Death Ascension - Chapter 109

“Dame Nora is not an object, brother.” Deon said as he picked up the thrown spear, “I can’t ‘give’ her to you just because I’m her superior. So, we can’t bet with her as a prize.”

“Hmm? But what if she wants to go to my Order of the Soaring Griffin? What if she just can’t leave your pathetic personal Order because you are her benefactor? Won’t you give her to me then?”

At his brother’s words, Deon visibly flinched.

‘What if he’s right? Dame Nora would have better treatment if she joins brother Cail’s Order. Unlike with mine where she’s constantly ridiculed…’

“Hey, kid. What nonsense are you thinking about? Huh?” noticing Deon’s reaction, Mikael admonished the boy, “Dame Nora pledge loyalty to you. No one else but YOU. Do you get it?”

He did.

Prince Deon Hensworth did.

‘Sir Mikael is right. Dame Nora is my person.’

‘I have to protect what is mine.’

Deon steeled his heart as he faced his elder brother. Despite his fear, he looked at Cail in defiance.

“Sir Mikael.” the boy called via direct messaging, “Please help me protect Dame Nora.”

“Of course, you idiot. I’m your partner.” Mikael smiled with pride as he activated his skill.

< Skill: Partial Integration Lvl. max is activated.>

Ping!

<System Notification: Due to Partial Integration, the System has switched player mode from ‘Solo’ to ‘Duo’>

<System Notification: Percent Assimilation with Co-player Deon Hensworth has increased to 54%>

<System Notification: Percent Assimilation is less than 66.66%, Level 3 active skills are sealed.>

The youngest prince’s left eye flashed green beneath his brown locks.

“So, you finally decided to fight. Great.” Cail smiled as he got into a fighting stance.

“But, brother, isn’t it unfair that only you have something to gain from this bet?” Kaede clenched and unclenched his fist on the spear shaft. It has been quite some time since Deon and Mikael partially integrated for a fight.

“Oh? So, you think you can beat me now, huh?” Cail laughed at Kaede’s remark, “You’ve become interesting, brother.”

“Well, don’t you know that people can change? I’m not going to be a coward forever.” Kaede glowered at Cai as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, “So, what will you bet?  Brother?”

“Hmm… then, if you win, I won’t call you a wimp anymore. How’s that? A pretty fair trade, huh?”

‘What the?! This f*cker’s really testing my patience!’ Mikael cursed at Cail’s arrogance, but still replied as Deon wanted to.

“Fine.”

“Good. Here I come!” Cail dashed toward Kaede with a speed unbelievable for his large physique! His long legs closed their distance in an instant while his long arms sought Kaede like a whip.

Kaede ducked to evade his brother’s attack.

“HAHA! Not bad!” Cail commended Kaede’s fast reflexes, “But! Not enough!”

Cail’s momentum continued and he spun like a top. Just as Kaede stood in his spot, Cail’s leg appeared from the side and crashed into Kaede in a roundhouse kick!

“Pu-ha!” Kaede felt like he just got rammed by a wrecking ball from the impact.

Cough! Cough!!

‘This F*cker! How could you not hold back?! Do you want to kill your brother?!’ Kaede thought as he nursed his side. His hand trembled from the intense pain.

Now Mikael knew why Deon was afraid of his brother, ‘The d*mned b*stard knows no mercy!’

“What? You’re done? Stand up, wimp. I thought you’re going to defeat me?” Cail stalked his brother with a pleased expression.

Kaede wobbled as he stood. He just realized that fighting Cail was vastly different from fighting with the Super Major or the Ant Queen. Back then, he had body reinforcement that healed his injuries continuously. Aside from that, he had perfect assimilation that tripled his stats and removed his MP consumption.

Now, Kaede was back to his weak self.

Bam!

Cail’s left foot stomped the ground as his spear extended toward Kaede’s midsection.

Kaede stepped back to avoid getting his guts skewered.

‘Tsk!’

His eyebrows twitched in annoyance. The second prince’s movements made it impossible to go anywhere but backward and Kaede couldn’t even attack as Cail aggressively attacked, leaving him with virtually no openings!

Cail lunged.

Kaede stepped back.

He lunged again.

Kaede stepped back again.

Lunge.

Step back.

Lunge.

Thud!

Kaede’s back touched the winter rose bushes.

‘Sh*t!’

He was trapped!

As Kaede busily evaded the spear, Cail had lured him into the square’s corner.

Now, Kaede had nowhere to go!

‘The heck! Is this a boxing ring?! How did we get cornered?’ Mikael was now fuming in anger. Cail’s overwhelming fighting experience had painfully eclipsed theirs and Mikael thought the only way to overcome this disadvantageous situation was to use their trump card.

“Kid, let’s use some skills.” He told Deon.

“A-alright, sir.”

It was at that moment.

Just as Cail had been certain of his victory, Kaede vanished!

<Skill: Teleportation Lvl. 1 is activated.>

“Wha-?! Where?!” Cail’s eyes widened in shock at Kaede’s disappearance.

Then his instincts kicked in.

He turned around and found his brother standing 3 meters away from him.

Now, it was Kaede’s turn to attack!

“YAAAAHHH!!!” He yelled as he ran toward the confused Cail.

But Cail quickly regained his composure and prepared to receive Kaede’s attack!

“YES! THAT’S MORE LIKE IT!” the second prince roared with his lips stretched wide.

Cail planted both feet on the ground, his hand arrogantly beckoning Kaede, “COME HERE, WIMP! GIVE ME ALL YOU’VE GOT!”

Seeing that his brother had no intention to evade, Kaede ran straight toward Cail with his spear pointed forward.

As soon as Kaede’s weapon entered his reach, Cail grabbed the shaft just behind the blade.

Then, he yanked it away. Strongly. Making Kaede stumble as he was pulled along with his spear.

But before he could regain his balance, Cail gripped his shoulder, and a powerful knee kicked his stomach!

Cough!

The contents of Kaede’s stomach spilled from his mouth.

Cail then whispered in his ear, “I don’t even need to use my spear on you.”

True enough, Cail Hensworth had yet to seriously attack his sibling. He was just having fun watching Kaede’s desperate attempts to defeat him.

‘B*stard!’ Kaede—or rather, Mikael—cursed at Cail. He could not believe that a scumbag like this was Deon’s brother.

Kaede wiped the saliva dripping from the side of his mouth as he glared at the second prince.

“Oh? Have you learned to defy me now, wimp?” Cail sneered, “but what can you do? When you’re so weak.”

In the end, Kaede couldn’t help it anymore.

“F*CK YOU!” he spat.

–Chapter end–