Chapter 192.

PART 1.

Hatori is groggy. He finds himself in this room, having no idea how he got there. ‘I don’t drink, then why?’ he thought.

Then the rush of memories hits him. the crowd, the match, the poisoning attempt, and of course, his win. Thinking about that brings a smile on his face. ‘She was terrified of me.’ his smile gets wider when he remembers that face. ‘Truly, vision is a wonderful thing.’ He thinks to himself. Before this, he had never seen his enemies be terrified of him, only heard their mercy of please and whimpers of fear.

But now, he gets to savor terror in full.

His body is healing nicely. The toxic pheromones are already cleared from his system. The runes are constantly changing all over his body, testing these pheromones with the toxins of the past, and modifying his body to deal with these potential combinations. If someone were to see Hatori’s body right now, they would be terrified to see these symbols crawling all over him like aunts. But the truth is, he is not feeling a thing from this activity.

Hatori senses no one in the room. he extends his senses to the outside, and finds… “Lewis? what are you doing outside? come in.” he called.

The door opens, and the boy walks in. “Awake now, hm?” he asked, taking a chair near the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Great, actually.” Said Hatori. “After seeing that terrified face of hers, I am going to cherish that memory.”

“Normal then.” Said Lewis. “For a moment, I thought you would be a drooling mess who is hopelessly in love with Emmeline.”

“What? No!” denied Hatori. there are far better, and safer women to be considered after all. “Why are you here though? And where are the others?”

“They are out to get some food.” Said Lewis. “According to your scary captain, me and Wolfgang are trustworthy, so they are letting us keep guard while you recover.”

“Never imagined Avinash to be scary.” Said Hatori. “Though he has the right idea.”

“Not scary?” said Lewis feeling incredulous. “He grabbed me by my collar, and told me to sit and guard you or suffer the consequences!”

“I’m sure he is just stressed.” Said Hatori.

After a while, the door opens, and Hatori’s team walks in. “How are you feeling?” asked Avinash.

“Great.” Said Hatori once again.

“He is normal.” Said Lewis. “Apparently, he will cherish that terrified face.”

“Normal then.” Said everyone, breathing a sigh of relief. They don’t want Hatori in love with a manipulative branch of the human species with dangerous powers. Who knows what could happen as a result of this union?

“Did he tell you what happened after the match?” asked Praduman.

“Oh yeah,” said Hatori. “We won, and then the kings argued or something.”

“Something.” Said Avinash, tapping the arm of his chair. “After an experience like this, I might not leave the Subcontinent for the next ten years. at least we try to kill each other brutally, instead of playing with puppet kings.”

Hatori does not want to argue with Avinash. Besides, it is hardly the place to share how the powerful families tried to turn him into their puppet so they can secure the future or some such bullshit.

“Speaking of that, when can we return to the Subcontinent?” asked Hatori.

“Tomorrow.” Said Avinash. “After the award ceremony.”

“Great.” Muttered Josh. “I’m not thrilled to deal with this crowd anymore. they are so easily swayed.”

“Yeah, the papers are still cursing your names.” Said Lewis. “Some of them are quite amusing. I think I will keep them as cuttings.”

The door opens once more, and a healer enters. “Are you feeling well?” he asked.

“Yes,” said Hatori. “Though I am getting hungry.”

“That is a good sign.” Said the healer. He writes something on the board and then makes a copy of it with a spell. he hands over the conjured paper slip to Avinash. “Feed him these food items, and do not bring anything from outside.”

“Yes. thanks for the help,” said Avinash.

“Any time.” said the healer with a smile.

“Wait, I can’t eat from outside?” said Hatori after the healer left. “Why?”

“Because the world loves balancing things out,” said Lewis with a gleeful expression. “You torment everyone around you all the time. so now, it is your turn. Hahahahahahaha!”

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“Dammit.” Hatori could not decide which was worse. The hospital food, or that grading laughter.

Ten minutes later, he got his answer. The laughter is definitely the worst one. the food is surprisingly good.

PART 2.

Peter is sitting in his room, experiencing his failure by himself. The team has pretty much split apart after yesterday’s match. he not only lost the trophy, but he could not stop his team from being used in a conspiracy.

So, their apathy toward him is justified, he feels. At least Batya has agreed to take him home. Peter suspects most teams have done the same, as the greatest safety is with their monarch, instead of traveling alone. after the award ceremony, it would be a chaotic run, and all the teams will try to leave as fast as they can. the foreign spectators have already fled. Now it is their turn.

PART 3.

“I cannot believe you failed so badly.” Said Amelia. “Everything was set up correctly for you, and yet you still failed.”

Emmeline wanted to scream. That boy is a monster. That depth of magic she sensed from him; was not just for show. he knows how to use that power for violence. She considers herself lucky enough to get out alive from the ring.

But she also knows that this reality is lost upon her mother. “I have made mistakes.” She said instead. “But I know how to rectify them.”

“Oh?” asked Amelia, interested in the plan her daughter had come up with.

“They will never leave with their prize.” Said Emmeline, and then launched into explaining how this plan works.

PART 4.

Porus sighed in disappointment. Almost fifty years since he last left his country, and it is such a disastrous experience. He never could have thought ten years ago that Albus would make such mistakes.

“Why are you disappointed so much?” asked Chi, the only contemporary of Porus in the current crop. “He brought it on himself. He should have stayed away from those mosquitos.”

Mosquito is the right term to use for a Succubi. If they manage to get their hopeless victim trapped in their allure, they then suck them dry of their life and their magic slowly with each intercourse, while the victim is unaware of what is happening to him.

“That bastard is lucky that we’re such a long distance apart. In the coming war, I would have invaded this place to teach him a lesson otherwise.” Grumbled Chi.

Zuo Chi is furious. Albus has sullied these tournaments for his machinations, something which he considered sacred. True, losses and wins do happen here, but it is for the children to test themselves against the metal of each other, not for the old politicians to interfere and make them center-stage for their plans.

PART 5.

Though Porus is worried about what is going on in Albion, he does not have an idea of what is going on back home. how can he? He is not some all-knowing narrator after all.

Currently, the forces are preparing to lay siege to the City of Throne. Vivek has simple orders. Terrorize the population, and make sure that they can capture the area around the castle. use of force is allowed. Vivek cannot wait to show those unworthy curs to show up and see the city in flames and under their heel.

He will then enslave that musician boy, and kill the rest. Maybe keep the girls as entertainment. But why think about them? Vivek is certain that he will have more women to play with once the action starts.

PART 6.

“Are the supplies ready?” asked Sundar.

“Yes, they are kept guarded at all times,” said Bajrang.

“Have the people moved yet?” asked the general.

Raven comes back with the news. “They have started to move.” Said Raven. “They were reluctant, but after they saw the army approaching, they obeyed quickly,” he informs Sundar.

Since there were nothing but rumors about it, Sundar could not take any action. Porus is not here, so the wards of the city cannot be activated. Therefore, the general has to prepare for the siege. The training is suspended, and the boys have been notified that they will have to sink or swim in the coming times.

Raven is acting as his postman once more, though the general has kept him away from the sensitive information. “Good. prepare the lockdown. Keep the staff inside. Kill anyone who is spying upon us, there will not be a trial. Spread this news.”

“Yes!” said Bajrang and Raven together, saluting Sundar, and leaving to follow his orders.