Armipotent

"So you are still concerned about our family after what you have done, Brother?" Virion looked at his brother indifferently as he leaned his back against the wall.

Arbane averted his gaze from his brother and lowered his gaze. He moved his feet, rubbing his feet on the ground while waiting for his brother to continue what happened outside there. He wanted to know the implication he had done for his family and also for his kingdom.

"Hah…." Virion let out a sigh. "Lord Tang has decided your punishment. You will not be executed for what you have done. You will be a slave war for the Tang Empire, a foot soldier that is always standing in the front for The Empire for seventy years. Aside from food and lodging, The Empire will give you nothing for seventy years. You can't be promoted, and you have to hand over all your Game Coins to the Empire! You have nothing but a weapon and armor!"

Arbane raised his head as his brother's voice echoed in the dungeon. "I can't accept this! This is too harsh for what I have done!" He yelled toward Virion as his hand clenched onto the steel bars that separated him and Virion.

"What did you say?" Virion's eyes went cold, and he approached his brother. His steps were getting heavier as he got closer to the cell bar. "Say it again to my face!"

Bang!

Virion punched the cell bar with his fist, causing the hardest steel in the forest to bend in. "Repeat it once again, Brother! This time I will not hesitate to destroy your face so you will not be recognized when you go outside!" His eyes bulged out as his right hand reached his brother's chin.

"Do you know what Father and Mother did to save your life? Do you know what our parents did so you won't be executed?" Virion pulled his brother's chin closer to his face and said this slowly but loud enough to Arbane's ears. "They knelt to Lord Tang! Your father placed his face on the floor! Your father has to be a slave war like you! Your father bore your mistake and lowered himself to the floor just to save your life! Your fucking useless life!"

Swoosh!

Virion's left hand punched Arbane on the belly, causing the latter to be flung against the wall.

"Kuorgh!" Arbane spat out the saliva in his mouth as his face turned red from the pain. He knelt and held his stomach. He then slowly raised his head to see his brother's face.

"Hah." Virion controlled his emotion and let out a sigh again. "That's what our parents paid to save your life, Brother."

"This…" Arbane wanted to say something, but he did not know what to say. He could not believe that his father, whom he always looked up to, would kneel to someone else. ".... Impossible!"

"You will find out soon since you and your father will work together from now on. You will have to fight for the Empire, fighting alongside your father on the battlefield. Isn't that amazing, Brother?" Virion made a sarcastic remark. "You will be able to witness the strongest Elven King in the history of our Elven Kingdom."

"You can ask him if you don't believe me. But I doubt he will tell you the truth unless you ask him straightforwardly." Slowly, Virion lowered his head. "I guess this is much better than having your mother and sister sleep with Lord Tang, right? Fortunately, Lord Tang Shaoyang is not a sicko pervert."

"If that happens, I will make sure to kill you with my own hand, Brother." Virion's voice cracked into madness as he glared at his brother. Arbane flinched because this was the first time his brother had made that kind of expression in front of him. "Hah, it seems that I loved you so much in the past now that love turned into hate. I can't control my emotions when I see your face, Brother."

"I talked too much." Virion took a deep breath and released it in one go. He made eye contact with Arbane. "I am telling you that The Elven will no longer have your back from now on. You are alone, Brother. I will not protect you anymore from Lord Tang Shaoyang if you make a fatal mistake in the future. I will cut your head with my hand in front of Lord Tang Shaoyang. You are alone, Arbane!"

After saying that, Virion turned around and left his brother in a daze. When he reached the entrance, he heard Arbane's scream, calling his name. However, he did not look back and ignored his brother. Despite his expressionless face, tears flowed down from his eyes. "Who knows that I will cry at this age." He said as he closed the door.

"However, seventy years is enough for you to learn about the world, Brother. I hope you can learn well from Father." Virion muttered in a low voice as he wiped the tears. Seventy years were nothing for Elf, who could live for a thousand years.

*** ***

The attacker incident disappeared as if it had never happened in the first place. None of the Elven talked about it since the festive atmosphere surrounded The Elven. They celebrated their new king and were not aware that the previous king had become a slave war.

Tang Shaoyang made sure no one knew about the incident and the aftermath. There was no reason to escalate this further since he had gotten what he wanted, a Legend Rank Elven. However, there was one person that was still worried about the aftermath.

The former Elven Queen was sitting next to the window, gazing at the blue moon in the sky. Amidst the cheers from her people, she had an unsettling expression. "Did he truly forgive us just like that? What if he does some trick and kills them on the battlefield?"

Ava let out a sigh and took a sip of wine from the table. "I have to confirm this, but how?" She followed her husband's habit by tapping the table with her index finger.