AT THE PEAK OF EPITOME (ENGLISH)

FIRST ARC: CHAPTER 6

FIRST ARC: THE START OF THE BEGINNING

CHAPTER 6: Assassination

Zillion move his feet, his steps were moving away from the cave. He stop few meters under a shade of a tree.

Zillion let out a breath, he sighed. It's been an hour since he made an unexpected contract to a sword and it's sword spirit. He's still processing what really happened, now he will be a part of this magic world.

This is what he's been wishing for too long but he knows how dangerous it is. 'Can I really made it, can I become stronger to face every challenges' Different thought were occupying his mind.

The boy slightly straighten his back and laid his body slowly to the ground. The tip of the grass around him slightly touched his skin, making a tingling and itchy sensation.

He slightly close his eyes. Darkness immediately occupied his sight. The boy choose to stay inside the invisible barrier for a while. He doesn't know if the people chasing him were outside the barrier.

The boy is being so cautious, if he was seen outside by those people. He'll be dead in minutes. There's no way he could defend himself nor escape easily. Even though he have this said godly armaments. Saber told him that it's only comparable to a normal sword for now.

He breath heavily, he don't know if sabers would come to his aid once he's being attack outside. But one thing is for sure he's still not aware of Sabers strength or if she's really strong.

A rustle filled Zillion ear. It caught his attention, he immediately open his eyes and scan the surrounding. It came from afar but maybe someone is coming closer to him.

Zillion heart were already jumping inside his chest. What if those were the one that's been chasing him, the young master that wanted to kill him.

He take a deep breath and move his legs behind the tree few yard away from him.

"Why are you going out of the protection of the barrier, when you're scared?" Sabers voice coming from the sword immediately filled Zillion ear.

He almost jump in shocked. 'Damn, sword spirit'

"Don't speak out of nowhere, you almost scared me to death," he mumbled. His voice were full of irritation.

The sword spirit were about to speak but she instantly stop by a loud and ear breaking explosion.

The surrounding instantly filled with fog of dust expanding from the explosion. Some trees standing near it were blown away and destroyed.

The fog of dust instantly disperse. A blur figure of more than ten people appear in the disappearing fog. A two figure were standing on the opposite side of the group of people.

Zillion's breath were caught in his throat as a familiar image hit his eyes. It's the young master and his followers that were chasing him earlier with a bunch of unfamiliar people with them. 'Did they come for me? No! I don't think that they would brought a lot of people to catch me. I'm just a mere mortal.'

Zillion were looking from a far, he watch as the fog of dust completely gone from his sight. The sight of the two figure on the other side appear. The two man were wearing a luxurious attire.

The man in front is a middle age man based on his appearance, he have a gray hair and beard along with some wrinkle in his face. Based on his position and posture he is badly injured. His front foot were supporting his balance. Blood already stained his luxurious white dress. The red thick liquid were also flowing from his arm towards his hand. There's also blood from his mouth, a proof of a serious injury.

He spit some blood from his mouth and a look dreadfully towards the two guy wearing the same attire as him. "DO YOU KNOW THE PUNISHMENT OF BETRAYING THE IMPERIAL FAMILY!" The man's voice were already filled with anger.

He is the captain of the Royal guard of the 8th prince, Xiello. A known warrior among the ranks of the Royal guard. He is already a Earthen discipline magic cultivator and a violet spiritist. Spiritist of this level were known to be the highest attainable from this empire.

The man in front curve his lips, it's a killer smile. His eyes were pointing toward Xiello. A lust to kill were painted on his face. "I'm so sorry captain but I really don't like you from the start and we received a good offer from the Xial Clan that we can't afford to decline."

"So that's the reason you exhausted my magic energy from that damn seal. I won't even be surprised anymore if the map and treasures were your doing?!" Xiello's voice echoed. He know it's the end of the road for him but he can't let the prince die here.

The prince standing behind Xiello already lose his temper. He were already betrayed by his two guard. And we're being assassinated. His eyes narrowed toward the young master smiling like crazy behind the group of people.

"I see, Xial. Your Clan were betraying the empire and declaring a war against us."

Xial raised his sight towards the prince, "It's not a declaration of war, our clan didn't dare but it's our step to overthrown the dinasty from the throne. Soon the Taru Empire would conquer this land and we would be the one who'll be acknowledge by them."

The prince eyes widened. Taru Empire is the bordering country of the Zavner Empire. It's known to be among the strongest empire but the one who practice dark arts and evil magic.

The 8th prince were known to be uninterested with their family affair. But this time it's different.

"So you already allied with them!"
Xial moved his feet and move closer behind the two former guard of the prince. "Yeah, that's why I would kill you here to prove our worth. I would make sure that it would look like an accident and escape successfully"

Xial made a gesture with his hand to attack. The two man in front of him instantly jump into the air and attack Xiello. The group of people behind them also moved towards the prince location.

Xiello instantly create a transparent red magic circle under his feet. It create a beam of red light completely covering his body.

"Burning down your own life essence to strengthen your body, so heroic of you." One of the prince former guard spoke.

Few seconds later the beam of light disappear. Xiello glance toward the prince direction. "Your Majesty, I'll buy you some time. Escape now!"

The prince eye widened. No! He can't escape, he is the one that force Xiello to open the barrier exhausting his magic.

"GO NOW!" Xiello's voice echoed to his ear.

Xiello instantly dodge one of the attack. Few minutes later, an arrow pierce his forehead. He fall to the ground, as his eyes darkened. He watched the steps of the prince he serve his life.