As soon as Grok uttered the lie, Anon summoned his sickles and vanished from his original position, reappearing behind Grok, both sickles pointed at his neck.

“You!!! Do you realize that I am an Honorable king of one of the seven continents?” Grok spoke with fear permeating his voice.

“That tone of yours betrays your fear. You know that right now, you can’t do anything. But should my mood change even slightly, killing you would be effortless. Your head would become a decorative trophy for my house. So, the next time you speak, be mindful of your words, or your cute little neck may find itself in dire straits.” Anon’s voice carried a weight of gravity and grimness. The sickles remained fixed at Grok’s neck, not budging an inch to allow any escape.

“I-I understand. We agreed. But I wasn’t acting alone in this plot. Grad also agreed, along with all seven house leaders of this continent, as did the knight captains. However, it was all because that clone manipulated our minds into agreement. We were against that decision from the very start, and Frank had warned us about your power, but that damned clone, it was all her fault.” Grok shifted the blame, trying to absolve himself of responsibility.

“So, you’re saying the clone is accountable for a decision you also agreed to?” Anon inquired.

“N-No, it’s not like that… You’ve misunderstood.” Grok attempted to persuade Anon.

Tension was visible on Grok’s face and only one thing came again and again to his mind “Where are you, Grad? Please hurry back.”

Grad returned, taking note of the unusual scene, and for a moment, he fell silent, before asking with a serious expression, “What’s happening here? Care to explain, Sir?”

“Well, it appears you and your subordinates agreed to kill me at that clone’s suggestion. But when I asked this self-proclaimed king here, he lied through his teeth.” Anon clarified.

“Sir, perhaps we could resolve this like gentlemen. There’s no need for weapons among us. That clone played a mind manipulation trick, posing as one of our trusted subordinates,” Grad explained.

“Seems like this audience needs new kings, because these ones are unable to make decisions on their own and failing to recognize those who aided them in times of crisis,” Anon asserted, bringing the sickles closer together, with Grok’s neck now between them.

“Grad, do something before he kills me! God damnit.” Grok pleaded.

In response, Grad vanished from his position, reappearing behind Anon with his sword pointed directly at Anon’s nape.

“Well, isn’t this a tricky situation?” Anon remarked before vanishing once more and reappearing at a distance.

“You’re still a kid, and if you think ambushing one of my subordinates from behind is a remarkable feat, then you’re mistaken,” Grad taunted.

Anon retorted, “Well, why don’t you both try me together now?”

“Ah, I’m up for this challenge,” Grok declared as he summoned his sword.

“Come, let me show you how a grown-up fights, kid,” Grad challenged, summoning both of his swords.

Anon mocked, “I’m quite certain an adult wouldn’t need two swords to face a kid, old man.”

“Oh yes, you’re right. But you’re no ordinary kid, which is why I’ll go all out. Come, I’ll give you the first chance to attack,” Grad said with a smile.

“No, I prefer giving the weak side the chance to strike first, so both of you come at me together,” Anon replied, assuming a defensive stance.

“As you wish, kid,” Grok agreed, and both vanished from their positions, reappearing behind and in front of Anon.

They pointed their swords at him and spoke simultaneously,

“Game over, kid.” .𝘤𝘰𝑚

“Hahaha, the game can’t be over so soon. I haven’t even gotten to play,” Anon responded before utilizing a skill.

In a matter of seconds, Anon disarmed both of them, leaving them weaponless, and aimed the tips of his sickles at their necks simultaneously.

When the skill’s effect wore off, Grad and Grok were bewildered to find their weapons gone, and Anon holding his sickles at their necks.

“What the-?” Grad expressed his surprise.

“Where the hell did my sword go?” Grok wondered as he looked around, spotting his sword on the floor.

Clap-Clap

A clapping sound emanated from afar. They turned their attention to its source, Queen Derein herself.

“Amazing. What is your name, sir?” Derein inquired.

“Do I need to tell you?” Anon responded.

“No, it’s up to you. If you don’t want to, I won’t push it,” Derein said.

“Cool.” Anon said as he kept his identity secret

“I see you came as an ally, but due to misunderstandings, you ended up pointing your sickles at my two subordinates. I apologize for their mistakes. Please forgive them,” Queen Derein humbly apologized with a bow.

Anon retracted his sickles and replied, “That’s the attitude of a Queen. I like it.”

Both Grad and Grok retrieved their weapons and quickly left the scene with faces of defeat.

“Wait.” Anon stopped both of them.

“What ?” Grok asked.

“I don’t need those ogres to destroy this Kingdom, if i wanted to do it, i would’ve done it long ago, so the next time you wish to kill me. Keep this in your mind.” Anon said.

Grad and Grok both of them left after listening to him

“So, you’re still not telling me your name, huh?” Derein asked.

“Nope.”

“What if I promise not to reveal your identity to anyone?” Queen Derein offered.

“Well, you already know my name,” Anon replied.

“What? But we’ve never met?”

“Yeah, maybe you recognize me now.” Anon removed his mask.

Derein’s eyes widened as recognition set in. “You’re… the legendary Anon? The one who’s been rumored to possess extraordinary powers and abilities, i saw you running in the kingdom’s Night Run but you suddenly disappeared in the middle of it ? People still say that you are inside that forest honing your skills.”

Anon smirked. “That’s what they say. But rumors often exaggerate.”

Derein’s curiosity was piqued. “Your skills are indeed remarkable. Tell me, why have you come here and those ogres, do they really Respects you as their master ?”