Chapter 15: Chapter 15 – Fated Duel

Lord Jezebel looked at the map along with her trusted Captains.

“So, Lord Virgo has made his move?” Lord Jezebel contemplated.

“It appears so ma’am.” A Captain responded.

“Let’s see what this tamer will do.”

“I suspect he will concede the borderlands, cementing Virgo’s grasp on this region.”

“That would be troublesome, Captain Zamani.” Lord Jezebel stuck a knife into the table over the space marked ‘Oceanus’.

***

“Esteemed sir, I don’t know how much longer we can hold out!” Elder Gerald looked at a similar map along with Theseus. They were located in an awkward spot in between three territories. Although the village’s growth was astonishing, it couldn’t last with the oversight of the merciless Suzerain Lords. For a month, blockades were set up by Lord Virgo, stopping all traffic in or out of Oceanus.

“Just a little longer. Don’t worry, I have a plan.”

“What exactly is this plan? Starve us all to death?” Gemini scowled at Theseus. This was the first time Gemini had been angry with Theseus. Surprisingly enough, Leo and Gemini shared a common love of food, and the rationing had not been pleasant for the civilians. Complaining and grumbling was often heard, but no one rebelled because of what Theseus had already done for them. They couldn’t blame Theseus either; they were all in the borderlands to escape the Suzerain Lords to begin with.

“Patience is a virtue, young apprentice. I called for help from a friend. When he arrives, this current crisis will be solved.”

“Hmm,” thought Elder Gerald out loud. As an independent city, they relied on trade from their farms, and even if they were independent from the Suzerain Lords, trade from their town would be barred. They got food from their local farmers, but even the farmers couldn’t leave the village to tend to their crops at this juncture.

“Who exactly is this friend?” Gerald asked. The fate of their town was at stake!

“He’s a defective Captain wishing to betray Lord Virgo.” Theseus told his crew honestly.

“Seriously?” Gemini couldn’t believe it. Just how did Theseus rope in a Captain to their side?

“How do you know this person is trustworthy?” Gemini asked curiously. This was a Suzerain Lord’s Captain they were talking about.

“He may be a rough man, but I trust him. If he doesn’t come through, we will just have to submit to all three Lords at once.” Theseus told Gemini coldly.

“That’s your backup plan?” Gerald questioned.

“Would you rather be free or live caged by a tyrant the rest of your life? If we can buy any amount of time, even through confusion, we can try to find another way.” Theseus countered. Gerald couldn’t counter back. The Suzerain Lords were seen by most as a necessary evil to living in the Oceanic Realm. Theseus was not the first to challenge their authority, but those who rebelled never succeeded. This whole thing was a charade of false hope to Elder Gerald.

“What makes you different? I know you’re not stronger.” Gerald got serious, and his doubts were showing in front of the city council. Leo was the strength of a higher-level Captain, but the Lords wouldn’t tolerate unregistered villages, even a rather insignificant one in the countryside like this one. It was possible that if Leo and Theseus weren’t here, the Lords would’ve turned a blind eye to the growing settlement and would try to discreetly fund a new bandit organization to replace the last.

A Captain level power like Theseus caught the attention of the surrounding Lords, and for good reason. Strong, reliable Captains were hard to find. This siege in and of itself was more of Lord Virgo pressuring Theseus to join him than it was an assault on the town.

“Just wait a little longer, and you’ll see. If I’m wrong, I’ll leave here and join Lord Virgo so Oceanus can grow peacefully.” Theseus assured Elder Gerald.

“At least I know your heart is in the right place.” Gerald shook his head at the crazy tamer. Challenging the Suzerain Lords was something only a crazy person would attempt.

***

“Theseus, come out!” A voice boomed between the soldier’s barricade and the wooden walls of Oceanus.

“He’s here.” Theseus’s eyes beamed towards the tall wooden gates with joy.

“Come out brat, I know you’re in there! Get out before I make you get out!”

The gates to Oceanus opened, and Theseus walked out alongside Leo.

“Finally. What’s your problem? I’m a Captain you know?” Aries stood with armed guards. He was in one of the Lord Virgo style samurai armors.

“Are you going to submit to Lord Virgo or not?” Aries glared at Theseus.

“Why should I, I have you.” Theseus laughed.

“How dare you think I would betray Lord Aries?” Aries boomed.

“Stop pretending Aries. I don’t have time to joke around.”

“Shut up kid. I may have had bad thoughts about Virgo in the past, but I’ve turned over a new leaf for Lord Virgo. Prepare yourself.” Aries got in position to attack.

“Seriously?” Theseus couldn’t believe it. This guy just wanted to fight! There was no way Aries would willingly work for Lord Virgo. Unless…

Unless Aries was forced to under a Soul Contract. They had to be consensual, but if threatened to the point of death or torture, one would be reasonably compelled to comply to a ‘consensual’ soul contract on a technicality.

“Fine. I’ll beat you up and make you work for me.” Theseus boldly declared.

“As if,” Aries rolled his eyes and pulled out his sword. Fully recovered, Aries stood eye to eye with the Suzerain Lords as a F Rank Royalty Realm King. Leo prepared to attack.

“No, wait Leo. I have something prepared. I thought Aries may have been tampered with. Just watch.” Theseus whispered in his mind.

“I’ll trust you. Give me a signal if you want help.” Leo responded.

Preparing themselves for the duel, Theseus pulled out his dagger and faced Aries. Staring at his old friend, Aries made the first move.

“Skill: Demonic Pressure!” Aries forced Theseus to the ground with his trump card immediately.

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“Give up yet, mut?” Aries mocked. The spectators from both sides looked at Theseus’s condition grimly.

Face against the ground, Theseus moved his head up towards Aries painfully and smiled.

“Authority Skill: Heaven in Hell.” Theseus whispered, only Aries could hear the skill’s name. A bright light shined in the watery darkness, blinding their surroundings.

Like an angel descending from above, the Demonic Pressure was cracked and subsequently canceled, and a living Theseus appeared from the light, both arms intact.

“What the Hell?” Aries sighed. This kid was too ridiculous. Couldn’t they just spar without something like this happening?

With his old body on top of his new powers, Theseus’s aura realm shot up to the F Rank Royalty Realm, but the catch was that he could only use this skill once and would be gravely injured after using it. Plus, he could only use this skill against Aries. He anticipated Aries would be sent here to fight and preemptively prepared an Authority Skill over many grueling nights. If he gave off the illusion of being the Royalty Realm, the Suzerain Lords would back off.

“Skill: Speed Boost,”

“Skill: Slithering Strike!” Theseus attacked Aries with the attack. Halfway through, he realized his temporary living body couldn’t breathe underwater.

“Skill: Air Bubble.” He chanted in his mind, and an air pocket appeared mid slash.

“Skill: Demonic Strike!” Aries countered.

The fight had truly begun.

Shining splendidly, Theseus bounced off of the red aura Aries gave off, giving off a sparkle of red and white energies with each collision. Leo, Gemini, and Gerald watched in awe.

“It’s like two Suzerain Lords are fighting.” Captain Centos whispered in awe from Lord Virgo’s barricade. When he threatened Theseus earlier, he never expected him to actually be a Suzerain Lord in disguise! Both sides watched the fight dumbfounded. Some were skeptical of Theseus in the past, but how could they say anything now?

The Royalty Realm was a rare level in the Oceanic Realm, and in the real world for that matter. Kings and Queens of the Royalty Realm were meant to rule, and that’s what the Suzerain Lords did. Rarely did any other Royalty Realm individuals serve a Suzerain, and for that reason, revolutions would occasionally occur in the seven Suzerain territories.

Clashing with unprecedented might, even Leo watched with wide eyes.

“Was Theseus always this strong?” The naïve Leo asked himself.

Closing the distance again, Theseus spoke over the clashing, only for Aries to hear.

“What are you thinking attacking me? Did Virgo make you sign a soul contract?”

“Shut up, you bastard. There’s no way you didn’t have that skill already prepared!”

Gemini saw Aries’s mouth moving, but he didn’t hear the conversation. From the looks of it, the two were arguing like an old married couple. Scratching his head, Gemini could only imagine the conversation those two were having. There was a clear conversation happening between the two of them, but their ground shattering duel made it too difficult for anyone to hear.

As the fight continued on for over fifteen minutes, Theseus couldn’t hold on any longer, and his skill faded away. Theseus’s living body faded, leaving his one armed, scared, and now bloodied, ghostly body behind. He fell to the ground softly.

“You’ve lost. Submit to Lord Virgo!” Aries yelled so everyone could hear him. Laughing like a stereotypical villain, Aries raised his hands in triumph.

“You’ve beaten me, I have to choice but to submit.” Theseus said robotically.

“Are they trying… to act?” Gerald looked at his aides in disbelief.

“Huzzah, the Soul Contract is complete. Take that suckers. There wasn’t a clause to actually take Theseus back or follow through with this brat’s submission, just to make him submit.” Aries told his plan out loud. Everyone looked at each other awkwardly. What did that mean?

Aries walked over to Leo and patted him on the head.

“I kind of missed you, animal, but, not really.” Aries tried to sound tough, but Leo shook off Aries angrily. Since Leo heard the whole conversation from Theseus, Leo knew what they were planning, but Leo still held a bit of a grudge over the whole Shade Possession incident. They would have to work on their relationship.

Theseus, who was on the ground and hurt from the Authority Skill, couldn’t move.

“Aries, tell Gemini to come get me.” Theseus coughed out.

“Who? Whatever, I guess I’ll find out soon enough. Tell the crowd the plan.” Aries went with the flow.

“We’re creating our own territory obviously, just like you talked about non-stop in the past.” Theseus coughed again, this time with blood.

“Stop talking you maniac! Are you trying to die? You could’ve sent Leo against me, and we would’ve had a similar outcome.”

Theseus smiled. He genuinely wanted to fight Aries just as much as Aries wanted to fight him. In all actuality, a short discussion could’ve saved the two from fighting at all. Theseus wondered if spending time with Leo rubbed off a little too much. He couldn’t become a battle maniac with his risky habit of creating Authority Skills; he would surely die! Also, they couldn’t have had their private conversation in front of the masses, yet this was for the best.

In the eyes of the Oceanic Realm, Theseus appeared as strong as a Suzerain Lord even though he was at the C Rank Sage Realm. This wasn’t even strong enough to be a Captain, but the illusion his short-lived Authority Skill gave off was a powerful one.

“Is there a Gamini around here?” Aries called out.

Gemini soon came and picked up the crippled Theseus. To the spectators, it seemed like all hope was lost for Oceanus. Aries and Theseus’ declaration of creating a new territory was like a joke. To both sides, it seemed like Aries was mocking him. Gerald looked grimly at the defeated Theseus. Just then, Aries made an announcement.

“Everyone, I’m sorry to inform you, but we are going to be entering this town, but, not as enemies.

I don’t know who is in charge around here, but I am actually Theseus’s friend, and these guards here are my subordinates. Today, we declare our independence from the Suzerains!” Aries declared.

“What?” Captain Centos exclaimed!

Everyone looked at each other. What in the world was Captain Aries talking about?

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