The Stonehearted Knight-Chapter 468: Drawn by sound

Everyone stared in disbelief at the representative on top of the leaf.

Three people, each a powerhouse in their own right, wiped out. Not even the Elders could explain the event they all witnessed yet didn’t understand.

Sterling gulped air due to the lack of saliva in his mouth. He didn’t see it happen. He heard it. Word for word.

And much like everyone else, his heart beat had accelerated. Despite trying to pull himself out of it, he felt sinking in the horror he had heard about.

Out of the corner of his eyes he noticed Ella trembling. She tried to hide but the lack of colors betrayed her emotions.

She looked vulnerable. Almost pitiable. Almost.

’Did she really think going after someone believed to be Heaven itself would be possible with her team?’

Sterling was skeptical about the extent things he heard and read were true. And still, he would think twice before doing whatever she had attempted to do.

No one spoke. Or moved. Everything seemed frozen in place.

It took a long time before anyone spoke.

"This tournament has lost its importance. We might as well announce the winners."

An Elder with a face more wrinkled than an aged bark stood and mumbled, his voice barely louder than a whisper as if he was afraid of his voice reaching far and wide.

The other Elders remained silent but shifted uneasily in their chairs. Most of them didn’t face the Elder talking and instead focused on each other, trying to communicate with their gazes and brows.

"We can’t."

The representative spoke up but kept his voice at the same volume as that of the Elder. His confident and greasy attitude was nowhere to be found. Although he spoke against the Elder, his face suggested he rather forgot about the battles and disappeared from this place.

"We...have agreements with the sponsors, nations, and Lord Wrixia. Only if they all permit us to withdraw or end the tournament prematurely, can we do so."

"Then ask them," the Elder screamed, his face dripping with indignation. "At this rate we won’t have many candidates left, and sorry, wasn’t that the purpose of this tournament? Find a worthy candidate who networks here and finds worthy acquaintances to increase the business prospects?"

No one replied. They were busy looking away from the Elder, like at the representative or in some cases, their nails.

’They have already lost the plot,’ Sterling mused. Like that Elder said, he came here to do just that and give his team a second chance, away from the likes of the Divine Lord and the High Temple. He realized only now that it was futile.

’This battle will sweep the entire world. Even here.’

He concluded that based on the rumors, gossip, and the reaction of the High Elders.

This wasn’t a tournament. It was a diversion.

...

Hex followed the path upward. He had sensed a battle somewhere above. The turbulous flow of energy and the density of Fate strings painted a vivid picture of what might have happened.

"I don’t think Elron will join us any longer."

Gronke looked confused but Hex turned away from him and continued.

"I assume we are heading to battle now then?" Gronke said after some time.

Right. Hex hadn’t given it much thought but the big guy was right. If Althea took out Elron, and from the sense of energy it didn’t seem like he had been alone, then it’s safe to assume not many teams are left. And every one who is left, will try to monopolize the rewards.

Hex was about to share his suspicions when he sensed a subtle change in the air.

He stopped abruptly, causing Gronke to skid past him for a few meters.

"What happened?" Gronke inquired with a frown. While he appeared peeved, he was battle ready at the same time.

Hex sniffed the air. A grin broke on his face.

"Why are you stalking two men? Isn’t the young lord of the north enough for you, miss Serenade?"

His heart circulated the blood faster. The air was thick and lazed with some substances he couldn’t identify.

Whatever it was, it was powerful. In mere seconds Gronke appeared drowsy.

The warlord didn’t need to be told about it though. He sloppily plucked a small flask from his wide belt and downed the content in one go. At the same time, he pulled some green paste and smeared it on his face.

"My own air filter," he whispered, while offering Hex some. Hex shook his head.

"Don’t worry about me. It’s just a desperate housewife looking for attention. I am sure between the two of us, we can make it pleasant for her."

Gronke stared at him before a wide smile that sent shivers even through Hex’s spine appeared on his face.

"Sure can do. Miss, come on out. It’s just the three of us." He licked his lips in a way that nearly caused Hex to puke. But he didn’t show it on his face.

"You vile, degenerate trash!" The air reverberated loud and shrill.

Hex twitched his ears, trying to find the source while maintaining the teasing grin on his face.

The sound spread through the area, seemingly coming from everywhere.

’Echos,’ Hex understood how she had done it. His heart thumped loud in his chest, emanating wind elements in a certain frequency outward.

If she could control the elements in the air, he could create his own.

"I will make sure you die a thousand deaths. No. Wait. I will capture you and have you spent nights with bears in the mating season. Male ones. Haha. Yes. I hope you will be able to satisfy them. The northern bears can go on for days. Haha."

Suppressing the image of the torture she described, he focused on his wind element. It spread out, colliding with the elements in the air spreading with her voice.

Each collision lit up in his mind, creating a map. With each of her words, the map turned brighter.

Hex’s smile grew. He had found her!