-Break-

Location: Gorias Castle; training grounds.

Φ Charging forth with their weapons in hand, a group of beastkin charge at Setanta, who is holding a wooden stick.

They swing at him with their weapons but Setanta easily dodges the lot of them, and as he does he whacks them in certain parts of their bodies while saying, “Peadar Your footing is off, and Colmán don’t telegraph your attacks so much, Manus always keep your eyes on the enemy.”

He then jumps out of the group and whacks them all on the head, and he says, “You aren’t humans, aim to split up into small groups when attacking your enemy so you can make better use of your beast traits, don’t just rely on the physical strength increase.”

Sighing, Setanta says, “New recruits are such a pain to train.”

Feeling something from behind, Setanta puts up his stick to block a sharp axe, and then turning his head he says, “A chameleon beastkin, using your invisibility eh? I like that!”

Setanta hits the chameleon in the leg with his stick, and as his leg buckles Setanta winds up a kick and smacks the chameleon right in the chin knocking him to the ground.

“But just because people can’t see you with their eyes doesn’t mean they can’t hear your footsteps, do better!”

Soon two quick flashes come towards Setanta, which he easily redirects with his stick, and looking in the distance he sees a beastkin with a long arm that looks like a barrel. From the barrel, little pointed pieces of blood shoot out towards Setanta.

Knocking a few more of the shots away, Setanta says, “A wonderbeast beastkin, specifically of the Géar grasshopper. I looks like we got a fun one in the new batch.”

The man starts to shoot more incessantly, and eventually, one of his shots moves past my stick and scratches my face, and he shouts, “YES!!! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT YOU SPLOIT BRAT!”

Then he says, “Good aim, waited for an opening, and ready to fire off the next shot if you missed. I am impressed! Now let’s see how you do against a mobile target, and due to your lack of respect I will make sure not to hold back,” Setanta says as he moves towards the man.

The man shoots at Setanta again, and again. But Setanta easily moves past him and continues forward.

The grasshopper beastkin starts to sweat and Setanta says, “Are you scared, well then you should have thought of that before provoking me!”

Setanta who was previously acting like a mentor has completely reverted to an enraged child who is thinking of beating up his opponent far more, than teaching his opponent.

While this happens one of the beastkins taking a break says, “We better call Ferdiad, Setanta is one blow away from going on a rampage.”

“I don’t think we should do that Niall.”

“Why is that Conán?”

“Because I feel like these rookies are better than we think.”

As Setanta closes in on the grasshopper, he sticks out his tongue at Setanta, and moments later three beastkin attack Setanta, which causes him to stop his forward momentum and dodge away.

But as he moves away, the grasshopper continues to shoot him, and in that moment all three of the beastkin who just attacked him keeps up the attack.

The first two beastkins are Fanalis and a type of tiger, with the last one is a Fanalis, and holds the power of a wonderbeast beast. All three of them keep up their assault against Setanta but he manages to knock them all away.

“It seems that we have more than one exceptional new recruit.”

The wonderbeast Fanalis, says, “If you think that’s all, we will surely surprize you.”

Suddenly the wonderbeast Fanalis, claws turn into, and his tail turns into a metal weapon(A multiple-sectioned staff) as well. Then Setanta says, “I haven’t seen that wonderbeast before, what are you.”

“My father ate a rare wonderbeast during the invasions into the eastern continent years ago, and it just so happened to manifest in me. In the east they can it the Dòu Hǔ!”

He charges at Setanta with his brothers, and the grasshopper continues to rain down fire on Setanta all the while. Their fierce attack him, but with a nonchalant expression Setanta asks, “Hey why are you guys trying so hard in training?”

The tiger whips his tail at Setanta, who dodges it, then he says, “Me and my two brothers, are going to show the world we are not some nameless men and achieve greatness. To use these bodies are ancestors blessed us with the crush all those who stand in our way and make our names be passed down into history.”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

The two other tigers say, “YES!”

“I like that answer, very greedy. HOW ABOUT YOU GRASSHOPPER!”

“I am going to take the heads of countless generals and use that money to live a comfortable life where no one can reach me.”

“Another great answer. I am sure going to like you guys as part of our army, but if you want to achieve your grandiose dreams, be able to break this stick first.”

Setanta tightens up the spirit energy he has been directing to the stick this entire time, while also spending spirit energy throughout his body. Then he quickly moves around and starts to strike all of the tigers, and the grasshopper till they fall down.

On the ground, the grasshopper says, “How did you do that?”

“That is the level that many of the top fighters in the world have been at for decades, make sure you reach it quick, I believe wholeheartedly that you all can do it.”

Setanta then starts to gloat, and says, “BUT NOT TODAY! YOU BOYS REALLY THOUGHT YOU COULD BE ME YOUR UTTERLY INSANSE!”

From his back, Setanta is whacked in the head by the chameleon beastkin, who says, “Couldn’t hear me now, could you!”

Setanta loses all sense and reason and says, “I AM GOING TO KILL YOU ALL!” Then he starts to go on a rampage.

As Setanta goes on a rampage, Ferdiad runs into the training ground, and shouts, “SETANTA YOU ARE NEEDED!”

He looks around for a moment, and sees that Setanta is going on a rampage then says, “Of course he is, always at the worst moments.”

Ferdiad then moves towards where the spears are and grabs one and as he does two soldiers come up behind him and ask, “Do you need help?”

“Huh? Why would you ask that.”

One of them looking a bit nervous says, “It is just that we think Setanta might be a little much nowadays, especially since that war you guys had recently.”

Ferdiad gives them both light wacks on their heads and says, “I happened to be in tip-top shape, don’t count me out just yet.”

With a frustrated expression, Ferdiad runs towards Setatna and says, “Red branch battle arts; Star flower.” He moves at top speed not holding anything back, and from the distance, all those around Setanta move away as they feel a surge of blood lust heading their way.

Both Setanta and Ferdiad clash.

-Break-

Location: Lugh’s office

In front of Lugh are both Setanta and Ferdiad who are covered in wounds.

Lugh says, “I thought I told you to train the new recruits, why did you go on a blood rage.”

“There is a very specific reason for this, wait how did you know I went on a blood rage?”

“Because I felt a surge in the idiotic levels around here.”

Happy, Setanta says, “I guess my presence really is that great.”

Lugh snaps his fingers, and from behind Setanta to armour knights come and strike Setanta in the back of the head.

Ferdiad is shocked by this, and says, “Aren’t these knights-.”

Lugh interrupts him and says, “They were former members of my personal squad like Aoife and the rest of them. Except they didn’t abandon me, I expect you know that they served me from Ibar?”

Ferdiad responds, “We did hear about this but I didn’t think any of them remained.”

“Not all my knights were as traitorous as those who you struck down. I have about eight of them who are still working under my service, and from now on they will be yours Setanta.”

Setanta holding his head suddenly gets up and says, “Huh?”

Then he jumps up and says, “REALLY!” While putting his hand on Lugh’s desk.

“Yes, I have decided to give them all to you, and among the new recruits I want you to pick a hundred men, and form your own personal squad. We will be heading on a campaign in a week's time I want you to bring them.”

Setanta full of excitement, takes a few steps backwards and then composes himself then says, “I promise on your blood that runs through my veins that I will use this gift you have given me to prove the strength of the Tuatha Dé Dannan throughout the land.”

Lugh simply puts out his hand and beckons Setanta forward. Setanta comes forward, and Lugh places his hand on his son's head and rubs it whilst saying, “I know you will, you are the future of the land and the one whom I place our future in.”

Exhilarated Setanta says, “I will live up to your expectations.”

Lugh then palms Setanta's head and throws him out of one of the windows in the room.

Ferdiad then says, “I think doing that is what has caused Setanta innumerable brain damage.”

“I had to remove him if I am going to talk to you about your situation.”

“My situation?”

“So you want to play dumb.”

Lugh gets up and then walks to Ferdiad, and strikes him on his waist, which causes Ferdiad to fall to his knees and hold that spot in pain. “That’s what I am talking about.”

“It really isn’t anything,” Ferdiad says trying to play his pain off.

“When you tried to stop Setanta earlier you took far more damage than you expected. Ferdiad you're struggling to keep up with him.”

Getting on his feet, Ferdiad says, “NO I AM NOT! I SIMPLY MADE A SLIGHT ERROR WHICH ANYONE CAN MAKE!”

Realizing his demeanour Ferdiad calms down, and says, “Sorry my king, I had no right to say that.”

Lugh rubs Ferdiad’s head and says, “I know you are strong Ferdiad, but there are limits that you will need to understand that you have. You are strong, but you are not Setanta in any way.”

Ferdiad clenches his fist as he hears this, and says, “I know.”

Lugh then looks to the window and says, “He ought to have climbed up by now.”

Jumping out the window Ferdiad says, “I will go check how he is doing.”

Φ Running forward, I say, “It’s the stunning Áine Ní Chonaill and Siobhán Mc Cruadhlaoich.”

With dried-out leaves formed into chains around their animal parts, Áine waves towards Setanta, who stops in front of them and says, “You’re both as pleasing to look at as ever.”

Áine says, “Thank you for the compliment, it is nice to hear.”

“If you ever need more, just come to me I have lots to unload on you.”

“Thank you, I feel like a young woman again.”

“Have you come to pick up your food?”

“Yes, and thank you all again for providing for us even after his death.”

“Don’t worry about it, it is the job of the Faoláin to look after their own. Rember if you ever have any issues just come to me. Though I will be going to another battlefield soon, so if you need anything before I go you can tell me.”

Suddenly Siobhán who was hiding behind her mother says, “Why?”

“Huh?”

Slightly angry she says, “Why are you guys going to battle again? So many people died last time, including my father yet you guys are already preparing to go to war!”

Áine says, “Please Siobhán stop this.”

“No, it is alright. Please continue.”

With tears starting to appear in her eyes, she says, “Why are you guys even fighting if our lives are good enough? Why did my dad have to die when he only ever loved us? Why are you getting all the glory when he put in so much work?

Daddy still had so much to do with me, we had a lot planned, and it is gone now. I don’t understand why he had to put his life on the line, and why he had to die. Setanta why is my father gone?”