Chapter 40 Not as simple as it seems... 2 (1/2)

Winding the clock a few minutes back, a red-robed middle-aged woman was observing Shin and his party from afar. Continually looking for any signs of danger, the woman was assigned to protect Shin should there be any complications.

'I would honestly doubt that the Second Elder would kill Shin in broad daylight though.'

The woman thought to herself. Even the High Elders had their limitations. It was not as if they could do whatever they wanted to without facing the consequences. If the Second Elder indeed killed Shin, he would face severe punishments. He might even be stripped of his title and exiled out of the Frie Clan. It was unthinkable for a High Elder to relinquish his title just to kill one orphan.

'I mean I get why he wants to kill Shin… The Sovereign Koi is indeed a threat to the existence of the Frie Clan, but if trained correctly, the clan could really benefit from an expert using that infamous Spirit… Furthermore, Shin is just a child!'

The woman was disgusted by the Second Elder's way of doing things. To sate his desires, he was willing to kill an innocent kid.

'Hmph! But with me here, let me see what he can do!'

Driven to protect the black-haired youth, the woman increased her surveillance of the vicinity.

”Hoh… So you are the one the First Elder sent, Ines...”

A thick, masculine voice sounded behind the woman hiding in the trees.

”Wha…!”

Shocked beyond belief, Ines coated herself in mana and leapt off the branch she was resting on. She felt the world turn as she manoeuvred a somersault to land safely on the ground. When she looked up, Ines saw a burly and dishevelled man who only had his right arm.

”BATES!!!”

Realising who her adversary was, Ines exclaimed in terror. Bates is a legend in the clan. A veteran of a hundred battles, when he was a Rank 50 Spirit Lord, he managed to kill a Rank 60 Spirit King at the expense of his left arm. Thus, he earned a nickname that struck fear to all who faced him. The One-armed Kingslayer. Now that he had promoted to a Spirit King, no one could accurately pinpoint his battle power. Some say that he should be as strong as a Spirit Emperor, others say that he was as strong as a peak Spirit King, but one thing was undeniable. Bates is one of the most powerful members of the Frie Clan.

”To think that the Second Elder sent you to kill Shin… It looks like he's really determined...”

”What the Elder does is none of your business… If you value your life, just stay here with me and ignore the child.”

Bates' thick voice resonated in Ines' ears.

”As tempting as the proposition is, I have a job here… So I can't play with you, Bates...”

Promptly turning down Bates' proposal, Ines summoned her Spirit. A flame Ainu Wolf Spirit appeared beside the woman as she prepared her battle stance. The blaze Ainu Wolf Spirit was wreathed with fire on its head, shoulder blades and four limbs. As if it was sentient, it adopted a battle position similar to Ines. Although Ines was no match for Bates, a Rank 54 Spirit Lord such as herself was no pushover.

”Such a shame...”

Shaking his head in disapproval, Bates began to levitate in the air.

*Rumble*

The ground shook as spiritual energy was being gathered in large amounts by the Spirit King. After a few seconds, Bates' right hand began to illuminate a reddish light as all of the mana in he had gathered condensed and formed an ochre-coloured gauntlet covering his entire hand.