The Kingmaker System-Chapter 435 - 434. Master And Monster (1)

"Shall we start?" I asked as I snapped the tongs, making Marquis Owen Glines flinch and start to squirm.

His mouth was gagged, so he could only get out muffled grunts in response. I smirked darkly as I took steps closer to him.

"You see, I don’t have anything to ask you, but since my people were hurt because of you, I have to do something to quell my anger."

I stopped right in front of him and tapped the tongs over his fingers. "Even if it means ripping off your nails, snapping your fingers, or breaking every bone in your body. But don’t worry—even if I rip your internal organs out, you won’t die. Because I have a gift. I can heal you and put your body back together to start all over again."

I could see my devilish expression reflected in his wide terrified eyes. A slow, crooked smile stretched across my lips—unhurried and unnervingly calm, as if I were merely observing a mildly interesting spectacle. My aqua-blue eyes, once the color of placid seas, now shimmered with a sharp, glacial light that betrayed no warmth. They held no pity, no hesitation—only a chilling stillness, like the ocean right before it pulls a ship under. And he squirmed harder in the metal chair, the anti-mana shackles biting into his skin.

Lyall stood by the counter, which had all kinds of torture equipment.

"As you can see, Prince Davian," I spoke as I straightened up and looked at him with the same expression I had shown Glines,

"This place is off-limits because it’s my personal torture chamber," I said with a smile.

Davian stood near the door, staring at me. For a moment, he shivered, and I smirked, satisfied to have intimidated him.

But I guess I was wrong, because in the next moment, his lips curled up in a rather more demonic smile before he stepped ahead, taking the tongs from my hand.

"It would be a shame to let you stain your hands if I’m right here, Master," he spoke, and I resisted the urge to shudder myself.

His aura seemed to surge out like a beast risen from a deep slumber, and even Lyall felt it as he stepped ahead, but I gestured with my hand for him to stay put.

"So, you’re saying that you will torture him in my stead?" I asked, and Davian smirked.

"Living on the battlefield comes with its perks," he said as he walked past me and placed the tongs in Lyall’s hands before looking down at Marquis Glines, who seemed like he had already shat his pants.

I saw Davian move and grab Owen’s right arm before I heard a sharp snap, and Owen screamed through his gagged mouth. Lyall looked at me and came over to stand beside me as we watched Davian dislocate his other shoulder, making Owen struggle and scream.

Lyall and I stood back, watching the show as we heard more cracks and intensifying muffled screams, which made me lean over to Lyall’s side.

"Should we hire him as a torture expert?" I asked, and Lyall cleared his throat.

"He sure has the potential."

"Just what on earth did he learn on the battlefield?"

"I wonder that too."

"Do you think I’ll be able to do this too if I were to go to war?"

"Please don’t speak of such a thing, Master. You’re already at a level where you could skin a person alive," Lyall spoke, and I shook my head before watching as Davian returned. I could see the strange proportions over Marquis Glines’ body.

He had passed out from extreme pain, but Davian didn’t even seem to have broken a sweat drop as he snapped his bones.

"I’ve snapped 20 of his bones and dislocated his shoulders. He’ll be in enough pain to beg you for death," Davian said with a smirk, and Lyall and I exchanged looks.

"Would you consider working as my torture expert?" I asked, and Lyall coughed.

Davian laughed, "I’d love to."

"Master, Your Highness, please..." Lyall sighed, and I smiled.

"It’s fine, Lyall. I won’t take your job from you." Lyall sighed, shaking his head before he walked over to Owen.

"I’ll take him back to his cell."

"All right, let’s head back then." I said and gestured for Davian to come along.

We left the dungeon and walked back toward the main mansion, and I observed that there wasn’t even a crease on his face after that torture.

"Your Highness, take this advice from me," I spoke, and he looked down at me with a smile.

"What is it, Master?" he asked, and I smiled at him.

"Don’t dare show this side of you to the lady you love, or I’ll personally beat the hell out of you in her stead."

Davian’s eyebrows shot up as he heard that, before he put on a pondering face.

"Well... she will be scared, won’t she?"

"Of course she will be! You can’t ever display what you did before us to any sane person." I chided, and he sighed, running his hand through his hair.

"And I’ll warn you of this very seriously, Prince Davian," I said as I came to a stop, facing him.

"If you ever teach such techniques to Kai, I’ll personally skin you alive," I spoke, and he gave me a sheepish smile.

"Er... what if I already had?" he asked, and a vein popped in my forehead.

"You, what?" I asked, trying my best not to explode while keeping the smile.

"I-It was only self-defense in case he doesn’t have any weapon," he quickly defended himself, and I cracked my knuckles.

"We’ve never had a duel before, right, Your Highness?" I asked, and he averted his eyes.

"Yes, well..."

"It’s been a while since I’ve had a good spar. I’ll see you in an hour on the training ground. Please, show up for your due beating, Your Highness."

"Due beating?!"

I chuckled, "Oh, my! I meant a good spar. Let’s have a good spar, Your Highness." freeωebnovēl.c૦m

An hour later, I was in the training ground. Lyall stood a little to the side, holding my coat and the magic devices. I held a wooden sword in my hand as I flexed my muscles.

The crowd had already started gathering, even though no one had announced the spar. The rowdy ones were already placing bets, most putting their money on me.

Just then, Davian walked out wearing a simple button-down shirt and trousers, his sword in hand. He frowned slightly upon seeing the wooden sword I held, then looked around as if considering changing his weapon.

"It’s fine for you to use that sword," I said, and he looked at me.

"But, Master—"

Roan coughed as he stepped beside him. "That’s Master’s way of giving you a handicap, Your Highness. You seriously wouldn’t expect him to fight you with all he’s got."

Davian glanced at him, then at me.

"Usually, Master wouldn’t even use a weapon for a spar. But since it’s you, he picked up that sword," Lyall added. "It’s not just a handicap—it’s also an acknowledgment of your strength, Your Highness."

Davian gave them both a look before stepping into the training ground.

"My bet is on Master!"

"Mine too!"

"Hurry and take my money before Master wins already!"

The servants were shouting at the one collecting the bets, while Enora—who usually acted as the referee—stepped up between me and Davian.

"Are there any rules or bets that you wish to put forth?" she asked, looking between us.

"None from my side," I said.

"I have none as well," Davian said, raising his sword.

"Whoa! No rules!"

"This is going to be brutal!"

"Prince Davian is going to be beaten to a pulp!"

"Hurry, take my money!"

The excited chatter of the servants buzzed around us. I spotted Kai stepping out with Asher. Kai saw me and Davian, then immediately rushed over to the one collecting the bets.

"I hope you go a little easy on me, Master," Davian said.

I smirked. "I found out that the knight you beat in the swordsmanship competition in Denril was a piece of trash. I suppose you had a good reason to beat him up."

He frowned slightly. "Why are you bringing that up, Master?"

I raised the wooden sword and smirked. "No specific reason. Just wanted to remind you that I would’ve done worse."

I saw the flicker of caution in his eyes before he smirked in return. "It’s my first time fighting you, Master. I’ll thoroughly enjoy it."

"Begin!" Enora announced.

In the blink of an eye, Davian and I shot from our spots. His sword sliced through the air at blinding speed, heading straight for me. Normally, it would have slashed clean through a wooden blade, but I had laced mine with mana. The force of our clash was enough to push him back a step.

Davian grunted, clearly confused, but recovered just as quickly, dashing toward me with glowing eyes.

I could see his Aura pulsing as he used his agility to strike, but I simply smirked, dodging his swift attacks with ease.

Everything else blurred out. My entire focus was on the violet lightning dancing across the training ground, radiating from Davian’s aura. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the spar.

I smirked and leapt into the air. Before he could shift his footing, my sword had connected with his side, and he grunted as he was thrown back a few feet. He still landed on his feet, gripping his side—but I didn’t give him a moment to recover.

I charged, moving at a speed granted by my Dragon’s bloodline, and swung my wooden sword. He raised his sword just in time to block. But I followed with a kick aimed at his head. His hand shot up instinctively to block it, yet the force was enough to send him flying again.

I advanced once more. Davian looked like he was holding back, and it irked me.

"You’ll die if you hold back against me," I warned.

He grunted in response—then unleashed his Aura.

It felt as though a massive beast had been let loose from within him, and his eyes glowed with a radiance that screamed danger.

I smirked, letting my own Dragon’s Presence surge forth.

Then we charged at each other.

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