him demanded his question be answered, not requested.

”We don't know yet.” The Knight answered. ”I think there's a traitor amid the royal court.”

”I see.” Arthur nodded and turned. His empty sleeve fluttered under the spiritual power he radiated. He had yet to control it properly. ”Let's go. I think you have a battle yet to win.”

”Wait!” Larza's voice came from a distance. She stood up while coughing up mouthfuls of blood. ”If you leave this place, I'm going to destroy it!”

She raised her hand, making his arm appear. It was isolated from the world by a powerful barrier, preserving it from rotting.

”I forgot about you.” Arthur turned and began walking toward her. ”I almost left you alive.”

Larza's face grew pale as her body trembled. Suddenly, the duke descended in front of her with his flames burning more vigorously than ever.

”You dare?!” He roared, but Arthur didn't stop walking. The duke panicked and made his flames burn brighter than before. ”Stop right there!”

However, Arthur kept walking toward them. The flames turned into a hurricane that surrounded him, burning everything in its path.

”Overconfident fool.” The duke spat as he made his flames gather and attack Arthur.

”You are not worthy.” Arthur walked out from within the flames without a scratch, his long hair fluttering under their wind. ”Stay still.” He commanded, and the duke froze like a statue.

”As for you, Larza,”

He stopped in front of her and looked down. He raised his hand and touched her scales. Her slits of irises shook wildly, her body trembling in front of him. She looked at Arthur as if she didn't recognize him.

”I'll let you live,” Arthur said. ”Not because I can't kill you and not because I want this arm.” He smiled devilishly. ”It's because I have yet to make you suffer. One day, you'll be in your sleep, and you'll wake up to find me in front of you.”

Arthur used his Art, submission, to install fear within Larza's mind. When he finished speaking, she fell to the ground because her knees could no longer support her. A pool of liquid appeared beneath her as her body kept shaking.

Seeing her like that, Arthur turned around and walked away. He couldn't use his powers anymore without hurting his body.

The soldiers of Demis and humans looked on with fear as the One-Armed Seika left with his party, heading toward Freda.

The tales of what happened today will be told for hundreds of years, where the heavens split open to protect a human.

As he was traveling toward the Freda kingdom, rumors will spread about the emergence of the strongest Seika, one who beat the Duke of Fire into a pulp and left. A name for the strongest Seika emerged among every nation, Lorius.

It meant The Calamity.