Advent of the Three Calamities

Chapter 871: Dune Conqueror [3]

Leon’s gaze continued to linger in my direction as I shook my feet slightly, trying to get rid of the blood that had attached to them.

Honestly, the way he looked at me bothered me.

Something within my chest felt unsettled the more I felt his gaze. I couldn’t quite explain it, but something in my chest seemed to burn.

I was angry.

But it was strange...

This anger... It ran deeper than I expected it to as I stared at Leon.

’Does he not understand the reality of our current situation? Why is he so hung up about not killing? If we don’t do this, then either one of us will be targeted.’

There’d be a very good chance that we’d die too.

"This is very excellent!"

As Tharvek’s voice continued to echo across the arena, I felt the weight of the elder’s glare from afar.

When I glanced in his direction, the intent in his eyes was clear. He looked as though he wanted to tear me apart where I stood, held back only by Tharvek’s presence.

"This is how things are done here. Those who step into this arena do so with their lives on the line. I was no exception. The moment you enter, you must be prepared to die. But do not fear it. For death is nothing but a badge of honor. It means you have chosen to die by your own will, rather than at the whims of fate."

Tharvek’s words made the place erupt in cheers as the spectators stood, shouting at the top of their lungs while chanting his name.

"Tharvek!"

"Long live Tharvek!"

The arena shook under the shouts. Tharvek basked in the glory as he extended both hands and closed his eyes.

He looked to be savoring the cheers.

But—

’I still don’t feel anything from him.’

He was still completely blank in my eyes.

Why?

Why could I not read him at all? What in the world was going on?

Did he simply have no emotions?

"Enough!!"

It took a single shout to bring the festivities to a halt, the noise cutting sharply through the air. One by one, heads turned toward the elder. His long white beard trembled slightly as he raised his hand, exposing his thin arm as his sickly fingers extended, and he pointed directly at Tharvek.

"This is a place of honor, not something for you to taint with your nonsense. Cease this at once and allow the rites to proceed!"

"Haha, of course. Of course."

Tharvek looked at me, and I instantly understood. Giving Leon one last glance, I jumped back up to where he was as he greeted me with a large smile, his hands coming down to pat me on the shoulders.

"Good. Good. I like you quite a bit. You’ll make a fine guard."

He then looked at the commander who brought me here.

"You’ve done an excellent job. You may leave and go back to your work."

"...I am glad I was able to satisfy you."

Bowing down, the commander left, leaving me with Tharvek and the few other guards that he brought.

"So...?"

Tharvek spoke amidst the sudden silence that took over, his eyes lingering over the arena beneath as Leon turned around and proceeded to leave.

"Do you think he’ll be a threat to me?"

"...No."

I answered truthfully.

As he was right now...

"He isn’t."

***

Why...?

Why did he do that?

Coming out of the arena, one had to walk through a long, dark corridor before reaching the pillar that led back down to the lower levels. The entire way, Leon couldn’t help thinking about the situation and Julien’s actions.

’Why did he do that? Does he... not know that Gorian has a family? He’s got several children, each one younger than ten. Now that he’s gone, what’s going to happen to them? I left him alive because of that, but what now? Why? Why did he do that?’

Leon’s lips quivered as he walked back.

He didn’t even know where he was going or what he was doing. He just mindlessly walked, his thoughts drifting back to the fight as he coughed from time to time, his injuries only getting worse.

By the time he snapped out of it, he found himself standing in front of a familiar residence.

"...That was a good fight."

Anne waited for him at the door alongside Evelyn, Aoife, and the others.

They were all looking at him with frowns as Aoife spoke.

"That was Julien, wasn’t it?"

Leon remained quiet, but his silence was enough confirmation as Anne sighed.

"He hasn’t shown up in several months, and the first thing he does when we see him again is kill your opponent. That... it doesn’t get any more like him."

"But why...?"

Leon looked up.

"Why did he kill him? What even was the point in that? Does he just not know that he’s got a family? Does he not—"

"He probably did it to protect himself and you."

Kiera suddenly cut Leon off, prompting his face to freeze.

Kiera continued, "From the looks of things, you were being targeted by that number one guy. What was his name again?"

"Tharvek."

Evelyn softly spoke.

"Ah, yes."

Kiera nodded.

"That guy. He was setting his eyes on you. Had you not killed him, he would’ve most likely have started making your life much harder. That guy... he doesn’t give me good vibes."

"....."

To that, Leon had no words to reply with.

In truth, he understood that part. He also understood that he was no match for him. There was something about him that felt like a massive wall that he wouldn’t be able to reach even if he wanted to.

But...

"I’m sure he could’ve been spared."

Though his words came out in a whisper, everyone heard them as they all fell silent. Glancing at one another, Evelyn was the one to speak this time.

"Why do you care so much?"

The way Evelyn looked at Leon was complicated.

"You weren’t like this before. No, you were, but not to this extent. Why... do you care so much about people that you’ve never met before?"

"Why...?"

Even Leon wasn’t so sure.

However, if he had to think of a specific moment, it was when he first entered the city and saw the state of the place. He thought back to the people below and the way they lived. He also thought about the Nomin, people who sold themselves to provide some income for their families, and how others had to fight desperately just to survive.

It was a combination of a lot of things, but... he hated it.

He hated everything that he was seeing.

Everything that this city symbolized.

He hated it.

He... wanted to change it.

"I guess it’s because I’m stubborn by nature."

Offering the others a half-hearted smile, Leon walked back into the residence under their collective gazes. Honestly, he didn’t expect them to understand him. He thought that maybe Julien would, but it was clear that he probably also wouldn’t understand.

That’s why he had to carry on.

He felt that the only way to make people understand would be by winning more.

The more he won, the more he’d be able to change things.

’Yeah, I’ve got to win more.’

Sitting down on his bed, Leon took out a certain vial and quietly stared at it. To be more precise, he tried to feel the Rune hidden within the blood before uncorking the cap and eventually downing the blood at once.

Closing his eyes, he began to feel the Rune.

His injuries began to rapidly heal.

’Win. I’ve got to keep winning.’

***

The Ranking Battles continued for several hours. Standing behind Tharvek, I kept my position, not moving a single muscle. Despite my strength, after a while, I began to struggle to hold still as the heat got to me, sweat pooling down the side of my face beneath my clothes.

’I’ve been here for several months, and I’ve yet to get accustomed to this heat.’

The funny part was that the stuffy clothes that I wore were supposed to make things easier for me.

They didn’t.

Thankfully, the battles soon came to an end as Tharvek leaned back on his chair, letting out a satisfied yawn before standing up and shifting his attention back towards the other guards and me.

"That was fun, wasn’t it?"

He said this, and his face seemed to agree with him, but yet again...

I felt absolutely nothing from him as he remained blank before my very eyes.

"I saw some very decent fights today. Hopefully, I’ll be even more entertained in the upcoming ones."

Laughing, he began to walk away from the area.

I looked around before following him as we walked down a flight of stairs and headed towards an unknown area.

Step! Step—!

Appearing in a large corridor, the even sound of our steps echoed throughout as none of us made a single noise. We just followed in silence while trying to understand where he was trying to lead us.

Arriving before a certain door, Tharvek came to a stop as he looked at us.

"From this moment forward, the five of you are going to be my guards. Although I trust the commander’s eyes, I would like to see for myself just how strong each one of you is. But before that, take this."

He tossed each of us a round object.

A pill?

Yes, this looked like a pill.

Its shape was smooth and rounded, its dark red color almost glossy.

"Take the pill. Don’t worry, it won’t harm you. In fact, you can say that this is something good for all of you. You’ll understand once you take it."

The guards next to me didn’t hesitate and brought the pills to their mouths, swallowing them in one go. Their lack of caution threw me off as I looked in their direction, the pill still in my hand.

Because of their actions, all attention focused on me as I cursed under my breath.

’Shit.’

"You’re not going to take it?"

"...Yes."

Seeing my current situation, I had no choice but to follow along as I popped the pill into my mouth and swallowed.

The moment I swallowed the pill, I felt an immediate cooling sensation filter into my body, and I was surprised to see the mana inside my body increase.

This...?

My surprise didn’t last long, however.

With that small addition in mana, I also felt something else.

Something a lot more sinister as I pursed my lips.

’Yeah, I should’ve seen this coming. There’s no way he’d give me something that good with no reason.’

Nevertheless, I didn’t panic.

Instead, I grew a little excited as I finally found even more leads.

’This is the same exact thing that was happening in the Remnant South.’

"Good. All of you have taken the pills. There will be more to come in the future if you perform well."

Opening the door and exposing the room’s interior, he beckoned us in.

"Now, let’s proceed with the next step. There’s no need to worry. I will make sure things won’t be too hard on you." He laughed, his warm voice reaching our ears as he walked in. "Well? What are you waiting for? Follow me in."