Chapter 120: Azure Vs Gold (1)

"The Princess is in trouble!"

Currently, at the top most level of the tower, a woman with almond shaped eyes sat on a throne. Her eyes were like that of a phoenix, enough to lure you in if you stare for too long.

Even Princess Sofia herself could not be mesmerized by the woman sitting on the throne in front of her.

Azurite Paladin was the same, but he was too distracted by the fourteen people that were lined up on their side. Seven on the left, and seven on the right.

Like the eerily beautiful woman that was sitting on the throne, they too were wearing golden robes. So, these are the people they call Elders? Odd, he thought. Some of them don't even look old. Even their leader, the Matriarch, did not look past a day over 30.

"Greetings, Matriarch"

Azurite Paladin's thoughts were interrupted by Princess Sofia's voice. She curtsied as she introduced herself to the Matriarch.

"My name is Sofia, oldest daughter of King Leon", she then looked at Azurite, "This is my companion, a gold rank adventurer called Azurite Paladin"

"We have come here to offer you to join the United Allied Forces"

"To seek alliance?", the Matriarch rested her cheek on her hand, "Not to submit?"

"You have to understand, Matriarch", Princess Sofia fixed her spectacles, "The Kingdom is already showing you face by sending me, the oldest princess, to personally to send the message"

"I see...", the Matriarch's pink lips slightly curved, "But one could also look at it another way, don't you think?"

Princess Sofia furrowed her eyebrows, "What do you mean, Matriarch?"

"You are this country's strongest mage, are you not?", the Matriarch chuckled, "So, if you think about it, the Kingdom sent its strongest mage"

"I am afraid you give me too much credit", Princess Sofia smiled.

"And I was in the impression that you were to submit?", the Matriarch slightly leaned forward, "At least that is what my guards said"

"It was the only way you would have met with us, Matriarch", Princess Sofia sighed, "For that, you have our sincere apologies"

"Cunning too…", the Matriarch then slowly stood up, her long black hair flowing with her golden robes, "And here I thought…

...that you were here for the child of the Lord of Burgerstatter"

Hearing this, Azurite Paladin quickly readied himself as he looked back and forth at the Elders that were lined up on each side of them.

"What child?", Princess Sofia, however, was still calm as she smiled and fixed her spectacles.

"What child indeed"

"Ack, I used to be able to talk to horses"

A short distance away from the tower, Viel was brushing the body of the horses. "...or maybe that was you talking, Mr. Voice? Nyahah-"

*BOOM*

Viel's laughter was interrupted by a loud thunder coming from the top of the tower. He quickly looked up, only to see Sofia up in her bubble, literally.

"Oh? Sofia?", Viel tilted his head, "Hmm… I swear this happened before"

As soon as he said that, another explosion reverberated in the sky as another silhouette came out of the tower. It was someone draped in golden clothes, glimmering the reflection of the moon.

"Something like this definitely happened before", Viel place his hand on his chin as the memories of Xing Cai fighting the Golden… Insect resurfaced in his mind. He already forgot the name of the flying beast that she was fighting.

"I guess this means it is time for me to go in?"

Viel said as he patted the horse that he has been brushing for a while now for one last time.

He then casually walked towards the main door of the tower. It would seem that there were no longer any men guarding the huge door, as all of them went inside when they heard the loud explosions that erupted from the top of the tower.

"Another huge door…", Viel could not help but groan as he stared at the door in front of him.

"I guess I will use my new magic", he said as he pressed his hands on the huge door.

"Unlock Door!", as soon as he casted his… magic, cracks started to appear at where the rivets of the huge door were attached. And soon, the door heavily slammed to the ground, creating a sort of wave in the air, causing Viel's long golden hair to wave as his arms were still stretched out from… casting his magic.

Viel casually entered the tower, looking up as if trying to find something.

[Rain: X-ray Vision]

"Ah, it's not blurry anymore", Viel blinked a few times, "Ah! There's Miss Emi. They seem safe, but where's baby Zachary?"

"I still can't see the blue guy, I should go to him first", Viel sighed.

"W-what happened to the door!?"

Some of the guards were alerted by the sound of the door slamming on the ground. They then quickly unsheathed their weapons as soon as they saw Viel stepping on it.

"Oh, this?", Viel looked at the door beneath him,

"I don't know. It was like this when I got here"

"Damn it!", although they were safe for now, Emi still could not help but click her tongue in frustration.

The elf tried to check if the seal could be broken by the key they currently have. But it would seem the door was locked by a different kind of magic.

"It's… a magic I have not seen before", whispered the elf, "Like it's…"

"From another world?", Emi continued the elf's sentence. She was also fidgeting with the door's rivets, maybe if they could remove them, they may be able to get out. Although she has not been successful in taking out even one, it was better than doing nothing.

The elf once again examined the magic that was used to lock the door, but alas, he could not even begin to identify it.

"I thought we have a man in the inside", the elf clicked his tongue, "Humans really are not to be trusted"

Hearing this, Emi could not help but groan and roll her eyes, "Just help me instead of gloating about which race is more nasty. I am sure our race both have their fair share of awful people"

The elf scoffed one last time before finally helping Emi with the rivets.

Emi could only hope that her baby was alright. They worried about the Princess too, not knowing that all hell was already breaking loose outside their room.

***

While Princess Sofia was fighting with the Matriarch, Azurite Paladin was currently in a dire situation. He could not help but sweat a little bit as he was surrounded by the fourteen elders in a circle.

"They say he is one of the strongest adventurers of this country", one of the Elders spoke.

"Curious. I have never fought a Gold Rank adventurer before"

"Want to fight him one on one?"

The Elders were discussing casually, looking at Azurite as if he was just a toy to play with. But this was good, if they fought him all at the same time, Azurite was sure that he would not last long.

"Come then", Azurite taunted, "Whether you fight me one by one, or all at once, the only outcome that will change is the time"

"Tch. I like you already", It was a woman who stepped in first.

The female elder casually approached Azurite. She then bowed towards him and put up a stance. And as soon as she did so, a sword suddenly appeared on her right hand, and on her left, a shield.

Azurite was shocked with the sudden appearance of the weapon, but of course, he did not let it show on his face so as to not show weakness.

"Oh, you don't have a weapon?", the female Elder grinned.

"It is fine", Azurite replied, "I can just take yours when I defeat you"

"You!", the female Elder quickly rushed towards Azurite. Her style was similar to Xing Cai, but her attacks were more aggressive.

Azurite was able to dodge the first few attacks, however, the female Elder suddenly slammed her shield towards Azurite, making him lose balance.

The female Elder took this chance to swiftly slash towards Azurite's body. But as she did so, a clanging sound resounded, vibrating in the air.

Azurite's cloak was ripped in half, slowly swaying to the ground.

"What!?"

With his cloak gone, a blue shimmer covered the entire room as the moonlight fully reflected on Azurite's armor.

His armor had scales on it, and if one were to look closer, one can see a sort of icy flame inside them, it was as if the night sky itself was in his armor.

And on his waist, was a helmet. The guards below did not really take notice of the helmet since it was not a weapon. It also did not help that the one they were inspecting was the Princess of the Kingdom, causing the guards not to confiscate it.

Azurite then slowly grabbed the helmet that was hanging on his waist and proceeded to wear it.

And as if to complete the blue scaled shining armor he was wearing, his helmet was also azure of color, with a pair of black horns adorning it on the sides.

"Well then…" he said,

"All that is left is your weapon, although I would have prepared it better in blue"