BXBX NOVEL Chapter 278: Apology
"My lord, save us!" another cried out, pleading for protection.
Aboard the command ship of one of the fleets, a woman with a voluptuous figure gazed toward Lein and the other Guardians. Her face was full of worry. Beside her stood a handsome man with a serious expression, lost in thought.
"Darling, what should we do?" the woman asked, her voice trembling.
The man let out a long sigh before replying, "I have a feeling this realm has birthed a Guardian with divine talent. It\'s impossible for a newly emerged realm to possess a King-Tier Guardian."
The woman nodded in agreement. "You\'re right. A realm capable of producing a King-Tier Guardian must be incredibly powerful. But… what should we do? Send troops to attack it?"
The man fell silent, his eyes lighting up as if he had found the answer. After a moment, he stood with determination. "We must apologize in person."
The woman was taken aback, unable to believe his words. "Wait, what do you mean? Won\'t he attack us if we get closer?!"
The man smiled confidently. "There\'s no need to fear. The fact that he\'s asking questions shows that he wants answers, not a fight."
Without hesitation, the man opened a portal, looking at his wife with a calm expression. Reluctantly, the woman followed her husband into the portal.
Back at the battlefield, silence filled the air. None of the three Guardians dared to answer Lein\'s question. Zkeron, who stood nearby, merely smiled faintly. His sharp eyes gleamed with intelligence, carefully observing Lein\'s every move.
"Interesting," he murmured casually. Despite being a Guardian exuding powerful darkness, Zkeron showed no intention of attacking. He chose to keep watching, like a chess player waiting for the next move.
Unlike Zkeron\'s calm demeanor, Kaelath was almost losing his patience. His fists clenched tightly, and his teeth ground together as he struggled to suppress his anger. Yet, he refrained from being the first to attack. As a strategist, Kaelath knew all too well that being the instigator of conflict would make him the primary target for the other Guardians.
"I really want to crush this brat\'s head," Kaelath growled, his voice dripping with hatred, though his body remained rooted in place.
Lein, on the other hand, seemed indifferent. He sat leisurely on his Dream Bubble, unhurried. He waited, as though he had a specific deadline in mind before he would act.
"So, no one\'s confessing?" Lein muttered lightly. Though his tone was soft, his voice carried a pressure that made the surrounding void tremble.
But before Lein could continue, three massive cracks suddenly appeared in the fabric of space. From each crack emerged extraordinary figures, bringing an aura that heightened the already tense atmosphere.
The first figure to emerge was a tall, slender woman in a beautiful gown with abstract patterns that shimmered with a cold glow. She stood gracefully above the void, her icy gaze fixed on Lein.
Lein observed the woman with great interest, and the system panel before him immediately provided information:
[Status Panel]
- Name: Aurora, Guardian of Cryon
- Level: 143
- Race: Cryon
- Power Core: System
- Rank: Grandmaster-Tier
"A being with a system-based power core, and a Guardian at the Grandmaster level," Lein murmured, studying the data displayed on his panel. His mind raced, delving deeper into the concept of Guardians. Apparently, being a Guardian didn\'t require one to be at the King level. Even Master-level individuals could attain the title, depending on the strength of their power core.
The second figure to appear was a middle-aged man clad in a sky-blue robe. His long, black hair gleamed like a starry night, and his aura was on par with Aurora\'s. From the information on Lein\'s system panel, the man was a cultivator at the Grandmaster level.
The final crack revealed two figures at once: a woman dressed in elegant attire that accentuated her curves, followed closely by a handsome man exuding a commanding aura. Lein only needed a moment to discern that both were at the King level.
The four figures now stood before Lein. Their gazes were filled with caution, yet none of them displayed fear. Lein scrutinized them with a curious expression, as if weighing the potential threat they posed.
From the distance, Aurelius\'s voice broke the silence, shouting toward the elegantly dressed woman.
"Lyra, what are you planning to do?" he yelled, his voice brimming with anger and frustration.
Lyra, the voluptuous woman, turned to look at Aurelius alongside her husband, their expressions cold. There was no hint of respect in their eyes.
"What do you mean? What\'s your business?" Lyra retorted mockingly.
Aurelius felt his blood boil at Lyra\'s reply. Under different circumstances, he would have launched a direct attack. However, his fury froze as Lyra\'s husband shot him a piercing gaze, a silent threat that didn\'t need words to be understood.
"Darling, remember our goal," Lyra said, soothing her husband gently. Her husband redirected his attention to Lein, leaving Aurelius stewing in frustration.
Lyra\'s husband stepped forward, calmly meeting Lein\'s gaze. With a neutral tone, he began to speak—neither arrogant nor submissive.
"My apologies, sir. First, allow me to introduce myself," he said. Despite being on an equal level of power with Lein, the extraordinary potential of the young Guardian before him made them tread carefully.
Lein remained composed, waiting for further explanation, his sharp, curious eyes continuously assessing the newcomers.
With a slight bow, Hanes began to speak. "My name is Hanes," he said, his voice calm and steady, like the flow of a river—gentle yet brimming with strength. "This is my wife, Lyra. First, allow me to extend our apologies for our actions."
Lein merely raised an eyebrow, a small gesture indicating that he was listening, though he gave no verbal response. His face remained expressionless, but the corners of his lips seemed to curve slightly, almost into a smile, leaving Hanes uncertain whether the man before him was intrigued or subtly mocking him.