As the mana kept folding into the knight's fist, Arthur could see the skin being destroyed. The blood began to mix with the mana, giving it a deep red color.
Arthur wanted to stop Lux there, but the determination on his face was enough to convince Arthur otherwise. But, unfortunately, this knight has chosen to use this technique to prove his worth, and Arthur could not steal this moment away from him.
"I respect you, Lux," said Arthur as his mana exploded as well. "This is why I will receive your attack," his arm turned metallic as he flexed it. "Show me your efforts."
Lux roared as his body arched backward before he punched with everything he had. Arthur grinned and did the same, meeting the attack with his own. His mana worked to enhance his powers, but Arthur could tell that he would have been badly injured if he had used only his body to receive that attack.
Lux used his mana to attack and rushed forward like a blood dragon. Arthur's fist met the wave and split it apart, diverting it into two paths. Whatever was behind was destroyed by the power of the knight.
Arthur looked back and saw two large grooves have formed at a right angle from each other. This would be hard to explain to the people who would live in this land.
"You are powerful, Lux," he said as he turned toward the knight. "But that technique of yours is going to kill you faster than it kills your enemies."
The knight grunted as he looked downward at his arm, which had turned into bloody mingled flesh. Hearing his words, the knight only nodded. Arthur was silent because he had seen something similar a few days ago in Lusica.
'These two are pushing it too far,' Arthur knew that their reasons should be the same. Lusica wanted to control the power that would devour him, and Lux wanted to save him from that power.
The name Lux meant light, but from what Arthur could see now, the knight was the furthest from the light in front of him. Arthur took small steps toward the knight as his mana gathered in his hand.
"You pass this, Lux. You can stop now," Arthur said as he used his mana to heal the man. The flesh recovered, and the skin grew anew before the knight fell to his knees, unconscious. "I guess your art will have to wait for later," smiled Arthur.
"I will take him back, my lord," Shield stepped forward, and Arthur nodded.
"Take Wave with you," Arthur said and watched the three of them leave. The only people left were him and the mad prince. "You are the only one who didn't grow stronger."
The young woman was silent, but she clenched her fist tighter. Arthur could see blood leaking from her lips because she was biting them in frustration.
"What did you mean by what you said?"
"I say a lot of things. That is my flaw."
"You told him that you picked us because we were dissatisfied. I was the strongest in the academy. Those nobles couldn't even look me in the eye. Yet, here, I am a nobody. I was never dissatisfied, so why did you bring me here?"
"Do you remember the first time that we talked? We were running, and you figured out that I was faking it. You were unhappy that I did not show those nobles their place. I chose you for that exact reason. You want to change this kingdom more than anyone."
"I want to crush their foolish pride and ego," she said while raising her head. "I wanted to prove that hard work is the answer to everything. But, instead, they were given everything on a golden plate, while I had to struggle from the bottom."
"Is that the reason that you refuse to use your ability?"
"A reason of many," she shook her head as she unbelted her sword. Arthur watched with interest as the prince presented him with her sword. "My hard work did nothing, and I couldn't improve my art at all. So, this is the end of my ambitions."
"And what are you going to do now? Serve a different lord?"
"I wanted to serve you because you weren't a noble," she shook her head. "However, I have no reason to pursue this path now. I will leave knighthood and find a different path."
"There is one inconsistency in your words. If you want to grow stronger through hard work, why did you follow me? It would contradict your words if I helped you grow stronger."
"I never cared about that," she said with a smile. "I honestly don't care about strength, but I wanted to prove her point."
"Who are you talking about?"
"Someone you don't know," the knight sighed as she let go of her sword, and it fell to the ground. "She believed that we are all born with equal potential and talent and that hard work is what separates us."
"And you wanted to prove her right but failed. All of the other knights evolved their abilities except for you. So, you were destined to fall behind."
"We write our destiny, Seika. I am glad that I have failed this mission. I was tired of all that training," she said with a grin. "You are free to do whatever you want with this sword. I will leave this city."
Arthur was silent as she stared at her walking away. This knight was the most mysterious one because Arthur could tell that she was far more powerful than she revealed. However, it was her choice to avoid using her powers.
'Can I do the same?' he wondered as the knight grew smaller. 'I never considered such an option until I met. However, what use does it have to be weak? I was weak when before I awakened, and I am weak now.'
"You are a fool," he said to the knight as she stopped. The knight looked confused as she turned to look at him. "We are never equal."
The knight opened her mouth to answer, but the world began to shake. Arthur frowned as he looked behind the knight in the distance toward the city's outer walls.
"The disaster has arrived at last," Arthur muttered as his teleport rune appeared. "This is your final task before you leave. Go back toward the city and tell Manager Ma that the leader of the Mernars arrived."
After that, Arthur teleported away from the scene. His teleport rune carried him across the land his city covered until he was standing on the walls of Rega.
A distance away was a figure walking out of the water. The crushing presence of the newcomer was enough to make the gravity in the surroundings increase by several folds.
The trees began to bend, and the water level decreased. Every foot the hydra left on the ground left a deep mark. Arthur swallowed down before he jumped from the walls, gliding across the skies toward the hydra.
"Your visit came more delayed than I expected," said Arthur as he landed a distance away from the Lord of Mernars. The hydra woman stopped walking and looked at him with cold rage.
"Seika of Living Beings," she spat. "I was only looking for my child in the last place it appeared. When I failed to find anything, I came to reclaim what is mine."
"I found your child before it turned a city into crystals," Arthur said with a frown. "You did not tell me that it would be this powerful, nor would it be this hostile."
"Your race did this to my poor child," she gritted her teeth. "I can still hear its last cry, full of wrath and sadness. What did you do to him, monsters?"
"Corpses were around it when I finally got to meet it. However, it was not this kingdom that did this to it. It was Alva."
"Do you think I care about kingdoms, Seika of Living Beings?" she laughed. "I just want my child to be safe. I want to bring it home."
"Your palace was infiltrated by none other than beings of nothingness," he said with a shake of his head. "This is their plan to make us turn against each other."
"And am I supposed to forgive you and walk away? You promised to bring my child back, but you failed. I waited for you for weeks, but you couldn't find it."
"Your child is hiding on its own. I could do nothing to find it, but I sent my people to look for it. I expect their return in less than a week."
"I shall wait no longer," the hydra said as she raised her hand. "I will destroy every city in this kingdom starting with yours until I find him. This is your punishment for failing, Seika. Blame none other than yourself."
The moment she finished her words, pillars of water exploded out of the lake. They formed giant serpents that loomed over the city, making it look tiny in comparison.
"This is the war you failed to prevent, Seika."
