Chapter 1369: Draco

A few days later, the Ease of Vindication army finally arrived at the Chasm camps. They walked with seriousness in their faces. Michael didn’t even see a single one of them smile.

This meant that they were taking this Sanctum Duel seriously, which was what Michael wanted. Finally, they weren’t being underestimated as a Lower Echelon company.

Even though they had just attained the 7th rank of the Upper Echelon, he knew that their company was way above even that. He was sure that he was the strongest company in the world aside from the Conglomerates. His battle through the Chasm had proven that.

And now, he was going to cement that fact to every single doubter they had watching them.

The Shadow Orcs had told them that the surveillance in the Chasm had gone up by at least 200%! There were more Conglomerate subcompanies watching this duel, interested in the outcome.

If the Reborn company won, then they were truly an organization worthy of being treated seriously. And perhaps, become threatened.

Michael would consider it as flattery if the main companies and heads of the Conglomerates had paid attention to him. If they were spending resources to fight them, then it meant that they were worthy of fighting.

He would be one step closer to his grandfather.

"You’re the owner of Reborn?"

Michael looked towards the figure sitting in a palanquin in front of the Ease of Vindication (EoV for short) army.

He looked young. Probably just a few years older than Michale himself.

"I am. And you are?"

"Draco Vindication," the young man replied.

Michael could see bloodlust in those eyes. The kind that a snake would emit as they faced an opponent they couldn’t wait to swallow whole.

This guy is a total psycho, he thought to himself. Only a person who was completely crazy would ever kill their own fathers in order to take over their company.

Therefore, Michael didn’t treat Draco lightly. If he was willing to start a coup and decapitate his father, then what more could a person like Draco do to his opponent?

"I hope you’re ready to fight. I’m raring to prove myself. You took my record, you know?"

Michael raised one of his eyebrows.

"I was supposed to be the youngest Nascent Spirit cultivator in the current era," Draco said. "But you took it. And now, I want it back."

His words were a threat and a declaration. He wasn’t going to stop with just a victory against Michael. He would only stop when he was dead. That was the only way that he could reclaim the title of the ’youngest Nascent Spirit cultivator.

Michael shrugged. "As long as you adhere to the rules of the Sanctum Duel, you’re welcome to try."

This Sanctum Duel was different from the one against the Western Pole company. In this duel, Michael was going to be part of the soldiers. He was going to be a general that stood in the front lines, fighting alongside his men.

Both he and Draco would be the ’Kings’ in this chessboard. It didn’t matter how many soldiers were defeated on each side. The Sanctum Duel only ended when one of the leaders fell to battle.

This one was proposed by the Ease of Vindication company themselves. And in the end, Michael had Yuna agree with this detail. This made it easier for them to negotiate a better deal in the spoils of victory.

Of course, the Rebornian advisors told Michael that this was absolutely crazy. There was no need for him to risk his own life just to fight in a Sanctum Duel.

But in truth, Michael was also raring to test his own mettle against someone who was in the same level as him.

Draco was also in the 3rd stage of the Nascent Spirit realm. The youngster was infamous for his illustrious battle records, plowing through his enemies through Sanctum Duels and wars. That’s basically how the EoV company attained such a high spot in the Golden Rankings.

Draco simply defeated the opponents of those above him. And now, he set his sights on the Reborn company.

"How strange," Draco said. "Are you planning to die?"

Draco’s line of sight was directed towards the Rebornian soldiers.

They both were allowed 40,000 men each. Draco assembled his army with soldiers who were veterans with plenty of blood in their hands.

But in complete contrast, Michael’s soldiers looked like they weren’t even meant to fight.

"I challenged you because I thought that your soldiers were strong. Bring them out. Bring more swordsmen with the Eternal Flame swordstyle."

Michael looked back at his own army. Only about 25,000 men were from the Swordsman division, consisting both of humans and Red Mankeys alike. They were the victors of the previous Sanctum Duel.

However, the other 15,000 men weren’t even soldiers. Instead of swords or bows or weapons, they instead held musical instruments.

Flutes, drums, stringed instruments...

Draco and his soldiers were completely dumbfounded when they saw this. Were the Reborn company simply underestimating them, or did they have a death wish?

"I won’t be satisfied if my opponents are not at their best level," said Draco. "Bring me your best men!"

Michael shrugged. "These are my strongest soldiers, I assure you."

"You only have half of the soldiers. The rest are trash."

"You won’t even be able to touch a single strand of their hair," Michael replied with absolute confidence. And for a second, a golden aura emanated out of his chest, empowering his words with a lot more gusto.

Seeing this, Draco understood that Michael was telling the truth. "Hmph. If I win too easily, my bloodlust will not be able to take it. I will raze through your entire company and won’t stop until I’ve gathered enough blood to fill the Chasm."

And with those words, Draco got off of his palanquin and donned his Nascent Armor.

Blood swirled around his entire body, before coalescing and forming into a mighty set of protective armor that made him look like a herald of death.