"Are we gonna do this?" Ace asks. "Or are going to seat here all day waiting for you three to come to a decision." It wasn't like him to be impatient, but the Elders have kept Ace and everyone else around them waiting for a verdict on what to do with the current circumstances. They've been at it for over an hour, muttering between themselves. Sometimes Ace could hear some of the things they were saying... "Trust him? I refuse to trust an assassin." Elder Bari snarls. He was the grumpiest of the elders and likes to carry out all his business head-on and straightforward. Shuntal reveres him as "The Man Who Does Not Lie." "That too, the son of a Don and head of the House of Shadows." He added. "I believe the boy has made it clear about his decision to sever any connection with his family?." Elder Ram said.If Elder Bari was straightforward, Elder Ram is careful and precise. He makes decisions after thorough contemplations. He makes sure he considers all sides and everybody's point
The location was the ark of the Aegis clan, the Dragonheart. Ernie was currently humming as he worked on the engine of the ark. "There," He dusts his hands. "With the new narly tweaks I placed, You peeps don't have to worry about this beauty breaking anytime soon." He gave Conroy a thumbs up. "That's great Bro Ernie!" "And with that, I'm done fixing the ark, it's good to go and so are we!" "About that... Where do go from here?"It has been 2 days since Ace and Reginald accompanied Kaz to see the elders. Vorus had awakened a day ago and the ark's repairs were completed. Ernie had finished the repairs ahead of time and even went an extra step to add a couple of upgrades. For starters, the Dragonheart lacked any cannons for battles against other Arks. Although these battles rarely occur in the Western Continent, Ernie warned the crew that the Eastern Continent is a place more brutal than where they came from. "That's where you met Sirs Kaz and Ace." Says Conroy as they arrived at
"Huff. Huff." "Hey! You big chunk of meat. Look what you did to Coby!"A vein popped on Rex's head."What's wrong, little runt?"Reginald sneered. "Oh, don't tell me you actually thought your friend over there would win just because he could read minds." Rex widened his eyes as he gently lays Coby on the ground."Stay put." He said to the unconscious Mind reader as he looks at his other clanmate. "Deen! Look after him." Deen nodded as Rex turned his attention at Reginald. He points at him. "Sit tight and wait for me, you're next just as soon as I puy your oversized friend here in his place." "How are they so strong?"Rex had underestimated the Aegis clan. That had always been his issue in the first place.He lacks the intuition to scale a person's power. Even when he witnessed them take out a hundred relic beasts, he merely saw that as a team effort."Nonetheless, he beat up my clanmate and I intend to make him pay!"Rex walked into the ring to stand face to face against Vor
"Begun vile humans! Grand Torrent!"A massive wave created by Ciel crashed into the enemy forces like a waterfall."What is the keeper of the Aquarius zodiac crypt doing here.[FLASHBACK]After Ace's and Ciel's battle, the crew was ready to be beamed out of the crypt by the keeper.He handed Ace a flute."What's this?""Use this whenever you need my aid, I shall come to your assistance."They all gasped at the words of the man."Do keep in mind young braves, you can only call for me three times and once in 6 months, then the flute will disintegrate and I can only stay for a minute. So make sure you know what you seek from me before playing the flute. Also, you cannot summon me inside another crypt."[FLASHBACK ENDS]That was the case, Ciel had handed them a flute that could summon him from within his crypt, and although he can only stay for a minute, the havoc he was reigning on their enemies currently was worth it.Upon his arrival, he had taken out the fifty soldiers that had attemp
The twelve zodiac crypts shared several similarities. One of which was that they change their trials for any new party partaking in the challenge. It was a way to ensure equality between all challengers as one won't be able to give others hints on what the trials will be.That was the case. However, certain crypts do not change their trials. Regardless of whether one knows what the trial will be based on or not, the difficulty doesn't change. One such crypt was the Aries zodiac crypt. It gave the same trial to all challengers. Phrixus stood in front of the Aegises. "Now then, while the sun still shines, we should make haste and get this over with." The keeper snapped her fingers and the Aegises passed out. They were then teleported into different locations. Ace was the first to wake up. He found himself in a dark room with very faint lighting. The ex-assassin raised his guard as he summoned his shadow daggers. "Where are my crew? This better not be another one of you keeper's
Inside a shaggy tent in the middle of a forest, a bandaged Rohan was starting to regain consciousness."Argh, w-where am I?"He sits up and holds his head, wincing in pain as he recalls the incident that transpired which led to his current condition.Rohan clenched his trembling fists, releasing his aura in a fit of rage.He planned on having his brother return to Cronoa with him so he could face his crimes."That mad man is loose out there and it's all my fault."Rohan managed to eventually calm down a bit as his aura disappeared."Caww!!"He hears the cawing of a bird from outside the tent and decides to check it out.As he steps outside the tent he sees a rainbow-colored bird flying towards him and spots an old man trailing not too far behind."Huhuhu. It seems the youngin has finally awakened, Ada.""Woah!"Ace and co. have completed their first trial in the Aquarius crypt and await the final test.They were currently walking in a vast hall that depicts numerous hieroglyphics."I'
"Aria!" Harold who had a pair of purple aura wings was first to ascend to the altar leaving Jacob and Vex dashing forward. They set their gazes towards the woman who betrayed them. "Harold..." Said Edrees. He was panting heavily and looked as if he could pass out at any moment. He has taken substantial damage from the Elder Saint. "That clown went ahead and lost..." Harold's aura combusted around him. "Don't overexert yourself, Harold. Just hand over Kisha and I'll be on my way. Nobody has to get hurt anymore." "Are you listening to yourself talk right now? You're telling me to abandon my ally?" Jacob and Vex arrived on the scene and stood beside the Dark and Sword Saints. Aria chuckles. Even though Edrees was covered in cuts and bruises, she was completely unscathed. That goes to show the difference in their strengths. "You four could barely breathe normal, especially you, Vex. You were ambushed earlier and still had to fight the Valhalla clan." In truth, they all had par
"Do know why I'm telling you this?"Ace hardened his gaze."It's because, deadman tells no tales. Apex!"Ace widened his eyes as Stark became enveloped in his shadow. "Tck, Shadow Apex." "That's not all," Stark smirked. "Relic Awakening!""Apex and Relic Awakening?" "Behold, the power that you could never achieve!" Stark folded his arms. "With this, I don't just control my shadow, but every shadow! I don't have to lift a hand to punish you, boy.""The pressure he's releasing..." Ace clicked his tongue. "It's unlike anything I've ever seen."Ace's body became heavy. His mind was giving commands but his body was not following. He hardened his gaze at thr man in front of him. "Why can't I move?" He said to himself. "Is this what true fear feels like?" Ace's body froze completely upon witnessing his father's powers. He knew first-hand how powerful the phantom lord was. But now, he had crossed the boundaries of power that he'd given him credit for."You have this much power, yet yo