There's a little bit of violence in this chapter that be a little disturbing to some readers.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkvA728Ae9
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQheYdopVFk
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYCw5m9wr5
"Be on guard today, even more so than yesterday." Hiro says.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwApabcnAP
"What are you expecting? Nothing happened yesterday, so why's today any different?" Rose says.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOWXIqbR0f
"Just take my word for it."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhk4xCzukVu
"Yes sir."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3ThudyAUg
They start walking towards the meeting room, and once they arrive, they see the other kings arriving in the meeting room at the same time.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxcHeU2Y1F
After some small talk, Hiro officially opens the meeting. It goes roughly as Hiro expected with no real progress being made. However, throughout the conversation Hiro feels something pass over him. Magic? Ether? Both? He couldn't quite make out what it was at that moment, but it gave him a slight uneasiness. After he finishes one of his points, he shoots Faust a look, to which he nods his head in agreement.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUUJXmblWB
"Excuse me, did anyone feel that wave of energy just a moment ago?"
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUNHex1jKl
"No, but what kind of 'energy' was it? Ether?" Asks Arthur.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDIgGOxi5h
"It feels like a combina-". Hiro is cut off by yet another wave. This time, everyone in the room feels it.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeNqXVTuqN
Hiro taps Rose's arm. She instinctively enters Hyper Speed and awaits the next move. There is another wave that passes over them, only this time it's more forceful than before. Immediately following are a few painstakingly long moments of silence. Regardless of the stances they held previously, they were all of one mind now.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNN1ssxR7W
More waves come in at smaller intervals, gradually increasing in forcefulness, and starting to come from above them. After a few more of them hit, the waves stop, allowing for a brief moment of reprieve.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeodJArziD
"Hiro, is this what you've been feeling in Rahu? If so, it makes sense that you're so concerned." Says Relve.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVLomA90EP
"Something like that, but with more force and less individual waves." As Hiro finishes his statement there's a loud crash from the room above them, followed by something falling through the ceiling and shattering the meeting table.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVRFg20Ihd
Fear.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2qZF7DotZ
This 'something' was a short, muscular man with a spear in hand. He had an immense, heavy, grotesque aura about him. He felt… monstrous.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoV7cX08m1
The entire room stood still, until he looked over his shoulder directly at Hiro. As soon as his head turned, the teleporters in the room all reached for their respective kings in an attempt to withdraw but to no avail. He releases a strong wave of ether, shaking everyone in the room before rushing towards Rahvas's teleporter effortlessly decapitating him.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtirChc7oS
"It's Xander! Run!" Zero shouts before Xander throws his spear towards him. Sera manages to reach around him and deflect it, but not without getting nicked by it in the process.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi8lnD6C0j
This was exactly the thing they were afraid of. The absolute worst case scenario. Xander's malicious reappearance.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsFNxzf7Sw
After deflecting the spear, Sera picks Zero up by his waist and leaps across the room towards the door, carrying him under her arm. Xander tries to intercept, but Rose leaps in, tackling him to the ground.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoug5a9k4FD
"You better come back to help!" Rose shouts at her, before Xander throws her off of him.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4XHpKeC9l
Sera gives a thumbs up to her and sprints out the door. By this point, the other two observers teleport Relve, Therius, and Arthur out of the room, presumably to their home countries. The only ones left in the meeting room are Xander, Rose, Hiro, Faust, and Laura.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzhxU2LfOj
After being thrown off Rose teleports back on top of him, attempting to wrestle him into submission. Before she can gain any kind of advantage, he points to his spear, that's now lodged blade-first in the floor, and magically pulls it towards them. As it flies, she is forced to let go of him to dodge the spear. She scrambles to get back up, but once she does, she's met with a door sized fireball exploding in her face.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fbOqR5Gis
Meanwhile, Hiro puts Laura in a water bubble, and shoves her through the door into the hallway. He exchanges looks with Faust and joins the fight. Faust launches a fireball out of his hand cannon while Hiro swings at Xander with a water sword and fills the room with fog in the process.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyi7bsbqUty
They continue to exchange blows, but something seems off to Rose. She knows that she's the worst fighter in the room, but she seems to be doing the best by a decent size margin. Faust's earlier shot was dodged with ease and Hiro has yet to land a clean hit.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjib99ZL2h
"Why are you two doing so badly?!" She says while saving Hiro from Xander's attack.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXDaL5G8Zg
"That's what we're trying to figure out!" Faust and Hiro shout back at her in unison.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeao8PVq4H0
"Well, figure it out faster!" She shouts as she gets sent flying across the room. Before she hits the wall, she feels herself bump into something, or rather someone.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB42hoQdqfx
"Looks like guys have your hands full." Rex says while helping Rose to her feet.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLhchHfKwJ
"Do something! Hold him off!" Faust says.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvA8Qj6SCP
"I hear you, but I’m waiting for someone." Rex says while joining into the fight.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgBV8YJ3W7
He engages Xander while parrying a few of his attacks. They both graze each other with their strikes. Hiro takes the opportunity to retreat and regroup with Rose and Faust. While he does, Elajuel teleports in, touches Rex and Xander, and teleports them away.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S8nXA6Yau
"While we have this opportunity, let's figure out what's going on."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy1NcdtuGu
"Agreed. Firstly, Rose. Did you feel anything strange while Xander was in the room?"
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRf12ghHnDH
"No, not really. It felt like a normal fight for the most part. The only thing that caught my eye was that Sera and I were moving just fine, but you two weren't."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTVRJjcYfQ
"You and Sera? If I had to guess, it's probably something to do with your abilities." Faust says.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN5Cfe1XiR
Hiro puts a hand on his face in disappointment.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdPMSs1EaZ
"It's time." He says.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUtEnxgSSH
"Time for what?" Rose asks.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfXDAVTDaR
"Not time for something, your abilities are time based."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WNUpyvejg
"That… makes a lot of sense. I guess that means that I'm just speeding up time for myself then?"
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUMNTijbq0
"Sounds about right. Then that would mean Xander is slowing down time for everyone else around him, hence why you and Sera were moving fine."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hSVDzOOt5
"How does Sera fit into all this?" She asks.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQyZ8DJ31P
"Everyone that has an ability has a resistance to that element. For example, someone with a fire ability will have a resistance to heat. Assuming we're right, you have a resistance to other time based abilities, like Xander's. Sera fits because she probably has a time-based ability." Faust explains.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjV0RjsO5H
"But this is just a theory, right?" Rose asks.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWcnuDmAkV
"Sera and Xander's abilities are a guess, but I feel confident in yours.” He says.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXDosvc3OE
“Hey, where’d Xander go?” Sera says, popping in.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02zwZ4Xaem
Out of breath, she returns without Zero, looking around at the damage caused. They catch her up on the situation, and she tells them about what's been happening outside of the fighting. The rest of the children were being evacuated by Elajuel and Rex while Vuella, Helen, and Vuella took care of moving the surrounding townspeople. While they exchange information, they are covered by a massive shadow from overhead.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwIkMDBScS
"It's been a long time since I've seen him get this big." Hiro says.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL3XmEtQ3X
"Why is it… or rather, why is he so big? And where is it going?" Sera asks.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRWVkt0udA
"He's bigger than normal because Rex is feeding more ether into him than usual. Draconis is normally about the size of a few houses, but right now he's closer to a few dozen houses. Faust, do you have any defensive spells you can use right now?"
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl8r2giaQx
"Of course I do. Simply tell me where."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhgrWt74Su
"We have to at least cover the city. I can make a shield but I don't know if that'll be enough."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdp1KgZOs6
"Let's get started then. If my guess is correct, then they should be fight somewhere near the Rahuian Mountains."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSwz27Unib
"Based on how fast he was going, he'll be there in the next minute or so."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRBI91nMM5
Hiro gives them a smile and a wave as water starts to pool up around his feet, before blasting him into the air, straight through the ceiling. Immediately after he takes off, Faust grabs his coattails and gets taken with him, while Sera and Rose go outside the palace to follow the action.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhf7eQVi0h
They look up to see Hiro and Faust several thousands of feet in the air. A wall of water starts to expand outwards, with Hiro at its center. At the same time, Faust points to the outskirts of the capital, and a bright red flame shoots out of his fingertip, scorching the ground. Once Hiro's water shield fully extends to the ground, slightly behind Faust's scorched earth, they fall back down to the ground. Hiro creates a bubble around them to break the fall. On impact, Faust touches his palms to the floor, causing his barrier to activate, covering Hiros in a red aura.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQEHlyphtx
"Good. The impact should reach us in three… two… one…"
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1RXChJodu
The entire building shook violently as the Draconis arrived at his destination. Faust's barrier shattered instantly. Hiro's water shield stayed standing, but wobbled and warped after Faust's broke.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7VAIatIdH
"A little tiring, but nothing is too difficult for two kings. Don't you agree, Faust?" Hiro says as he turns around to see no one behind him. He realizes what was happening, but it dawns on him too late.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnDNs9lgwi
He creates a dagger out of fog and turns back to swing behind him. He misses and is met with a dagger to his midsection.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3p5CXEA5D
Sera releases the knife and hops back.
"And with that, my job is done. Or at least half of it." She says, giving a bow.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLOevoVIok
"I guess Velajul… was right. Can't… trust… a pretty face." He says through a pained grin.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4RilyIrNo
"Careful your Majesty. I punctured a lung, so if you want to live until help arrives, you had better stop talking." She says while giving a smile.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrt5hDPdwr
"Oh and one last thing before I leave: I'm pretty sure you figured it out already, but Lord Varasta was behind all of this so you'll have to send any complaints to him. Love you, bye!" She says before sprinting away.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tz2AUsn7X
.
.
.
"Who was that, and where are we?!" Rose yells, screaming at Faust over the wind rushing past their eardrums.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6SWFgtkap
"This looks like the mountain range Hiro mentioned earlier! If it is, be careful not to get caught up in the battle!" Faust says.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrU2fyoaWHy
As they fall, they look down and try to see the fight below them. They see Rex and Xander, locked in combat. With every punch thrown, Rex sends another water dragon out alongside his fists. Xander dodges his fists, but gets grazed by the dragons, each time coming closer to a clean hit.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6g3LxE2yk
Once Rex lands a solid hit to Xanders chest, he summons Draconis once again, this time scooping up Xander in its mouth and taking him high up in the air.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT8o31aBbE
"Hey, Mr. Tyrol! Do something before Draconis hits us too!"
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7g4Rw08zG2
Faust grabs her and fires off a massive burst of fire from his fist, pushing them both out of the way. Draconis doesn't touch them, but they still feel the wind and spraying water from his wing beat as he flies past them, before crashing back downwards. On contact with the ground, Draconis's body erupts, eviscerating the ground and nearby surroundings, leaving a massive, mountain sized crater where he landed. Rex starts to wobble, before falling over on his knees.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPb0VJ3URn
Since they've fallen closer to the ground, Rose teleports her and Faust down to join Rex.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEHGNwPXfl
"What are you two doing here? And what happened at the palace?"
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NOsvvZJZt
"We sorta got… attacked? If you could really call it that. Someone teleported in and tried to grab Faust. I reacted a little too late to stop him, but I managed to touch him so I got teleported with them."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsca9LC4EXo
"Yes, it seems we were set up, most likely by Zero."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpQh4Qjwi3
"So then why haven't you left yet? Hiro's more important tha-"
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9arVRwqg6k
Blood splatters. Rose, now on the ground, stares in utter disbelief.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQhx1aCdQd
"Leave…" Rex says, arms still outstretched, with a spear through his stomach, and Xander on the other hand.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2htdjpUQGq
Faust reaches for his hand cannon, but is intercepted by Xander's off-hand, destroying the weapon entirely. He shoots Rose a look, freezing her in place with fear while yanking his spear out of Rex. As his body falls to the ground, Rex weakly mouths the word 'move', trying to snap her out of it.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDZ7O6VG4O
Rose looks on in fear as she watches Xander break Faust's weapon. She can't move. Her body won't allow her to even stand in his presence. She was shaken to her core.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYb9BXNLYq3
After a few blows to Faust, Xander crouches down, swirling wind magic at his feet, before leaping high into the air in the direction of the palace.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhRUzucH24
"WAKE UP ALREADY!" Faust shouts at her.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHK1EKvoml
Rose is visibly startled.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1BDJrImhO
"So-sorry about that! I'm… I'm okay now." She says wiping away the cold sweat on her brow.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4XpsW6asc
"Rex, are you alright?"
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IoE3qlKhm
"Does it… look like… I'm alright?"
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXLMg6jpzs
"I just need to make sure you'll live if we leave you here with no aid."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB7UBLfDXP
"Just… Go already."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDObquEWvvm
"Rose, can you teleport us there?"
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwYUjTdYpG
"Yes sir."
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDq7MJxXMc4
She taps his shoulder and takes a deep breath, before teleporting to the palace.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBMYOEDQrL
They teleport into a horrendous scene. At least, for Rose.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTJ7hDZrrX
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvWcD0gznH
