Tryst with Destiny: The End of the Beginning

117: The Nature of Evil

(In the Battlefield)

"Giovanni," Ash and Serena breathe at the same time.

Giovanni merely smiles back at them as he comes to the stop. Everyone gazes at Giovanni who's calmly standing in his velvet black suit. Taking advantage of Ash and Serena's split-second lapse of concentration, Ariel and Calem both manage to teleport away to safety. Ash and Serena, mutter curses under their breath as Calem and Ariel reappear behind Giovanni.

"Who's running now?" Serena fires as she glares at Calem.

Calem is about to say something but stops in his tracks when his father subtly raises his left hand. Calem and Ariel lower their eyes as Giovanni takes a few ominous steps forward.

"Well young man, I thought I had gotten rid of you and that pesky wife of yours, once and for all. I see that Dragon Emperor managed to smuggle you away to safety and here we are now. After all these years, you're still nothing more than a pesky thorn in my sight," Giovanni speaks, all the emotion in the environment vanishing with each uttered syllable.

"At least this thorns know how to fight in the old ways, unlike your incompetent children. Calem is particular, is most impressive for he is the most incompetent trained duelist I have ever seen. You must be proud," Serena answers in a cool tone.

Giovanni gives her an even look then turns to face Calem who shaking to the core, trying to contemplate what's going on in his father's mind.

"I'll deal with you later," Giovanni says in a dismissive tone.

When Giovanni turns around, Serena sees Ariel looking very pleased with herself while Calem's feet are shaking as gulps, fearing the punishment his father has in store for him later.

"I must say you do how to wave an Aura sabre though you still have a long long way to go," Giovanni remarks, inspecting Ash and Serena's outlook.

Ash and Serena narrow their eyes at Giovanni's remark, calculating the situation with every breath they draw, taking the temperature of the environment with every gaze of scrutiny they cast.

"But it matters not," Giovanni says in a soft tone before continuing, "Your fate is as good as sealed. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that you managed to defeat my children which gives you a higher standing in the present situation, but you can't be further from the truth."

"And what truth is that," Ash says as Giovanni's casual advance comes to a halt.

"The truth that your fate is sealed. You don't have the strength or the skill to meet me in battle," Giovanni sneers, his eyes smirking malevolently.

"Your children were under the same impression and look how that turned up," Serena answers.

Ash on hearing this turns to Serena and says, "Well we crushed them."

"Then they took their pity ball and ran home," Serena says, playing along with Ash's conversation to mock Calem and Ariel.

"Right behind their father's back so that they can watch, as they cower behind the blanket of safety which they think their father provides them," Ash finishes the exchange, delivering the closing observations of the event transpired so far, much to his and Serena's amusement.

"I am your sworn enemy but I am telling you something, underestimating my father will be the worst and last mistake of your lives. Weigh your words carefully," Ariel says in a grave tone.