314 A New Grandmaster
Cabrera lay shirtless on a flat stone, with a mana stone in his mouth and two more in his palm.
"Calm your breath"
Frederick stood by his side, guiding him.
Being Black Jaws second in command, he'd ascended to Master rank years ago, becoming a Peak Master four months back.
He would've ascended if it wasn't for Frederick preventing him from hoarding mana stones Ezra gave them.
Alongside planning, Frederick obtained six mana stones to help Cabrera advance.
In fact, he'd thought up something more daring
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"With the mana stones, we could have people break through master rank en masse" Fredrick suggested. "Wouldn't this clinch our win?"
Ezra clicked his tongue, shaking his head lightly.
"You're underestimating the Mythic rank too much" Ezra began.
"Will twenty new Grandmasters, the battle would seem to be more favourable…but" he stared at Frederick "You think twenty newbie Grandmasters would faze Alvarach?"
"Putting aside the time constraints, there's no guarantee that even half of those who try will be able to succeed"
"I will guide them" Frederick proclaimed.
"At what cost? With only eight days, you would have to guide twenty individuals to breakthrough to Grandmaster rank consecutively? Not to mention you're still healing from the last battle, even at peak performance you would be too exhausted to be of any help against Alavarach"
"As you said, Twenty Grandmasters will come in my stead" Frederick replied.
"I'd rather have you than twenty newbie Grandmasters" Ezra retorted "To fight against Alavarach without familiarizing themselves with their new strength, they would simply die like flies"
"But-" Frederick wasn't letting up.
"What if he runs away?" Ezra suddenly questioned.
"Runs away?" Frederick was bewildered.
"Alvarach. What if he runs after seeing so many Grandmasters? Who would be able to stop him?"
"Why would-"
"He hasn't thought of doing such a thing because he's still underestimating us, and I intend to use that against him"
"He values his life more than all else" Ezra's words came out clear. "If you arouse his caution, he wouldn't hesitate to run away, and one's he does, no one will be able to catch up to him"
Frederick's eyes glimmered, he hadn't thought up to such a level.
Ezra continued, his tone now cold, "While running away, if he decides to destroy towns and cities, who would be able to stop him?"
"Going against him alone would have any Grandmaster sink into the Jaws of death"
"Even if we decide to chase in batches, he'all just pick us out one by one, until we're all dead"
"So we can't rely on Grandmasters, I have to take this gamble to reach Mythic rank" he revealed. "I don't even know if I'll be able to achieve by the tenth day, but we can't leave him be"
By the end of his explanation, Ezra was exasperated.
Frederick was taken aback. "So…all those who attack are simply going there to die?"
"Tch" Ezra clicked his tongue. "Yes…unless you have a better idea"
"I don't" Frederick answered, clenching his fists to show veins lined along his arms and head while looking down.
"What are the chances of you breaking through in ten days?"
Ezra exhaled. "Sixty percent"
Frederick let go of his fists unconsciously.
He didn't question it because his liege wasn't one to lie.
"Now that you know…are you still going to attack?" Ezra asked.
"Of course" Frederick answered resolutely.
Ezra nodded, a plethora of emotions running through him, but he could only mutter two words.
"Thank you"
"No, thank YOU my liege" Frederick said. "Without you, I would've died from curse all those years ago"
'Ah'
That sentence had Ezra reminiscing.
"It was hard, but we pulled through" he said. "And we'll pull through this too"
"Of course My liege"
"That reminds me, what rank is Cabrera now?"
"He reached Peak Master four months ago"
"So slow…" Ezra muttered. Taking out six mana stones from his space ring and handing it to Frederick. "Assist him in advancing, one person shouldn't affect you, right?"
Frederick nodded.
They quickly moved their discussion to other issues.
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As the mana stone began dimming, Frederick placed his hands just below Cabrera's chest, subtly holding the coalition of mana in place.
Having already absorbed three mana stones, the mana core had already begun forming with Frederick's help.
On his own, Cabrera would've used at least 12 hours to achieve the same results.
Sweating, Cabrera focused his attention on absorbing and guiding the inflow of mana into Frederick's reach.
An hour passed, the mana stones now had barely any light left.
With that, Frederick instructed him to let go of them.
Tossing them away with a flick and spitting out the other, Cabrera's breath quickened, feeling the exhaustion seeping in.
Major breakthroughs were no joke.
"It's not over yet"
Frederick's voice brought him back into the present.
"Focus" he said. "This is the hard part"
Cabrera blinked in reply, steeling himself.
"Now that you have enough mana, you need to keep it in motion till a core forms naturally, the faster the better"
Regulating his breaths, Cabrera shut his eyes, his hands coming to form a triangle right where the core was being formed.
Frederick's index finger lay in the middle to provide assistance in case something went wrong.
Feeling the swirling mana, he begins to speed it up, grunting as he did so, holding something with such intensity in place was no easy feat, and its speed only increased.
After ten minutes, the mana was blinding, the core on the cusp of forming.
But…
"I can't…hold on!"
Cabrera was reaching his limits.
"No you can" Frederick replied. "You have to, you can't stop now else you'll be crippled"
'Shit!' Cabrera was suddenly regretting agreeing to this.
Just then…
The core formed!
Cabrera's veins lit up with a shimmering blue glow, realizing what was about to happen, Frederick quickly withdrew.
*Boom*
As with all others, from his body came a ray of light, blue in colour, and smashed against the ceiling as it sought to announce the birth of a new Grandmaster.
Frederick had fled the chamber, locking it up.
Made with the finest minerals, it was to stop the ray of light from escaping the room and exposing the birth of a Grandmaster.
This would be the first time its quality would be put to the test.
After ten long minutes, Frederick slowly opened the door, his gaze going straight to the ceiling.
'It worked'
The ray of mana had dug into it, but had been unable to penetrate it.
The chamber was a success.
'Now then'
He reached Cabrera. He had fainted and his body was letting out hot air as if boiled.
But, he was alive.
Frederick couldn't resist smiling as he crossed his hands.
Niton had gained a new Grandmaster.
They might 'just' be hope for the future.
He looked up.
18:13
'My liege, I really hope you succeed'
He looked up.
'My liege, I really hope you succeed'
Having confirmed Cabrera's health, he exits, leaving the new Grandmasters to some hard earned rest.
Despite having three hundred thousand combatants ready, Ezra and Frederick decided that only five hundred would follow.
The five hundred was nine-tenths of all Black Jaws Peak Masters.
A Jaw dropping number considering they were a force a little more than a decade old.
With Cabrera and Frederick heading to a battle most likely to claim their lives, the few Peak Masters left out were to hold the line in case their enemies decided to take their absence as an opportunity to attack.
Though, with a thousand mid rank masters along with a thousand early master ranks, the attackers would surely face defeat.
Leaving orders in case he lost his life, Frederick prepared for what could very well be his final battle.
Once done, all that remained was for Cabrera to wake up.
Meanwhile, thanks to the frenzy Black Jaws caused, Triton had hastily moved the royal army, gathering the mercenaries with salt to their names to bolster their strength and marched to Quartez …on horses of course.
Like every other time, hyenas stuck by to fish for scraps from the lion's hunt.
Many others, obviously underqualified, followed the army's trail, having chanced upon the news, hoping to earn it big.
Of course, they kept adequate distance from them, else be killed.
And since they were tight on time, Triton didn't bother so long they didn't get in his way.
Besides, it was not too late to settle things once they arrived at Quartez.
Marching non stop for the past four days, the horse's were terribly fatigued.
As such the army was letting off steam at a town nearest to the border.
It was now the eighth day, with the town being the last settlement before Quartez, they sought to recuperate before entering enemy territory.
With the horses out of commission, they would march on foot.
In any case, their final destination was a short distance away.
Mercenaries chugged themselves full of alcohol, after all, nothing was certain about the mission.
It could be their last chance to get drunk, and they weren't going to miss it.
Members of the royal army on the other hand spent their time meditating and polishing their weapons before getting some shut eye.
________
Dawn came and went with most of them asleep.
By the time they were ready to advance into Quartez, it was almost noon.
Those tailing them were left far behind, unable to keep with the inhumane pace.
Upon marching forth though, they soon encountered an obstacle.
A crushing presence came over them as beams of light stopped in front of them, temporarily blinding them.
Upon opening his eyes, a line of Grandmasters lay in front of him.
Thirteen in total.
All of which Triton recognized.
You had Augustus Lancaster, the Emperor of Vonnamor, the only said to be on par with the late Nitonian Emperor, along with two other reputable vornnamorian Grandmasters.
Zokov Ruwain, the monarch of Ruwain.
Calagar Houston, the Emperor of the Houston Empire and his brother, Berenger Houston.
Lativ Bernard, Yule's second in command.
Rita Grimwald, right hand of Tezar's Emperor.
Wimbledon Bryan, Kreya's battle maniac.
Daniel Sigur, Hisle's King.
Jerry Jones, King of Wales.
Talia Winston, Violla's dancing blade.
Perry Vince, King of Isla.
It was the real All star lineup.
Triton couldn't help but gulp.
Thanks to his hasty efforts, the Grandmasters didn't have time to bring along subordinates, nor could they thoroughly examine the piece of information.
At least not when everyone else already believed it.
To stop Niton from monopolizing the mine, they agreed to a ceasefire.
The plan was simple, subtly suppressing Andrew, they would negotiate rights to the mine.
Even for Andrew-the strongest Grandmaster-he could only hold himself back at such a lineup.
Though, because of time constraints, they hadn't had time to really plan the details of the negotiation as they flew across continents.
No matter, they would sort it out somehow.
Augustus acted as their spokesman, he'd learned Nitonian years back in order to converse with Andrew.
"Halt your steps" he said, his voice echoing, dripping with authority. "Whoever steps forth will be killed"
Having already halted, each person looked to another.
No one was willing to test the authenticity of his statement, but even Triton.
Right then, a fellow Grandmaster tapped his shoulder.
"You need to see this"
Turning around, now curious, he gazes at Quartez.
Instantly, his expression darkened as was those of the other Grandmasters.
"What madness?!" He says, anger bubbles forth, as his gaze switches to Triton.
"You" he says. "Why have you come here?"
"We're reinforcements requested by the Emperor"
"Hmm…" Augustus' eyes narrowed.
'He's not lying' he certified. 'Then he really does not know?'
Augustus continued. "The people of the land have been massacred"
"What do you mean?" Triton inquired.
"I came here to talk about a manite mine" Augustus didn't bother explaining. "But, if Andrew's truly the one responsible for this" killing intent rose.
"I will not forgive him!"
Willing it, a Great sword appeared in his hand.
The others also drew their weapons.
They had come to bargain, but it seemed fate had other thoughts.
Things are about to get HOT!
VOID_
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