Ryu's Spiritual Sense still hadn't recovered. Without sleeping, or utilizing a Mental Realm tailored spiritual ingredient or pill, it was impossible to so easy recover depleted Spiritual Qi. However, he could still feel the minor trembling of the ground, something he knew could only be caused by charging war horses.
"Grandpa, are you really still not going to send anyone to help him? At least make Jedrek lend his troops to Ryu!" Yaana was starting to grow frustrated at her lack of ability to do anything. She had spent the past two days pleading with her grandfather, but he had still chosen to do nothing.
The old General bitterly chuckled. "Little Nunu, even if I did the things you asked of me, do you believe he would accept such help? This little boy is too arrogant."
"Ryu is not arrogant! He's just very confident." Yaana replied stubbornly.
There was nothing the old General could do at this point but endure the adorable enraged rantings of his granddaughter. Because her parents were no longer here with them, he had raised Yaana himself, and maybe he spoiled her a bit too much.
Truthfully, Yaana was an obedient, well-mannered child. The old General really couldn't understand what had gotten into her.
"Crown Prince, the net has been set. We're ready to move in on your command. No matter what he does, there's no escaping." An acting Commander of the Viri Kingdom warriors reported to Silas. "But, I humbly advise Crown Prince Viri to retreat further. This Ryu is too unpredictable."
Silas smiled lightly for a moment. Thinking back, Ryu had never touched any of the Princes. Even Amory who he should have a bone deep hatred for, he left completely alone.
'I wonder, is there some sort of conspiracy behind this?' He mused.
If the crowd could think of it, why couldn't the Princes? Ryu's appearance and actions were simply too odd. It really did make one feel that the Tor Clan was becoming far too bold.
Before, the Higher Mortal Plane was in complete balance due to their four Kingdoms. But now, the Opes Kingdom had been effectively crippled. Considering the Cedar Clan under the Tor Clan's wing had the battle prowess of a Kingdom itself, sweeping through what remained of them wasn't an impossibility.
The only issue was that memories from that night were too real for Silas. He didn't believe that Ryu's tears and Granny Miriam's death were all a ruse. He was simply too good at reading human emotions.
Ignoring the Commander's words, Silas kicked the side of his war horse, launching himself forward. He needed to appropriately probe Ryu. He needed to understand just what his purpose here was. Was he truly after revenge? If so, was that revenge really aimed toward the Tor Clan? Or was all of this a thin veil, hiding the dagger the Tor Clan pointed toward them all? A dagger that was Ryu himself…
Ryu's killing intent boiled, simmering into a tangible heat. But, he could feel that his body had grown incredibly stiff. Due to the time Silas made him wait, his adrenaline had cooled along with his muscles, now he could suddenly feel every bit of strain he had inflicted upon himself.
However, ignoring that stiffness, Ryu's body leaned forward. In the beginning, it seemed like he would fall, but in the next instant, he shot forward at blinding speeds. Not once had Ryu displayed the full abilities of his Northern Heavenly Wind publicly, until now!
The eyes of the various elders constricted into pinholes. That speed… It was a hair's breadth away from the Spiritual Severing Realm! That's impossible! Even after all of this, he was still holding back?!
The King of the Viri Kingdom involuntarily stood abruptly. He knew exactly which direction Ryu was headed in. If he guessed correctly…
'Silas, get out of there now!' A terrible premonition overcame him. Silas wasn't the only son he had had in his life, but each and every one fell in one way or another. King Viri was under no delusions, he knew quite well it was Silas who killed his brothers off one by one. But, none of that mattered. He was the sole heir of the Viri Kingdom, he couldn't be allowed to die!
The Qi Line message tore through the air with an invisible swiftness, reaching Silas' ears just as he was no more than one hundred meters from the city's central square and Ryu.
Silas wasn't the type of individual to like taking orders from another, even if that person was his father or master. But, that didn't mean he was a fool. If anything, he was the direct opposite. The moment he heard his father's words, his heart trembled slightly.
His arms pulled back, the reins of his silver armored steed pulling taut. The neighing of a displeased war horse resounded, but it still obediently came to a stop.
The troops around Silas paused in confusion, but the Commander sighed in relief. It really was too much for their Prince to enter the frontlines. Amory had done so because he couldn't afford to show weakness when facing Ryu, after all, they were brothers fighting for the same throne. But, Silas had no such obligation. His meticulous planning would speak for itself and make up for his lack of presence.
But, who would have known that the moment he lowered his guard the slightest bit that a shadow akin to a prowling feline would enter their sights?
Due to the net Silas cast, there were only five Qi Refinement experts with him. Yet, of them, only the Commander realized the sort of situation they were in. He was moving too fast for them to react!
"Crown Pri –!" Before the words could leave his lips fully, the shadow had jumped upward, perfectly timing the descent of the front hooves of Silas' war horse to kick the Viri Kingdom's Crown Prince squarely in the chest.
Silas' eyes widened from their usual narrowed slits. Unable to comprehend what was happening, he flew backward with the speed of an arrow, smashing through the outer and inner walls of a nearby storehouse.
Blood spewed from Silas' lips. Looking downward, he found a dent the size of a foot in his chest plate. It wasn't deep enough to shatter his heart, but it was deep enough to break several ribs, leaving him drowning in a level of pain he had never felt before.
The crowd watched with horror clear on their expressions as a shadow appeared before Silas. When it slowed enough for their eyes to catch up, they found a valiant youth with billowing white hair, his bare torso flaring up with an enraged red color. For the first time, Ryu's expression was something completely separate from calm and cold, it held an unbridled fury that pierced toward the Heavens.
His fists rained downward. Each pounding leaving a noticeable dent, whether that be in Silas' armor or his body. He truly looked no different from a White Devil.