Chapter 60: Law of the Ring of Fire

Chapter 60: Law of the Ring of Fire

I watched as the gate raised and I could hear an uproar coming from the wall. Then I saw three figures walk out from the gate. At the head of the formation was a young kid in what looked to be a set of very fancy armor. Behind him marched a pair of guards holding the banners of House Marina. Why does this give me the idea of a final march? Like the kind of walk one takes to the gallows...

“Is he a royal? He walks like one.” I asked as I looked at Cecilia.

We were standing a little ahead of the army in the contested ground. We weren’t exactly in the middle, we were only at about 25% the distance. This was to make them walk to us, and help set the power dynamic early in the negotiations. Humans sure had many weird things going on with them, every little thing seems to have some weird deeper meaning...

“Yes he is and what do you mean walk like one? You mean the regal bearing?” Cecilia asked curiously.

“Ah you humans walk like any creature. The weak walk like prey, skittish afraid of every shadow, head bowed and submissive. While the rich and powerful walk like predators, slow and proud. As for royals, well... they walk like they own the ground beneath their feet, it’s the kind of walk one uses in their home.” I replied.

“Well I do technically own the ground on which I walk. Or at least I will soon own it, so why quibble with such small details...” Cecilia said with a smirk as she took a proud step forward and turned to face me.

“I guess that’s true.” I replied with a chuckle.

“So who is that little fool?” I asked as I turned to look at the approaching boy.

“If I am correct he is Prince Edrin Marina, the Crown Prince of Marina.” Cecilia mused as she turned to look at the incoming party.

“He is uneasy, like he is walking to his death. I wonder if it’s just naive uncertainty... or something else... something much more interesting...” I said with a grin as I bared my teeth.

“Oh I think it’s the last one, the guard complement is too small. I smell the blackest of treasons...” Cecilia replied with a small laugh.

When the poor boy finally arrived in front of us, I saw him gulp as he looked up at me. His gaze shifted to Azatharine who was standing next to me leering down at him. Then to Legiana who was standing to my right giving him a fanged smile. After that to Cecilia who was on my left, then to the Lord Warden and Istland’s Lord Knight Enchanter, the best spellblade in Istland.

“Greetings Empress Cecilia, I am Crown Prince Edrin. I come to you with cordial intent.” Prince Edrin said with a small bow.

“Ah yes I met you in Averlon, how is your lord father?” Cecilia asked cordially as if there wasn’t an army standing behind her.

“He is... hiding in his room...” Prince Edrin replied with a weary sigh as his posture slouched. It looked like he was being crushed by the weight on his shoulders.

“Ah I see... so then why are you here... my lord...” Cecilia said using the honorific of Lord and not a royal, speaking as if the battle had already been won and his house had been demoted.

“I wish to invoke the Law of the Ring of Fire.” Prince Edrin said, as he called upon an old Elysian tradition.

“Oh you’re going to do that?” I asked with a laugh.

I’ve been reading up about old Elysia and apparently there was this duel system. It was called the Ring of Fire, it was basically a duel to settle battles. This was a system to prevent unnecessary deaths and losses. Basically two equivalent individuals can agree to duel and it can only be ended by death or concession. As for the meaning of equivalent, well it’s quite simple. A Royal can only duel a Royal, a Lord can only duel a Lord, a Commander can only duel a commander, etc cetera...

“So who would you like to challenge? You cannot duel me or my dear friend.” Cecilia as she gestured to me.

“I am aware, the terms are, if I win, the new Empire will recognise Marina’s independence, if you win, then Marina will surrender sovereignty.” Prince Edrin said.

“You could just surrender and save yourself, you know.” I deadpanned as I looked at the shaking Prince, this was a farce any idiot with a pair of eyes could see that.

“What are you worried about...” Cecilia said as she narrowed her eyes.

“Are you perhaps worried that your father will countermand your order to surrender and so you decided to sell your life to demoralise your own army?” Cecilia asked.

Prince Edrin was silent but I saw the tell tale sign in his vitals that Cecilia was right on the mark.

“You know I could just order my two assassins that are standing outside your father’s door to kill him.” I stated calmly and Prince Edrin looked up in shock.

“How do you want it done, I can cut his throat, cut off his head, bite his head off or maybe throw him off a tall tower... or I could cut out his tongue so he can’t say anything...” I suggested calmly as Prince Edrin continued to gape at me.

“What? Do you want an open coffin funeral? Well I guess I could stab him in the chest and take out his heart, that way you can just cover him up.” I added.

“So what say you Prince Edrin, is that agreeable?” Cecilia said, trying to expedite matters.

“I... but there still might be an uproar if the king dies through assasination.” Prince Edrin replied shakily.

Right before he reached his sword I swung one of Legiana’s tentacles and hit him right in the chest. I felt the metal bend as he was thrown back away from the sword.

[Kinesis] I said mentally and I lifted him off the ground before slamming him back into the ground like a rag doll. Then I lifted him up and tossed him next to his sword.

I watched as Prince Edrin gasped for breath as he clutched his chest and gasped for breath. That little combo must have knocked the wind out of him.

Let’s speed things up a little...

I shot out one of Legiana’s tentacles and stabbed the sharp bone blade at it’s tip an inch from the Prince’s head. He yelped as he rolled away and grabbed his sword. He took a swing at the tentacle but I easily withdrew it. I used the four tentacles to launch myself towards him, I saw him panic as he turned and ran.

I landed heavily right where he was standing and I bought a pair of tentacles down in a hard bash. He raised his shield to catch the blow and I felt the shield splinter and dent. I saw his arm break from the blow as he fell back screaming in pain.

[Kinesis] I intoned mentally as I lifted him up and tossed him around like a rag doll occasionally slamming his body into the ground. At last I slammed him down one final time.

I leisurely walked over to him and saw him groaning in pain on the floor.

“Get up Prince of Marina...” I said as I stopped in front of him.

I saw him look up wearily, his shield arm hanging limply at his side. His helmet was off now, it had fallen off when I was tossing him around. He struggled to his feet and I blasted him back with a [Shockwave] as he landed badly on one leg. I saw his foot bend just a little too far. He groaned as he lay there in pain.

“Is that it?” I asked as I reached down and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and lifted him off the ground.

Legiana was just over two metres tall which meant it was high enough that he was dangling off the ground. He just hung there limply, probably in more pain than he had ever experienced in his life. I could tell he was barely conscious, I could see his arm was broken, his right foot dislocated and he had a few broken ribs.

“Helloooo?” I said as I shook him slightly, jolting him back to reality.

His eyes were lidded, his vision was probably flashing white from the pain.

“Elise...” he muttered through his bloody lips, probably delirious from pain.

As if on cue I heard the gate open at first I thought they were going to surrender but instead I saw this blonde girl come running out the gate. I saw a pair of maids follow after her frantically and grab her, trying to drag her back into the city. I saw her channel magic and blew them back with a weak wave of force. The maid’s staggered back and the girl took off running towards me again.

When she got closer I saw her raise a hand and ether flowed into her hand. It wasn’t much ether honestly I could probably take it with Legiana’s body but since I’m borrowing this body I guess I should be a little more considerate.

[Magic Missile] the girl cried and this weak blue bolt flew at me, I raised my hand and calmly conjured a barrier blocking the weak strike.

“RELEASE HIM!” I heard the girl scream in desperation.

“As you wish...” I said as I caught on to who this girl was, this was probably his girlfriend or something. So I tossed Prince Edrin towards her and he landed hard onto the grass. I saw him cough out a mouthful of blood as he let out a groan.

The girl knelt down tears streaming down her cheeks as she cradled Prince Edrin. Her tears dripped down her face as they fell on his face.

“Elise...” Prince Edrin said weakly as his opened his eyes weakly to look up at his weeping lover.

“Do you yield Prince of Marina?” I asked as I brandished my tentacles, their sharp points pointed right at the pair.

“Yes I yield... the city is yours...” Prince Edrin said weakly.

“Excellent.” I said as I relinquished control and flew over with my original body. I landed in front of him and I saw the girl’s face pale as she got a good look at me. Legiana was a little intimidating to look at but I was a completely different matter.

“[MAGIC MISSILE]” Elise shrieked in panic and I just stood there as the spell bounced off my face, not even leaving a scratch.

[Astral Rejuvenation] I said mentally and the Prince was bathed in a sparkling blue light. I watched as his body healed and he coughed out another mouthful of blood. He gasped as he looked at me, his parlour improving as the pain faded.

“Now then...” I said with a smile. As I leaned down until my face was right in front of the pair of trembling teenagers.

Get back in there and open that gate...

Before I kick it down and kill you all...