Rise of the Cosmic_Emperor

"I said, where is the scoundrel? Let me cut him up, lest he steals again!" The young man yelled.

Now, other dignitaries were watching the proceedings and while some of them laughed at what they all the very least considered foolishness, there were some in the crowd who looked at the young man with eyes wide with respect and even... fear.

Hal decided it would be much better to pay heed to their reactions and just remain quiet for now.

Clearly, this crazy and snobby young man was someone important.

The attending Runemaster narrowed his eyes wondering if this was some sort of joke, 

"Calm down, sir. I was only..." He began to say before the young man thrust his sword towards the Runemaster\'s throat,

"Did you not hear me? I asked you, where is the scoundrel" 

This time the young man\'s voice was low and threatening as he glared with his pale eyes that seemed to glow silver.

They quite matched the young Man\'s silver hairs.

The Runemaster was covered in cold sweats instantly while he quickly pointed to Hal who had all but faded into the background but not entirely as he still had the silver haired young man\'s guard staring at him the whole time.

"So, there you are!" The young man said and whirled around to face Hal with his sword now pointed at Hal\'s chest.

He looked Hal up and down and took in his outstanding features as well as poor quality robes.

They both were almost the same height, with Hal about one inch taller and clearly the more handsome of the two. Although the silver-haired young man was no slouch himself.

The guard rolled his eyes, 

"Of course, he\'s there. He was the only other person in the building when we arrived." He said.

"Right, right, right." Said the young man and he licked his lips with giddy pleasure.

"Who would have thought that my visit to such a rundown city would provide such excitement. I get to punish a thief.

Draw your weapon, you miscreant."

Hal sighed and facepalmed himself, 

"This is no more than a misunderstanding. I did not steal anything." He said.

The young man seemed not to have heard as he began to bear down on Hal with the pressure of his Late-stage Cosmic Phenomenon realm cultivation.

The pressure had no effect on Hal as he frowned.

This silver-haired young man was not as old as Argo and Evelyn and surely not as old as Henrik who was older than the previously mentioned duo and yet he was much stronger.

"Do you know who I am?" 

Hal shook his head.

"My name is Pierre. Pierre Silva." Pierre said with pride.

Those who had been chuckling at the proceedings were suddenly struck dumb while those who had been sober from the very start mockd them for not taking a hint.

The silver-haired, handsome young man before them belonged to the ruling family of the Silva Duchy. 

He was a Silva.

"Interesting" was all Hal said. 

He had never really expected to meet a member of such a powerful family in the Barony center. He had hoped that would wait till he was in the Duchy capital.

However, now that he had met one, he found it impossible to think to say anything other than \'Interesting\'. Especially since said individual had a sword pointed at his chest.

A sword that was clearly a Phenenomenon Rank artifact.

"Do not let my name scare you. For I am a fair man and will now give you the chance to defend yourself." Pierre said.

Hal shrugged, 

"Simple. I came here to leave the city and this Runemaster was asleep, on duty might I add, and when he woke up, he accused me of aiding a Lady\'s exit without proper payment. 

He must have been having a perverted dream and could not distinguish reality from dreams." Hal said with a sigh and the shake of his head.

The Runemaster perked up again, 

"That\'s not true"

"Then check the screen" Hal said with a wave of his hand.

The Runemaster glared at him and went back to check the screen. This time no one interrupted and none of the dignitaries showed satisfaction or impatience at having to wait.

The most disgruntled simply returned to their carriage to wait or return to their hotel altogether.

The fact that Pierre was a Silva had quelled any possible complaints.

"No, this can\'t be" the Runemaster mumbled while he continued to check the screen.

"What is it?" Asked Pierre\'s guard.

"There is no record. None at all that anyone left at that time." The Runemaster said.

Pierre suddenly turned his sword back on the Runemaster, 

"So you almost had me punish an innocent man?" He said in a low menacing voice.

The runemaster frowned and cursed him in his mind, 

\'This was not any of your business. I had this well under control before you interfered. You ass!\' He thought but,

"I don\'t know what to say. I have to accept that he is innocent. Only a Rank 4 Runemaster can tamper with the records. I, Runemaster Giller humbly apologize " 

...was what he actually said.

Hal sighed and his face was in a grimace of a man subjected to injustice when footsteps sounded and in came Arlet the Runemaster with about 7 others who were dressed in the green uniforms of attending Remasters.

"Arlet. What are you doing here? Why do you have them with you?" Giller asked.

Adler sneered at Hal, 

"I am here for him. He disrespected me. I was subjected to punishment yesterday because of him.

And now, I\'m gonna make him pay."

Pierre stepped forward, 

"Gentlemen, I just raised my sword against this man wrongly and I will not allow it to happen a second time." He said and turned to Hal, 

"Is what he claims true?" He asked.

Hal frowned, 

"You really need to stop involving yourself in other people\'s affairs. Silva last name or not, it is quite annoying and I really detest it." He said.

A lot of the spectators gasped at Hal\'s words while some others shook their head, 

"It was nice knowing you" they all said under their breaths.

So it was quite a surprise when Pierre grinned, 

"Straightforward. Me likey. But I\'ll take that as a yes. The best way to settle this is a duel."

"Fine" Arlet said immediately before adding, 

"But not one on one. It will be him against all of us."

Pierre turned to Hal who shrugged, 

"The same either way" he said and cranked his neck and muscles as all eight readied themselves.

Clearly, they were not averse to using this building for the duel. They let out the pressure of their cultivation bases and were all at the Early and mid-stage of the Cosmic Phenomenon realm.

As expected of those who belonged to the Barony center.

Impressive,

But not impressive enough.

Hal let out his Early stage of the Cosmic Phenomenon realm cultivation base pressure, much to the surprise of Pierre, and did not wait for any of the eight to attack as he quickly closed the distance.

Being enclose in this location, to avoid damaging sensitive equipment, close combat attacks were more preferable and Hal did not hold back at all as he began.

First, he went after the largest and punched at his midsection which the man thrust back to avoid but that only put his face a little closer to Hal and well in reach of his left hand and...

*Bam!*

... One solid hit to the jaw and the largest was unconscious.

He had been at the mid-stage.

Such swiftness and effectiveness served as a deterrent to the others who quickly began to project Runes which they hoped to bind or attack him.

But being a Runemaster himself, Hal knew how fast he needed to be to avoid the projected runes and as long as he avoided their casting enough, at some point they would be unable to project anymore.

After all, they were not like him and could not harness Astral energy in their body, hence projection was quite limited.

Especially in battle.