Veins bulged all throughout Ryu's body, but he managed to keep his face expressionless.
This was truly an irony of ironies. This wasn't just the first time he had been invited to join his mortal enemies, but the second. First it was Fidroha trying to recruit him during the Core Region tournament, and now it was this.
"… Joining our Clan and becoming an Apostle would mean more than just resources and a title, you'll also be introduced to the true geniuses of the cultivation world and become a part of something much greater than yourse—."
"Send me to the second floor."
Ryu's voice carried a biting cold.
"Ah…"
Isemeine's words sputtered. She was just eagerly explaining everything to Sarriel, why was she suddenly being cut off like this?
Isemeine's chest suddenly began to heave. "I'm gonna kill him."
When she was about to surge forward, she found Ryu had already passed her by, standing on the very formation she and the other two had used to appear.
"Sarriel, Niel."
Niel, who was still on the ground, smiled bitterly. Luckily, Nemesis ended up backtracking to pick him up.
Ryu looked down toward Goaman and Matheus who was still being held up by his neck. Even in all his rage, Ryu still hesitated to kill Matheus. Every fiber of his being seemed to say yes, but a small shred whispered that he would very much regret it.
Regret wasn't an emotion Ryu felt often, if ever. He was usually so confident in his actions that he never even considered it to be a factor. However, at this moment, he still wasn't sure what to do.
After a moment, he rose Goaman into the air, taking Matheus along with him.
"There are six spots left. However, the nine of you decide who it is that comes will be up to you."
Ryu looked down toward Zanlis and the others. There wasn't a hint of surprise in his expression when a battle suddenly erupted.
All the while, Isemeine stood frozen. Had she really been ignored… again? She felt as though her brain was about to implode. As easy as her life had been up until this point, when had she ever run into someone who made her rage to this extent?
It wasn't as though she had never run into men who tried to use a cold shoulder tactic to court her. But, firstly, none had ever succeeded in truly pissing her off. And, secondly, it was very clear that Ryu wanted nothing to do with her. In fact, if he had his wish, he would have run his blades through her right this very instant.
The result of the two clashing made it feel as though two volcanoes were brewing even as a raging battle erupted below.
Sarriel and Niel looked toward Ryu with a bitter smile while the two young men did the same toward Isemeine who was about to lose control completely. In a moment of solidarity, the group of four all exchanged glances. Why were their leaders such people?
Just when it seemed Isemeine truly couldn't hold it back anymore, a voice caused her to frown.
"Just kill me."
Matheus, who was practically strung up like a chicken spat out these words. He didn't care what emotions Ryu was feeling right now.
Eighth Order or not, he was still a Throne and he had the pride of one. Since he had wanted and had every intention of killing Ryu, he didn't even care to receive forgiveness. However, one thing he wouldn't allow was for himself to be humiliated to this extent.
The fact that Ryu so casually used one of his ten spots for the sake of bringing him along was definitely not a sign of good things to come. He wasn't so na?ve.
He had long since wanted to kill himself, but there was something restraining about Goaman's touch that ripped his body out of his own control. He couldn't even twitch a finger right and had only barely managed to squeeze his words out.
Ryu gave him a sidelong glance, his cold eyes flickering between red and silver.
"There are many people in this world I want to kill. You happen to be on that list."
"Then do it, coward!"
"I've already decided to not live a life of regrets any longer. I don't care how uncomfortable you are. Until I feel no guilt in separating your head from your shoulders, you'll follow me for as long as I please."
"You arrogant, psychotic bastard!"
"You seem to have forgotten that I gave you a chance to leave."
"Do you think I need pity from a man just trying to make himself feel better? You say that you don't want to feel guilt, but what is it if not guilt keeping me alive right now? If you didn't feel something abandoning Taedra, would I even still be breathing?"
Hearing such a back and forth, Isemeine suddenly found herself feeling much better. Ryu didn't seem like a man who liked speaking, yet he was actually saying so many words now. It was like she was watching her greatest bully be bullied. It left a satisfying taste in her mouth she couldn't help but curl he lip to. She didn't even know why she found so much happiness in this.
'Humph, a man who can't even take responsibility for his own women. He deserves everything he gets.'
"Guilt?" Ryu shook his head.
He looked into Matheus' eyes, his voice even, his cadence steady and his sound deep.
"The reason you live isn't because of guilt. The reason you can breathe this air and speak these words is only because of one thing: Pity."
Matheus' pupils trembled, a deep rage and humiliation shaking his soul.
Isemeine frowned. This was much less fun.
At that moment, the battle below came to a close. Beaten and bloodied, Zanlis, three of his four men, and two of the Orobona Clan members were left.
Ryu's grimoire flickered, causing a strong surge of ice elemental energy to form a platform and allow them to rise into the skies.
Without waiting for Isemeine, Ryu pulled out two Nether Keys, activating the formation once again on his own.