Chapter 34: Dan's rage
Dan reclined on a wooden chair, crossing his leg and supporting his head with his hand, his eyes closed in a display of indifference. Cornelius, sitting across from him, perceived Dan's new demeanor as disrespectful but remained silent; after all, Dan was no longer a prisoner.
"So... any valuable information yet?" Cornelius asked.
"Nope," Dan replied, his tone nonchalant, which irritated Cornelius, but he kept his composure.
"Her next move, her goal, anything at all," Cornelius pressed, receiving the same lazy response: "Nope."
"Dan! You don't understand what's at stake. We need something to—"
"We...?" Dan finally opened his eyes, fixing them on Cornelius. "There is no 'we.' Everything 'we' did together ended the day you broke off the deal."
"That was all part of the plan—"
"Right?" Dan laughed mockingly. "I've been wondering why you needed me to get close to Ella. Why didn't you handle that yourself?"
"Don't be foolish, Dan. I couldn't get that close to Ella," Cornelius said.
"Yeah, I know. Getting close to Ella, I realized why you were so obsessed with her and wanted to know her plans..." Dan leaned forward. "...She is different from you all. She has a goal, a bright future. She is what this world needs."
"Dan, trust me. Whatever she told you, it's a lie."
"She told me she stopped you from 'silencing' me. Did she lie about that?" Dan asked.
"I... that was the only way."
"I know. Killing me, the owner of the Amulet, was your only way to save yourselves, right? Well, I didn't come here to talk about that," Dan said, standing up. "I came here to warn you: stop meddling with Ella or you'll be dealing with me," he said, turning to leave.
"What about the amulet? I still have it," Cornelius said, stopping him at the door.
"I know. Keep it safe for me," Dan replied with a smile before leaving.
***
Dan walked down the long hallway in the Champions' chambers, his face stern, brows furrowed, reflecting his frustration. His thoughts were chaotic, considering his role in the unfolding events. He was pulled from his reverie when he noticed Ella running towards him.
Ella collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. She clung to Dan's clothes, struggling to speak coherently through her sobs.
"Dan, I..." she managed before breaking down.
Dan knelt beside her, offering comfort. "Take it easy. Talk to me."
"Dan, I'm so sorry. I didn't know about it. I didn't know any of this," Ella said.
"What is it? What happened?" Dan asked.
"They... they did it... Naya, they—"
"Naya? What happened to Naya?" Dan's tone deepened, but Ella couldn't respond, only weeping.
Dan stood and was heading to the female quarters when a troop of guards entered the hallway, blocking both his path forward and his retreat.
"What's this?" Dan thought.
Emerging from within the troop was Cornelius, his expression grim and weary.
"Dan, you are under arrest for treason. Resistance is futile," Cornelius's voice echoed. "You brought this on yourself, Dan," he whispered.
"You!" Dan wanted to attack Cornelius but noticed the guards behind him rushing forward. He moved Ella to safety and engaged the guards in combat.
***
In the Champions' training room, Shawn and the others were busy with their usual workout and spa session.
"Is Sir Dan not coming today?" a small guy asked, worried.
"He said he's coming, and he's never missed a single day. He'll be here," Shawn assured him.
A loud knock interrupted them, and two guards entered. One stepped forward.
"Champions, there is an emergency. Your presence is needed at the front."
"What's the problem?" Barnabas asked loudly.
"Yes, what's the cause of the emergency?" Shawn added.
"Dan the Reaper is leading a coup to kill the head chief. He's currently making his way to the head chief's chambers," the guard explained.
"The kid did what?" Barnabas shouted.
"I can't believe that," Shawn stated.
"Unfortunately, it's true. As per the laws, your presence is required," the guard said and left.
"Did Sir Dan really do that?" the little one asked.
"I don't know the kid well, but he would never do such a thing," Barnabas chimed in.
"Let's hurry. We have a duty to fulfill," Shawn said, strapping a sword to his waist.
***
Few minutes later in the female chambers, Dan stood before Naya's bed, looking at her bruised and battered body. His clothes and hands were covered in the blood of the guards who had tried to stop him.
Dan stood there calmly, just staring, but inside, he was seething with a mixture of emotions. His mind was clear of everything except the thought of revenge.
"Huff... huff... You need to calm down, Dan. Let's talk this through," Cornelius said, holding onto the door for support. He hadn't sustained any physical injuries, likely because Dan still needed him.
As Dan stood, Shawn and Barnabas rushed into the room. Their eyes quickly took in the scene: Cornelius struggling to stand, Ella kneeling beside Naya's bed, and Naya unconscious. But most striking was Dan, covered in blood.
"What is this?" Barnabas asked loudly, speaking to no one in particular.
"What's going on here, Dan?" Shawn asked calmly, realizing Dan was likely the cause.
Dan turned but didn't answer, instead walking closer. Cautious, Shawn unsheathed his sword, prompting Dan to stop and glance at him with a lifeless gaze.
"Are you going to stop me, Shawn?" Dan asked, his voice cold.
"If... what you intend to do is what I think it is," Shawn answered hesitantly, gripping his sword tightly. Seeing Shawn prepared, Barnabas unsheathed his sword, taking a fighting stance.
"Then that means yes," Dan said, kicking forward and appearing in front of Shawn. He landed a heavy uppercut to Shawn's stomach, sending him crashing into the wall. Dan kicked Barnabas's hand, disarming him, then twisted and kicked his neck, knocking him out and crashing on the wall.
"Cough..." Shawn coughed up blood, watching Dan approach. 'He really held back then,' he thought.
Dan stood over Shawn. "I don't want to kill you, so stay out of this," Dan said, turning to leave.
"Don't fuck with me, kid!" Barnabas's voice echoed. He tried to grab Dan but ended up hugging himself. Dan was behind him, waiting for him to turn, then unleashed a barrage of punches to his gut and finished with a punch to his chin, knocking him out again and this time for good. Dan glanced one last time at Shawn and Barnabas before proceeding to the head chief's chambers.
After Dan left, Cornelius regained his strength and was about to leave when Shawn called him back.
"Take me... to the head chief," Shawn insisted. "We need to get there fast."
"I know a shortcut," Cornelius said. But they were too late.
***
Dan walked slowly towards the head chief's chambers. The large door was in sight, and the area was deserted, given he had already dealt with most of the guards.
Dan pushed the door open, only to find over twenty guards stationed inside, arrows ready at Lucien's command.
"Fire!" Lucien ordered.
Arrows flew towards Dan, who quickly leaped back, dodging most but taking a few hits to his leg and abdomen.
"Load and fire!" Lucien ordered again.
"Not so fast," Dan rushed back into the room, impaling a guard with an arrow he held. He grabbed a sword and dispatched the remaining guards with precise strikes.
"Hmph... What a bunch of useless fools," Lucien snorted, picking up his sword to face Dan. He seemed to forget who Dan was.
"I don't know what made you think you could do as you please in my mansion..." Lucien charged at Dan, swinging his sword. Dan dodged casually and tripped Lucien.
Lucien crawled to his feet, reaching for his sword, but his left hand went numb. He looked in horror to find it missing.
"Arrgh! My hand!" Lucien screamed, clutching his wrist.
"You will pay for what you did to Naya," Dan said coldly, ready to finish Lucien.
"That's enough!" Shawn's voice echoed.
Dan turned slowly. "I told you to stay out of this!" he shouted back.
"I have a duty to fulfill," Shawn charged at Dan, swinging his sword. Dan dodged, but Shawn swung back, forcing Dan to leap back.
Lucien, excited, shouted, "Yes, get him! Kill that brat!"
"You're something else, Dan... I envy you," Shawn said, breathless. Despite Dan's lack of lethal intent, Shawn hadn't recovered. " I can never progress... and I realized that recently. I always wondered what made you stronger but ended up finding what made me weak. I blinded myself, limited myself. Unlike you I didn't have a will of my own, I ignorantly hid under the shadows of my self proclaimed duty's and responsibilities but that wasn't the came for you... In order to get stronger I needed a will of my own" Shawn raised his sword high, revealing a determined look.
"Ryo!!" Dan exclaimed, eyes wide.
Shawn turned to Lucien and swung his sword with insane speed, cutting Lucien from shoulder to waist so fast there weren't any stain of blood on his sword.
Shawn staggered, coughing blood. Dan rushed to him. Shawn looked pale, with dark bags under his eyes and a high fever.
"Hey, Shawn, what happened? What did you do?" Dan panicked, little did he know that Shawn was gradually slipping away.
Despite his weakened state, Shawn managed a faint smile. "D-Dan... thank..." His voice trailed off as his spirit left him.
"Shawn?! Shawn, hang in there!" Dan barked, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Father?" Ella entered the room, her gaze landing first on Lucien, who was barely alive. "Father!" Ella rushed to Lucien's side, holding his blood-covered body weeping.
***
Cries of sorrow echoed through the room and hallway. The once-raging conflict seemed to extinguish, leaving behind a heavy silence. But the realm was soon shaken by another dire message.
"My lord! My lord!" A guard rushed into the room, startled by the disarray.
"What is it?" Cornelius furrowed his eyebrows at him.
"My lord, there is an emergency. The council of the nine chiefs were all found dead this evening."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone