Return of the Fallen Volume 6 Chapter 51
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Author: Blue_Rat
ch51
The roar rippled out over the entire city and up the mountain path where Kazuki was surrounded. As soon as it went out, the giant apes, all at once knelt on the ground followed by them slamming their heads into the ground, bowing as deeply as possible.
A violent rush of wind came from the depth of the city and before Kazuki could blink, the true leader appeared before him.
Floating in the sky above Kazuki, a large ape covered in white fur stood on top of the air. The ape stood nearly 20 feet tall and had large spike-like horns protruding from the top of its shoulders. Both eyes were dark green with specks of white in them which made them resemble odd stars in the night sky.
Magic flew around this great white ape, like a storm over the open sea.
Kazuki and the great white ape made eye contact. Neither was intimidated and neither looked away.
Kazuki didn’t like the situation he was in. Surrounded by hundreds of apes and the number kept on growing. At the same time, he wasn’t afraid. Judging by the apes he had just fought, within those few exchanges he found that they were plenty strong but nowhere near his match. Their strength was around the 3rd stage. The only one that actually entered his eyes was this white ape. Feeling the fluctuation of magic in the air, the white ape was definitely at the 4th stage like him. Not only that, it’s speed seemed comparable to his own. Kazuki strength and speed had exploded upwards after consuming the goat-headed monster’s flesh but with just a glance, he could tell the ape hovering above him was no weakling.
(If I’m to escape here, then that white ape must definitely be put down. That one is definitely the leader around here. Once I break him, the others have shown intelligence and should know they are outclassed. They should back off fairly quickly afterward.)
Kazuki aimed the staff in his hands at the great white ape, ready for a fight.
The ape, on the other hand, continued to float in the air and surprisingly a voice could be heard.
(“You strange creature that dares enter my territory unannounced and you have the gall to issue a challenge to me, the great Groud, King of all Adrola apes. Not only that you stand before me naked without warriors garb. You mistake this for a joke, such insults will not stand.”)
The white ape hovering in the sky spoke without opening its mouth, yet Kazuki heard its voice as clear as day. The ape called Groud, its voice had directly entered Kazuki’s mind.
Kazuki was flabergasted.
(This thing can communicate through thoughts and it can even do it in the language I speak. Well, that isn’t too strange. If it can communicate through thoughts it probably has some way to break past the language barrier. Can it also read thoughts though?)
Kazuki stared up at Groud but there was no indication that Groud could hear what he was thinking. Instead, Groud seemed slightly impatient and roared and beat its chest a few times.
*Thump Thump Thump RAWRRRRRRR!*
(“You challenge me and then ignore this great King! It seems you are either afraid or are only now realizing your mistake which makes you foolish.”)
A torrent of wind began to gather around Groud’s enormous hand. At the same time, the staff in his hand dissappeard and his crown atop his head began to glow as he prepared to attack.
Kazuki realized this was taking a bad turn. If there was a chance for communication and the creature could actually see reason, then Kazuki figured he could resolve this without killing everything in his sight. He’d rather not destroy a whole city of intelligent creatures over a misunderstanding.
Kazuki quickly dropped the staff to the ground.
“Wait! I am not your enemy!”
The apes all started to look around at one another in confusion. Groud on the other hand was annoyed.
(“What lies are you speaking strange creature? You attack my apes and yet you say your not an enemy. Not only that but you also challenge me and now you drop a weapon like you aren’t going to fight. What game are you playing?”)
Kazuki looked around wondering what Groud was talking about.
“You mean when I first came upon this place. It wasn’t my intention to attack anyone. I simply was defending my self from your soldiers, they attacked first. Once more, I don’t ever remember challenging you.”
(“My soldiers found an intruder trying to sneak into my city and when they try to apprehend you, you resist. As for the challenge that you claim to not have issued, was it not you who shouted at the top of your lungs, “COME!” These are your words. You told me to come and so I have, yet now you lie repeatedly. You try to renounce your challenge and you constantly show no respect to this King. I’ve heard enough. You’ve challenged me, now pick up a weapon and prepare to be killed.”)
Kazuki was already feeling annoyed at this point. He only said a few words but was called a liar and now was being ordered to fight. Still, he resisted the urge to punch a hole through this big ape’s skull and spoke calmly.
“I meant no disrespect, your Majesty. Everything up to this point has been a huge misunderstanding. Your right, I did invade your territory but I did so unknowingly. I was simply following this stone path because I was utterly lost. I know that doesn’t excuse the fact that I entered your land but it was definitely not done on purpose or with ill intent. Once again the fight with your soldiers was to defend my self and even while defending myself I didn’t go overboard and I did not kill nor did I harm anyone too badly. As for the challenge, at that moment I thought I was going to be facing many enemies at once and issued a war cry in an effort to intimidate. It was not meant any disrespect or to challenge you personally at any level. I do not wish to fight, I simply want to let bygones be bygones and to leave this place without any bloodshed. Your Majesty, could you please overlook this one’s presence and open the path so that I may leave?”
Everyone grew silent. It was so quiet that you could hear your own heartbeat.
At this time, Groud couldn’t help but explode with laughter.
*BWAHAHAHAHAHA!*
As soon as he laughed the surrounding apes all cackled at once like a group of a thousand hyenas.
Kazuki could tell this was not leading down the path he wanted.
Groud stopped after a while and with a wave of his palm, the other apes went quiet as well.
(“So you are capable of respect. It seems there truly was a misunderstanding. Say I really believe that. You entering my territory accidentally, the fight with my soldiers, your not wrong, such things can be overlooked. After all, we aren’t barbarians. However, the line is drawn there. Once you challenge someone, there is no such thing as taking it back. Accidental or not, it is set. This is the law and no one shall break it not even the gods themselves, otherwise, they will be put to death. Now, will you pick up that weapon and fight me or shall you be mobed to death by my brave warriors?”)
Kazuki’s patients were at their end and he found it funny that one moment the ape king says they’re, not barbarians and the very next moment he says he’ll have his apes kill Kazuki if he doesn’t fight.
At the same time, Kazuki wasn’t upset. He gave them a chance, and he patiently explained things. If this still wasn’t enough then the next step…naturally was violence.
Kazuki sighed inwardly before his eyes changed. He once again grabbed the dull-looking staff and took a stance. Taking in a deep breath, he felt his body itching. It was one thing fighting dumb carnivorous trees. The task of evading and striking back was far too easy especially since the trees moved far too predictably. After gaining such incredible strength after his devouring power consumed pieces of the goat-headed monster, Kazuki felt an overabundance of strength and power. He had yet to find his new limits and this was the perfect opportunity.
Now that a real opponent was near. Groud who was clearly at the 4th stage, the mind-body stage. This meant he was someone capable of overcoming their limits. Add to the fact that Groud’s speed was comparable to Kazuki’s, Kazuki began to get goosebumps, knowing he was going to fight someone strong, knowing he could finally go all out.
Kazuki looked up into the sky at Groud and once more whilst adding ki to his voice he shouted with everything he had.
“COME!”
The sound was louder than last time and the large apes couldn’t help but retreat a few steps in fear. Groud on the other hand grinned widely.
(“Good, that powerful shout, this should be a fine battle.”)
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