Commander Kisa clenched his teeth in frustration. Ever since their arrival in town, a series of unforeseen events had taken place. One of the most significant was their attempt to infiltrate the King’s Legion’s headquarters situated within the town. Their goal was to inform the Legion of the dire circumstances they were facing and to seek their assistance. To achieve this, they resorted to shapeshifting. Nura Bayajidda took on a new form and delivered a critical message. However, the outcomes they had hoped for did not materialize. Instead of the Legion rallying to their cause and launching an assault on Armad to secure their freedom—and possibly some financial reward—a young man, notorious for his brutality, uncovered their secret and arrived in the town.
Commander Kisa had previously learned that the prince had departed the capital city on a mission assigned by his elder brother. It didn’t take long for Kisa to uncover the nature of this mission, though the specifics did not particularly concern him. He believed that the mission’s objective would not prevent the prince from potentially collaborating with him.
Upon the prince’s arrival, he immediately pinpointed their location despite their best efforts to remain hidden. This uncanny ability was one of the prince’s many formidable skills. Rumors in the capital city suggested that this prince might be even more powerful and merciless than his elder sibling. When it came to cruelty and brutality, it was unanimously believed that no member of the living royal family from the Wilberforce tribe could surpass him. Taking the life of a fellow Wilberforce tribesman was inconsequential to him.
This ability to swiftly detect their presence left Commander Kisa on edge. He found no solace since the moment the prince identified their hideout. However, after a tense discussion with the prince, Kisa began to see some truth in his words. The prince claimed that his sole intention was to understand the recent surge in his brother Prince Armad’s power—how Armad had managed to defeat a formidable cultivator like Commander Kisa and secure victory over Sufa. Such feats were unprecedented. The prince knew his brother’s capabilities and limitations intimately. He was well aware of what Armad could and could not achieve through his cultivation. Therefore, these sudden developments were baffling to him, making it difficult to believe that they were solely the work of Prince Armad.
Apart from that, according to their intelligence, Prince Armad has successfully conquered his neighboring towns. He has already installed new rulers in these territories, ensuring his influence spreads further. If this expansion continues unchecked, it wouldn’t be surprising if he eventually lays claim to the entire kingdom. This scenario is particularly concerning for Prince Ikenga. If their father were to visit these towns and witness the developments and improvements Prince Armad has implemented, he might be inclined to grant Armad the autonomy to govern these areas independently—a prospect that Prince Abalu and his brother are eager to prevent.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Prince Abalu decided to abandon the mission his brother had assigned to him. Instead, he ceased his investigation into Commander Kisa and Nura Bayajidda. There is, however, another layer to Prince Abalu’s priorities. Nura Bayajidda is a member of the Bayajidda tribe, and part of Abalu’s broader mission is to gather all individuals with Bayajidda blood and bring them to the capital city, Wilberforce. This objective is critical, as the Bayajidda tribe holds significant importance. Meeting Nura Bayajidda was particularly noteworthy for Prince Abalu because Nura has reached the esteemed level of deva—a status achieved by only a few within the tribe.
For a while, Commander Kisa and Nura Bayajidda believed they were safe, despite not fully understanding why Prince Ikenga was searching for members of the tribe. Commander Kisa, in particular, thought that since the prince had not harmed him thus far, he never would. He assumed that the prince’s inaction indicated a lack of harmful intent. However, these assumptions were misguided. In truth, the prince was strategically biding his time, waiting for the right moment and the appearance of enemies to use as a pretext to eliminate Kisa.
Commander Kisa’s trust in the prince stemmed from his understanding of Prince Abalu’s character. He knew that if Prince Abalu intended to kill him, he would do so directly and without hesitation, even in a public setting. Prince Abalu is not one to delay action or wait for additional people to arrive before executing his plans. This decisiveness led Commander Kisa to believe he was safe, as he did not anticipate any covert or delayed threats. Unfortunately, this confidence proved to be misplaced, and now the situation has escalated beyond what Kisa had foreseen.
“I told you everything I know and saw. What more do you want me to tell you? You promised that if I did so, you would protect us against our enemies. What do you want now?”
The voice of Commander Kisa echoed through the dimly lit room, each word dripping with pain and regret. The anguish in his tone was palpable, making it abundantly clear that he was fully aware of the trap that had been sprung on him. The realization that he had been ensnared dawned on him painfully, and any hope of escaping with his life now seemed remote.
In his mind, Kisa had already come to a grim and resolute decision. He would rather die than expose the secrets of how Armad used his pol string and the energy-boosting herbs and pills. These secrets were invaluable, and betraying them would mean betraying Armad, whom he was now to supporting more than these deceitful enemies. These were the same people who had lured him with promises of gifts and enjoyment in exchange for betraying his master. Now, after committing the ultimate betrayal, he faced their treachery in return. The bitter irony was not lost on him; now that he had betrayed his master, they were betraying him.
Having made his decision, Kisa felt a certain clarity. He resolved that, rather than reveal Armad’s secrets, he would choose death. By doing so, he would fulfill a part of his duty—his sworn duty to protect Armad. Even though no one might know his sacrifice, not Emperor Ayrion, not even Armad, Kisa felt a deep, intrinsic satisfaction. He knew that he would die with honor, having upheld the sacred duty assigned to him by Emperor Ayrion. At this final juncture of his life, when death seemed imminent, he chose to protect Armad, ensuring that his final acts were those of loyalty and honor.
“Hmmmmm, so you refuse to tell us. Don’t blame anyone for losing your life, and don’t think we are unjust.”
As these chilling words left the mouth of Prince Abalu, he made a subtle gesture with his hand. A circle of light materialized in his palm, its glow intensifying before it shot out like a spear toward Commander Kisa, who lay helpless on the ground. The light struck Kisa’s chest with a force that knocked the breath out of him. Instantly, an eerie white fire ignited on his body.
The fire was unlike any other; it was a pure, almost ethereal white, burning with an intensity that seemed to transcend the natural world. The flames consumed Kisa’s body, but instead of the usual reds and oranges of a common fire, these flames were an immaculate white, as if forged from some unknown, otherworldly substance. The pain was excruciating, a suffering beyond the physical as if the fire was searing his very soul.
Within less than five seconds, Commander Kisa was reduced to ashes. The transformation was so swift that the commander didn’t even have the chance to scream. By the time the fire touched his body, he had already lost a significant amount of blood. The flames merely completed the grim task, consuming him entirely and leaving nothing but ashes in their wake.
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Prince Abalu stood silently for several moments, his eyes fixed on the spot where the commander’s body had disintegrated into ash. It was as if he were offering a silent prayer for the fallen commander. After a brief period of contemplation, he lifted his gaze and turned his attention to where Commander Silaini stood.
At this moment, Commander Silaini was engulfed in a torrent of conflicting emotions: relief, fear, confusion. The person he had been sent to kill had perished right before his eyes, in a manner so final that it left no room for doubt. He had felt the life force of his target dissipate completely, the pol string he had been tracking extinguished by the consuming fire. This realization brought him no solace. Instead, it heightened his sense of impending doom, for his concern was now entirely focused on the prince standing before him. Observing the dire situation and making a grim prediction, Silaini understood that the prince would likely turn his lethal attention to him next. He had heard it clearly with his ears: the prince had declared their involvement in the mission that attacked Armad.
Prince Abalu’s voice broke the tension, his tone chillingly calm. “How would you like to die? Don’t worry, I will make it easy for you. Indeed, you have served the tribe of Wilberforce for quite a long time. You served the mother of my brother, the wife of the emperor, and even after she died, you continued to serve and obey us. According to my plan, I would like to kill you in a way that you will not feel pain. You need to understand that your death is necessary for others to continue living in happiness.”
The prince’s words struck Silaini with the force of a physical blow. He felt the blood drain from his face as the reality of his situation settled in. His face darkened, a visible testament to his inner turmoil and dread.
“Do you know what you are saying?” These were the only words that emerged from Commander Silaini’s mouth as he cycled his cultivation and gripped his sword, calculating his next move. The tension in the air was palpable. Should he stand his ground against this prince, or should he turn and flee? Fighting here seemed utterly futile. Even if he managed to kill the prince, it would lead to nothing but trouble for his master, Prince Armad. The court and the empire would never believe that Prince Armad hadn’t ordered the assassination, and the political fallout would be catastrophic.
Moreover, Commander Silaini wasn’t confident in his ability to kill this young man. The prince’s cultivation power, which he had displayed since he was merely ten years old, was on par with the third stage of deva. The very idea of overcoming the prince’s strength seemed impossible.
After a few seconds of intense contemplation, Commander Silaini made his decision. He turned and dashed towards the nearest window, leaping through it in an escape bid.
Prince Abalu watched in astonishment as the commander fled. His mouth hung open in surprise, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events. After a brief moment, he shook his head, a look of disappointment crossing his face. It seemed to him that people nowadays lacked the courage to stand and face their fate. Instead of confronting their destiny head-on, they chose to flee.
Prince Abalu then turned his gaze to the spot where the ashes of Commander Kisa lay, a silent testament to the brutality of their world. Without uttering a word, he stood up, and with a powerful leap, he too exited through the window, determined to pursue Commander Silaini.
Rewinding a little, the three devas that were to attack Nura Bayajidda had been chasing him relentlessly ever since he broke out of a room through a window. Now, that they had successfully encircled him, their combined might prove to be overwhelming.
Nura Bayajidda found himself severely outmatched. He couldn’t even mount a proper counterattack. However, there was something about his robust physique that took the three devas by surprise. Despite their overpowering attacks, Nura Bayajidda’s body withstood the onslaught in a way that defied their expectations. They had been engaged in combat for over a minute, and during this time, Nura Bayajidda could only defend against one of every three attacks. Yet, the remaining two attacks, while certainly impactful, failed to inflict significant injury upon him. This unexpected resilience left the devas puzzle.
What astonished them was that the young man, Nura Bayajidda, was only at the first stage of deva, while all of his them had advanced beyond this initial stage. Among them, two were at the third stage of deva, and one had already ascended to the fourth stage. Despite their superior levels, none of their attacks managed to inflict significant harm on him.
Nura Bayajidda employed a cunning strategy. Whenever he was attacked, he focused on defending himself against the individual at the fourth stage of deva, fully aware that this person’s attacks posed the greatest danger. Simultaneously, he allowed the attacks from the others to strike his body. Each time these attacks hit, a sound similar to metal clashing against stone resonated from his form, followed by sparks of fire. It was as if his body was not composed of flesh and blood, but something far more resilient.
The peculiar phenomenon left everyone in awe, but they quickly realized that there was no time to dwell on their astonishment. They continued to unleash their most formidable skills, launching attacks from both the right and left. Before long, they heard the sound of approaching footsteps. As they turned to look, they saw two of their comrades coming, the same individuals they had left to guard the staircase. One had been stationed at the base of the staircase, while the other had been positioned at the top.
The unexpected appearance of their comrades caused a momentary pause, but their attention remained fixed on Nura Bayajidda. They were determined not to give him any opportunity to escape. Just as the two guards were about to reach them, something extraordinary occurred. The sword of one of the three devas battling Nura Bayajidda began to glow and then vanished from his hand. In an instant, it reappeared, embedded in Nura Bayajidda’s chest. Remarkably, the sword seemed unable to penetrate further, as if his muscles and bones had turned to stone.
Even the pause that those three devas executed during the battle is a tactic rooted in the war strategies of the tribe of Wilberforce. When they began fighting against Nura Bayajidda and found that victory would not come easily, they decided to employ a deceptive maneuver. They pretended to halt their assault, leveraging the advantage of the reinforcements that were on their way. By feigning a temporary ceasefire, they created the illusion that they were merely waiting for their allies, only to have one of them launch a surprise attack on Nura.
Despite the considerable cultivation and techniques utilized by the devas, they still failed to deliver a decisive blow to Nura Bayajidda’s heart.
One of the devas then withdrew his sword from Nura Bayajidda’s body, causing blood to spill forth. This sight brought them a twisted sense of relief and joy. Up until that moment, they had begun to question whether they were fighting an indestructible entity, perhaps a stone or a special robot. The sight of blood confirmed their foe was indeed human. This revelation reinvigorated their confidence; they believed that since Nura possessed a mortal’s body, it was only a matter of time before they could overpower him.
The battle resumed with even greater intensity. The air was filled with the clash of steel, the sparks from the collisions, and the displays of the skills of the demons. At this crucial juncture, the reinforcements arrived at the battlefield. These newcomers immediately sided with their comrades, launching a relentless series of attacks, strikes, and stabs at Nura Bayajidda from all directions. They communicated through telepathy, a sophisticated method that cultivators use to exchange messages without speaking out loud.
As the messages were received, the expressions on the devas’ faces grew more resolute. Each of them summoned their full power, determined to eliminate Nura swiftly.
Ordinarily, cultivators are cautious about using their full power at the start of combat. It is a strategy advised against by every seasoned cultivator, especially in lower-level fights. The reason is simple: using full power leaves one vulnerable to attacks from behind. Should an adversary strike while you are fully extended, you might lack the strength to defend yourself. Therefore, when a cultivator resorts to using his full power, it signifies that he has been pushed to the edge, left with no alternative but to unleash his maximum potential.