Chapter 583: A Tight Spot
Chapter 583: A Tight Spot
Arthur stared at the head of the Avens Runic Guards, who did not take his demands well. He was offended that Arthur even asked to meet the Ghost Ruler, and his aura betrayed his rage.
"An apprentice runemaster dares claim that knowledge?" the captain fumed. "And you think attacking one of my knights is an offense I would just forget?"
His rage was justifiable, Arthur knew, but he did not have time for this. Every second he wastes here feels like a stab to his urgent heart because he knows his father is deranged. This made Arthur try to do something he had never considered.
"Please let me leave," he bowed his head slightly. "My family is in danger, and I need to get there," he told the truth with sincerity. Avens Runic Guards were taken aback by the change in his attitude, and the captain was among them.
"Do you think such lies would work against me?"
"I have no reason to lie. I just want to go home despite the unfortunate circumstances. You are stronger than I am, but even so, I am willing to fight for a chance to see my family now."
These men related to him because everyone had a family of their own. However, there was a difference between a soldier and a vagabond. These men had a powerful sense of protectiveness over their city that transcended sentimental values.
"There is a protocol for that," said the captain as he began to restrain his aura. "We can use some of your blood and mana to track you down wherever you go, so we will find you if the need arises."
Arthur did not think that his plea would work, and even if it delayed him a bit, it was better than being arrested. But then, as he was about to agree, the whole city began to shake. The runic guards frowned, and so did Arthur, as the earthquake took a good while to settle.
"Warning!"
"A highly condensed mana has been detected in the city's central region!"
A warning echoed throughout the air, but it had a sense of panic this time. Arthur looked behind him while the runic guards began to receive their orders. His perception told him that the highly condensed mana came from the ruins.
"A group has infiltrated the ruins," muttered the captain while checking his communication device. "That is the place you came running from, did you not?"
Arthur could feel his only hope to leave this in a civilized method gets crushed. The light in the captain's eyes was enough for the runic guards to unsheathe their swords as their suffocating auras broke free to surround him.
"I have nothing to do with that," tried Arthur again, but their expression was far from being kind this time. Arthur gritted his teeth while thinking of the group that must have infiltrated the ruins.
"I have a hunch that you know something, Alexie Linan," said the captain as a pair of gauntlets appeared around his hands. Arthur could feel the runic lines within them, fueled by his infinite mana. "Hourglass of Fate!"
Every Astra-ranker had an astral spirit he was contracted to, and their levels decided how powerful the awakener was. Arthur saw the hourglass appear above the Astra Ranker, and he knew that there was no method for him to avoid a fight. When the hourglass turned upside down, Arthur could feel the world around them do the same.
"My vision?" frowned Arthur as his vision turned upside down. Captain Avens struck his gauntlets together to generate a forcefield that tried to crush Arthur.
"You are fragile, boy. Surrender without resistance unless you want me to crush you," said the captain as he took slow, confident steps in the sky. "What you are seeing is not an illusion, but my hourglass distorting light into your eyes."
Arthur began to sway as he tried to move. The captain gave a signal to one of the soldiers, who rushed forward to apprehend him. As the soldier was about to grab onto him, Arthur sidestepped while holding his eyes.
"It does take a little while to get used to it," said Arthur with a forced smile. "I cannot wait for the fuss to end before I leave. You can take anything from me except for my freedom."
"You are truly a genius at fighting," sighed the captain with emotions. "I am sure that Ascent would have proven to be the greatest if you were to stay alive. However, this stubbornness might not allow that."
Arthur could feel the captain's anger, and with a gesture, several deme-rankers rushed forward to arrest him. Arthur dodged them by soaring toward the sky, something they did with difficulty before chasing after him.
His patience was wearing thin, and even though these deme-rankers could not catch up to him, Arthur was burning most of his mana. Another thing that he was doing was to restore his vision in real-time as the spirit worked to distort the light.
However, what made him uneasy was that the hourglass did nothing else than that. It was simply piling sand at the bottom as it left the portion above. The fact that nothing else happened meant that there was a time limit.
"I am here," an ancient voice rang in the sky as a boom came below. Then, like a meteor that wanted to tear the sky, a figure rushed toward the group of soldiers, striking them with a wooden sword.
Li appeared to help him when Arthur was struggling to find a plan. The wooden sword was as heavy as a mecha as it struck the soldiers, sending them flying. The abnormal density of such a small object made it a destructive weapon that tore through the soldier's armors.
As the ancient man levitated beside him, Arthur realized he used gravity to fly. The deme rankers all fell back while the captain stopped himself from leaving. Arthur sighed, knowing that the arrival of Li made him now more suspicious than ever.
"You are just an average Jerano student, huh?" muttered the captain as he glared at Li. "It seems you are an accomplice in the infiltration."
"That is not the case," Arthur shook his head. "If you keep wasting time trying to arrest me, those infiltrating the ruins will leave with what they stole."
"As if I would fall for such mind games."
"There are no mind games, you fucking idiot," snapped Arthur at the Runic Guard. "I am telling the truth. If you don't take your ass over there and stop them, you can kiss that position of yours goodbye."
His outburst took the crowd aback, but the captain did not seem offended. Instead, a smile appeared on his face. Arthur was confused as the man began to laugh.
"You are finally showing emotions, boy," laughed the captain as he lowered his gauntlets. "I almost thought you were a high-end mecha if not for this outburst. Who the hell talks about their family in danger without any emotions?"
"I have issues I need to work on," said Arthur with a frown, his usual expression returning. "Are you still going to fight me?"
"Listen, boy," said the captain as he pointed at his friend. "If you are telling the truth, how about you lead us into the ruins? We can use the help of a man recognized by Casca Reverse."
"I told you that I need to leave."
"The portals are closed, and how fast can you cross this land? I will send you to your family myself when this is over. However, it should be a lot faster than relying on yourself."
Arthur was put in a tight spot there. If Mistletoe were indeed the ones infiltrating the ruins, then accepting this offer would be the same as leaving the group and becoming their enemy. But, despite their difference, Arthur liked all of them.
Sier might be doubting him now, but he had the right to be. Reece might annoy him, but it was the greatest stress relief sometimes. Ivy might berate him, but she made him breakfast when they were together.
Each of them had flaws, and as a group, they were nothing but criminals. However, it was the only companionship that Arthur enjoyed. If he helps Runera against them, it will turn into a true betrayal.
"Let me give you a nudge in the right direction," said the captain. "My name is Velos Avens, also known as the man you want to kill the fastest. There is a reason for that," said Velos as he pointed at the hourglass. "Once that hourglass turns upside down again, no one can win against me."
Arthur looked at the hourglass and the calm eyes behind the armor. Those were the eyes of a man without fear and the confidence of absolute strength. Even if he was not as powerful as he claims, Velos believed he was.
"My lord," said Li beside him. "I can feel that he is not bluffing. Even with the powers of my spiritual weapon, I have no chance at winning."
The news did not come as a surprise. Li was far from unleashing the full potential of the spiritual weapon, and he was insightful enough to know his limitations. However, did Arthur know his limits?