Harem Tournament of Champions

In the citadel,

Bang!

Crash!

Bang!

Kritz stood still, unsure if it would be a good choice to knock on the door. His knuckles suspended a few inches from going through with the plan.

It had been two days after he had recovered from the duel he had with his lord.

During those times, Hisha had managed to restore order and stability in Kurg, but the sting of the unprecedented attack had left all alert to such a coordinated attack on a grand scale repeating itself.

The tribal chiefs had been immersed in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of those who had been affected by the attack.

There was total mourning all across the land at the loss of a family member, a guardian, or a friend.

It had been the scheduled day that Hisha had fixed to visit the Island of Asrinth.

A part of Kritz was about to call it quits as he views his presence as a mistake if it would be a form of disturbance to Hisha as he was in a fit of rage.

Listening to the destruction going on behind closed doors, he dropped his hand beside him and prepared to leave.

"Kritz!" Hisha called out, his voice hoarse and low.

Cold sweat trailed across his forehead, his brows twitching in shock at being seen so easily.

Click!

The door opened slightly with Hisha close to the jamb, peeking from it before it could be completely open.

Getting a jump scare, Kritz grimaced and held onto his chest by clutching a handful of his shirt.

With a deadpan look, Hisha opened the door wider, inviting Kritz in.

Giving a slight bow, Kritz timidly walks in.

Slam!

Hisha looked over his shoulder and at the forcefully shut door, rolling his eyes and walking over to pick up an upturned chair.

Bringing his attention back to Kritz, he had his fingers steepled over his nose, "were you planning on leaving without giving me a report?"

Kritz had been temporarily distracted by the mess and wreckage that had been done to the room.

The paintings that hung on the wall had been torn and the glass, stone, and wooden frame smashed into tiny more pieces due to possible collision with the floor.

The vases that had decorated the little stools placed at the corners of the room had its body broken and their sandy content spilled on the floor.

His eyes bulged at the sight of numerous slash marks that had an uncanny resemblance to Yoru and the hobgoblin general.

'This isn't good.' He notes, switching gazes between the carved markings on the wall and that of Hisha's stoic face.

His heart skipped a beat as he remembered what he had done.

Going to his knee, he apologized profusely, oblivious to the question that was asked.

From the looks of it, Hisha could tell he had been distracted by the carving he had made.

"Soon, Kritz. I'd have her pay for her crimes."

Kritz nods his head to his lord's word. With a look of admiration, "I know you will, lord Hisha."

Opening up a portal, Hisha looked peered in, at the huge gates of Aster's fort.

"Are you ready?" He questions Kritz.

Kritz nodded his head, smiling as he walked into the portal.

Zwwp!

They had just stepped out when two spears were thrust three inches away from their feet as a warning.

Hisha's lips curved up in a smile at the memory of his soldiers doing something similar when he had visited their quarters.

'Impressive aim.' He commends, looking over to Kritz who took on a defensive mode in front of him.

"Relax," Hisha soothes with a smile, patting Kritz on the shoulder. "They know why they have to attack, we appeared unannounced."

Kritz eased his tense muscles, straightening his back as he deactivated the glow in his eyes.

Whispering into Kritz's ear, Hisha chuckles, "they were probably expecting using the same fashion we had done in Mertac."

The guards looked down at the two, oblivious to their status. Picking yet another spear and charging it with their Sux.

A burst of brown Sux expels from both ends of the spear as it's propelled in their direction.

Creating a barrier, the spears were pulled to it, suspending them in the air as the Sux were drained off it.

Clank!

Clank!

Kritz watched with enthusiasm at his lord displaying a bit of his ability without breaking a sweat.

"Halt!" A voice thundered from inside the fort, making the guards stop and stare at the intruders with suspicion.

[This would be the first time you would visit Asrinth, host]

'Thought as much.' Hisha let out a sigh, hiding his disappointment at being new to the territory with the first thing being an attack.

Raising his head to the intriguing outlook of the guards stationed at the gates.

'Why do they have long black horns, bull-like faces, well... look more of a minotaur than you know, the rest?'

[These are the minotaur's true form, it enhances their normal body limit, only a few can maintain this form without having their brains overridden by the desire to charge]

"Tch–"

Hisha scoffs, feeling the familiarity of the explanation.

Cccrk!

"Open the gates!" A loud cry from an advisor calls out to the guards.

They nod their head, a grunt was made with their nose, visible puffs of steam escaping from their nostrils.

As they get a good grip on a thick black rope, they begin to pull on it which in turn opens the gates.

Walking towards them, Hisha narrowed his eyes at Aster's approach.

Behind him was a much younger male skipping along.

'Character status.'

[Name: Lancaster Helo]

[Height: 172 cm]

[Position: Head advisor and confidant]

'His brother.'

[His father...]

HTC put up a disappointing emoji at the words of its host.

"Lord Hisha!" Aster clapped his hand with a bow before turning his attention back to Hisha. "You made it on time."

Hisha raised a brow at what he might be implying with his words. "Did you wish the trip wouldn't go well?"

Tongue-tied, Aster stood frozen. Although that was what he wished, he had also thought it was necessary to be duly notified of the method of transit.

"My lord, that's never the ca–"

Brushing past Aster, he paused as he commented on what had transpired a few minutes ago, "this is one way to go about welcoming me."

"They have no sense of loyalty except to my voice and a few advisors here, kindly pardon them for being so dense."

Hisha let out a grunt in reply, his eyes fixated on the younger brother.

Lancaster couldn't hide the glint of enthusiasm at meeting the overlord in such a close range.

Aster looks behind him, pulling Lancaster away and hissing into his ears to stay away for his good.

Ignoring his brother's advice, he shrugs off Aster's hand and forces a big grin on Hisha.

[There seems to be discord between the siblings]

'One that could be exploited.' Hisha asserted with a smirk.

Lancaster stared in awe at the overlord smirking as he took a glance his way.

"Don't just stand there!" Aster snaps, irritated by his brother's attitude toward the overlord.

"Hey, I can walk you know!" Lancaster hiss at Aster for pushing him forward, urging him to show the way in.

[Task: Win over Lancaster]

[Reward: Charm stats unlock]

Hisha slowed his pace so he could have more time to question his system.

'What's so unique about charm stats?'

[Charm points are earned through random moments of your ability to please and attract to influence them to your benefit.

This is accumulated till it reaches its full stats and you are granted full immunity from the consequences of any decision you make for a day]

Hisha's interest peaked at the mention of 'consequences', he had wanted to raise the question that rang in his thoughts.

[No, host. It doesn't work that way with the Vandrik priestess, the Celestials clause negates the reward of the charm points]

'Bullshit.' Hisha hissed, his mood in ruins at the one way he could have gotten a breakthrough from his mental shackles.

Lancaster rushed over to Hisha's side, waving at him, much to the chagrin of Aster who held in a yell of rage at his brother's out-of-character moment.

Hisha tilted his head, sharing a glance with Kritz who gave a half-shrug, unable to tell if it would cause any problems.

[A good opportunity to get closer to the brother, use it wisely]

With the clap of Lancaster's hands, the huge stone doors leading towards the living space were pulled open from each side by the guards.

"Lord Hisha," Lancaster calls out as he pulls a chair for him to sit on.

Licking his lips to mask his nervousness, he had his eyes glued to the seat, his grip tightening on the top rail of the wooden chair, hopeful that his gesture would be appreciated.

Raising a brow at the call, Hisha flashed a warm smile at the young lad.

Lancaster gasped in shock when he felt Hisha tussle his hair fondly.

"Thank you," Hisha comments with a nod of approval, as he takes the gesture.

Relegated to the sideline, Aster narrowed his eyes at the two who seem to get along with his brother.

'He had come to meet me, not you, Lancaster!'

Left with no choice, he devised a plan to draw out their attention.

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