Chapter 495: A Trial
"L-Lord Hale! T-This is not right! He has yet to even reach the Sixth Realm not to mention officially becoming a Higher Existence!" with wide eyes, Iara looked at the ring in Hale’s hands, feeling utter disbelief and confusion.
Pilzrod, on the other hand, stared at Khal with narrowed eyes, looking at him as if he wished to see through him and unearth all his secrets.
[You must be joking with me, right?... Right?]
Khal, just like Nova and Iara, was at loss for words and looked at Hale with confusion.
"This is Monarch Ring, a key to control and gain access to anything within the Mystery Realm." Hale explained with a calm smile, "I want you to accept this and become the Lord of the Zero Realm."
"Huh? But... Why me?" Khal asked before adding, "I mean, I am flattered, but just as she has said it, I have yet to become a Higher Existence. I don’t deserve that ring nor the title of a Supreme Existence."
Iara agreed with Khal with a nod, but it seemed Hale thought otherwise.
"While it is true that you are not a Higher Existence yet, it does not mean you don’t possess strength equivalent to one. Furthermore, after spending some time with you, I do not doubt that you are the perfect candidate to hold this ring and title."
"Lord Hale, I would like you to reconsider your decision."
Hale, Iara, and Khal glanced at Pilzrod on the side, only to see his usual indifferent face hold now deep gravity for the first time in a long while.
"Your reason?" Hale didn’t feel upset by Pilzrod’s statement and instead asked for an explanation.
Pilzrod glanced at the ring in Hale’s hand before explaining, "Lord Hale, we all have been given our Monarch Ring because we have proven our worth and talent."
Then, looking at Khal with a sharp gaze he continued, "While I do not question his strength after witnessing his feats today, I still wish to see what he is truly capable of doing. After all, that ring is not something that any Tom, Dick, and Harry should carry."
"Although I would have never thought I will say this even in my wildest dream, I have to agree with him, Lord Hale." Iara nodded her cute head despite her face holding displeasure that he had to agree with Pilzrod.
Hale examined the two Lords’ faces for a few seconds before he sighed and pulled his hand back which held the gold ring.
"Very well. And how do you wish to see if he is worthy enough or not?"
"How?" Pilzrod this time straightened his back and with a wide grin pointed at himself, "He will fi-"
"He will fight with me."
"Eh?"
Iara, Pilzrod, Hale, and Khal turned toward the direction where the voice came from, only to see a small kid floating just a few meters away from them.
"Daire, so it seems you have successfully completed the task I have asked you to do." Hale showed a knowing smile to which Daire chuckled like a little child and nodded.
"Yeah, it was a surprisingly easy task, considering I only had to deliver that little snail to that girl."
Khal’s ears perked up when he heard Daire’s words but even without asking a question he understood everything.
[It seems your little girlfriend finally reached the Fourth Realm. I wonder what path she chose to master.]
’She is no longer my girlfriend and you know that too. Her heart is already someone else’s.’ Khal stated with a hint of sorrow which didn’t even last for a second before it vanished thanks to his Divine Soul Sutra.
"Good. Then about what you have just said..."
"Of course I meant it." Daire’s lips curved upward as he directed his gaze at Khal, "I heard everything, so if you let me, I would be more than glad to test his limits and see whether he is worthy to be one of us or not."
"But-" Pilzrod seemed eager to refute Daire, but unfortunately for him, Hale raised a finger, immediately silencing him.
"That’s enough. You all know that among the current Lords Daire is the strongest, hence why I have chosen him to protect and oversee the Sixth Realm." Hale explained coldly before his face turned soft once again and added, "Of course, you are more than free to challenge Daire for his title, which if you do and somehow win, then you can fight Khal yourself."
Pilzrod clenched his fingers into tight fists from frustration, but knowing deep inside he stood no chance against Daire, who despite having the appearance of a kid possessed a colossal amount of strength, just remained silent.
This sight obviously made Iara smile mockingly and with satisfaction, enjoying her brother’s helpless and flustered expression greatly.
"So... When will we decide whether he is worthy of that Monarch Ring? Considering the massive destruction that transpired here I assume we don’t really have time to waste." Daire asked as he looked at the chaos around him.
"Damn... I kinda regret missing the fun. Well, whatever. Maybe next time."
Iara’s mouth twitched upon hearing Daire’s words, but decided to ignore it as at least she had respect toward him, unlikely toward Pilzrod.
"Let’s see... How about a week from now on? The others are still doing what I have asked them to do and while I can order them to come back this instant it would be pointless. After all, assuming from the way Khal has destroyed their base on the other side of the Realm Portal, it will take them a month or perhaps, even more, to figure out what really happened."
"That is fine by me." Daire nodded his head with a calm smile.
"Same." Iara was the next who agreed.
As for Pilzrod, he could only clench his teeth, and hiss a ’yes’ through his teeth.
"Then it is settled. Khal will fight with Daire in a week. Until then, you are free to go and do what you wish to do." Hale said, but upon seeing how Pilzrod was ready to go away he waved his hand and made his figure freeze in space.
"No, not you. You will stay here and help me clear this mess."
"I..." Pilzrod opened his mouth, but seeing Hale’s stern expression he sighed, "Sure..."
