Chapter 717: Price of Battle

"I… you can't be serious, Arthur! Release me! This is demeaning!" shouted Rain at him. "If not, I will break this ship just to uncuff myself!"

"You were eager to do many things in that state, but now it's demeaning? You can't use any of your strength now that you are restrained. I doubt you would unleash all of your strength and risk blowing our location."

"…if you don't uncuff me, then I would!" said Rain as she tried to pull her hands from the railings, but they were glued to them. "This would be much more troublesome with your identity if we are found!"

"I can teleport, remember? Just stand there quietly and try to calm down instead of threatening me. I will release you once you promise to stop making moves on me."

"I promise!"

"I can still feel the lust."

"You…!"

This banter went on for the whole journey toward Helios, and Rain was about to unleash her mana to break the runes, but she calmed down. Then, Arthur released her, and the city of Helios was in sight.

***

"Your face is sweaty," said Lyle toward Rain, who was still rubbing her forearms. "I didn't ask this on the ship, but did you do it with Arthur Silvera? After all, you two seem to be close."

"As if! I started questioning my techniques, his manhood, and whether this was a dream but nothing makes sense!" huffed Rain as she stared at Arthur Silvera looking at their camp. The ships landed in a forest close to Helios, but one with complex terrain that most would lose the way. "I have no idea why he is the only man alive who resisted my temptations," she bit her nails.

"Even if your ability works passively on all men, that doesn't make it omnipotent. An exception always exists where someone resists your pheromones."

"An exception to the pheromones that even work on males and females regardless of their sexuality?" asked Rain with a sigh. "There is something more to it. My pheromones are not only physical, but they are also charm magic. So even if someone was immune, it should work on them."

"Don't lose sight of what is important," Lyle reminded her, and Rain nodded. "If he is truly immune to bewitching, that means he's more reliable than we thought. However, I wonder who he wants to save from the executions?"

"Are you afraid of meeting your grandfather after what happened?" smiled Rain at him. Lyle had a blank expression that said he didn't want to talk about it. "In any case, he's now our ally. Things will be a lot more fun from now on."

Arthur kept looking around the camp and examining different devices or runes. The base had over two thousand soldiers, and he asked whether that was all of them. In response, Spider told him this was just a fraction of their forces around the empire.

The camp was in a meadow that surrounded both sides of a small stream, with a small bridge connecting the two sides. There were tents, training grounds, dining tables, and flying vessels all over the giant camp. Spider was the one responsible for showing him around.

"If Ascent joins our cause, then we can recruit even more," said Spider, but Arthur Silvera looked to ponder something else. Then, he asked about the soldier's strength. "We have all kinds of ranks, but the Holy Knights, Light Platoons, and Elemental Soldiers are all far stronger than we are. This is why we will avoid confrontations and strike during the executions."

"And take down the Imperial Family in one go," continued Arthur without seeming convinced. "This plan seems to be almost too simple. Please tell me the preparations are a lot more sophisticated."

"You are a demanding man," said Spider as she led Arthur through the camp. "Some workers who will build the Imperial Platform are on our side. We will line the platform with a teleportation array that takes the Imperials elsewhere. This way, we will avoid the people and the soldiers."

"A good idea, but the emperor will see through it."

"Lyle will convince him that these arrays are for keeping them safe. This way, even if he notices a spatial array, he won't suspect a thing. This is why Lyle worked for ten years to earn their trust, even when he had to imprison his grandfather."

"Oh?" muttered Arthur with surprise as the two stopped beside a large dining table with brutish soldiers looking at them. "He did such a thing to earn the emperor's trust?"

"The emperor didn't even praise him, but he received a promotion offer afterward to make him one of the three vice-commanders of the Holy Knights. So this will be our ticket into the Imperial Palace."

"Are you Arthur Silvera?" asked a voice from the dining table, and Arthur looked to see a giant man walking toward them. "I heard rumors that the third leader decided to show his face, but I never believed I would see the strongest man alive today."

"The strongest man alive?" asked Arthur with confusion. "Is it because I defeated the Fallen God Amelio?"

"Even if you received the help of others, only you managed to handle such strength. Therefore, if someone were to defeat you now… he would be bestowed with honor and glory."

The giant man stopped walking as he reached Arthur. He was almost seven meters tall, with a thick brownish beard and a giant Warhammer on his back. His eyes were hidden beneath his big helmet. Arthur barely reached his knee.

"Is that why you walked over here?" Arthur asked with a smile. The rest of the soldiers gathered around them, and Spider did nothing to stop them. Ilios was indeed the land of the strong, as the warriors needed proof to serve.

"I joined this army for this chance to meet you, and I was starting to suspect it was a lie," said the giant as he grabbed his Warhammer. "After witnessing your fight against Amelio, it is every man's dream to fight you, even if they lost."

"Lose means death for me, brute," Arthur said with his eyes sharpening and bloodlust leaking from his body. "Do you think I will tolerate an offense enough to spare your life?"

"A worthy price to stand against a man of your caliber!" shouted the giant as he slammed the shaft of his weapon on the ground, creating a crater the size of a man. "If death is the price, then fight me!"

The giant roared, making the ground shake and the trees throw their leaves over the forest. His mincing and battle-honed aura were thick and suffocating, but not to Arthur. Spider disappeared into the shadows without a trace, leaving Arthur to stand alone in the face of this giant.

"For warriors, their death is a given. A true warrior seeks death in battle instead of death in peace. However, what if the real price was… pride?" asked Arthur as he raised his hand. "Are you willing to risk it for a chance to duel me?"

"Haha! There is no pride in defeat, so death and pride are the same here!" roared the giant as he started laughing.

The soldiers in the camp have all gathered to see the commotion and the third leader being challenged. It seemed this was expected from anyone who joined them. Ilios was the land of warriors, and pride was their sin.

"If that so…" muttered Arthur as he lowered his arm. His eyes shone golden as he started using his Art of Creation, Submission. "Kneel."

The word flew from Arthur's mouth like a whip that struck the giant's knees, making them fall to the ground. Earth sunk in as a deafening boom followed his fall, making all chatters cease.

"What is… happening…?!" roared the giant as he tried to resist, but he couldn't stand it. His knuckles turned white as he tried to lift himself using the weapon, but his body didn't listen.

"You are unworthy of fighting me, that is all," said Arthur as he walked toward the giant and started stepping on empty air, rising to his eye level. "The command I gave you was a test. I would have fought you if you were powerful enough to stand against it. Unfortunately, however, you are too weak."

"Fight me fair and square, even if I die!" shouted the giant, but Arthur frowned and grabbed his beard before he pulled the man's head down and stared into his eyes.

"I don't mind a challenge, but I need you alive for our cause. You joined this rebellion because you also suffered injustice, right? So grow stronger, and I will fight you once this is over." Arthur then turned toward the rest of the soldiers. "This is the case for all of you! Your reason for joining doesn't matter, as long as you fight until the last second for this cause! Those who don't want to die should leave now. The path from now on will be paved with our blood!"

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