Chapter 1324: Fraction of Power ( 1324 )
"Oh~ That sounds..." Javier’s smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "Interesting."
He snapped his fingers.
Thousand of his latest puppet knights materialized around them, each equipped with sleek, advanced assault mana rifles, their metallic forms gleaming under the sunlight. The sheer number and presence of the machines were overwhelming, surrounding the captives in a perfect, silent formation.
Javier spread his arms, his grin turning predatory. "Do you mean... power such as this?"
He raised his palm upward.
The ground beneath them felt heavier than even the gravity zone they had passed through earlier. Every enemy face was pressed into the dirt, unable to move, their bodies crushed under the immense pressure.
"Or... like this?"
Jaigar’s eyes widened, strained and bloodshot as he struggled against the crushing gravity. Gorak gritted his jaw, veins bulging on his forehead.
Javier squatted in front of them, tilting his head with a look of exaggerated curiosity. "What?" He cupped a hand to his ear, leaning in. "Speak clearly~ I can’t hear you."
A series of strained groans and muffled curses escaped the captives.
Javier’s eyes widened in mock surprise. "Don’t tell me... this Julius person has a skill much stronger than this one?"
More groans, more strained attempts to speak.
"Ah~ I don’t like when someone compares me to someone else without telling me the actual power." Javier’s smirk widened, his eyes cold and calculating. "I’m sure you all have already experienced your... what? Supreme Leader’s power?"
He slowly raised his palm, his fingers curling into a fist. The gravity intensified, pressing the captives deeper into the ground, their bodies trembling under the immense force.
"Or is it more like this?"
A series of strained screams erupted from Jaigar and Gorak’s girls, their faces twisted in true fear as the crushing gravity pressed them deeper into the ground. Their bodies trembled, their eyes wide with terror as they realized the sheer gap in power.
Javier’s gaze shifted to Gorak, his playful demeanor turning cold and serious. He leaned in closer, his voice low and sharp.
"How does it feel, Gorak? To be the one pinned down, helpless, completely at the mercy of someone stronger? To feel that same crushing helplessness you so enjoyed inflicting on others? How does it feel to be on the other side?"
Gorak’s eyes widened, his rage mixing with terror as he struggled to breathe under the pressure.
"This skill, this power I’m using right now..." Javier continued, his tone flat and cold. "It’s just a fraction of what I’m capable of. And yet, I’ve never claimed to be ’mighty’. True power isn’t about showing off. It’s about knowing when to use it... and when to show mercy."
He paused, his gaze piercing.
"Something you and your kind have clearly forgotten."
The crushing pressure of the gravity vanished in an instant, replaced by a searing, phantom heat that burned through their senses without touching their skin. The enemies screamed in agony, writhing on the ground as if engulfed in invisible flames.
Javier exhaled, glancing at them with cold disdain. "Pathetic. It’s just a basic sensory magic, and you’re already screaming as if you’re burning alive."
Just as he was about to shift the sensation to freezing cold, a calm, regal footstep echoed from behind him.
"Javier. Don’t kill them."
Javier’s eyes widened in panic. He turned to face Garius, the skill deactivating instantly as he flashed a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his head.
"Ah... I didn’t kill any of them yet... ehehe~ Esteemed Father."
Garius shook his head, his right eye glowing faintly as he scanned the captives. His hands were clasped behind his back, his posture calm and commanding. "Mm... We need them alive. Each of them holds different pieces of information about the outsiders."
"Y... yes, Esteemed Father. Ehehehe~"
Javier turned and squatted near Jaigar, lowering his voice to a playful whisper.
"Hey, hey~ You were sent to spy on Armand, right? You wanted to know who rules Armand and how it operates, right?"
He gestured dramatically toward Garius with both hands, his grin widening.
"This is the Sovereign Ruler of Armand himself. Garius De Armand."
Jaigar and the others’ eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
Javier leaned in closer, his grin widening. "Psst! Let me tell you something. You know how strong I am, right? Well... I’m weaker than him. Since I’m only the prince."
He stood up, puffing his chest out with a cheeky grin, striking a dramatic pose.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Javier De Armand, the most handsome prince among all Armand princes, and the one blessed with the most beautiful harem~"
Javier struck another dramatic pose, one hand on his hip, the other raised as if presenting himself to an audience.
"And I’m also the guy you met earlier in the dwarven nation~ Ah~"
He squatted in front of Gorak, his expression shifting to one of exaggerated pity.
"How does it feel? Your tracking skill couldn’t find the... hmm..." He rubbed his chin, pretending to think. "Who was it again? Ah~" He raised one finger, his smirk widening. "The silver armor guy. Ah~ What a tragic moment."
He collapsed dramatically onto his side, lying on the ground as if overcome by sorrow, before propping himself up on one elbow.
"The ’mighty’ one with the ’best’ tracking skill couldn’t find the man wearing silver armor. How embarrassing~"
Gorak’s eyes widened as realization dawned on him, his face paling with shock.
Javier sat cross-legged, pulling out a broken bowl, and taking out a half-piece of bread. He slowly tore it into small pieces, his expression shifting back to that of a beggar, and began eating it right in front of Gorak, his eyes never leaving his.
"Hungry?"
Javier slowly stood up, still chewing the bread loudly in front of them, making sure every bite was exaggerated and deliberate.
"But man~ I was hoping that guy name Vane would be the one to come, not this piece of trash. That guy looks like he holds more information than all of you combined." He shrugged, taking another bite.
Gorak and Jaigar’s eyes widened, along with their girls, shock spreading across their faces at the mention of their vice leader’s name.
"H... how..."
"Hmm? How do I know?" Javier tilted his head, his grin turning cold. "That’s none of your business."
He turned and faced Garius, giving a playful salute.
"Mission accomplished, Esteemed Father."
Garius glanced at Alf, who stood at his side, before letting out a long, tired exhale.
"No... not yet. Your new mission is to ensure these captives arrive at Gaze Town Military Headquarters. I have matters to attend to after this." Garius shook his head, turning away with both hands clasped behind his back, glancing over his shoulder. "Make sure not to kill them... yet."
"Yes, Esteemed Father!" Javier saluted, standing at attention before turning back to Jaigar and Gorak with a dark, predatory grin.
"Ehehehehe~"
( End Of Chapter )
