Re: In My Bloody Hit Novel

Chapter 593: The Zodiac Families Visit

Manu emerged from his chambers, the soft thud of his bare feet echoing against the marble floor, a trail of water dripping from his hair onto his shoulders and down his back.

His skin glistened under the soft glow of the throne room’s braziers, with nothing but a loosely tied towel around his waist. The subtle steam rising from his body told of the bath he’d just taken, as if he hadn’t the faintest care for the weight of the audience waiting before him.

The grand throne that was once stained by the blood of the late king, king Victor, who had been Chiron’s uncle, had been scrubbed clean.

The rich crimson of the former monarch’s death had been replaced by the gleaming sheen of the golden seat, by Elder Baldie’s orders. but the air still carried the tension of power shifting violently.@@@@

Even within the kingdom, a lot of things had happened in the last few hours.

Elder Baldie had personally led men from the families to bring down the churches that had been erected by the Holy church, while their clerics were killed in cold blood as they ran for their lives.

The pillars of their hostile take over Knight Sheyi and the others had met a terrible end. Unfortunately, someone has important as Able was not here as he had been sent on another mission by the Church.

Truly, it was a one sided massacre. So loud that if Manu listened well, he could still hear the screams and flames burning outside his palace.

At the same time, the people had long no longer approved of the rule of the church, and they believed that Chiron had returned to deliver them from the hands of the oppression to their way of life and the traditions that moved their society.

They really did not know what was in store for them in the future.

Manu ignored the eyes that bore into him from across the room, even though their gazes were as sharp as blades, willing to tear him apart for the hours he had kept them waiting. He moved lazily toward his throne, plucking a fruit from a tray held by a nervous servant girl who walked by his side. With deliberate nonchalance, he took a seat, his body sinking into the plush cushion, the weight of his authority settling around him like a cloak.

The Ox man stepped forward, his face twisted in rage. "You lowly man from BELOW the veil... HOW dare you! Do you know who you are dealing wi—"

His words cut off, frozen mid-sentence. A gust of wind rushed through the room, barely perceptible to the others. The next moment, a sharp wet sound echoed through the chamber. Blood poured from the Ox man’s mouth, his eyes wide with horror and disbelief. He staggered, unable to comprehend what had just happened, until he collapsed onto the cold floor, writhing in agony, clutching at the empty space where his tongue once was.

The room fell deathly silent, save for the muffled gurgling of the fallen warrior.

"An ordinary Silver rank... trying to stand above me?" Manu’s voice dropped, cold as winter steel. His hand opened, revealing the severed tongue, still dripping with the Ox man’s blood. He looked down at it with disdain before casting his gaze around the room, meeting each pair of shocked, terrified eyes in turn.

No one moved.

With a wave of his hand, the servant girl, now trembling more than ever, stepped forward cautiously, her eyes wide with fear. She held the tray with fruit, trying not to make a sound, her body visibly shaking as she approached him.

Manu plucked two pieces of fruit from the bowl, placing them in one hand. With the other, he casually placed the severed tongue between them, like it was nothing more than a trivial delicacy. The sight alone made several of the Zodiac warriors pale, but no one dared to move.

Manu smiled darkly, then raised the gruesome makeshift sandwich to his lips. Without hesitation, he bit down, chewing the tongue slowly, savoring it as if it were an exquisite morsel. The wet, sickening sound of him swallowing echoed through the tense room.

"Hmmm," he mused, his voice calm, almost contemplative. "That tastes better."

The chill in the room deepened, the warriors standing before him watching in a mix of horror and dread, as their own strength felt inadequate under Manu’s suffocating presence.

They realized, in that moment, that they were in the presence of something far beyond their comprehension. Something that wasn’t bound by the rules they knew.

Manu leaned back, licking his fingers clean with deliberate slowness. His gaze shifted lazily back to the group, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Now then," he drawled, "shall we continue our discussion? Or would anyone else like to question my... manners?"