Return of the Fallen Volume 12 Chapter 89
Just as Kazuki and his group were about to walk away, Specxzu blocked their path. His many eyes narrowed in on Kazuki.
“You cannot leave.”
Fleck and Nala took this as a threat from the wasp and even though they knew he was stronger than both of them, they didn’t hesitate to point their weapons at him. Specxzu made no move against these two and ignored them completely. Instead, he kept his gaze on Kazuki and Kazuki alone.
Kazuki smirked. He thought he would have to keep on pretending to be weak but when he realized Specxzu was a master of controlling the soul, he grew alert. He needed to show some of his strength in order to let Specxzu know that he was not one to be trifled with. The way Sepcxzu stared at him, he knew that there could only be ill thoughts in that bug skull of his.
Showing his strength to everyone a moment ago told them that if they crossed a line, he would cross it right back.
At the same time, it was a roundabout way to lower their guard against him.
(Now they have an idea of my strength. With this, they will want me to stay by their side so they can watch me rather than me being out there running around on my own. If they keep me in their sights then they are most likely thinking I can’t get to the treasure before them.)
Kazuki’s thoughts weren’t too far off. Codex as well agreed with this line of thinking.
(Kazuki was that the point of this then? If they are forced to keep an eye on you, on the opposite side, you can watch them right back. Is that right?)
(Exactly that Codex. This place is hard to sense. I can barely tell what’s a few feet away from me. If they split up now because of a stupid fight and honor or whatever, it means my attention would have to be equally split amongst them. I can’t watch in three different directions, at least not in this weird place. I believe Specxzu is aware of that as well. This bug is strong, incredibly so but he’s not trying to use force upon me. We both know it’s better to work together and keep a watchful eye on the other.)
Kazuki took a step forward and pretended like he was annoyed.
“Oh, are you going to stop me from leaving? I’d like to see how.”
Dredinkar and Carta suddenly became nervous. They both realized they were outclassed by Specxzu and Kazuki and knew that if things broke down now, it would be the two of them at a disadvantage.
Even though Kazuki’s senses were limited in this place, his soul-reading ability was picking up the conversation the Demigod subordinates were having with Carta and Dredinkar. Apparently, they had immediately dropped their hostility toward one another and decided to team up. After witnessing Specxzu’s power to withstand the foul dark energy inside the tunnel and Kazuki’s combat prowess just now, the two Gods came to the conclusion they were no match for either one individually.
They threw away their pride and formed an alliance. One between the Treefolk and the Dragonborn. Kazuki couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.
(Heh if they knew I could understand everything because they both have weak Subordinates in their groups, I wonder…Would they kill their soldiers or would they try and take me out immediately.)
Kazuki looked at Specxzu and the wasp just kept staring with his many eyes. Finally the wasp God responded.
“I have no need to compel you to do anything for you will naturally wish to stay all on your own.”
Kazuki raised a brow.
“Really. After the pettiness displayed by all three parties present. Why would I wish to stay?”
The wasp tilted his head slightly.
“Medatte we both know our options in this place. Running around here when Divine energy is sparse. When one’s senses only extend an arm’s length or two outward. Just the fact that there are others on their way as we speak. We currently have the only advantage in this place. What do you think will happen when this place is overrun by other Factions and Clans? Our opportunity is already a thin one and is only running thinner by the minute. However, if we stick together until the treasure is in front of us. The chance of one of us obtaining it, at the moment…each of us here has a 25% probability of holding the Artifact in our very hands.”
As his sentence trailed off, he spoke directly to Kazuki’s mind.
(If it is between you and me though the chance becomes fifty-fifty. Those two are weaker than us and they are only slightly less stupid than we are. They have already formed a partnership, you can tell. I have no need to attack them at the moment as they are still useful but the time they attack me is the time I will no longer hold back. What will you do? Will you leave and miss out on this chance or will you stay and wait for the fools to make a move? Either way, I will be at the finish line. What about you Medatte?)
Kazuki smiled.
“Right leaving now would waste time, time that none of us have. I will stick with you if everyone promises to no longer fight amongst ourselves. At least not until we find the treasure.”
Specxzu’s mandibles clicked together in excitement.
“Agreed.”
Dredinkar and Carta quickly agreed as well. They did it so fast that it was surprising or rather it would be if Kazuki wasn’t already aware of their subordinate’s thoughts.
Dredinkar walked over with the same fake smile as before.
“Now that things have been resolved somewhat peacefully I don’t think I should continue to lead. Specxzu you are the strongest, why don’t you lead us?”
The moment he said this Carta came over with her soldiers as well. She as well wore a fake smile and chimed in.
“That’s a good idea Dredinkar, the strongest should be the one to lead us but are you sure it’s Specxzu that fits that description? I mean from what I just saw, Medatte seems to be far more capable than Specxzu. I mean, what do you think Dredinkar, am I missing something here?”
Dredinkar rubbed his chin as if he were in serious thought.
“Hmm, now that you mention it, Medatte is quite powerful but I can’t really say who is the strongest. What do you two think? Amongst the two of you, who is the best?”
It was an obvious ploy to try and create drama between the two. Carta and Dredinkar could not fool them with such shallow pokes of a stick. Kazuki shook his head.
“Isn’t it obvious who’s stronger?”
Carta and Dredinkar both were chomping at the bits and grew excited before Kauzki dosed everything with a cold bucket of water.
“Specxzu is no doubt stronger. After all, he said he only displayed a small portion of his strength a while ago. I on the other hand used up pretty much everything I had just now to thwart you two from going out of control. No, I am only so-so. Specxzu should be the one to lead us. Unless you two think otherwise.”
Carta and Dredinkar were immediately deflated and didn’t know how to respond. Specxzu’s mandibles were clicking rapidly. To the outside world, this held no meaning but Kauzki would bet a fortune that the bug was actually laughing right now.
Specxzu wasted no time and pointed in a certain direction.
“Before we all descended, I saw a strange black mountain in the distance. Out of all the terrain, it was the most suspicious. I say we head toward it.”
Kazuki could feel a small pulse of energy in that direction. One that was both familiar and unfamiliar. He who could discern countless different energies from one another, he couldn’t for the life of him tell what this weird energy in the distance was. Since he couldn’t tell, it lead him to believe it could only be one thing and one thing only. Arc’s missing piece.
“I agree with Specxzu. That mountain was off somehow or rather it doesn’t seem to fit in with all these normal land masses all around. It stands out way too much for it to be a regular mountain.”
Dredinkar could only sigh in his failed attempt to pit Kauzki and Specxzu against one another. He agreed as well and Carta was no exception.
Dredinkar looked out into the distance.
“Seeing as how flying on our own consumes up far too much Divine energy, I think we should take a single Vajra ship. That way we can save energy.”
There was no disagreement among them and all eyes fell on Specxzu. They all considered him the strongest and the leader and therefore they wanted him to use his ship. Specxzu laughed inwardly at the cheapness of these bastards before his ring lit up with a purple glow.
Comment (0)