Capítulo 21: Encounter with the Transmigrator (2)
The wind whistled through the trees as Rudra and Lucia Nasca approached the camp. Their steps were cautious, their expressions etched with a mix of determination and fear. Despite their young ages—Rudra, 14, and Lucia, just 13—they were already among the strongest warriors in their kingdom, each holding a Rank C status. But as they neared the battlefield, even they knew that their power might not be enough.
The tension in the air was palpable, and the soldiers' weary eyes followed them as they passed. Whispers filled the camp, murmurs of hope mixed with disbelief that two such young warriors would be the ones to save them. It wasn't long before they spotted him—the man who had single-handedly stopped the raiders just moments before.
Zephyron stood near the remnants of the battered wall, his back to them as he surveyed the battlefield. His presence was commanding, his aura still lingering in the air, making even the bravest of soldiers hesitate to approach. He was calm, unnervingly so, as though the chaos around him had no impact.
Rudra and Lucia exchanged glances before Rudra stepped forward, his voice firm but respectful. "Sir... you saved us. We don't know how to thank you."
Zephyron turned slowly, his eyes meeting theirs with an intensity that made the young prince pause. There was something ancient in those eyes, something far beyond the scope of a mere man. His face was calm, his expression unreadable. "You don't need to thank me. I did what was necessary."
Lucia, always the more impulsive of the two, took a step forward. "But who are you? The soldiers say you stopped the raiders without lifting a sword. How is that possible? And why are you helping us?"
Zephyron smiled slightly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "My name is Zeyron," he said, intentionally hiding his true identity for now. "I'm an elemental and... a true hero."
Both siblings froze at the mention of a 'true hero.' They had heard the term whispered in legends and stories, tales of warriors born to destroy evil in the world.
"A true hero?" Rudra echoed, his voice filled with awe and disbelief. "You mean... you're the opposite of the True Demon Lords?"
Zephyron's gaze turned distant for a moment, a flicker of nostalgia crossing his face. "Something like that," he muttered softly. His thoughts drifted briefly to a time when he was reborn, to battles fought in another world.
He had been brought down by a red demon once—a being of such immense power that it had destroyed his first form without even trying. The memory of that battle still burned in his mind. He thought, "How could he make that demon feel pain?" Zephyron would ensure he experienced something far worse when their paths crossed again.
But now wasn't the time for personal vengeance. There were more immediate concerns at hand.
Nova's voice rang cold in his mind, cutting through his thoughts. "He can't feel pain anymore, remember? There's no point in focusing on revenge."
Zephyron's jaw tightened, but he pushed the thought aside. There would be time enough for that later.
Lucia, noticing the change in his expression, pressed him further. "If you're a true hero, does that mean you can stop the orc lord? He's the one behind all of this, isn't he?"
At the mention of the orc lord, Rudra's fists clenched, his face hardening with anger. "That monster... he's the strongest creature in the region. He's the one who destroyed our kingdom. My father and our best generals were killed trying to stop him."
Zephyron's gaze shifted to Rudra, and for a moment, he saw the weight the boy carried on his shoulders—the burden of being the last hope for his people. But the anger in Rudra's voice was tempered with grief, and as Zephyron listened, he realized that there was more to this story than a simple warlord's conquest.
"What happened to your father's army?" Zephyron asked quietly, his voice gentle but firm.
Rudra hesitated, and it was Lucia who spoke, her voice trembling with emotion. "Our father led the assault against the orc lord... an elite team from the Seven Kingdoms, the best warriors, even the king and queen themselves. But they failed. Father was killed in battle, and Mother... Mother was taken captive." She swallowed hard, her eyes brimming with tears. "Rather than be a hostage, she... she took her own life."
The air around them grew heavy with the weight of her words. Zephyron remained silent, letting the siblings have their moment. He had seen too much loss in his past life, but the grief of children was something that never ceased to cut through him.
He considered his options, trying to reconcile the information he already had with what he was hearing now. He had suspected the orc lord was more than just a powerful warlord, perhaps even a reincarnated soul like himself—someone who knew more than they should. The pieces were falling into place, but one question still lingered in his mind.
"Why did they try to assassinate him?" Zephyron asked after a long pause. "Surely a direct assault would have been more effective."
Lucia wiped at her eyes, her voice steadier now. "Because he commands an army of over 400,000 orcs. No one can face that head-on and hope to win. They thought a small, elite team could slip in, kill him, and scatter the orcs without their leader."
Zephyron nodded, though he wasn't surprised. He had already sensed the orc army's size using his extra skill, Universal Detection. The numbers weren't usual for this region, but they did confirm one thing: the orc lord was likely reincarnated, just like him. There was no other way he could have amassed such a force without the help of a system or a powerful skill, and no way he would know to target Rudra and his sister without knowledge from another world.
"I see," Zephyron said quietly. His mind raced, formulating a plan. If the orc lord truly was a reincarnated soul, then he would be far more dangerous than any normal monster. But it also meant Zephyron had an advantage—he knew how people like him thought. But sadly, it was bound to disappoint him as the orc lord was from an alternate Earth.
"I'll help you kill him," Zephyron finally said, his voice calm and resolute.
Both Rudra and Lucia's eyes widened in shock. "You'll help us?" Rudra asked, his voice full of disbelief. "But... why?"
Zephyron shrugged, his expression unreadable. "Because it needs to be done. But make no mistake, this isn't just about your kingdom. If the orc lord really is who I think he is, then he's a threat to everyone, not just you."
Lucia stepped forward, her eyes shining with determination. "Then take us with you. We want to fight alongside you."
Zephyron raised an eyebrow. "You two are strong for your age, but you're still young. The orc lord won't be an easy target."
"We know that," Rudra said, his voice firm. "But this is our fight too. He destroyed our kingdom, killed our parents... we won't just sit by while someone else takes revenge for us."
For a long moment, Zephyron said nothing, studying the two siblings carefully. He saw the fire in their eyes, the same fire he had seen in countless others before them. He remembered all those young faces who wanted to join the United Nations army to fight against the Alliance. They wanted justice, but more than that, they wanted to prove themselves.
Nova's voice echoed in his mind once more. [Taking them with you could be a mistake. They're young and emotional. They could get themselves killed and the plot will be gone then.]
"Or they could grow in this fight," Zephyron replied silently. He made his decision.
"Alright," he said aloud, meeting their gazes. "You can come with me. But you'll follow my lead. This isn't a game, and if you don't listen to me, you won't survive."
Both Rudra and Lucia nodded eagerly, relief and determination washing over their faces.
"We won't let you down," Rudra said, his voice full of conviction.
Zephyron allowed a small smile to cross his face, though it didn't last long. He knew the path ahead would be dangerous, perhaps more dangerous than they realized.
"Good," Zephyron said, turning his back to them and staring out at the horizon. "Rest for now. We'll leave at first light. And when we do, we'll find out who this orc lord really is."
As the siblings retreated to prepare, Zephyron's mind was already racing ahead, formulating the next steps. This wasn't just about defeating the orc lord anymore. The plot was changing, diverging from what he knew.
"This world is breaking apart at the seams," Zephyron thought grimly. And I need to find out why before it's too late. If I hadn't been here today, the plot would have been completely destroyed.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder