"You're not thinking that you could escape, are you?"

Farren felt the magnitude of the threat just from Lukas's eyes alone.

"I hope not," he added.

The black flames enveloping Lukas thickened, almost like he was directly inside an infernal fire but it didn't do anything to him. It didn't even singe his clothes.

Ezekiel could feel how overwhelming it was because he was standing right beside him. He too was intimidated. If he was one of the enemies, he would probably be worried right about now. He wasn't even currently being serious but the pressure is already there.

Janus tactfully stepped sideward, letting them do as they please, doing exactly what he said. Observing. He won't interfere because that was the given role to him from the start and he won't ever oppose it.

The second man aside from the leader noticed their predicament and turned towards him. If they won't successfully escape with all three of them, at least, one of them could. With that, he has to create an opportunity for him.

"There is no other choice. Let us handle this, Sir Farren," he mumbled, already making up his mind.

He glanced at the sprawled figure of their other comrade, still unable to get up.

"Don't be so full of yourself. There's two of them and there's one of you. That one is already useless," he hissed in annoyance.

The man did not answer because he was right. He is clearly out of the way now and is now unqualified to fight.

"Just do as I say and don't hinder me," Farren stated.

The man bowed his head, "Yes."

Farren stared at the two men again, both wielding powerful auras. He knows that he is at a great disadvantage, he wasn't even expecting anything from his subordinates anymore. They were only both a burden on him, which is why this fight is already a two on one. The possibility of him losing is big and it wouldn't be just him casually being beaten down, they would surely plant him on the ground, or grind him to dust.

Forget winning, he doesn't even have a chance against that dark-haired guy, much more if the prince joins. If it's only the crown prince, he could have a 50-50 odds against him. But with Lukas alone, he would pummel him to oblivion. He could clearly see that coming.

Farren met Lukas's electric purple eyes. It was cold and unyielding, like looking at a bug, a very insignificant bug. He felt a shiver going up to his spine, cold sweat dripping off of his forehead. He slightly hunched down, covering his face.

The two saw how the supposed leader of those three rats, trembled. Ezekiel was perplexed by the sight. The fight hasn't even started yet and he looked like he's already giving up. Janus, on the other hand, has a disgusted expression on his face as he watched.

'Scum...' he thought so to himself.

Lukas tilted his head to the side, still staring at the strange person in front of them. Farren, behind his covering hands, was actually sporting a wide grin. His eyes were turning to slits, dilated to the extreme that one could only see his pupils. His face was also flushed red for some reason.

The thought of being beaten down by a powerful person didn't scare him, it actually delighted him instead. After all, Farren Bexley is a masochist. The more he's at a disadvantage, the more excited he gets.

He's not shivering because he's scared, and he wasn't sweating because he's worried. He's just happy. Happy from the thought of being thrashed out by the opponents.

What if they tag-teamed? What if they both come at him at the same time? Or they could also take turns beating him. Ah~ Isn't that thrilling?

All of these are running inside his head and the others are not even aware of it, except for one person.

'Disgusting swine.'

Janus truly hates this man's very existence now.

"Are we just going to stand here and stare at each other?" Ezekiel voiced out, seemingly getting unnerved from the lack of reaction from those two.

He took a stance, the sword of light on his right hand, and being impatient as he, shot straight to the remaining subordinate. The cloaked man instantly ignited the crystal hanging over his neck and a dark reddish mist surrounded his body. Lukas suddenly got alert and turned towards that person.

"Pull back!" He shouted towards Ezekiel.

It was too late, the momentum was already pushing him forward. Ezekiel had felt the change in the man's demeanor when that dark red mist appeared but because he couldn't stop his attack, braced himself instead. He slashed forward and his sword clashed against another sword, made from the mist.

The impact reverberated from the blade then to their arms. The mist then slowly tried to erode Ezekiel's blade before the man tried blindsiding him with a magic spell. He was alert, that's why he was able to jump back and avoided being caught by that trick.

"Magic?" Ezekiel muttered, dumbfounded. "How come?"

He then looked down at his sword which had a corroded fissure on it. It wasn't that big but he was still alarmed. It just meant that whatever it was, he has to be wary of it because it could counter his light attributes.

It certainly is magic. He could feel the mana emitting from the man and his weapon but it felt slightly off. It doesn't feel real nor that it was stable but he could sense danger from it.

Lukas was just as puzzled as him and with him watching the fight, he didn't exactly saw Farren doing the same thing as the man did. Farren straightened his hunched body and triggered his own crystal as well. Soon, two dark red fluctuating mana appeared, one was slightly stronger than the first.

"It really is magic? But that doesn't make sense," Ezekiel remarked, feeling confused.

Magic can only be used by selected individuals. In all of Rosenthal, only three people can wield it. The Emperor, Ezekiel, and Lukas. That is why the existence of two other magic users baffled them.

Lukas who had the air of indifference from earlier became serious. He was really not interested at first and had planned to finish it as soon as possible, but now, he is slowly getting intrigued. The night just turned more complex than it originally was.

Farren laughed, rather mischievously. It sounded crazy in their ears though. He had the look of utter bliss plastered all over his face, smiling so wide it looked like his mouth is going to rip apart.

"Are you sure that you should be looking away?"