Chapter 157: For Justice!

Varyn’s actions caught King Theron by surprise.

Being attacked, and so brazenly in his own palace, was the last thing he expected. Yet, even as the monstrous serpentine forms hissed and charged, Theron didn’t consider them a real threat. His reaction was almost dismissive even.

Just before the aqueous serpents could even graze him, a sphere of brilliant flames erupted around Theron with a soft whoosh.

The water snakes, mere moments from impact, met the fiery barrier and were instantly, violently erased.

~Hiss!~

The sound of sizzling steam filled the air as the water was consumed, leaving behind no trace of its power.

But the flame sphere didn’t dissipate. As Varyn continued to chant ferociously, a relentless onslaught of about a hundred more water snakes, each identical in size to the first, materialized and surged forward.

Each time they slammed into the fiery orb, they were met with the same instantaneous destruction, evaporating in a burst of steam and a faint sizzle.

Theron remained perfectly still with confidence, merely standing on the spot while waiting for Varyn to give up.

Varyn, seeing his initial assault was proving futile, immediately switched tactics.

With a powerful quick chant, he summoned a strong gush of water, a torrent that erupted from the floor and surged towards Theron with incredible force.

The water currents were so potent that they could theoretically drill a hole clean through a mountain.



Yet! As they met the impenetrable flame sphere, they too succumbed, boiling away into nothingness with a deafening roar of steam.

It was only after a prolonged struggle — after countless gallons of water had been expended and evaporated in the form of powerful water spheres — that the continuous pressure finally, agonizingly, began to penetrate King Theron’s defenses.

And soon, the sphere that once protected him was cooled off.

But Theron was still not bothered. With a casual snap of his fingers, he burnt some lingering water spheres in the air.

"You really think you can beat me, Varyn? HA!" he scoffed and a deep mocking booming laugh echoed through the hall.

Varyn didn’t reply. His eyes, however, burned with an unyielding conviction, a fierce determination that defied the King’s taunts.

Next, he moved with astonishing speed, sliding forward in a flash. His feet glowed with a faint blue light, leaving shimmering water trails in his wake as he moved.

Another quick chant, formed a long, thick icy lance in his hand. Using the momentum from his sudden burst of speed, he thrust the lance forward, aiming for Theron’s exposed face.

Theron, still utterly unconcerned, watched Varyn’s futile attempt with an amused expression.

Just as the icy lance was about to strike, he simply reached out. With an almost imperceptible movement, he caught the tip of the lance.

The moment his skin touched the ice, it evaporated instantly with a soft fizz, leaving no residue behind.

Varyn, refusing to give up, attempted a desperate flanking maneuver, conjuring multiple ice shards and launching them at Theron from behind.

But the King had finally had it all.

"Enough!"

On Theron’s declaration. Instantly, all the shards mid-flight, were consumed in an explosion of flames, turning into vapor in an instant with a series of sharp pop sounds.

After this decisive action, Theron gave Varyn no more time to prepare another spell.

With a flick of his wrist, he sent multiple arcs of vibrant, searing flame hurtling towards Varyn. The former Duke could barely react before he was overwhelmed by the inferno and eventually consumed.

The flames raged, burning through Varyn’s clothes with frightening intensity, consuming his whole body in a mixof heat and light.

The air grew thick with the smell of scorched fabric and something far more disturbing.

Then, as suddenly as they had appeared, Theron snuffed out the flames with a flick of his wrist, plunging the hall back into relative darkness.

Theron walked closer, his boots echoing in the sudden silence. He peered down at Varyn’s unconscious form.

The sight was horrific. Varyn lay twisted on the cold stone floor, his skin a mottled landscape of angry red burns and blackened patches.

His once pristine attire was reduced to charred rags clinging to his blistered body.

His eyes were closed and his ragged breathing was a testament to the immense pain his body was enduring.

Theron looked at the severely damaged man before motioning to the guards who had finally arrived, drawn by the sounds of the struggle.

Before giving them instructions, he took a few minutes to prepare and cast a spell over Varyn.

It was a complex spell designed to keep Varyn in a state of constant, agonizing pain, while simultaneously ensuring he remained unconscious and unable to wake.

It could only be broken if he was healed, which would give him enough strength to dispel the spell. But as long as he remained in his condition, the spell could be considered eternal.



A soft red glow enveloped Varyn’s body for a moment before fading.

When he was done, Theron finally addressed the guards.

"Take him away," he commanded, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "Throw him into the deepest cell in the dungeons."

The guards, despite their training, exchanged uneasy glances. The hesitation was clear in their eyes; they were visibly scared, perhaps of being attacked by the former Duke, even in his current state.

Theron, sensing their fear, offered a reassurance.

"You don’t need to worry," he stated with disdain. "He’s alive, but he won’t be doing anything for a very long time."

Relief washed over the guards’ faces as they nodded in understanding. They acted swiftly, two of them carefully lifting Varyn’s still form.

They carried him away quickly before the remaining guards set about cleaning up the mess the short but violent confrontation had caused.

As the guards left with Varyn, Theron’s lips curled into an evil smile.

’No... I won’t kill you now, Varyn,’ he mused to himself. ’You’re too valuable for death. I’ll change you instead.’

He then turned to one of the guards still cleaning the floor and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Bring some maids to my chambers," he ordered in a dismissive tone, before turning and leaving the hall.

***

Three days passed in a flurry of preparations.

The capital was thick with anticipation, an undercurrent of both excitement and trepidation.

The day of their departure had arrived. Multiple horses, hundreds upon hundreds, lined the broad avenue stretching all the way to the vicinity of the Adventurers’ Association headquarters.

This was their primary mode of transportation for the arduous journey ahead. Most of the horses carried more than one occupant, a testament to the sheer number of forces being mobilized.

They were all led by King Theron’s magnificent, white steed, its powerful frame adorned with rich, ornate tack.

Flanking the entire army from behind were the horses of Duke Miralith and Duke Thalren, their expressions stoic and ready.

The news of this grand ’adventure’ wasn’t widely known in its entirety, the true purpose of a forceful invasion kept under wraps for the general populace.

However, almost everyone in the city could witness the sheer scale of the mobilization.

Citizens lined the streets, craning their necks to gaze at the endless stream of knights and mages.

The clatter of hooves on cobblestone, the low murmur of anticipation from the gathered forces, the occasional blare of a trumpet – all contributed to an atmosphere of immense, almost overwhelming grandeur. It was an impressive display of power and a visual testament to the kingdom’s might.

The forces were currently gathered at the barrier’s ed outpost, awaiting the King’s final directive.

For many of them, the news of this sudden, forced expedition had come as a shock. While some had initially tried to reject the King’s invitation, the iron-fisted threats had ensured that the vast majority eventually followed orders.

Despite this, they had still lost almost 50 persons from the initial estimated number, individuals who were currently serving their sentence in the cell for their refusal.

This minor reduction, however, didn’t bother King Theron in any way. He considered it a necessary culling, ensuring only the truly strong to remain.

Theron finally flew up for everyone to see him, his magic amplified voice echoing across the assembled multitude.



He was about to address the Kingdom once again, to offer a final justification for their impending conquest.

"Warriors of Zarion!" he began. "We gather today not for conquest, but for justice! The Elves, in their arrogance, have dared to send their spies to attack our kind, even succeeding in murdering our beloved Duke Varyn!"

A collective gasp swept through the assembled ranks. Whispers erupted, quickly turning into murmurs of shock and outrage.

The fabricated lie about Varyn’s death, presented with such conviction, struck a sympathetic chord. For many, this tragic news instantly solidified their resolve.

"This is not the first time their treachery has known no bounds," Theron continued, "And I say to you now, it will not be the last! But are we, the proud and strong people of Zarion, going to sit back and watch our dignity be trampled upon? Are we to allow such atrocities to go unpunished?"

"No!" a resounding roar erupted from the gathered warriors, their voices unified by a newfound sense of shared grievance.

Many who had previously doubted the justification of this war now found their purpose, their actions suddenly deemed righteous.

Theron smiled with a triumphant glint in his eyes.

"Now, follow me, great warriors of Zarion! We shall show those snotty Elves that we are superior! We shall make them pay for their insolence, and we shall get our revenge!"

A deafening war cry erupted from the assembled forces that echoed through the outpost.

With a triumphant flourish, the King took the first step, guiding his horse on the formation that was to take them into the magical forest.

Within minutes, the rest of the vast army followed, horse after horse, knight after knight, mage after mage, until eventually, every single member of the formidable expedition was complete. The journey had officially begun.