Forward! My First Conquest. (Part 3)

"This is it, Dark Spawn! You have nowhere to run!"

Surrounded in all sides in quite a magnificent hall by towering pillars and Sentinels in red complimenting the crimson theme this palace provides. Diverse kinds of monsters circle us both as I wonder what to do and realize they seem to be hesitant. Taking this chance, I start asking:

"Just to make sure, is this what your King wants?"

"We Sentinels need not permission on ridding this world of its taint. Is that your last squel dark spawn?"

The sentinel leader raise her arm and all the other sentinels and servants wielding weapons steadily takes their stance.

(It's just fight, affer fight, and now that I finally get to talk, it just ended in more fights. What... What is the point of my method of talking first if they're so unreasonable? Or maybe is this just me?)

*Hug*

Heon who seem to be in the height of his anxiety clings to me very tightly as I pat his head trying to calm him down asking:

"Heon, can you help me with what to say?"

"H-Huh?"

"Like what kind of heinous stuff do people say to make them fully fear? Or something along those lines."

Maybe because he is in full trepidation of his own situtation, he clench tightly to my robe shouting:

"Just fight back first!"

"Kill it!"

Alongside the sentinel leader, they both scream their intent. The surrounding sentinels and servants launch their assault

*Sigh*

"So much for a Cooperation. But I'm serious, anything comes to mind?"

"Aaah! Just say something like even a carp can bite back when its cornered!"

"Oh, good one."

Trying to remember a spell, I hope to not use my original technique so that I don't destroy the whole mountain. In the midst of my thought, the Sentinels start raining down spells and arrows. I embrace Heon close remebering,

(Um, what was that spell I use against Iseon?)

"Gwishin nim..!"

Heon tries to dodge but I hug him closer and barely make him dodge an incoming dagger before shouting:

"[Lordow Eresfer]"

A magic circle appear below me and a thick purple sphere emerge blowing the projectiles away, dispersing the spells coming our way as well.

"W-Woah! What magic is that!?"

As I cast that spell, I gain a similar epiphany when I was collecting spells. Let's see what it does.

"[Ignoy Ratsar]"

As I cast that spell, I felt my whole body is being drain as a gigantic circle form beneath us that went further beyond the castle's gate. Shining bright with dark purple glow, I instinctively raise my hand up as the magic circle below us then flood everything in a purple glow.

(Ah, its a connecting spell).

"[Edir]"

*RUMBLE* *Crack* *Crack*

"Aaah!", "W-What's happening!", "I-I can't see!", "Captain! Captaiiin!", "Roooar!", "I-I can't feel the ground! Where is it taking us!", "Uwaah! Heelp!", "Whimper", "Oh! Harihwata! Save us!", "I-I can't move properly! What is happening!"

(I hope its not too bad, but drom the way they scream it seems like it is).

I feel the fround beneath me start to feel loose while all I can see is simply the blinding purple light and sillhouters of things rising above. I then bring hand down shouting:

"[Lawel]"

*CRUMBLE* *Crash* *RUMBLE*

Soon the light starts to fade and I realize what that spell did as the ground beneath us collapse. High above the night sky, pillars, walls, and what seems to be the castle debris floating up and dismantled. From the walls, pillars, floor, furniture, lightsource, and other decoration comes tumbling down like heavy rain.

"Aaaaah! Run, Gwishin nim! Ruuun!"

Rather than running down, I decided to run up towards the part of tje palace that is still intact while the Sentinel and servants who got pick up by my spell starts fallong down. Those with flying monsters easily regain their balance and is rushing to catch those that are falling, and so am I.

As I run up, I grab ahold of multiple people and throw them up at the intact floor of the palace, from servants, sentinels, and even the monsters they ride before. Reaching the top, most of the servants who survive quickly crawl or run away at my sight. Screaming and shouting in fear as I turn around and ignore them.

*Rumble* *Crash* *Smash*

From the large impact, my spell seem to cause a landslide and destroyed the whole part of the building from the bottoms up. The massive debri crash into an open field between the city and only stops when it hits the walls sepearating the estate.

(What have I done?)

"Y-You truly are the Gwishin! Absolutely ruthless!"

"I still have no idea what this Gwishin deal is."

*Step* *Step* *Step*

"W-What is the meaning of this!?"

Hearing a familiar voice, I turn around to see the King and his entourage. Accompanied by the fleeing Sentinels servants, and from my senses I can pick up huge movements closing in on the palace. I can feel the King's gaze upon me as he anticipated for my answer while the group slowly surrounding me prepares for another attack.

Under the bright moonlight and sound of panic erupting from the glistening city below, I put Heon down and look back at the King simply replying:

"Sorry, it was simply self defense."

"What..."

I raise my hand as if answering a question during lessons and continue saying:

"I can't help it when all of your people keep attacking both of us. I still wish to live after all. Even a carp will bite back when its cornered."

" "....." "

The King and the entourage behind him could only look in disbelief at my answers before the sentinel leader flies close to us shouting:

"This is it! We have our King with us! We shall banish this darkness-"

"Enough!"

*lift* *smash*

Lord Kagan lifts a pillar and throw it towards the singking cliff, smashing it and stopping everyone from moving.

"M-My Lord-"

"Be quiet and disengage! That's a decree!"

The King shouts and holds his face in distress. The sentinels and servants hearing him look at each other before finally lowering their weapons. The King walks closer to me before saying:

"I can't believe I have to say this out loud but... DON'T MURDER OUR FUCKING GUESTS!!!! DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND!!!????"

*BOOM*

His sudden explosive vocal cord strikes everyone into fear and might be even more eruptive than the recent landslide. Both Sentinels and servants fell to their knees in shock from his oppresive anger before he walks closer to me saying:

"You... Look different."

"Yea, we were really dirty. And it was a very nice bath."

With a face that looks like he is done with everything, he turns around saying:

"Fine, follow me, I will give you your good news."

"My lord!"

"What are you saying!?"

"Aren't we still in the middle of-"

"Be Quiet!"

*Stomp*

He stomps his feet and quake the ground beneath him and I can only wonder if that will cause another landslide.

"Don't you all understand? We can't afford to have another "accident". We're running on a deficit maintaining our facilities and armies, and now we couldn't even spare any resource to even fix this mess! Like I said in the beginning, if anyone of you aren't willing to send yourself to an early graves than get back to your mudhuds! All of you are Dismissed!"

The King storm out of the broken hall wil thunderous steps and a oppresive aura, leaving behind the tribe leaders with lowered gaze as we silently follow behind him.

(I wonder if that is a right thing to say?)

*************************************

*Crumble* *Crumble*

Back at the throne room but now wven more destroyed and broken beyond recognition, I sit back down at my previous place aa the King prepares his scroll upon the broken table that still manage to stand despite split in half. With very few of his... Vassals right behind him waiting for his words under this crumbling palace, we have been sitting quietly for a while. The King doing his best to hold his head from falling to distress breaks the silence saying:

"Forgive our lack of hospitality but as you can see, I can't exactly afford a good reception. Now onto our buseniss..."

The King procure a scroll near him and unfold it at the broken table saying:

"By my authoriy as the new King of Wenju, I shall agree to whatever your demand will be as long as it is reasonable. In return, I do hope you make sure the Ancients keep their promise for supplies and much needed necessities."

"Of course! But... I guess that's not all?"

"You catch on quick. As much as those supplies may arrive, if the spirit of our people are broken, it will all be for naught. Wenju, as long as that city falls under the invader's hands, our people will never rise above."

"Sorry if this sound rude, but is that city really that important? So much so it can cause such suffering?"

The King gestures at one of his vassal and he hands out a huge scroll before saying:

"Maybe for Heaven folk like you, it may seem insignificant especially compared to the mega complex megalopolis of Silla to our south. But for us, Wenju is our hometown, our birthplace, our santuary... And not only as symbol, it is also very vital and important stronghold that connects both the mountains alongside the North and South.

From a strategic and tactical prespective I'm sure that is more than enough reason is it not? It is not without reason many say that those who control Wenju controls the Peninsula."

(Really? That important?)

"I understand, its not that I'm against the idea. I'm just simply curious is all. Very well, it seems you want to take back Wenju and I assume you have a plan?"

The King unfolds his scroll to reveal a massive blueprint and map of what seems to be a city built inside a massive canyon. One glance is all it takes to realize what he's showing and if not for that, the massive word written above.

"So this is Wenju?"

"Woah, Gwishin nim, you can read? I don't remember words looking like this, is this the language of the mountain folk?"

"Uh, no, the words are outside the drawings."

"Oooh..."

"Haah, listen here, Wenju by itself is an impenetrable eternal fortress... If the people inside it is comptent."

(I-Is he calling the previous defenders stupid?)

As I wonder about that, the King points at the centre of the map where a massive word of palace is written saying:

"We have launched 2 massive assault trying to recapture our city and suffered massive casualties. The only reason for that is... Him."

"Who?"

His hand form into a fist as the tightening grip reverberates across the throne room before replying:

"Chwa-Kin, the 7 blades of Geom's King. He is strong, stronger than me, and I myself am a true peak Martial Artist. As long as he is there our chances look bleak... I could kill him by sacrificing myself but then it would be pointless if our people have no King..."

I nod along to the dire situation and felt a bit relief replying:

"I see... If that's all then I'll handle him."

"What?"

"Woah! Really Gwishin nim? Wait, seeing you defeat all those Hyungs and Noona, this will be easy!"

*smash*

"Dong't be foolish boy! He is an immortal, don't compare his strength as the same as plainsfolk! Even for the Gods of Heaven a True Peak Martial Artist are those that hold the sparks to shake the Order!"

"Awok!"

Heon bounce back in shock as I catch him and put him back in his place before calmly trying to say:

"Dong't worry King... Or should I call you Lord Kagan?"

The King's face twist as he hears my answer but he quickly answers:

"Hearing a dark spawn call your name is an irk and blasphemy but I'll make an exception in the honour of the Ancients. So call me by Lord Kagan, no formalities needed."

(Oh? That's nice).

"Alright then, Lord Kagan, if that's all he is I'm confident. And it is him alone I have to face right?"

Kagan nods confidently replying:

"Yes, after conquering Wenju, they have pulled back most of their forces including their air fleets. That's what prompt us to launch an attack in the first place."

"Good, if thing goes as planned I might not even raise my weapons."

"What do you mean?"

"Well I never said the Empress or Geom knows of my betrayal. So maybe I could persuade him out... But then again, I left my proof of identity back at Silla so forget about that. Not many of them know my face."

*Smash*

"Don't spout such useless drivel and waste our time! Fuuuh..."

"Haha, sorry, just a habit of mine. Now, is that really all I have to do? Beat a single martial artist? Are you confident in the next step?"

"Absolutely."

"Alright then, I can help but I have a 2 things I need first."

The King furrow his brows as he leans to keenly listen to my request replying:

"State it."

"First, I want some food, I'm hungry."

"... And the rest?"

"Simple, spar with me. If he really is on par with you, let me see the scope of it. Also, since my body just recovered I-"

*Rumble* *Boom* *Crash*

"Lord Kagan!"

"My King!"

"Kaaaw! (Chosen King!)

Hearing a familiar voice and seeing a familiar monster carrying 2 familiar beast-kin, they descend by breaching over the already brittle ceiling. The beautiful interior is now fully demolished as the fragile structure comes down. Kagan fury is resurface as the bright crimson glow coat his body as he sees his home reduced to rubble by his own subjects. He stands as his nerves looks like its about to pop shouting:

"Very well! I'll grant your request... OUTSIDE!!!"

*************************************

"Yum, yum...!"

With a sweet and sour aftertaste with a hint of something spicy like pepper lingering at my tastebuds, I start to feel back alive as I feel my belly filled by this foreign delicacies as I'm amazed by how the food can be so different by just being neighbours. Not only that, just as I predicted, I could feel my strength return as my muscle wrigles and tense all over me.

"I'm not the one to say this Gwishin nim, but are you sure you want to fight after eating? I mean even my Hyung agree that we need to rest a bit to digest."

"Yea, I'm more than ready... Actually bring me more of the drink please."

"You heard her, bring it Servant!"

"Uuu..."

A familiar rabbit-kin with stacks of headbumps slowly drag his feet forth with tray of cold water at Heon's call.

*sniff*

"Here..."

Presenting the clear refreshment with foreign fruits slices inside, I eagerly grab the drink and chug it all down and feel more of my fatigue wash away with a foreign sweet aftertaste.

"Royalty sure does have the best meals."

"That I agree, Gwishin nim!"

As I place the cup down, I look across this flat summit where the full moons reaches their peak. Sitting across is Kagan preparing for war. His servants brandishes his glaive while they slowly fitted him in his war gear. From his thick red greaves, lamellar plate, and pauldron, it looks like they're feeting in a machine instead. As I'm getting a familiar feeling of what kind of armour it was, his armour slowly rearrange and tighten around him as something open and encase his head with the shape of a Monster head with scales.

(Ah, I miss my armour).

I slowly enter the clear ring they make, and in response the King grabs the Glaive the servants polish and enters as well.

"Good luck, Gwishin nim!"

"Beat her Lord Kagan!"

"Show the Dark Spawn the stream to Arihwata,"

"Lord Kagan!"

"Victory to the King!"

The servants and his allies cheer for the king while only Heon is the one to cheer for me. As we reach the centre of this flat summit, I look up at Kagan as he spews steam and red flames over the gaps to his armour saying:

"Thanks for granting this request, and seeing how you arm yourself to the teeth, I'm glad you're not holding back."

"No, I have to thank you, Dark Spawn. If it wasn't for this I wouldn't have a viable cause to smah your head."

"Haha... You're joking right? I know I won't probably die but..."

I wait for an answer but all I get is but the heavy breathing and flames spewing from his crimson armour. Like a monter that has been casted by the deepest pits of flames, even his eye scokets burns bright with raging flames...

(I thought this peninsula is filled with water users but maybe I'm wrong).

Realizing that Kagan is holding himself back as he refuse to lift his weapon, I start to maybe give him a better opinion as he seems to be someone with integrity. I summon my halberd asking:

"Shall we?"

"I thought you never ask, hrrrgh!"

*Swing*

He starts by swinging his glaive down and the whole area erupted in a sea of flame as he turns light into day. Unlike the time I wear my armour, this searing pain I felt reminds me of my battle with Aoi back at Central. Despite all that, I grasp my halberd and swing back.

*Clang* *Smash*

The fire doesn't last long as it subsides to reveal my halberd that parried his glaive into the ground. Following the simple principle of spearmanship to parry, redirect, and now, strike!

*Swish* *Nick*

I swing my halberd upwards in an angle targeting the gap at his neck. Kagan twist his body back and dodge by a narrow margin as my halberd nicks at his helmet. Seeing the precarious situation in a few moves, I see him grit his teeth from the gaps at his visor and try to swing his halberd but,

*Stomp* *Swing* *Smash*

Before he could pull it out, I stomp the halberd down by its thick socket decoration, plunging it deeper to the ground and pulling him closer as he refuses to let his weapon go, I then swing my halberd down using the broad hammer toward the back of his head. Kagan dodges in time by pulling his head back, thanks to that I reach a wonderful stance saying,

"Clench tight."

*Vwooosh*

Expexting such a move, I pull my hips to gain a momentum towards my shoulders before the stength reaches my hands, I pull my arm back and clench into a fist, delivering a clean uppercut with my left fist.

*Pow* *Shatter*

My punch lift his feet off the ground and shatter the lower part of his helmet. Blood spurt from his lips as his head cocks back from such force. Everyone seeing such a quick resolution is completely flabbergasted and stunned with their moutha agape.

(Ah right, this should be a spar, maybe I shouldn't have ended it so quickly).

Seein his grip on his halberd, I wonder if I should catch him when his hand starts to twitch and grips the weapon tight. His mouth spew flames from the gaps as he grits his bloodied teeth and bent his head back while his whole body crackles.

(Oh...)

Seeing such blatant intentions, I quickly jump back before,

*Swing* *Rumble* *Boom*

Swinging his blade through the ground, he explodes ina such a grand way a huge crater appeared at the where we stand, wiping pretty much most of the field away.

(Hm... True Peak Martial Artist? Comapred to the wolf-kin... He's very underwhelming).

"Hahaha... How humiliating... Two moves... Hahaha...!"

*thump*

Something seems to awaken inside him as even without magic or qi, I can sense something growing inside him. It is even more apparent as everyone starts to pour cold sweat and shaking...

(Or maybe that's just the heat?)

*Boom*

Kagan explodes into flames as those flames starts to burn so bright it turns blue. His crimson armour changes hues as lightning sparks snap and strike around him. The blood on his lips dries and disintegrate as he snap his glaive in half. He takes something similar to a horse stance and spread his leg apart as well as his arms, flames spreads from one of his arms like a cloth before he laughs saying:

"Hahaha! It seems my weak will hold me back. Get ready for round two, Dark Spawn."

"I would prefer if you call me by name."

*leap*

He ignores me and leaps forward, like a slithering dragon he descends and I wonder what he is about to do, he throws the upper part of his glaive and I easily dodge. Switching the hand holding the lower part of the glaive, lightning sparks fron the tip before he swing the grip before he even reaches me. Realizing why as the lightning sparks went past me, I swing my halberd around and,

*pang* *bzzz*

Delfect the incoming upper glaive that is swinging behind me, remaining currents of that shock starts trickle out and shock me. While the effect is not massive, I start to feel numb on some part of my arm and fingers.

(This don't look good).

Gripping my halberd tight and making sure to keep my posture right, I ready myself as he soon gets close enough to swing his lower glaive turn mace with its pummel. He swing at an angle and I parry it away while noticing his upper glaive mow becomes a flying sword coming from the opposite direction. Besiege from multiple direction like frighting multiple opponents, I loosen my stance to allow a more versatile moves before parrying all his attack with a single swing.

*Tang* *Tang*

As his make-shift sword and mace got repelled back, I see him raise his leg and,

*swish*

Deliver a high kick, splitting his legs while standing as I'm force to do the same as he did and move back while electiric current flows uncontrollably around him, giving me painful shocks and burns from his flames.

(Woah! Is this what high level of lightning magic can do? I'm surprised Seyong didn't spread so much or even any voltage with his spells when we fought before).

*ignite*

(Oh...)

*boom*

Leaping back as his body explodes in a large blue flames, I leap further back to get away from the explosion before I notice a silhoute coming out of the flames. Like a blue wick dancing amidst red expanse, that's when I notice,

(Is he dancing?)

Seeing a pattern from his step, he grabs both his weapons and,

"Blue Dragon Star Ocean technique, Ignition path, Star Wave strides!"

(Dragon technique!?)

I could see the flames sparkle like stars as he then swings the weapons like waves in the shape of talons.

*clang*

I raise my halberd in time but,

*pang*

A single strike pushes my halberd away as I realize how heavy his strike really is.

(Me and my donut mouth, this guy is much stronger than that wolf-kin! I suppose I should expect that much from someone who seem to be hunting Monster King Vassals).

Ignoring the zaps and burns from the small spills, I raise my weapon back up and block one strike after another.

(His strike is strong, but I have grown stronger as well!)

Dodging his kicks that shatters the floor beneath and cuts the air, I calmly asses the situation and try to look for an opening. Everytime he swings, he leaves behind a ring of fire while his steps calls upon thunder. Fighting near him right now is like standing near a natural disaster, and just like a natural disaster the eye of the storm is relatively calm.

*Grab* *bzzz*

As he over extend his arms amd leg to strike, I move in closer and grab him by the opening I made. With the lower half of his helmet gone, his neck is expose and I take that opportunity to grab him by the neck. With his limbs over extended, he can't react in time with o ly his one leg before I grab him, my fingers burns as the electric current shock me but I turn my halberd into a sword and let the tip touch his neck saying:

"My win."

He disperse his flames and lightning to look down on me with gleaming crimson eyes saying:

"Hmph! To jump into the fire despite being a monster King Vessel. Your foolishness is incompressible."

(Oh, so the dark spawn really is a MK vessel. If the King is saying it then there's no doubt).

*Smack*

He smacks my hand and walk away to make some distance. As he takes his dance stance again, before he could speak, I disperse my halberd away and raise my arms saying:

"I surrender, if you want another round maybe next time. I think I have enough for tonight."

"Huh!?"

My words seems to have shock the King and not only him but the spectators as well as they seem baffled by my actions.

"Sorry, but I have already reach my limits for now."

His flames has burn away my sleeves and the outer layers of my robe while my body finally succumb to the shocks. I find myself unable to move my arms much and I can't seem to even bend or twist my body around as all I can feel is naught but tinglings and pain.

"What's the meaning of this? I know you haven't even use everything you have. Like that mysterious magic."

I raise my hand half way and fan away saying:

"Haha, that's not safe with people around. I'm only trying to check if my battle senses is still there... Also, I can guess you're not fighting fully as well right? There's no point in pushing each other too far."

(From his attacks, comapred to the close quarter techniques the wolf-kin uses that seem to counter everything I have, Kagan's technie looks like someone who takes distance to fight like a middle lane fighter who supports the frontline and rear. I guess that make sense if he need to fight Monster King Vassals in groups).

"Don't give such a pathethic excuse when you're the one who want this fight! The only one who decides when the battle is over are the opponents!"

*slam*

I try to weasle away from the fight, but Kagan furiously calls me out as I was about to walk back the King raises his sword (upper glaive) shouting:

"If you won't come, I'll strike first again. Prepare!"

He leaps towards me, swirling and flying as he u leashes his flames once more.

(Donut eat rabbits, he really want some blood don't he?)

"Fine, [Larie Nahxis]."

I turn around and cast the restrain spell which summon chains from underneath. This seem to caught him off guard as he slows down to swing at the chains trying to cut it off but,

*pang*

"What!? What sorcery is this!?"

The blades repels back from striking my chains as it then wraps around his arms, not giving up he throws the blade up and kicks it my way. Delivering a massive burning and electrocuting blade towards me in a terrifying speed. Not really being able to move my legs, I raise one hand and use the other to push it up, channeling my magic, I slap the blade and disintegrate it. Everyone looks in peril by my magic as I then point at the King still in the air and lower my arm saying:

"[Lawel]"

*drag* *Smash*

"Triple casting? Hrrrgh! I'm not done!"

A great force pushes Kagan down and smash him to the searing ground, like a prey falling to a pitfall. Since he seem to gain power with momentum and moving so much, then the best way to fight him is to simply immobalize him. Like hunting, the moment you lost your mobility and means to fight, you lost the hunt.

"My lord!"

"My King!"

"Lord Kagan!"

"Father!"

"Stay back!"

The people outside the ring tries to enter but Kagan shouts at them to stay.

"Hehe, I see, so an archmage and a martial master. I can see why you could survive for so long, especially when nobody could tell you apart from Owlians."

"So I win?"

"..."

"..."

"If you're not going to stop, I'm just going to leave you up here. Let's see your vassals get you out."

"Mighty brave of you to speak such drivel... Very well."

"YEAAAHHH!!! Suck that, mountain folk!"

Heon's loud cheer echo across the summit as he leaps towards me and hug me like a newborn mamaliara on a tree.

"Now you must know the real pecking order! Mwahahaha! Hail the new Hangong!"

(I guess its too much to ask of him to change in a single night).

I look down at the King who is still tied by my chains saying:

"Ignore him, and please escort us for real this time."

I release the chains and magic binding him and his vassals swarm to help him up. The King remove his helmet saying:

"Forgive my servants and it is all well... Harun!"

"Yes, fa- lord!"

A girl my age with long crimson hair similar to Kagan steps forth to greet him. Realizing that she was one of the few vassals that followed us when we discussed our plans, Kagan slowly gets up with the help of the Sentinels saying:

"I will leave this to you. Don't make the same mistakes."

"We obey!"

As the King walks away and leave the two of us, I look closely at the girl. Unlike the previous servant who seem to be a warrior cosplaying as a servant, she is a proper and prim lady through and trough. Her long smooth hair reaches her knees like a clear river, and her clothes are tied neat and tidy as she approaches silently eyeing me from top to bottom saying:

"Mhm... May your blessing be like a waterfall, my name's Harun, a Sentinel in training. I'll be your guide until fa- mhm! Lord Kagan says otherwise. Please cooperate and follow me."

(Alright, she doesn't seem hostile... I'm just going to refrain from any expectations).

The moon cross its peak as I carry the happy Heon following her.