( Rudra’s POV , 2 minutes ago )

Rudra was racking his brains about how to break through the red barrier , when a simple line of thought entered his mind. What was the information he had about this barrier?

1) it was red in color

2) it had something to do with the red jewel that was sold in the auction.

Hence Rudra came to the conclusion that the red jewel was somehow central to this entire formation , that he needed to find the red jewel and destroy it.

Rudra split the group , and told them to circle the room , and look for a small red jewel , while he looked for it on the terrace.

Karna and Jhonny instantly started to look for the small red jewel , they had absolutely no idea why they were looking for it , however because Rudra asked for something , they only had to follow.

Karna absolutely loved this thing about Rudra, the man was an ocean of knowledge , with Rudra he felt as if he was playing with someone who had been playing Omega for years and not just the one year in which the game had been launched. Always having a future vision , Rudra was never out of options.

Right at the top of the dome covering , Emperor Cervantez’s room , there was a small red gem embeded onto the ceiling , when Rudra tried to touch the gem , glowing red patterns appeared , which did not permit Rudra to touch the gem.

This was a different visual than the red barrier which he faced when he tried to open the door to emperor’s room , hence he knew that atleast he found something to move forward with.

However before he could , take some time to think about how to progress from here , **G’ s urgent message came in , that informed him that Aman had reached the Patricia and Furball’s location and that Rahim was there too , Rudra needed to hurry the hell up!

Rudra had 0 idea about how to destroy the gem infront of him. However short pressed against time , he took a gamble and used a powerful move that he assumed would be able to melt the gem to pieces.

Rudra used Solar Descent! , A miniature sun heated at 3500° C appeared infront of him. Even as the caster who had immunity to the spell , he felt the heat tingling his skin , however although the miniature sun was unable to penetrate the red barrier. The sheer heat of the sun , started to melt the roof and the gem itself.

Within 15 seconds , the roof under the gem buckled , as the gem fell down towards the floor , sizzling with heat , getting deformed , as the formation was finally broken!

The formation was deactivated , and Rudra jumped inside the hole he created into the emperor’s room , while Karna and Jhonny came in through the front door , as soon as the formation was deactivated.

On the bed sat a jacked man with a grey braided beard , with no clothes covering his torso. Battle scars gleamed all over his upper body , showing proof of all the fierce battles he had been through all his life.

The trio unconsciously gulped seeing the man’s visage. He exuded soo much pressure just sitting calmly ….. He was absolutely not an opponent one would want to make.

Rudra wanted to stay and talk to the emperor , but **G’s warning message came , he was making Patricia kneel! , Rudra lost his damn mind … How dare he!

Rudra started to charge up the solar beam in his bracelet. He barely had enough charge left for the move …. When ready , he immediately used the soul link between himself and Furball to tell her to use replace. Replacing himself with her position , Rudra instantly used the move blasting Aman and Rahim outside the hall!

However just like the first time Rudra used the move , the second time was no different. Rudra’s body was not strong enough to handle the move’s recoil , as neither his physical strength , nor his mana circuits could bear the weight.

This time Rudra did not disloacate his arm , this time his arm bone was broken into a hundered pieces , as excruciating pain swept through his body.

Surprisingly , he was reduced to 40% HP , the move he dished out caused soo much recoil and internal damage to his body! .

Rudra’s mind went blank for a moment , as saliva escaped his mouth while he was forced to lay on the ground. Rudra was truly lucky to have withstanded the move somewhat when he first dished it out. However , the first use had already put a lot of strain on his bones , which dislocated before breaking that time. However the small cracks that had formed from earlier use , now crumpled against the new pressure. Breaking down completely.

The price for damaging the enemy came at a heavy price for Rudra , this was an injury that would not be healed with advanced mana potions. He may recover his lost health back to 100% , however he won’t regain function in his sword arm untill the broken bones heal.

Patricia was extremely happy when Rudra , finally switched places with Furball and came back …. It meant that the mission was a success. Then he surprised her by dishing out a move soo powerfull , she was in disbelief that it was something her brother could manage at tier 2. It was clearly a peak tier 4 move!

Her joy only lasted a short moment though , before it turned into worry , as she saw Rudra sprawled on the ground , his arm looking burnt and him having spazams.

It was clear to Patricia , that Rudra had probably used some forbidden move with great consequences on himself. A bubbling rage boiled inside her heart …. She barely contained herself before asking …. ” The emperor … Is he free? “.

Rudra gave a very weak nod , to this question , he wanted to speak , but his vocal cords would not respond to his Brain’s command.

Patricia sighed in releif , before her eyes turned stone cold , while facing Rahim and Aman. Rudra’s large explosion had alerted palace security , who were swarming the place to protect their ruler. However , Patricia was unperturbed , the humiliation of kneeling , coupled by the miserable position her brother was currently in , made her combust in rage.

She looked at Aman with disgust and killing intent ….. As she resolved to teach the man a lesson!

———-

( Karna’s POV)

Karna was looking at Rudra for what to do next , when suddenly Rudra vanished and his golden fox pet appeared.

Karna sighed , it seemed like he needed to handle this one himself. However what followed was a loud noise of explosion. BOOM!

Karna could hear it from this distance away , and he knew exactly what this noise was from , it was the forbidden move Rudra forked out when they were ambushed by Edge!

Karna gritted his teeth , this meant that things were desperate on the battlefield that side. Karna wanted to say something to the Emperor , try to wake him from his slumber , when Cervantez , with his eyes still close smiled and said ” Your friend is quite competent , I assume he must be a good leader to follow “.

Karna was speechless for a moment , before replying with all earnesty ” The best “.

Cervantez opened his eyes , those deep grey irisis had a wise visage to them , aloof from the world , yet extremely sharp.

Karna could not breathe when those eyes landed on him. His heart thumping out of his chest, only when the emperor’s gaze swept from him , towards Jhonny did the pressure dissapear.

Cervantez said ” Is my son Aman , who sits on Hazelgroove ‘s throne? “.

Jhonny nodded , affirming him.

Cervantez sighed , as he stood up from the bed and walked towards his cabinet , where his battle gear was stored.

He chuckled for a bit , as he spoke with sadness in his voice ” My son is a usurper and a necromancer. I truly failed as a parent “.

Jhonny and Karna looked at each other , before Karna spoke ” Everyone has the freedom to make choices on their own , your majesty , you neither forced him to be a necromancer , nor recede his right to ascend to the throne after you abdicate the throne. His choices are his to make , and soo are the consequences that follow “.

Cervantez took a deep breath , as the sadness dissapeared from his voice. Now with the steely resolve of a warrior Emperor it said ” Wise words , I may have failed as a parent , but I won’t fail Hazelgroove as their Emperor, The boy is not fit for the throne , He used trickery to imprison me here ….. A wise move. He could have never taken me down in combat. However the isolation , and the illusion I was trapped in tempered my mind , I am stronger than when I was before my imprisonment….. “.

A terrifying smile spread on his face , as he finished suiting up. He glanced back at Karna and said ” That boy has been playing Emperor for too long ….. He needs to be reminded of his place! “.

Jhonny and Karna had chills going down their spine ….. The emperor without his battle gear on , with his bare muscles on display was already an existance Karna would consciously try avoid battle with. But him clad in full armour , with his sword around his waist , and his regal aura restored , was a existance that Karna would abandon battle and run away from.

The pressure he exuded was unreal , Karna could not help but wonder …. If this aura is what drove millions of soldiers to march at his every command. The aura of a monarch!

The trio set out towards the western wing ….. Where Patricia was fighting a ferocious battle.