The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 338: Chapter 333 — Threat

The air in the hall had grown hard and heavy. Severin’s eyes were like a pair of razor-sharp blades, cutting through the air and boring into him. Even his aura felt sharp, like countless needles constantly stabbing into Zephyrion’s body.

Still, Zephyrion refused to look away, meeting Severin’s gaze head-on. If such a thing were possible, there would probably be sparks flying between them by now.

Then, Severin slowly tilted his head, his eyes growing dangerously cold, almost as though he couldn’t quite believe that a mere child dared to meet his gaze.

’So heavy...’

Severin’s aura was steadily bearing down on him, forcing his knees to slowly buckle. Unlike Cassian’s killing intent, this was pure aura. And though he wasn’t a member of the Ten Thrones, Severin was still a dynasty head, a full-blown Dominion rank. If he increased the pressure even slightly, Zephyrion knew he would be forced to his knees.

However, that still wasn’t enough to make him lower his head. Zephyrion gritted his teeth and fought against the pressure, his gaze never leaving Severin’s.

A cold flicker passed through the dynasty head’s eyes.

”You’ve got some nerve...”

”That’s enough.”

Suddenly, the crushing pressure disappeared.

Zephyrion released a ragged breath as the weight vanished from his body.

’That was close...’

A few more seconds, and he doubted he could have remained standing. If that happened, he might not have been able to accomplish his true objective.

However, before he could dwell on it, he noticed the warm aura that had suddenly enveloped him.

’This aura...’

It was familiar, though not in any form he had ever felt before. Zephyrion turned towards the source.

Garrick still wore a small smile as he stared at Severin, but there was no trace of amusement in his eyes. A low, constant hum echoed around him, and it didn’t take a genius to realize that he had already connected to the WorldPulse.

As far as everyone in the room was concerned, Garrick was already prepared for battle.

Garaxe, on the other hand, appeared far more composed. He merely stared at Severin with a small frown, though the cold severity in his eyes made his stance perfectly clear.

But of the three brothers, it was Kastor who completely overwhelmed the room.

His unblinking eyes remained fixed on Severin. He hadn’t moved an inch, nor had his expression changed, yet the sheer weight of his presence made him seem like a god standing amongst men.

His aura was so dense that Zephyrion almost felt as though they had been dragged to the bottom of the ocean, with an impossible weight pressing down from every direction.

Against it, Severin’s aura stood no chance.

What had nearly forced Zephyrion to his knees only moments ago had been smothered into little more than a faint flicker around him.

The combined killing intent of the three brothers swallowed everything else in the room.

Cassian simply leaned back in his seat and sighed, while Torvak remained completely unmoved. High General Rathen, though, had gone white as a sheet, his eyes darting between the two sides. If a battle actually broke out between these two hegemonies, the consequences wouldn’t end in this room. The entire empire could be torn apart.

”Volric. Stand down.” Severin suddenly said.

Standing behind him, Volric was glaring at Kastor, his hand wrapped tightly around the hilt of the blade plunged through his heart. Killing intent burned in his eyes, and for a moment, there was an unmistakable look of eagerness on his face, as though a part of him genuinely wanted to see what would happen if he drew that blade.

Then Severin glanced at him.

Whatever thoughts had been running through Volric’s mind disappeared almost immediately. His grip loosened around the hilt, and after one last look at Kastor, he stepped back and silently resumed his place behind Severin.

”Well, I believe I’ve overstayed my welcome.”

Severin rose from his seat, his gaze passing over each of the dynasty heads before eventually settling on Zephyrion.

”I wish circumstances had been kinder to us, but we don’t always get to choose what life hands us.” A cold smile appeared on his face as he gave a small nod. ”Still, it truly is good to see you back from the dead, Lightning Prince. I suspect our next meeting will be... memorable.”

With that, he turned away, gave the other dynasty heads a final nod, and vanished like the wind.

Volric lingered for only a moment longer. He gave Kastor a confident smirk, the challenge in his eyes obvious, before vanishing after Severin.

Almost immediately, Rathen shot up from his seat.

There was a desperate look in his eyes as he hurriedly bowed to the others, then vanished from the room without so much as a word.

Everyone watched him leave without much of a reaction.

’So I was right. Severin had something on him.’

Rathen was probably going after Severin to negotiate. However, Zephyrion doubted it would have much effect, given Severin’s nature. The support of another dynasty would’ve been incredibly useful, but after everything Rathen had done, there was simply no reason for anyone here to stick their neck out for him.

More importantly, after what had just happened, there was no way any of them could still trust Rathen to handle the affairs of the academy.

Most likely, this was his last day as its leader.

”Sheesh.” Cassian finally relaxed in his seat, letting out a chuckle. ”Well, that was pleasant. I can breathe again.”

Garaxe, though, narrowed his eyes at the spot where Severin had stood.

”Was it just me, or did that sound suspiciously like a threat?”

Though he remained silent, Zephyrion inwardly agreed.

I wish circumstances had been kinder to us, but we don’t always get to choose what life hands us.

’Basically, what a shame you ended up my enemy. Just dressed up nicely.’

”Who gives a shit?” Garrick’s eyes remained cold. ”If those cocksuckers have forgotten who the fuck we are, I’d be delighted to remind them.”