"What is the meaning of this I ask?!" Kritoph looked around at his pillars but saw not a single one of him supporting him.
He then looked to Issac Lovitz by his side who looked as flabbergasted as him at the current situation.
With the emergence of this new threat they had completely put the matter of war to the back of their minds. However the declaration they had given back then came back to bite them in the ass.
No one had the matter of being rewarded for the war on their minds with the world at stake, but here was Aron with the Aethelian Queen in chains.
"The meaning is clear, with their queen captured and their king dead I have contributed more than any other. It's as simple as that or perphaps… were you planning to never abdicate in the first place regardless of what happened?" Aron looked at the panicked Kritoph pathetically and asked causing others to start speaking in whispers.
Whatever he said now would have great impact due to the many thousands of spectators present, keenly watching the scene unfold.
Many of the aristocrats were taken aback by this situation completely and would've protested if it weren't for the major powers supporting Aron's claim for the seat of power.
Right now the only ones yet to voice their stand were house Vonstein and Lamarck, both whose heads weren't present at the moment. As for house Lovitz it was unclear wether Issac would continue to stand with Kritoph or jump ship.
'How did this happen!?' Issac's old mind was in a frenzy at the moment, racking his brain for any ideas to dissolve this situation or at least delay it until he can come up with a solid plan.
"I understand your situation but be patient, the situation of the world right now is far to dire to let a boy with no experience take over as emperor, right now Lord Kritoph is best suited as he already understands the responsibility…" Issac could only think of this at the spot to delay Aron.
Aron however wouldn't back down to petty words or politics, right now debating would only start to divide the people's opinions so the obvious solution to this was obvious…
Woosh!
Aron erupted from his position in a sudden burst of speed and targeted not Kritoph but Issac.
!!
The man's eyes widened and those nearest didn't react at all, as if letting it happen. This attack gave him no chance to prepare an art, was he really going to die like this?
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHis eyes met with those of his grandchild Yohan but rather than worry on his face Yohan wore a small smile leaving Issac shocked with a widened gaze as Aron's fist collided with his chest.
The force behind the attack lead to his chest being absolutely crushed leaving his organs in a bloody mess, death came quick and painfully.
Even as his bloody body plopped to the ground one could see the look of surprise on his face.
"Issac!!" Kritoph cried but he was helpless to do anything. Aron's speed wasn't something he could follow with his eyes without augmentation so the result was quick and flawless with no resistance at all.
Unless given time to prepare a technique or art, mages would meet quick deaths in a close quarters confrontation with Aron.
"Your reign is over." Aron then turned to the pale faced Kritoph and kicked him in the face sending him flying back.
If he had used the same amount of force as he did before, Kritoph's face would have been crushed. However Aron chose to use this opportunity to deliver a psychological message to the hearts of those who would still struggle to accept him.
"No matter your claim you're a murderer! Seize him!" Kritoph cried desperately while holding his sore cheek leaving the spectators speechless.
You're the emperor for crying out loud, fight him yourself!
The guards didn't budge, it was clear who the superior was at this moment and they wouldn't foolishly support the losing out just to lose their lives alongside him.
Such was human nature…
"I order you seize him!" Kritoph cried again but his once strong presence had been completely annihilated, now his orders were just seen as pathetic rumblings.
Bam!
While crying for help he felt a great force on his head that sent his face to the cold ground. He glanced up in the corner of his eye and could see Aron standing over him with his boot firmly planted on his face.
Sss~
Was the emperor weak? Or was Aron just that strong?
This train of thought arose in the hearts of many the longer they watched this now painful scene.
"Why aren't you fighting back?" Aron asked before stomping his face, his question was rhetorical and only served to further deepen his outlook to others.
The more he continued with this act the stronger the smell of fear grew all around him, showing that this method was working.
"I-"
Bam!
Before Kritoph could answer was stomped hard again and couldn't help but yelp in pain. His mind was in a frenzy and he couldn't concentrate enough to bring forth an art or technique.
Most combatants in such a situation would be able to since they would have steeled their hearts and minds to act even under pressure.
"Useless." Aron had expected him to at least put up a fight but he was firmly cowering and hoping someone would aid him, saying or doing more would benefit Aron in no way so he gave one fight stomp with great force and ended Kritoph's life there and then.
….
A brief silence followed in which some were still processing what they had just seen. Be it aristocrats or common folk, this was a hard thing to believe.
Among the many people present even Claudia watched with disbelief at what was going on, along with the members of her faction. Many feeling proud that they could say they knew Aron and had even worked with him before.
"Does anyone still find my claim a problem?" Aron asked while focusing on the relatives of Kritoph. They all held looks of utter hatred towards Aron and Belle who chose to support him.
They felt betrayed and reluctant to accept this but their eyes weren't blind. If they stepped forth they would definitely die, so they could only suck it up and remain silent.
"Hail Emperor Aron Limbo!" The one to end the silence was none other than Jin wore the biggest smile of his life.
This entire scenario was beyond his expectations but it was still a very welcomed event.
The common folk soon joined in crying out Aron's name along with some aristocrats who did so just not to seem hostile. A great many people still didn't like this but what could they do?
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAron then turned to the pillars who showed of worry while still looking at their heirs. "Why don't we go inside and discuss matters." Aron suggested as he walked passed them fearlessly.
The rest of his group followed quietly with the aristocrats included, many still confused as to what occurred.
…
It wasn't until they went to the Galos Academy that the Hoffenheim head chose to speak with a tone of anger. "We did as you asked and supported you! Now release whatever hold you have on my children." A woman bearing a strong resemblance to Esmeralda voiced angrily while looking at Aron who was casually walking ahead.
Aron turned around slowly and shook his head. "What hold? I merely asked Esmeralda and Anastasia to help me claim what was rightfully mine by whatever means necessary, even if it meant lying to you all about their safety. In return your families keep their power despite not contributing much."
Aron came to a stop and faced the pillars and Acdemy elites right there by the entrance and revealed this piece of information.
In that moment the woman angrily turned to Esmeralda who didn't show any fear under her gaze. "I did what was right for our family, you haven't seen what he can do. If we were to fight then…"
After witnessing Aron's horrific level of power alongside Evanora's, Esmeralda grew truly fearful of Aron.
During their journey coming back to the academy, he had revealed his intentions to them of claiming the seat of emperor and fighting anyone who opposed them.
Her and Anastasia chose to help in fear of having their families caught up in the mess.
Belle was simpler than them as she welcomed this decision, whereas Yohan was given and offer he couldn't refuse in a message passed onto him by Belle.
Lord Triess went along fearing for his grandchild's life whereas Lady Uva just supported Aron willingly, perhaps the only major power to do so.
Aron noticed the many looks of anger directed at him and smirked, they had finally realized they were played for fools.
"Give me one good reason we shouldn't cooperate to end your life now!" Esmeralda's mother couldn't swallow the humiliation and she was willing to fight him unlike the cowardly emperor.
She had command over quite a large number of well trained warriors, the same with the other pillars. In their minds even the most powerful in Pesia couldn't single handedly fight an army.
Aron expected this sooner than later once the truth was out. So what if he's stronger than the puppet emperor? Why would they allow a nobody to take a seat that even they wanted.
"Reasons? Quite a few actually.Fighting me means fighting Lady Belle, Rose and Uva as well. I can also release the chains that are holding the Aethelians with a simple command and cause havoc here. In addition the Komi are on their way here thanks to my messenger in the Aramil Alsahra which just so happens to have enough information to bring many of you and odds with many other aristocrats, Lastly I'm the only one who knows how to operate the device we discovered and I long since burned the records detailing that information. So I ask you…."
"Do you still want to fight me?"