Eritrea averted her gaze from Iron Tooth to where her Lord lay, disbelief lurking in her eyes. “A…Asher…”
Iron Tooth pointed at Eritrea. “Restrain her. Now that my brother can’t claim her anymore, she will be my slave.”
He spoke to the fifty two-handed bronze-ranked axemen who were directly under his command. These were people Eritrea thought she would face alongside her Lord, but unknown to her, Iron Tooth had another talent more than the one that gave him an iron tooth; it was invisibility!
As she was about to engage them, Asher suddenly raised his hand and cleaned off the blood on his lips and chin.
Eritrea turned and saw him looking at the palm of his hand stained with his own blood.
“You’re still no…”
Iron Tooth froze as Asher slowly got to his feet. His actions were slow but terrifyingly calm and coordinated so much that it made goosebumps pop all over Iron Tooth’s body.
However, his body hairs stood on their ends when Asher lifted up his head, revealing his glowing, pure white eyes.
He began walking toward them. Walking changed to jogging, and the moment he grabbed his sword, he burst into full speed.
“Leave her, kill him!” Iron Tooth roared.
Asher saw dozens of bronze-ranked warriors filling the space between him and Iron Tooth.
Upon closing the gap, he lowered his body. A red light burst out of him, and he shot into the air, landing in their midst.
Before those around him could swing their swords, Asher had sliced them and gone for the next target. He was exceptionally fast.
Before Iron Tooth could create enough distance, Asher was standing in the center of his men, all of whom were slain.
His eyes trembled.
Once again, Asher burst into a hot chase, his eyes fixed on Iron Tooth. Even after slaying fifteen, his speed is still at its peak!
Iron Tooth took two one-handed axes and dashed toward Asher. He was tired of running from a little lad with a chin as smooth as a newborn’s bottom.
With a great leap, Asher’s knee slammed Iron Tooth’s jaws, launching him into the air. Still midair, Asher swung his sword with all his might and landed with a soft thud. He stood on his two feet while Iron Tooth fell, his eyes still wide open in shock.
Still, there was not a flicker in his ice cold expression.
Boom!
Sand and grass flew into the air, followed by a collusion with the rest of Iron Tooth’s men. The moment he met the first man, Asher swung his sword, and it cut the man’s axe into two! The second came from behind, but Asher spun round, cutting both him and the man whose weapon was destroyed.
Not even a second later, he kicked the damaged axe toward another warrior. It struck the warrior’s chest, and before he fell, he saw Asher’s white, chilly eyes in close range!
Thud!
He fell.
By the time Asher lowered his sword, forty-nine bronze-ranked axemen were slain. Only one remained, and he kneeled before Asher with his axe thrown away.
“I surrender.”
The man wept, praying that Asher wouldn’t strike him down.
“Lord, he’s unarmed.”
Asher heard Alec’s voice from behind.
“I know.”
Asher turned his head, and Alec saw those pure white eyes, glowing ever so softly, and the hairs on his neck stood up.
Asher blinked, and his eyes reverted to normal.
“Tie all those that surrendered. They’ll work in the mines.”
Alec nodded.
Asher walked past him. He noticed everyone, including his own men, was looking at him with fearful gazes; only Sirius was concerned. He could feel it through their bond.
“I’m okay.”
He rubbed Sirius’ fur as he went straight to the chief tent. When he was far from the eyes of his men, he muttered under his lips.
“I felt like Zenas.”
A gleam crossed his eyes.
He didn’t understand what happened, but in that state, he felt he could kill 100 silver-ranked and come out unhurt, but exhaustion and depleted stamina would be his death.
He was still a silver-ranked warrior and not a knight whose capacity had been boosted substantially. For a knight, a hundred silver-ranked warriors were no threat. But that was only true when the knight was properly armed.
Alex had the power to bring down all of Ashbourne’s forces, including his brother, not just because he is a gold-ranked knight but because he wore a set of gold-ranked armor.
…..
Some time later, Eritrea and Alec stood inside the tent, staring at their lord, who sat on the chief’s wooden chair.
They still couldn’t put away what they saw on the battlefield.
“My Lord!”
They had kneeled and bowed their heads.
“Rise.”
“Both of you have reached the requirement for me to upgrade you. But I didn’t see the chief you mentioned, Eritrea. So… Where is he?”
While Eritrea was bewildered by what he meant by upgrading them, she cleared her throat and replied, “He sent his sons so he should be in his tribe. They’ve sent many, almost all of his forces-”
“We’ll head there once the sun goes down.”
Asher interrupted her with a firm response.
Eritrea smirked. “As you wish.”
Ttring….
[Ding! Criteria for upgrade met. Your forces and your commanders are available for the next upgrade.]
[Would the host like to upgrade his silver-ranked Shieldmen captain, Alec, to a gold-ranked sentinel? Yes or No]
[Would the host like to upgrade his silver-ranked sharpshooter captain, Eritrea Wolf, to a gold-ranked marksman? Yes or No]
‘Upgrade them.’
Swoosh!
Light shone inside the tent, and outside the tent, the soldiers gathered were also bathed in blinding white light, basking the tribe in a luminous glow.
When the light vanished, Alec and Eritrea appeared before Asher’s eyes. Alec grew up to 8 feet tall, and his frame grew so large that the tent became small for him. He was clad in body-fitting chainmail armor with metal plates at vital spots. His shield alone was as tall as Asher and as big as a door.
His shield was made entirely from metal!
The amount of metal on Alec’s body was enough to equip four men, and the weight was terrifying! He also had a round helmet similar to Alex’s. The eye holes were very small, but he didn’t seem to be uncomfortable.
A tall metal spear was in his hand. The tip of the spear grazed the roof of the tent! And a short sword was strapped to his belt.
His cape billowed gently.
“My Lord!” His voice was like a thunderclap, causing Asher’s eardrums to quake.