As expected, the nobles were as expressionless as usual. There wasn't even a slight change of expression on their faces. Their frightening composure led Nathan to believe they either knew about this or had done something before.
'The former king would never do something ,' Nathan thought, recalling the past. During the era of the previous king, there was a disparity between nobles and commoners, but it was subtle. The previous king had done a good job of keeping the balance, not allowing the nobles to mistreat the commoners as they pleased. It was one of the reasons he was hated by the nobles.
With the previous king's death, the delicate balance that had kept the nobles in check was thrown into disarray. No longer was there a powerful figure who dared to stand against the greedy nobles. Instead, King Aldric embraced the nobles' disdain for the common folk. He was even crueler compared to others.
Nyx, seated beside Nathan, kept her sharp gaze fixed on Ainsworth. Her face remained impassive, but her eyes flickered with thought. "This isn't about the fight, is it?" she asked quietly.
Even for someone like Nyx, this was simply too far… how could a king watch his subjects being slain like that?
Nathan didn't respond immediately. His gaze was fixed on the audience, who were trying to shield their eyes. This was beyond their expectations. All of them had come here with the mindset of witnessing a thrilling, blood-pumping battle between the prince and the Awakened, not to see their kind being beheaded before their eyes.
Some of them even attempted to leave the arena, but the stern, overbearing gazes of the guards caused them to abandon any thoughts of fleeing.
"No," Nathan finally responded to Nyx's question. "It's a message... it's about showing everyone, especially the commoners, where they stand in this kingdom."
Nyx fell into deep thought. She hadn't met the king before, but she hated him already. In fact, she strongly disliked all members of the royal family.
Meanwhile, Brawn's hands clenched at his sides as he watched the headless body fall. His jaw tightened as he saw the horrified expressions on the commoners. 'These kids, they have parents... but.'
A strange gleam flashed in his eyes. 'It seems we really need some changes in this kingdom.'
"Hmmm." Seraphina's eyes narrowed slightly when she saw that gleam in Brawn's eyes. She found it very alarming. She suspected the guild leader of the notorious Silent Whispers might be planning something but didn't comment on it.
In the arena, all the commoners had dropped their weapons and were now banging their heads on the hard fighting platform, fear crossing their faces.
"Please, your Highness, forgive us!"
The boy who had led the charge stumbled to his knees, his spear broken, his body trembling. He looked up at Ainsworth, a mixture of fear and anger in his eyes. "Why… why are you doing this? What did we do to deserve such treatment?"
The boy couldn't help but exclaim, tears streaming down his cheeks. He had just been abducted by some knights in the marketplace… and the next moment, he found himself in the presence of the red-headed Knight Commander, who had given all of them weapons.
He didn't commit any crime at all! This was simply too unfair!
Ainsworth paused, his burning gaze meeting the boy's. For a moment, there was silence. Then, he spoke, his voice low and cold. "Because you dared. You dared to taint my presence with your disgusting waste… now you shall suffer the consequences."
"Fuck you!" The boy stared at the prince, a burning hatred in his eyes, so intense that it could carve a hole in the prince's armor. He got up from his kneeling position, picked up the blade of his broken spear with his good hand, and charged forward, kicking up dust.
"Just even a scratch." The boy's eyes were filled with mad resolve. "I only need to injure him."
"Those eyes... he would kill all of us," the boy thought, the distance between him and the prince shortening. "I'd rather die fighting than die like a coward!" he screamed at the top of his voice.
Though he didn't have any skills because [Skill Books] cost dozens of gold coins, he still had natural training from the streets.
Nathan shook his head lightly as he saw the boy running blindly to what could very well be his death.
At that moment, the prince's sword flashed again.
Another head fell, splattering blood on the ground.
Under the horrified expressions of the commoners in the spectator seats and the amused expressions of the noble dignitaries, Prince Ainsworth raised his sword high above his head, and the crowd gasped as a brilliant aura of golden light erupted around him. The commoners on the platform flinched, raising their arms defensively, but it was too late.
"A Sun Knight!" Nyx's eyes gleamed in recognition as she saw the golden light shining behind Prince Ainsworth. She had read a few things about the various classes in Eos, so she had a vast pool of knowledge about them. In Eos, except for broken characters like Nox, skills could only be learned if they were compatible with the said class.
"This skill is definitely Divine Judgement... and it's only compatible with the Sun Knight class... a unique class!" Hearing Nyx's silent whisper, Brawn nodded, confirming her suspicions.
The Sun Knight class was powerful for several reasons, but the main reason was mostly because... they were at their strongest whenever they were under the sun. In an ever-sunny kingdom like Vermilion, anyone with the Sun Knight class was very difficult to defeat.
At that moment, the prince's sharp words reverberated as he activated his skill.
A massive pillar of light descended from the heavens, engulfing the entire platform in its radiance. The blinding brilliance forced the spectators to shield their eyes, the roar of energy deafening.
When the light finally faded, the platform was left scorched and barren. The commoners who had stood there moments ago were all lying on the ground... motionless.
The crowd was stunned silent, still trying to comprehend what had just happened.
"H-he killed them." A man stammered with trembling hands.
"Is he going to kill us now?" another asked.
"Wuwuwuwuwwu!" Children started to cry as a sense of unease rippled through the crowd.
Amidst the restlessness, Prince Ainsworth stood alone, his armor still gleaming. His gaze, cold and indifferent, swept over the broken figures before turning to the royal box where King Aldric sat, grinning like a predator satisfied with its hunt.
The prince made brief eye contact with the king, who nodded faintly at him, his scheming green eyes glittering.
Ainsworth nodded at his father and raised his sword into the air.
The spectators flinched back.
Everyone was dead... why was he still raising his sword again?
Even the nobles showed perplexed expressions on their faces. Did the king have other plans? He had already shown his dominance; what more did he hope to achieve?
Confusion crossed the faces of everyone there.
Just then, the prince pointed his sword at the direction where the dignitaries stood.
...specifically, it was pointed at Nyx.
50 Golden Tickets: 1 extra chapter
500 power stones for 2 chapters
100 Golden Tickets 2 chapters
200 Golden Tickets 4 Extra chapters
Castle for 5 extra chapters 500