Present—
Arnold was able to see the destruction in his lands when he arrived where the explosion took place.
A large chunk of the mountain was destroyed, revealing crystals growing inside it. Trees were charred and literally melting and there was a peculiar stench in the air.
"This is where we found the most crystals, so this was most likely a calculated attack to do as much harm to the city's mineral supply as possible." Lunaria said after distancing herself from Arnold, a slight flush on her cheeks.
"I know." He glanced around, trying to see if he could sense any suspicious signatures. He wasn't that familiar with his workers so he couldn't differentiate them from the attackers, though. "There are a lot of large energy signatures scattered around."
"They definitely aren't any of the workers since a majority of them aren't fighters."
Several shadowy figures came out of Arnold's shadow.
"…Forgive us… We did not foresee this happening." immediately upon materializing, they prostrated in front of him.
It was the shadow demons.
"What happened?" Lunaria inquired, "These magic crystals should be more resistant to ordinary explosives than regular crystals, due to the high concentration of mana that offers them better protection."
One of them held something out to the two.
"A crystal…?"
"We were able to recover this one that survived the blast. The rest are either disintegrated completely or unaffected since the bombs used weren't that powerful."
"Small, concentrated blasts of miasma, huh?" Arnold said as he examined the crystals.
It was quite literally melting, falling on the grass as it hissed.
He could tell by the black goo on the crystal what caused it. Only miasma has this effect on magic crystals. It's heavily corrosive and breaks mana particles apart until the energy itself disintegrates.
"We know where the attackers are currently planning their next attack—shall we pursue them, Milord?" the shadows demons weren't showing it but Arnold could tell they were nervous. Their energy signatures were quite chaotic. What kind of person did Lunaria say he was for them to be this timid in front of him?
"Lunaria." Instead of answering, he looked at his advisor.
"Yes, Milord?"
"I can sense several signatures escaping my land in different directions. They might be trying to escape with my caravans. Have your Shadow Demons kill them all."
"…If I may, Milord... We aren't sure who these people are. It could be a noble looking to make a quick buck—if this is the case, the empire will get involved. They could even be from one of the guilds in the empire. To them it doesn't matter if the guild member was in the wrong, they are legally obligated to involve themselves."
Unlike what happened with James Caervil, he won't get off easily this time. But he knew this already.
"Even if they are hired hands or some bastard son looking to make some money off robbing people, they made the mistake thinking I'll let them go with only a warning. These crystals are the lifeblood of my city that will turn it into an empire. I'm sure even your queen would do the same thing as me."
"…I understand. Then what about the mastermind?"
"I'll take them to the imperial court… and execute them in front of an audience."
◊◊
Tyran Ayried interrogated one of the workers and managed to learn the value of these crystals.
He was never the type who was interested in the magic crystal trade so he never learned how valuable they are—
But to have all the towers send requests to obtain these crystals before they're available for purchase!? Even if their worth has not been demonstrated to him before, this kind of thing never happens! The towers might not be a collective anymore but they share the same skepticism if a trader claims their land's crystals are special.
Magic crystals are special catalysts for basically everything a tower does, from experiments, to magic item creation, to fueling projects when developing new spells.
"—The decoys are leaving for the capital as planned." One of the mercenaries came up to Tyran, "Isn't it odd how none of the city's knights or guards came here even after the explosion? Not that I'm complaining since it makes our job easier."
"Hm, it is definitely strange. Has everyone planted the explosives like I ordered?"
"Aye."
"We should hold off on activating all of them. The point of that first explosion was to draw the city guards and soldiers to its location, which is on the opposite side of the forest where we are."
Once they're sure attention isn't on them, Tyran will have them activate the explosives then they can escape with the crystals. While Arnold is left with nothing but a few scraps that grow here and there.
'Arnold probably figured that out already. But shouldn't he be marching here with his army?'
Regardless, if he manages to get these crystals to a buyer, he could charge an insane amount of gold that will last him several lifetimes. As someone who doesn't have a House to inherit, he had no future other than becoming a foot soldier or being married off to some old hag. Even Stella had a better chance than him of becoming the head of the Ayried House even though he's the eldest son.
The fact that Draken, his father, was interested in her to the point of sparring with her, was enough to show the world that. It brings him to a point of rage when he imagines that brat he used to hit and "play" with, ignoring her cries for help. Once this is all over, he should release his frustration on her when he gets home. He was saving it for that green-haired slut of Arnold but Stella was enough.
"What about sending a scout ahead?"
"—That won't be necessary since I'm right here." A chilling deep voice came from between the two, making both of them stiffen up.
How? How did he appear between them without either of them noticing even though they were both warriors?
It was Arnold. Well, his hair was different and he looked a bit older but Tyran didn't have the leeway to question that. The important thing was that he was undeniably Arnold.
"Kuh!" Tyran jumped forward and threw one of the balls of miasma at Arnold. He then took out a small shard of the magic crystals he scraped off and threw that at the ball.
In an instant upon collision, an explosion erupted.
"—Attack!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
The next moment, a barrage of magic arrows, spells and throwables flew at the spot where the explosion occurred.
There was enough firepower to take down a small army of ordinary soldiers but there's no way Arnold comes out of that unsca—
A hole appeared in the cloud of smoke, as if something jumped out but the naked eye couldn't see it.
Tyran felt a powerful wind fly past him, knocking him to the side. It carried a hint of strong cologne. But it wasn't aiming for him.
"Gyaaak!?"
"Ahhh!"
"Ghkkk!"
"W-What the—Ack!!"
The sound of screams and flesh being severed resounded, both sounds echoing off the dense forest and assaulting Tyran from all sides.
"!" one of the hiding mercenaries fell on the ground next to Tyran, his blood staining the young noble's armor.
His face was smashed in beyond recognition. As if that wasn't enough, his body was split apart, organs laying for all to see.
"Hk!" noticing that, Tyran fell on his butt, vomit ready to force its way up.
Several other mercenaries fell out of the trees, most of their bodies in the same mangled state. One's head was even crushed while another was impaled from the anus to the mouth by a large branch covered in a white energy.
"W-What the fuck…? He… He's killing all of them…?"
Tyran knew Arnold was a scumbag from his activities at school but he never would've expected him to actually kill people without remorse like this. James Caervil could be excused since that was justified. But this? It's a slaughter.
Tyran's human instincts told him to run but all he could do was tremble.
"B-Boss, we need to run!" the remaining mercenaries pulled Tyran up. Not because they were kind but because the stingy bastard hasn't paid them the full amount promised yet.
"Guh! No! I've come this far! If a trap won't work then the treasure, Her Highness Ronia gave me, will!"
"W-What? Are you out of your fucking mind!? That guy killed several level 50s like it was nothing even though you said he's in your grade!"
"He's a goddamn monster…"
"Screw this! I'm outta here!" one of them tried to run but exploded in chunks of meat after Arnold appeared in front of him and punched.
"Eek! W-Why the fuck are you killing us!? W-We didn't even kill nobody!" a mercenary tried to reason with the golden-eyed reaper wielding a sword as dark as night, filled with bloody red veins.
He didn't even care to glance at the person who asked him that, merely walking towards them in a calm strode.
Petrified, none could move.
However, Tyran put something on his hands, gloves, before lifting his right hand. that hand was covered in a glove filled with ornaments and gems, making it glow with radiance.
"Hm?" Arnold felt his Aether being sucked out. It wasn't to the point of alarm but he could still feel it. Think of trying to empty a pond with only a teaspoon.
A knowing glint flashed in his eyes when he looked at the gloves on Tyran's hands.
"The [Twin Relics of the Devourer Saint], huh. I know only one person who has ever used these gloves before."
"W-Wha? How are you still standing while having your lifeforce drained!?" Tyran shouted while trembling.
"Lifeforce? No, all you're doing is absorbing my Aether."
'This would've turned out differently if I still had my aura, though.'
"A-Aether? N-No way! I refuse to believe someone like you could use energy like that to this scale! Fine then! How about tasting your own power!?"
He roared and thrust his left hand forward.
A blinding beam of sapphire destruction surged out, the air around it distorting violently. The force alone ripped trees from their roots, cracked the earth, and launched rocks like missiles. The very air screamed as the torrent of condensed Aether hurtled toward Arnold—and beyond him, toward the massive range of blackstone mountains.
Arnold didn't move.
He stood still, arms at his side, as the blast engulfed him.
The explosion hit like a second sun—the ground ruptured in a dome-shaped crater, the sky turned white-blue from the sheer glow. Thunder followed the light, then silence.
For a moment, nothing stood where Arnold was.
Dust clouds billowed. Boulders cracked and rumbled down the distant slopes. A section of the mountain behind him crumbled—stone vaporized, carving a burning scar across the peak. The undiscovered wildlife behind the destroyed mountain showed itself and its creatures, unable to understand what these new visitors wanted, bolted.
"Did I get him…?" Tyran whispered.
Then the smoke parted.
A figure stepped out.
His upper clothes were reduced to scorched ribbons, his muscular sculpted body slightly charred—but whole. Not even bleeding.
Arnold sighed.
"I've survived the vacuum of space… and fought against three demigods and survived... That? That was a tickle."
His golden eyes made them tremble uncontrollably. They lost the strength to even run away, merely standing there, regretting ever taking this job for some coins.
Tyran fell to his knees. His mouth gaped as he stared at the man who had just walked through a blast capable of annihilating a small city.
In all honesty, he didn't expect the blast to have that much power.
Or maybe it's because it was Arnold's power that was the source of it all… but only multiplied ten-fold…?
Arnold glanced behind him at the burning mountainside, frowning.
"Tch. If that had hit my city, I might've reconsidered leaving you alive for the time being."
He casually reached into… somewhere—and pulled out a clean pair of pants. Somehow. From the void, maybe.
"The fact that Ronia gave you an artifact like that means she sees great value in members of her Imperial Faction. With the kind of power she has, why would she go through this much effort to get you on her side when she could just make you her puppet. Oh well." Arnold knelt, facing Tyran with a smirk.
"I'll make sure to make an example out of you soon, Tyran." The reaper whispered as the touch of death embraced Tyran's entire existence.
The next moment, a blunt force hit the back of his neck and darkness clouded his vision.