Chapter 189: A distraction
Vacuse couldn’t help the smirk that appeared on his face when he heard that.
He had been watching the fight and wasn’t surprised that Cheir couldn’t get past the guy with the bald head. If the idiot was thinking, he would realize that the guy hadn’t even used half of his power.
Interesting.
Someone that came from the Eastern Region to see him? One thing Vacuse knew for sure was that the Great Dungeon clearing wouldn’t be boring for sure.
He smiled to himself and murmured, "What trick are you going to play now, devour bandit?"
Down below, Cheir was looking at the bald guy with a combination of angry and surprised expression. "What the fuck are you talking about?"
Only for the bald guy to shrug. "I guess I understand? I mean, unlike the Western Region here, the Eastern Region is filled with numerous benefits.
"A lot of people control Dungeons where you can wait for monsters to respawn and then challenge. Of course, you rent it. Also, the energy here is thinner.
"Maybe the Great Dungeon will help things."
Cheir blinked. "I didn’t know there was such a massive difference between the two Regions."
The bald guy shrugged again. "Well, it is what it is. So on average, it is only expected that we in the Eastern are stronger than you."
Cheir didn’t seem to like that and his face shifted to indifference. To be honest, devour bandit had enjoyed the fear and admiration of most independent Soulbearers in the Western Region.
As big as the Region is, the independent Soulbearers are close-knit groups, more than people expected. It’s not an easy life, especially since some of the independents are not actually independent but very detached groups of some organizations or Lords to use without having strings traced back to them.
In fact, Vacuse himself had a group like that through Kagerou.
Either way, devour bandit enjoyed a place as one of the strongest in stage two. So it stung his pride that he was facing an independent that could speak so casually about him being weak.
His eyes flashed and he raised the black flute to his mouth.
The bald guy tensed, because each time that Cheir raised his flute like that he was most certainly trying to steal a soul. Or devour it.
But this time something was different. A determined expression shone in Cheir’s eyes, his mouth poised on the flute, ready to blow, but that was when a voice cut through.
"Enough."
They froze. Then looked up.
Vacuse was staring at the two of them from his window. "You two win. I will take you. The others... Captain Amros will talk you through the next plan."
All in all, Vacuse accepted three third stage and two second stage. But those he was actually interested in were the two, Cheir and the bald guy.
"What’s your name, you from Eastern Region?"
The bald guy turned around and bowed. "I am known as Whispered Blade."
"That is your given name?" Vacuse was surprised.
Whispered Blade smiled. "Indeed. My mother is a sword fighter, she fought in the arena. She gave me my father’s fighting name."
"Oh? What a curious name."
"Thank you, my lord... my lord, if I may be so bold. Can we cross swords?"
Cheir couldn’t hold it in anymore. "Me! Me! I will fight you too."
Vacuse smiled.
And it wasn’t a warm smile.
☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆
Not far in the same city, a battle was about to take place as well. A battle because when two Sovereign Ascended clashed, it could not be called mere fighting anymore.
The Iron Knight had been enjoying the tournament that was happening when he felt something that made his usually gloomy face turn even more gloomy.
He then raised his hand and a rift tore free in front of him.
Apart from Law and Authority, one other difference between the Sovereign Ascended stage and the two below is the ability to create portals to transport themselves.
Although that ability can only be gained after one has their Law and Authority, it is still something that only they could do.
But it is also very limited, not for longer distance, and the number of things they could teleport through their portal is just as limited. Most times, they could only go with themselves.
When Iron Knight appeared, it was at the entrance of an alley in the Western Region side. His eyes were dark and harsh. "Only those that are not supposed to be here be crawling around."
His voice was like a blade that sliced the air around him, cutting the darkness that clung to the alley.
There was a pause and then the darkness pulled together, forming into the figure of a man. His face was shrouded in darkness and his voice was unpleasant. "Iron Knight."
Iron Knight snorted, his voice turning even darker. "You were sent? A Sovereign Ascended without a Law or Authority? Is this bravery or stupidity?"
And that was exactly why he was wary, even as it didn’t show on his face.
Iron Knight was a powerful Soulbearer. Sovereign Ascended and A ranked in his pathway.
There was no way another Sovereign Ascended would sneak around in his territory without him knowing. And since he was far weaker, why would he even try in the first place?
Unless he was that insane. Or had a trump card.
Iron Knight narrowed his eyes.
A distraction.
And his confirmation came through. "I don’t need to have Law and Authority. We just need to keep you here for a while."
"We?"
It was then that a loud explosion tore through the air.
The ground shook.
Iron Knight didn’t need to look up to see what was happening.
The golden ship that had been hanging motionless in the air suddenly trembled and shook. Around the ship hovered three men, standing at angles that formed a triangle.
They stood there holding a flat wooden box that emitted translucent white light that shone on the ship, forming a large shield with the ship in the middle.