Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 149: Athrimir
The thunder pierced through the gloomy atmosphere of the fortress and lit it up in silver light.
Frexon and Vale flinched and looked outside.
But Sevrix was unfazed, his mouth curled. "What’s he doing here?"
The shield around the fortress snapped into place in a blazing blue as all the enchanted words on the walls came to life. The Knights and everyone outside quickly ran into the barracks and buildings, shutting themselves in.
Enchanted symbols on those buildings also hummed to life.
The sky suddenly changed, and the gloomy dark clouds were driven away. The sun cut through, and then, in the next instant, lightning gathered together in a roar, lighting up the sky in a blanket of silver.
’This... this looks familiar,’ Vale thought. ’But it’s simply impossible... it’s not possible, right?’
Then the lightning condensed into a single thick rope that floated downward, cracking and twisting before it slapped the shield gently.
An explosion that shook the ground followed, accompanied by a flash of blinding light, and the shield popped as if it were a bubble. Then a pure white cloud in the form of a cupped hand gently floated down.
Vale recognized Tiber and Slya immediately, and he breathed a sigh of relief he didn’t know he was holding. His body relaxed a little.
But the man beside them made him both surprised and confused. ’Isn’t that Dlodus? What’s he doing here?’
The man and his companion jumped down from the cloud, and it disappeared in a puff. Vale’s eyes were on the man who looked like Dlodus, and yet not.
His features were the same, except this man had a long blond beard, and his eyes were cold without the hint of humor that always filled Dlodus’s face.
Sevrix strode forward. "How dare you come to my place like this, Steelclaw?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
Vale’s eyes widened. ’Steelclaw? This is the Flagbearer of the Steelclaw? Dlodus... his lookalike? What’s going on?’
Steelclaw stopped walking. He looked at Vale, then turned his gaze to Sevrix. "I’m just here to stop you from doing something very foolish."
Tiber and Slya rushed to Vale, and Slya began to fuss over him to see where he was hurt while Tiber gave him a slap on the back. Vale grinned. "I just knew you guys would do something stupid."
Sevrix narrowed his eyes. "What I do is none of your business. Since when has one Flagbearer stopped the work of another? Don’t overstep, Steelclaw."
The space between the two Master Knights boiled as they stared at each other.
"What’s going on?" Vale whispered.
Slya whispered back, "Just watch. We’ll explain later."
Just then, the door to the throne room was thrown open, and someone walked in. He was bulky-looking, with eyes like granite and a face carved from stone. He bowed in front of Sevrix. "I came here as soon as I heard. Are we under attack?"
"Worry yourself not, Tower Captain Blazin," Sevrix said.
The man nodded and then went to stand behind his master, glaring toward Steelclaw’s way.
For his part, Steelclaw ignored him and concentrated on Sevrix. "I am here to take Vale."
Immediately, the air in the room changed. The layers of darkness doubled, and Sevrix’s shadows curled around his feet. "You are the one backing him?" he asked in a cold voice.
Vale was just as shocked. ’I know they must be here for me... but the way Steelclaw is speaking... well...’
Steelclaw looked at Sevrix with a frown. "Backing him? I think you are misunderstanding something, Sevrix. I might be here just to save your life. Let me introduce the Young Master again."
Vale knew what was coming as Steelclaw turned toward him.
"This is Vale Athrimir, the Young Master of the Athrimir Clan."
The silence that followed was filled with shock and surprise. Sevrix took a step back as if he’d seen a ghost, his eyes locked on Vale. "You... are Vale Athrimir? Athrimir?"
’Ah... I guess I can’t hide it anymore... maybe it’s for the best anyway...’
Frexon and the other Scuffed Bones in the room turned to Vale in shock. Frexon was thinking about everything he had done to Vale, and his face went pale.
But it was Sevrix that Vale was watching. The man’s face went rigid. He opened his mouth a few times before closing it and narrowing his eyes. "Impossible. How can an Athrimir be here, and I not know? Besides, Vale Athrimir was dead."
What Vale heard from Sevrix was: ’My faction back in the court told me he’s dead. Why is this Vale showing up now? An imposter?’
Steelclaw smiled coldly. "Be as it may. Do you want to take the risk of finding out? He has declared himself an Athrimir."
Sevrix turned to Vale. "Have you?"
Vale knew his next words would change everything from now on, and he answered without hesitation. "I am Vale Athrimir. It’s good to meet you, Sevrix. Although I can’t say much about your hospitality."
Sevrix’s face twitched. "I can’t just accept that he is Vale Athrimir. There is no official declaration from the Athrimir Clan. You must prove this. Or do you vouch for him, Steelclaw?"
Steelclaw turned to Vale and studied him for a long time. "No. I don’t know him as well. But since he claims to be Vale Athrimir, then the burden to prove himself must fall on him."
Sevrix’s eyes lit up. ’I don’t know if this is the real Vale Athrimir, but before he was declared dead, it was openly known that he was imprisoned by his father... that means the Clan Leader might not really care if he disappears... this is a chance... something I can use...’
"Then given the time that he would use to prove himself, he will naturally be in my custody," Sevrix said.
The time wasn’t only for Vale. It was for the Flagbearers to send their spies out and really know what was going on. It was for them to make use of the new piece that had just appeared.
Steelclaw shook his head. "After you’ve tortured him? Do you want to kill him behind my back? What if he turns out to be an Athrimir? Have you forgotten who our masters are? Have you forgotten who our lords are?"
Sevrix flinched. "Athrimir."
Before they continued their argument, Vale already spoke over them. "I won’t be staying with either of you."
