Chapter 384.1

The crimson aura enveloping Riner’s figure dissipated, halting his sprint as he stood, his gaze fixed upon the Holy City for a fleeting moment before he abruptly altered his course. Moments earlier, he had been barreling straight towards the gates, but now he found himself considerably askew from his initial trajectory.

“Interesting,” Richard mused, his gaze flitting between Riner and the distant city. “With the Fire King’s velocity surpassing even that of warriors, the true nature of this barrier becomes clearer. It’s like trying to scale slick walls.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Akil interjected, his brow furrowing in contemplation. “Breaking through with sheer force seems improbable. Even our combined might with Praz can’t breach it.”

Nicholas pondered aloud, “Does this barrier encompass the entire perimeter of the Holy City? And what about the skies above? Can we circumvent it from above?”

Kasser, eyes scanning the heavens, responded, “Unlikely that it’s so easily circumvented. Nevertheless, it’s worth investigating.“

Surveying the vicinity, Kasser signaled a nearby warrior, issuing instructions for the retrieval of a lengthy spear, then proceeded towards the Holy City. As he passed Riner, who had reverted to his original position, he couldn’t help but notice the disgruntled expression etched upon the latter’s features.

“This is frustrating. It feels like an invisible force is repelling me. If there’s a threat, it should make itself known!” Riner exclaimed, his frustration palpable, yet met with blank stares from his companions.

At that moment, as Kasser approached the barrier’s edge, all attention shifted to his actions. Gripping the spear firmly, Kasser gauged the distance to the Holy City before raising the weapon, his hand pulsating with azure energy. The energy coalesced into a sinuous serpent shape, wrapping around the length of the spear.

“The Fourth King’s serpent,” someone murmured among the gathered kings. The Fourth King’s Praz was renowned for its lifelike depiction of a snake, a departure from the typical manifestations of flames, wind, or mist exhibited by other kings.

For everyone present, except King Riner, witnessing the Fourth King’s Praz firsthand was an unprecedented experience. Encounters between kings were rare occurrences, let alone witnessing the manifestation of another king’s Praz firsthand.

“I recall a legend passed down from the Hashi Kingdom,” Akil began, capturing the attention of the assembled kings. “In ancient times, during a crisis in Hashi, a colossal serpent, a lark, emerged. The reigning king at the time barely managed to vanquish the creature, but at the cost of depleting his own life force. From then on, the king’s Praz has manifested as a serpent through successive generations.”

As Akil recounted the tale, Kasser’s spear soared into the sky with astonishing force, carrying a surge of blue energy that seemed poised to breach the heavens. The kings watched intently, their anticipation palpable as the spear arced downward, its trajectory scrutinized by hopeful eyes.

Yet, despite the collective hope for a breakthrough, the spear’s descent was hindered by an unseen resistance, gradually slowing its velocity until it rebounded, deflected as if repelled by an invisible barrier. The spectacle resembled the futile attempt to puncture a taut rubber sheet with a slender rod, only to be met with an elastic recoil.

The spiraling spear traversed the air, narrowly passing over Kasser’s head and the vicinity where the kings were positioned. All eyes followed its path, only to notice a gathering crowd approaching from the distance, seemingly unaware of the impending danger.

As the spear descended toward the unsuspecting throng, a figure leaped from their horse, sprinting forward with remarkable agility to intercept the falling weapon before it could strike the ground. With a swift motion, the individual caught the spear mid-air, preventing potential harm.

Drawing closer, the figure’s identity became discernible to Richard, who remarked with a note of recognition, “Ah, now we’re complete.”

At long last, King Pered, known as the Dark King, had arrived, exchanging nods of acknowledgment with his fellow kings as he joined their gathering.

***

“It must be witchcraft,” one king murmured, voicing the sentiments shared by many among the assembled monarchs.

“Unfathomable that such feats are achievable through magic. That monster is nothing but a lark, not a representative of God,” another king interjected, his tone tinged with a mixture of astonishment and disdain. The concept of magic was alien to them, viewed through the lens of skepticism and mistrust. They had always regarded magical beings as little more than bothersome nuisances, never considering the possibility of being impeded by magic from the outset of their endeavors.

“It seems the only practitioners of magic known to us are the wanderers. We should direct our inquiries in that direction,” Akil suggested, his frustration evident in the click of his tongue. However, the distance to the Hashi Kingdom, where the wanderers resided, presented a formidable obstacle. Even with haste, it would take over a fortnight to establish communication, transforming the conflict into an unpredictable, drawn-out ordeal.

Aware of the pressing need to resolve the situation swiftly, Kasser’s voice cut through the deliberation, drawing the attention of all present. “There is a solution,” he announced.

All eyes turned expectantly to Kasser as he continued, “Several kings, including Eugene and myself, possess a magic notebook that facilitates the sharing of knowledge and insights. I will utilize it to contact the wanderers and investigate the nature of this magic.”

Kasser had brought the magic notebook he shared with Eugene for various purposes.  However, he felt a twinge of regret for disclosing it under these circumstances. Yet, in the face of their current dilemma, it was an unavoidable necessity.