Brickman hurriedly ran away from the Siegfried Mansion, fearing Solordo's monstrous strength.
"Damn those brats. How come they're so powerful?!"
It didn't matter now if the brothers would remain intact after this incident. He only wanted to survive and live his life away from all troubles. Unfortunately, that wish of his would never be bound to happen.
"Hey, hey. What's this?!", a mocking tone resounded in the distance.
Three warriors dressed in armor walked out, holding their bloodied weapons as they glared at Brickman's sorry figure.
"Aren't you Brickman of the Six Cold-Blooded Brothers? What the hell are you doing here in the middle of nowhere?!", asked one of them.
"Hey, haven't you heard? The Siegfried family hired these goons under their wing."
"Don't tell me… We're going to kill him now!"
Hatred flared in their enraged eyes. Anyone involved with the Siegfried Clan was bound to die today.
"And it seems like he's running away from something! That means that the rest of the brothers might be in deep trouble and this guy is all alone! It's time to kill this fucker!"
Angered by their words, Brickman covered his body with the thick carapace of the frostal scorpion.
"You think I'm going to fall that easily?!"
The three warriors laughed.
"Hoho, we know you will!"
Brickman gritted his teeth. Faced with the threat of the three warriors, he was left with no choice but to fight.
'I knew that being taken by them was a wrong one! That Scarface! And curse you, Siegfried Clan!'
'I hope you all fucking die!'
…
The atmosphere inside the Siegfried Mansion grew colder.
Bloodied bodies became a testament to the recent clashes that resulted in the quick victory of the three students of Heavenly Magic Academy, accompanied by the weakened yet enduring woman elf.
"We've been running around in circles, Olivia.", Lucan protested, sweating hard, about the ice princess's inaccuracy in guiding them to the Siegfried Mansion's grand hall.
"Are you sure about this path?"
He turned around and worriedly looked at Haera, "Look, even the big sister over there is having a hard time catching up to us."
The elf appeared to be in distress, though Lucan was unaware of the reason. The only thing he observed was that Haera's breaths were colder than usual, which made him suspicious.
She leaned her body near the wall, grasping her chest as she calmed herself.
'How come the curse is acting up again?! I thought that Kai has fixed it…'
Haera glanced at the three, noticing a glimpse of anger rising from Olivia.
"You shut up. We're already in front of the great hall."
Her slender fingers pointed at the ajar large wooden doors. At the top center was the emblem of the Siegfried Clan, a burly hand clenched with the imprinted elongated figure of a dragon.
Lucan stretched his neck, curious about the identity of that dragon figure.
'Aren't you an imperial son? How come this dumbhead doesn't recognize that symbol.'
Olivia crossed her arms and grumpily commented, "That's the emblem of the Siegfried Clan, the basking frost dragon. They were originally the rulers of the northern lands, a servant of the frost dragons for years untold."
"Well, not until the barbaric confederation grew restless of their tyranny and asked assistance from the nearby empires and kingdoms. With the power of the elves, the then infant Morning Star Empire, and other mercenaries, the Siegfried Clan were quickly put out of their place."
Lucan could feel the contempt behind her words.
"I don't know why they were spared, but because of that stupid decision, this clan has struck once again and caused countless lives to be lost.", Olivia snorted.
She couldn't bear to imagine the families that died under their ambitious plans. Should she have had the ability to turn back time, she would've killed all of them given the chance.
"Disappointing, isn't it?"
A familiar voice echoed from inside the great hall, alerting the four of them.
"Who's there?!", Lucan took the lead and opened the wooden doors.
"Be careful. This voice… it's Erik's.", Olivia warned.
Jolted, Lucan almost staggered, "Wait, it's that guy? Finally?"
Amidst his surprise, Emi rushed and violently entered the great hall.
"Hey, Emi- wait!", Lucan tried to grab her but he failed, 'I forgot about this little girl!'
Emi was solely responsible for all those deaths after they entered the large mazelike Siegfried Mansion. Her demeanor has been cold and merciless ever since.
Longing for her big sister was the only thing that remained on her mind.
"Are you Erik Siegfried?"
She asked with clenched fists, glaring at the tall figure that stood in front of a high chair made of frostal ice.
"And what if I am?", Erik grinned, his right eye turning scarlet.
"Give me back my sister! How dare you enslave her!"
"I'm afraid you are in no position to order me like that.", Erik retorted.
"Erik, you better listen to her.", Olivia warned. Though the sight of him disgusted her, she was forced to do so to check his information using the system.
[ Name: Erik Siegfried ]
[ Age: 22 years old ]
[ Race: Half-human, half-elf ]
[ Status: Alive, Demonized (Mark of Asura) ]
[ Affiliation: Siegfried Clan, Otherworld ]
[ Chivalric Core Grade: A ]
[ Chivalric Will Power: Lower Helm – Ascended Knight ]
[ Assimilated Beast: Frost Dragon ]
[ Imprint Beast: Demonic Deathly Dragon ]
[ Additional Effect: Demonized, Mark of Asura ]
[ This user's strength is increased considerably, promoting his power into the higher blade realm. ]
[ Degradation Effect: Chivalric Polar Opposition ]
[ The demonic power coming from your imprint beast clashes with the assimilated blood of the frost dragon. Continued exposure may result in unwanted incidents. ]
'What? He's demonized, but it is causing mishaps within his body?'
The three students held their shock within themselves. They had to act as if they were in the unknown about Erik's newfound power.
The latter waved his hands in ridicule, trying to hold back the laughter that was forming in his dry mouth.
"Ah, Princess Olivia! When have you ever stooped so low to protect such a commoner like her?!"
"I'm not a commoner!"
Anger welled up within Emi, forcing her to attack, "Earthen Bullet!"
A huge chunk of rock was thrown at Erik. He smiled, extending his hand and grabbing it effortlessly.
"Magic? Are you trying to entertain me with your silly tricks?! You think a lowly mage like you can fight against me?!"
He pulled back his hand and threw it back to Emi with greater force. Olivia stomped her foot and erected an ice wall, blocking the rock.
Erik observed and was slightly humored, "Well, I guess I'll give you four a chance!"
He grabbed the great axe beside him and brandished it like a madman. Fear struck Olivia after she saw this sight.
"He's using only one hand!", her shriek caught their attention.
"One hand? What's wrong if he's using only one hand?!", Lucan asked, 'Don't they wield their weapons with one hand?'
"I thought you are a part of the royalty but aren't you not reading books enough?!", Olivia reprimanded, "That glowing deep blue blade of his great axe is frostal ice. It's heavier and sharper than you think."
"Because of the frostal ice's natural coldness, the usual materials can't be used to forge its handle. I think that's…"
"Furzeine.", Haera added, "It's a…. cold metal which has a high cold and heat resistance and can only be found here… in the northern glacial continent."
"Because of its special nature and accessibility, it is usually combined with frostal ice to make capable weapons like that man's great axe."
"However, furzeine is heavy as well. If he can brandish such weapon using only one hand, he must be someone who assimilated with a beast that has high raw strength, or he's already at the higher blade realm."
She gasped while attempting to explain. The cold feeling inside her heart has started to activate again.
"Hey, big sister. You don't look good.", Lucan went to her side and checked her out.
"Uh, thanks, but I think you should worry about that man first."
She pointed at Erik who hysterically laughed at their conversation, "Oh, you are pretty intelligible as well. But… knowing what my weapon is made of still won't make any difference!"
He jumped towards the group while brutely swinging his glowing great axe. Haera noticed the slight details in which a scarlet aura enveloped his towering weapon.
"Watch out!"
Lucan manipulated the earth and pushed each other away.
Erik missed but he remained unbothered, "Running like cats… You're just like that slave of mine!"
"How dare you!", Emi was enraged, "Pierce him! Grounded Puncture!"
The earth shook under Erik's feet as several roots and branches emerged with ferocious intent to swallow him whole. He was rather excited than afraid.
"Heh, a formula 3 spell! If you want to save your sister, you have to do better than that-!"
He swung his massive axe and noticed that the roots were larger and tougher than usual. Suspicion grew upon his heart, warning him that something was wrong with Emi's magic.
'What sort of tricks are they playing now?!'
Erik snorted and slashed his way out, "Whirlwind Axe!"
Turbulent winds formed around him as he spun quickly, destroying all the roots and branches that Emi sprouted.
As he enjoyed his short charade, his axe suddenly hit Olivia's ice walls. He noticed that it was thicker and more durable, just like what he observed about Emi's magic earlier. Worse, a tingling sensation emanated from the ice wall and crept toward both of his hands.
'This is… lightning!'
He channeled the demonic power within himself and smashed the wall while neutralizing the lightning effect that was about to electrify him.
Olivia felt disappointed that Erik managed to get out of her trap on time.
'He must have noticed it. No, it's not about him noticing that. It's…'
"Tsk.", Erik sounded irritated, "You fuckers. You forced me to use my trump card this early!"
He was supposed to play with his prey, not the other way around. But it seemed like he was the fool thinking that way. Driven by his rage, the air turned violent and an ominous aura burst out from his body.
Olivia and the rest grouped up again. This time, however, they could feel the increasing pressure coming from Erik himself.
Feeling the demonic power surge through him, he cackled without restraint.
"Our great lords have given me this power, the power to seize all of these lands as my own, and soon, Aludia itself!"
"The League of Wizardry, the Knights of Aludia, the Morning Star Empire, even the elves and the Orients at the far east!"
"They will either kneel before my great power or die in resistance!"
He turned around and grinned, letting the radiant light of the Morning Star pass through the broken roof and land upon his demonic figure.
"And you, the four of you, shall have a taste of what's to come!"
"Now, let's bring it on, shall we?!"
"Chivalric Assimilation: Demonic Deathly Dragon!"
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