Chapter 1107 A Mother"s Wrath
"Just because I lost doesn"t mean I have to follow you like a dog," said the Lord of Westcoast as he spat on the ground. "You gained a powerful friend, that is all. This does not translate to your real capabilities, not one bit. I will not bow to a man I do not respect."
"How about testing me, then?" asked Dorian with a little smile as he raised his hand toward the lord, gesturing for him to come over. "I will give you ten chances to kill me, and if you could not, then you have to hand over your lordship to me."
"Brother, is that wise?" asked Luna with a worried expression, stepping forward and placing a hand over his arm. "What if you get harmed?"
"This is the only method to convince him," said Dorian as he stared at the middle-aged man with long sideburns. "I want to retain you as an advisor because no one knows your city better than you do."
"Ten strikes, huh?" asked the Lord of Westcoast with a smirk as he licked his lips. "And you would not seek help from your friends here?"
"What is the point in doing that if I just wanted to convince you?"
"You would not interfere, long-hair?" the lord turned his question toward Arthur, who was watching with interest. "Would you let your puppy die like that?"
"If he dies, then I can just find the next best replacement," said Arthur with a smile. "However, if you go back on your word, you die like the dog beside you."
"I take those odds!" said the Lord of Westcoast with a grin, and Arthur nodded toward Ramiel. The cuffs restraining him dissolved, and the man rose from the ground as he rubbed his bruises. "Don"t rush to kill me once I kill this lamb!"
As soon as he finished his words, a dagger appeared in the man"s hands. He turned to lightning as he pounced on Dorian, slashing toward his neck without hesitation. In response, Dorian raised his palm to meet the blade.
"Foolish! My dagger is the sharpest weapon in this tower!"
"Blades cannot harm me," muttered Dorian as the dagger struck his palm, and the lord was flung backward as if he struck a steel mountain. His expression betrayed his pain as he landed on the ground, feet dragging across the ashen ground.
"What is this power?" muttered the lord as he swapped his dagger to the other hand and stared at his palm. Blood pooled in his palm, like a small oasis, as it leaked from the long gushing wound. "My own attack cut through my flesh?"
"This is my curse and blessing, Karmic Resonance," said Dorian as he took his stance. "No one can hurt me, and I cannot hurt anyone."
"What kind of useless power is that?" smirked the Lord of Westcoast as he spat on his palm, and the wound scarred instantly. "How can you defeat your enemies if you cannot hurt them?"
"I have no enemies here," said Dorian with a resolute expression. "Our true enemies are far above us, staring down at this realm with disdain and apathy. You can hate me all your life, Lord of Westcoast. I don"t mind that, but I want you to serve your city as you have always done."
"Ask me again after nine strikes!" said the Lord of Westcoast as he jumped again, repeating the same actions to get the same results. In the meantime, Arthur was smiling from ear to ear as Seraphine stared at him.
"Those are the same words you said when you entered Xeloria," said Seraphine with a little smirk on her lips. "Are you proud of this lad?"
"The moment I met him, I knew he was destined for greatness. However, his change surprised me time after time. I remember him scolding me for not helping defeat the enemies of Xeloria, but now… he doesn"t consider them as enemies."
"His life will be one of suffering," said Seraphine as she stared at him. "His empathy will shatter his heart."
"And shattering his heart will make him stronger, kinder, and wiser," said Arthur with a smile as he watched the Lord of Westcoast attack him eight more times, receiving various scars all over his body. However, as he rushed to attack for the tenth time, the lord stopped.
"What is stopping you?" asked Dorian as he stared at the lord, whose eyes glared at the white man with ashen hair.
"I know the futility of it now," said the lord of Westcoast with a sigh as he pulled his dagger away and placed it in his palm. "I will use this last chance to make a vow. Since I lost against you as well, I have no right to object about transferring my lordship."
Splash!
The Lord of Westcoast cut through his own palm, allowing blood to spill on the ground. Then, he presented his fist to Dorian with a hardened expression as red lights shone between them. [Lordship of Westcoast has been transferred to Dorian Stormblade.]
"Take care of us all, kiddo," said the middle-aged man with a grin. "I might be a cynical and calculating man, but I can tell when someone hates me. There was not a shred of hatred in your eyes toward me, and I can never be this forgiving!"
"I have no reason to hate you, Lord of Westcoast," said Dorian with a smile. "You can keep leading your city and taking care of your citizens. I will make sure that not one of them would starve."
"I trust that promise," said the Lord of Westcoast as he turned toward the remaining lord of Blood Keep. "I advise you to hand over your lordship as well, blood mage."
"Of course, I would!" said the mage with a grin as he bowed toward Dorian. "I will follow the young lord until the end, too! My life will be dedicated to serve..."
"Seraphine," muttered Arthur, interrupting the mage. His command did not need to be vocalized before the demon nodded and waved her hand. Before anyone could do a thing, the mage was beheaded and his head rolled on the ground.
The crowd was shocked, staring at the demon with confusion. They stared at Arthur with fear, thinking that he went back on his vow. However, as the demon walked toward Dorian and transferred the lordship, Arthur explained.
"The mage wanted to betray Dorian later down the path, seizing power for himself," muttered Arthur as he stared at them. "None of the others had such intentions, so I"m glad. Otherwise… a lot more bloodshed would have occurred."
A chill ran down their spines as the group realized that if they did harbor such intentions, Arthur would have killed them without hesitation. The fact that he could even tell his exact intentions made them even more confused, but everyone was too afraid to ask.
"How could you tell?" asked Dorian the question on their minds, exhibiting bravery worthy of their respect.
"You feel empathy, while I feel existence," said Arthur with a smile. "I never intended for the blood mage to join your advisors because I can hear how many lives he has taken. In any case, there is only one more person left."
Arthur turned his attention toward Marshal Stormblade, and his relaxed aura vanished. Instead, a black wrathful aura surrounded him as he began walking toward the Lord of Xeloria.
"Please wait! I will transfer the Lordship right this instant, just please wait!" begged Marshal Stormblade, but Arthur did not stop walking toward him. Thus, he began begging his children. "Please stop him, Dorian, Luna! I am still your father!"
Despite his pleas for mercy, his two children did not even seem pained at his fate. Marshal Stormblade could feel the impending doom, forcing him to transfer his Lordship in a last-ditch effort to stop his execution. [Lordship of Xeloria has been transferred to Dorian Stormblade.]
"Look! I gave him the lord"s position, just please wait! Give me a day, just one day left to live! I beg of you, Alexie!" begged Marshal Stormblade as he stared at the man towering over him, stopping, and taking out his black dagger. "I beg..."
"Marshal Stormblade," muttered Arthur as he stared down at the man, who flinched as he heard his name. "Someone would like to announce your crimes and judgment."
Arthur raised his black dagger, which unleashed a cry to summon the wrathful voices. A figure began materializing beside Arthur, staring at Marshal who was on the ground. As the figure with orange hair finished materializing, Dorian and Luna cried out in shock.
"Mother!"
"Mom!"
Luna staggered back as she saw her mother appear next to Arthur, falling to the ground. Dorian stared with shock at the mother he barely knew, feeling a heartache unlike any other. However, their mother did not turn toward them.
"You can recite his crimes," said Arthur toward the figure of their mother, who made Marshal hyperventilate as his b.l.o.o.d.y lips quivered. "And I shall take justice for your sake."
"You l.u.s.ted over our daughter, and gave her a cursed skill to blame for your desires," said their mother as she stared at him with apathy. "You killed me when I tried to save her, and then imprisoned her for twenty years."