Tian Yi Hui (3)
Knock knock.
"Lord Astra, are you awake?"
I woke to Kain's polite voice from beyond the door.
For a moment, I wondered if this was a dream, but after rubbing my eyes and looking around, I was still in that unfamiliar room.
Of course... even after sleeping, I haven't gone back...
I accepted reality with a light sigh.
"Come in."
"Did you sleep well last night?"
Ha... don't tell me Tian Yi Hui right after waking up...
"It was fine."
My ominous premonition had hit the mark, as expected.
"I'm glad. Tian Yi Hui is about to begin. Lord Balderic has personally requested your attendance."
"..."
The words Tian Yi Hui weighed heavy on my chest.
Facing this moment, I questioned if the path I'd chosen was truly the best.
What if I'd refused back then and fled...?
But I shook my head soon after.
Impossible.
With my current stats, there was no escaping that place.
Right now, I stood at a fork: become Haven's pinnacle, leader of the Jin Gang Regiment... or die.
There was no middle ground.
After finishing my preparations, I followed Kain without delay.
I retraced the path I'd walked yesterday.
Arriving once more before the massive obsidian doors etched with golden patterns, more than a dozen knights in black armor—who hadn't been there yesterday—raised their swords in salute, standing in perfect formation.
"We've arrived."
"Oh, it's the uncle!"
I turned at the voice from behind. There stood Qingyuan Regiment leader Ellis.
And behind her loomed an orc towering well over two meters, his black skin in stark contrast to her tiny frame.
His black gauntlets amplified his intimidating presence.
"Ellis, is that the 'big bro' you were talking about?"
"Yeah, the one who's gonna be my new big bro!"
Kain bowed deeply at the sight of them, offering a courteous greeting.
"You've arrived, Lady Ellis, Lord Kaiser."
His identity was obvious even without Kain's words.
Black skin, black gauntlets, a massive orc stature exceeding two meters.
In the world, only one such figure could walk alongside Haven's regiment leader Ellis.
Zhen Hong Regiment leader Kaiser.
The war god commanding Haven's northern frontlines.
An undefeated general who had never tasted defeat in thousands of battles.
Kaiser was the second person after Ellis I least wanted to meet.
He wasn't someone to underestimate just because he was an orc, but like one, his mind was singularly fixed on battle.
"What's your name, punk?"
I hesitated at Kaiser's question.
Should I speak casually like with Kain, or show some respect?
Ellis was young enough that half-polite speech didn't seem odd, but...
Better be formal...
I glanced at his bulging forearm.
Just the aura pouring from it could probably demolish a building.
Speak casually, and my head's gone before I finish the sentence...
Kwaaaang—!
A deafening whoosh split the air, my hair whipping in the sudden gust as a cold gauntlet pressed against my body.
"......"
My body froze at how close I'd come to death.
Did he just really attack me? Isn't the cliché supposed to be 'not bad' and then stop? Why try to kill me for real?!
I'd survived Kaiser's strike solely thanks to my ability.
[Absorbs and reflects any attack once per day.]
I knew instinctively.
How lethal that blow had nearly been, how much power I could counter with. All calculations led to one conclusion.
If not for my ability, I'd be dead right now.
"Hmm, Kain was right to nominate you as regiment leader candidate. I swung to kill, after all."
Without my ability, my legs would've given out.
"Lord Kaiser, Lord Astra is the one Lady Balderic personally summoned to Tian Yi Hui. That action just now—"
Kain's hardened voice was cut off by Kaiser's raised hand.
"Just checking if he has what it takes."
He withdrew his hand and turned.
"Come to my territory sometime. I'd like a real match."
What kind of terrifying invitation is that... I don't have a suicide hobby.
Something felt off, though.
The room inside surely held the other leaders.
By my estimate, at least three, if not all.
They would've sensed that exchange, yet no one intervened.
Balderic wouldn't kill Kaiser for attacking her guest, but she'd punish him—yet no reaction meant...
This is a test. To see if I'm regiment leader caliber...
"Hold on."
Perfect timing—Kain, Kaiser, and Ellis were within my domain.
The room was over ten meters away; they couldn't sense my presence from inside.
Time to show them. To Kaiser, that I'm on a whole other level. To the leaders inside, that I can suppress him while controlling my power so finely they can't even detect it.
Being strong was good, but threatening the lord was bad.
No one would buy Kaiser thinking I was lord-tier anyway.
Not that those two combined could beat Balderic.
Kaiser turned back at my words.
"What? I confirmed you're regiment leader level. We're done here, right?"
"Ridiculous..."
"What was that?"
Kaiser's gaze sharpened.
No one had challenged his actions since becoming leader.
"You attack alone and end it alone?"
"Then what? You wanna settle it right here?"
I unleashed my suppressed presence.
Even fiercer than yesterday's display in the room, it swept the surroundings.
Kain groaned, dropping to one knee under my overwhelming aura laced with feral killing intent.
He fared the best.
The surrounding knights collapsed, staring at me in terror.
"Guh... Lord Astra, you must hold back. Fighting Lord Kaiser here would mean..."
I know.
My heart pounded wildly.
If I killed Kaiser here as a 'true powerhouse,' I'd make enemies of all Haven. But I neither want nor have the power for that.
Inwardly, I prayed he'd stay sane and not attack again.
If his first strike was Balderic's test, commanded by her.
Another attack would be Kaiser's solo decision against her guest.
Something the Kaiser I knew wouldn't do.
My heart raced like it might burst, but I kept my expression icy cold, slowly approaching him.
"If we fight here, one of us dies—and Balderic wouldn't want that. I just want fairness: you attacked me once, so I attack you once. Fair, right?"
"You're gonna attack me?"
"Scared?"
Kaiser fell silent.
His mind churned with complexity.
Where'd this guy come from? Why does he have an oppressive presence like Balderic's?
Kaiser had submitted to Balderic after defeat, becoming her leader.
Since then, he'd acknowledged stronger foes and avoided fights he was sure to lose.
Yes, he loved massacres, not honorable duels.
If he craved honor, he'd have died gloriously against Balderic, not become leader.
"Guess you are scared. Kain, so these are Haven's 'leaders'? Pathetic."
Wait, did I go too far?
I realized I'd gotten too immersed, eyeing Kaiser tensely.
"Yeah, taking a hit without swinging back is pathetic. But our leaders don't. Right, Orc Bro?"
Ellis's clear voice rang out at the perfect moment.
Like a savior's bell.
The corridor's heavy air lightened instantly.
Kaiser paused, then spoke grudgingly, discomfort and resignation mixed in his tone.
"Hrrm... Fine. Hit me once."
The moment he finished, I withdrew my presence.
He stared at me like a monster.
"You're a monster."
Pot calling the kettle black.
"To me, you're the monster."
"Tch, get on with it."
He didn't seem convinced, but the subtle energy from his body was chillingly fearsome.
I circled behind him, placed my hand on his back.
And released the exact power I'd absorbed from his earlier attack.
Bang!!! Kwaaaang!!!
Kaiser's body rocketed into the door, which burst open with a crash.
And multiple eyes turned toward me.
I strode into the chamber confidently, as if nothing happened—but cold sweat poured inside.
Why'd he fly that far...?
The power I'd thought he'd withstand far exceeded expectations.
Seeing him soar that distance made his true strength sink in.
The air felt oppressively heavy.
Air shouldn't weigh anything, yet here it did.
A massive table and occupied chairs—unlike last time—came into view.
Five empty seats.
Kaiser's that just flew off, Ellis's behind me, and Jin Gang's vacant leader spot—leaving three leaders and Balderic at the head.
All eyes fixed on me.
Hei Ye Regiment leader Sirka, Zi Yan Regiment leader Azellia, Lü Shu Regiment leader Ryujin.
Haven's leaders were so distinct, easy to identify at a glance.
Missing are Bai Ling and Yin Yue Regiments.
Their gazes on me—the one who'd blasted Kaiser in—varied wildly.
Sirka's eyes gleamed with predatory curiosity, Azellia's red ones cold hostility, Ryujin's seemingly indifferent but deeply probing.
"Fun. Attacking a leader before even becoming one. Suicidal?"
Balderic's words stirred killing intent from the seated leaders.
"How long will you keep it up?"
"Keep what up?"
"This act of yours. Kaiser's attack was your test, right? And I passed."
I sat at the spot marked Jin Gang on the table.
"This must be my seat."
"Grrr... this bastard..."
Sirka, Hei Ye leader beside me, growled with beastkin ferocity.
Her sharp fangs bared, thick killing intent seeping from her lips.
"You saying that wasn't a test? Changes things. I was attacked without cause... and none who've opposed me have survived."
"Killing Kaiser? In Haven's Lord's Castle, before me, your lord?"
"Nothing I can't do."
Kuoooong!!!
Balderic's unleashed aura was like a god reigning over heaven and earth.
Not mere power, but the absolute presence overlooking all existence.
The leaders there shrank to specks of dust.
"Still saying that?"
"Yes. If it wasn't a test, Kaiser dies."
I countered without flinching, no aura of my own—impressing the others even more.
In their eyes, it was a heaven-shaking dragon versus a lone ant.
Yet the ant stood unmoved before the dragon's pressure.
That sight chilled them deeper.
"Then you die. No question."
"Fine, I'll die. But prepare yourself, Balderic. I'll take at least two with me."
Silence fell.
Killing intents and pressures clashed midair.
Tension like frozen time filled the chamber.
Then—
"Hahaha, this is fun."
Balderic's icy face brightened instantly.
The frosty atmosphere melted like snow.
"Right. I ordered Kaiser's move. It was my test, the bare minimum for leader. And you passed."
"..."
I said nothing. Couldn't.
When fear freezes the brain or beauty overwhelms, words fail.
Her radiant smile outshone any corridor artwork.
"I appoint you Jin Gang Regiment leader. In the name of Haven's lord, Balderic."