Chapter 1279 A Golden Summoning
The situation reached a standstill, as neither side could reach an agreement. Rain was concerned for Benjamin and Arthur, noticing how the Patriarch and Matriarch had lost their easy-going att.i.tude. When Rain asked for Valeria Storm earlier, the two were unconcerned and simply rejected her requests. However, when Benjamin made the request for the ancient scroll, their demeanor changed.
"Ragnar once ruled the universe using his techniques, but he was betrayed because of his beliefs. After countless generations, we should know better than to hand our secrets to an outsider," the Patriarch tried to convince Benjamin.
"My grandson is no outsider. He might have lived his entire life outside the clan, but he still mastered wrath just the same. If anything, it proves his worth without the guidance of our clan."
"Then, he should be just fine on his own," said the Matriarch with a smirk. "If he managed to control lightning so far, then it seems that he doesn"t need the Ancient Scroll."
Even Rain, who had no idea what that ancient scroll was, had to admit they were being petty. Just because their daughter was meant to have the scroll or whatever they were being petty.
"There is no further need for us to discuss this," said Benjamin with a sharp glint in his eyes. "Everything will be decided in the selection that happens every year, right?"
"And what makes you think that your grandson has the right to enter the selection?" asked the Patriarch with a frown.
"Because he"s my d.a.m.n grandson," replied Benjamin with a sneer. Raheem fidgeted on the side, backing away from the three.
The Patriarch did not take Benjamin"s att.i.tude well. Black lightning burst out from his body as he levitated, glaring at Benjamin with ferocious eyes. His hands, which had remained hidden inside his sleeves the entire time, emerged to reveal black flames rising from them.
"Do not a.s.sume that you have any right in this clan anymore, Silvera," spat the Patriarch with wrath, his ashen hair rising on its ends. "The moment you descended the mountain, you and your descendants lost your rights here."
"Because I never thought that my blood screams as well," replied Benjamin as he reached toward his giant sword, making it fly to his grip. "And for the first time, I have a right to claim in this d.a.m.ned clan."
Runes burst out from Benjamin as if he was a firework exploding. Golden mana rose from him like a rising wave, bubbling from his skin as it covered his sword.
The three onlookers and the Matriarch stepped back, fearful of being hit in the crossfire. A deafening explosion shook the mountain as the two auras, golden and black, clashed against each other.
"Don"t be a fool, Benjamin!" roared the Patriarch as he clapped his hands together, letting the black flames bloom like a flower. "You were never our match, so why throw away your life?"
"Because this is my duty as a grandfather," roared Benjamin as he grabbed the sword with both hands, raising it in a straight line toward the sky. "Not that I am the best grandfather he can have," he added with a grin. "But I do what I can."
The runes covered his sword, letting flames, ice, light, and darkness cover it. His runes exploded alongside his golden mana, seeking to destroy the wrath. However, it only served to halt its progress.
Mount Ehler began shaking, and Rageclaw let out a scream of wrath. Rain didn"t know what to do next other than run away from the battle as the two monsters clashed.
As Benjamin"s sword collided with the wrath, the impact sent everyone flying off their feet. Raheem rolled on the ground while Sapphire rushed forward to hold on to Rain, erecting a force field around them.
"There is no point in being here anymore," said Sapphire as her piercing eyes looked through the veil at the two monsters. "The Netherborne do not seem inclined to help us, and definitely not after this."
"We have no other clue about her," said Rain while tightening her grip on the princess. "How could we leave without achieving anything?"
"We are achieving more than enough by saving our a.s.ses," snapped Sapphire at her. "The Netherborne is calm on the surface, but beneath that is nothing but a volcano about to erupt. And once it does, nothing can stop it."
Rain looked at Benjamin"s back. She didn"t want to say the real reason behind her worry. If his grandfather dies here, then she can never face Arthur without shame.
"Are you worried about the old geezer?" asked Sapphire as she noticed her gaze. "We barely know the man, and he did everything just for his grandson. Why would we risk our lives for him?"
"Because he risked his life for us," said Rain as she placed a hand on her heart. "It seems that I have no choice but to use this."
"Use what?" muttered Sapphire with a frown.
"My last card," replied Rain as she looked at her. "Please don"t hate me, Sapphire. I really don"t want us to become enemies after this."
The moment her words ended, and under the confused eyes of Sapphire, golden light appeared on Rain"s chest. Raheem rose from the ground, staring at her with recognition.
"That"s the same light that saved us earlier," muttered the strategist, making Sapphire turn toward him with confusion. "That light saved us as we crossed the wall!"
Before Sapphire could question her, golden light erupted from Rain as if she was an exploding star. The mana rushed toward Benjamin, aiding him against wrath in his battle. At the same time, it shot a beam toward the sky.
"What is that?" muttered the Matriarch with confusion, staring at the beam of golden mana. "That"s almost as if..."
"...a summoning," muttered the Patriarch as he stared at the sky with a grim appearance. "What have you brought to our home, d.a.m.n Benjamin?!" roared the Patriarch as he glared at a smiling Benjamin.
"Nothing but the proof of what I said," he said while staring at the sky. "You think that your wrath is so great, and you have banished me for my runes. But here it is, the ultimate proof that will make you eat your own words."
The golden beam of light shot through the clouds with Rain in the center. She felt warm after activating the rune that Arthur had placed inside her body in case she needed it.
And she needed him to save his grandfather.
"Clan leader!" rushed the disciples to his aid. "Our wall has been breached by something unknown! We will need time to fix it!"
"The unknown is standing right there," said the Patriarch while staring at Rain as black flames rose from his hands. "As long as we kill that woman, the summoning stops."
Black flames exploded from his hand as he directed them toward Rain. As she stood there in helplessness, unable to evade, Rain considered whether she had bitten off more than she could chew.
Before the flames struck her, the giant sword appeared to fend off the flames. They exploded atop the sword but remained on the same trajectory, seeking to turn Rain to ashes.
"Rain!" called Sapphire as she erected a force sphere to protect them, surprising Rain. However, the wall disintegrated into nothingness the moment the flames touched them.
"Sapphire! Run!" shouted Rain to her, but it was too late. The flames were moments away from burning the princess before a giant figure rushed over and pushed her away.
The flames exploded, striking the giant figure that had appeared. Benjamin fell to the ground as flames burned through his armor, vaporizing it in an instant. It reached his skin, burning through his back, as the old man fell to the ground.
"Benjamin!" shouted Rain as she rushed forward, her skin still covered with a golden hue as she reached the man. Sapphire rose from the side, confused about what happened.
"I"m fine, little girl," said Benjamin with a grin as he raised a hand toward her, but his face was covered with sweat. "Thank you for proving my words."
"What are you talking about?"
"I knew that you could summon him," answered Benjamin with a small grin. "You are his friend, after all, right?"
"And you are his grandfather, so I can"t have you dying on me," said Rain with panic. "Please don"t die just yet. Please."
"He won"t die," said a voice from beyond the smoke, before the Patriarch emerged from behind it. "Because after your little ruse, we need you all alive."
"Deciding to use some underhanded means, aren"t you?" asked Benjamin as he turned toward the clan leader with a grin. "My grandson will visit you soon, and you will have to answer his demands."
"I don"t have to answer anything," rebuked the Patriarch with a sneer. "My daughter has mastered the Nine Paths of Enlightenment. She is the only one worthy of wielding wrath!"
"Your daughter is a good child, I will give you that," said Benjamin with a smile as he turned to face the clan leader. "But my grandson... will be something otherworldly."