[Congratulations to the host for obtaining a trait: Luck Significantly Increased (B-rank)]
[As the possessor of the King Template, your luck seems to truly be aligning with that of the 'strongest man on earth'.]
[In times of crisis, you will always be able to turn danger into safety.]
"Dammit!"
"Luck? It's luck again!"
King almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
"You damn system, you're screwing me over again!!"
"Luck is something invisible and intangible."
"What I want is the ability to fight, to tank, and to run away!"
The rage in his heart was like a volcanic eruption.
And this intense emotional fluctuation, without surprise, once again intensified that terrifying roar within his chest.
"Thump! Thump! Thump—!!!"
The sound of the King Engine grew louder, heavier, and more rapid, as if a thoroughly enraged Elemental Dragon King was roaring!
The entire Opera Epiclese trembled under this sound, and the murals on the dome were about to be shaken off.
King also felt like he was about to suffocate; the sound of his own heartbeat was nearly deafening him.
He looked at Neuvillette in terror, fearing the other would smash a hydro tornado into him in the next second.
However, in Neuvillette's perception, the situation was entirely different.
Just as he had made up his mind and was prepared to mobilize Hydro Element to first suppress this unfathomable 'powerhouse'—
The aura on the opponent's body actually surged again!
That war-drum-like heartbeat became even more violent, as if it were striking directly upon his soul.
The opponent's fierce gaze and seemingly casual stance instantly transformed in his eyes into countless possibilities for lethal opening moves!
What made his heart palpitate even more was an extremely intense sense of crisis originating from ancient instincts!
This sense of crisis was not based on rational judgment, but was a more primitive and direct warning!
That feeling was indescribable!
If he had to describe it: it was as if if he dared to move a single finger, he would meet complete destruction in the next second!
Like a stream trying to strike the ocean, or a firefly attempting to compete with the scorching sun—it was a death omen brought by an absolute gap in level!
The Hydro Element aura Neuvillette had gathered suddenly stalled, and for the first time, an extremely strange expression of fear appeared on his usually calm face.
His raised right hand paused slightly, and for a moment, he did not dare to strike.
Those blue pupils were locked tightly onto King, trying to see through the truth beneath this sky-high aura.
But the only feedback he received was that almost materialized pressure and the death warnings screaming frantically in his mind.
If I strike... I will die!!!
The thought of running away flashed through Neuvillette's mind.
His body froze in place, and the step he had originally prepared to take forward was forced to stop mid-air.
His face was covered in cold sweat.
He did not dare to move.
The courtroom fell into a stalemate.
On one side was the fierce King, whose heart was racing from fear.
On the other side was Neuvillette, who was so scared he wanted to flee.
The observing public didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
Although they didn't understand why the Iudex had suddenly stopped, that increasingly terrifying heartbeat already explained everything!
Even Lord Neuvillette is afraid!
Just as the air was about to solidify—
"Bang!"
The doors of the courtroom were pushed open violently, and a curvaceous yet agile figure walked in quickly.
The crisp sound of high heels tapping on the floor broke the suffocating silence.
It was Clorinde.
She seemed to have just undergone a battle; her hair was slightly messy, but her gaze remained sharp.
She wasn't holding a weapon; instead, she was leading a young girl who looked a bit panicked but was unharmed.
"Lord Furina."
"The true criminal has been brought to justice, and the missing girl has been safely recovered."
"After verification, this young lady got lost in the outskirts and was temporarily detained by a group of roaming Fatui Skirmishers. It has nothing to do with this..."
Her gaze swept over King, who sat in the defendant's seat with a terrifying aura, and she paused slightly, seemingly weighing her words:
"...with this handsome gentleman. His presence in the vicinity was merely a coincidence."
The truth was out!
Furina, who had been slumped in the judge's seat, heard this news and, as if grasping a lifeline, suddenly erupted with amazing strength and stood up with a "shing".
"S-so that's how it is!"
Her voice carried a hint of lightness from surviving a disaster and a tremor from forced composure:
"Under my, Furina's, wise leadership, justice has been served after all!"
"This was merely a misunderstanding, a colossal misunderstanding!"
She hurriedly looked at King, squeezing out a distorted smile that was as friendly as possible:
"Sir, you are innocent!"
"I, the Hydro Archon, Furina, hereby announce that you are free!"
"Please do not take the previous unpleasantness to heart!"
Neuvillette also breathed a slight sigh of relief; although his dignity was completely gone, at least there was a way out of the situation.
He took the opportunity to withdraw all his majestic aura, returning to his cool demeanor, and gave King a slight nod:
"It was a failure in our work that caused you trouble. My apologies."
King stood in the defendant's seat, listening to Furina's pardon and Neuvillette's stiff apology. He didn't feel relieved; instead, he felt increasingly annoyed!
Extremely annoyed!
Who did he provoke?
Now that the truth was out, a light "sorry" was supposed to settle it?
"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump—!!!"
The King Engine sensed its master's sky-high resentment and converted all of it into fuel for the King Engine!
The heart began to beat even more violently!
The sound was no longer that of war drums, but more like an abyss behemoth roaring before breaking its shackles!
Neuvillette's just-relaxed nerves instantly tightened to the limit again!
Why?
The truth is out, the charges are cleared—why has this powerhouse's anger increased instead of decreased?
Does he feel that this resolution is too trivial?
But he hadn't had time to mention compensation yet!
The powerful pressure was like a physical tsunami, crashing toward him.
The Ancient Dragon Authority within Neuvillette was letting out a warning-like wail.
He felt as if he were currently in the middle of a storm at sea, surrounded by towering waves, and he himself was but a small boat that could capsize at any moment.
Neuvillette had no doubt that if the opponent struck now, the entire Opera Epiclese—no, perhaps a small half of Fontaine—would be turned to ruins in an instant!
Too terrifying!
He slightly bent his waist, assuming a defensive posture, as cold sweat quietly slid down his temple; he did not dare to make any further moves that might provoke the other party.
And for Furina high up on the platform, the situation was even worse.
She had just forced herself to stand up and announce the result, and before she could even steady herself, she was hit head-on by this even more terrifying heartbeat!
That sound directly shattered all her pretenses.
She looked at the "fierce" expression of the man below, heard that heartbeat that announced the end of the world, and felt the pressure that was about to crush her... "Ugh..."
Furina gritted her teeth hard, weeping softly, not wanting to draw attention.
But Neuvillette was extremely sensitive to Hydro Element; even with his back to Furina, he "saw" Furina's tears.
His heart was filled with confusion and disappointment; as the Hydro Archon presiding over Fontaine, even when facing a powerful enemy, she should not cry in public!