Ray walked out through the large gate of Ash's palace, a faint dissatisfaction lingering on his face. "I wanted to fight them more!" he muttered.
Ash turned his head towards Ray, a questioning look in his eyes. "Why are you so excited to fight there, when you yourself said your technique would kill them?"
"Just nothing..." Ray mumbled, waving his hands dismissively.
"Are you hiding something from me?" Ash pressed, his gaze sharp.
"No, no...!" Ray insisted, swinging his hands to prove his innocence. "I am not hiding anything."
They continued walking in silence.
Ray's eyes suddenly widened, a look of profound surprise on his face. He didn't speak, but his thoughts raced.
Those two people! I absorbed their memories! Their physical strength, their techniques, their experience, their memories—all are within me. I feel like there are two more bodies and minds inside me. I was right, I still have that absorb technique. This is a very great feeling!
Ash stopped a few steps ahead and turned back to Ray. "What happened? Do you have any problem?"
"No, nothing!" Ray replied, his voice brimming with an uncharacteristic happiness.
Ray walked towards Ash. "Why don't we use teleportation technique again?" he suggested, a wide smile on his face.
Ash's expression turned suspicious.
"Something really happened. You are looking very happy. What's the matter?"
"Nothing," Ray insisted. "Let's go."
"Okay," Ash conceded. "Anyway, we are becoming late."
*******
Meanwhile, Adam and a few armored soldiers emerged from the Aetheris Palace, which was also situated within Eldorwyn Palace. They walked with purpose.
"After many days," Adam mused, a cruel anticipation in his voice, "I will get to use my powers to kill someone."
"But Captain," one of the soldiers interjected, "we are ordered to bring him alive."
"Yeah, I know!" Adam snapped. "I was just talking about if the conditions arise to kill him, we have to do that." He then added, "But first, we have to go to the Royal Palace to complete the mandatory paperwork."
*******
Both Ray and Ash arrived in front of the Royal Palace, a structure that dwarfed Ash's own, appearing at least twice its size.
"This is so huge...!" Ray breathed, his head tilted back as he gazed up at the palace's immense height.
"But you are not too surprised," Ash observed.
"It's because there's only some difference between yours and this," Ray replied, still awestruck.
"Let's go inside," Ash said, leading the way.
They entered the palace through long, grand stairs adorned with a crimson carpet and white linings. As they stepped inside, Ray looked up. The ceiling was incredibly distant, emphasizing the sheer height of the hall they were in. Around them, numerous staircases swirled upwards, encircling a vast central hall filled with many people.
"Where is the King?" Ray asked.
"This is not the Royal Court for him to be here," Ash explained. "Follow me."
Ash moved towards the front, ascending a short flight of stairs and then passing through a large entrance.
The room beyond was a vast hall, its entire floor covered by a red carpet. Ten chairs, arranged in two rows of five, lined the corners of the room, facing a large, long throne at the exact front. A crystal was embedded above the throne, which was currently empty, indicating the King's absence. Twenty people were seated on the other chairs, ten in each opposing row, positioned at the corners leading to the main throne.
Ash and Ray descended the stairs into the Royal Court.
"Where is King!" Ash shouted, his voice booming through the vast hall.
"Are you crazy?" Ray whispered, alarmed. "Why are you shouting here?"
"According to Elder Paths," Ash declared, his voice still loud, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall, "the King should be here, on his throne! Where is he?"