CHAPTER 70: TENSION IN THE TOWN

Fear crawled into Ari and Tracey's chests. But they moved. Together, they approached the heart of the chaos.

As they drew closer, the truth of the situation unfolded before them.

A man, a villager, was on his knees, voice cracked and raw with desperation. "We can't... we can't please the Great Lord Iuvio Embrus Ford."

The man he addressed — now stepping out of the cart in elaborate robes adorned with embroidered gold and violet threads — scoffed with disdain. His aura radiated cruelty.

"How dare you, you filthy commoner, speak my first name with your dirty mouth?" Iuvio's voice was laced with arrogance. "Capture this man. Make him my slave."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Imperial and his group observed silently, the grim reality beginning to settle.

Gray, who had been steadying a crying child moments ago, now gripped his gun, teeth clenched. But Silver stepped forward, his hand gently holding Gray back, meeting his eyes with a look that said: Not yet.

Silver stepped into the tense space and bowed lightly. "Lord Embrus Ford... please reconsider. These civilians have nowhere else to go. Their homes, their families — everything they have is here."

Iuvio turned his gaze, sneering. "Silver. And the infamous Shadow Ascension's Gray Welhawk. I've heard of your little group helping commoners. Didn't expect such nonsense from you — especially you, Silver, being royalty yourself."

He spread his arms wide in mock generosity. "Join me. Both of you. Forget that pathetic organization. Work under me. I'll give you everything you want. When I rebuild this town — after destroying it — I'll give you a mansion to live in. Consider it a gift."

Imperial, observing the scene with unnerving calm, now understood. This wasn't a misunderstanding. Iuvio had come here to raze this town to the ground and build something new atop its ashes.

Ari, Dawn, and Tracey now looked at Imperial, bracing for an outburst. But he remained composed. No rage. No flinching.

Silver stood straight. "We're honored by your offer, Lord Embrus, but we have our reasons. We can't accept."

Iuvio's smile faded. "Then you should no longer involve yourselves. Leave this place."

More soldiers stepped forward. The guards around Iuvio thickened — now joined by several vice captains and captains of the royal guard. The atmosphere grew suffocating.

Vice general raised a communication crystal. "Sir Rhogar, we've arrived at the scene. You were right. It's dangerous here for Lord Iuvio. Imperial Alden is also here."

General Rhogar's voice crackled through. "Again, those two brats together. Protect Iuvio Embrus at all costs. They're a threat to his current mission."

"Yes, sir," the vice general replied.

Iuvio raised his voice. "Soldiers! Clean this filth from here. I want every house, every structure, leveled. And that man — the one who dared speak my name — kill him first."

A vice captain walked forward, drawing his long knife and stepping toward the kneeling man. His wife sobbed beside him, shielding him with her trembling hands.

"My lord, please, show mercy! Don't kill my husband!"

Then — a loud gunshot.

The crowd screamed and scattered. Blood spattered the cobblestones — but not from the kneeling man.

The vice captain lay dead.

Gray stood, arm extended, smoke trailing from his weapon.

"I've heard enough," he growled. "Leave this town immediately, Iuvio Embrus."

A chorus of shouts erupted as soldiers surged toward Gray — but Imperial moved.

With a single fluid swing of his sword, he felled the approaching attackers in an instant.

"This isn't good," the vice general muttered. "Just as General predicted. It's dangerous for Lord Iuvio here."

He rushed to Iuvio. "My lord, you must leave."

Iuvio snarled. "Next time I come here, I want this place empty. And I want the heads of those two brats."

He pointed to Gray and Imperial.

The vice general barked an order. All available captains and soldiers surrounded Iuvio, shielding him as they led him away. As they climbed onto the cart, Gray fired a bullet — aiming at the wheel.

A royal soldier took the hit instead, collapsing as the cart sped off into the distance.

The dust settled.

Civilians, still shaking, returned to their homes. Children clung to their mothers, and parents whispered reassurances that they themselves didn't believe.

Gray stood silent. Then turned.

"You shouldn't be here, Imperial Alden," he said coldly, spitting out the name with venom.

Imperial smirked. "That's the first time you've said my name properly — and with such hate. I'm flattered."

"I think it's about time," Gray muttered. "First I'll deal with you... then the rest of this mess."

Whispers rippled among the townsfolk. Alden? That's the prince... Fear spread anew.

Silver stepped in. "Gray, control yourself. We're lucky they haven't attacked in full force. We're still outnumbered."

Gray's expression darkened. But he nodded. "Fine. Then I'll kill that vice general instead."

Imperial drew his blade, a calm smile on his lips. "I was thinking the same."

Female Member 1:

"Imperial Alden is so cool, don't you think?"

Female Member 2:

"Yeah, but Vice Commander Gray? He's on a whole different level."

(Another CA member overhears and walks by, raising an eyebrow.)

Overhearing Member:

"Uh… sorry for interrupting, but you two might want to save that debate for after the fight."

(Everyone chuckles lightly.)

Then seen shift to imperial and gray.

Together, they charged.

Two captains intercepted them, steel clashing. Imperial now stood toe-to-toe with one, blades flashing. Gray matched the other, bullets and slashes ripping through the air.

On the other front, Ari faced a vice captain, her staff spinning with graceful precision. Tracey met another vice captain, her magic crackling in her palms.

Dawn squared off against a full captain, her expression serious as she entered a combat stance.

Silver faced his own opponent, a captain with dual sabers.

Other CA members — each skilled and trained — engaged with elite royal soldiers.

The town, once filled with despair, was now a battleground — the spark of rebellion igniting amidst the ruins.

Then Jack teleport all of them outside the town so that the town can't get destroyed .

Now the battles are ready to happen outside the town .