From Outcast to Overlord The Unyielding Heir (Leander Ashcroft) novel Chapter 558

"What about you, Dragon Emperor?"

David's eyes fell on Caelius, his gaze turning distant as he recalled the day they first met 70 years ago.

Astria had been in turmoil at the time. The Western Navy had bombed its way through Astria's ports, while the Jesundese cavalry had gouged a ruinous path through Astrian soil. Two forces were frothing at the mouth to have their cut of Astrian riches.

A devout cleric like David couldn't just sit on the sidelines upon witnessing the death and destruction wrought about his nation. So, he left the church, ready to devote himself to the war effort. He wanted to save the people and chase the invaders away.

Caelius had been the first person he'd met after leaving the church.

The King Phase was a thing of the past during World War II. At least, it had been a thing of the past for 30 years. However, it could erupt at any moment. How did they notice? Simple, the two of them had noticed something amiss during the chaotic times.

The Arbitration Office and the Western Church had sneakily sent King Phase martial artists to Astria, turning already murky waters even murkier.

As if that weren't enough, Jesund had summoned several King Phase demons to possess their military men to conquer Astria in the name of their nation.

So, Caelius and David had formed a Martial Alliance. They had joined forces with the Twinfang Sect, the Righteous Sect, the Clarity Palace, and other powerful Astrian sects to keep invading forces at bay.

Caelius and David had fought in countless battles together. During that time, they crushed many Western and Jesundese King Phase figures and won the respect of Astria's martial world. In time, people began to revere them as the Paragons of the Martial Alliance.

They had boosted Astrian morale with their prowess in battle. Soon, the invaders were driven out of the nation one after another. Still, not all of them left, especially not the King Phase martial artists.

There had been 15 King Phase martial artists lurking in Astria. Of 15, 10 belonged to the Arbitration Office and the Western Church.

Caelius and Branson ran themselves ragged, trekking across Astria just to punt them back to their respective factions. Eventually, they managed to do just that, dirtying their hands with some of the invaders' blood.

The Arbitration Office flew into a rage upon learning about their loss. So, they started using the King Phase Accord as a justification to call for Caelius and Branson's heads. Sure enough, 16 Supreme Arbiters descended upon Astria and swarmed Caelius like a plague of locusts.

Caelius had been forced to flee for his life from those 16 martial artists, whereas David had been wounded by three of the strongest Supreme Arbiters in their ranks.

Ever since then, one had been living in hiding in the wilderness while the other had returned to his church. Neither had bothered showing their faces in public ever again.

Time passed, and it had been 70 years since their defeat. Yet, David could still remember the terror they had experienced on that fateful day.

His eyes blazed with determination as he looked at Caelius. Honestly, he had already made his intentions known the second he had chosen to discard the title "Master".

A cleric was supposed to uphold harmony. He should strive to perfect his hymns and cultivate inner peace. However, a wanderer was free to do whatever he pleased. He could play the good Samaritan; he could chase away the evil forces lurking in the shadows.

Freedom of duty was what separated a cleric from a wanderer.

Caelius' beard flapped against the wind as silence fell upon them. After a while, he said lightly, "You know full well what happened that day. Those 16 Supreme Arbiters will hunt us down if we leave seclusion."

David grinned as he replied nonchalantly, "Are you telling the great and mighty Dragon Emperor is afraid of some lowly worms from the Arbitration Office?"

Caelius' eyes sharpened at the jest as he answered solemnly, "I'm not afraid of any of them, but have you considered what would happen if we do this? What do you think would happen to Astria? No, that's not quite right. Have you considered that our decision will cause another world war?

"Do you want to see another War of the King Phase?"

David's pupils contracted as he envisioned the bloody consequences coming to life.

Both he and Caelius represented the Eastern faction's King Phases. If they showed their faces, the 16 Supreme Arbiters from the West would be the least of their problems. They would also have to face the Western Church and their King Phases.

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