Lucien’s insult did not manage to irk Heinz; the anger he was showing on his face was merely a show, though his own insult seemed to have irked the prince slightly. Heinz’s mind was working to puzzle out all the clues as to why the prince was suddenly resorting to this; it seems his friend Axel was keeping a lot of things secret. The only conclusion he could come to was that Axel had done something serious this time, or the prince had figured out what was going on between the valkyrie and Axel.
But no, it doesn’t seem like it; Lucien would have continued to spout nonsense, and the jealousy would have shown all over his face if that was the matter. This was something else. Something serious enough to force his hands. But no matter what anyone says. He wasn’t scared of Lucien, not even in the slightest. Instead, this situation only excited him. Heinz always hated the children of the Elite who were born with a silver spoon, acting like they owned the whole world or something. Their arrogance knew no bounds.
Of course, the 4th prince was always far more than what meets the eye. His aspects were known to be Aurauser + Spellcaster, but that does not give any explanation of his monstrous physical strength, which was only second to the valkyrie herself, perhaps. Heinz looked around the two of them in caution, scanning the surroundings to see if he had set foot in a trap, if others were waiting for an ambush, or if Lucien had made other arrangements to make sure that he couldn’t escape. Considering Lucien’s arrogant personality, he probably wouldn’t resort to such methods. But he had to be cautious anyway.
Challenging situations can often force you to make tough choices. As someone who grew up on the streets, Heinz had to beg for food and barely survive on scraps. Even the current height of power he had reached was a by-product of a series of unforeseen situations forcing him to adapt accordingly. So, he knew more than anyone that anyone could break out of their habitual traits or characters at any given moment when it is necessary.
Heinz asked the prince in provocation, "So, who else did you bring?"
Sneering disdainfully, "Who else did I bring?" Lucien questioned while pointing a finger at his own face. He spread his arms wide in an animated gesture and declared, "Am I not more than enough to take down a pest like you?"
"Tck, tsk, tsk, he shook his head in pity, "Poor bastard. Just because you became close with the wrong person, your life will be doomed from here on out. Assuming you can keep yourself alive, that is."
But Heinz did not react to the apparent threat to his life, he asked aloud what he had figured out till now, a strange calmness apparent in his tone, "What if I co-operate? You only want to ambush and kill Axel if I am not wrong?"
Lucien raised an eyebrow at the unexpected suggestion, "Oh, what makes you think that?"
"Just a guess," he shrugged, "I don’t think I am important enough for you to risk killing another student unless it’s absolutely necessary? But since you’re here, I presume you have a way to hide that somehow?"
He added, questioning him further after a second of pause, "Did Axel do something to Lumina?"
A flicker of uncontrollable rage almost appeared on the face of Lucien at Heinz’s last question. Still, he quickly controlled it, thinking about the sudden complete opposite turn of attitude from Heinz, after that shit talk, why was he behaving ? Did this guy get scared from his death threat, or was he fishing for information now?
But these minute gestures from the prince were more than enough for Heinz to understand the truth. He grinned, "So, it’s indeed about Lumina."
He had already dashed forward, the domination spear in his hand, with all the speed and strength he could muster, and he tried to pierce Lucien’s stomach. But the prince had always been alert. He concluded that the bastard was indeed simply fishing for information. If not for the fact that his sister had almost died because of the machinations of that bastard, how could he fail to control his emotions and his face? It was precisely because Lumina was his weak spot that he was even taking this risk at the moment.
With a swift movement of his hand, using the silverthorn sword, he deflected the piercing attack without too much difficulty. Heinz frowned at how easily the prince deflected the attack. But that did not stop him, as more flurries of attack followed. He maneuvered his spear in various angles and postures. But he couldn’t make the prince take even a single step backward. The physical strength of the prince was truly concerning.
No, maybe it wasn’t simply about strength, but his body itself, his constitution was overwhelmingly powerful for some unknown reason. Heinz grimaced internally, ’And people say, Axel is a bloodline holder, to him, it seemed more likely for Lucien to be a bloodline holder.’
But he wouldn’t whine about it; from the very time of birth, one’s fortune and misfortune were fixed to a certain extent, and nothing could be changed through complaining. Only by creating your own advantages can you push ahead. Lucien defended Heinz’s attacks with a subtle smile on his lips, provoking him to try harder, to try better,
"What’s the matter, commoner? Is that it? Don’t hold back, use all of your strength, otherwise you’re not even worth my attention. At least make it a bit interesting for me. This is not even a warm-up."
Lucien insulted further, "So, what if you have figured out the situation, does it change your current circumstances?"
Heinz spat, "If you hate Axel so much, why are you still using the rune weapon he created?"
Lucien chuckled, "Wouldn’t he feel great if he heard that the very weapon he created was used to kill his closest friend? Can you imagine the face he would make?"
Lucien’s expression turned absolutely cold in the next moment, "I have tolerated him more than enough. I know something’s going on between that bastard and Sophia. I don’t like it. But that was still a secondary matter. But when he purposefully put Lumina’s life in danger. That’s when I had enough of him, because that is one thing I’m unwilling to forgive. No matter what. He will have to pay the price for that transgression with his very life, whether he likes it or not."
Lucien made a horizontal slash, using much more of his dragon blood’s passive strength. Follow current novᴇls on novel_fіre.net
Heinz was pushed backward even further this time; his hands trembled from the sheer impact and the vibration. With no choice in hand, he activated the domination spear art; his power surged tremendously, and he unleashed all of his warlord aura. Heinz also considered using his Sage aspect, but decided it would be counterproductive at the moment.
Lucien would take him out too quickly; he wasn’t good at direct destruction-type magic spells yet, and he was still extremely slow on the progress of his four-star sage aspect. So, this was the only thing he could try. He had to defeat this bastard and escape from here at all costs. Axel was weakened at the moment. Without any external help, he wouldn’t stand a chance against Lucien in his current state, and considering what he knew of the bastard, he wouldn’t even think about asking for anyone else’s help on the matter.
He couldn’t become the weak point of Axel, with all of his determination, willpower, bloodlust, and war aura combined. With all the passive and active boosts from the domination spear and his heightened senses, he made the most powerful stab he could muster with all of his might. The prince barely managed to react in time to Heinz’s increased stats, but he blocked the attack nonetheless.
The metallic clash resounded clearly throughout the entire area, accompanied by a subtle vibrational ringing of both rune weapons. Lucien was forced backwards for the first time, not only pushed back, but he was forced to take 10 steps backwards. This time, it was Lucien’s hands that were slightly trembling; he glared at Heinz hatefully, his pride wounded for the first time since the start of their clash.