CHAPTER 206: FALL OF VALTAIR [2]

Four days passed.

The afternoon sun hung heavy. Cast long shadows across the stone buildings.

A figure moved through the merchant quarter.

Wearing dark coat, wide-brimmed hat pulled low. Scarf wrapped high enough to obscure most of his face.

He turned down a narrower alley. The noise of the main thoroughfare fading behind him.

Found the building he wanted.

He pushed through.

The interior was cooler. Quieter. Professional. A reception area with polished wood furniture. Ledgers stacked neatly on shelves.

A clerk looked up from behind a desk. "Can I help you?"

"Here to see Veltris. He’s expecting someone from the south."

The clerk frowned. Checked his schedule. "I don’t see—"

"Tell him it’s about the delayed contracts from last week. He’ll want to hear this."

Doubt flickered across the clerk’s face. But the mention of delayed contracts, that struck a nerve.

"Wait here."

The clerk disappeared through a door.

Returned two minutes later.

"Second floor. Third door on the right."

The figure climbed the stairs. Boots making soft sounds against wood.

Found the door. Knocked twice.

"Come."

He entered.

The office was spacious. Windows overlooking the street. A large desk dominated one side. Maps covered the walls.

And behind the desk, a man sat in his late forties. Well-dressed wearing expensive rings.

Darius Veltris.

One of Count Valtair’s closest ally.

He looked up. His eyes tracked the visitor with sharp assessment.

"You’re not who I was expecting."

"No." The figure moved closer. Casual. Unthreatening. "But I think you’ll want to hear what I have to say anyway."

"And what’s that?"

"That you look exhausted."

Veltris blinked. Thrown by the unexpected observation.

"Excuse me?"

"You look like you haven’t slept properly in days." The figure gestured at the papers scattered across the desk. "How many contracts have fallen through this week? Five? Six?"

Veltris’s jaw tightened. "That’s none of your—"

"Seven, actually. I counted." The voice carried sympathy. Understanding. "And it’s not your fault. The whole district’s chaos right now."

Something in Veltris’s posture shifted.

"You’re telling me." He leaned back. Rubbed at his face. "I’ve been cleaning up disasters for four days straight. Valtair’s breathing down my neck. Partners are questioning our reliability. And I can’t figure out why everything’s falling apart at once."

"Sounds like hell."

"You have no idea."

The figure moved closer. Positioned himself beside the desk rather than across from it.

"Must be hard. Doing all this work. Taking all the blame. While the Count sits in his estate and just demands results."

Veltris laughed. Bitter. "That’s exactly it. He doesn’t understand logistics. Doesn’t care about the actual complexity. Just wants his revenue and his reputation intact."

"And when things go wrong—"

"I’m the one who faces consequences." Veltris shook his head. "I’ve given twelve years to this. Twelve years. And one bad week might cost me everything."

"That’s not fair."

"No. It’s not."

The figure’s hand came up. Rested on Veltris’s shoulder. Sympathetic. Supportive.

"You deserve better."

"I... yeah. Thank you for—"

Crackle!

Lightning erupted from the palm.

Surged directly into Veltris’s body. His eyes went wide. Mouth opened in a scream that didn’t come.

His muscles seized. Locked. Every nerve firing at once.

Then collapsed.

Thud!

He slumped forward across the desk. Conscious but paralyzed.

Only his eyes could move, darting frantically, trying to understand what just happened.

The door burst open.

Crash!

Two men. Guards. Veltris’s personal security.

They took in the scene instantly. Their employer collapsed. A stranger standing over him.

"Get away from him!"

The first guard drew a blade. Charged.

The figure stepped back. His hand came up.

[Static Shock!]

A bolt of lightning shot from his palm. Smaller than his usual attacks. Faster.

Zap!

It caught the charging guard in the chest. Not enough to paralyze like Veltris. But enough to stagger him. Make his muscles spasm. Slow him down.

The second guard was already moving. Circling. Trying to flank.

The figure’s crimson eyes gleamed beneath the shadow of his hat.

[Burst Step!]

Flames erupted around his feet. He launched forward. Closed the distance to the circling guard in a heartbeat.

His fist came up.

Connected with the guard’s jaw.

Crack!

The man’s head snapped to the side. He stumbled. But didn’t go down and recovered faster than expected. His own fist swung. Fast. Practiced.

Alaric ducked. Barely. Felt the air displaced above his head.

He created distance. Used the momentum to slide backward.

The first guard had recovered. Was charging again. Blade raised.

Spark!

Alaric’s hand flicked out. A flash of light and sound erupted between them.

BANG!

Blinding. Disorienting.

The charging guard flinched. His swing went wide.

Alaric sidestepped. Let the blade pass harmlessly.

Then grabbed the guard’s extended arm. Used his momentum against him.

[Jolt Step!]

Lightning cloaked his entire body for an instant. He pulled the guard forward while stepping past.

The electricity transferred on contact. Surged through the guard’s arm into his torso.

"Gah!"

The man convulsed. Dropped the blade. His muscles locking up temporarily.

But the second guard was on him.

A kick. Aimed at Alaric’s ribs.

No time to dodge completely.

Thud!

It connected.

Pain exploded through his side.

Alaric gasped. Stumbled. His hand went to his ribs instinctively.

Fuck that hurt!

The guard pressed the advantage. Another kick. This one aimed at his head.

Alaric brought his arm up. Blocked it. But the impact sent shockwaves through his forearm.

These aren’t amateurs.

He created space again. His breathing coming harder now.

The first guard was recovering. Shaking off the paralysis. Reaching for his dropped blade.

Two on one. In close quarters. With limited room to maneuver.

Alaric’s hand came up.

[Fireball!]

He launched it at the second guard.

The man dodged. Rolled to the side.

The fireball exploded against the wall behind him. Scorched the wood. Set papers aflame.

But it bought Alaric seconds.

[Static Field!]

He channeled essence outward. A five-meter aura erupted around him. Crackling with electrical energy.

Both guards were inside its range.

They felt it immediately. Their movements slowing. Muscles responding just a fraction slower. Continuous shocks running through their nervous systems.

Not debilitating. But constant. Draining.

The first guard grabbed his blade. Charged anyway. Determined.

Alaric met him. Used the guard’s slowed reactions.

Caught his wrist. Twisted. Applied pressure to the joint.

Crack!

The blade clattered free.

Then Alaric’s other hand came up. Lightning crackling across his palm.

Pressed it directly against the guard’s chest.

[Static Shock!]

The guard’s eyes rolled back. His body went rigid.

Then collapsed.

One down.

The second guard was still fighting. Still pushing through the Static Field despite the continuous shocks.

He came in low. Grappling attempt.

Alaric tried to sidestep—

Too slow.

The guard’s shoulder slammed into his stomach. Drove him backward.

Crash!

They hit the desk. Veltris’s paralyzed body sliding to the floor.

Papers scattered everywhere.

The guard’s fist came up. Aimed at Alaric’s face.

Alaric caught it. His hand wrapped around the guard’s fist. Stopping it inches from his nose.

Alaric’s other hand moved. Grabbed the guard’s throat.

[Lightning Bolt!]

Not channeled through his palm this time. Through his fingers. Directly into the vulnerable flesh of the neck.

Zap!

The guard’s eyes went white. His entire body seized.

Alaric shoved him off. The man collapsed sideways. Twitching. Silence.

Alaric stood there. Breathing. His side aching where he’d been kicked. His forearm bruised from blocking.

The Static Field dissipated. Fading away.

Smoke rose from where the fireball had hit. Small flames still licking at papers and wood.

He stamped them out quickly. Didn’t need the whole building going up.

Then turned to Veltris.

Still paralyzed on the floor. Eyes wide with terror. Watching everything.

Alaric crouched beside him. His crimson eyes visible now, the hat had been knocked askew during the fight.

"Listen carefully." His voice came low. Cold. "You’re going to deliver a message for me."

Veltris couldn’t respond. Could only stare.

[Dominion’s Gaze!]

His essence surged. Invaded Veltris’s mind.

And he felt it.

The fear.

Pure, visceral fear of an enemy he couldn’t fight. Couldn’t escape.

Then...

[Chains Of Obedience!]

Ethereal chains came out of his hands and gripped the man’s head.

[Ding!]

[The target successfully subjugated.]

[Subjugated Targets: 3/3]