Seeing his plan successfully unfold, Daneel smiled wide before glancing to the side to see the expressions of all those watching everything that had been happening till now.
As those who had been in a position of authority and wealth for a long time, many of the businessmen and women in the vicinity were well aware of the power levels in Angaria. Thus, they knew very well what it meant for someone to reach the Exalted Human level at such a young age while also having the skills of a Paragon.
They had seen for themselves how this man had easily defeated the Grand Court Mage of the Lanthanor Kingdom with just one attack. Yet, their King, who was still a teen, had managed to somehow subjugate him and even capture him alive using the clever ploy of the catapult.
Such terrifying calculations and talent could only be admired.
Indeed, Daneel had hatched this plan after deciding to capture the man alive at all costs. He knew that the best way he could do so was by using the Dragon Heart formation which was unfortunately distorted in the location where the man was standing. Thus, the only solution was to somehow move the man into the place where the formation was still in effect.
All the probing attacks had only been to distract the man so that he could construct the catapult which would throw the man into the area where the Dragon claws could capture him effectively.
Thankfully, he had been just in time. Also, the making of such complicated constructs wasn't something he had learned or even practiced beforehand. This had only been possible due to the tool he had bought in the Kingdom of the Elves which had allowed him to analyze the mechanical construct which had been around the little elves' necks.
Then, although he had heard the system's explanation that the tool could work with both magical and mechanical constructs, he had put it aside due to the urgency of the situation.
When he had been racking his brain to find ways to achieve the desired effect, the system had suggested using this tool which had resulted in such a smooth victory.
Of course, the idea of the design of the catapult had come from Daneel, with the system only casting the spells needed to bring it into existence.
By controlling elemental particles, one could bring into existence physical manifestations such as the boards of wood, but the particles would go back into their original forms of being free in nature when the mageroot stopped acting on them.
Of course, like everyone else was already thinking, it had only been possible because of his progress as a Paragon which was due to the existence of the system.
He had initially been tempted to use warrior level spells such as the concentrated fire bolts that he had used when he met the previous King of the Lanthanor Kingdom all those years ago. Yet, that would simply give away the fact that he was somehow capable of casting spells far above his level which would bring even more attention on himself.
Thus, by balancing everything, Daneel had managed to achieve his objective by only exposing two of his cards: his power level and his prowess as a Paragon. His ability to cast Warrior level spells and his power as a Fighter were still hidden trump cards that he could use to escape from perilous situations.
Just as he was about to walk forward to talk to the prisoner he had caught with great difficulty, the system urgently sounded a notification in his head which made him halt his movements.
[Phenomena Analysis Module has detected a hidden trap in front of host. Stepping on the patch of ground in front of host will result in the Tenebrous Flame which is controlled by the host's opponent to enter the host's body.]
Daneel's eyes widened as he heard this notification. He had already deactivated his personal trinket, making it so that he would have been completely defenseless if he had stepped forward without any knowledge of the trap.
It seemed that just like his opponent, he had also underestimated the other party which would almost have resulted in a disaster.
"Why was I unable to detect anything? What kind of level is the trap?"
[System informs host that this is a trinket enabled trap at the Warrior level. System was only able to detect it because of the complexity which allows system to analyse spells at the warrior level].
Hearing this answer, Daneel realized that he was in a dilemma. If he detected the trap, he would make it quite clear to his opponent that he somehow had the means of a Warrior even if he was only at the human level.
Granted that his opponent was currently captured, he had no intentions of directly killing him which would ensure that this information would not be leaked. If he chose to defuse the trap, he risked this information leaking in the worst case where the imposter might escape from his clutches.
Trying to decide what to do, Daneel glanced to the side to note that the expressions of the people in the vicinity had changed from shock to consternation. They were currently whispering among themselves while occasionally glancing at the King.
At this moment, a daring idea entered Daneel's mind.
"Has there been any headway in analyzing the flame by watching it being used by that man?", he asked.
[Negative. The complexity exceeds what the system can handle.]
"What if the flame is directly in my body? Will the analysis be easier then?"
Daneel had three reasons for asking this question. One: he desperately wanted to have an alternative to analyzing the spell model and the flame without needing to successfully interrogate his opponent who must definitely have been bound by oaths.
Two, from the moment his opponent had spoken in that way to incite him to fight, he had been reminded of the importance of his image.
Right now, his image had definitely changed from a weakling to an extremely talented person who could hold his own in a fight. Why not improve it even further?
If his plan was successful, even the most stubborn of people who were against his reign might find themselves being turned around to support him.
If this did happen, it would enable each and every one of his plans for the Kingdom to be carried out much more effectively.
With all these thoughts in his head and the positive answer from the system, Daneel asked one more question before bracing himself and stepping forward.
From the corner of his eye, he saw that the smile on the captured opponent's face had just become wider on seeing that the King of Lanthanor had stepped forward according to his plan.
The next instant, a green snake drilled out of the ground to attack the King.
Even before anyone could react, the snake had already entered the King's stomach before disappearing inside. No blood appeared from the wound right away, as the high heat of the flame had scorched the area around it.
Without a word, the King of Lanthanor collapsed on the ground with an expression of utter surprise on his face.
As his consciousness faded away, the last thing Daneel saw was Kellor running towards him while looking like he was the one who had actually been impaled by the attack.
After commanding the system to keep a firm hold over the Dragon claws trapping the enemy, Daneel shifted his consciousness to the clone which had been absorbing energy from the Ker Gem till now.
As the full attention of everybody in the clearing was on the collapsed body of the King of Lanthanor, the clone managed to sneak away without anyone being the wiser.
...
At the secret base of the Withering Leaf Sect, in an unknown location.
The Sect Master clutched a parchment in his hand while checking every second for any message from the spies he had in the Lanthanor Kingdom. He knew very well that the Knight from the church would be attacking today, and he was looking forward to positive news due to the high confidence shown by the man as if he had everything under his control.
Yet, the news that came through the trinket shocked him before making him stand up with the expression of one who had just made a decision.
"Get ready to move out. The King of Lanthanor has been injured and is possibly dying. This is the perfect time to strike"
Beside him, the eyes of a man who had been forgotten until this moment inside the group of the Withering Leaf Sect shone, as he realized with joy that his chance had finally come.
But if someone could see his figure without any clothes, they would be shocked on witnessing that there were actually 2 faces smiling, not one.