Chapter 23: Gazul

O'rriadt Island, Inside the town hall. Few hours after the participants went to Hoglob Island.

Three gentlemen were having a conversation inside the town hall's conference room. Royal Knight and Diamond Level Hunter - Sir Edwin Tulor Godefroy and Royal Mage, Gold Level Hunter - Park Han Fu. With the Town Mayor Rastik McGreedy. 

The three were seated in the middle of a room filled with papers, candles, and pieces of furniture. The three were divided by a table, the Knight and the Mage were seated next to the door. While McGreedy was opposite them. On the table was a Communication Claim called Transmit Cube -  a claim that transmits and records visual and audio of the surroundings. The radius depends on the Grade of the Cube. On the table was a Transmit Cube Grade II.

"Are you sure he's here?" Mage Park Han Fu asked. His narrow eyes were blocked by the steam coming from the black tea. Sipping, he continued, "don't disappoint us McGreedy," his hoarse voice emphasized the word McGreedy, "remember, you're nothing without the Empire." 

"Of course...yes!" Hesitation filled McGreedy's thoughts.  He lowered his head, black hair dragged down and a flash of gray was revealed. "I am old enough for this, so please," his hollowed eyes stared at the wooden floor. A smell of oakwood mixed with a candle wax filled the room, "leave my family alone, he's here! Okay! Here! On this island!"

Mage Park Han Fu muttered some words, a small amount of black mist aura leaked out from his body. Without warning, McGreedy gasped for air. His breath quickened. From red, he turned blue. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. His eyes rolled and only white remained. 

"Enough."  A flat voice echoed in the room. 

For a moment, McGreedy thought he's going to die. His lips and chin trembled. Sweat dripped on the floor. Kneeling and gasping for air. "You're lucky, Sir Edwin thought you're useful, if it was me, you're long dead." Without second thoughts or pity, Mage Park Han Fu sipped another cup of black tea. "fulfill your duty, and we'll leave your tiny island for good." He added, "and if not, well, remember." He paused, sipped another tea, and continued, "remember, we know your real name."

"That's enough Mage," Sir Edwin said. The light was reflected on his silver armor. His brown hair turned dark and back to brown from the dancing light emitted by the candle. "Focus on our main goal, I'll kill him personally if you're done with yours...Mage."

"Tch, tch, of course, of course, our main goal! it will be fun." His dark robe aligned perfectly with how he laughed. "The Gate is almost complete, this will be the first test the Order has conducted, so I'll worry mine, and worry yours." 

"What Gate!" 

"Shut up McGreedy, that is none of your, concern," Mage has started muttering some unknown words, "the less you know the better," his eyes were filled with killing intent.

"I said enough." 

Before Mage Park could finish his spell, the Transmit Cube gave off a faint blue light. Enough to illuminate the round table. 

"What now," Mage Park canceled his spell and McGreedy was relieved. Putting the cup of tea on the table, he pointed a finger and infused a small amount of Mana on the Cube. The Cube was triggered, and they saw a hooded man in the forest. "Speak."

"A Lord has appeared in the swamp, my...Lord," the hooded man said. His voice was tight like he was inside a box.

"What Lord?" Mage Park asked. 

"It seems to be a Goblin-orc Lord, we're currently tracking it down. It appeared to be looking for someone."

"Mage, is this part of your plan?" Sir Edwin asked.

"No, of course not, I wouldn't teleport the participants if there was a Lord on site." Mage Park gazed at trembling McGreedy and asked, "do you know anything about a Lord McGreedy?"

"No! Of course, no! How could I know, Hoglob Island is far from here."

"Wait! The Lord, someone's battling the Lord! They're participants!" Since they were trained to handle this kind of situation, the man decided to intervene. "We're going in my Lord!"

"Wait!" Sir Edwin cried. "That sword, wait, for now, keep the line open, I'll be going there."

"But Lord!"

"I said I'll be going."

"Yes, Lord." 

On the screen, the hooded man raised his hand. "Stop! We're ordered to wait!"

Back near the swamp, Ned was disabled after using Overclock. His face was lit by the beam of the moon. Pale, chest popping in and out, sweat dripping, and unmoving. But he was surprised that the Lord knew who he was. His long-forgotten name. The Lord knew. "How?" 

"I...thought, I'm...a...killer. Forced...to defend my...kin," for magical creatures, a great amount of Mana is needed to evolve and only a handful of known creatures evolved to Lord Grade. But once a Lord, a creature will become sentient, fully capable of gauging their emotions, capable of communication, and able to learn fast. This goes the same to the Goblin-orc. Trying to speak a human tongue for the first time made him stutter. "But...you, Ned...or do you...want...to be called...179?"

"What are you talking about, how?!" Trying to get up, blood started to flow on Ned's lips. "Tell me! How! How did you...knew my name?"

[Warning. Multiple internal bleedings were detected.]

[Nanites redirected.]

"You...killed species...more than the two...worlds combined," the Lord drew in a long breath. Raised his hand and supported his body with his knee. He slowly stood. Seconds passed, he started to straighten his words, "I, Gazul of the Lost Tribe," Body fully erected, he raised his blade. Hundreds of wounds started to heal, like nothing happened, "thanked you, Ned of Sskat, for giving me your blood," with the body fully recovered, he enveloped his sword with fire. "And sentenced you to death!" His rough voice echoed throughout Ned's ear. The voice of impending death.

"ICE! I need to move!"

[Notice. A great amount of Pure Mana was detected.]

[Code one initiated.]

[Overclocking will commence.]

[Error. Host's body is too weak to initiate Overclocking.]

[Error. Host's body is too weak to initiate Overclocking.]

ICE, prompted one after the other. But to no avail, Ned's body was too weak to handle another Overclocking.

[Code eight. Will now initiate.]

With the last prompt. Ned's body forced the remaining Mana in his body to explode. He started to float for half an inch above the ground. Shockwaves started to burst out of Ned's body. 

Ned's Mana started to deplete at a fast rate.

[130/601]

[129/601]

[120/601]

[110/601]

...

[005/601]

[001/601]

[Mana Burst will not activate.]

Ned exploded. The ground trembled and cracked. 

The Lord that was about to slice Ned to half was thrown meters away. His body rammed trees after the other. But he couldn't stop until he reached a rock bigger than his body. He was stuck in the rock, making a body print. The line was formed from where he stood until the rock. 

The rest, Toni, Coco, and Xi were thrown as well, scattered everywhere. Naa'ri and the two G's as well. 

After the explosion has stopped and the smoke settled. They saw Ned laid on the ground. He was buried in a crater big enough to fit ten people at once. Ned was half-conscious. "Ned!" Toni cried. 

"Let's go!" Xi ran toward Ned. Limping and worried.

Coco in his tiger form dashed to where Ned was.

The rest were surprised, Naa'ri, Greg, and Grant. Even the people hiding on trees were affected by the explosion and was startled. They couldn't comprehend what had happened. 

Half-conscious, Ned heard a tremble on the ground. The Lord was running, determined to kill Ned. His flesh was flowing with blood. But his wounds recovered at a fast rate. Fire enveloped, not just his blade, but his body as well. He raised his left hand and Fireballs were shot. Fireballs after Fireballs it flew toward Ned. Four Fireball lit the sky.

"No, no, no! Ned!" Unable to reach Ned, Toni burst out a Mana in a form of glaciers. She randomly threw glaciers after glaciers until it was able to stop the first Fireball that was about to hit Ned. Three more left. 

"We couldn't make it on time!" Xi cried. 

Groar!

Coco was about to jump but his tiger form stopped when he needed it the most. He was back to his normal form.

Meow!

Then, a streak of light flew. It shined the entire swamp, trees, rocks, and everything within a wide range. 

A sword was slashed midair, stopping the rest of the Fireball. 

But the Lord was three meters away, enough for him to impale Ned. He leaped, pointed his blade, and shot his body to Ned.

The Lord's blade was blocked by a bright-orange sword. Blade and sword clanged midair. Sparks flew randomly. It was the Diamond Level Hunter, Sir Edwin Tulor Godefroy. 

"Human!" Gazul Roared. He jumped sideways to evade Sir Edwin's sword. To his surprise, his left hand was sliced. Green blood rivered out his arm. "Kill that kid, and your species will thank you."

"Shut up," Sir Edwin elegantly raised his sword. "I would like to capture you since you're a Lord Grade. I'm sure you'll sell a good amount of Mana Stone." Silver light flowed on his sword. "But you've crossed the line endangering the lives of our kids."

"Kid you say, look at him, does he look like a kid to y—"

The Lord's eyes bursts. Followed by his head plopping on the ground. 

Sir Edwin was already at the Lord's rear. Elegantly cutting the Lord's head. He then stabbed the Lord. The tip of his sword pierced Gazul's chest together with his Core. 

Gazul died, with his Core destroyed. He was unable to regenerate. The Core, that was in the sword burned and turned to ash. 

[Redirecting Nanites for regenerations.]

[Time remaining until fully recovered.]

[47 hours, 57 minutes and 33 seconds left.]