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The Zodians - Book 1: New World Order
The Return of Warriors - Chapter 12: Reckoning

The Return of Warriors - Chapter 12: Reckoning

Two in the afternoon.

Reind's throat constricted. He suddenly couldn't say anything more. Reind seemed to have fallen into a deep abyss. Cartel, with whom he was talking, and the remaining forty-five warriors, were now only corpses burning in the flames. They couldn't scream, couldn't do anything, and died instantly. The fire was still burning on their bodies, Reind could smell the charred flesh of the forty-six of them. They died right in front of him, and the other knights, while the eleven of him were kept safe by a veil emanating from the weapons. It's Lapunta! None other than that villain! It was he who committed this terrible crime!

"Enough of that, I'm starting to enjoy your toys!"

Lapunta sat on the back of a dead dragon turned into a zombie, with both its belly and one side of its head skinless. The demon dragon spewed fire from time to time, and Lapunta perched on the dragon's back with a laugh that echoed throughout the area. The black sky came, a smell of death rising like every time Lapunta appeared. He smirked, not seeing them as an obstacle at all. A blood red magic circle appeared on his wrist. Lapunta's hand stretched to the tendons and bones, then clenched, the whole battle below began to change. He destroyed the entire earth below, creating deep, bottomless pits in the ground. Some places he raised, some places he pressed down, some places nothing. Lapunta completely dominated that match. The barrier still protected them from the blow just now, but it wasn't certain they could hold out for long. Lapunta did not spare them any time off. He considered attacking as an elegant pastime at the moment.

Lapunta can fly without a dragon. He left the dragon's back, then floated in the air. From the palms of his hands, Lapunta unleashed enormous purple-black energy into their veils. He can attack all of them at once. Of course the barriers held Lapunta back, but certainly not for long. Lapunta saw that and laughed. He further boosted the energy source. The shields, after holding on for a while, cracked sound. They could hear his loud laughter even from that very high altitude.

“Come out and play with me? Are you going to hide in that shell forever? You have angered me by destroying my entire army!”

After all, he clearly wanted to kill them all without much effort. Lapunta injected more power into the attack. More than three hours later, the shield was still in effect, but badly damaged. Soon they would be destroyed, and they would no longer be able to avoid his attacks.

Lapunta's energy began to push back the barriers. It pressed down on the barrier, forcing them to fall to their knees to stay against it. Lapunta didn't give up, he kept pushing and pushing and pushing more and more power into his energy. They couldn't stand it anymore. The entire surface of the shield was cracked and there was no safety spot left. Lapunta made a mournful face, pursed his lips and said:

“I am sorry to have to end the match so quickly…”

He smiled lightly, then ordered the demon dragon to spray more fire on them, so he didn't forget to push his strength to the maximum. Quickly, the entire barrier burst open. An explosion of energy rocked both Glamgmar and its surroundings. The destructive power was so great that everything within a one-hundred-mile radius turned to dust. Neither Lyrrocks nor Banseer were immune, only Glamgmar was protected by him. How could he let Glamgmar palace go wrong, when all the chess games he was betting on were in it? As long as what was going on in there went smoothly, the whole world would never slip out of Lapunta's grasp again.

It's six o'clock in the evening, but the Sun still doesn't want to rest.

Leila hit Lapunta with a mighty pillar of thunder from above, Heindrich below also created an electric storm that surrounded Lapunta. The two join forces to create an electric cage, rendering him unable to attack or move. The mad demon dragon spewed fire at them. Delpostre stepped forward, spewing a powerful water cannon against dragon fire. The dragon was no match for Delpostre, quickly being repelled by its water cannon. Leila and Heindrich tried to keep Lapunta as much as possible. They needed time for Victoria's group. They don't know what Jon's plan is, but it will surely be the key to defeating Lapunta. O'Biehn fired hundreds of silver arrows, adding an extra layer of protection to the electric cage, which looked like a giant fireball floating in the air from afar. Tyron created a wave of oscillations surrounding the orb, working together to prolong time.

As for the demon dragon, it was difficult to deal with Delpostre. The dragon was shot through by Delpostre's water cannon, causing it to stumble to the ground. The demon dragon could not take off, lying on the ground crouching like a chicken incubating an egg, its mouth screaming with shrill sounds. It continued to spit out a large pillar of fire, but was immediately stopped by Delpostre with his water cannon. Delpostre rushed over, rammed the dragon with his head, sending it flying a short distance away. Just as the dragon staggered to its feet, Delpostre rushed over and suddenly jumped up. The phantom dragon also spewed a deadly poison gas towards it. But Delpostre was one step faster, it used its mighty front paws to stomp directly down the middle of the dragon's long neck. It just let out a scream and then fell silent. Delpostre grabbed its neck, then cut it in two. It flung the dragon's head away, then spewed a column of water cannons toward the rest of its body, sending it falling into the bottomless pit Lapunta had created. Apparently that demon dragon wasn't a threat to them. It was the one who was trapped in the orb in the air that was the real dragon they all had to be wary of.

Leila and Heindrich continued to try to keep the current at baseline, pushing even harder in the hope of keeping Lapunta in. The ring of fire created by O'Biehn also strengthens the electric cage. Tyron's oscillations keep the cage stable, but what's trapped inside is the same villain that broke the continent in half, he doesn't think these will hold him any longer. The remaining Knights stood guard in case he broke out of the cocoon. From within the cage came his terror-soaked laughter, echoing in all directions:

“Do you really think this toy can hold me back?”

“If there is a glimmer of hope to defeat you…”, Reind replied. “Then we will try to the end too!”

“Is that so?” Lapunta laughed lightly, scornfully. “I wish your hopes come true.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the cage holding Lapunta suddenly swelled, as if a powerful internal force attacked from within. They also did not falter. Leila and Heindrich pushed to full strength of their thunder, O'Biehn rained down a hail of arrows, reinforcing the outer belt, and Tyron tried to reshape the cage. However, no matter how hard they tried, they were clearly not his opponents. Lapunta laughed loudly, and from within the sphere came many rays of light from all sides, followed by a loud explosion. The cage exploded as easily as breaking an egg. The aftershock of the explosion sent them flying everywhere. Megara was blown away and fell into a deep hole nearby, just in time to call out "Aris" and then fell down just like that. It was thought that the her life was over, but fortunately Aris was able to hold her hand in time.

“Hold on it! Don't let go!"

Aris used all his strength to pull Megara up, saving her life by an inch. Megara immediately hugged him, not letting Aris say a word. Aris was just as agreeable as he was stroking her back to reassure her, and besides, his expression seemed to be amused.

“Almost…” she breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's right, I'm a little late..."

"Marry me?", Megara suddenly said.

"What?", Aris was dumbfounded. He seemed to have lost his soul when he heard her say that.

"If we're still alive...", Megara looked at him with the shy look of a woman when she confessed her feelings to a man. "I don't want to miss you..."

Aris is silent, he still hasn't recovered. It took a moment before he cleared his throat, then said:

“I want two children. A boy and a girl."

Megara laughed and said:

“But let’s survive first.”

As soon as they finished speaking, they were warned by Reind from afar:

“Aris! Megara! Watch out!"

Quickly, Aris hugged Megara tightly and rolled to the left, immediately dodging the blades that rose to the sky from below. If they didn't dodge it, they would certainly not be full of corpses but would be pierced by those blades.

“You will never defeat me. Ninety-six years ago or now, you are all losers!”

Saying that, Lapunta raised his right hand and tilted it back a little, then clenched it tightly as if pulling something from the sky. Then he smirked slightly, suddenly swinging his hand down, dragging so many meteorites from outside, pouring down on them like a storm.

Lapunta really had no patience for them anymore. He just wanted to quickly put an end to these lice. The meteors fell on them mercilessly. Just being hit by this meteorite, there is definitely only one way to die. Tyron tried to repel them with his oscillating waves, but it turned out to be no different than pouring water into the ocean. Tyron could only hold them for a few seconds and then they continued to fall. The sound of Megara's harp could only repel a few pieces, but then it didn't stop there. Lapunta smiled, holding the victory in hand, naturally waiting for them to drop dead. Eleven of them were gathered in one place, with Reind standing in the middle. The scenery around them was mercilessly devastated. But perhaps Lapunta did not anticipate one thing. At this time, Delpostre came out of nowhere, it jumped up to face the meteors that rained down. The eleven of them, along with Lapunta, only heard Delpostre's proud roar, then only a flash of light glowed in all directions. An explosion caused by their encounter was extremely violent, causing both sides to fall. Neither Delpostre nor the meteor shower had disappeared, leaving only fine dust clouds like falling snow in the sky. Delpostre sacrificed himself to save them. Hargnes reached out her hand to catch the fine dust that still had the taste of the sea, her expression could only be speechless.

“You worthless rats are wasting my time too much!”

Lapunta had lost his inherent patience. He had never encountered any such persistent setbacks. Did he underestimate Reind's men? Lapunta rushed to Tyron, who was staggered to his feet nearby, without saying anything without leaving him to prepare anything, one hand grabbed Tyron's chest and lifted him up, saying:

“I don’t need magic to defeat you…”

He paused for a moment, as if preparing for an eloquent statement later:

“But sadly, I love using them!”

As he finished speaking, Lapunta smirked at Tyron's graying face, then punched him in the chest without a moment's hesitation. A punch with a tremendous amount of damage sent Tyron flying into the distance. He could feel more than all the bones in his body almost crumbling.

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O'Biehn raised his bow to shoot Lapunta, hundreds of Fanrelts like a hunting animal that found its prey rushed to him. But the result was the same, the arrows could not harm him at all. The arrows stopped in unison in front of Lapunta, leaving a shocked look on O'Biehn's face. Lapunta shook his head dejectedly.

"You really don't deserve such treasures."

With that, he directed all arrows to change direction to turn towards O'Biehn. He could only stare at the sharp arrowheads that darted towards him before they pierced his body. O'Biehn felt no pain at all, because they penetrated his body very gently and quickly. All the sensations he had were just like insect bites. Sting a little, then like nothing. But his knees buckled, and he leaned back. His eyes began to darken. He could hear the sound of blood flowing all over his body, until he could hear nothing but a sticky void.

They, despite the help of legendary weapons, but to Lapunta it was like a fish lying on a cutting board. O'Biehn and Tyron were killed in battle. Lapunta now considers slaughtering them fun. And he had no intention of stopping until the head of the last man standing fell. Leila and Heindrich rush in with the old plan of trying to stop him with the thundercage. Both of them successfully tied his legs at first, and Andrea held his hands tightly, preventing him from using his ability. The three of them put all their strength to hold him, and simultaneously motioned for Herone to charge in. They really did immobilize Lapunta, which is shown by the fact that he was in a dilemma. But is that really the case, or is he just trying to play cat and mouse with them?

His expression was extremely calm as he was held back by the three of them, without the slightest hint of concern. There was still a faint look on his face as if he was waiting for something. Herone rushed over, her eyes burning with a very deep hatred. She let out a loud scream as if venting hatred, jumped up high and skewered Parrosope into his heart. Lapunta received a full blow to the heart without saying a word. He collapsed in pain, black blood oozing out from the wound, soaking the ground. Herone still clutched the hilt of her sword and looked at him with more indignant eyes. She gritted her teeth and said:

“This is for all the people you killed…” she paused, her voice beginning to choke. “And for both Tyron and O’Biehn…”

Herone didn't think he heard what she said anymore. He was no longer moving, not even breathing. She really wanted him to hear it, but the sooner someone like him died, the better.

"Actually, the two of them won't hurt when they die," Lapunta suddenly burst into laughter after as if dead, cheerfully saying. “I am very benevolent, once I kill, they have to die right away without having to go through a lot of suffering. Looks like I'm the good guy."

To the shock of Herone and the rest of them, he only smiled slightly at them. A mischievous smile.

“Do I need to remind you that what flows inside of me is fire?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he was as light as if he hadn't broken the encirclement of Heindrich, Leila and Andrea, as if he had gently broken a thread. Without waiting for Herone to react, he grabbed the holy sword from his body with one hand, then resolutely stabbed it back into her chest. A sword that pierced the heart without mercy, precise to every inch. Both Leila, Heindrich and Andrea were pierced by iron spikes from underground.

"Shame on these wonderful weapons", he couldn't help but look at Herone's blood running down the tip of his sword. He shook his head and clicked his tongue. “You are not worthy to keep them.”

Having just finished expressing his grief, Lapunta jolted Herone's already cooled body with the rapier that pierced behind him so quickly that he didn't even turn his head to look. When he slowly looked at the result, the tip of the sword stabbed through Herone's body, and the remainder continued to pierce Fanny's heart.

“Do you really think I won't be able to see you? It's disappointing!”

Lapunta let go of the sword with a bored expression on his face, and Herone and Fanny's bodies fell to the ground. He brushed the dust off his body with his hand, then glanced at the last remaining figures. The eleven mighty warriors with the help of legendary weapons were now only four, and of course sooner or later, they would end up like the previous seven.

Lapunta walked lightly, walking slowly towards them. He walked slowly without any sign of urgency. As he walked, he adjusted his clothes, his mouth mumbling his own story:

“I am not usually in the habit of conversing with my prey. I feel that is unnecessary.”

Saying that, he stretched his chest out, then continued:

“But this time we broke the rules. You are no ordinary prey. This time you can go this far, I really have a compliment.”

Aris slipped his hand into Megara's palm, then looked at her with happy eyes.

"Looks like we can't get married."

"But we die together," Megara smiled happily at him, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

Aris smiled at her, then gave Megara a kiss he owed all his years of life. Until the very end, at least they enjoyed what it was like to be together.

Hargnes planted Trikestion into the ground, and then her gaze dropped to the distant sky.

A black curtain obscured their view. A quick and brief death. All they felt was like an ant bite, just like that, and then fell into a slumber forever.

Lapunta ended the three of them the same way he killed Leila, Heindrich, and Andrea. When he killed them he simply waved his hand a few times without bothering, as if to him they were just specks of dust on the lap of his shirt. Still, he left Reind behind. He didn't kill Reind at the same time as them. Lapunta watched Reind slowly, as if he was trying to figure out something from him. Lapunta looked at Reind's composure with a surprised expression and said:

“I was raised like any other kid in town. In the morning, I studied mantras, in the afternoon I went to take care of the corn garden. I had a pretty good time…”

He stood not far from Reind, then continued his story:

“But then I realized something… things were going horribly smooth again. People only know how to enjoy, always feel satisfied with what they have. Progressive? No, there's nothing left. Only those who know enough remain.”

He continued to try to grasp Reind's attitude, then continued:

“I feel sick. That's not life anymore. I am reminded of Solpronos, the King of Ashes, who has rewritten a new situation for this world. Then I thought… Why don't I become the next Solpronos?”

He smiled slightly, then continued the story:

“I have never regretted doing that, even at the expense of my four brothers. You will always mistakenly believe that there are no emotions. No! I have! But that's no reason to stop me from taking power. You could have lived the rest of your life well if you had stayed in one place. It's a pity to see you die like that."

Reind still did not change his attitude at all after hearing Lapunta's story, on the contrary, he showed a depressed expression. He asked:

"Why didn't you kill me?"

“Oh!” he laughed. “No way, Reind! I just wanted to say a few words to you before I kill you. I am a villain, as you always call me. And the wicked man is never kind to his enemies.”

After that, he took a deep breath, then continued:

“It's just… you're an enemy that I feel sorry for having to kill so quickly.”

“Come on, if you're going to make me listen to your story…”, Reind said as he raised his shield and the Mighty Dragon ready, “I would rather be dead right now.”

"Fine, as you wish."

Saying that, Lapunta fired a blast of energy from his palm directly at Reind but was immediately absorbed by him. Reind tried to maximize that power, then returned it to him five times over. Lapunta got hit, but honestly it didn't hurt him much, just enough to knock him to his knees. But Reind was heavily damaged by the attack just now.

"That's fine."

Lapunta straightened up without difficulty. He raised his hand to brush the dirt on his body, and said:

"It's only a pity that it wasn't strong enough to kill me, now I have to say goodbye to you forever!"

Saying that, Lapunta raised his hand to prepare the final finishing blow. Suddenly, a loud, violent explosion from behind made him feel like he was standing still. The palace of Glamgmar has somehow been blown up! His heart seemed to explode as well. Because what he fears most, worries most lies in it. Lapunta furiously looked at the laughing Reind over there, roaring like a mad beast:

"What did you do?"

“Doing something you didn't expect,” Reind forced a smile on his face.

“Damn it! I will make you suffer like what you did! And I'll track down the rat that did it to me, too! All of you won't have a peaceful death!”

Lapunta in his eyes right now just wanted to make Reind suffer the most painful punishment that he would have to beg for a quick death. But just as Lapunta was about to inflict punishment on Reind, Victoria came from nowhere behind him with an extremely urgent look on her face. She shouted:

“Hands off! Or I will destroy your soul!”

Hearing the word "soul", Lapunta's hand suddenly stopped. He turned to look at Victoria, who was terrified holding in her hands the spirit that he had passed through Lutes' body, and couldn't help but roar with excitement:

“Give it to me! Then I will reconsider and spare your lives.”

“Victoria! Don't listen to him!"

Lapunta immediately cast a spell to silence Reind, leaving him speechless. Victoria looked at Reind and everyone who had been defeated and was powerless to do anything. She glared indignantly at Lapunta, who was drawing closer and closer to her. Lapunta now only cares about the fragment of his soul. He would contract everything just to protect it.

“Spare him… then I will give it to you,” said Victoria, who held the soul stone in both hands and trembled, her eyes red with tears.

“I will spare you all if you will obediently return it to me.”

Victoria was still hesitant, half wanting to give it to him, half unwilling. Thinking that he had destroyed this world like that, she just wanted to destroy it without hesitation. But seeing Reind like that, her heart wouldn't allow it.

“Now… give it to me quickly!”

"You won't go back on your word, will you?" she was still cautious.

“I can kill you with just a wave of my hand. You don't have to swallow your words. Quick, give it to me," he said eagerly.

Victoria looked at Reind with tears in her eyes as she struggled to dissuade her, but there was nothing she could do to change the situation. A trembling Victoria handed him the piece of her soul. Lapunta immediately caught it, as if a burden had been lifted in his heart. His soul. He regained his soul completely. Lapunta laughed, looked at Victoria right in front of her, then said:

“Very commendable for your marital love…”

But then he looked at Victoria again with a strange, slightly pitiful look:

“But you should destroy my soul as soon as you can.”

With that, a long sword grew from the palm of his hand, which suddenly pierced Victoria's body. Her eyes fluttered as if she couldn't believe it, her mouth could only mumble a few words without words, and Lapunta was extremely happy:

"It's just that I'm not in the mood to keep my promise today."

Lapunta drew his sword, blood gushing from the wound like a waterfall. Victoria lay motionless on the ground, her face full of resentment and regret looking at Reind. He had to watch them all die in front of him, and it was more painful when that person was the one who made a family with him, and yet he could only helplessly do nothing. Let him die, let him die if Gods ever make him watch another person die! But gods, will you understand?