Rasoul's Punishment (1)
The entire capital of the Sundance Kingdom was in turmoil. Out of the 2,700 individuals who ventured into the tomb, only 47 emerged alive. Moreover, the survivors were in dire straits, with some having lost limbs and bearing large wounds across their bodies. For an entire week, they remained unconscious
The heads of the families were on high alert, especially because the coveted legacy they had sent their best and brightest to retrieve was nowhere to be seen. After two weeks, some of the survivors regained consciousness and recounted the events inside the tomb to their respective family heads. Tragically, six heirs from various families representing Azulmar, Valenciennes, Everglade, and Eldoria kingdoms perished, along with the helpers and other cultivators who had entered with them.
Among Rasoul's slaves, only the two heirs from the Great families of Sundance and the seven heirs from the Porter kingdom managed to survive. Unfortunately, the other seven individuals who accompanied the Porter heirs did not make it out alive. This entire situation left everyone on edge, as no one could fathom how everything had gone awry.
The heads of the Sundance families were aware that something unexpected had occurred. For seven days straight, they tirelessly searched for Rasoul and his friends, but their efforts proved futile.
It was evident that Rasoul was the one who successfully cleared the trial, as all the heirs from various kingdoms were duly accounted for except them. The family heads of Sundance suspected that someone outside their circle had managed to accomplish this feat, and who else could it be but the very person they had attempted to assassinate?
Realizing that concealing the truth would only lead to repercussions, they began formulating plans on how to address this situation and deal with Rasoul.
In their usual meeting room, the seven heads of the great families gathered for an urgent and crucial discussion. The atmosphere in the room was charged with tension, and panic and fear were evident on their faces.
Breaking the silence, Old Charles voiced, "We've got to figure out a way to contain this mess; otherwise, we're in for some serious trouble when those three reappear. Chasing after them was a big mistake, considering they've done us no harm. And you know as well as I do, they've become quite a force now that they've got the legacy."
Old Xian, adopting a serious and apprehensive tone, inquired, "So, what's our move? It's not like we can go up against 27 great sages and come out unscathed."
Old Johnson responded, "We're left with no other option. We've blundered, but there's still a chance to fix this. We just need to get our hands dirty if we want to survive."
Old Charles turned his question to Old Johnson, asking, "What do you mean by getting our hands dirty?"
Old Johnson explained, "We're not the only ones who suffered from this expedition. There are others, and they would do anything to lay claim to the legacy, even if it means eliminating the one who obtained it."
"Are you suggesting we drag the other families into this?" Old Charles queried his tone a mix of intrigue and disappointment. "Involving them seems like a risky move. Their participation might reduce our chances of securing the legacy."
Old Johnson countered, "Come on, you know the legacy is a lost cause now. Even if we eliminate him, there's no way we can get our hands on it. Our focus should be on ensuring our family's survival. We missed our chance to neutralize them, and now they hold one of the most powerful 'Legacies' in the world."
Revealing his plan, he continued, "But there's a way we can achieve our goals without resorting to violence. We know they're close to Princess Vina, having braved a monster tide for her. Why don't we use the Princess to our advantage?"
"We could ally with other prominent families from kingdoms that harbor animosity toward our own. If we go head-to-head directly, our interference will be noticed by the King. However, by joining forces with these families, we can ensure they gain access to resources within our kingdom. Once we've captured the princess, we'll use her as a bargaining tool to extract the legacy from those three. The collaborating families get half of the legacy, and we secure the other half," proposed Old Johnson.
"I reckon this is a terrible notion. Going after the princess seems like the most perilous and senseless move. If things take a bad turn, and the king catches wind of our meddling, our entire families could be wiped out, and the public might revolt against us," expressed Old Moris with evident concern. He continued, "I believe we should pursue peace. They might entertain the idea, even if we have to grease the wheels with some forgiveness payments."
Old Johnson, his face showing disdain, retorted, "That's a spineless way of thinking, Moris. We all know the genuine value of that legacy, and we're hankering after it. Do you truly believe begging for forgiveness will cut it?"
"Call me a coward, but we're dealing with the princess here. And if that's not bad enough, you want us to cozy up to an enemy kingdom, all in the name of greed. Have you ever considered the broader implications?" Old Moris countered.
Old Johnson, maintaining his air of arrogance, retorted, "And what's your brilliant plan? Kneel and plead for mercy, knowing it's a long shot? We've already tried to wipe them out and came up short. They won't forgive us for that. Remember, we're the Seven Great Families. We don't beg; we just take what we desire. Those three are nothing more than lucky upstarts. Aligning with other kingdoms gives us the manpower to deal with those bothersome pests."
"Don't lose sight of the bigger picture, Old Moris. The moment we lay our hands on that legacy, we'll wield one of the mightiest forces the Kingdom has ever seen. We can even shape our own kingdom. Don't let your limited imagination blind you to the long-term benefits," he added with conviction.
"Old Moris, do you grasp the magnitude of power we'll wield with that legacy in our possession? Those three youngsters have stumbled upon it by chance, and frankly, they don't deserve it. If joining forces with the enemy is what it takes to rightfully claim what should be ours, then count me in. I won't cower, no matter the peril," declared Old Xian, steadfast in his resolve to take any risk for the coveted legacy.
"Old Xian's got a point; we can't let those nuisances run rampant without facing repercussions," added Old Cilas. The other family heads, except for Old Moris, nodded in agreement. They were resolute in their decision not to let Rasoul and his companions escape with the tomb's acquired legacy—a daring choice that could either secure their triumph or bury them forever if things took a turn for the worse.
"I can't fathom this. I refuse to be part of your foolhardy scheme. I won't let my family be obliterated because I couldn't accept defeat. Whatever you proceed to do, leave my name out of it," Old Moris declared, standing up and exiting.
"Cowards will always be cowards," remarked Old Johnson. "Now that we're all on the same page, which kingdoms should we approach?"
"Why not all of them? If we play our cards right, we can secure the legacy and sidestep any trouble with the Royal family," Old Charles suggested.
"I think that's the best course of action. The more force we amass, the greater our chances of reclaiming what rightfully belongs to us in the first place," added Old Johnson, the mastermind behind the entire scheme.
They've all been blinded by greed, failing to comprehend the potential repercussions their actions might unleash on them, their families, and the entire kingdom. Unbeknownst to them, adversaries lurk in the shadows, ready to bring down their kingdom, yet they're devising plans to invite trouble instead. Their decision to involve other kingdoms is a colossal blunder.
To compound the issue, they're targeting a beloved princess, likely the next in line for the throne. If the king catches wind of their involvement, their fate is sealed. Even if, by some miracle, the king pardons them, the public won't forgive. If only they realized the extent of the mess they were plunging into, they might have second-guessed their rash and foolish decision a million times over.
*****
Two months after the incident, Rasoul finally regained consciousness in an unfamiliar location. Following the completion of the trial, where they defeated the Sage Beast, Sabrat and Lara entered the final gate with Rasoul's unconscious body.
Without knowing what awaited them on the other side, they ventured forth and found themselves in this unknown place. Shortly after their arrival, 27 individuals welcomed them, providing food, shelter, and medicine. These individuals had been caring for them for the past two months, treating them kindly without any disturbance, only asking them to approach once Rasoul woke up.
For an entire month, Lara hadn't left Rasoul's side. She continuously utilized the crown to heal him, despite the toll it took on her own body. Sabrat attempted to persuade her to take care of herself, but she remained steadfast. It was only a few weeks ago after the system contacted her and assured her of Rasoul's recovery, that she finally relaxed and started venturing out a bit.
The system is distinct from most others that operate solely on command. It possesses its soul and personality, allowing it to analyze situations much like any human would. Decision-making for the system involves not just logic but also the inclusion of emotions, akin to a human with a sound mind. It assessed Lara's situation and intervened upon recognizing her distress. The system assured her that Rasoul would recover, and given Rasoul's prior communication about the system, it didn't take long to convince Lara.
"Yawn..." Rasoul yawned as he woke up. He stretched his body a little before attempting to rise from the bed but the system chimed in. Rasoul had initially read the quest details when the trial began, but it wasn't until he achieved the status of a grandmaster swordsman that he revisited them. During the battle with the Sage Beast, the system bombarded him with warning messages, but in his distracted state, he chose not to read them. However, the message displayed now left Rasoul's heart pounding, as if he had just completed a marathon.
[Host! You are fucked]