Back in the courtyard, Kairos’ eyes fluttered open, having fought every single warrior he could find in the memory bar.
A good fifteen minutes had passed since he started and everyone else had been awaiting his return. Many of them looked at Kairos with plain annoyance on their eyes.
His combat guide woke up just a moment later, still standing in front of him holding out a handful of sparkling gems.
She rubbed her eyes with the other hand, feeling horribly tired from awaiting Kairos in the realm of consciousness for an entire week. After all, Aura Knights are fundamentally different from Cultivators; without Ki in their bodies they do not have as much vigour and without as much vigour, staying up for days is exceptionally straining. Even if her body is well rested but her mind felt heavy.
Fortunately, she is still a Class 1 Aura Knight and her will power quickly overcome the fatigue.
The other knights looked at her with wonder, especially the Knight Captain whose eyes are sparkling with excitement.
At the same time, the other heroes are looking at Kairos, wondering what took him so long.
They all awoke within the first ten seconds. In fact most of them only lasted one or two seconds. Lie Feng managed to stay eight seconds and Richard persisted to nine seconds.
Some of them had guessed that time passes more slowly in the memory realm but they did not know that it is relative to how fast each person processes the memories they sift through.
The scene that each person see in the memory realm happened in their own mind, although the bar itself and a few other things remains the same for all.
The lady knight only saw Kairos taking a sit by the bar counter with a bartender, but not the times the crystals were given to him or when he drank the memory alcohol; those things happened only in Kairos’ mind.
She could see was his change of expressions and from it deduced if he had won or lost a fight. Because of the speed Kairos had switched between fights, she had wrongly judged how many times he fought. She went to the Knight Captain and whispered.
The captain roared, “A THOU…sand…”
The man had to suppress his alarm mid-word, but most heroes had guessed that Kairos must’ve fought over a thousand battles.
The bulk of them fought only once, a few fought three times, and all of them died in every battle.
“Did you learn how to use your Aura?” someone asked.
Kairos nodded lightly and there were audible gasps.
Most of the heroes have a newfound respect towards Kairos. To die a thousand times needs superhuman willpower.
As expected of one with an ironclad willpower. He must have picked himself up from defeat, over and over again, before he finally mastered his Aura.
They were not entirely wrong.
Kairos did pick himself up from many defeats before learning how to use the Demiurge Aura, but they made two mistakes in their assumption.
First, none of them considered that he didn’t die that many times since they couldn’t think of a reason why anyone will continue fighting after learning Aura.
Second, he did not fight a thousand times but challenged every single memory crystal and prevailed.
“It is really possible to learn Aura in the memory realm? I died like… instantly.”
The other heroes were nodding repeatedly. If Kairos died unable to fight back, Richard and the rest who were civilians before today stood no chance.
The Knight Captain laughed, “Although you heroes have Class 3 Auras or higher, you were unable to use it and lost to even Class 1 Aura Knights. Do you know why?”
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The heroes looked at each other. If it is easy to learn Aura, the Great General wouldn’t have fought a thousand times.
The Knight Captain understood what they are thinking from their expressions then said, “That is because you are not from a world where Aura and Magic exist and don’t have such experience. Of course, we wouldn’t have picked heroes from any world with either of these powers.”
Even the Grimoire researchers nodded. There are records of all kinds of curses and spells but no real mages left. They remember that part of the reward for saving Axis Mundi is the abilities they gain. Choosing a magical or aura world will be pointless.
The captain continued, “Given your background, it may be more difficult for you to pick up Aura. The best way is through battles. The more you are unwilling to be defeated, the faster you will learn. If you don’t want to feel constant pain and death, you must quickly develop your own Aura.
Unlike Sir Kairos, each of you have been given a clear explanation on how your Aura works, yet he is the first one to unlock his ability. There is only one reason!”
He paused for dramatic effect, then said aloud, “Because among you, he is the most unwilling person to lose!”
“I’m not…”
Kairos do have an indomitable spirit honed from surviving numerous desperate situations. However, this time, he purely wanted to learn all the different auras.
Richard snickered, “This baggage should do at least this much if he doesn’t want to become a burden later on.”
“Richard, be nice!” Berengaria chided.
“I was being polite. With his magic talent as a walking bandage, he better learn Aura fast if he doesn’t want to die.”
No one spoke up for Kairos as many secretly agreed.
At this time, a piercing yet inhuman scream came from the castle. Everyone had a frightened look. Did someone attack? Are the elves upon them already?
Kairos’ pupils constricted. Although he had never heard such a sound before, he recognised it somehow. It was a devil’s roar using Relestia’s voice.
At this time, no one saw that three dragonlings rushed into his robes and hid in the inner pockets badly frightened.
They are only babies despite their noble bloodline.
Aisa gave them a lick each before the dragonlings calmed down. She quickly told Kairos about the binding charm spell and how the little ones protected Relestia after the protective talismans and stratagem were destroyed.
A frightening light entered Kairos’ eyes as if a pair of burning suns lit up.
His Soul Perception enveloped the castle and quickly locked on the princess’ location.
“Level five, third room.”
Kairos leapt up into the air at a frightening speed. The others can only see his afterimage that slowly dispersed into flickers of electricity.
Everyone stared at the spot Kairos were at as if they saw a ghost.
*BOOOOOM*
A terrific explosion announced a hail of rocks as Kairos touched the castle walls with his body and created a hole.
The knights in the courtyard and the heroes looked at the damage uncomprehendingly.
“HUUUUHH?”
Did this stronghold that is built for wars just came apart from Kairos running into it?!
“JUST WHATTTTTT?”
The knights were even more alarmed than the heroes, knowing that there were layers of fortification magic upon every brick in the place, but they crumbled to dust without providing the slightest resistance.
Richard’s eyes were twitching uncontrollably as Kairos just performed a superhuman feat seconds after calling him a baggage.
As Kairos stepped into the passageway from the hole he made, the sight of a dozen corpses already lying on the ground entered his eyes. Their attire shows that there are ministers, mages, and knights.
Half of the wall to Relestia’s room was broken and Kairos saw that the princess is screaming and scratching at an invisible barrier confining her.
Before her room are the Jarl and his attendants, half of them had fallen to the ground because of Kairos. A group of shamans persisted and are still weaving their spell upon Relestia.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Kairos hissed.
The oldest mage with the pointiest hat scurried over to Kairos like a kicked rat, “Sir Kairos please stop her! This wench is possessed by something evil! She suddenly woke up and started attacking everyone, even the Jarl was injured.”
The shaman pointed at the bodies on the ground and the Jarl holding his bandaged arm.
If Kairos had not left the dragonlings to protect Relestia, he really would’ve fallen for their lies.
“How dare she attack me? What are you fools waiting for? I want her head, right this instance!”
“My lord, she has the strength of ten knights, we can’t hold her for long. You must leave,” another mage pleaded.
“You boy! Get over there and stop the girl! Isn’t she your companion?”
Kairos took a look at the snarling princess and instantly felt his heart twist. Such a beautiful girl with a heart as pure as snow is being tormented by a filthy devil. He couldn’t imagine how she is holding on inside.
Somehow, time seemed to pause, as Kairos, for the first time in years, saw her open her eyes. As she waved her bloodied hands like claws, Kairos saw how perfect and dainty they are. Her soft and small shoulders are begging to be embraced. The devil’s wild movements only displayed her comely figure underneath her robes. He looked past the still dripping crimson blood and saw her soft pursing lips that drew his breath away.
Kairos suddenly realised that he had been staring and wanted to slap himself.
“What’s wrong with me? Now isn’t the time to ogle. Wait, do I like the princess? No, she’s my little sister, what’s wrong with me?”
“Sir Kairos, Sir Kairos! The Jarl is in danger. Please Sir Kairos, you have to try to wake her.”
“Wake her so you can put a charm spell on her or to help you better to kill her?”