67 The one who stands above the res (1/2)
The demon with spectacles spoke up with curiosity on his face. ”Hardly. He is probably referring to the massacre.” The Elder would reply with his eyes focused upon Riyku. ”Massacre?” The bulk demonic male seemed intrigued, as if he knew nothing of the massacre. Which wasn't wrong. The details had not been foretold yet. ”Yes. The sole survivors of Crimson Ash are Riyku DarkFang and Astraia BurningAsh.” The Elder would answer, though judging from how he spoke, it appeared as if he did not honestly care. ”Ae after me later? Where are the reassurances in that?” Riyku would retort once more. A silence would befall the room for a moment;. However, it seemed the two who had remained silent throughout the entire ordeal finally spoke up.
”Riy... Release him. Even if he does come after us, we will defeat him and anything he throws at us.” Astraia had spoken up with warmth in her voice.
”Riyku, I will do my best to protect you and Astraia. I know my word may not mean much after what I said before, but I mean it this time. No one will touch you two as long as I am around.” Instructor Rina would add with her own reassurance. Riyku's eyes softened as he glanced over both of them. No one said a word, no one made a move. Riyku was left with his own thoughts, processing what Instructor Rina and Astraia had just said.
”Are you sure releasing him is okay? You know what demons are like. Who is to say that everyone in this room won't turn against you? You should just kill him now. At least then, that will be one less problem to worry about. I know that you realize this. You are no fool, Riyku.” Skeith's voice attempted to allure Riyku in. Riyku even took in Skeith's words. He was right. There would be problems later, and who knew if any of the people in this room would actually behave. However... The look on Astraia's face was what convinced Riyku. It said, ”This is not who you are. You are better than this.”
The shadow tendrils started to retract, and the demon he had strung up fell limp. He would groan as his body hit the floor, unable to move due to the where he was pierced and the loss of feeling in his limbs. The glint of murderous intent slowly subsided, and the emotion of hate started to drift away. ”Thank you...” Riyku whispered almost inaudibly, but both Instructor Rina and Astraia caught it and nodded softly to him. Instructor Rina would release Riyku, and Riyku would release them. Astraia seemed to take hold of Riyku's hand with her own. The look in Hawk's eyes was... intrigue. He figured Riyku would have killed the boy. Meanwhile, everyone else just seemed bored. The Elder would huff heavily, but before he could even speak, it seemed like he was about to until Instructor Rina spoke up.
”Now, look here. I do not know what is going on. However, I demand answers. I lost almost all of my class, and now we end up here with you people. This was not in the documents. What is going on!?” Instructor Rina was firm with her demand for answers. The Elder would reply, ”You do not need to know. In fact, you are not the one we called here. Those two are.” With a finger, he pointed at Riyku and Astraia. Instructor Rina had a blank expression when she heard that she did not need to know. Her body began to visibly shake before she stomped upon the ground. ”Bullshit! My class is dead without my knowing, and you are telling me that I do not need to know!? Now you tell me that the two you called are the last of my students... Like Hell. I won't be going anywhere!” Instructor Rina shouted once more, her eyes holding the will to protect.
Hawk would sigh heavily, ”The Overlord Selection.” He would comment, which drew in Instructor Rina's attention. ”Overlord Selection...?” She seemed genuinely confused, just as much as Astraia did. Riyku and the others did not, though. The Elder was more so baffled by the fact that Hawk gave her an answer. ”Sir...?” He called out to Hawk, who would give him a dismissive wave. ”The Legends of the Underworld is merely a front. The top ten students who perform the best during the event will be selected to participate in a deadly battle against each other. The remaining one will be allowed to take the Overlord Selection test. If they pass, they will be granted Overlord Status.” Hawk would explain. Instructor Rina was visibly shocked, so much so that her legs gave out, and she fell onto his knees, which caused her to sit on her legs in the process.
”As for a reason, your students died. The protective barrier was disabled as a means to create profit for Crimson Ash. However, I did not expect the Netherworlds Frost and Aqua to have formed a pact beforehand.” Hawk would pause for a moment as if in thought, a tone of boredom coming from him. ”No matter. We won in the end.” Hawk would finish. Instructor Rina was so taken back by the information that all she could do was shed tears in silence. Astraia had grasped her chest tightly when she heard the information given. Tears were forming in her eyes, and anger swelled within her when it seemed that her friends were used for profit. A few giggles and laughs came from the others. The Elder had no words, neither did the intelligent looking demon. Although the tension in the air shifted almost instantly.
All eyes had widened, and bodies became to tremble. The brawler type demon's eyes widened with thrill. The intelligent looking demon's eyes widened with fear. The female demon's eyes widened with desire. The Elder's eyes widened with disbelief. Astraia and Instructor Rina had stopped crying to focus on the source of the swirl of emotion: Riyku. Hawk seemed more amused than ever before. That was because Riyku had called out a particular name.
”Skeith.”
Unlike before, when the pillar of diabolical energy shot outward, it seemed to steam from his body instead. The hilt of The Sword of Annhilination appearing from his chest once more, which he grasped with his left hand, which was free. Pulling out the sword, he would angle it at Hawk. Eyes filled with anger, unlike any other. ”You claimed that 'we' won. Which means you are the Overlord of Crimson Ash. In other words, the reason they are all dead is because of you. You willingly let your people die... people who did not deserve what they went through. They all died for profit... while you sit there without batting an eyelash.” Riyku's eyes started to flare a solid crimson. ”Did you think I would let that all go just because you are the Overlord... just because 'we' won?” As Riyku spoke, Raw Diabolical Energy started to condense around his body.