NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 137: Barony Or Family?
Ren stared with wide eyes at the sight in front of him. This was what it meant to be Rank 5. This.
Wyverns and their riders fell out of the sky as lightning descended, scorching the ground where they landed.
Screams and screeches of pain filled the air as some were only clipped, half recovering in mid air and the other half plummeting to the ground, sending clouds of dust into the air.
The barbarians fled, flying as fast as they could out of the range of the lightning rain.
Ren rode his horse down the road, heading to where his father stood at the edge of the barrier. Only the man's back was visible, but in that moment, he looked every bit a lord and more.
Powerful.
Ren pulled on the reins of his horse, slowing to a stop. He dismounted, heading straight for his father.
The closer he walked, the more he could feel the energy radiating from the man. This was the first time he'd seen his father use any of his imbuements and he could tell that this rain of lightning had drained a fair bit of his energy.
He won't be able to produce another rain like this. Not without more blood. Blood that he'll eventually get if this war ever gets anywhere.
Lord Abram Ross turned away as the last of the living barbarians flew over the horizon, the lightning rain disappearing and the sky clearing.
"Father!" Ren stopped in front of him, his head moving from where the barbarians had disappeared to his father's face. "Wh— What's going on?"
"Terence." Abram Ross said stoically, passing his son as he began the walk back to the castle. "Come with me."
Ren gave one final glance at the corpses around them before following after his father. Just seeing this was a reality check.
He'd thought he could fight on even ground with a Rank 5 Knight. If this was the way all Rank 5 Knights were, he definitely wouldn't stand a chance.
Just like his father had said, he'd grown too arrogant. He'd allowed himself to stagnate, just because he'd spent years refining his swordwork against cannon fodder barbarians.
He'd forgotten Unfettered Enhancement's greatest limitation. Iron sharpens iron. He only grew based on the quality of his opponents.
Never again. He swore in the privacy of his mind. Never again would he allow himself to grow complacent. This wasn't the place to hide his Gifts or abilities. This was war. One mistake meant death.
He followed his father as the men made the rounds, offering words and taking note of the state of the men after the surprise attack.
None of the Knights had been injured, though some villagers had taken damage from some wyverns falling and crushing their houses. It was a better outcome than if Abram hadn't even been there.
After leaving Robert with some instructions, they made their way to Abram's study, Felix joining them along the way.
Lord Abram wanted his report, whether good news or bad news, in private. The moment they were inside, he sat behind his desk and steepled his fingers. "Do we have our reinforcements?"
"From Lord Underwood? Yes. It'll take a few days, but he'll rally his troops and we'll open a portal from inside the barrier to the Underwood estate."
"And the king?"
"The king was indisposed and I was sent to his First Knight. Lord Rosefield believes it is a House Ross dispute and the king has no obligation to send an army."
"What the fuck?" Felix cursed beside him as their father remained silent. "They can do that?"
"Yes, they can." Abram said, his face blank.
"Fucking politics." Felix spat.
"But Lord Rosefield said he'd be willing to send enough Rank 5s to annihilate the barbarians if we hand over Darius' barony back to him."
"Darius' barony?" Felix stared incredulously. "It's ours. We won it fair and square. We're not giving it back. Right, father?"
Ren and Felix stared at their father, waiting in silence as he thought about it. Then, he spoke. "No. We won't be giving up the barony. Not because it's ours, but because it's not ours to give. It's Darius."
They said nothing as Abram looked up at his two sons. "Not a word of this offer must get to Darius. Do you understand?"
Before his children could answer, a voice cut through the air as the door swung open.
"Unfortunately, I already heard it all." Darius said as he stepped into the room.
"Darius!" Ren said, eyes wide. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at your barony?"
"That was where I was, waiting for Felix, who said he'll visit."
Felix winced where he stood. He'd forgotten about the visit he'd been planning for Darius' Barony.
"And when I told my teleporter to take me here, there was a barrier stopping us from teleporting in. That's when I realized it. Something was very, very wrong." He said grimly. "And I was right."
He walked between Ren and Felix until he stood in front of his father's desk. "Six months ago, I came into luck when Ren gave me his barony. I never expected it nor needed it, but he gave it to me. It does feel good to be a baron. But not if it means my family would die to keep me a baron."
"Take the barony, father. Take it and save our family."
Silence filled the room, everybody staring at Abram. The man's expression was unreadable as he stared at his children. His lips twitched. He'd taught them well.
"No." He said, and the children blinked, taken aback.
"But father, I—"
"No." Abram repeated. "I won't take your barony. Not now."
"What do you mean?" Darius asked, incredulously. "This is the only chance we have to take care of this problem. Forever! And you're rejecting it?!"
"I'm not rejecting it, Darius." Abram said calmly, his expression unreadable. "I'm giving you time to think about it. This is not a decision to be made lightly. Go. Ponder. And when I ask again, I'll accept whatever decision you make."
"But not now. Not in the heat of the moment. I want you to make this decision with not just your heart but also your head." He stood. "We have time, Darius. Make good use of it."