Supreme Magus novel Chapter 421

"It happened a few years ago." The man from the desert explained.

"Some Abominations had killed most of her Feathers (AN: Salaark’s fake Awakened), the borders were overrun by invaders from all the neighboring countries, and she was on the hunt for the one staging the crisis. It was a real mess.

"The Overlord ordered Ruria, my predecessor, to cull the monster tribes during her absence. Ruria was over seven hundred years old and had a bright purple core. She believed that she was on the verge of another breakthrough."

"The fabled white core of immortality?" The woman from the Empire sniggered along with most of those present.

"That’s a legend. No one has ever achieved it."

"Yeah, a legend. Like Awakened ones, Mage Towers, Dragons, and Elves. Yet..." He didn’t finish the phrase, he simply waved at his peers.

"Anyway, Ruria was certain that with more life and death battles she could finally evolve. She defied Salaark and told her to shove those bullshit orders up her feathery ass, wishing her to enjoy the experience. And here I am."

"Wait. How did you get a territory without anyone challenging your claim? I’m sure this is the first assembly in decades."

"Because I didn’t claim it, Salaark gave it to me. Back then, I was a wandering Awakened who had agreed to help her. She gave me Ruria’s territory as a reward for my services. Not before taking most of Ruria’s treasures and books for herself."

The man sighed at the memory. Salaark had left him the crumbs, yet even those were more than he had ever dreamt about. He couldn’t even imagine how powerful the Guardian had to be to berate such knowledge to the point of gifting it away.

"This is unacceptable!" An old woman from the Kingdom yelled in outrage. "How can you bow down like sheep to a bloodthirsty tyrant? Why haven’t we killed Salaark already?"

At those words, the hall fell into silence. Raagu looked at the woman like she was insane.

"Sure, we can beat her, but at what price? How many of us are willing to die in the attempt?" Not a single hand was raised.

"Let’s suppose for a moment that we kill Salaark, that the other Guardians don’t decide to avenge their fallen comrade. Then what? Who is willing to assume the duty of a Guardian? To prevent the chaos that would ensue after her death from triggering a war that could destroy all of our territories?"

Under the disgusted gaze of the other Awakened, the woman understood the foolishness of her words and lowered her gaze in embarrassment.

"If I ever hear such nonsense from you again, Xola, I’ll think you’ve become senile and take you out myself. Enough wasting my time. Who’s still interested in Clein’s territory?"

Those who already had a territory in another country lowered their hands. They didn’t want to become Salaark’s underlings. Only the wandering Awakened remained. Even if they had to pay their due to Salaark, it was better than the alternative.

"Very good. Before proceeding with the Spirit Duel, the second item on the agenda. Treius Clein wasn’t killed by Salaark, but by a seventeen years old Ranger. I suppose you have heard about Lith Verhen."

Raagu was discomforted noticing that only some of the Awakened from the Kingdom recognized the name. She distributed pieces of papers with all of his known achievements.

"He must be an Awakened too." Said Xola trying to regain a part of her credibility. "Treius was a lazy idiot, barely twenty years old, but Glamus Awakened him when he was still a kid and provided him with his best equipment.

"A street urchin Awakened like Nalear managed to kill Linjos, one of the best mages of the Kingdom. I can’t believe a Ranger still wet behind his ears could defeat Treius with fake magic."