Beside the palace's highest point was a tower, it wasn't used for defenses and was mostly just the empress' private place. It was high enough that even if one were to look down, they'd only see vague figures of people. Of course, that was only for regular people, Kai could see when he looked down perfectly.
"I guess the last time I used this weapon was during my training with grandma."
Kai took out a bow, it was made out of green crystal and chiseled so finely that one would think it was made by a master blacksmith- it was though. The bowstring was so thin yet it looked very strong, as if it could take anything.
Another tap of his pendant and a quiver appeared on his back, it was leather but was coated in the same material as the bow. The arrows inside had shafts made of LH-02, the extremely light metal that Kai used for a spear. The tips also used the emerald crystals and the feathers were translucent.
It didn't look intimidating at all, it gave one the feeling that the bow and arrows were made as decorations.
Kai breathed in deeply and took out an arrow from the quiver. He placed it in the bow and pulled it back. Then, he closed his left eye.
"[Artemis' Eye]."
As he opened his left eye, the magic circles spun and glowed. Instead of only three or so magic circles which happen when he uses magic, this one created more than a dozen that appeared in front of his eye. A dozen magic circles from small to large appeared in front of his eye.
"[Artemis Shot]."
Magic circles appeared around the arrow which spread in front of the bow where the arrow is supposed to launch which then split apart into magic circles of the same size.
The magic circles in front of his eye magnified his vision while the magic circles on the arrow prevented air resistance while the ones in front of the bow speeds up the arrow to insane speeds. There were no magic circles that helped him aim.
"First shot."
Kai released the bowstring and the arrow flew so fast that it pierced through the clouds, leaving a spark of light. He then retrieved another arrow from the quiver and did the same steps as before, the magic circles on his eye and bow were still activated.
"Second shot."
The arrow was wrapped in magic circles as Kai released the bowstring, the exact same event happened, it pierced the air so fast that a normal person wouldn't be able to see it even if they were to prepare. It went well over mach 10- even Kai wasn't sure of how fast it really was but it was silent, no sonic booms could be heard because it wasn't traveling through the air, it was piercing it.
"Third shot."
"Fourth shot."
"Fifth shot."
"Sixth shot-"
Kai continued on, there was an interval of about fifteen seconds per arrow.
"Thirteenth shot."
After the thirteenth shot, the magic circles faded. Kai looked to the distance for a few seconds before turning back.
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One of the Demon Hideouts, The Empire
{You said that two third-class demons were wiped out?!}
A burly third-class demon asked a second-class in front of him.
{Yes, we didn't receive word from them yesterday and most of the scouts were killed trying to deliver the information back. We were compromised, most of the scouts inside the capital were found and killed. The rest managed to escape before the search happened but they number less than five.}
The burly demon had a dark expression on his face.
{Who did it?}
The second-class demon gulped once before speaking.
{A-according to the reports, it was an S-class.}
{An S-class?! The Empire's S-class is still out of the continent, how can there be an S-class here?!}
The second-class demon cowered in front of the burly demon's outrage.
{We've received reports that it's the S-class from the neighboring Alteria Kingdom, sir!}
When the burly demon heard that, he furrowed his brows. Right now, the most mysterious S-class on the continent is Kai. Nobody knew about his techniques or skills other than a select few. None of the demons in the Empire were privy to information about Kai.
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{Let's relocate immediately, we can't afford getting found out by an S-class. They might have tortured one of the scouts, I doubt that the S-class won't have ways to make them talk.}
{Yes, sir-!}
Before the second-class demon's words ended, screams were heard from outside the tent.
{What was that?!}
With quick steps, the burly and the second-class demon ran out of the tent to the sight of tens of dead bodies and splattered guts on the floors and walls.
In the middle of that chaos was a single arrow embedded deep into the floor. When the burly demon saw that, he turned his sight to the sky, the last thing he saw was a flash of light as the arrow pierced through his skull then through the floor before sending out a wave of green mana. Every demon in the surrounding area exploded and those who were too far were killed but had their bodies intact.
It was silent and the only thing that could be heard were the screams of the demons dying.
But it wasn't only that place, several hideouts were being assaulted by the same arrows. One at the border of the Empire, one right next to a village, and inside a cave. None of them were safe, the arrows pierced through stone like they were made of paper.
But the final arrow was different, it traveled slower than the others but it was aiming for somewhere special. It didn't just travel in the Empire, it passed the Empire and went even further.
From the time shot the first arrow to when it landed, it took only ten or so seconds to reach its destination but this last arrow has been traveling for an entire minute. It passed through the neighboring kingdom and went even faster than before.
After about ten minutes, chaos ensued at a very faraway place.
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Palace, The Empire's Capital
"..."
The empress sat on her throne while furrowing her brows. She received two pieces of news, one is that a lot of demons inside the Empire were killed by green arrows and the other news was that the port kingdom, Frauntz' ships were destroyed by a sudden explosion of mana in the water.
The water engulfed dozens- no, a lot more ships and even more boats. Luckily, there were no civilians killed but with this piece of news came a revelation, demons were found on some of the ships and now, all of the kingdoms that received this news have turned their eyes over to Frauntz.
It was about three days since Kai shot the arrows and the news had only reached her now but she felt that Kai was even stronger than she thought. He not only had enough ability to shoot across a kingdom, he could also shoot over half the continent. That was insanely frightening.
Luckily, only the empress knew about this and not even her close aide, the old man knew.
She couldn't call Kai to the throne room, there were eyes and ears everywhere here. There was only one way to meet privately.
----------------------------------------
"Your Majesty."
Kai bowed his head slightly. Right now, he and the empress were above the tower that he had used to shoot.
"Sir Kai, We would like it if you were to speak frankly with us. Was it you who shot down the demons?"
"Yes."
"Then, was it also you who destroyed the ships at Frauntz?"
This was a very grave accusation. If she was wrong, then she would definitely irk the anger of Kai- an S-class. If Kai were to feel like it, he could probably destroy the Empire at any time. Seeing as how he already had the capability, the empress decided to risk it. If he wanted to destroy the Empire, he could've done so before.
"Yes, I apologize for taking matters into my own hands but they were just about to send another batch of demons so I took care of the threat. I believe that there were no civilians killed though."
Confirmed by Kai, the empress made her choice.
"Sir Kai, would you be interested in making an alliance with the Empire?"
Kai raised his brows.
"An alliance, not an invitation?"
"Would you accept an invitation?"
"No."
"We rest our case. Now, will you accept?"
Kai removed any emotions on his face and began to talk.
"Your Majesty saying that you're asking for an alliance with me and not the Alteria Kingdom?"
"Yes. We've already achieved some relations with the Alteria Kingdom but We only wish to partner with you alone."
Right now, that was tantamount to saying that even if the Alteria Kingdom were in trouble, the Empire wouldn't help but if Kai were to ask them to help, they would accept.
"Why does Your Majesty want to form an alliance with me?"
"Simply because of your strength, right now we are in desperate need of that. You may not know this but the Empire's S-class is but a shadow of his former self. I don't think he can defend the Empire for another decade so what is wrong with asking you- who has a bright future ahead of him?"
Of course I knew.
"So, are you interested?"
Kai plastered an evil smile on his face and stepped closer to the empress.
"And what will the Empire- no, what will you do for me if I accept?"
Saying that, Kai traced his hands on the empress' face.
"We would gladly give our body to you in marriage if you so wish. We may not be able to give you our heart quickly but in time, it will also be offered to you."
The empress who couldn't be touched by men allowed Kai to stroke her face and even offered herself just for the alliance.
Seeing that the empress was serious, Kai sighed and turned around.
"I apologize for my rude behavior. I accept the alliance but I don't need your body."
Leaving behind the empress, Kai walked through the door and went back to his own room.
A few minutes after Kai left, the empress sat down on the ledge of the tower as tears began to fall from her eyes. She was both grateful and scared of Kai. Her mother had entrusted to her this kingdom and she would do anything to protect it- even at the cost of her own life.
Kai was a huge threat to the Empire but at the same time, he was a ray of hope. Asking for an alliance, the empress was prepared to give her body and any of her possessions to Kai but to think he simply tested her resolve. She didn't falter at all, Kai saw that and accepted unconditionally.
While the empress was crying, Kai was immersed in his own thoughts about the past.
You're still the same as ever, loyal to a fault.
A smile crept up on Kai's face unconsciously as he opened the door to his room.
The relationship between him and the empress couldn't be described as 'just friends' but they definitely weren't in a romantic relationship, Kai only had two people in his heart. But if those two people weren't there, then the person that would've occupied his heart would be none other than the empress- a weak-willed yet strong woman.
After looking at the hand that had touched the Empress' face and burying his thoughts about her deep inside his head, he quickly went to sleep.
The closest person to Kai in the other timeline if his lovers were excluded was the empress. In fact, Kai even took the displeasure of both Amelia and Erina when they saw Kai and the empress together. Natsumi was only close to him in this life, they simply maintained an acquaintance status in that timeline and Yoko still didn't forgive him for killing everyone.
"...I should see Erina and Amelia soon."
Otherwise...