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Volume 5

Chapter 219: Kladis

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Akhenaton…

Legendary Ancient Emperor who rejected the Gods!

Now, it was a symbol of a deity, a warship for Elder God Donar.

Within a 10km sphere, it can throw in a [land marker] to raise the islands to be part of its territory. But aide from raising them, Akhenaton can also use the islands as if they were projectile weapons —as powerful and as destructive as a true meteor!

Kladis looked on as the islands slowly begin to get back at Akhenaton’s side.

In fact, to his surprise, even the island that fell and burned with the Rewloola-2 Battleship had also begun to rise from the rubbles.

Despite being reduced to 60% of its original size, it was still a staggering sight to see a meteor that should have burned still rise in the air.

His eyes widened at this shocking revelation.

“How could this be? Isn’t there an end to its abilities?”

If Kladis knew the secret to this ability, he would have long surrendered and accepted the pittance for the sins he had sown.

Of course, if he knew who Donar really is, he would have long fled this continent.

Akhenaton is but an ancient warship. Its designs were as such and while it doesn’t have a long-range capability, it can summon nine islands as both shields and meteors… and even have the ability to integrate [Legendary]-Grade equipment and use its functions as a weapon.

The Mjolnir… is a Legendary Weapon.

The Naiki’s Scepter of Divinity… is a Legendary Hand Accessory.

And this warship itself… is a legendary existence!

Though the records regarding Akhenaton was clear, its whereabouts were unknown.

But as it turns out, it was actually with Elder God Donar from the beginning and only when he appeared in Warjillis did everyone whose aware of it in the world realize that looking for Akhenaton as part of a mission had always been a dead end.

Kladis could plainly feel his face twitching. It was contorting in an ugly way and he knew that he not only looked ridiculous at the moment, he also looked undignified in every pitiful way.

In fact, if it was real life, he would have lost all his hair!

Looking up at Akhenaton was akin to looking up to that Elder God who he had just defamed and insulted just a few minutes ago.

He even called him fake!

In truth, thinking about the challenge he issued at this NPC earlier, he actually felt regret.

Alas, there was no vaccine for its symptoms. Kladis… perhaps for the first time in a while had felt the sense of regret.

He felt regret for ever trying to provoke this Elder God… he felt regret on the fact that he had insulted his divinity and even used Scion to incite his indignation.

“Curse you…” Kladis uttered. Whether it was intended or an involuntary release of resentment from the bottom of his heart, Kladis still said it and felt relief.

From the core of his bones, he hated this NPC.

And as if hearing it, Akhenaton’s gaze from the second warship slowly turned towards the castle.

Their gazes seemed to meet.

In that small moment of their eyes meeting in midair, the first warship he blasted into fiery oblivion passed through the point where their gazes met.

And not only that, the second warship also burned and falls slowly just behind Akhenaton that the fire served as the background on the hovering giant golden menace, blackening his face, giving the illusion that the God had turned into a devil of destruction.

The shadows of the islands floated around him, and with his height of 3km above the ground, the 30km around him had undoubtedly became enshrouded in Akhenaton’s eternal darkness curse.

Right at this moment, none of the people around could deny the might and power of this Elder God.

In just a few minutes and a few frightening exchanges, Elder God Donar had trashed away the pride and ego of the Blue Card Legion.

Kladis’s heart skipped one beat every time.

He knew that those indifferent pair of eyes was affixed on him.

Should I flee now? I am his target.

But what about The Legion? My castle? What about my women…?

His career, at first, had been built around his ambition of having a harem of the most beautiful ladies.

But since charisma cannot be acquired without showing abilities, he displayed his might in the face of warfare… and thus have been discovered by the already famous Gats way back then.

Since then, he had lived his dream and not only that, he also gained higher and higher goals while his fame and his glory shined brighter and brighter as time went by.

Two years since the game was released, the face of the Blue Card Legion, him, Kladis “The Conqueror”, had only dream of ever reaching a higher stage and never even wasted a time of ever looking down to those small fries.

For him who had showed might that was feared by all, everyone except the Chief Leader of The Legion, does not have the right to be looked upon him seriously.

A mere glance from him, is enough… and these are all talking about players.

What more are the lowly NPCs?

He treats the women NPCs as his slaves and he treats those female Users who had fallen head over heels for his charisma as not worthy of a second or third glance.

Once he conquered them, he had lost interest on their worth. What he wanted, what he was searching for, is something that he haven’t seen before.

Perhaps… the only exception on this was Kira.

She was the only one who showed something new on his horizons and had become worthy of him throwing away his dignity when in front of her.

Her allure lay on a face that he wasn’t aware of and he was willing to show his weaknesses only to her when she displays this ‘mysteriousness’ for his eyes.

As he was pondering on what to do next, Akhenaton’s body moved and took a step. A booming sound rung and Kladis’ body shook tremendously, snatching his wit from the world of dreams.

But who was he?

He was still the Supreme Commander of The Legion and he has his own pride!

“You…!!” His blood boiled in rage.

Right when he realized how lame he might have looked, he steeled himself, glared at the golden idol, and then uttered a command.

“All remaining warships, attack this bastard!”

In actuality, there has never been a need for him to give the command as the remaining warships had been raining bombardments towards Akhenaton. But the giant gold idol didn’t need to pay much attention to them because as soon as he entered a diagonal straight distance of 3km away from Apus Epirus, those warships whose been firing at it had all but suddenly stopped their attacks.

Kladis noticed this and as soon as he raised his head, he saw the rest of his armada… burning.

All of his warships had been burned from the skies!

The blood on his face drained, and he staggered to hold on the merlon just to support himself from stumbling.

“H-How could… How could this have happened…” He was utterly aghast, his face white in disbelief. Him and Kira were shaking and the latter, this woman who held secrets that could shake every organization in Terroa, was also trembling from fear.

Earlier, the proud Legion of Warships led by two Rewloola-Class Battleships, still stood arrogantly around Apus Epirus.

Now, they were reduced to nothing.

This fear-inducing line up that could look down on the world of Terroa with disdain… just now… had been reduced into charcoal-burnt pieces of garbage metals.

And everything was done by this being that’s currently looking at them from above.

Is this… the difference of mortals and Gods?

A question with a frightening obvious answer!

They can’t flee…

They can’t surrender…

They can’t abandon the mission…

They can’t even cry for help…

Their only hope now is to buy time for Zaza and Redeye to escape from the city. That way, they could then teleport away from this god forsaken place.

—no, wait!!!

That was wrong.

A God is here at the moment… and that god had not abandoned them. In fact, he specifically seeks them.

Not to help them, of course.

…but to burn them alive, piece by piece, slowly and painfully… just like what the God had said.

The Legion… will be burned alive.

“I can’t let this piece of shit ruin our plans!” Weird as it may seem, Kladis has this sense of devotion to the task he was given.

Perhaps it was his worth. He may be full of pride and his brain is filled with liquefied ego, but he was devoted to his task and works really hard.

Or maybe it was connected to the fear he had against Gats, but no matter what, he had decided…

He looked back at Kira and said, “I can’t let this NPC win so I need you take care of the rest.”

“Are you going to sacrifice yourself?” Kira asked with a somewhat slightly uncaring yet slightly worried tone.

“Sacrifice?” Kladis beamed a confident smile. “I still have my skill set and I am also a marksman aside from being a Sword Master… why do I have to sacrifice myself? I just have to duel the bastard and win in every way possible. At least buy enough time for Zaza and the rest to get away. Even if in the off chance that I fall, I can always create a new avatar from my insurance system and start a new career. If I am defeated now, then at least it’s only Kladis who’d fall and not me personally. The new avatar may be new but that would still be me and nothing will change. As long as I am alive, we can still move on with the plans.”

Kira seemed to understand his plans on his words and despite the chaotic panic of their surroundings, when Kladis turned his gaze to glare at that golden idol in the sky, Kira felt a sense of real handsomeness from that steady back.

A smile curved on her lips and she stealthily walked over behind him and embraced him from behind.

She whispered lovingly on his ears, “My mission from the Great Father wasn’t supposed to have this part but I am still a girl and I like heroic men with pride and confidence in themselves. If you win, I will visit you in the real world and give you the best job that will fry your brain.”

“Ho? But I’m a Yankee. Is that okay?”

She chuckles, “Doesn’t matter, I’m Irish. But is your size something I should be careful of?”

He casually laughed, “Nope. It’s the same. Do you have blue eyes?”

“Alexandrian. Perhaps the last in this era…”

“Oh.” A jolt ran through his body and Kladis became more invigorated and filled with confidence.

Kira unlatched from him and stood a few steps behind him, observing him, waiting for him to make the move before walking away. Kladis did not turn. Who knows what her mission was but he now knew what made him attracted to her.

It was this [Secret Agent] persona of hers.

Perhaps it was long, long before… before she had even revealed the things about ‘The Father’ and perhaps even before her mission to spy at the TOS Guild as Hubert… she had always followed his every whim and command.

He had raped her, conquered over and over in many places in the castle, but she never said a word of complaint. Kira tolerated him and always went on mission in targets and always got what they want…

She was really a good spy that had complete control to her emotions and actions.

What d’ya know, so I was the kind who was actually attracted to Black Widows…

He unsheathed his sword and pulled out his pistol, then pressed a button in the air to dial a call.

DING!

From looking up, he looked in front of him, the [email protected] display of an indifferent Donar made him frown.

Siva’s eyes shifted behind Kladis and saw a girl who glared at him with calm but murderous eyes.

He glanced back at Kladis, “Too late to surrender.”

“I want a duel.” Kladis ignored him and said with a scowl. Siva frowned but because of the headgear he wore and the black smoke skin, this frown was hardly visible in the [email protected] rendering of himself so he looked indifferent to anyone each time.

“A duel, you say? What is the price?”

“Death. Only one must remain alive…” Kladis said and then looked up. “…with your Akhenaton and my Apus Epirus.”

Speaking at this point, Kira was surprised but she still wore her stoic expression. Siva squinted further.

“You do realize that you are in no place to demand anything from me. What made you think that I would want your lame castle? What makes it worthy to stand beside my Akhenaton and have the same weight of importance?”

Berated, Kladis smiled with confidence and answered.

“Because it has an installed Mana Stone Warehouse that can be used to gather energy and give the castle the ability to teleport anywhere in the planet, and also erect a 13-layered shield with adjustable defensive priority setting during siege mode. If that’s not up to your liking, I am also willing to surrender to you and serve as your slave if I ever loose…”

“Ho?”

Truthfully, Siva is very interested on the Apus Epirus.

Now that he became aware of the default abilities of the castle, he became more interested in it.

One reason is because although Akhenaton is near-invincible when fighting close-range and also has a travel speed that was slightly faster and more efficient when compared to Cyclones or normal Warships, the fact remains that in order to maximize all these, it still needed for him to be manually piloting the warship for it to reach that performance rate.

What if he wasn’t online and Akhenaton was attacked from long-range?

No one will control the islands to block the damage and since the auto-evasion and defensive function of Akhenaton was slow and lame… what if there are more than 3 warships dancing around Akhenaton?

Also, what if he needed to travel great distances with just short notice? He was lucky right now that Warjillis was close to Alexandria but what if the problems he had to solve fast in the future are continents apart?

Or what if… he needed to escape or travel fast?

Yes, he needed this castle and he was interested in it.

But…

On the other hand, The Legion is losing right now and he can always get this castle even if he doesn’t have to duel him.

As if to read his mind, Kladis smiled at him, “Forget about trying to win this castle during this war. If you don’t want to duel with me, not only will it prove that you’re a coward, I will also make sure that you won’t get any spoils of war and destroy everything along with my defeat.”

Siva narrowed his eyes. He really wanted to murder this bastard and although he wanted to crush him on his feet with Akhenaton, it was also another matter to do it himself, on the other hand.

Besides, now that he knew the secrets of the Apus Epirus, his initial plan of destroying it would have to be changed.

Siva ordered, “Oka, then. Create a Guild-wide slave contract effective immediately; that all units of the Blue Card Legion will freeze where they stand when I win. If you don’t hand over the castle, you will also freeze where you stand… and…”

“And…?” Kladis was genuinely puzzled.

Siva’s eyes narrowed into slips and though his mouth was covered, it wasn’t hard for Kladis to guess that Donar was actually smiling at him.

Siva glanced right and Kladis also trailed his gaze to land at the Alexandria.

At first he was puzzled but through the silence of the crowd, the only sound they could were the explosions f the bombardment on the shield dome.

—No!

WAIT!

He wasn’t looking at Alexandria!

Kladis felt the hairs on his body raising, especially when he heard the words Donar said.

“For defying me, I will want your Rewloola Battleship.”

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Now the stakes are high!

It’s a gamble with the stakes getting out of hand…!!

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One God, one man... pride clashes against pride!