The grand hall was silent as Adams and the Ashura king locked gazes, each refusing to yield even an ounce of dominance. Their unbroken eye contact cast an almost tangible weight across the hall, causing the gathered Ashuras to shift uneasily.
The faintest flickers of expressions danced over their red-skinned faces—some were apprehensive, others wore faint sneers, and a few, particularly the generals, maintained stoic, unwavering masks. Adams, however, wore a small, knowing smile, his calm presence like a blade concealed in silk.
Then, the heavy tension broke as the palace doors swung open, and a low-ranking Ashura guard rushed in. He was breathless, his chest heaving as he fought to maintain composure. His sudden appearance in the midst of the silent stare-down earned him glares from the generals seated closest to the throne, their eyes narrowed in reprimand.
One of the higher-ranked Ashuras clicked his tongue in annoyance, his lips curling in irritation at the interruption.
But the guard, undeterred by their reactions, straightened and spoke, his voice loud and urgent, "There have been several attacks reported across the continents of the Ashura Realm. Powerful figures—unknown but incredibly strong—are leading assaults."
The Ashuras in the hall fell into an uncomfortable silence. Their initial disdain for the guard melted into something more wary. They glanced from the guard to Adams, then to the Ashura king, watching for any hint of his response. They were creatures of war, but this—an invasion within their own plane, happening alongside Adams' sudden appearance—felt like a calculated maneuver.
A scowl twisted across the Ashura king's face. His crimson eyes flicked to Adams, suspicion creeping into his expression as he scrutinized his visitor anew. "I see you came prepared," he said, his voice laced with accusation, his posture rigid as if daring Adams to respond.
Adams chuckled softly, a sound that echoed across the hall like a dark melody. "Prepared?" he repeated, amusement glinting in his gaze. "Not quite. I came alone. It just so happens that a few individuals with scores to settle offered their assistance.
Had it been left to me, I'd have needed nothing more than a finger to wipe your realm from existence." He raised his hand, and his fingers flexed slightly, punctuating his words with a casual, dangerous confidence.
The bold proclamation hung heavily in the air, causing a collective intake of breath among the Ashuras. They leaned toward each other, muttering in low, gravelly voices, each as incredulous as the next.
"Did you hear him?" one Ashura whispered, his gaze glued to Adams.
"A finger? He's either mad or... or a monster beyond what we can fathom."
"Does he truly believe he can challenge us all?" another questioned, though his voice betrayed a hint of fear he couldn't quite hide.
"Who is this being?" a third Ashura murmured, clutching his weapon tighter, his knuckles white against the dark steel.
The Ashura king narrowed his eyes, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He straightened, his massive frame seeming to fill the throne even more completely, as he allowed his own aura to expand. The air grew heavier, and the crimson shadows in the room seemed to stretch and grow darker, pressing down on all present.
Even some of the higher-ranking Ashuras shifted uncomfortably as the intensity of the king's aura washed over them like an oppressive wave.
"Is that so?" Adams murmured, his voice carrying a faint note of amusement. "I suppose we'll see just how far that loyalty takes you."
As he spoke, a shiver ran through the hall, a sensation like the calm before a storm, as the Ashuras found themselves staring into the eyes of a being who seemed to command the very fabric of reality itself.
Adams' expression shifted, the glint in his eye hardening to something sharper, darker. He let his gaze drift slowly over the Ashuras gathered in the hall, his every movement casual, almost languid, yet tinged with an intensity that commanded their undivided attention. His hands flexed slightly, fingers curling as if already testing the feel of the battle to come.
Then, finally, he lifted his eyes back to the towering Ashura King and his mighty general, a cold, knowing smile curling his lips.
"I'm getting tired of all this talk," he declared, his voice cutting through the silence like the edge of a blade. His tone was light, but there was a weight behind it that was unmistakable. "It's time to fight."
The Ashura King's eyes narrowed, a spark of anger flaring in his crimson gaze. He clenched his six hands tighter around his weapons, the muscles in his arms rippling with barely-contained rage. His general, standing beside him, looked equally tense, though his face betrayed a brief flicker of uncertainty.
The general's gaze shifted quickly toward the ground, then back up to Adams, his mouth pressing into a thin, grim line.
Adams' attention turned to the general. "And you," he said, his voice tinged with a quiet menace. "Let's see... would you like me to call your name?"
The general's eyes widened slightly, surprise flashing across his rugged features. He glanced at the Ashura King, his expression torn between defiance and a growing fear he could no longer hide. The King frowned, feeling the unease radiating from his general like a wave, but he said nothing, choosing instead to watch the exchange in silence.
Adams tilted his head, his eyes gleaming with something dangerous. "Why don't you wait, though? Since I have some personal scores to settle with you both," he said, his voice like velvet over steel. "I'll get to you soon enough. For now, I think I'll warm up with these lesser creatures."
He lifted a hand, making a dismissive gesture toward the gathered Ashura soldiers, each one more massive and imposing than the last. They stiffened, shifting uncomfortably under his gaze, glancing at each other with tense, silent glances. A low murmur ran through the ranks, and Adams watched with an almost amused expression as whispers began to ripple through the hall.
"Does he really think he can take us all?" one Ashura muttered under his breath, his brows knitting together in frustration. Another sneered, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of doubt. "Arrogant fool, he doesn't know what he's up against."
But Adams only chuckled softly, the sound carrying a hint of mocking amusement that grated against the pride of the assembled warriors. He rolled his shoulders, the slight movement emphasizing the strength concealed within his otherwise relaxed stance.
Then, he took a single step forward, his smile widening, and the Ashuras closest to him instinctively tensed, their hands inching toward their weapons.
"I could wipe all of you out with a mere thought," Adams said, his voice low, almost contemplative. "But where's the fun in that?"
The Ashura King bristled at his words, his pride clearly stung, while his generals glowered, their jaws tight and eyes narrowed. Adams didn't care; he barely even acknowledged their outrage. He raised his arms slightly, flexing his hands as if savoring the thought of the upcoming conflict. "So let's dance," he murmured, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling mixture of excitement and something darker.