Galthor was beginning to realize that he wouldn't have an upper hand in the matter. His people, and in extension him, were the offending party. Not only that, they didn't have the weight to throw around.
'.. I really must grow stronger. I need to be able to throw my weight around and cause changes...'
He gritted his teeth as he looked at Serion Caelus. "What do you want, Jaded Lord? I want my people back. But what do you want?"
Serion Caelus's eyes sparked, and the indifference totally cleared from his face as if he'd just been presented with his favorite dish. "What do I want? I hear that you slayed a Cursed monster, and if that's the case, then you must be stronger than we thought!
"You see, you might not know this, but there is a reason why there were four banners only in the Revolutionary base, and it had to do with the core of the Abyssal Land."
Galthor did not understand the way the conversation changed so fast, and he tried to keep up. "Do you mean the Legacy?"
Serion Caelus smiled. "Yes. It's said to be a strong one that I, and I'm sure other banners, are very interested in. The plan was to share it among each other. And we need four banners."
The turn that the conversation took seemed to surprise everyone, and they were looking at their Lord with confusion. Karathra shifted and looked at Galthor, a strange look on her face.
Galthor only looked calm, like an unmoved mountain, but inside he was feeling warm because he was getting to know more about the Legacy that would unlock his Divine Interface.
"Four strong banners. Don't ask me why. I won't tell you, as you've not earned the right. Since your father died, the remaining three banners had gathered the barbarians we could get to form the new banner leader of the barbarian."
'...and no doubt be the one in control. My coming back must have pissed off the lot of them...'
Serion Caelus shrugged. "But since you are here now, then there's no need. What I want in exchange for giving you the criminals is to see if you are worthy of being the barbarian banner!"
'...I'm a god, damn it! A divine made flesh...'
Of course, none of this showed on Galthor's face. "You want to fight me?"
Serion Caelus's lips curled. "Me? Boy, I'll crush you without using effort."
Galthor smiled, his teeth flashing like silver daggers. "You will use effort, I can assure you of that, Serion Caelus."
The Winged people bristled at the way Galthor spoke, but they dared not say anything. They only kept mute. But he didn't mind; he would respect those who respected him. Things like that were simple.
Serion Caelus's smile became stiff. "I will arrange for the one you will fight. Casper, call my First Commander here."
Instantly, everyone sucked in a sharp breath. Even Karathra and Brakthar became rigid.
Jaded Lord Serion Caelus had a lot of Commanders, and like most lords, he ranked them in descending numbers, with the strongest being one.
Commander Oryn was the First Commander, and thus he led all the forces under Jaded Lord Serion Caelus. But that wasn't actually what made him special.
It was the fact that he was one of the masters above the Master Essence rank.
The Winged people were a minor race, but they were also a thriving one. Although they had no god of their own, they had a Legacy, and they used that to empower the promising warriors of their race.
Karathra leaned back and whispered furiously to him. "My lord, you absolutely cannot go through with this! They're planning to kill you here! You can't win! His power would at least be comparable to that of a Priest! A Priest of a minor god!"
Above the Master Essence user, they tended to rank the power level to go in direct divine order of Sanctum, from common worshippers to the god.
Galthor took a deep breath. He had been cornered by Serion Caelus. If he fought, he might not win, and that would either get him killed or ruin his new reputation so badly that he wouldn't even be able to gather the barbarians in the Revolutionary base to his side.
The same thing would happen if he did not fight.
Well played, Serion Caelus.
To the side, Skolvar Dustfang watched this latest development with sharp eyes. He wasn't the only one either; everyone in the hall watched, waiting. They all knew Commander Oryn and knew that this new barbarian chief had no chance.
Serion Caelus asked, his voice booming, "What say you, Galthor Stronghide?"
Galthor watched the lord on the throne, and he was about to give his reply when someone cut in.
And it was actually Skolvar Dustfang. He took a step forward and did a shallow bow. "Jaded Lord Serion Caelus, please do not make Galthor Stronghide fight your First Commander!"