Chapter 387: The grand elder returns.

At first, the sound of crying from the direction of the soul maidens was small. Barely audible to those who were not paying attention. There were some snuffles, the kind that people tried to hide when they didn’t one anyone to know they were crying. Some of the younger girls looked Zyra’s way, with nervous eyes.

But soon, the sound grew, tears spilling faster, sobs breaking through the hush. Etania cried into her hands, little Mai clutched Claudia’s sleeve, wailing openly, her voice carrying across the air.

Conversations around them faltered, head turned and whispers about the cause of their cries traveled.

Hunter jutted his chin in their direction, shaking his head with a grim sigh. "Looks like Tessi just broke the news to them. She must have told them we had to kill their corrupted sisters back there that we had to kill. Soul maidens from the Main 7 academy have a closer relationship than those from other academies."

Zyra nodded slowly, her chest feeling a little heavy, though her face remained an unreadable mask. "It had to be done," she murmured quietly to Hunter. "They had Trinity’s gospel flowing through their veins. They were completely far gone. It was either them or us. Besides, we didn’t kill them all, some of them were apprehended and brought here."

"Yeah," Hunter muttered. "Doesn’t make it feel any better, though. Five dead soul maidens is such a loss for the world. I wish Trinity had not turned them into her personal dogs and left them to serve humanity instead of personal interests, like it was meant to be."

Zyra clenched her hand. Once Trinity was dead, they would choose a Divine maiden that could do the job. Not her, but maybe Tessi or Etania. The Johnson clan could not be allowed to push another of their own to that position again. They had failed humans.

A sound like a dying beast echoed from Zyra’s stomach. She froze, placing a hand over her stomach, which had just let out a violently loud growl.

Hunter broke into a sudden grin, the somber mood instantly shattered. "Well. Seems the mighty City Lord is human after all. Honestly, my stomach thinks my throat’s been cut, too."

"Shut up," Zyra grumbled, adjusting her armor. "Let’s go find something that is not meat jerky."

They turned to walk toward the dining hall, but before Hunter could take two steps, Dravin reached out and grabbed his sleeve, tugging him back.

"Hunter, wait," Dravin whispered nervously, his face pale. "We need to talk. Privately."

Zyra glanced back, saw the serious look on Dravin’s face, and gave Hunter a brief nod. "Don’t take all day. I’m eating without you if you’re late." She turned and strolled off toward the main house, ignoring three more refugees who tried to bow to her boots on her way.

Once Zyra was out of earshot, Hunter looked at the nervous leader. "Alright, Dravin, what is this about? I am famished Man, can’t this wait?"

Dravin looked around paranoia-style, then leaned in close. "Your brother Elliot came to Water Hurst."

Hunter paused, then raised an eyebrow. "Elliot? In Water Hurst? Looking for me, I guess?"

"Yes!" Dravin hissed.

Hunter shrugged, waving his hand dismissively with a light laugh. "Ah, don’t worry about Elliot. Man’s a toothless tiger. All bark, no strength. He can’t do anything."

Dravin grabbed Hunter’s forearm, his eyes wide and dead serious. "Hunter, you don’t understand! He was full of venom! He looked insane. I think you underestimate Elliot’s hatred for you and his determination to destroy you." He leaned in even closer, his voice shaking. "Even a toothless tiger has claws that can tear your throat out. Do not turn your back on him. Watch out."

Hunter looked at the genuinely terrified man for a moment. The easy smirk faded from his face, replaced by a quiet, focused nod.

Dravin’s hand tightened around Hunter’s arm. "And watch who you trust. Don’t trust anyone, not even me. If my life is threatened...like gun to the head kind of situation, I could give you up. So, no matter how strong you are, don’t underestimate Elliot."

"Alright," Hunter said softly, patting Dravin’s shaking hand. "I hear you. Thanks for looking out for me, Dravin. I’ll keep my eyes open."

***

Back at the Eros stadium, the first break was over, and it was time to resume the battles. Clan flags and banners were flying higher than ever. A group fight segment had been added suddenly, and more prizes too. Trinity was determined to make this competition memorable.

"Ladies and gentlemen, warriors and warlords! Welcome back to the main event!" the announcer’s voice boomed through the speakers, practically vibrating the teeth of everyone in the stands. "Stepping into the ring first, representing the Kaelion family, Elliot Kaelion!"

Elliot strutted out like a peacock on high-energy pills. He flexed his biceps, veins bulging, and screamed at the top of his lungs, "I CAN’T HEAR YOU! SHOUT LOUDER!"

Behind him, his half-life beast, a high level Flame-Maned black tiger, yawned so wide its jaw clicked. It was walking in lazy circles as if it were out for an afternoon stroll.

Elliot’s servants threw out hundreds of high grade energy stones to the low borns. His fans went completely feral. Shirts were torn, drinks were tossed in the air, and chants of victory echoed off the stadium walls. They could already smell the victory points and money coming in.

"And in the opposing corner, hailing from the Sparrow clan..." The announcer paused as a creepy, low tune began to play through the speakers_ music that sounded like a zombie dragging its feet out of a muddy grave.

A figure clad in a torn, black hooded, floor-length trench coat walked into the ring with slow, steady steps. Once in the center, he casually reached up and pulled back his hood.

Silence_ absolute, suffocating silence_ swallowed the entire forty-thousand-seat stadium.

The main broadcast cameras instantly zoomed in, plastering the face onto every giant light-screen in the venue and live feed across the continent.

Elliot’s majestic pose melted instantly. His knees buckled, and he scrambled backward on his butt like a startled crab, his face turning as white as a sheet. "G-G-Grandfather?!" he stammered, his voice cracking like a teenager’s. "You’re...alive!"

He rubbed his eyes. Even if his grandfather was alive, he would not be a competitor from the Sparrow clan! He couldn’t help wondering of he was hallucinating?

The Grand Elder chuckled, rubbing his gray beard. "Ah, Elliot, my boy. You look like you just ate some bad shrimp. Disappointed to see the old man breathing?"

Without waiting for Elliot to recover, the Grand Elder turned his gaze up toward the high-altitude VIP booth.

In another box across the stadium, Achilles watched with a wicked grin. He tapped the link band and spoke into the control room, which Arrow had taken over ten minutes ago. "Turn on the microphones in Trinity’s booth. Make sure the world hears every single word."

Up in her luxurious box, Trinity sat frozen. Her eyes were wide, and her head was resting heavily against her chest, her pulse racing.

The Grand Elder bowed mockingly toward her booth. "Divine Maiden Trinity! The whole world is watching. Tell us, why did you try to kill this old man. The plane crash...that was your doing was it not?"

Trinity shook her head violently, her brain screaming at her to deny it, to frame someone else, to throw a tantrum. But unknown to her, the Oath Sap was already coursing through her bloodline veins.