The two Champions could only watch as Perment was dragged off. But Perment had given them specific instructions that they had to follow.
Also, every member was already chained up. Everyone formed a long link of chains as they were all connected one after the other.
It was a strange order to put all their belongings on a certain surface.
Perment was dragged off, and he did not resist. The guards that captured him had beaten the group, but all silently allowed themselves to be arrested.
There were very few survivors from the mine. There were several who survived the attack of the Troglodytes, which caused massive losses to the soldiers guarding, and the moment they saw Perment, they all cursed and began to throw things at him.
But the group ignored it and would sway or swerve to avoid some of the hard things thrown at them.
Arrested and chained, the team of Emeros was brought out of the mines, and a ship awaited them.
"I've never been on a flying ship before..." Perment chuckled.
Emeros glanced at it and knew this ship was far different from the flying devices in the Planesworld. This ship comprised the unique metals and ores of the floating continent.
Large flying ships of great steel carried up through magic floated over the kingdom. These ships were from the Floating Continents and used the unique metals and ores that made up the Floating Continents. Very little magic was used to propel these things upwards, but generally, they were used to move forward or increase their density to float lower up the skies.
The ship brought them high up into the tall mountain and arrived at the grand dock of the kingdom.
Emeros and the group were escorted out, and many noblemen worldwide were present.
Emeros saw flags and banners that were famous all over the place. Even as a slave, Emeros knew these banners from the nearby kingdom.
His hometown was invaded by several of these kingdoms, and a particular flag caused him great anger.
The Esfork Kingdom had suffered many calamities. The appearance of the monsters in the underground region, which is connected to the mine, caused an additional expense of resources. And soon, led by the kingdom with the coat of arms of three serpents, the kingdom of Anacordan sent their forces that broke through the main defenses of Esfork, securing its destruction.
Emeros saw the other kingdoms that committed grave crimes against Esfork.
"Vallenberg. Nogros. Pamidian." Emeros saw the various flags and the high nobles that carried these flags.
All of them looked with detestable and disgusting smiles at them.
"These are the idiots who caused the great disturbance in the underground world? They are the ones why our kingdom suffers?" A Count raised his eyebrows and noticed the destitute appearance of the group.
"Hmm? Wasn't Perment reported to be a Captain? He's level fifteen!" A Viscount asked.
"Most likely, his crazy experiments got the better of him." Baron Elford answered as he gave a haughty look at Perment.
But Perment did turn to Elford and did not show any fear but only smiled.
"Where is Mage Captain Carlisto? He seems to be missing, Baron." Perment chuckled.
Elford trembled as he recalled the tragedy that surrounded Carlisto, for it was terrifying.
He had made several profitable deals, but suddenly, all those who had vowed to him or with him were freed from all vows!
And with the vows of destruction, Carlisto quickly began the target of many angry merchants, and even Elford and Torman dared not intervene. They themselves had blackmailed and tricked several of the poor folks and many other knights, which would never come to light because of the vow. They knew full well what freedom to many would mean for them.
It was only later that the brutally tortured body of Carlisto was found. His family was also killed in the most horrifying of ways.
It wasn't difficult to connect that the Vow caused the strange events that followed Carlisto. He had claimed to have a way to break a Vow, but all of Carlisto's vows were instead broken!
Elford and Torman did not act as Perment, and the rest were brought inside the throne.
The King's Throne was not the most prominent one. The others had floating seats hovering above. But with one look, Emeros could already tell the ranks of kingdoms.
Even though the one sent was only but a noble, their ranks were already higher than the king!
Greeting the prisoners was Duke Ressongraze of the Ressongraze fief was present.
Many nobles serving the Duke were also present as they watched the prisoners arrive.
"Mage Perment. You are hereby sentenced to death for your crimes-"
"I've done no crime." Perment answered. He was not shouting, nor was his voice soft. Just enough to overpower the words of the Duke.
"SILENCE!"
BOOM!
The shout of the Duke, which was that of a mid-leveled Champion, shot at Perment, but at once, a strange power appeared as lights appeared on the shirt of every member of Emero's team. The chains that linked them all together also began to glow, and a circle was completed as a strange vine connected and formed a circle.
They had all become an energy conversion circle!
BOOM!
The impact of the blast was countered, and the force of a Champion was sent back to them.
Duke Ressongraze felt the full force of the attack, and it was as if he was hit by tackling Knight with his shield.
BANG!
He was sent flying back at once and startled everyone.
The glowing lights remained as all members stood with blank expressions and the magic flowing through them.
"They're all...! They're all mages!" Elford shouted in shock as the magical energies continued to move around a circle that appeared.
A very intrinsic energy conversion circle was formed. There was no formation plate to where the circle was drawn. There were only lines, chains, and people with symbols engraved within their clothes.
And yet, a powerful counter was sent back!
"All of you assume that I am the criminal. But had it not occurred to you that I was stopping this damned thing? A thing that Duke Ressongraze and this kingdom ignored? They saw an opportunity to mine the rare magic metal and the many naturally forming stones in that area without any fear or proper exploration of why it suddenly appeared?" Perment asked everyone.
"Silence!" The enraged and embarrassed Duke jumped up and, this time sent out a serious attack and threw a punch towards Perment.
His fist gathered with fire and sent out the attack that made him a well-known figure within the Kingdom.
"[Flame Punch]!" Ressongraze shouted.
A wave of energy blew towards him, but Ressongraze resisted the energy and pushed forward and ran.
The group quickly switched their circle and moved closer as Emeros stood before the Duke to take in the attack of the Champion.
With everyone extending their palms forward, the energy gathered around Emeros to meet the punch.
Secretly, the Dark Houdou Core was activated as it began to gain mastery over Ressongraze's fire!
Ressongraze didn't have an Elemental Core, and no Code or Corruption benefited his strength.
And because of that, against Emeros's Dark Houdou Core, the fire quickly rebelled.
BOOM!
The flame from the fire punch turned evil and attacked its own master.
"Ahhh!" Ressongraze shouted as he was blown back from the attack.
There was another round of silence as the group saw the sudden counter and the grimacing pain of Duke Ressongraze.
"The Laws of Magical Birth within this world states that Causation, Relation, or Stimulation. Yet we have not fully grasped why that mine, empty of magical form, suddenly had a surge of magic! Are you all idiots? No. I don't doubt the esteemed mages around this room. All information about the mine has been kept hidden with a report that says the investigation is complete. Duke Ressongraze's attack was a means to silence me! He knows that I have uncovered his foolhardy decision to claim that the mines were safe. He even made a fable, a stupid conclusion, and an outrageous lie about the Day of Monster Passing! Is it a day when monsters use the underground region? How, then, do you explain the lizardman!?"
"Lizardmen?!" Many nobles present, who were of other kingdoms, all exclaimed when they heard this.
"Ha! I see that no reports have been left! Indeed! Lizardmans, which have never lived on our planet, appeared in that mine! Is it a coincidence that the magic appeared in the mines, and then an earthquake, and then monsters appeared? I'll tell you the answer to this mystery! The magical source of the mine was an opened portal! Sealed ruins of ancient times belong there, and it has now been opened by four mages! But instead of dealing with the threat, Duke Ressongraze sought profit, not
realizing the rising terror of his precious mine!"