Chapter 45 - The King's Gambit! [4]

In the meeting tent of the military camp of the Union of Kings.

Captain Mara, sensing the intimidating aura of the god king, crouched down with sweat on her face. – But Divine Sovereign, it is not advisable... – she began, but Perseus raised his hand to silence her.

Princess Artemis, clad in golden armor with arrows with tips made of adratium kept on her back, and a bow made of utium and Yggdrasil wood, stood behind Zeus, with a stiffened posture. – No one asked for your opinion, kid. Do what you're told! – she exclaimed, fixing her intense and bloodthirsty gaze on the captain.

The arrows of Artemis were crafted from Yggdrasil wood, an extremely rare and valuable tree and material. Only the Olympus family, the mysterious Emperor kingdom, and a few other filthy rich merchants had access to this divine material. It was believed to be the tree of life from which elves were born.

With her head down, Mara sighed. "Fools, that's exactly what the kid wants. You're playing his game... You call yourselves gods, but you are dumber than the giants." she thought, looking at the ground. – As you wish, sovereigns!

Giants were really dumb, king Njord was an example.

Mara was used to being treated like a servant by the kings, despite her role as an independent figure. Under normal conditions, she was supposed to receive recommendations and advice rather than orders. However, the kings often disregarded this law established by Pendragon.

The prince of Valkoria looked at Gubong with a smile. – It's clear that you're an excellent soldier, a pity you're going to die for the sake of a childish king. – he said, removing the smile from his face. – Now get out of here and tell your king that today this meadow will turn into a river because of the blood of his soldiers...

Looking at the Prince Regent's veiny face, Gubong crouched down, his lips opening slightly forming a smirk. "I don't know what the lord has planned, but it's clearly working..." he thought.

…

At Arthur's army military camp.

Arthur, looking at the Union military camp, smiled. "I can feel the old geezer's bloodlust from here..." he thought, giving his back to his camp.

The sky reacted to Zeus' mood, clouds gathering and thunder rumbling in the distance. Zeus' fury was palpable, everyone could feel his wounded ego. And Arthur took pleasure in destroying the man's pride.

With his hands in his back, Arthur looked up to the clouds. "So, this is the so-called magic, huh? I'm going to kill him for using this!" he decided with a vein on his forehead.

Lancelot, in a black kimono, stood behind Arthur, looking up at the cloudy sky and hearing the deafening thunder. – It looks like it's going to rain again... – he said innocently.

Ryu, in a golden uniform, stood with a stiff posture, gazing at the Union military camp. – I've only heard stories, but I'm sure these lightning bolts are because of the fury the king provoked in the god king... – he said, swallowing hard.

Arthur was ecstatic, the menacing smile on his face confirming that he was going decapitate someone.

"Make sure your plan works, little me. If not, I'll let him kill you!" the Spirit of Justice said.

Smelling the wet lawn, he sighed. – Ahh... You're not going to do that. You want his head as much as I do. – Arthur whispered, looking at the enemy camp.

…

On the training ground of the Chamberlain mansion in the United Kingdom.

Hera, with a ponytail, wore a white and gold gi, diamond earrings and necklace, and wielded the King's Sword. She circled Alexia. "The evolution she has had is monstrous. Not long ago she wasn't even a martial artist, but now she's getting close to me... She's Arthur's sister after all..." Hera thought, staring at Alexia.

It was true, Alexia managed to go from the level of Inexperient to Supreme Grand Master in less than a year. But what Hera forgot was that Alexia was not human, she was a Phoenix, a descendant of Titans.

Princess Alexia, with her hair down, wore a white and blue gi. Following Hera with her eyes and noticing the sword she wielded, Alexia clutched firmly her katana as a vein appeared on her face.

"That sword?! It's not possible for her to have that sword with Arthur's permission! That is the Sword of Kings, the late Uncle Heinrich used that sword. Why did Arthur let her use it?! That can only mean... Will she... Will she be the queen...?" Alexia thought, her eyes trembling and posture stiffening.

Princess Allana, Morgan, Thalia, Merlin, Mayara, Ambrose, Phoenix and Allana watched the two as they talked. They were all seated on benches outside the combat arena.

The two in the middle of a rectangular stone field, staring at each other: Hera with a steady gaze, holding the sword with one hand in the Valkyrie Ascendancy Art stance; and Alexia with a hesitant look, sweat running down her face as she held the katana with both hands in the Amazon Basic Art position.

Alexia moved forward, her katana ready to strike Hera's head.

Smiling, Hera disappeared. "You may be getting close to me in cultivation, but there is still a huge gap in our power level." Hera thought.

Alexia stopped and looked around. – Hmm?

Behind Alexia, Hera appeared with her sword approaching her neck. "I didn't even have to use Qi... Is this my new power...?" Hera thought. – I got you! – she whispered, her sword approaching Alexia's neck.

Mayara, smiling, with a black cape covering her clothes, remarked. – An expected result... – she said, her eyes closed, trusting in the abilities of the goddess of perfection.

Phoenix Ashura, with a ponytail, earrings and a necklace that matched her white dress, sat next to the girls, smiling. – Look closely... – she said, seeing Alexia's reaction.

Sweating with fear and nervousness, she saw Hera's sword near her. "It's very close, there's no time to dodge, but what if I..." she thought, taking a deep breath and holding the katana tight. – Free your ambitious mind... 

Alexia managed to materialize her aura and transform it into a blue phoenix. While everyone was amazed by her aura, Alexia blocked Hera's sword with her katana.

"Hmm?! It's the same aura I felt when I fought Arthur years ago..." Hera thought, stepping back.

Ambrose laughed in astonishment. – Hahaha! Interesting, she managed to materialize her aura... It's impressive for a martial artist in the Third Dimension. Maybe that's the effect of the Dragon King Art's breathing technique... – she said with amazement.

Morgan, analyzing Alexia, pondered. – Is the breathing enough to develop someone to this point...? – sweat running down her forehead.

Materializing the aura is something that usually only artists of advanced age can do. The minds of young people are complex and changeable, that is, it is unstable and dangerous, making it difficult for a young artist to achieve.

This usually happens when a martial artist reaches the Spirit Dimension and manages to dominate their soul and calm their spirit, and it takes many years. But Arthur did it and so did Alexia.

Mayara, with veins on her face, looked at the two and squeaked. – You two are wasting time, end this fight once and for all! – she mumbled.

Hera, using the Valkyrie Ascendancy Art, performed several cuts in the air that approached Alexia as beams of light.