The Archangel of Death

Chapter 21

"That was cruel." The emperor, Orion Von Deus Lux commented when Adrian announced his surrender.

"That was the most practical strategy." the first elder admitted even though he was churning at the praise he had just delivered.

"He didn't have to do it like that though. There were many other ways to remind her of her place." Orion refuted but Raphael chose to remain silent because he knew that Orion knew the real reason also.

"He wasn't doing that," The head elder, Zarden Von Deus Lux spoke, "He was just having fun."

All three of them went quiet at those words. It didn't need to be said that Adrian was having fun. And that was the brutality of the Lux family. The family who ruled the Cortum empire for the last two thousand years.

"But this matter simply won't blow over," Raphael spoke after some time. "The girl arrived before her family. Meaning they might have no idea of what is going on."

"And what if they do?" Zarden countered and asked, "Do we take it that they are annulling the pact?"

"The pact was between them and the crown prince. They can deal with it themselves. We don't have any reason to get involved." Orion answered.

Zarden's legs ached at the mention of the crown prince. Raphael also shivered slightly at his mention.

"Do you have honor or not?" they heard an angry voice say shortly afterward. They looked in the direction to find the source and scoffed at the same time.

"Children," Raphael said. "That just means there is still some entertainment left," Orion commented. Zarden on the other hand remained quiet, if Adrian was anything like his father, they might see some blood today.

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Adrian turned to look at the owner of the voice and his eyebrow flinched when he saw who it was. A young black-haired handsome boy. He didn't know who he was but he knew what sort of nature the boy possessed. A rash one.

"Nope." Still, Adrian chose to be the bigger man and let this go. He simply replied before he turned around and resumed walking.

The black-haired boy was stunned at the swift reply but shouted again shortly, "How could you dishonor the name of a knight with a ridiculous duel like this? All you did was run."

Adrian stopped. Turned around and stared into the eyes of the boy for a moment before he spoke.

"First of all," He began in a completely serious voice, "I wasn't the one who ran during the duel. She did." Adrian pointed at Asmara who was being escorted out of the arena by her knight.

"Second, I am not a knight, you idiot! And third, why in the hell should I care?" He explained in a very calm but serious voice and asked after that.

The boy was speechless at the counters of Adrian. Technically, Adrian was correct in every aspect. He wasn't the one who ran during the whole duel. He didn't even move from his spot.

He also wasn't a knight but a royalty. However, the third point was wrong in the eyes of the others. There is a code of conduct during a battle and it must be kept. Adrian's method to win was cowardly.

The boy didn't reply but came down from the stands and made his way to the duel ground. 

He took off his glove and threw it at Adrian who caught it and looked at him questioningly.

"I, Allen Dimitri, challenge you to a duel." The black-haired boy named Allen shouted and announced.

Adrian on the other hand stayed still. Allen thought that he would get a reaction soon but even after five minutes, there was no reaction from Adrian. He hadn't even blinked.

"Are you going to answer or not?" He shouted angrily. Adrian nodded and replied, "I'm sorry. I was just thinking of the reason why the fu*k should I care and even after so much time, I haven't come up with one."

His reply again left Allen speechless along with many others in the arena. It made sense but again, it wasn't a code. If a duel is commenced, a knight, or anyone else, fights to uphold their honor.

So although Adrian had no reason to accept, he had to accept for his honor.

However, the people of this world were gravely mistaken. Adrian didn't care about honor in the first place.

"No." Adrian simply replied. The boy was now fuming with anger. He had never seen such a shameless warrior before. A warrior's honor was more important than anything else yet this shameless person was refusing to fight in the name of that honor.

"Do you have no honor at all?" Allen asked. Adrian made a face as if Allen was an idiot and replied, "How much of an idiot are you that you couldn't get it the first time? NO!"

He threw Allen's glove back at him which landed squarely in Allen's face. He turned and started leaving again when he heard a voice, "The name of the Lux cannot be questioned for honor. Fifth imperial prince, accept the duel."

Adrian turned to see the owner of this voice. He knew to whom this voice belonged to. The head elder of the Cortum empire, Zarden.

"With all due respect your lordship, I have no reason nor any obligation to accept." Adrian remained inconsistent. He wasn't budging so Zarden turned to Allen and said, "Although unreasonable, his argument makes sense. Do you have anything to offer for this duel, young man?"

Allen didn't reply. He knelt to the head elder but didn't reply. That was all he had to offer. Honor. He couldn't offer anything else.

"Kuhum, with all due respect your lordship, if I may?" A man from the noble's stands spoke. Everyone turned to look at him and saw a man who greatly resembled Allen. His father, everyone presumed.

"Speak Joseph." The head elder granted and Joseph said, "The Dimitri family offers its a-rank artifact to His Highness, the fifth imperial prince for this duel."

That was a reasonable offer. Or it should have been for many. With Dimitri's family having the rank of Earl in the noble's chain, they no doubt possessed an A rank artifact. However, they were offering it to an imperial prince. It is the same as assuming he can't afford one.

"No," Adrian replied, now fed up with this. He turned to look at Allen and said, "If you really want to fight me, then I have decided on the reward."

"What is that?" Allen asked hurriedly, afraid that Adrian would change his mind.

"Your head. I want your head." Allen was left speechless once again but this time, everyone else along with him. Adrian wasn't asking for Allen but for Allen's head. Even an idiot knew what that meant.

Allen was fearful for some time before a smile turned to his face and he said, "All right. But in turn, my family will be granted the title of a duke."

"Very well," Zarden spoke before Adrian could say anything.

"And the use of artifacts is allowed." Allen continued to state.

"Sure." Adrian simply replied. He didn't move from his spot but Allen did. He went to his father and took an artifact from him. The same A rank artifact that Joseph was offering a moment ago.

Adrian scoffed at this move of Allen. A minute ago Allen was yelling that he was unfair yet here he was, using an A rank artifact against a known F rank.

Everyone knew of the same fact but no one said anything. Ridiculing Adrian was a lifetime opportunity. If they ridicule Allen now, then it would be taking Adrian's side. It wouldn't be good if the other crown candidates saw that.

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'What is he doing?' Alicia thought as she saw the proceedings from far away.

She had heard that Adrian had returned so she went to see him. But before she could, he was called for the imperial court. After that, she decided to meet him the next day but the next thing she heard was a duel being held to annul his engagement with his fiancée.

She saw how he had overwhelmingly defeated Asmara by himself and also saw what happened after that.

However, throughout the battle, he didn't give the bad feeling he was giving now. He was annoyed. For some reason, she had a bad feeling welling up in her heart.

Although the odds were against Adrian because of the A rank artifact, the feeling in her heart wasn't lessening at all.

'I just hope he doesn't do anything bad.' She thought as she continued to see the events unfold.

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"What kind of a warrior isn't willing to fight for his honor?" Asmara mumbled when she had been taken to the arena stands by her knight.

Her knight on the other hand thought differently, 'Young miss, I'm sorry to not take your side on this but he is right.'

He was a man who had fought in a war. He knew the ugliness of life and how low people were willing to stoop to stay alive.

"Is he really going to fight against Allen? He is wielding an A rank artifact." Asmara commented next. Her knight wasn't focused on that though. His focus was on Adrian's eyes.

'The eyes of a killer.' That's what he saw in those eyes. Even he, who had seen the ugliness of war, couldn't help but shiver by the look in those eyes.

======

This is such a bull*hit. I mean, a man can't even have fun nowadays without fingers being pointed at him.

[You were toying with a girl]

'That's because I'm not a feminist. I'm a believer of true gender equality.'

[Is that your justification?]

'Oh, so you're judging me now?'

[…..]

'Okay, I admit it. I may have gone a bit too far, but then, what about him? He is using an A rank artifact just to fight me.'

[Then you can use many things better than that in the shop]

She had a good point. Besides, a knife in the hands of a child is only dangerous if his arms are long enough.

He may have an artifact and he can move it around but it's useless if he can't unlock its full potential because of his low rank.

If issues to life can be solved by wielding higher-ranking weapons, then Asmara would have used a higher-ranking artifact against me.

She didn't because it wouldn't have worked. And so wasn't this going to. For one, it is a defensive artifact, not an attack one. Second, he can't bring out its full potential. The most he can use it is around C rank and if he is compatible with it, then around B rank but that is the most of it.

The third and most important thing is logic. Logic further has two points. One, the strain on him would be quite heavy and second, it is an armor. Armors have weak points. And against an opponent like me, the last point was exploitable.

"Get ready," Allen shouted from the other side. He was quite far away from me. No doubt trying to stay out of my magic bullet range.

I nodded and conjured up a hundred magic bullets. The glowing shining beads floated around me while I waited for him to make the first move as he waited for me.

Another thing I intended to exploit was his patience. He was young and dumb. If he has patience more than I do, then it's an insult.

We waited, waited and waited. His expression changed many times during this wait but mine didn't change even once. I still had my mocking smile on.

"Are you not coming, you coward?" The nerve of this guy. Well, it's okay I guess. He going to die anyway.

"No." I simply replied. He heard and processed my reply for a few seconds before he yelled loudly and started running towards me.

[Young and dumb indeed]

'Indeed.' I replied as I shot fifty bullets at once at him.