"What's going on?" The speaker leaned forward with a frown on his face.
A man who looked like a giant, still taller than men over six feet, despite the fact that he was still seated. His build was muscular, almost too muscular that which seemed abnormal.
The man's face was all hard angles—scarred and carved from battle. His eyes were cold steel-gray, coupled with jet-black hair riddled with streaks of silver. His nose was a bit crooked too.
His uniform boasted achievements as he was a rank just below the Imperial Armature, a Crownwatch General.
"Sir, an Imperial Armature has visited the barracks." The soldier by his table reported, causing the Crownwatch General to frown.
"Which of them? I wasn't notified."
"According to the number on the sigil of the vehicle…" the soldier paused. "It's Lead Sentinel… Imperial Armature, Nexus Cage." He announced.
Nexus's name brought chills down the spine of the Crownwatch General.
He's out of seclusion? Has he met the conditions or did he get tired and choose to ignore the Imperial Chancellor's punishment? He wondered.
"Sir. We just received a report that it's not the Imperial Armature himself that came. He sent a representative with his medal." The soldier reported, feeling relieved at the news.
As well as the Crownwatch General, he felt his nerves calm as soon as he heard the news. And the moment he realized this, the ease came with a sharp sting of shame.
Am I still afraid of Nexus? It's been a decade already. All of us should be stronger than him in terms of personal strength. Even if he has completed the condition imposed on him by the Imperial Chancellor, he still wouldn't be able to do much harm to me…
The Crownwatch General paused, reorganizing his thoughts.
No, this is Nexus we're talking about. He has always been a freak and rarely feared those more powerful than him. If anything, he relished in such pressure. I should handle this case amicably and try to avoid his trouble as much as I can… even though I'm stronger now.
"Which of his subordinates did he send over?" The Crownwatch General asked. Already preparing to offer minimal respect—whoever held the medal still had Nexus's weight.
"Three of them sir. Keeyah Thorn, Charlotte Khan, and a new member of their team, an Iron Marshal, Marcus Black."
"Keeyah Thorn," He murmured. "The markswoman who gave half of Nile's elites a run for their lives. She's strong, What was her rank in their team's official ranking?"
"She was last listed in the thirties, sir."
"And then Charlotte Khan… the Harbinger, she must be the one sent with the medal then." A faint approving smile tugged at his lips.
He was complacent about showing someone like her a bit of respect. Charlotte had potential—someone worthy of respect, perhaps even of reaching his level in time.
It wouldn't hurt to comply.
The Crownwatch General had already dismissed Marcus the moment he heard that he was a newbie and an Iron Marshal. He immediately assumed that he was the driver.
"No sir… It's Marcus Black,"
"…What?"
The Crownwatch General blinked, as though the words needed time to register.
That bastard wants me to show due courtesy to an Iron Marshal ant!?
As though the surroundings couldn't contain his emotions, the marble walls of the office exploded, sending debris into the sky.
"Nexus! When will you stop playing such childish games!?" He roared. "You dare to humiliate me like this!?"
The entire Western Mansion's Palace Barracks, began to shake, as though an earthquake was ensuing.
"How dare you send a measly Iron Marshal as your representative!? I will make you regret such actions."
The voice that moments ago echoed from deep within the structure now thundered across the parade ground as the speaker arrived there in a flash.
Towering and imposing as his presence carved through the crowd like a blade, and his eyes locked on Marcus.
Since the beginning, before arriving here, Marcus already knew that whoever the commanding officer in this barracks was, would be incensed. Unless they had skin thick enough to ignore the insult.
He had long understood that no one likes to bow to the undeserving. Especially not someone who's earned their place through blood.
The Crownwatch General's aura was almost as potent as the one that leaked from Nexus. Marcus felt the pressure fall on him, wanting to pummel him to the ground. His bones creaked under its weight, and fear started to seep into his heart.
Marcus clenched his jaw, forcing his body to endure the suffocating pressure radiating from the Crownwatch General. His will trembled, but didn't break. Part of him loathed the way the man looked at him—like he was dirt.
Another part, buried deep but steadily growing, wanted to kill him.
A flicker of killing intent leaked from Marcus—not enough to be a threat, but enough to spark outrage in the Crownwatch General.
This whelp dares?
The Crownwatch General's aura intensified, doubling in weight. Marcus staggered, struggling to breathe.
I can't take it anymore. He thought. Since the beginning, Marcus had made sure that he hadn't shown any signs of fear or discomfort on his face.
Tear him apart.
The thought seeped into Marcus's mind. Unknowingly to him, his [Berserker] attribute had activated, filling him with greater resolve. The aura around his body seemed to change, shocking the Crownwatch General a bit.
This kid has no respect for his elders. Give in!
He sneered and increased the pressure on Marcus threefold. Even the Crownwatch General had this thought, he still held some respect for the medal in Marcus's hands. He hadn't gone all out since the beginning, as all he wanted to do was to humiliate the person holding the medal.
Nexus will regret sending you.
As though the world wanted to crash down on him, Marcus felt blood rush up his throat. However, he clenched his fists and swallowed the blood back.
Tear him apart!
And then Nexus's words seeped into his mind: show no fear!
The words boomed in Marcus's mind again, and this time, he meant it.
Perhaps it was because of his [Berserker] attribute, his sense of fear seemed to be fading bit by bit. And then he activated his [Mind's Eye] and stared right back into the eyes of the Crownwatch General.
Suddenly, the man found out that his world had changed. He was dragged into the world that Marcus saw when he came in contact with his False Page.
He was caught off guard for a moment. But when he looked up, before him loomed a pair of colossal red pupils, staring down at him like a higher being, judging his worth.
For the briefest moment… fear crept into his heart.
What… is this?
"What insolence!"
The Crownwatch General roared, ripping through the illusion and snapping back to reality.
His pride had taken a hit, and the man moved. Enraged, and humiliated that he had fallen for such a trick, he raised his arm and brought it down to strike Marcus.
But before it could land—
Bang!
His hand was slapped aside by Charlotte.
Far in the distance, a mountain exploded, its summit obliterated.