Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 387: Challenge

Chapter 387: Challenge

Despite Ana’s reservations and voiced protests, the verdict to head to the Archives had already passed on a positive note.

The where and why had already been resolved, now it remained the how and when.

For the how, considering the makeup of the Archives, common sense dictated that utilizing most forms of mysticism would be rendered useless the moment they got within inches of the building, but that didn’t mean all their options had been exhausted.

Perhaps it was providence that Alex met with the Beastmen and was introduced to the beauty that was Entropy.

He’d known since the first day he saw Douglas get beaten up because of it, that it was a needed skill in a world where one extra ability made all the difference.

With that thought, it turned out that now, Entropy was perhaps the only means one could utilize to strengthen themselves in a building guarded by a Saint of the Warrior Wheel and several super soldiers.

Alex didn’t dare consider a head-on assault as that would be suicide but it would also be a death sentence if he went in with nothing to empower himself and knowing fully well that the weaponry of Eventide was still rather backward, he thought it best to stick to Entropy should he be faced with situations where he would be required to defend himself.

Of course, he hadn’t been fully certain of Entropy’s usefulness before his arrival in Andre’s workshop but now, there was no longer a need to doubt.

Maintaining an impassive facade, Alex remarked. "What would it take you to engrave Entropy onto some pieces of weaponry for my usage?"

"My first question would be why?"

"I seek to rob a Catacomb." Alex frankly replied, causing Douglas to frown and Andre to go wide-eyed.

"You..." He paused, looking for the right words to use only to end up letting out a sigh. "That fool Alejandro did say you were bold, I didn’t think you were so bold though."

"I have my reasons for doing this so tell me, can you help me?"

"Bold of you to ask me to assist you in doing something so despicable."

"I’d be more than happy to nullify the agreement I have with Alejandro should you agree."

"Hmm." Andre furrowed his brows as he inquired. "Why?"

"There’s no longer a need for him to continue fighting and as it is, the Supreme Order can’t afford to keep up the fighting as well. It would do both parties well to retreat to prepare for the Inevitability of the Eastern Highlands invasion."

"Since it’s something that would surely happen, why should I agree to your nonsense?"

"Better late than never and in any case, I saved Aragon, I deserve this much."

"And if the Great Families come to us seeking retribution for your actions?"

"That won’t happen."

"Hmm."

Andre pursed his lips, seemingly pondering on Alex’s words while looking him over.

Soon enough, he let out yet another sigh, this one quite heavy. "Fine then, I shall make you an armor forged by lava and decorated with the runes of Entropy, even throw in a weapon or two while I’m at it. However, before doing so, you must prove yourself."

"How?"

"You will face off against my eldest son in hand-to-hand combat, should you win, then I shall do as you ask. However, if you lose, you will take your subordinate and never return to Aragon, understood?"

"Hmm." Alex frowned as Douglas spoke up.

"This is madness, Master, you cannot do this. Al... Lord Aldrich is human. How do you expect him to fight against a Beastman, especially one as well trained as your eldest son, Amelio, in hand-to-hand combat?"

Andre shrugged. "If he wants the armor so badly, he should prove himself worthy of it. You should save your spit, Douglas, I do not plan on changing my mind."

"But this..."

"Douglas." Alex suddenly called out causing Douglas to glance at him. "It’s fine. Don’t worry."

"No, you don’t understand."

"I do. It’s fine."

"Then let me fight in your stead. Is that acceptable?"

Before Alex could offer a response, Andre harshly replied.

"No!... No coward who has others fight for him shall ever don my creations, not even after my death!"

His words were like thunder, causing the structure they were in to reverberate, revealing his unshakable stance on the matter.

Silence persisted for a moment before Alex calmly inquired. "When is the Call to Combat?"

"Whenever you are ready, you may come. Amelio shall wait, prepared to receive you."

Nodding, Alex replied. "Fine then, I’ll be back."

As he turned to take his leave, Andre called out to him.

"Lest I forget, as I said, it is hand to hand. No shenanigans, no underhanded methods, no nothing, just plain old fists. Try anything else and be prepared to face the full wrath of not only myself but the entirety of Aragon."

He said it more as a threat than anything else but Alex understood that combat was an important tradition for the Beastmen and making a mockery of it would only earn their ire, nothing else.

"I never planned on anything else." Alex calmly replied before snapping, his figure disappearing in a flash of black and white.

Andre snorted before shifting his attention back to Douglas who was troubled by the challenge.

"This..."

"It would be best for you to return to your practice. I have better things to attend to right now."

With those words, Andre got to his feet and exited the room, leaving Douglas to his thoughts.

***

"This is madness!" Ana exclaimed as she jumped to her feet with Victoria clenching her fist as her eyes brimmed with bloodlust.

"It would seem those dogs require a good lesson."

Alex, having returned, had just relayed the events that transpired over at Aragon, resulting in the subsequent reactions from both.

"Perhaps you both should calm down instead of getting worked up. Andre has a point and trying to bully him wouldn’t get us any good results."

"So do we do as he wants?" Victoria questioned angrily as she got to her feet. "Master, you need to understand that as the Dark Lord, there are things that you shouldn’t be seen doing."

"If you consider me the Dark Lord then you will calm yourself and sit back down!" Alex shot back causing Victoria to grit her teeth before ultimately doing as she was told.

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