Chapter 42: Marequis's Right Hand

Chapter 42: 14. Marequis's Right Hand

In the training grounds of the House of Hell's Calamity, Bayne deftly removed his noble robes with a single hand and grabbed a Druzhic halberd from a nearby weapon rack.

Two martial arts masters took their stances. Kaisley was wary of Bayne, despite the man's missing arm.

Bayne launched a direct assault, his single-handed halberd strikes incredibly swift. After Kaisley dodged to the side, he executed a wide, sweeping slash, but Bayne used the butt of his halberd to pin the blade of the curved executioner's knife, neutralizing the attack instantly.

They fought for several rounds, locked in a stalemate.

Kaisley failed to gain even the slightest advantage.

Nuker peered through the side of the study window, watching the fight below. "Bayne Blood-Calamity? If I remember correctly, he is a Tower Master of the Twelve Towers? I saw him just last year."

A great family capable of standing firm for five thousand years in Druzhic society was no joke. The conference room was connected to secret chambers and passages; if a signal like a smashed cup were given, executioners could be dispatched immediately. It was just that Dakus was unaware of it.

Butler Dia bowed his head respectfully and said, "Yes, Young Master. The family guards at the secret door of the conference room said he came under the oracle of Aedrez to teach Young Master Dakus martial arts."

Nuker whispered with a look of confusion, "A chosen of Morayge Heg? To actually send a Tower Master who follows Aedrez specifically to teach him martial arts? Why didn't he send a Sister of Slaughter instead? Have I been alive too long? Since when did these gods become so reliable?"

Nuker then turned to Butler Dia and said, "Go, make arrangements. Have Nagalonde look into his background, and also that arm of his."

Aedrez, the Lord of Blades, is the god of war among the Elven pantheon, belonging to the Sesariel system—the Underworld gods. He is obsessed with supreme martial prowess, but his status is low. In Druzhic society, few follow him aside from the legendary Sisters of Slaughter and the Black Guards, and many despise him for his refusal to fight for anything other than honor.

However, once Aedrez decides to fight, he is merciless. In his Death Arena, any tactic is permitted, including the Ashina sword style. He constantly redefines the boundaries of this arena in the mortal realm, such that one might only realize they have been within it long after death.

He is the patron saint of duelists; elves who seek glory in combat revere him. He is highly respected by the Eternal Guards who live in the trees, as they often participate in martial adjudications by order of their lords. To fight in the Arena of Blades is the highest honor an Eternal Guard can aspire to, for it is not merely an earthly extension of Aedrez's Death Arena, but a path of self-sacrifice for a righteous cause.

In short, he is quite contradictory.

The two martial arts masters exchanged several more rounds of blows. Dakus could clearly sense that Kaisley was beginning to falter.

Two rounds later, the tip of Bayne's Druzhic halberd came to rest at Kaisley's throat, while Kaisley still held his curved executioner's knife raised, ready to strike.

The victor was decided!

Bayne retracted his halberd, planted the butt on the ground, and bowed to Kaisley. Kaisley also lowered his knife and bowed, saying, "Impressive!"

Dakus watched Kaisley in surprise, thinking, *I thought he was a mute. Turns out he can actually talk. It's a bit strange to have a Druzhic family law enforcer who can speak; it's not exactly reassuring.*

Bayne placed the Druzhic halberd back on the rack and turned to look at Dakus, his meaning perfectly clear.

Dakus felt a chill run down his spine.

"A newcomer entering the Tower—the welcoming ceremony!"

Before even half a round had passed, Dakus was curled up on the ground.

As mentioned before, the Black Guards of Nagalonde are known as "The Old Guard of Marequis," composed entirely of noble scions. The Black Guard barracks are divided into twenty towers, which compete with one another through war and torture. Marequis encourages this competition and holds a tournament at the start of every Bloody Season to determine which tower will hold dominion over the others for the coming year.

The leaders of each tower are Tower Masters—veteran Black Guards who are masters of the arts of death and combat. These Druzhics are willing to continue serving Marequis even after their two-hundred-year term of service ends. These powerful warriors lead the unit with iron discipline; in their eyes, any act that brings shame to the tower through lack of discipline—or through any hint of mercy—is intolerable. The martial skills of these twenty Tower Masters are the pinnacle of Druzhic society. Because of their loyalty and valor, they earn Black Dragon mounts and become Lords of Extinction.

Few Black Guards survive to retirement after two hundred years, and even those who do choose to remain loyal to Marequis until death or disability. They have no choice; any sign of uncontrollability is ruthlessly crushed by Korlan Blackhand.

Speaking of Marequis's right hand, Korlan Blackhand, one cannot bypass Nuker's father, Alandrian. He was Marequis's adjutant, friend, and companion during his early travels through the Old World, and was deeply trusted by him. It was Alandrian who taught Marequis the Dwarven tongue and handled the other two elves in contact with the Dwarves to ensure Marequis maintained diplomatic control. Alandrian's shadow is present in all of Marequis's early misdeeds; some of those misdeeds were even orchestrated and encouraged by him, until Alandrian fell in battle at Tal Anrek.

This is one of the reasons why Marequis tolerates the House of Hell's Calamity as a great vassal. Nuker also served as an adjutant by Marequis's side in his youth, though those were matters from five thousand years ago.

"You are the true Phoenix King, His Majesty Marequis. You are the son of Einarion, the heir to the Phoenix King. This is your right, your merit, and your lineage. I am willing to stake my life to witness this ancient error being reversed and your legitimate status being restored. As an elf, I can think of no higher mission."

These were the words Korlan Blackhand spoke when swearing his oath to Marequis while serving as a Black Guard Captain. He rose to power five hundred years ago; his intellect was sharp, and his combat skills were infinitely keen. Within his first ten years of service, he became a Tower Master. Not long ago, he threw the former Black Guard Captain off the eastern wall of the Black Tower, ascending to the position of Captain of the entire Black Guard, responsible for commanding all of them. He possessed the rarest thing in this land of betrayal: a loyal soul!

He is a warrior completely devoted to Marequis, becoming an adjutant trusted by Marequis even more than the father and son of Alandrian. Such a precious trait is rare in the land of Nagaros!

(This chapter is not filler; it is very important, revealing two significant foreshadowings.)

(End of Chapter)