Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 454: Chapter 454 - Tamers War - No Escape (1/2)

Julius was on guard, he had turned before giving his hand to Ren and now had his back to him to protect him along with the others. But the piece of his mutilated arm made his defensive position seem even more desperate.

Kassian laughed, a sound that carried years of accumulated resentment.

”You guys put up a great fight,” he admitted with false admiration, ”but you have nothing left. What are you going to do? Bleed on me?”

The mockery was casual and cruel, the kind of taunting that came from someone who finally held all the power in a situation that had once been beyond their control.

Julius discretely moved his hand behind his back, signaling Ren to retreat.

But there was something he didn’t understand about Kassian’s attitude, something that deeply disturbed him.

To buy time for the kids, he asked something that had been bothering him.

”Why do you talk about the fight against Selphira as if your father’s death wasn’t the outcome?” Julius kept his voice controlled. ”Why aren’t you at least a little sad for the man who was about to start a war to save you?”

Kassian laughed long and hard, a sound that escalated until it became something bordering on hysteria.

Then he paused, taking his time to speak while a wide smile was still spread across his face.

”Because Iwas about to start a war to save myself,” he declared with perverse pride. ”My father doesn’t exist.”

Julius tried to understand, confusion visible in his expression.

Kassian made it easier by continuing his monologue, clearly enjoying the opportunity to explain his life’s ’masterpiece’.

”I stopped having a father long ago. When the empty shell of the man I admired decided to abandon his greater ideals...” His voice became colder, more distant. ”He abandoned himself, abandoned what he represented to me. That thing was no longer my father from that day.”

The revelation was delivered with casual satisfaction, as if discussing a successful business transaction rather than the destruction of a fundamental relationship.

Kassian unconsciously touched something on his chest, where barely visible purple lines pulsed under his clothing.

”What I have now is much closer to my ideal. It’s not really complete yet as it has only my memories of him, but the crystal will provide...”

Julius began understanding the ominous message, pieces falling into place like nightmare fragments.

Had Kharzan been under his son’s control for so long? How long?

Clarity came like a blow. Many things made sense now: a few years ago when Yino began aggressive pricing, when Kharzan began controlling export markets and acting more insubordinate... ”Lately he behaves ’like a teenager’,” Arturo had said on that occasion.

The personality changes, irrational decisions, growing aggression... it had all been...

♢♢♢♢

Sirius had tried to move and take Ren away discreetly, but he didn’t let him.

Ren wanted to leave the 10% energy to Julius before going, a final gift that could help him have at least a tiny extra chance of surviving what was coming.

But that was when Kassian paid more attention to the child.

”Ah,” he murmured, his eyes focusing on Ren now. ”The kid who escaped from me. The damned brat who has dared to be a nuisance to some of my plans on various occasions.”

Kassian evaluated Ren like a farmer would evaluate livestock for slaughter.

”If you’re really simply a sacrifice to hide the true provider of the strange knowledge from this past year, you wouldn’t matter anymore,” he continued, circling around the group like a predator. ”But your strange actions have been very incongruous, therefore I’ve decided you’re better dead... Just in case.”

His smile became truly malicious.

”And it’s time to make sure, with my own eyes, that is exactly what happens... Bring me their heads!”

The 8 soldiers Ravenspire left guarding him launched into attack like hungry wolves.

Julius gritted his teeth and with his only hand began battle, earth sprouting from his desperate control to create barriers that barely contained the attackers.

The defensive effort was heroic but clearly unsustainable... one-handed earth control against Gold-rank opponents was mathematics that could only end one way.

Ren tried to approach to help, but Julius completely covered himself with earth, now defused and vulnerable, creating a protective barrier around the children and Sirius too.

”Stay back!” Julius shouted while blocking an attack that would have decapitated any lesser-level soldier.

Kassian’s attackers did their work with brutal efficiency while he watched with satisfaction. The defending Gold ranks fell one by one, their forces already spent by the previous battle, without energy to resist appropriately.

The systematic destruction was both efficient and merciless, an overwhelming advantage that turned combat into execution.

Ren urgently asked Liora and Luna to carry Larissa so he could launch himself to help Julius.

”You’re not!” Luna shouted, but was already holding Larissa without thinking when Ren had thrown her to them.

”It’s suicide!” Liora added, though she also helped carry Larissa’s legs.

Ren felt he had to do it. He couldn’t stay behind or escape while Julius and the others die.

Julius was already trying to contain two of the eight fighters simultaneously, but was having a hard time. Blood dripped from multiple wounds while his earth defenses cracked under constant pressure.

Ren, now free to move, prepared to jump toward him.

But Kassian got in front of him, ready to put his claws on his face.

”Not so fast, little nuisance.”

Kassian wouldn’t dare attack Julius or other Gold ranks with his still immature beasts, but this child of barely eleven years, though strong-minded enough not to be crouched crying right now, couldn’t be so much in power by simple calculation of time and experience.

Therefore, he was perfect prey for him.

The logic was sound but incomplete... experience and time mattered, but so did exceptional circumstances and hidden advantages.

Ren frowned and decided he wouldn’t be intimidated even though he was at a rank disadvantage against Kassian. He got into battle position, his feet firmly planted.