Chapter 23: A Desperate Stand
Dimitri's frustration boiled over, his troubled expression turning into a full-blown tempest of annoyance. His brows knitted together, forming a deep crease that looked like it was etched by a scribe in a hurry. His fingers curled around the token, a precious lifeline to his father, hidden in the palm of his hand, and then with a swift and secretive motion, he crushed it as it could make his father arrive here.
Meanwhile, in the midst of this drama, the enigmatic showman of the hour, Zac, with an air of innocent curiosity, he leaned in and fixed his gaze upon Clarisse, whose naivety seemed to be providing an unexpected source of amusement.
"Clarisse," he inquired with an air of scholarly curiosity, a gleam of discernment shimmering in his gaze, "It appears that Gavin occupies a position of great distinction within their family lineage. Tell me, dear, why is this Gavin fellow so monumentally important?"
Clarisse, still unaware of Zac's underlying motives, opted to engage in the ongoing discourse. She articulated, "Gavin stands as one of the preeminent prodigies within our familial lineage. The role of the clan leader, historically, has been assumed by the most preeminent genius in their family's lineage. In a prior generation, our esteemed uncle succeeded in surpassing all competing geniuses, thereby ascending to the exalted mantle of clan leadership."
Following a brief pause for emphasis, Clarisse expounded, "It is Gavin who represents their paramount aspiration for the forthcoming era, aiming to secure the mantle of Clan leader within our generation."
"Clarisse, I must express my deep concern regarding your divulgence of our clan's confidential information to an individual outside our familial circle," Dimitri asserted vehemently, his tone reflecting his profound displeasure. He was acutely aware that each revelation of Gavin's significance only diminished their prospects of recovering him.
"Elder Dimitri, I must emphasize that the information I conveyed is not of a confidential nature. Moreover, it is widely disseminated knowledge within our community," Clarisse conveyed with a self-assured countenance. Her demeanor was one of composed assurance, as she took satisfaction in observing the evident vexation on Dimitri's countenance. This came as a reversal of fortunes, considering the occasions when he and Gavin had previously engaged in teasing both her and her sister.
Dimitri, left momentarily speechless by Clarisse's unexpected rebuttal, was grappling for a response.
However, before he could find his footing, Dimitri's voice rumbled with menace as he uttered, "If any harm befalls him, I shall hold all of you accountable, with consequences befitting your actions." His words were punctuated by an aura of impending doom that seemed to emanate from him.
In a sardonic tone, Zac interjected with a mirthful chuckle, directing his words towards himself and Bella, "Dimitri, you jest about us, the outsiders. Let's set that aside for now."
With a glint of feigned innocence, he continued, "But, you see, threatening the life of a clan member carries a weighty burden in the eyes of your clan's law, does it not, Clarisse?" Zac's inquiry was delivered with an air of professionalism, despite the tension in the room, as if he were an attorney examining a crucial point of law in the midst of a courtroom drama.
Abruptly, a suffocating weight pressed upon the room, causing all its occupants to palpably sense an impending storm.
Bella's voice, tinged with a hint of urgency, pierced through the tension, resonating from Zac's Soulsea. "Zac, an imposing presence is approaching. Its strength is undeniable."
Zac's expression darkened, his features etching a tableau of grim determination as he fixed his gaze upon the source of the encroaching pressure.
Amid this escalating tension, Dimitri's laughter reverberated, cutting through the room like a discordant note in a symphony. "Ha... Ha... Ha... Ha... My father approaches, and you shall witness the futility of any attempts at escape," he declared with a menacing undertone.
The sisters, in an unfortunate predicament, displayed contorted expressions, recognizing the dire implications of this development. Victor Crimson, Dimitri's father, and their Grand-Uncle, stood at the pinnacle of the Luminary stage, a peer to their own uncle's power. It was a turning point they hadn't foreseen, and they clung to the hope that Carmen could summon their uncle before the situation spiraled out of control.
However, in stark contrast to the escalating tension around them, Zac and Bella remained islands of calm amidst the tempest. Their countenances, though cold and composed, exuded an air of quiet confidence, a testament to their shared history of emerging unscathed from countless seemingly insurmountable challenges.
"Bells, "Zac began, his voice steady and measured", what's the situation? How do our odds stack up against our enigmatic visitor?"
Bella, with the precision of a seasoned analyst, responded, "I've assessed his capabilities, and it appears he stands at the High-stage E Rank, a realm akin to that formidable Damien we've encountered before. In a direct confrontation, it's evident he could dispatch us with alarming ease. Our sole ray of hope hinges on our leverage—the hostage."
As Zac's unwavering gaze remained locked onto the hostage, Bella's voice, a harbinger of practicality and strategic insight, resounded in the room. She underscored the importance of adding further constraints to their unruly captive.
Her words were tinged with the wisdom of a seasoned tactician. "We must impose additional limitations on this young troublemaker," Bella suggested. "The impending arrival of that formidable adversary renders our skeletal guardians vulnerable. Unlike Dimitri, who could only immobilize your physical body previously, this new arrival possesses the means to quell not only your corporeal form but also your energy manipulation, rendering our skeletal forces inert. Moreover, his swiftness would allow him to rescue Gavin well before our skeletal onslaught could even materialize."
Zac, deep in contemplation, deliberated upon Bella's counsel. After a moment of reflection, he placed his palm upon Gavin's head, channeling a stream of death energy into the hostage's body through the gateway of his skull.
"Brat… What the hell are you doing? "Dimitri's outburst reverberated through the room, a symphony of shock and confusion.
Undeterred by the commotion, Zac remained steadfast in his task, pouring death energy with meticulous precision. His focus was unwavering as he molded the raw power into concentrated energy spheres, discreetly positioning them within various points of Gavin's body. It was a strategic dance of life and death, played out with methodical calculation.
With Victor's imminent arrival, Zac's preparations neared completion. The stakes had never been higher, and the air grew thick with tension.
"Bells," Zac's voice, calm yet charged with the weight of responsibility, broke the silence. "If you detect even the faintest flicker of movement from our incoming guest, detonate all those energy spheres." Zac had entrusted this crucial task to Bella, a sentient AI whose lightning-quick reflexes and computational prowess made her the ideal guardian of their contingency plan.
Victor's discerning gaze fell upon the precarious tableau of Gavin, and he sought answers from Dimitri, a silent plea for clarity etched on his face. He possessed a sleek but strong build. His hair is a vibrant shade of crimson, a deep and rich red that stands out in stark contrast to his pale skin and his meticulously groomed mustache that accentuates his aristocratic air. It is perfectly maintained, enhancing his aura of refinement and sophistication. He was adorned in dark regal robes.
Once he'd pieced together the puzzle, Victor's eyes danced in a taut, unspoken exchange between Zac and Bella. The gravity of their dilemma hung heavy in the air.
Dimitri, driven by a surge of fervor, implored, "Father, we cannot afford to spare them. It's a matter of family honor."
But Victor's authority allowed no dissent. He silenced Dimitri with a steely glare and delivered his ultimatum with an air of calculated resolve. "Hush," he admonished his impetuous son. "I offer two paths before you. Release Gavin and pledge your allegiance as my disciples, or persist in your hostage game, where I shall claim retribution and free him myself."
In that pivotal moment, Victor's true intentions became clear; he recognized the extraordinary potential embodied by Zac and Bella and sought to wield that power under his control, crafting a delicate web of power dynamics that could reshape the fate of all involved.
Amidst the weighty proposition, Zac's features played host to a sea of contemplation, like a chess grandmaster considering his moves. Meanwhile, Dimitri's shrill protests reverberated through the room, his desperation laid bare. "Father, this is a perilous gamble! They're aligned with Damien. To let them live is to court catastrophe."
But Victor's patience had reached its limit, and he lashed out with a potent threat. "Silence, Dimitri. One more word from you, and I shall personally dismantle your defiance, piece by piece." Victor's disdain for his son had never been hidden; Dimitri's sole value lay in his maternal origins, his mother being a cherished figure among Victor's many wives.
In the midst of the tense standoff, Zac, the picture of cool composure, dared to pose a question. "What terms do you offer in exchange for our allegiance?"
Dimitri, scoffing at Zac's apparent ploy, protested, "Brat, your bargaining is futile, and you are in no position to negotiate."
As if on cue, Victor produced two contracts, their appearance casting an eerie hush over the room. The expressions of those present underwent a metamorphosis, like actors suddenly handed an unexpected script. Dimitri's ugly grimace transformed into a triumphant grin, an unspoken glint simmering beneath the surface.
Clarisse, who stood nearby, seized a moment to interject into the brewing conflict. "Great Elder," she implored with a note of diplomacy, "I must request your patience, for these individuals are under the guardianship of Uncle Damien. I implore you to await his arrival before taking any precipitous actions."
But Victor, with a measure of exasperation, dismissed Clarisse's plea. "Child, not even Damien possesses the privilege to dictate my course of action, let alone you." With a mere wave of his hand, he silenced both Clarisse and Elise, their voices temporarily stifled by his formidable authority.
Victor's gaze homed in on Zac, the weight of his question bearing down. "So, what say you? Yes, or no?"
Originally inclined to buy time and potentially feign agreement, Zac's resolve solidified when he glimpsed the ominous contracts in Victor's hands. The idea of becoming Victor's disciple was merely a veneer for something far darker—slave contracts of the Blackwood Family, a concept he was all too familiar with. Having endured enough of the Golden Circle's control, Zac had no intention of submitting to another.
With unwavering determination etched upon his face, Zac met Victor's gaze. "No," he declared resolutely.
Victor, his patience fraying, issued a dire ultimatum. "Brat, ponder your choice carefully. No one has ever rejected my offer before."
Zac remained unshaken; his determination unwavering. "Then let me be the first." A smirk formed on Zac's face.
In response, an aura of palpable menace began to emanate from Victor, a tempest of fury brewing within him. He shifted his attention to Bella, proffering her a choice. "Girl, I shall extend the same option to you. You may sever ties with him and choose to join me. After all, I've heard that he attempted to sacrifice you."
Bella's composure remained unyielding; her gaze ice-cold as she met Victor's challenge with a singular response. "His words are mine too." Zac had a playful smile as he took a quick glance at a particular direction.
A storm of anger and humiliation coursed through Victor, a gnawing frustration at being summarily rejected by two seemingly inconsequential adversaries. With a thunderous release of his potent energy, he seized control, not only of Bella and Zac but also over the formidable skeletal army he had marshaled.
In his heart, he knew the grim truth: these contracts could only bind willing signatories. His mind raced through desperate scenarios, but he lacked the arcane methods to enforce compliance. The Blackwood Family's sinister mastery of coercion had eluded him. He had pondered capturing his adversaries and delivering them to the Blackwood Family, but the specter of Damien's imminent arrival stayed in his hand.
In the span of a heartbeat, Victor surged toward the kneeling figure of Gavin, his intentions clear. But the moment Victor acted, Bella, obedient to Zac's directive, sprang into action, setting off a sequence of events that would leave the room ringing with chaos.
The detonation of an explosive force and a gory spray of matter echoed through the chamber, followed by a blood-curdling scream that pierced the air. All eyes turned toward the source of the commotion, a tableau of horror unfolding, except for Zac and Bella, who had orchestrated the grim spectacle.
Amid the stunned onlookers, Gavin lay crumpled on the floor, his left hand missing, a grotesque tableau of mangled flesh and shattered bone. Yet, amid this gruesome scene, Zac's voice cut through the tension, carrying an ominous warning even as his own body remained immobilized.
"Perhaps your son failed to convey the gravity of my words," Zac intoned, his tone chilling and his body still immobilized. "I had made it clear earlier: one more move on your part, and the consequences would be dire."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone