Rise of the Cosmic_Emperor

Once the carriage was in the same district as the Holger Estate, a District that was part of the territory that came along with the property, The carriage stopped and Hal alighted from it.

"We're not there yet" Melinda protested and Hal smiled, 

"Castor and the others will go ahead of us, there is something I need to prepare before then. I thought It would be nice for you to join me" 

Melinda sighed and alighted as well with a smile, 

"We will be making the rest of the trip on foot, won't we?" She told him as she grabbed his arm and they both watched the carriage leave, 

"Yes?" Hal said with slight confusion. 

It should have been obvious that this was what would happen so it stood to reason that her question went further than a simple inquiry into their mode of transportation and sure enough...

"Why exactly didn't you just ask Castor and the others to wait and take as long once you were done with whatever you're doing?" She asked

"Think of it as him going ahead to prepare the Estate for our arrival and consider this a romantic Evening walk"

He smiled as he continued to lead her to certain spots that were surrounded by buildings, buildings that would be perfect for someone to hide behind...

"Or at least it would be romantic if we did not have Gregory's creepy spies stalking us," Hal said and raised his voice just enough for it to carry in the barely inhabited district.

Melinda smiled lightly when he had made his proclamation. With her cultivation at the Mid-stage of the Cosmic Armament Realm, her senses were enough for her to know they had been followed since they left the mansion.

Of course, even before she reached the Cosmic Armament Realm, she was already aware of the spies Gregory had watching Hal. It was the main reason she had called him a stalker after their last encounter.

Hal's eyes turned a Blood red and two thick patches of the fog of the same color extended from his sides and stretched into the back of one of the buildings and soon pulled out Four men at the Peak stage of the Cosmic Pearl realm.

The three were struggling against the restraint of the fog and attempted to free themselves. But the attempt was fruitless and it wasn't long before they were deposited before the duo and held down.

"What do you want to do?" Melinda asked

"I'm going to kill them," Hal said without hesitation and Melinda turned away from the four to face him, 

"You won't 'recruit' them?" 

"What's the point? Their strength does not interest me and I already have Burt infiltrating Payne Estate.

Their death would however scream for a personnel change. A wonderful opportunity to fill certain ranks with my Blood knights.

Plus... Once they don't report to Gregory by the end of the day, It would serve as a simple message to him"

"What message?"

"'Send anymore and I will kill them too', let's see if he'll dare spy on me again"

Melinda nodded and shrugged "Want me to do it?"

"No need," Hal said and stretched his hand to summon Executioner...

The instant the Demonic Broadsword appeared, a strong sense of fear gripped the four and they opened their mouths to beg for mercy but before they could say a single word or have a Blood spurt due to the weapon's bloodcurdling energy...

*Slash!!*

*Thud* *Thud* *Thud* *Thud*

... Hal swung and beheaded them all at once and their heads fell with dull thuds. He did not bother to drain their blood essence for two reasons.

One was because it would be of no use to him and the second was because it would make it similar to the deaths of the Raiders at Holger Estate, something he was sure Gregory would realize and petition Hector to realize as well.

Hal had made sure with Astral perception that there were no witnesses. Most of the inhabitants of the buildings in that district were those who worked for the Holgers but did not reside in the Estate. They were required to live close by so that they could report at a moment's notice.

Hal had acquired those buildings as well as a part of the Estate.

"Mercy" Melinda's voice came from behind him and Hal turned to smile at her, 

"Hmm?" He raised his brow.

"You showed them mercy. Killed them in a single slash, not only was death instantaneous, but they also did not suffer from watching their colleagues die. So...

"You showed mercy," Melinda said with a shrug.

Hal stroked his chin as he pondered on what she had said, 

"What if the single slash had been meant to impress you?" He asked with a smile that identified the words as bullshit instantly.

"I would like to believe you know better than that" She rolled her eyes and Hal smiled before he took a deep breath, 

"Perhaps it was merciful, but I don't see it as such. They were just not strong enough to spend so much time and attention on, neither did I have a personal vendetta against them"

He shrugged and Melinda nodded with an expression that meant 'Keep telling yourself that'.

This time it was Hal who rolled his eyes and ignored the expression.

"I'm guessing watching you behead four men is not the Romantic walk you were referring to," Melinda said.

"No, I just needed to get them out of the way first," Hal said as he projected runes on all Four men and they simultaneously combusted, their bodies reduced to ashes in mere seconds.

He turned away from their ashes and spread his perception throughout the territory that was now his. Taking mental measurements and adjustments as he prepared to perform his greatest Rune mastering feat till date.

"I told you of the Contracted Gang members right?" He said to Melinda once he was done with his analysis.

"Right" Melinda nodded.

"Well, I plan to keep them here. They'll cultivate and train. It's going to be the same for the Marked brethren, and once my Blood Knights are appropriately integrated into the Great families, they will take occasional breaks to do the same in that Estate as well.

All of our men will be in this Estate, how long do you think it will take before it's noticed?" Hal asked with a slight smile and Melinda's eyes widened when she understood what Hal was doing.

When Hal joined the Auction, he knew he put himself in the spotlight. Granted they were all more likely to believe Melinda was the one behind it all and not him but that did not change anything.

After all, Attacking Melinda was the same as attacking him. 

Anyway, he had gone against the Great families. While it was Gregory he had bid against, winning against Gregory who had displayed dominance by outbidding them all, put Hal in a position worthy of attention.

And this was even more so now that there seems to be a new participant in the race to rule Salmon city.

All Great Families had forgone all thoughts of cooperation and would fight to win individually and in such a situation, they cannot afford to be blindsided by anyone so they would keep their eye on the one who had now put himself on the 'Map'.

So to speak.

Gregory was the only one spying on him at the moment but Hal was sure the other Great families would begin to watch the Estate and seeing a 'small force' training inside was bound to raise suspicion.

This brings us to why Hal stopped the carriage where the Holger territory began...

"Second-grade skill: Updraft" 

Hal's eyes were closed and he took a deep calming breath before a two circled ring appeared below his feet right as he leaped, blindly, into the air.

The lift from updraft would only keep Hal in the air for a few seconds at best, but after amassing enough Astral Energy and successfully replenished the amount he had used at the Confluence, those few seconds were more than enough.

His eyes opened suddenly and he realized a torrent of astral energy while he simultaneously projected massive and multiple runes that flew around the Estate to imprint themselves in a beautiful order and pattern.

The runes were numerous and all radiated Rank 3 astral energy. 

Projecting one rune was already dangerous enough to a normal Runemaster, even though Hal had the advantage of {Equipoise} and could hold Astral energy in his body, his mind was still susceptible to mental strain.

The whole thing only took a few seconds but for Hal, it very well could have been hours and the strain it placed on his mind was immense.

He finished just in time as the Skill's effect wore off and he fell towards the ground...

*whump*

... Where he was caught successfully by Melinda.

"What were you thinking?"

She said in an outraged voice while Hal winced slightly at his still aching bones.

"I was drawing up an array," Hal said in a bid to justify himself.

"You didn't have to do the jumping stunt especially not in your condition"

"Like I already told you, I'm feeling better than I look," He said with a chuckle.

"Why not walk around the Estate slowly and Draw it the normal way. With a scroll" She insisted but Hal waved it off, 

"This way was faster," He said before he turned her face towards the Estate just in time for her to see the Runes come alive with Astral energy.

They were inside the array as it came alive and effectively isolated the whole region. The isolation made it seem like it's own little world.

The Runes swam about the Estate in Rich Royal blue, they Wove around, twisted, and turned as though they were all alive.

Melinda was lost in the beautiful sights,

"What is..." She began with her sights still set on it but Hal interrupted, 

"Shhhh. It will fade away once the Array is completely activated. For now..."

He waved his hand and retrieved from his inventory what could only be described as a picnic blanket and pulled her to sit beside him.

"For now. Just Enjoy it"