Way of the Knights

Chapter 796: Ashura’s Out

“WHO DARES TO SHOW DISCOURTESY TOWARDS MY DAWN COUNCIL?”

A voice filled with indelible rage and fury swept across the whole island, making it tremble. A soul-chilling aura rose to the skies, painting the sky red and promised certain death towards those who threatened the peace of his territory. 

From beyond the gates, a tall figure of a man rose up. His silhouette was blinding, almost rivalling the sun itself. The man had a long golden hair fluttering up. His eyes were featureless and his tanned skin is covered with numerous tribal tattoos. His face was scrunched up in anger, glaring towards Raven’s direction. 

Just as the guards started feeling a bit relieved because of the man’s emergence, something happened, making their jaws go slack.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GET DOWN HERE!” 

*Thump!*

An equally strong, if not stronger, roar shook the world. Compared to the intimidating roar of the featureless-eyed man, this one carried an even stronger impact since the same man fell from the sky as soon as the roar ended. 

It was Raven who did that. And the world listened to him, bringing the stunned man down to earth and in front of them. 

The man who came from the Dawn Council wasn’t the only who’s surprised by this sudden development. The Divine Knights who were standing not too far behind Raven were surprised too. Their eyes gleamed shock and praise as they saw how this guy’s voice bent the rules to his own favor forcefully. 

Such a feat was nothing short of amazing. 

The man finally recovered from his momentary shock. He knew that he already lost the initiative and cannot lose face any longer that he already had so he adjusted his posture and glared at Raven’s direction. 

“You are strong for an Empyrean, I’ll give you that.” The man stated, “But if you think that you and your meager group can just do whatever you please in our territory, you’re sorely mistaken.” 

“Your territory?” Raven scoffed. “Heh, the lion finally opened its maws. It seems that the current Leaders of the Dawn Council had really deteriorated if you people started thinking that this land was yours to begin with.” 

“Audacious!!” The man spat out in fury. “Who the hell do you think you are!? What could a meager pest like you know about my Dawn Council? Who gave you an idea that you can say anything about how my Dawn Council manages things!?”

“The mere fact that I am the official Heir to the Title of Chronos, the successor to the Ancient Elysium Sect’s Sect Master position should suffice.” Raven snorted, he didn’t back down against the intimidation of the man in front of him. 

“If that’s not enough. I can also add the fact that I am the one who permanently sealed the fate Devil Emperor, turning him into a harmless and endless supply of energy. Never to be a threat ever again. In fact, it wouldn’t be too distant if you call me the Savior of Humanity itself, but I digress…”

“We are here to demand an explanation. I’m not sorry for discourtesy, I’m just returning the favor after all.” Raven ended his piece with a derisive snort towards the fuming man in front of him. 

The man was huffing and puffing. His face was red in fury. Raven could’ve spoken something more sharper to really bait him into attacking but he didn’t. It’s better to drive him insane with anger first, that way, things would be easier later on. 

The furious man peeled his gaze away from Raven and stared at the Sect Master. Unlike Raven, this man knows who the Lucas is…

“Sect Master Lucas. You must reel in the aggressiveness of your subordinate.” The man said with much difficulty, god knows how much he was trying to reel in his desire to bash Raven’s face right here and now. “Does the words he utter represents what your Sect means? With all due respect, I advise you to think about this clearly.”

“Stop with the faux-politeness, Ashura.” Sect Master Lucas snorted, “You’re fooling nobody here aside from yourself. We all know that you are dying to paint this land red with how much you’re shaking.”

The Sect Master shook his head and stepped beside his successor.

“To answer your question, isn’t it already obvious?” The Sect Master shrugged, “We’ve known each other for years already, don’t tell me you still can’t grasp how I do things? Do you think that I will allow my successor to do something that I do not approve of?”

“And, no my dear Ashura.” The Sect Master shook his head. “I don’t think I need to think this through. All I know is that you people were the first one to break the treaty here. You people were the insincere ones, refusing to give us an explanation even after giving you sufficient time to do so. You people even slighted my old comrades! To me, this is a clear sign that none of you are putting the Ancient Elysium Sect in your eyes.”

“With all this in mind, do you think that there is a further need for me to think this through?” The Sect Master raised his brows and scoffed in disdain; “No, I don’t think so Ashura. To me, it’s clear as day that the Dawn Council is deliberately provoking us.”

“We are here to demand an explanation. If you do not give us one, then violence it is. Never think, even for a second, that we are afraid to go to war with you. We both know how that’s going to end up.” 

At this point, the man – now named Ashura, knew that trouble finally came knocking on their door. 

Ashura started feeling nervous. Without even noticing it, he was already sweating coldly. His back was drenched as he felt several gazes landing on his body. 

He knows that at the very next second he entertained any thought of raising his weapon, his head will be severed from his shoulders. 

Ashura is a known fighter. A feared one at that. He is reckless and impatient but he no idiot. He knows a losing battle if sees one. He knows that even if he gambled with everything he had, even if he ignited his Divinity in hopes of bringing down their enemies with him, it will only result in their complete defeat and failure. 

Thus, with a heavy heart. He released a sigh and signaled the guards to open up the gates.

In the end, who was he fooling here? He already saw this coming. His emergence and intimidation was just a distraction. A facade if you will. It was just an act. A pitiful attempt at making sure the Dawn Council could at least preserve the tiniest bit of their reputation…

Because god knows that there will be hardly anything left after this confrontation. They were the ones who fucked up after all.

Just as they say; ‘One might survive a random act of God but they cannot escape a disaster they courted themselves.’

Ashura felt his heart heavy. He remained silent as he lead the group inside the Dawn Council’s Headquarters. His lips twitched in annoyance as he heard the voice transmissions of his comrades raining curses at him. 

He wanted to argue with them but he held back, he didn’t want to embarrass himself even more that he already have at this point. He already decided that whatever happened next was something that couldn’t be blamed on him. 

They walked across a grand hall, built and filled with all sorts of Heavenly Treasures born from the island itself. At this point, even if the people behind him decided to snag everything displayed around them, Ashura wouldn’t give a damn. 

They stopped in front of a giant door. Adorned with numerous gems, crystals and ores. It was grandiose and flamboyant. A visible evidence of the Dawn Council’s vanity.

Ashura faced them with a deadpanned expression as he said: “They’re right behind that door. You guys open it yourselves, I don’t give a fuck.” 

After saying that, Ashura turned around and walked away. He no longer cared about what’s going to happen next. He’s out of here and he won’t look back. He already got what he wanted after all. 

Raven and the rest didn’t say anything about Ashura leaving. They could already feel the frantic emotions of the people at the other side of the door. 

The Divine Knights didn’t say anything, they just watched Raven and waited for him to personally do something, after all he was the one leading this operation. 

Raven knew what they’re thinking. He didn’t want to disappoint so he unceremoniously walked in front of the massive doors, lifted his foot and give a solid kick, causing it to violently swing open. 

Iron Fist Hal guffawed upon witnessing this, murmuring: ‘Hell yeah, I like your style boy!’ 

Under Raven’s lead, they walked inside the absurdly large room hidden behind those doors. They felt numerous gazes landing on them but they remained impassive about it. So what if they stare? 

Raven wore a cocky grin on his face as confidently swaggered inside the room. He paused when they’re at the center of the room. Raven’s gaze swept across the people around him and said:

“Lots of Bald Eagles and Old Foxes. No wonder the council’s rotten.”