Chapter 676 Fear Me (6)
The ground shook from the weight of Ashton's armour once he landed, but nobody paid attention to the ground as they were too focused on the armour he wore.
The Precursor battlesuit was the peak of dwarven engineering, a fusion of ancient power and cutting-edge technology. Nothing like those armours was ever created again, and even if Vulcan tried, he knew he would fail to make a battlesuit half as decent as the original one.
Ashton's sudden arrival had left the First Seatholder, Flintmace, Vulcan, and the surrounding guards spellbound. For a moment, they forgot what they were discussing before as Ashton's presence completely overwhelmed them.
Before they knew it, they were surrounded by the guardians created by the Precursors and bound to Ashton by lineage. Just one of them was enough to take on half a dozen S-grade beings.
But since the First was the only S-grader on his side, the guards found it wise to stand down before their master did something that would put their lives at risk.
Meanwhile, the First Seatholder, renowned for his unshakable composure, momentarily faltered before the sight unfolding before him. Just the presence of the Guardians was enough to give him PTSD.
After all, what little resistance the Xyrans had faced from the Precursors' side during the war came from the Dwarves and the Guardians. But the dwarves were only responsible for wiping out 10% of the Xyran soldiers, while the guardians wiped out 70%.
If the Precursors had not stopped the Guardians, there would have been no Xyran left in the galaxy. This part often gave the First nightmares. He also wondered why the Precursors let the Xyrans win the war when they had victory in the bag.
Regardless of what the First thought, he was content with not having the misfortune to meet the Guardians again. Yet there he was, surrounded by the automatons that almost wiped out the Xyran populous.
Flintmace was having a similar reaction after seeing Ashton in a Precursor battlesuit. He was no stranger to the Xyrans' might, advanced technology, and formidable powers.
Yet, they had never succeeded in unlocking the immeasurable potential concealed within the Precursor armour. It was widely believed that only a true Precursor could don the formidable armour without being consumed by its overwhelming might.
It was a fact that the Xyrans had learned the hard way by sacrificing countless souls. In the end, they decided to destroy the armour as it was of no use to them, and they were afraid that some other species, in other words, humans, might unlock the battlesuit's true potential and use them for revenge.
'How the turn tables...' Flintmace smiled wanly as he realised their predictions had turned true.
After all, Ashton was a 'human' who was deadset on destroying the Xyrans, and now he also had the armour to help him achieve his goal.
***
Ashton's appearance in the Precursor battlesuit had tilted the balance of power within the city, leaving even the battle-hardened warriors in awe.
Amid Ashton's stunning arrival, no one had noticed Anna and the twins as they landed behind Ashton and the Automatons. Everyone was quiet there, as if speaking up was a sin.
However, when Anna saw Flintmace, Vulcan and the rest in restraints, she couldn't hold back and yelled at the First.
"The hell you think you're doing?" She questioned him. "Explain yourself! Why are they in restraints, and where are the cultists?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Irina scoffed. "The fucker must be a cultist himself. Let's not waste time on him and look for the Medallion."
"Before that, we should free them-" Verina said but trailed off. "These cuffs... they are grav-cuffs. Once locked, it's impossible to open them without the key."
At that moment, Ashton, who had been eerily quiet after learning more about the Precursors from Is'kai, turned to face his masters before doing something that shocked everyone.
With a mere snap of his fingers, he shattered the unbreakable restraints that had confined his companions. The indomitable cuffs, designed to immobilise even the most formidable beings, couldn't last against a Precursor's aura.
The crowd gasped, but they got quiet as soon as Ashton looked at them. No one wanted to cross him with the strength that he possessed.
"The fuck you think you are?"
The First Seatholder, his patience dwindling, raised his hand against Ashton. Even if Ashton was a precursor, the First had an image to maintain, and he could no longer let someone like Ashton make fun of him.
However, his intentions were swiftly thwarted as Ashton raised an imperious hand, cautioning him to maintain silence. The gesture was powered by Precursor's aura, forcing the First to stand down or face the consequences.
"Stay quiet... I'm not in the mood to play with ants." Ashton warned the First before recalling his aura.
The ominous undertone of the warning left no room for doubt—
Ashton was prepared to take action if necessary. After that, Ashton turned towards his automatons, issuing a stern command to them.
They were to incapacitate anyone attempting to enter the cave without his permission. Obeying his command, the automatons formed a barrier that discouraged any from following their master.
However, it looked like the First didn't get the memo, as he made one final, ill-fated attempt to defy Ashton's instructions. Believing that as the first seat holder, he had more authority than Ashton, he charged at him.
"Thank you for giving me a reason to do this," Ashton smirked before hitting the First with the sheer force of a backhand.
The First Seatholder tried to block the attack but was sent hurtling through the air, followed by a resounding crash as he collided with a nearby structure.
Despite the First's valiant effort to defend himself, Ashton's devastating attack had reduced the bones in the Seatholder's forearm to dust, reminding him of the strength possessed by a Xyran.
Everyone was shaken as the once-confident First Seatholder lay sprawled amidst the wreckage, an unprecedented pain coursing through his body.
"Anyone else wants to prove they're braindead? If so, you're welcome to come at me!" Ashton announced before walking inside the cave.
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