152 Star-Lord (1/2)

I honestly, didn't like it. There were too many unknowns in this scenario, but given the circumstances, Aura had the right idea. This was our best chance to escape although I wasn't entirely sure about what we were giving away. I mean, what use was the Patriarch's scent to this man we were about to make a deal with?

Chris Pint, the Lord of Stars, spared me a glance.

\”What guarantees do I have that you'll come through on your end of the bargain if I help you now?\” he asked.

\”The same way we're going to have to trust you not to stab us in the back when we escape,\” I said. \”The Law of Equivalent Trade!\”

His eyebrow shot up. Then he laughed.

\”A visere's bargain, huh… You've got some big cojones, man,\” he said approvingly. Then he took a big whiff of air into his lungs and after he exhaled, he addressed the other two lords present, \”Ah, you smell that, friends? That's the smell of victory.\”

\”You think I'll let you take my prize from me?\” Lord Rah asked, his own eyebrow rising up.

In response, Chris Pint pulled out a tiny vial from one of the many pockets on his belt. He raised this minuscule thing to the others' eye-levels.

Surprisingly, they reacted to it as if he was holding an explosive device. Both fairies pulled away from him. Both of them raised their weapons as if to repel whatever he was about to do.

A quick glance at the clear vial confirmed that it had black powder inside it, more commonly known in the markets as boom dust. It was the same stuff inside that canister I used to blow up those spiders earlier.

However, my canister was the size of a Coke can whereas the vial in Chris Pint's hand was a small as my pinkie finger. It was a firecracker at best. So I didn't understand why the other two lords had reacted in such a wary way.

\”That's right… You two know what happens if I pop this cork,\” Chris Pint said confidently. \”I know you don't want that…\”

Ardeen Spellweaver said nothing, but he continued to keep his sword pointed at Chris Pint while maintaining the distance between them. Lord Rah, however, seemed about ready to pop at the obvious provocation. In fact, the ends of his hair were already smoldering.

\”You think I'm afraid of you?!\” Lord Rah looked livid as he spat those words. \”Preposterous… a measly mudman thinks himself my better?\”

He raised his spear forward, and as his killing intent exploded out of him, the black vapor leaking out of the spearhead turned a fierce reddish hue.

Those of us between them had to brace against each other as that killing intent brushed past us, and I was reminded of the heavy weight of Darah's own intent whenever she sent it my way during training. It was more proof that despite his different title, Lord Rah was equal to a great general in power.

A grin showed up on Chris Pint's face. \”Oo~~oh, I'm shaking in my boots.\”

He spared me another glance and winked.

\”Go ahead and move over to my guys,\” he said still confident. \”I'll keep Rah and Spellweaver here company.\”

\”You will not move!\” Lord Rah hissed, his hair finally catching fire.

\”Dean,\” Luca whispered.

\”Do as he says… go!\” I ordered.

My team began to withdraw toward Chris Pint's side while maintaining our formation, but Ardeen Spellweaver was quick to react. His swifthart bounded toward us, keeping us within range of his saber which was already swinging toward me.

The sound of clashing shadowblades rang in the air as Chris Pint blocked his attack. And their swords locked only for a second before Chris easily pushed Ardeen back with overwhelming strength.

\”Rude of you to attack them when I said I would play with you…\” Chris Pint uncorked his vial with a thumb and then raised it to his nose. He inhaled the black powder's fragrance and then breathed out the words, \”Starry Savvy.\”

Although there was no visible change to him, I could tell that he was suddenly different. So it was no surprise to me when I watched him easily dodge the spear thrust Lord Rah had aimed at his blind side. In the next instant, I saw him move his swifthart to the side so he could slash at Lord Rah.

The force of the impact of his swing against Lord Rah's spear sent Rah backward and almost knocked him off his swifthart.

Ardeen appeared to attack Chris Pint's flank, but Chris parried the attack by quickly unsheathing his other sword with his left hand and slashing it toward Ardeen.