Chapter 767: Dear Façade

Arthur thought that was the end, but the metal-wielding warrior suddenly turned around and stormed past Ai. She grabbed his collar and pulled him close to her face, headbutting him to stare into his eyes.

"You don't talk to her that way," said the tall woman with a scowl before pointing her thumb at herself. "I'm the one requesting this, not her! You are why Gray got arrested, so take responsibility and revive him!"

The knights demolished the circular barricade as the three stood in a stalemate. Arthur was not offended by her outburst but rather intrigued. He was long past getting angry over minor offenses and had a favorable impression of her.

"A million people die every day, each risking their lives for a better chance at life. Am I going to revive everyone that dies, even if it harms me?"

"…it harms you?" asked Layla with a frown as her grip on her collar loosened. She turned around toward Ai, countless questions on the tip of her tongue. "You were willing to risk your relationship with him for me?"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"And that's what disappointed me, " Arthur said while adjusting his collar. "I don't know what the two of you have in common or what brought you close, but I have nothing to do with it."

"You are so childish," said Layla while turning toward him while biting her lips. "Are you jealous that she chose me over you?"

"Layla!" shouted Ai as she tried to stop her, standing up to hold back the warrior. "I asked, and he answered. The Seika did nothing wrong!"

"You don't know the details," said Arthur with a smile. "This woman and I share an unbreakable bond, but she chose to jeopardize it for your sake. Since she chose someone else over me, I have no more reason to believe in that bond."

"And that is the exact reason that makes you childish!" said Layla while Ai hugged her arm, trying to stop her. "I have no qualms about your refusal, but don't treat her like that!"

Arthur was silent as he stared at the two, acting all close. How many years did the two spend together to be so close? There was no time, as the steel was about to break. Arthur had to resume the plan.

Bang! Bang! BANG!

"There is no time for this," said Arthur as a dagger of denaturing sharpness appeared in his hand. "If you still want to live, try surviving the next attack. You," pointed Arthur at Layla, then at Ai, "protect her until we get off here."

"That is what I plan on doing, idiot," said Layla with a scowl before metal started enveloping her arm. It looked like a claw made of metal, and there was a large forming-sword in that hand. "However, I want to take his corpse with me."

Boom!

The steel walls broke down without the astral blessing feeding it. Knights rushed in from outside, all attacking the three at the same time. The scene looked like wolves ganging on sheep, lunging themselves at the prey.

Arthur struck with his dagger, sending an arch of destruction that turned everything it touched into its essential elements. The armor broke down, and the skin scattered with blood. All knights struck by his attack were sent flying, and he used the opening to break free.

Another goal of his appearance was to reveal the true abilities of the emperor, not the ones he claimed to have. Since he could disable the light array again, the emperor was restricted by the broadcast that Arthur was showing the world. The Light Emperor cannot exist without light.

"There he is!" shouted the knights as Arthur jumped over them, soaring through the sky and heading toward the emperor. However, there were dozens of knights waiting to jump him.

The giant eel sprung toward Arthur and coiled itself with the knight riding it around his body. As the eel touched his body, Arthur felt a sudden jolt of electricity pass through him. Then, his body started shaking, and Arthur was about to lose consciousness.

Arthur struck the eel with his dagger, making the creature howl before disappearing. After he was released, Arthur descended toward another group of knights.

"Attack all at once!" shouted the Nobles Commander as he clapped his hands, making a giant bell appear behind him. "I will guide you!"

Then, the old Nobles Commander grabbed the bell's clapper and swung it. The bell rang, making the world shake. Arthur could feel sudden energy strengthen the knights beneath him, who all struck with their strongest attacks.

Ding~!

Arthur clapped his dagger with both hands, making it explode into countless waves of destruction. The attacks coming toward him were disabled, and he stepped on a knight's head to propel himself forward.

His jump was directly aimed at the emperor, who stood behind the knights. As he was considering how to get there, Arthur heard the screams of the knights behind him. The knights were sent flying by the Steel Warrior, Layla.

"Stop them!" shouted Duke Delano while waving his arm. At the same time, he jumped to meet Arthur's descent toward the emperor, piercing his white spear toward Arthur.

Arthur met the spear with his conceptualized rune, and the two met with a resounding impact. However, the spear started to disintegrate after pushing the dagger back.

"Impossible!" shouted Duke Delano as the dagger destroyed his spear and reached his body, striking his chest. The man spewed out blood as he was sent flying by the impact, crashing next to the Light Emperor.

Arthur landed before the emperor, with the knights now behind him. The Light Emperor didn't move this entire time, standing like an arrow to face this adversity.

"Are you here to defeat me, outsider?" asked the emperor with an expressionless face. "If so, then that is not going to happen. You are still too green to do so, even if the stars are in your favor."

"I know I'm still too weak for that," said Arthur as he grabbed the denaturing sharpness again, taking his stance. "However, it's enough if the world sees the truth."

The emperor was silent, unflustered, or scared. He squinted his eyes when he heard Arthur's words, seeming to ponder something. But then, he gave a devious smile.

"How did you figure it out?" he asked in a low voice, ensuring that his voice wasn't broadcasted. Arthur didn't answer, and the emperor didn't seem to care for one. "Regardless, I will not let you harm my empire."

"You are the one harming it," said Arthur as he slashed with his dagger, making arch travel toward the emperor. Then, however, a shadow appeared between them and struck the arch, repelling it.

Arthur was surprised as he watched his attack change direction and struck the ground, leaving a deep gush. The person who arrived was none other than Princess Ivory, here to defend her father.

Ivory was leaning forward, her sword reassuming its position over her shoulder. She stared at Arthur with neither hate nor eagerness as if he was another enemy to be struck down.

"You are not the opponent that I wished to encounter," said Arthur because he could tell she was different. "But I guess it's futile to convince you to step away."

"Indeed," replied Ivory. Arthur sighed before bringing his fingers to his mouth and whistling, making her confused. "What are you doing?"

"I will win without fighting against you," Arthur said before raising his head. The dragon that was fighting in the sky started descending. Leaving the tiger to fall alone. "Lilo, illusions!"

The dragon roared before his mana exploded, encapsulating the whole balcony. Illusions started appearing out of thin air as the dragon descended in front of Arthur, who jumped on its back.

"Forward, Lilo!" commanded Arthur, and the dragon roared again before bolting forward. Ivory was surrounded by countless illusions, making her unable to focus on Arthur. However, even still, she still struck toward him.

Boom!

Space was slashed apart as the sword left a trail behind it. The strike transcended distance and traveled toward Arthur, wanting to cut him in half. This overbearing style would be a true horror to some people, but not Arthur, who had Lilo.

"Illusive Dragon!" said Arthur as he grabbed the dragon's twin horns, merging their bodies as one. The Illusive Dragon then turned transparent violet, making the attack pass through both of them.

Arthur flew past Ivory, who kept fighting against illusions. The Light Emperor was now a short distance away, with no one here anymore to help him. Then, he summoned the light, falling into Arthur's trap.

As light spears gathered in his hands, the Light Emperor acted as if he owned them. He threw them toward Arthur, who dodged the attacks of searing light.

"You are no longer worthy of the light!" said Arthur before reaching out toward the array and injecting his runes into it. This way, the array would listen to him in a small distance, which was enough to rob the emperor of his dear façade.

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