SYSTEM ASCENSION

”So this is the palace gates,” Zeal muttered. He stared up at the imposing structure with a blank expression, hands tucked away as usual. ”I have never come in through the gate.”

He stepped closer.

”Why do I suddenly need to attend those troublesome meetings? Can’t Rowen just cover for me as usual? Urgh! Such a headache.”

As soon as he got to the gate, a guard stopped him.

”Who are you?! State your business!”

He smiled, and pointed to himself.

”I am Zeal. Leader of sound league. I have been invited to the meeting happening inside. Can I come in?”

The guards exchanged a knowing glance.

Does this imposter take them for a fool? Everyone knows that the president of sound league is Rowen Ringoff.

Guard one: ’Who is this hobo?’

Guard two: ’make your lies believable at least.’

Guard three: ’is he pointing to... himself?’

Guard four: ’such a creep.’

The leading guard sighed. Then, he waved a dismissive gesture.

”Who is this hobo?”

”Oi,” Zeal yelled. ”I showered this morning. That’s slander.”

They laughed at him.

”Where is your proof that you were invited?”

He jabbed a thumb at his chest. ”I’ve got the invite. Somewhere.” He patted his pockets. Nothing.

Guard Two snorted. ”Yeah, and I’m the emperor. Get lost.”

The leader jabbed him.

”Get out of here before I lose it.”

He was taken aback.

”What? Why?”

”Impersonating someone as important as Mr Rowen is a serious crime. I should have you thrown in the dungeon.”

”I said I’m Zeal, not Rowen.”

”So what?” Another guard stepped forward. ”Get out of here before I make you!”

He blinked.

”Oh?”

___

”Why is your imaginary brother not here yet?” Lady Anny raised a brow at Rowen who sat unbothered. She picked her well manicured nails in boredom.

”I already told you. The possibility of Zeal appearing is one out of a hundred.”

The emperor didn’t look up, but spoke. ”There’s a reason I’ve never invited him to the palace.”

Before anyone could say another word—

THUD!

The chandelier above the table shook. Zeal dropped straight through it, feet first, landing on the guard who was at the gate seconds ago and using his head as a brake.

Bone cracked against wood and the table splintered.

Auras flared up from all angles, and all the window glasses cracked under the weight.

All the chairs scraped back immediately. The whole room went from bored to combat-ready in half a second.

Zeal just grinned. Blood on his teeth, blood on his cheek, face and shirt smeared red, hand still dripping. He didn’t even look winded.

He turned to Rowen, who was sitting there exactly like nothing happened, and waved with the bloody hand.

”Hey bro.”

Rowen didn’t flinch. He just sighed.

In a second, the door bursts open, and guards flood in.

”The intruder is there! Protect his highness!”

Zeal raised his head.

”Oh... You’re the guard that dares to release a murderous intent before me.”

The head guard charged towards him, sword drawn.

Zeal grinned. He stretched his hand, and pointed to the guard, like marking a target.

”Forward and reverse.”

The world slowed for a second, and a glitch cracked out of nowhere. One moment the guard was charging forward, and the next moment, he was in many pieces scattered all around, smearing guts and intestines on the followers.

The rest of the guards couldn’t advance, neither could they return.

The family’s heads gasped, backing away even more, watching as Zeal threw his head back and burst into an amused laughter.

For a moment, fear struck everyone alike.

This was simply unhinged. An abominable version of Rowen.

Lady Hinger reaction was worst.

”For...for...ward? You’re the one I met that day?!”

She clamped her hand over her mouth.

’I almost ended up like that guard.’

”Who else wants to come forward?!”

Rowen sighed again.

”Zeal. Behave.”

Zeal laughter quiets down. For a second, he stared at his brother, then he suddenly frowned and turned his head.

”Why the hell was I summoned, Daevon?”

Another collective gasp followed.

He was talking to the emperor. The number one ruler of Salvador. This man was clearly insane.

Lady Hinger stepped forward.

”Y-you killed a guard!” She gasped, hand flying to her mouth. ”This is treason—”

”Shut up, hag.” Zeal didn’t even look at her. His eyes stayed locked on the emperor. ”I’m talking to the emperor.”

The room went dead quiet.

”So?”

Emperor Daevon didn’t flinch at the crude words. He just stretched his hand and addressed Zeal.

”They want to be sure you are one of the faceless and have no hand in the recent poison outbreak.”

Zeal glanced back at the people.

”Just that?”

”Yes.”

”Do you want to die?”

The room shook immediately.

Lord Tell’s ability flared brighter, the air around him getting hot enough. Lady Anny’s hand hovered over her dagger half drawn.

”How dare you?!”

Zeal turned his eyes, his expression going colder.

”Anyone who wants to accompany that guard, step forward first! I’ll send you right along.”

”Stand down.” Emperor Daevon raised his hand slowly.

They exchanged glances.

”Zeal, why are you unnecessarily agitated today?”

”I was eating when you called.” He shamelessly blurted out.

The absurd statement brought total silence. They all stared at him like he had spurted another head.

”Eating?”

”Yes!”

The emperor sighed.

”I apologize Zeal.”

”Your highness!” The houses gasped. ”How can you...”

”It’s a family matter,” the emperor cut them off. ”Did you forget that Ringoff possesses royal blood?”

They kept quiet. The emperor was indeed right. Ringoff was born from a crown prince who chose the battlefield instead of the throne, five hundred years ago. He had gone to battle and never attended court, leaving everything to his junior brother. In order words, they are also of the royal family direct line.

”We apologize! Your highness!” They bowed.

Zeal didn’t regard them.

”Why was I summoned?”

”Get down from the table.” Rowen spoke.

Zeal turned to his brother. He hopped down the table, landed beside Rowen, leaned closer and the next thing, he was wiping his bloody face on his brother’s cloth.

Rowen got pissed instantly.

”You fucking piece of shit!” He smacked him across the room.

All eyes followed the flight, and how he crashed, knocking down another part of the palace.

The emperor sighed.

”With him here, no meeting can proceed... And we need to renovate.”

They all nodded in understanding. But behind the simple gesture, a deep feeling of dread settled in the pit of their stomach.

Behind the royal family has been someone this volatile. He was hiding right under their noses.

How much secret is the royal family hiding?

”That was a bit too harsh.” Zeal struggled to his feet. He sat on the ground and crossed his legs. ”Rowen, you—”

A vibration startled him suddenly.

”Damn it!”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. The device with a large crack on the screen.

”Ned...”

He picked the call.

”What?”

”Sir Zeal,” Ned’s panicked voice sounded. ”Numerous portals suddenly opened in sound city, all at once! People are running and accidents...”

Zeal just listened to Ned ramble on, his expression shifting slowly.

”Just have him fix it. Sound league is in sound city so why...”

”Sir!” Ned’s voice was louder. ”A barrier was suddenly cast around the area. Numerous creatures are coming out but no raider could go in.”

This sounded oddly familiar to Zeal. He didn’t know when he sprang up and began walking outside, ignoring the curious glances.

”Were is Elias?!”

”He was attacked!”