Fidwud Family Home.

San Fidwud sat together with Baret and Ian and the trio shared drinks.

But while their posture and activity should have shown relaxation, there was obvious tension in their expressions and the way they performed those activities.

It was to be expected of course, because they had just sent their children into the forest, the very same one they had planned ambush the Great family scions.

After all, there was nothing stopping the Greats from doing the same and ambushing the Plebeian young Generation as well.

"Was... Was it really necessary" Baret became the first to broach the topic.

Taking support from Baret's display, Ian spoke as well,

"We could have stopped our youngsters from participating, and thereby eliminate the dangerous variables." he said.

They were both careful in speaking their mind because it was a well-known fact that San had been in a terrible mood since the incident at the Confluence.

And it did not seem to be getting better in the nearest future.

San took a deep breath,

"Strange. That's what it is."

Baret and Ian shared a look, having no clue whatsoever of what San was talking about.

Obviously, he was thinking aloud.

However, San was not done.

"It's strange that a Man of my brilliance can be forced to mingle with idiots like this"

At those words, Baret swelled in anger,

"Hey, watch it San! Just because someone made a fool of you does not give you the right to take out your anger on us. We all lost on that day. We all felt the impact of his assault.

"My most trusted Man is barely recovering. So you'd better get over your foul mood and say something that puts us at ease"

Ian's eyes were widened, he had not expected Baret to lose his cool so quickly but he also knew it was a long time coming. That being said, he had no interest whatsoever in following in Baret's footsteps.

San sighed and closed his eyes,

"Making our youngsters exempt from the Competition would have confirmed the suspicion -and it remains a suspicion for now - that we have something planned and it becomes highly impossible to carry out our plans"

Ian narrowed his eyes,

"But the risk..."

San interrupted,

"I am well aware of the risks. My son is involved as well, Ian and I am not negligent of his safety despite what you might think but sometimes it is important to take risks"

Baret looked sideways at Ian, a frown etched on his face.

San saw the look and smirked,

"I don't need to remind you of all that is riding on this planned ambush do I?"

Baret looked into his eyes for a while before he replied,

"No. No, you don't"

San smiled and patted his cheek...

"Good"

...and then squeezed his cheek hard while he released a pressure that threatened to suffocate Baret.

Baret's eyes widened as he was instantly reminded why so many had been tiptoeing around San in respect for his bad mood.

He was reminded of just how powerful San was and how much more powerful he had become in the last three days.

San smiled coldly,

"Speak to me like that again and I... will kill you"

Baret gulped as best he could with his cheeks in a tight grip.

...

Meanwhile,

The Krast and Horst scions were in shock as they confronted the reality of their situation and encampment.

Hal on the other hand welcomed the arrival of these men. If he said he knew this was going to happen it would have been a complete lie.

However, he wasn't particularly surprised.

It wasn't hard to predict that such a thing was bound to happen. After all, it was the sort of thing he would have done if he considered any of those of the young generation as a threat.

That was not to say the Plebeian leaders were scared of the young generation, however, killing them would definitely damage the future of the Great families.

This was obviously a failsafe for the eventuality that the Plebeians lost the Coming Civil war. Their young generation would have the opportunity to take over the City in a relatively easy fashion if their competition were no more.

However, seeing the events begin to unfold, Hal couldn't help but feel there was more to this plan than meets the eye.

For one, the risk was much too great.

After all, the plan's success heavily relied on the Great Family leaders' negligence.

Should they (the Great family leaders) be more perceptive, the whole plan was bound to fall apart.

Hal spread his Astral perception into the thicket of trees where he knew the regulators who were supposed to prevent life-threatening injuries were hiding and was not surprised to find them dead.

Obviously, their surrounders were smart enough to take care of the only ones in the vicinity strong enough to oppose them.

There were only twelve of them but most of them were at the Mid-stage of the Cosmic Pearl realm while others were at the Late stage. They were more than strong enough to kill all those present.

Or so they thought.

Selina snorted and looked up at Hal,

"How long are you going to keep holding me?" She asked.

Hal smiled and looked down at her,

"You don't look like you hate it"

Selina shrugged,

"I don't but you should still take note of the surroundings. You seem like a pervert right now"

Hal chuckled,

"And what's wrong with being a pervert?"

He said before he let go of her waist,

Selina was disappointed,

"I didn't ask you to let me go" she mumbled.

At that time, Marla arrived by his side.

It was a testament to how grave the situation was that Arnold could not even comment on the little bit of flirting between his sister and the Payne bastard.

"Wait a minute, Where's Frank Horst?" One of the Men asked, suddenly realizing the future lord of Horst Manor was missing.

Eldo and Doyle sighed,

'That bastard'

"Forget it. We'll find him before he gets too far" said the gruff man that was obviously the leader.

As their assailants prepared to attack, those who still had the courage to fight readied themselves as best as they could no matter how futile it was bound to be.

They were not idiots. They were aware that the groans of pain they had heard were from those that were supposed to protect them from the shadows.

They were on their own.

Arnold however, remembered that Hal was no longer in the Energy sensing realm. Surely, he might be able to match up to these men in terms of cultivation.

He was starting to feel hope again when it came to mind that Hal was just one man.

There was no way he could go toe to toe with twelve men of most likely the same or stronger Cultivation bases.

"Let's take care of these ones first," The leader said again and made to move before he heard a burst of loud laughter.

"Hahahahaha"

They turned and saw that the source of the commotion was the blue-eyed young man who had a Viper's front half coiled around his arm.

"Is there something funny?" The leader asked.

Instead of replying, Hal pointed forward and projected a Rune (Divide).

*Bang*

The rune released a loud sound as it divides the assailants directly in front of him into two groups.

The Rune acted like a wall that did not allow them to close the gap Hal had opened up.

Silence!

"What are you waiting for?" Hal asked with impatience.

That was all he needed to say and both Krast and Horst scions rushed to the gap and flooded it in an attempt to get the hell out of their entrapment.

Arnold made to leave when he noticed Selina had not moved a step.

"Selina, let's go" he yelled.

He had no idea why Hal was holding down a path for them and hadn't just used it for himself and leave them for dead but he was not about to question what seemed to be his only hope of survival.

Selina ignored him.

"Why are you helping us?" She asked.

"Who says I'm helping you. Maybe I just don't want you to get in the way" Hal said and winked at her.

Selina grinned and ran out of the entrapment.

Those held away from the opening strained to force through it but it was futile.

The one who seemed to be the leader made to stop any more of them from escaping but he could not even move close to the opening.

It was as though the Rune was only to keep Assailants out and allow the victims to escape.

Hal watched the assailants and smiled,

'This is going to be awesome. So much blood essence to reap. I feel so giddy'

'You sound so creepy right now... But I like it' Grimoire said with a malevolent chuckle.

'If anything's creepy, it's your chuckle' Hal retorted.

'I don't deny but it's your fault'

'How so?' Hal asked.

'Obviously, you corrupted me' Grimoire said.

'I doubt that' Hal said with a scoff.

Marla smiled as the last of the youngsters left the entrapment and the Rune faded.

The sudden release caused the two sides straining against the wall to slam into each other.

*Bam*

While they shook off the cobwebs, Hal projected numerous runes that came together to form an impenetrable Array that was completely opaque and prevented those on the outside from seeing into it.

The assailants were shocked to see themselves enveloped by an Array so quickly.

'What sort of monster was this youth?'

"What now?" Marla asked, even though she could guess.

Hal grinned,

"Now? Now we go all out"

As he said so, his eyes turned Blood red and an illusion of a Dark lady enveloped Marla's form.

The assailants could feel it...

They were about to experience Hell!