“You!? What are you doing here!?” Jared was shocked after seeing the old man. He no longer gave a calm expression.

“What? Am I not allowed here? I have a contract here," said the old man

“What!? You chose to side with Termura!?” Jared asked with a tense tone.

“Tsk, tsk… Jared my boy, there’s no such thing choosing side for mercs. The money choose us!” The old man grinned ear to ear.

“Who is he?” Cain asked Calbot.

“He… he is Bartega Dern Fao. He’s an ex-Hunter with Sapphire rank. And now he’s a famous mercenary called the Old Beast. He’s a dangerous man because he took any job even the bad ones as long as it pays him good. He was also Jared’s mentor before Jared went to the knights," replied Calbot, he had a worry-face on him.

“My contract is to not let anyone enter the Palace. But, if you wanna try…” said Bartega while looking at the Sun Knight Order.

Sun Knight Order was hesitated, they knew they were in deep trouble as they did not expect the Old Beast would be employed by King Termura.

“Try me," Cain walked forward.

“Huh? Cain? He’s not someone you can beat!” Jared tried to stop Cain.

“Your mission is to escort the Prince to the throne, let me handle this, I’ll just have to stall him at least until you guys reach the throne," said Cain calmly

Jared looked at Cain, he realized what Cain said was true.

“Then, I’ll leave you some of the Sun Knight’s finest!” said Jared.

“No need, I myself will be enough. Who knows what awaits you inside the Palace," said Cain.

“Huheheheeheh! Look at what we found! A kid dare to insult the Old Beast?” a voice was heard from somewhere.

Meira’s face turned pale when she heard the voice.

A floating man, sitting cross-legged in the air to be exact, appeared from behind the combat slaves. As the source of the voice, he wore a fine robe with jewelry adorned his clothes. He held a wooden staff with a dark aura on it.

“Ulsarzath!?” Calbot seemed surprised upon seeing this man.

“This isn’t good! Cain! That’s Ulsarzath the Marker! He possessed a frightening magic power!” Calbot became uneasy, first the Old Beast, now the Marker himself appeared before them.

Calbot knew, if the slavery system was erased, Ulsarzath would take the most impact. That would make Ulsarzath the first to try to eliminate him. But he never expected the Old Beast also under his uncle’s control.

“Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the King’s side?” Bartega spoke without looking at Ulsarzath.

“No, our King gave me no order. He told me to get outta here though. But I’m free to do whatever I want! Huheheheh!” said Ulsarzath.

Bartega just stood there. Observing Cain.

“Weird… I can't measure you, young man," Bartega’s face suddenly turned serious. He looked at Cain.

“What do you mean, Old Beast? He’s just a kid!” said Ulsarzath.

“Not really… you better get your slaves moving," said Bartega.

“Tsk! Fine! You heard the Old Beast! Get them!”

The slaves started to run towards the group.

“You guys go ahead to the Palace! I’ll hold them off!” said Caid, he took a stance with his sword.

“Are you sure you don't want my knights!?” asked Jared.

“Just go! Faster is better!”

Jared nodded. The Sun Knight Order ran towards the Palace.

“We will back shortly! Be careful, Cain!” said Calbot.

“Who says you can go!?” Ulsarzath raised his staff.

A huge fireball appeared from the air, it flew towards the knights.

Cain quickly reacted to Ulsarzath magic by casting an earth magic.

An earth tunnel protected the knights from the fireball, also gave them a safe passage towards the Palace.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The Sun Knights were astonished to see Cain’s quick reaction. Some of the knights that doubted the story of their fellow knights that went with Cain to Hanearian's Rest now could confirm his ability by themselves.

“See? I knew it. If you can't measure someone, that means he’s stronger than he looks. Maybe even stronger I deemed dangerous people," said Bartega. He had seen and fought numerous people in his Hunter days, his experience wouldn't lie.

Bartega lowered his greatsword from his shoulder and took a stance. “Get serious, Ulsarzath," said Bartega.

“Tsk! Go get him!” Ulsarzath ordered his slaves again to attack Cain.

“(Hmm… he’s the Marker. Then if I bring him down, the combat slaves should regain their freedom. I should target him first!)” thought Cain.

Cain dashed towards the combat slaves.

He jumped to one of the slaves, used him as a stepping, he did another jump to reach the floating Ulsarzath.

But a greatsword came blocking Cain. He parried the greatsword but was pushed back because of the swing force. It was Bartega’s.

“Didn’t I told you to get serious, Ulsarzath?” said Bartega, his tone was serious.

“Tsk! I’ll kill him myself!” said Ulsarzath.

“No. Go deal with the Sun Knights. I’ll handle him.”

“Tsk! Fine! Come with me, slaves!” Ulsarzath seemed annoyed, being ordered by Bartega, but he knew even the Old Beast was old, he’s nowhere near on Bartega’s level.

Cain saw Ulsarzath was trying to leave the scene. He rushed to Bartega and traded blows with the Old Beast. Not only Bartega’s greatsword was heavy, but his swings also precise and fast.

Cain glanced to Ulsarzath, he wasn’t that far.

“Where are you looking at, kid!!” said Bartega.

Bartega saw an opportunity, he spun his body and did a vertical full upwards swing.

Cain held close his sword to parry, he made use Bartega’s swing force as his accelerator. He flew away by the swing, to Ulsarzath direction.

“Shit! Ulsarzath! Watch out!” Bartega shouted, realizing Cain’s target was actually Ulsarzath.

“Huh!? Gahh!!”

Ulsarzath dodged Cain’s slash to the side.

That slash almost beheaded Ulsarzath. He dodged in a split second. Cain’s slash grazed his forehead instead.

“Aakkh! What the fuck, Old Beast!? You said you got him!?” Ulsarzath held his bleeding forehead.

“Quit whining! He’s coming!” said Bartega.

After landed, Cain dashed with a slash to Ulsarzath direction.

“Arrgh!” Ulsarzath landed on the ground and cast a fire magic.

A huge flaming boulder rolling towards Cain’s direction.

Cain split the boulder in half with his sword. But what awaited him behind the boulder was the combat slaves.

Their eyes filled with rage, they attacked Cain recklessly. They were clearly not on their minds.

Ulsarzath buffed them with magic, filled them with rage, increasing their destructive force.

Cain’s punch and kick did not mean a thing to them, as they did not care about their body because of the magic.

“Hahah! How do you like it, huh?” said Ulsarzath. A black aura emitted from his staff grew bigger.

“Tch! He made them like this!?” Cain couldn't just hurt them because they were forced to do this, out of their own will. He couldn't just kill innocents.

Cain took a step backward, then he quickly cast an earth magic. The ground around him caught the leg of the slaves, sealing their movement.

“Tsk! How dare you!” gritted Ulsarzath.

Ulsarzarth cast dozens of fireballs above him. The fireballs rained down onto Cain.

Cain also cast fire magic, many small flame lances shot out and hit the fireballs.

Explosive streaks filled the air. Smoke rose in the area.

“He actually fought fire with fire!?” Bartega came to Ulsarzath side.

“Who the hell is he!? I never heard a young man with such talent exist in Farferis!?” Ulsarzath yelled to Bartrega.

“Prince Calbot’s trump card perhaps?” unlike Ulsarzath, Bartega was still composed.

When the smoke cleared, the slaves were already moved to the side, unconscious.

Cain stood there, ready for anything.

“Youngman, who are you?” Bartega tried to talk to Cain.

“Why are you talking to him now!?” said Ulsarzath, annoyed.

But Cain just stood there. Flame slowly rose from his body.

“Something’s wro-... that’s magic!!!”

When Bartega realized something was wrong and looked at Ulsarzath, Cain already stood behind the Marker.

His right hand was on Ulsarzath’s jaw while his left hand gripped Ulsarzath’s head.

With a little movement, a clear sound of breaking bones could be heard. Cain just snapped Ulsarzath’s neck.

“You… you’re fully trained, aren’t you? That precise movement and no hesitation," Bartega couldn't believe he didn't sense Cain movement at all.

“Here I thought he would be strong," said Cain as he let Ulsarzath’s lifeless body fell down.

Ulsarzath wasn't the first man Cain killed. Igo taught the Trio to be effective in combat, if beating didn't finish the job, killing did.

Igo often took them to subdue bandit groups around Arozora back then. He taught them to never hesitate to kill someone if they were dangerous to the Trio and to the people around them. “Hesitation could get you killed eventually, or worse, your loved ones,” said Igo.

This situation was different from the Kingsmight incident. Therefore, Cain did not hesitate to execute someone if it was necessary.

“... You still want to continue? Soon, King Termura will be stripped down from his crown. No one will pay you," said Cain.

“Huh, you may be right. But contract is contract!” said Bartega.

Bartega’s body released a powerful aura.

“Time to get serious, kid!” he said.

“Fine, if that’s what you wa-!”

Bartega’s greatsword suddenly appeared in front of Cain’s face.

“Kuhh!!” Cain dodge the sword just by hair and took a few steps back.

Bartega’s speed at least increased fivefold from before. Cain regained his stance and looked at Bartega.

Bartega’s form was weird. His left hand on the ground, while his right hand held the greatsword upward, lightning sparks were enveloping his body. He was like a three legged beast with a greatsword on one of his limbs.

“Wh-what is that?”

“Let me show why I’m called the Old Beast!” Bartega grinned ear to ear.