Chapter 474 Disrespect Me?
A dozen men stood seething with anger, yet none dared charge forward recklessly.
"Mr. Reyes, James is at his limit now. His show of strength is merely a façade," Terrence whispered to Orval. He was certain that after the battle with Dane, James had little strength remaining.
Orval lifted his chin, eyes flashing with murderous intent. "James, out of respect for Ms. Hawthorne and the others, kneel and surrender. I'll take you back to Lumaria for judgment and spare your life today." His voice hardened. "Otherwise, you'll never leave Maple Hill alive."
He had initially planned to dismember James, but suddenly realized he needed someone to answer for Dane's death.
A new plan formed in his mind—bring James back to Lumaria and force him to publicly confess to scheming against Dane. This way, Dane's defeat wouldn't be Lumaria's shame, but rather Celestia's disgrace.
"James, surrender now!" Terrence chimed in. "When Mr. Reyes gets angry, the consequences are severe."
Tessa and her companions watched James coldly, waiting for him to kneel and beg for mercy.
"James, you won't surrender? Do you truly wish to fight me?" Orval bellowed. "Though your strange Lightness Skill surprised me, you're injured now. You're no match for us."
James fixed his gaze on Orval and smiled. "I admit I'm injured, but dealing with you is still well within my capabilities." He gestured for Francis to stay back, signaling he could handle this alone.
"How childish!" Seeing James's confidence, Orval's voice deepened as he made a hand signal.
The surrounding forest erupted with movement. Dozens of trees trembled as eighteen shadowy figures appeared.
Dressed in black with masks covering their faces, they moved like bats, closing in with practiced speed and perfect coordination. Within moments, they reached the edge of the forest, hanging from branches and staring coldly at James, each holding a blackened katana.
"Ninjas?" James narrowed his eyes. "You're truly determined to see me dead today, aren't you? Why else would you bring ninjas?"
Tessa and her companions gasped in surprise. Their conviction that James was doomed only strengthened.
Ninjas also possessed the mysterious Lightness Skill—with so many attacking at once, James couldn't possibly defend himself.
"Kneel if you want to live," Orval commanded again. "Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
"Who gave you the courage to speak those words?"
A white figure flashed through everyone's vision. In the next instant, a middle-aged man in white robes descended gracefully, landing beside James like a deity stepping down from heaven.
With hands clasped behind his back, he coldly surveyed the scene.
"All of you—break one hand yourselves and get out of here," he ordered.
"Lancelot?" Terrence, who had been waiting to reap the benefits of others' conflict, hurriedly stood to greet him.
Over a dozen Mystic Alliance members tensed, nervously stepping forward. "Greetings, Lancelot."
Lancelot ignored them completely, reaching out only to wipe the blood from James's face. James's spirit relaxed as he exhaled deeply, though he remained silent.
Tessa's delicate face changed slightly as she forced a smile. "Lancelot, it's been a while. Why have you come personally?"
Orval and his people maintained their vigilance, their gazes sharp as they assessed Lancelot. Many Lumaria members had heard of Lancelot's reputation and prowess, but few had seen him in person or witnessed his abilities.
This was Orval's first encounter, and despite knowing Lancelot was extraordinary, the sight of his thin, seemingly frail form caused Orval to raise his chin defiantly.
"Lose a hand?" he snorted. "I have no such hobby."
Lancelot spoke softly, "Then two hands."
"Lancelot, I know your reputation and understand your status, but we're not easily bullied," Orval's anger flared. "If you hand James over to us, we'll continue to address you as Lancelot. But if you insist on interfering, don't blame us for disrespecting you."
With dozens of fighters at his disposal, his confidence was high.
Lancelot smiled. "Disrespect me?"
Suddenly, Lancelot stomped his foot, releasing a violent surge of qi that exploded outward. The ground within a radius of over ten meters shattered completely. Sand and stones flew through the air, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
More than a dozen trees around them snapped. The eighteen ninjas fell like birds shot from the sky. Upon hitting the ground, none rose again—each had been pierced by flying stone shards, leaving bloody holes in their bodies.
At that same moment, Orval and his people felt their legs give way, forcing them to kneel. It wasn't by choice—Lancelot's aura pressed down like countless mountains. They couldn't withstand it.
Such terrifying power.
Orval's face instantly drained of color as cold sweat poured down his back. This display left Terrence and his group dry-mouthed with shock.
Tessa and the other women covered their mouths to stifle their screams, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Orval was a mid-level peak master! Yet now he knelt uncontrollably before Lancelot, stripped of all dignity befitting a master of his generation. Had Lancelot truly reached such heights?
Tessa, witnessing Lancelot's abilities for the first time, finally shed her usual arrogance. Not only her bodyguards, but even the gang members she knew would struggle to match Lancelot's strength.
James felt his scalp tingle. Though he had tried to estimate Lancelot's true power, he realized he had still underestimated him.
Clearly, during their martial exchange at Rosewood City's martial hall, Lancelot had been holding back considerably.
With hands behind his back, Lancelot looked down at Orval. "Tell me, how do you intend to disrespect me?"
"I'm sorry, Lancelot," Orval struggled to speak. "I've offended you. Please forgive me—we'll leave immediately."
He had assumed he might not be Lancelot's match, but never imagined the gap would be so vast. Only now did he truly comprehend that the distance between himself and Lancelot was a chasm he could never bridge in his lifetime.
"Too late." Lancelot coldly snorted, then stomped his left foot again.
Stone fragments exploded outward like deadly projectiles. In an instant, more than a dozen Dane faction members perished!
A chill rose in the chests of Tessa and her companions. They had seen death before, but Lancelot's methods were bone-chilling—so casual, so cold, as if he had merely crushed a few ants.
Orval's eyelids twitched as he realized he would not leave here alive. Instinctively, he looked toward Tessa.
Tessa's breathing quickened, but she ultimately steeled herself to step forward. After all, she frequently traveled between Lumaria Martial practices. "Lancelot, we're all connected by thin bonds—perhaps we should show restraint..."
Lancelot's hand flashed out, striking her with a resounding slap. "Did I give you permission to speak?"
Tessa flew backward, her face swelling from the blow. Though furious and humiliated, she did not cry out in pain.
Terrence, who had been about to offer his own plea, immediately closed his mouth.
Lancelot turned back to Orval. "Break both your hands, and I'll spare your life."
Sensing the deadly threat, Orval gritted his teeth, rose to his feet, and forcefully broke both his arms. Blood pooled on the ground.
Tessa and her companions felt a chill spread through their bodies as they witnessed Lancelot's ruthless dominance.
"Go back and tell Stefan Hensley and the others..." Lancelot walked to Orval and spoke dispassionately. "Six months from now, Mystic Alliance's Chairman Kirk will accompany First Envoy James to challenge Lumaria's Ten Prodigies."
His voice carried absolute certainty. "In Dane's words: they will determine not only victory and defeat, but life and death."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
