Hours later, Asher rode into the paladin camp, his horse’s hooves crunching softly against the frost-covered ground. Around him, paladins were busy doing one thing or the other, but their movements stopped as their attention turned to the group of 240 men trailing behind him.
These newcomers were veteran knights from Winter Stronghold, yet the expression of the paladins who had their arms crossed made it clear that they considered these knights too weak.
A few knights felt offended at the silent judgement, but their irritation faltered when they saw Levi enter the camp, dragging an enormous pile of tree trunks behind him effortlessly.
“Is… he a human? Beast? A minotaur, maybe?” one knight murmured, wide-eyed.
Asher’s eyes flickered at the comment. It reminded him of the discussion he’d had with Lord Winter before departing the stronghold. Apparently, they had discovered another human stronghold but it was smaller than theirs and was plunged by a serious issue.
A beast problem.
Although the old man had wanted to elaborate, Asher had insisted on waiting until he had trained his men first. That stronghold wasn’t his priority. His priority was making sure these 300 were upgraded to advanced-level paladins and preparing them to face the Edomites.
As the paladins and the knights exchanged brief introductions, their conversations cautious and laced with curiosity, Asher’s voice rang.
“Eat and rest. Training begins at nightfall.”
His words were like a boulder on the knight’s ears while the paladins, who were already used to Asher’s cruelty, walked toward their respective tents to fetch their meal bowls.
“Move, or starve,” Moses said with a frown, making some knights feel apprehensive. “Did you think we defeated the rat beastmen with the kind of weak training you receive in the stronghold? Humph!” He snorted in disdain.
Simon shook his head at Moses’s antics as he dismounted and led the 240 men to change their attire. Previously they wore thick fur clothes but by the time they changed to the sleeveless leather vest and grabbed their weapons, these veteran knights were shivering.
“You must learn to regulate your battle force to keep your internal system warm, or you’ll freeze to death,” Simon said sharply, his words like a hammer driving out their inadequacy.
He led the knights to the meal distribution area, where wooden bowls and spoons could be seen flying in the air in an almost choreographed manner.
Cynthia was behind the efficient chaos, handing out bowls filled with steaming hot meat soup to the 240. They joined the 60 paladins already seated, halfway through their meals.
The paladins were even bantering yet their eating speed marveled the knights. Some knights felt ashamed of their muscles when they saw how streamlined the paladin’s muscles were.
Although the muscles of the paladins’ were not as bulky as some other knights, they could feel the raw power pulsing within those tight muscles with deep contours, every proudly worn scar a testament to their hardened training.
The knights ate in subdued silence, their pride chipped away by the stark difference between them and the paladins.
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Seeing the paladins eat their steaming hot meal without being bothered about the cold made Eleazar, a young knight with an outstanding record and a promising future to become a captain, realized that though he had thought of himself as exceptional in the stronghold, he knew nothing.
The young knight had short braids caressing his handsome pale-skinned face and sharp yellow eyes. After scanning the group, he identified Levi, Simon and Moses as the strongest but his eyes trailed to the location of the man who sat on a long table all by himself.
And by the man’s side sat Cynthia.
‘Is she his woman?’ Eleazar wondered as he gazed at Cynthia, unable to suppress his thoughts.
Her looks were definitely above that of the girls he had seen in the stronghold and according to him, it wasn’t surprising for a man like Asher to have her by his side.
As if sensing his gaze, Asher looked up and met his gaze.
The very moment their eyes met, Eleazar shuddered and quickly looked away. ‘What… what was that feeling?!’
Asher rose up, turned on his heel and walked away without a word. Moses, Simon and Cynthia followed close behind. Before the knights knew it, one by one, the paladins began to leave as well. Some knights hurriedly gulped down their soup, scrambling to follow so that they wouldn’t be left behind. Eleazar was the first among them!
He didn’t even want to imagine what it would be like to be punished by a man like Asher.
_____
Flick!
Eleazar’s eyes shot open. He didn’t know who flicked his forehead but it hurt like a bee sting! Anger flared as he stormed out of the tent, only to find Moses waiting outside, two spears resting in his hands.
“You’re the last to come out,” Moses said, his tone sharp.
Eleazar quickly gave a deep bow before lifting up his head. “I apologize.”
Moses raised an eyebrow. “Unfortunately, it means you will be taking down two trees today.”
Eleazar didn’t understand what he meant until the training began. No matter how hard he pushed himself, his strength kept failing. As time ticked by, the others had finished their tasks and returned to camp, leaving him behind. Alone, he kept stabbing the tree relentlessly, his breath ragged and his muscles screaming.
While panting heavily, frustration boiled over in him.
“Argh!” Eleazar billowed, his anger surging like a tidal wave. Suddenly, the spot he had been stabbing caved inward, as though a massive invisible hand had crushed it.
Boom!
The tree fell with a deafening crash.
[Name: Eleazar
Age: 31
Rank: Half-step Diamond
Talent: Kinetic Hoplite (SSS)
Job: Recruit
Loyalty: 65]
[Talent Description: A Kinetic Hoplite harnesses the boundless power of the mind which is as deep as a bottomless well. This ability grants the host the ability to destroy, move, lift and manipulate their surroundings with sheer mental force.
Warning: This supreme-level talent has a destructive side effect where the host could damage his brain or become insane after experiencing volatile emotions.]
In the shadows, a man observed silently. This information flashed across his retina, but his gaze stayed fixed on Eleazar, who had moved on to his second tree and began to stab it despite the pains wracking his body.
His sheer determination stirred something in Asher. It reminded him of his younger self.
‘Did Boundless eventually break me?’ Asher wondered, his pupils narrowing. He continued watching until Eleazar finally brought down the second tree and staggered back toward the camp, exhausted.
Unfortunately, he collapsed mid-way.
That was when Asher emerged from the shadows and approached the fallen soldier. Without a word, he lifted Eleazar and carried him back to the camp. Returning to the training ground, he paused, noticing the blood drops staining the grass. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Eleazar truly had an iron will.
_____
Leaning back against a tree, Asher gazed up at the starless sky. “Athantos, the immortal Ragnarok,” he murmured. “No wonder he named his empire the Eternal Immortal Empire. His talent makes him immortal and his ambition is to live forever. However, God is not a fool.”
Asher glanced at his hand, where ice formed a transparent gauntlet over his palm. “Anathantos can be killed by his brothers—especially by me and Ilios. I guess that’s why he eliminated me. Ilios and I are elemental; our bodies are no match for Aniketos and Athanatos. Still, I don’t know why it seems like my brothers, Athanatos and Aniketos are in cahoots against Ilios.”
Asher sighed, his breath clouding the cold night air.