Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 631: Balls Of Steel

If any other person had spoken about killing him, Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor would have acted without the slightest hesitation and wiped out the entire family of whoever dared to utter such blasphemous words, as such statements were, in themselves, tantamount to treason against the Empire.

Yet at this moment, he made no move whatsoever, not even the slightest flicker of intent escaping him. He understood just how arrogant and stubborn Malrik was, and the mere fact that the man had come here to speak instead of immediately resorting to violence meant that he had, to some extent, acknowledged the consequences behind his actions and chosen restraint over impulse.

’Did Azaron speak some sense into him?’ Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor thought to himself, his thoughts moving swiftly yet precisely. After all, he had always believed that Malrik’s greatest weakness lay in his siblings, as the young man had never once shown reason, caution, or foresight whenever it came to them.

However, witnessing Malrik restrain himself in such a situation, for what appeared to be the very first time, the Emperor found himself experiencing a subtle, almost imperceptible hint of surprise.

"And why is that?" Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor asked calmly, his tone steady and controlled, as he still had not grasped the true purpose behind Malrik’s presence here.

Malrik remained silent for a brief moment, his blood boiling violently with suppressed rage, his thoughts teetering on the edge of eruption, but Conrad’s earlier words echoed within his mind, acting as a restraining force upon his instincts. After that short pause, he finally spoke, his voice cold, flat, and devoid of any warmth, "What gave you the balls of steel to attempt to manipulate my little brother’s mind?" he asked, his words carrying an unmistakable weight.

The very instant those words left Malrik’s lips, the calm and composed expression on Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor’s face fractured ever so slightly, like a structure developing cracks under immense pressure, before it returned seamlessly to its usual state of controlled calmness.

Although the shift had been brief, almost imperceptible to an ordinary observer, everyone present within the Throne room stood at the Crownstar Life Rank, possessing extraordinary perception, and thus, none of them failed to notice that fleeting lapse.

’So Asher Wargrave knew. It seems his soul-bound rapier possesses the ability to block mind-invasion-type abilities and techniques,’ Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor thought to himself, recalling that he had already formed this suspicion a year prior when he had attempted to manipulate Asher following his spar with Ryan Silvershade, only to fail without explanation.

’More importantly, Malrik now knows, which inevitably means the entire Wargrave family is aware, and there is a strong possibility that such information may be shared with other Ducal or high-ranking noble houses,’ Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor continued to analyse internally, his thoughts accelerating as he considered the broader implications and the potential shift in power dynamics that could arise from such knowledge becoming widespread.

"Still your tongue, Malrik Wargrave," the Commander stated, his killing intent surging sharply once more, his patience wearing thinner and thinner.

"You dare accuse the Emperor?" the Vice Commander followed immediately, his voice heavy with authority as his gaze bore down upon Malrik.

To the two Commanders, the truth or falsehood of Malrik’s accusation was entirely irrelevant; what mattered above all else was the authority and dignity of the Emperor. However, before either of them could proceed further, Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor raised a single hand, silently commanding them to cease.

"I have done no such thing, Malrik Wargrave," Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor stated with his usual calmness, his tone steady and measured.

Malrik’s expression did not change in the slightest as he looked at the Emperor with undisguised disdain and spoke once more, "It seems you possess the balls of steel to attempt to manipulate my little brother, yet you lack the exact same pair to admit it," his voice laced with contempt and quiet disdain.

"Malrik Wargrave, might I remind you that you stand before the Emperor," Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor stated, his voice dropping lower, growing colder, as though his patience for such blatant disrespect had begun to erode.

"Any Emperor who finds it necessary to remind others of his authority is no true Emperor," Malrik replied instantly, without hesitation or restraint. "Perhaps I should simply usurp the throne myself," he added, his tone calm, yet carrying an undeniable edge of provocation.

The moment those words left his lips, the Commander moved without wasting even a fraction of a second. As the Commander of the Imperial Knights, he had just heard an open declaration of intent to kill the Emperor and seize the throne. Under the laws of the Zarethorn Empire, such words, regardless of whether they were acted upon, constituted treason punishable by immediate death, and he had every intention of enforcing that law without delay.

In less than a split second, he appeared before Malrik, his broadsword already descending in a devastating arc, aiming to cleave him cleanly in half from head to waist. Seeing the incoming attack, Malrik simply stepped to the side with absurd ease and impeccable timing, his movements effortless and precise. However, the moment he evaded, the Vice Commander had already appeared behind him, his sabre slicing toward Malrik’s waist with lethal speed and accuracy.

Malrik leapt into the air with fluid grace, evading both attacks seamlessly in one continuous motion, but he did not limit himself to evasion alone. In that very instant, he counterattacked. Suspended midair between the Commander and Vice Commander, his right fist shot toward the Vice Commander’s head while his left leg lashed out toward the Commander’s head, both strikes carrying explosive force, tearing through the air like unleashed cannons.

Yet both Commanders were veterans who had survived countless battles across centuries. Their instincts reacted instantaneously, their bodies moving in perfect synchronisation as they raised their weapons to intercept Malrik’s strikes.

The moment their defenses collided with his attacks, the accumulated shockwaves from every attack up to that point erupted outward with catastrophic force, powerful enough to tear the Imperial Estate apart entirely. However, before such destruction could manifest, Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor moved.

His figure blurred as he intervened, absorbing the shockwaves through his Bloodline ability, suppressing the destructive aftermath and preserving the structure of the palace.

In the very next instant, Malrik vanished from his position, his form reappearing high in the sky above the Capital as he floated with composed ease, his presence steady and unshaken. The two Commanders followed without delay, appearing before him almost immediately, their presences expanding outward like an overwhelming tide, spreading across the sky as though seeking to dominate the heavens themselves.

"Malrik Wargrave, you are hereby charged with treason, having made an assassination attempt against the Emperor and the Royal family as a whole. Your punishment shall be immediate execution, as decreed by Imperial Law," the Commander declared, his voice booming with finality.

A wide, almost exhilarated smile spread across Malrik’s face as he replied, "There is no need for formalities. I look forward to the punishment," his hand moving deliberately toward the katana resting at his waist as he prepared to face both Knight Commanders simultaneously without hesitation.

"Charged with treason for assassination? Punishment of death? It seems our Wargrave family has remained far too quiet for the past few decades. It would appear that the world has forgotten. It seems it is time to refresh the world’s memory, permanently this time," an unknown voice echoed across the sky like a violent thunderstorm, reverberating across the entire Capital.

The heavens churned violently, the clouds twisting and spiralling into eight massive vortices, each one radiating immense and oppressive power, and from each vortex, a colossal presence descended upon the Capital, as though the heavens themselves were collapsing upon the land below.

Across the entire Capital, people dropped to their knees, their bodies unable to withstand the overwhelming pressure that blanketed the region without warning. To all who witnessed it, there was no room for doubt, this was not the presence of a single being, but multiple entities of unimaginable power, the presences of Crownstar Life Rankers.

From the swirling vortexes within the clouds, eight figures stepped forth with overwhelming majesty, their mere existence distorting the surrounding atmosphere. The air itself seemed to scream under the weight of their presence, the sky trembling violently as though it could collapse inward or shatter outward at any moment, its once calm and serene blue hue shifting into a deep, ominous crimson, as though the apocalypse itself had descended upon the Zarethorn Empire.

The Eight Elders of the Wargrave Ducal Family had arrived, their descent marking not merely the beginning of a conflict, but the onset of a catastrophe that threatened to shake the very foundations of the Empire to its absolute core, a moment that would undoubtedly be etched into history.