Chapter 196: Final Boss Mode
Mishnar kept her eyes fixed on Validar for a few seconds. Then she took a deep breath.
"What do you want?" she asked in a low voice.
"It’s very simple. I just want your disciples to fight mine. These ten here are the best disciples from the third strongest faction of newly recruited disciples in my branch," Validar replied in a calm, amused tone.
"The Ironweald Sect’s rules favor the strong. The outcome of a direct battle is like a divine decree. If you send ten disciples from your strongest young factions and they lose, two-thirds of your Sacred Mission slots will become mine. I’m not taking everything from you, so I’d say I’m being fair."
Mishnar clenched her fists.
"Aren’t you going too far? Your branch specializes in Alchemy and Inscriptions. You have an almost endless source of wealth and can buy whatever you want from the other regions of the universe. You’re clearly bullying us. I never imagined Senior could be so heartless!"
Validar snorted.
"So what if I prefer bullying a bunch of useless pigs? What are you going to do about it? I already told you—the main sect is on my side. If you don’t have even the minimum amount of strength, then just hand over what I want and lower your heads."
Among the disciples, Walhart had gone pale. He was certain that his Elder Leader wouldn’t hand over the slots without a fight. Which meant he would inevitably have to fight... and be utterly humiliated.
He glanced to the side, and his expression grew even tenser.
Dandara was completely calm, almost radiating an unbelievably confident aura. She looked at that terrifying figure as though she were watching a clown make a fool of himself.
The members of Priam’s faction were naturally nervous as well. But they showed no fear, as if they didn’t care in the slightest about the humiliation of losing.
Mishnar reached back and gripped the hilt of the sword on her back.
She was restraining herself with everything she had to keep from attacking with all her strength and starting a bloody fight against that idiot. She was absolutely furious. She had met bullies before, but never someone this overbearing.
"Hmph. The world we live in is built on the survival of the strongest. There’s no need to waste resources on the weak. Are we supposed to rely on trash like you to fight the Sorcerers? What a joke. I heard your branch has been assigned to defend the Gray Polar Star, correct? After just that one battle, you won’t even have five thousand young disciples left," Validar mocked without the slightest hint of concern.
The man who had once been respected by everyone who didn’t know him now looked like a king looking down on a group of beggars. He naturally radiated an aura of superiority and detachment.
As for the disciples behind him, they also looked at everyone with contempt, their eyes filled with disdain.
"I won’t even make things difficult for you. We can let higher-level disciples fight... No, I’ll go even further—you can choose disciples whose classes have an advantage against them. There will be ten one-on-one matches, which gives you an even bigger advantage. But don’t worry, my disciples are much stronger and have excellent control. We certainly won’t kill anyone. However, if your people end up injured or crippled, you won’t be able to blame us for it."
"If you’re scared, then just announce right now that you’ll hand over the slots. We’ll leave immediately afterward. So? Are you going to fight or not? The choice is yours."
Validar continued speaking calmly, then arrogantly crossed his arms.
"Elder Leader, they’ve gone too far!"
"To hell with it! Let’s fight! We’re not afraid!"
At that moment, the members of Priam’s faction exploded. They couldn’t take it anymore. Even knowing they would lose, they wanted to fight right then and there.
Meanwhile, the members of Walhart’s faction all shrank back, silently praying that their Elder Leader wouldn’t force them to go through such humiliation.
The difference between the two factions was enormous.
That was because the members of Priam’s faction knew what it was like to lose, to be weak, and even to be humiliated. Even so, they trained like mad every single day.
Dandara taught them everything she had learned from Priam. Meanwhile, Flaris pushed them to train their bodies beyond their physical and mental limits.
Day after day, their improvement was obvious.
That gave them absolute confidence. Being weak was only a temporary state. But accepting their own weakness and acting like truly weak people... that was what would make them weak forever.
"Hmph. What a surprise. A bunch of pigs with that much courage. So, little girl Mishnar? Are you going to fight or not?" Validar snorted coldly.
Mishnar remained silent for a few seconds.
As she searched for a solution, she also cursed herself for allowing the Elders of the Leis Family to cause trouble for Priam. She had been confident that he would return to the sect, which was why she had let him leave. But now... if he were here, she would at least have some hope...
Suddenly—
"Oh? Am I late to the party?"
A lazy, slightly quiet voice echoed throughout the arena. The moment they recognized that voice, almost everyone present jumped in surprise.
They saw a short, slightly slender figure with remarkably feminine features calmly walking into the arena.
His clothes were in tatters, as if they had been burned. Even so, he radiated a calm, indifferent aura, like peaceful clouds high in the sky looking down upon the mortal world without the slightest concern.
"BOSS!!"
Every member of his faction roared in excitement.
Their eyes quickly filled with tears. The moment they saw him, all of their anger disappeared, replaced by pure joy.
Even Walhart was stunned speechless. How was this possible? How had Priam survived and managed to return in only two months?!
Priam walked forward calmly while everyone’s eyes remained fixed on him.
He then turned toward Mishnar and gave her a slight bow.
"Elder Leader, may I handle this?"
Mishnar also let out a sigh of relief when she saw Priam. Instinctively, she felt that with him here, no matter how difficult the problem was, it could be solved.
"Very well. This concerns the young disciples, so you should handle it."
Priam heard those words and smiled faintly. Then he turned around...
"Are you Priam?" Validar asked in an indifferent tone.
Despite the question, Priam didn’t even acknowledge him. His gaze settled on Dandara.
At that moment, Priam swallowed hard.
Even he felt intimidated by her gaze and aura. It was like staring into a bottomless abyss. Once again, Dandara was in her Final Boss mode.
The two locked eyes, and then...
Priam saw a different light appear in her eyes.