CHAPTER 23: MURDER

Lina stopped abruptly when she finally realized who was standing next to Kyrian. Her eyes widened, her feet rooted to the ground as if they had grown roots.

"General Harken!" she said, choking slightly on the words.

The old man only laughed, the sound echoing through the courtyard and drawing everyone’s attention.

"Relax, girl. Kyrian is practically family. If you’re his friend, you can be at ease." Harken, he said as he gave Kyrian another slap on the back.

This time, with enough force to make an ordinary man’s spine snap and drop him to his knees. Kyrian only leaned forward, but his feet remained in place.

Kyrian frowned, genuinely irritated in his mind.

"Huh. Stronger than you look, huh, kid." Harken said, raising an eyebrow.

"You want to test that?" Kyrian replied, clenching his fists. Harken really irritated him the same way Rurik sometimes did. And that was why he wanted to hit this old man.

Besides, it was the best way to test his current strength.

The silence that followed after Kyrian spoke was cutting. The surrounding soldiers exchanged glances and looked at Kyrian strangely, while Lina grew slightly worried.

To challenge General Harken, wasn’t that suicide? That’s what the others thought. But for Kyrian, that was something interesting.

Then old Harken suddenly burst into even louder laughter than usual, only stopping after a few seconds.

"HAHA! Great, great. Finally someone with guts in this generation!" Harken said, taking off his cloak and revealing his arms completely.

"Five minutes. If you can endure for five minutes, I’ll take you to dinner at the best restaurant in the capital." he said with a grin.

Kyrian turned to Lina, and she saw that his eyes now seemed to shine with excitement.

"Are you hungry?" he asked her.

She opened her mouth to say something but quickly closed it again.

’Really, food is the only thing that makes his expression change like that...’

The training arena was emptied immediately. The soldiers formed a barrier around the arena. In the center, Harken stretched his body, his bones cracking.

"The rules are simple, boy. No weapons, just flesh against flesh."

On the other side, Kyrian nodded and looked at Harken intently. His body now felt different, and he wanted to test it immediately.

The fight began in an instant.

Harken charged like a bull, his fist coming down heavy on Kyrian. Kyrian saw the attack, but it was much faster than he expected, and he only managed to twist his body to the side.

’What absurd speed for someone that size...’ Kyrian thought, his heart beating faster. But a slight smile appeared on his face.

This was what he needed.

He countered with a low kick, aiming at the general’s leg base. The impact was like kicking a massive stone block. Harken didn’t move an inch and laughed loudly.

"IS THAT ALL, BRAT?!"

His fist came in a fast arc, but Kyrian ducked and slid back, using his palm on the ground to launch another kick, this time aiming at the general’s chin.

Harken raised his arm, blocking it easily, but in his mind and eyes, surprise was clear.

’Strength and reflexes far beyond a third-rank martial artist. His power must be close to the second... a little monster.’

They then engaged in punches and kicks. The sound of footsteps and impacts echoed through the silent arena like drums.

As time passed, Kyrian stopped retreating. He now recognized every strike of the general, his eyes working fully, moving side to side in the battle.

He countered each blow, striking exactly at the weakest point of Harken’s attacks, not losing much despite being weaker.

Kyrian was focused, his breathing controlled, his blue eyes shining. He had no way to win, but he could endure.

Outside, the soldiers watched with jaws dropped. The difference in size was absurd, yet Kyrian kept the rhythm, as if dancing in the middle of a storm.

And so, five minutes passed.

Harken and Kyrian stopped.

Their shoulders rose and fell. Suddenly, Harken laughed loudly, startling the soldiers.

"HAHAHA! GREAT, BRAT!" He raised his huge arm and gave Kyrian another slap on the back.

"You won. Let’s have dinner." Harken said cheerfully.

’Rurik taught him well... and it seems it’s true. He knows exactly where, when, and how to strike. He’s a freak in combat. Impossible for those of equal strength to beat.’

’And for the stronger ones, he makes the fight difficult. When he becomes a second-rank martial artist... I believe only Elyria and the four of the order will be his opponents,’ Harken thought.

...

Kyrian and Lina went out at night. Harken had something to take care of, so he simply placed them in his own carriage and sent them to the restaurant.

As soon as they arrived, Lina sighed deeply while Kyrian looked eager. The smell from outside was great.

It was the most luxurious restaurant in the capital, Harken had said. And when they entered, crystal lamps, polished wooden tables, and the aroma of exotic spices filled the air.

It was a five-story building. Kyrian and Lina sat on the top floor, which was open. The moonlight illuminated the place along with the candles on the table.

The restaurant’s view was the immense lake where the moon was reflected.

Soon, Kyrian ordered without even looking much at the menu.

The waiter just listened.

"I want this, this, this, and this one too."

"I also want all of this here."

The waiter choked but didn’t dare refuse.

"Put it all on General Harken’s tab." Kyrian added, showing a small plaque of a golden spear.

And then the two ate. Juicy meat, dishes full of different spices, rare sweets. Lina drank an entire bottle of wine.

Kyrian found out she had turned sixteen a few days ago and was now considered an adult.

Kyrian smelled it and was about to taste it, but Lina didn’t allow it and drank it all herself.

Lina didn’t try to compete with him again, just watched Kyrian eat enough food to feed three people.

The conversation was relaxed. Lina seemed more talkative and excited about the tournament. She told him about whom she had paid attention to and who hadn’t yet arrived in the city.

Kyrian listened and spoke occasionally. Until they decided to leave.

Leaving the restaurant, the night wind blew through the streets. There was silence, but suddenly, when they least expected it, a piercing scream of horror echoed from an alley not far away.

Kyrian and Lina frowned, and before they even thought, Kyrian had already rushed in that direction.

He turned a corner and saw.

There was a body on the ground, wearing a guard’s uniform, blood spilling across the floor. And in less than a second, Kyrian saw a shadow fleeing, dressed in black. But he noticed immediately. It resembled the assassin who had tried to kill him in the forest. But this one was faster.

"Lina! Take care of the soldier." Kyrian shouted to Lina, who was just turning the corner, before shooting off after the assassin.

He ran through the dark alleys chasing the assassin. But quickly realized.

Their speed was matched.

’Another martial artist... but stronger. His speed is not normal. Probably second rank?’

Kyrian thought, frowning. If it kept up like this, he would never catch him, and the man could escape.

At that moment, he decided.

He took a deep breath for an instant.

His eyes closed and then opened wider than normal.

The snowflakes in his pupils grew and expanded as a faint blue light shone.

The particles accumulated in his eyes were used instantly, and the world seemed to slow down.

Suddenly, the ground beneath the assassin’s feet froze. His boot was completely stuck to the floor.

His body shot forward uncontrollably, colliding brutally against the wall. A cry of pain echoed before the assassin had a chance to flee again.

Kyrian was already above him the next instant.

His small hand shot at the assassin’s neck. Cold spread like an invisible prison from his fingers. The man’s skin turned purple, and his breathing failed. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t pry Kyrian off.

And soon he completely fainted from lack of air.

"Tsk," Kyrian muttered angrily at having to use the particles for this, but it was necessary to catch the assassin.

Kyrian then lifted the man still by the neck and dragged him through the alleys back to Lina.

...

Lina called the nearby soldiers and told them what had happened. The victim was already dead when she approached. She explained what she saw and grew a little worried about Kyrian but knew he would be fine after all, Kyrian was strong.

When Kyrian returned, Lina was beside the body while several soldiers surrounded the victim. Upon seeing him, she approached.

"Kyrian... this soldier. He was one of the ones who would participate in the tournament. I spoke with him today... and now..." Lina said with a grim expression.

Kyrian looked at the body on the ground and then at the assassin’s unconscious body in his hand.

The soldiers approached, asking about the man he was holding. But Kyrian cut them off immediately.

"This is nothing for you. I will report it to General Harken myself." Kyrian said, pulling out the plaque the general had given him. The soldiers then fell silent, bowed slightly, and handled the rest of the situation as per their duty.

Kyrian then dragged the unconscious man, scraping him across the stone floor to the carriage. He and Lina returned to the barracks quickly.

Upon arriving at the barracks, no one dared to stop him. He reached the main building and shouted for the soldiers to call the general.

The soldiers ran, and soon after Harken appeared quickly, his face already dark.

His gaze went straight to the unconscious body Kyrian carried.

Kyrian explained the event. Harken nodded slowly, but his expression darkened even more.

"This is already the third attack... it’s no coincidence." he murmured.

Harken then looked at Kyrian and Lina.

"Good work, brat. From here on I’ll handle the situation. Take the bastard back to the Royal Order. They handle matters regarding martial artists. I want them to deal with the interrogation."

"And you, girl, don’t leave the barracks until everything is settled. I’ll inform the other youths as well." Harken added.

Kyrian only nodded. He took the carriage and left, while Lina remained in the barracks.

As the carriage moved along the streets, now emptier than during the day, on top of a building a figure observed. His low voice sounded heavy with seriousness.

"One of the priority targets located. Kyrian. Risk A+... no, Risk S. We need more people..." the man said before disappearing into the darkness.