Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] Chapter 110: Book 2: Chapter 26.2: Divide and Conquer

Read chapter 110 of Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

Book 2: Chapter 26.2: Divide and Conquer Book 2: Chapter 26: Divide and Conquer They came for Alex and Eric at dusk in silence. A black-cloaked knight stood in the doorway, like a person-shaped gravestone. Not a word was spoken, the knight only gave a nod of expectation, and his gaze bore into them like a boot on the neck. The unvoiced statement was clear, House Thorneth had arrived. The walk through the lower tunnels of the palace was long, empty, and cold. Not chilled from a lack of heat, but cold by design. Below their feet the stone shone, polished like obsidian glass. All sound dampened by yards and yards of thick rock in every direction, the air tasting faintly of iron and incense. On entry the chamber was rounded and set a grimvibe, lit by wall sconces that burned with smokeless flames. Seven banners draped high across the stone arches in colors of blackened-grey, and deep violet, with splashes of green and gold. Each was embroidered with a crest belonging to a Noble House just as in their suite. There was a thorned crown, a broken sword, a fist surrounded by a halo of blue ather. All family crests or representations of whatever else denoted the house’s personal history. And waiting beneath them, seated in apparent judgment, were three figures of House Thorneth. Alex looked at each, trying to get a feel for them. He recognized the three figures based on the reports they received from the gala, and the throughout the early morning. Seated at the center: High Marshal Cydric Thorneth, his armor was not ceremonial but battle-worn, scarred, and fitted like it hadn't been removed in a decade. His eyes were pale and pitiless. The aura he gave off placed him solidly in the late part of liquid-stage of Adept Tier. Seat to his right was Lady Verrianna Thorneth, his niece if the rumors were right. He looked her over carefully. Verriana was sharp-jawed, all lean muscle and contempt, dressed in sparring leathers and old bloodstains. We was weaker than her uncle, her core giving off the distinct pressure of an early stage Adept. To his left he saw a younger man with a duelist’s build and a soldier’s eyes, his armor polished and personalized, wearing the smug half-smile of someone who had never lost a duel and didn’t plan to start now. Callen Thorneth, second cousin to Verrianna. He smiled at Alex as he looked at him, almost like he was presenting a challenge. His aura was only a fraction denser than Verrianna’s, but he felt more dangerous. “Commander Eric Thompson,” Cydric said as they entered. “And the other one.” He got no title, no name. A subtle disrespect meant to get him angry, or throw him off. Instead, he only smiled at the man as he walked forward and sat in one of the two chairs across from them. The High Marshall then did something he wasn’t expecting, he smiled back. Alex felt a chill settle under his collar. Cydric continued, “You’ll answer our questions. You’ll be brief. You’ll be honest.” Eric sat in the chair next to him. He looked like he also wasn’t sure what was going on. This almost felt like Alex was being court martialed, and Eric’s face told him that he was feeling something rather similar. “ Pay attention meatboy, you’ll need to make sure you don’t miss anything.” Obby so helpfully chimed in his head. Lady Verrianna didn’t wait for her uncle’s permission to begin, she jumped right into it. Her voice rang out proud, snarky, contemptuous. “Say your squad is ambushed. Your rear is cut off, one wounded, one deadweight, enemy in front. What’s your call?” “Depends on the terrain,” Eric said before he could. “And how long I’ve had to prepare a fallback.” “Not what we asked.” They are pretty aggressive, she’s looking for submission, acquiescence. He looked over to Eric, seeing that the man was still calm and unbothered. Would he have been as coolblooded? If my fire element attunement still had its claws me, and I didn’t have the experience handling the Demon Asura Style, the Wyrmblood heart, or even handled that kobol