Tamer of Cosmic Beasts

Akash met up with the others outside the Icon Tower as they all gathered in a downtown alley. Then, he asked Riassuba.

"Anything new from Death Gate?"

"Most certainly, Thy Majesty. Please turn thine eyes there."

Riassuba directed Akash's attention when he saw around 70 people before asking.

"Who are they?"

"Thy new soldiers."

Akash had given full authority over Death Gate to Riassuba. He was the only one allowed to contact the king directly without being called for first. They sent all the news to Riassuba Rosehip and before the match, they had moved out everywhere in two teams. One was led by Shehneel Shodo while the other by Neon Rosehip. The former was tasked with gathering information and the latter focused on finding people willing to move into Abran.

"Very good, Neon, I'm impressed."

Akash praised the 2nd of the 2 strongest assassins.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Neom replied before Akash pivoted to the Vampire and asked.

"Tell me about Erwin Cloude while I've still got some free time before the next match."

Shehneel bowed and spoke.

"Yes, My Liege. The God of Guns you spoke of is indeed in this city or to be more precise, in the Icon Tower."

"Which floor?"

Akash questioned.

"He is in the basement, My Liege. The person who informed me said that he was tortured daily by Chand Gandraf. The basement is filled with numerous traps, each needing a password. Without them, they activate automatically and kill the intruder."

Shehneel explained.

"Oh, can they kill a Star Prince?"

"Based on the information I got, they can."

The king squinted his eyes, wondering how he could've gotten such important intel before deciding to sate this curiosity.

"Hmm, who revealed such crucial intel?"

Shehneel smiled.

"An old friend of mine, he has been working for Mayor Chand for decades. He was there when that basement was made."

"Is there any way to avoid those traps without getting caught?"

"No, My Liege. Only two people know the password."

Shehneel replied.

"One must be Chand himself, who is the other one?"

Akash questioned him again.

"The right-hand man of Chand Gandraf, who take healers every day to heal Erwin Cloude."

Akash pressed his temples.

"Such cruelty, the word kindness doesn't even exist in his vocabulary."

"Haha, My Liege, kind people always suffer, Erwin is a living example of it. He helped humankind and see how he got repaid by them."

Shehneel smirked as he replied.

"I know this all too well..."

Akash sighed while remembering the suffering he had endured in his previous life before speaking.

"Since the tournament is paused for tomorrow, let's visit the Slave Arena once again."

The king and his 5 lords went to the Slave Arena whilst the rest went with the people they brought. Akash ordered some soldiers of Death Gate to take them to Abran as he didn't know how long the tournament would run for. So, it would be best to move them to Abram beforehand, all the slaves they had also went with them.

As the Prime Paladins arrived at the arena, everyone's eyes landed on them. After today's incident in the tournament, everyone knew who Akash Tagar was.

"Hey, look! They are from Abran city."

"What! They are here again?"

"Are they here to kill another golden card holder?"

"Mr. Chand sided with them when Mit Amen was harassing them."

"Sshhh, they'll hear you. We wouldn't be able to bear the consequences of angering them."

Whispers could be heard all over the arena, whereas Akash and the others just silently went to their golden room. Sacra Emilat was sent to the arena this time. He held a long sword and was waiting for an opponent, but no one came to challenge him. Everyone present was afraid of them. Some were afraid of being killed, while the remaining majority didn't want to get involved with someone who had the backing of the Slave City's mayor.

Akash looked at the other two golden rooms, seeing that they were empty. With no opponent coming forward, he had to call Sacra back. After manipulating Chand, he didn't hide anymore and took the lead instead of letting Haji Tea speak like before. They stayed there for quite some time and enjoyed the fights, after which they went back to their apartment.

Akash told everyone not to question or speak to Mehak Pitafi. He could guess she had a rough past, and he was not in a hurry. She was already here, all he had to do was wait and gain her trust.

They used the golden key and came inside, finding that Mehak was not in the hall. She was standing in the balcony, staring at the city's vast glittering lights. She heard the footsteps and wiped her tears off, turning to Akash before lowering her head.

"Did you eat anything?"

Akash asked her. She didn't reply and just kept her head low before…

~GRROOWWWLLL~

A strange sound came from her belly. Unlike Mehak, her stomach didn't hesitate to answer. Akash then signaled Haji and he called the servant from the landline number to bring something to eat.

Soon after, everyone sat down in the hall, ate and started their chatter, Mehak was still hesitant. She was looking at everyone from the corner before clenching her fist as she gathered her courage and moved towards Akash.

"Can... can I talk to you... alone?"

She nervously asked.

"Sure."

Akash agreed nonchalantly and the lords went to their rooms without any words. She sat on the chair, slightly away from Akash. Mehak was still holding her hands nervously, so Akash spoke first.

"This is not the same girl I saved earlier today."

Mehak flinched and looked at Akash Tagar.

"What... what do you mean?"

"I mean your eyes were empty earlier. There was no sign of hesitation and fear in them. But the current you is acting the complete opposite of that now."

Akash answered.

"I don't know, I'm confused as well."

She replied, unsure of herself.

"What confusion?"

Mehak took a few deep breaths to calm herself and asked the question that had been running through her mind all this time.

"Why did you save me?"

"I told you before, it's because you are abnormal like me. You are not human, but rather a crossbreed of elves and demon knights."

Mehak Pitafi was shocked, looking at Akash with widened eyes.

"No... no, you are wrong. Who told you such nonsense?"

Akash hummed and commented.

"So, you won't speak the truth. I guess I have to send you back to the Rosehill city then."

Akash said and stood up.

"No, no, please wait, mister!"

Mehak yelled without paying any heed. Akash stopped and looked at her with a side-eye.

"Yes, you are right. I am not a human..."

She finally began to reveal her true self. Akash nodded and sat back in his chair.

"Explain,"

He uttered in a soft voice, helping ease her into it.

"All I know is that I am not human but... besides that, I don't really know what I am."

She honestly explained as Akash raised his brows in puzzlement and asked.

"Then tell me, how did you get here?"

"My father sent me here. I have some vague memories where I was playing with my brother and mother, suddenly a few people came and attacked us. I fell and turned unconscious, and when I opened my eyes, there was fire and... and chaos everywhere while my father carried me. He was crying before he put me in a strange ball-looking thing. I asked him what happened, but he only told me to keep living and that I would know everything when the right time came. The thing I was in started to float and I got sleepy. When I woke up, I was already in an orphanage of Rosehill City."

She explained whilst Akash stayed silent for a few moments and asked again.

"Which planet was that, the one you were in before your father sent you here?"

"All I remember is that it was a greenish world with rich and fertile land."

She replied.

"So that was the reason for your empty eyes, I understand. You suffered a lot at such a young age."

"No... that's not what torments me."

She said before beginning to sob again.

Akash Tagar's face turned grave as he inquired.

"Then?"

Mehak didn't reply and kept weeping, he pondered the cause as anger enveloped his face. He asked again.

"Did Rosehip city not treat you well?"

Mehak felt the sudden change in the tone of Akash Tagar, making her feel somewhat warm inside. She nodded and replied.

"It was hell."

Akash silently listened to her as she continued.

"I and my little sister were harassed every day. They… touched us and tried to… even rape us. All we could do to protect ourselves was cry loudly..."

Mehak burst into tears once again as Akash clenched his fists and asked in a growling voice.

"And?"

"And they... beat us every time... we cried for help."

She replied, struggling to release the words through her throat as she sobbed.

"Then, how did you get in the tournament?"

Akash asked again.

"One day, when my sister was beaten by the head of the orphanage and his servants, I subconsciously awakened my cosmic powers. They were astonished, so they hurried to inform the mayor to get rewarded. The mayor then brought me to a 2nd tier city to check my laws. He found out that I had a Mythical-Grade Summoning law. He then told me that if I won this tournament, he would release my sister as well. But if I lost, he would just send me back to that orphanage."

Akash stood up and asked Mehak.

"What's the name of your sister?"

"Her name is Mahi."

Akash nodded and told her to get some rest, Mehak went back into her room and Riassuba came behind Akash Tagar.

"My Liege, thou called for me?"

"Riassuba, I have an order for you."

Akash stated with red, fiery eyes.

"I'm yours to serve, Thy Majesty."

"I want to unleash carnage in Rosehill City."

"Consider it done, Thy Majesty."