Spirit Game

The ensuing silence was so profound it was almost deafening.

A smirk tugged at the corner of Lord Izumi's lips. "In all my hundred years, you're the third creature bold enough to threaten my life.

"But the question is . . . can you do it? Can you kill me?!"

As Lord Izumi's voice echoed through the air, his aura began to shift. The atmosphere around him grew denser, the very air thicken, pressing heavily upon everyone present.

A low, resonant hum filled the space, vibrating through the ground and up everyone's legs, making it feel as though the earth itself trembled in his presence.

His eyes, usually a calm and deep shade of azure, darkened to an almost pitch-black hue, reflecting a storm of unfathomable power.

The smirk on his lips vanished, replaced by an expression of pure, unyielding intensity. His grand robes billowed and shimmer with an ethereal energy, as if they were alive and responding to the immense force emanating from his very being.

The air crackled with invisible electricity, each spark sending jolts of fear and awe through the hearts of those who dared to face him.

The Ebizo soldiers, usually steadfast and unflinching, found themselves instinctively stepping back, their knees weakening under the crushing weight of their Lord's presence.

Some of the rebels dropped to the ground, gasping for breath, feeling as if an unseen hand was squeezing the life out of them.

The very ground beneath Izumi's feet pulsed with his power, small cracks spider-webbing out from where he stood, the battlement unable to withstand the pressure. The sky above darkened unnaturally, as if day was turning to night, casting an eerie shadow over the assembled crowd.

A deep, guttural growl rumbled from Lord Izumi's chest, reverberating through the air like thunder. It was a sound that carried the weight of centuries, a primal warning that sent shivers down the spines of even the bravest warriors.

Those who managed to keep their footing found their limbs trembling uncontrollably, their hearts pounding in their chests like war drums. Sweat poured down their faces, mixing with the dirt and grime, their bodies betraying their internal struggle against the overwhelming force.

The sheer pressure of his aura made it feel as though time itself had slowed. Each second stretched into an eternity, the moment suspended in a state of agonizing tension. Every breath was a battle, every heartbeat a struggle.

Druger felt it most acutely. The weight of Izumi's aura was like a tidal wave crashing over him, threatening to pull him under.

It was as if he were trying to breathe underwater, each gasp for air growing more desperate, his chest tightening with each futile attempt. His vision blurred, the edges darkening as if he were peering through a tunnel that was steadily collapsing inward.

S-so strong!

Druger stood frozen, his mind reeling from the stark realization that Lord Izumi, the formidable leader of the Zuwais and Ebizos, possessed the power to obliterate them with a mere flick of his wrist.

The thought sent a shiver down his spine, a reminder of their vulnerability.

"So this . . . this is one of the unbeatable monarch of the ocean," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely a whisper.

Then, as if by some unseen force, everything ground to a halt and returned to normalcy, as if the tense confrontation had been nothing but a fleeting illusion. The sky, once dark and foreboding, cleared rapidly, and Lord Izumi gazed upon the serene expanse, his expression one of centuries-old calm.

"However," he began, his voice steady and resolute, "the life of my son is more important than all of yours combined."

Druger was still grappling with the shock of Lord Izumi's true strength while hope flickered to life in the eyes of Lyncon and the others.

At the side, Izu could no longer contain his emotions, his voice breaking as he called out to his father, moved by the unexpected declaration of paternal love. He had always believed his father was indifferent to his fate. He had cried more on that day than in his entire life combined.

Lord Izumi turned his serious gaze toward the Dwarves and the townsfolks.

"That's why," he continued, his voice carrying the weight of his conviction, "I pledge on the universe, on this day and forevermore, that I, along with my kind and all my soldiers, will leave this place in peace. In exchange, all creatures in this city will release all my soldiers and my son. Is that agreeable?"

Druger, after a moment of stunned silence, nodded in agreement.

With both parties in accord, thunder roared across the heavens, and a powerful force enveloped the area with Lord Izumi at its epicenter. The universe had responded to the oath, and golden parchment materialized in the air, its light enveloping the entire area.

The pledge had been sealed; any who dared to break the contract would meet instant death.

Such was the power of swearing an oath in the Spirit Realm.

The parchment disappeared, and with it, the townsfolk's tears were replaced by joyous screams, their faces alight with the kind of happiness they had thought lost forever.

Lyncon embraced Druger, who remained in a daze, his friend's happiness infectious.

"Druger, we did it! We did it! I can't believe that we really did it!" Lyncon exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief and elation.

Druger blinked, then looked at Lyncon's beaming face, and it was only then that the reality of their victory sank in. They had liberated their town and reclaimed what was rightfully theirs along with their dignity and confidence.

"YEeaAarRgGhH!!"

The triumphant cry echoed through the streets, a declaration of their hard-won freedom.

Lord Izumi and the rest of the Ebizo soldiers merely watched the celebrating townsfolk before a small smile graced the corner of his lips. His robe billowed as he turned around, his command clear. "Go and free my foolish son, as well as our soldiers. We will be leaving this place immediately."

In the year 4x7x, on the 24th day of Spring Breeze, the Barren Wasteland Port Town that had been under the monarchy rule of Lord Izumi . . . had been liberated by its citizens.

And on that day, the townsfolk witnessed a remarkable spectacle as thousands upon thousands of Ebizos leaped over the water, led by none other than Lord Izumi himself.

Sparkles of water tossed into the air like fireworks, a display that left an indelible impression on the citizens.

At long last, after years of meticulous planning, they had reclaimed their freedom — a feat they had never achieved before. With this victory, their spirits were fortified, brimming with newfound confidence.