Chapter 106: The Trumpet and the Horseman

Several minutes before Seeker had challenged Meng, A lone Aragarian was slowly headed towards her car. It was the Aragarian Madelyn.

Her car was not more than thirty meters from where she was now. But this distance seemed like miles in her perspective.

Her every step was extremely slow. She would do her best to maintain her balance at every step. And the reason for her slow pace was the remnant sensation she continuously felt. She had an extreme sense of panic and fear had gripped her heart. Her mind continued to recall the terrifying scene when she met Richie.

When Richie appeared and their base was raided by the unknown soldiers, Pridgeon had sent her to immediately request for backup to the nearby Aragarian's based on the outskirts of the city. She would leave the battleground and head to the nearest Pioneer base and use her connections to deploy the military branch loyal to them.

But on her way to her vehicle, she suddenly met Richie.

Her guards simply died. They were convulsing when Madelyn turned to them for protection. Clutching their chest as hard as they could as it seemed to have been gripped by a strange force.

A strange feeling occurred on her chest. What followed next was a jolt of fear as she heard the whistling tune of Richie.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Richie smiled.

"Sound. Vibration. Movement. Waves… The science of matter. And I control it. Can you feel it? The intense vibrations of my voice that causing your heart to be gripped as the sound penetrates deeper into the tissues and skin." Richie happily narrated.

"Oh right... I wonder what to do with you..." Richie immediately took out a comm device.

"Arthur… I know you're busy." Richie called out on the comm device.

"I met Madelyn again. What are your thoughts?"

Arthur had just defeated Force at that time. He stood silently and gazed around the battlefield. His eyes noticed Alean.

"Leave her alone," Arthur called out seeing the opportunity to converse and yet hide their communication. It was at this time that several assassins had moved towards Alean.

"Leave her? Why?" Richie frowned.

"Give her your best and most pleasurable kiss," Arthur ordered as he shut the comm device and focused on the battle.

Richie sighed. He knew what Arthur was ordering him to do. Richie recalled Arthur explaining another theory when they were still preparing for the attack.

"Your voice isn't something that can only push or cause fear. It's more than that. We don't know what Meng will be capable of so the stronger you get, the better our chances of completing this mission."

"This voice of mine isn't my only Path you know. With my instinct, I can easily survive whatever Meng throws on me." Richie brushed Arthur's words and attempted to leave.

"Seeker knew about your voice. Yet when I asked him what your Path is, remember what he said on that hotel floor? He told me that your Path is your instincts. Why would he leave out your voice?" Arthur asked.

Richie stopped moving.

"Alright, kid. You got my attention."

"I assumed that Seeker is correct. So that is your main Path. He's already up but said that I have to figure out what your Path is on my own. Seeker's hint was on the fact that he didn't describe your Path to be that of your voice but your instinct. So I worked under the assumption that your main Path is your instinct."

"Now you're just confusing yourself, kid." Richie laughed.

"Your Path is Vibrations." Arthur finally summarized.

"It isn't sound. But the vibrations that your sound produced. This also explains your instincts. The vibrations of everything around you tells you what to look out for. I could go on and explain the matters regarding string theory and what-not, but that's basically it. You feel things around you at a different level. And like a prodigy who understands music, the information of these vibrations simply… tells you what to look out for." Arthur quickly explained.

Richie gave a surprised look.

"Well, I'll be! Congratulations! Looks like you're becoming more and more like a true Prophet!"

"Use that knowledge well. You can cause terrible destruction. After all, wasn't it shouts that tore down the Walls of Jericho?"

"So my Peal's of thunder can do more than just push?" Richie's eyebrow raised.

"Probably. From a biblical perspective, God created everything through His voice. As for science, it has already proven that all matter is simply vibrations or waves at a certain perspective. I don't know what would be the end of your Path. But what I'm sure of, it doesn't just end with pushing things around and inflicting fear." Arthur then paused for a bit. After a moment of hesitation, Arthur continued.

"Also… if this helps… it's about her. The Tyrant Empress."

Richie's happy look stiffed and a slow-building glare surfaced.

"Your potential could be applied outside of warfare but even in other fields… Right now the vibrations you can cause shakes the inner being of a person. This jolt gives birth to the sensation of fear. But I believe you can do more than just fear. This would explain her… attraction towards you." Arthur's voice started to tremble. The astonishing force that vibrates around him already started happening.

Richie gave a stoic look at Arthur. He had already made Richie angry so Arthur resolved to finish what he started.

"When used appropriately, fear could command loyalty and respect, submission and even ecstasy," Arthur spoke faster knowing that if he prolonged this discussion, he wouldn't be able to think straight.

"Ecstasy?" Richie's eyes went wide opened as he realized something.

The crushing sensation around Arthur disappeared.

"So that's why… she enjoyed it…" A hateful look surfaced as Richie recalled an embarrassing and painful memory.

Arthur was closing his eyes and was trying to analyze his situation.

Soon, his fingers could move and Arthur retained movement in his upper body.

Richie glared at Arthur as if to say, you did that to yourself.

"As… I was saying… If you want to conquer that woman, you can either kill her or give her a taste of her own medicine. As early as now, you have to think of a way to match her assaults. If you meet her again, she will try to kiss you. If you find a way to dominate her as she has dominated you, then you have truly defeated her. So use your powers and find a way to give a painful fearful and pleasurable kiss!" Arthur spoke coldly and immediately retreated.

Richie smiled at Arthur's challenge.

"What a troublesome order…" Richie stretched out as he gazed at the petrified Aragarian.

"Fine. At least I can pay your kind the same pain she inflicted on me." Richie finally resolved himself.

"Remember me. Remember my voice. And remember my name. I am Richie." Richie playfully whispered as pangs of dread shuddered Madelyn's body.

Immediately, Richie gave a passionate kiss. A silent growl vibrated out of Richie's lips and caused Madelyn's entire body to tremble in intense fear. But it wasn't only fear. The memory of that kiss, the melodious ring of Richie's name was embedded on her very heart. Her organs shook, her mind was jolted. And in that process, the name Richie was an unrelenting sound that trapped her heart and emotions.

Back at the present, the moment Madelyne woke up, she immediately made for the car out of fear.

Suddenly, she realized that her legs couldn't respond and she stumbled off. She started to crawl faster and faster. And that was when she realized that a warning was displayed on her Alinon.

A panicked shock appeared as she immediately dialed the Alinon and linked a line to Pridgeon.

"Madelyn!" Pridgeon was relieved to receive Madelyn's call.

"Presider. What happened? Why is the Killing Horn charging!"

"Good thing you called me! I almost forgot that Richie left you alive. I'll set the Killing Horn so that it won't target you. But it's still too dangerous to remain here. Head to the northern checkpoint. Soldiers loyal to us are there. Arrange a pickup and prepare my shuttle out of here. I'll leave the clean-up to you." Pridgeon immediately ordered.

"Presider… I…"

"No time! My suit's energy is extremely low! I almost died and this suit had to expend most of its energy reviving and healing me! I barely have enough time to complete the launch and escape! I must kill that Meng and the Richie!"

The moment Madelyn heard Richie's name, she stumbled down and started to convulse wildly. Extreme fear shook her heart but at the same time, she climaxed in extreme ecstasy.

Her entire body trembled when she heard the name. Madelyn continued to spasm and crawl towards the car with a mixture of emotions. Richie's name had rooted itself in her heart.

"Oh?" Richie lifted his head and gazed to a distance.

"Looks like she's up." Richie pondered.

"Amazing. That Arthur is right." A sinister smile appeared on Richie's face.

BOOM!

He returned his gaze to the battle in front of him.

Seeker was spiraling backward from the force of Meng's punch.

Despite how Meng would recklessly punch on Seeker's sword, the wounds on meng's fist were shallow and seemed to be healing fast.

Seeker's figure had small cuts all over his body.

Richie patiently waited for an opening.

The vibrations he felt were extremely peculiar.

"Ugh. Forget it. This is his Path. No use understanding it." Richie sighed.

Seeker continued to charge and execute powerful slashes.

Meng would evade the attacks the moment he could 'feel' even the slightest sensation of the sword touching his skin.

A desolate force gathered once more and exploded causing Seeker to retreat.

Seeker then noticed that the desolation near Richie was gone.

"Can't you do the same for me?"

"No. The desolation gets stronger the closer we get that guy. Are you out of tricks?"

"I can't create an opening. That man's too strong." Seeker sighed.

"Oh alright. Sheesh. I'll help you. You're still too sloppy with your techniques though." Richie shook his head.

Seeker silently cursed.

"Let's go!" Richie laughed.

Richie dashed forwards at incredible speed.

Meng utilized the armor on his lower body to dash faster.

The desolate force went wild around the room but a strange repelling force kept it at bay.

Seeker charged right behind Richie.

The trio moved at extreme speeds. Meng was retreating as his desolations were no longer hindering the two.

The desolate force gathered around Meng's body as he kept moving wildly around the room as Seeker and Richie moved closer and closer.

"Water World." Richie suddenly declared.

The entire room suddenly felt heavy.

Meng couldn't easily move as a force was pressing upon him in all directions.

The force suddenly got heavier and Meng's expression started to show pain. Waves and waves of concentrated sound started to slam against Meng.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

If it weren't for his strong body he would have been knocked around by this invisible force.

Meng's red eyes started to turn darker as he glared angrily at Richie.

"Here's the opening you needed, kid. That should be enough to tie him down." Richie smiled.

"It takes a monster to deal with another monster." Seeker laughed and started dashing towards Meng.

"It's not enough!" Meng growled.

A desolate force rushed from Meng and was headed to meet Seeker's charge.

Sensing a strange danger, Richie dashed forward and used his voice to alter the molecules before him removing friction and adjusting the aerodynamics around him. Water World also started to obstruct Seeker's charge. Richie dove towards Seeker and pulled him back.

Seeker finally noticed the anomaly approaching him and followed Richie in dashing backward.

Seeker and Richie continued to retreat and finally was outside of Meng's reach.

"You miscalculated big time, kid! If I fought him alone I would definitely die!" Richie laughed.

"How bad was that attack?" Seeker immediately asked.

"I could no longer sense the vibration within the area of his attack. Whatever molecules existed in that area just disappeared." Richie explained.

"Maw of the Dragon! How? He needed to be at least at Ranked Hero if he was to activate that!" Seeker cursed.

Seeker knew that Meng was among the fastest in terms of the development of his Path. He knew Richie wouldn't be able to defeat Meng and so Seeker sent Richie to the Reformer to stabilize Richie's Path.

"Something must have happened in this timeline. But the question is what? How did he - wait… it's Rosa isn't it?!" Seeker then realized what may have caused this predicament.

"The red gem!" Seeker thought in his heart. He knew that Meng needed his trigger to finally overcome the last hindrances in his heart.

After years of being engraved with Chinese teachings and philosophies and following several superstitions, Meng had struggled with what he believed to be a heart devil.

"You slept with Rosa?!" Seeker shouted angrily. He knew the red gem was something that Rosa would love and that fitting gift he delivered through Sting would have undoubtedly help Meng in his pursuit. But what Seeker didn't expect was for things to progress faster.

"Damn it! If that's the case fighting Meng at full force is too risky!" Seeker thought in his heart and clenched his sword tight. The opportunity of facing Meng for his growth had to be ignored now otherwise he would die.

Meng was enraged at Seeker's words.

"And what if I did?" Meng coldly challenged.

Seeker was surprised.

"Oh boy. It looks like he misinterpreted your reaction. Funny how someone like him could get jealous." Richie teased.

"Shut up! Your making things worse!" Seeker cursed.

"No choice. I've got to persuade him to stop!" Seeker then took a step forward.

"Wait!" Seeker called out.

"It's pointless fighting!" Seeker shouted.

Meng scoffing glare at Seeker.

"Pointless?" A fierce look in Meng's eyes appeared.

Seeker sighed. He quickly used Surmounting Senses to quickly formulate the best argument and proof so he can convince Meng to stop fighting.

"Yes. Because-"

"TIER ONE WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION DETECTED! ALL PERSONNEL, EVACUATE TO THE SHELTERS!"

The alarm sounded out.

Seeker was stunned at the announcement.

"So that's it…" Meng slowly walked towards Seeker.

"Is it the Qilin's Horn?" The ground started cracking and breaking. The footsteps that Meng made would dig down through the stone floor.

"You've invested quite a bit to kill me. But even on my death, you'll never have MY Rosa!"

A powerful strange desolate force started to appear. A greenish glow appeared and started destroying everything around him. Meng's appearance started to turn black.

A dreadful fear gripped Seeker and Richie.

A dark and pale greenish glow started to surround Meng as his body started to turn black.

"Interesting. The Black Dragon has green wings." Richie smiled as the greenish glow took a strange shape behind Meng.

While Richie was impressed at Meng's show of power, Seeker was scared stiff.

He had seen that attack once in his future after the Rapture took place.

The show of power that the Black Dragon displayed to fend off the attacking armies solidified Meng's place as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

The horrifying scene of a valley full of dry bones once again surfaced in his memory. This was one of the few memories that Seeker had to actively forget because it was too gruesome even for an Unlocked.

"The Wings of Abomination…" Seeker unconsciously mumbled.

"Richie. I'm going to try something crazy. if I die, get out of here." Seeker sighed.

"No way. I'm an Overcomer. Either I die defeated, or I Overcome." Richie smiled. an intense vibrating force started to gather near Richie.

"Walls of Jericho?!" Seeker identified the sensation. Despite the formidable odds before him, Seeker grew excited. They still had a chance as Richie has awakened his own skills that solidified his place as one of the Seventh Trumpet.

"Amazing. I get to witness something that many on my future would die to see. A Horsemen Fighting a Seventh Trumpet."

"I doubt this is enough. Are you able to overcome as well, Inhuman?" Richie asked with a smile.

"That's why I love this New Game. The climb is more exciting than my first playthrough." Seeker grinned excitedly.

"Time to Tread the Ancient's Path." Seeker readied his sword.