Hearing these words, the three inside straightened their backs as they waited for the representative to come.
"Like I've been saying for a long time, just kill that brat."
This was said by a man who had short grey hair and was wearing red armor.
The man next to him, who looked like he was the eldest of them all, raised his eyebrows and said, "You know why we don't want to do that. Drops of water form the ocean, and someone with his potential will definitely make a difference in the upcoming struggle."
An angry expression appeared on the first man's face on hearing this.
"Oh, shut up. We all know that you have a deal with that kid's master to help you retrieve your treasures. If I see you siding with him one more time, I'll petition that you should leave this meeting because your interests clearly lie elsewhere."
In a blur that was almost invisible, the old man flicked out his hand and made the other go silent because of the knife that was now on his throat.
"Our business is not with him, so I don't care what happens to him. But you know that what I said is the truth. I thought this would be clear even to someone who can be called the dumbest of the Axelorians."
Before the red-robed man could respond, the other individual in the room who was a woman clad in a blue dress chuckled, drawing the attention of the other two.
As anger appeared on the man's face, he gritted his teeth and actually bent forward.
With the scraping sound, the knife moved back because the man's throat had actually hardened into what looked like stone.
Seeing this, the old man remove that knife and put his hand into his robe to take out another one which was much sharper.
The woman was still chuckling, but she also had a cold look in her eye, as if she was waiting for a chance.
Just as she was also about to take out a weapon to join in on the fun, the door creaked open, causing the three of them to look up to see who had entered.
Suddenly, all of their eyes widened as horror-filled their hearts.
In that instant that the door had opened, all three of them had lost all sensation of their bodies.
The only thing that they still had was their vision, and they helplessly looked on with no other choice.
It was almost as if time itself had been stopped, and the silence which ensued during this phenomenon scared them.
Wait… Fear?
Three Warrior level individuals… Were actually feeling fear?
Used to lording over everyone due to their power and being respected everywhere they went, the trio's minds were battered by endless waves of shock due to this forgotten feeling that they hadn't experienced in a long time.
STEP. STEP. STEP.
As the sound of footsteps echoed in the room, the three started to feel intense pain in their minds, as they had just been returned the sense of sound.
Yet, the sound was so magnified that the echo in the room felt like it was 100 times louder than it actually was.
Into their vision entered a man with long brown hair that reached his shoulders. His long face was clean-shaven, and his thin lips were stretched into a smile.
Wearing black robes with gold trim that was visible in a few places, the man had an easy expression of confidence on his face which would make anyone feel that this was someone who was very capable.
Even as they his image in their minds, the three were screaming inwardly because the sound was rising in intensity, threatening to drive them mad.
If they had control of their bodies, they would definitely be collapsed on the ground twitching with pain by now.
"First rule of dealing with the Big Four: respect. Just because you rose to the level of Warriors, it doesn't mean that you aren't bugs who can't hold a candle to even a disciple of mine at the Exalted Human level. To have the audacity of causing a ruckus knowing that I was going to attend this meeting, you really deserve to have the special treatment of having another of your senses magnified."
Calmly taking a seat around the table and speaking these words in a tone like cold steel, the man flicked his fingers, making the sensation of touch return to the three.
Yet, just like hearing, this was also magnified so much that just the air brushing on top of the skin felt as painful as if they were being raked by sheets of barbed metal.
Sweat started to pour down from their pale faces which had lost all color. They were actually in a comical position: the woman's hand was frozen on its way to her dress where there was a weapon hiding, the old man had already grasped a different knife with a golden hilt and his other knife would soon penetrate the throat of the other man as the solidification around it had been slowly receding because he was no longer capable of controlling the transformation.
"My Lord, this is the first time they are meeting someone with your status. They think they're sharks in the pond, but they have no idea that they are simply the algae. Still, these are some of the few Warrior Level individuals on the Central Continent. According to the accords - "
As if the mention of that last word had evoked an unpleasant memory, a slight frown passed across the face of the man who was sitting.
Flicking his fingers again, he made the three collapse onto the table, unconscious.
Their eyelids were open, and the whites of their eyes could be seen while froth started to appear at the mouths.
With another flick, the three jolted awake, as if they had been electrocuted.
Waking up in such an unpleasant way and still very scared about the strange things that had just happened, the three kept silent and only looked down deferentially.
Seeing the sign of respect, the man nodded approvingly before saying, "I am Ashahell, and the only thing that you need to know is that I hold a very high position in the Big Four. You might be thinking why someone at my level was required to attend this meeting between you peasants. You might have heard rumors or you might even know the truth, but the fact is that this continent will very soon be under attack. When the time comes, all the forces available will be needed. So, I had to come to stop you from beginning a quarrel that will result in us losing our cannon fodder!"
All of these words said in a cold, unfeeling tone made them have an additional aspect of mocking that made the hearts of these three proud individuals sting.
The two men managed to control their emotions, but a very, very minute frown appeared on the woman's face.
SLICK.
"AAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
With a scream, the woman fell to the floor while blood fountained from the stump that was left of her right arm.
As for the arm, it had already turned into dust, dashing the hope of attempting a reconnection if she obtained it.
"This is the first warning.", the man said casually, before continuing as if nothing untoward had happened.
"While this stands, an Empire must not be formed. This continent has a certain… History with empires. Hence, those two kingdoms must be crippled. This must be done by you lot, but without causing too many deaths. Do you think you can do that?"
Asking this, Ashahell watched as the three of them looked at each other with confusion in their eyes.
The woman had cauterized the wound and was now sitting again, with fear added to her expression.
She was a 4th Grade Warrior, and she had always thought that she was one of the strongest beings in the Central Continent.
Yet, this man now made her feel like she truly was a bug to be crushed.
Champion. He was definitely one of the legendary Champions, and the only question that remained was regarding exactly which level he was at in that realm.
Seeing the confusion, Ashahell shook his head and took out something from his pocket which shocked the three.
It was a transparent glass bowl, and inside it was a golden mosquito.
"He dares to play around with mosquitoes to drive away a previous member of the Big Four, so let him have a taste of his own medicine.", Ashahell said, in a tone that sent chills up the spines of those in the room.