Others Summon Dragons, I Summon Legendary Knights Chapter 390 A Vengeful Lion

On a vast, grassy plain, outside a solitary building, a man with white hair was occupied with chopping wood on a stump. Nearby, a towering blue-skinned man, whose face was concealed by a fanged gray steel mask and framed by long gray hair, was practicing with his katana.

"Isshin…" Arian called out, and the blue-skinned warrior paused his training, turning to face his summoner.

"Aren't you supposed to be helping?" Arian gestured with his axe towards the Oni Ronin, who stood more than twice his height.

Isshin turned, preparing to resume his practice, but Arian kicked a nearby stump—one he intended to split for firewood, unlike the thick one currently serving as his chopping block.

Isshin tilted his head, his profile becoming visible. The braids framing his face swayed as his katana flashed. With a movement like a blur, he sliced the stump into several neat sections, then lofted them into the air with a kick.

The pieces flew, landing perfectly on the chopping block and stacking neatly.

Arian spread his arms wide. "See? You're quite skilled at this."

Isshin looked away. Arian followed his gaze and spotted two young men approaching in the distance.

As they drew nearer and began to break into a jog, Arian placed his hands on his waist.

'It's been three days since that earth-shattering battle. He's finally shown up. Both of them,' Arian mused internally.

"You look every bit the family man, Captain Arian." Percival greeted him with a smile as he stood with Godfrey before Arian.

"I'm no longer a Captain, Percival. It's good to see you back on solid ground." Arian chuckled, then turned his attention to Godfrey, who had his hands tucked into his black jacket.

"I see you've recovered."

"You've grown a beard." Godfrey remarked, his gaze fixed on Arian's jawline. It was a minor change, barely noticeable, but Godfrey, having seen Arian daily for over a year, knew he had always maintained a clean shave.

Yet, there was a newfound peace in Arian's eyes. His former teacher had lost the sharp edge, the intimidating aura that had once defined him when Godfrey first met him, was gone.

Perhaps this softer side of Arian had always existed, hidden beneath the fearsome Ronin who had made a name for himself among the authorities' agents.

Arian gently stroked his slightly stubbled jawline and let out a soft laugh. "I'm getting used to it. How about yourself? I still recall how you were when you departed, and later I heard you joined forces with another member of the Pendragon family."

"I did," Godfrey confirmed with a nod.

Arian nodded in response. "I'm pleased you're feeling much better now."

Godfrey's lips curved upwards slightly.

"So, how was the sea?" Arian inquired, turning to Percival.

"Beautiful. Truly beautiful." Percival replied, then gazed at Arian's home. "How is your wife?"

Arian's smile faltered slightly. "She's alright."

He sat down on the stump.

Percival exchanged a glance with Godfrey, and both looked towards Isshin, who had reacted visibly to Arian's last statement.

"What happened?" Godfrey crouched down, his eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded Arian with concern, though his Black-Out eyes made the expression somewhat peculiar.

His emotions were detectable through his facial cues, as his eyes were unable to convey them directly.

"Well, we lost our child while searching for her. I had no clue she was pregnant, and she was unaware too, but I suppose since we couldn't communicate, she wasn't able to tell me when she found out. Subsequently, she also lost the baby. I've never discussed it before, but they were surrounded by trees when we arrived. According to their accounts, there was a tree-like creature along with two humanoid tree-like beings."

He exhaled deeply.

"That tree monster departed with the others, leaving just one behind. It didn't kill them, which we found peculiar. But after she returned, Kiara discovered she couldn't conceive. The doctors indicated their systems had been altered; they were undergoing a transformation, though into what, we couldn't ascertain."

Arian managed a bitter smile. "We didn't have an issue with it until she started seeing the white gate."

The moment Arian uttered these words, Godfrey's expression shifted, while Percival looked up at the sky, already anticipating the inevitable conclusion.

"That presented an opportunity, a chance to regain her ability to bear children. Initially, she refused because of me, then she attempted to persuade me, but I understand how this works. You gain power, and it eventually consumes you, fueling someone else's desires. You harm one, and it grants power to seek vengeance for another. It's an endless cycle, and there's a significant risk we could lose what we have—our peace—for something that wasn't guaranteed."

Arian looked at them both. "Her desire intensified each time that gate materialized, whether in our bedroom or here on the field as you look out the window. It's aware; the mana tree senses that if it claims her, it will have me. It pulls me back into the game."

Arian gritted his teeth before releasing them. "The baffling part is, I dread the individuals who will contribute to the chaos once I am compelled to retreat." He cleared his throat, blinked multiple times, and gazed at the young men before him.

He cleared his throat once more, ensuring every feeling that surged within his heart was suppressed. "She hasn't taken the bait as of yet. Her fondness for me persists, but we hardly converse now, as I, in a manner of speaking, impede her path to having a child. Beyond that..." Arian let out a breath.

"What transpired three days ago?" He directed his question to Godfrey. "Or perhaps, the both of you were involved?"

"It was Godfrey's doing," Percival replied, sensing Arian's reluctance to elaborate on his wife. "I remained oblivious to it until the following day."

"How could you possibly know? You were slumbering in my bed with Lucy. Must have been quite the dream, you even slept through the earthquake."

Percival nearly gagged, erupting into a coughing fit. "It didn't reach that vicinity!" He shot Godfrey a furious glare, conveying his displeasure at the remark.

Arian chuckled. "You must have caused quite a stir then. Saul has completely reshaped the tournament's premise. Initially intended solely for the cohort, it has now been transformed into a grand spectacle for everyone in paradise to witness. Furthermore, he is dividing the Elite Class into two factions: Yellow and Black. You, Percival, Arden, and Oliver will be on the Yellow Team, while Arnold, Nathan, and Alora are assigned to the Black Team. Saul is dictating the matches and regulations, which inherently places you at a disadvantage."

"We are aware. Saul is reacting to the loss of his summon and, quite possibly, the relic as well," Godfrey responded.

Arian regarded his student. "Then you have certainly provoked him. I know my teacher well, and I understand the consequences when he is angered."

He closed his eyes, exhaling with considerable effort. "His intention is to eliminate you publicly. Moreover, he is targeting everyone on the Yellow Team, particularly those he knows stand with you."

"We had surmised as much. He isn't even attempting to conceal his intentions," Percival clicked his tongue.

"I've given it considerable thought, and these alterations actually simplify the process of thwarting Saul's schemes. Once we emerge victorious, I will publicly renounce the Demigod's essence," Godfrey declared. This final pronouncement would solidify their cause, assuring the knights that their brethren left behind had fought valiantly in this tournament for their sake.

"Then you must be fully prepared," Arian cautioned. "This is akin to a dungeon, albeit an organized one. Spectators will revel in your suffering; it's as though you are stepping into a lawless territory. A gladiator's arena where death is not uncommon. In fact, it is anticipated."

He paused, then resumed his explanation.

"My teacher has dedicated the majority of his existence to dungeons, both inhabiting them and constructing his own to vanquish intruders. His perception of mortality is skewed; he is no different from a savage honed in the wild. Saul is a monster cloaked in human guise, relentlessly pursuing power and wielding it for control, as if it were his sole possession and identity." His eyes glinted.

"He becomes incredibly erratic when that control falters, resorting to any means necessary to eradicate a perceived threat." Arian observed Godfrey's impassive demeanor.

The young man had anticipated this outcome and stood ready to confront it, while Percival's expression turned solemn.

"I have encountered similar situations before. It was during my induction into the cohort. That was the purpose of the pit. Bodies were extracted frequently; people feared the cohort for their formidable strength and fearsome nature. They were more powerful, akin to lions, and I transformed the cohort into a cohesive pack. However, now, the colosseum's rules will constrain you, leaving you to merely hope that no member of your team meets their demise. Saul, at this moment, is indistinguishable from a wrathful lion. The public need not approve of his actions to acknowledge his overwhelming might, which shields them from both the authorities and the Fanatics."

Arian rose to his feet. "Despite his obsession with strength, he is adept at leveraging it to sway public opinion. Currently, he is revered for the remarkable feats displayed by his summons."