Chapter 164: Final Ultimatum!

Damian’s ultimatum caused an immediate uproar among the Wild Court delegation, with several members stepping forward in outrage.

Their earlier confidence had already been shaken by his oppressive aura, but demanding that they personally execute one of their own was an insult none of them could easily tolerate.

How dare this human make such an outrageous demand?!

"Nonsense! Who do you think you are to make such demands of the Wild Court?!" Serra exclaimed furiously, her violet eyes widening as she glared at Damian.

The other Fae were equally indignant, although their leader remained considerably more composed.

The centaur woman studied Damian with cold eyes, examining the extraordinary power radiating from the young man before responding.

Whatever her personal opinion of humans, she wasn’t foolish enough to completely disregard someone capable of killing Ravelhorn.

"Indeed, I can sense considerable power within you, human. Defeating someone like Ravelhorn is no small accomplishment, but before the power of a genuine Legend, you’re still far from sufficient," the centaur woman declared matter-of-factly, her voice carrying unmistakable confidence.

Damian shrugged.

"Indeed! Even if I were a genuine Legend myself, I’d still only be one person, which would make our confrontation a rather straightforward contest of strength," Damian acknowledged casually, appearing entirely unbothered by her assessment.

The centaur woman raised an eyebrow, evidently surprised that he would concede the point so readily.

However, Damian’s expression quickly turned mocking.

"But you idiots charged directly into the heart of human territory without bothering to investigate your surroundings. Did you seriously think I was the only powerful individual living around here?" Damian questioned with a sneer, spreading his hands toward the surrounding town.

The centaur woman’s expression changed slightly.

And at that very moment, two previously inconspicuous presences suddenly made themselves known!

The first stood atop a nearby kiosk, his enormous figure having somehow escaped the attention of most spectators despite his thoroughly imposing appearance.

He was a burly Lionman with a magnificent mane, powerful arms folded across his chest and stern eyes that remained fixed upon the Wild Court delegation.

His bearing was extraordinarily calm.

There was no attempt to intimidate anyone through dramatic movements or aggressive gestures, yet the power contained within his magnificent physique was unmistakable.

The surrounding Mana responded subtly to his presence, revealing that he was considerably more formidable than an ordinary Beastman warrior.

Legend!

The second presence was considerably more elegant.

A luxurious carriage had been parked among the surrounding spectators for some time, its exquisite construction making it appear like the private transport of some wealthy noblewoman.

Seated comfortably within was an extraordinarily beautiful Mage with flowing purple hair, her relaxed posture contrasting sharply with the tense atmosphere outside.

Lady Selene!

The seductive woman rested against her seat with a faint smile, watching the confrontation as though it were an entertaining performance arranged for her personal enjoyment.

However, the intensity within her beautiful eyes revealed that she had been paying considerably more attention than her casual demeanor suggested.

And she, too, was a Legend!

The two powerhouses silently locked their gazes upon the centaur woman.

Her expression immediately became grave.

One Pseudo-Legend was already a formidable opponent, especially when accompanied by several powerful Adepts and Masters.

However, discovering two additional Legends waiting comfortably within the surrounding town completely overturned the situation!

Even the Wild Court delegation’s most experienced members froze.

They had entered human territory believing their own strength sufficient to handle any reasonable opposition, confident that the authority of the Wild Court would discourage unnecessary interference.

Now, they were facing two genuine Legends in addition to an exceptionally dangerous young human whose combat capabilities had already proven difficult to evaluate.

And all three appeared hostile!

Serra’s expression became particularly ugly.

She had been so confident that bringing a Legend-level delegation would force Damian into submission that the possibility of encountering even stronger local opposition had barely crossed her mind.

Unfortunately, the gathering before Baines Manor was rapidly proving that confidence to have been thoroughly misplaced.

The Moon Elf glanced toward the surrounding streets, her instincts immediately considering the possibility of retreat.

Unfortunately, someone had apparently anticipated precisely that!

"My dears, don’t bother attempting your Planar Shifting. I’ve already locked down the surrounding space, so I’m afraid you won’t be going anywhere without permission," Selene advised sweetly from her carriage, offering the Fae delegation a thoroughly charming smile.

Several members of the Wild Court entourage immediately attempted to establish contact with their familiar spatial pathways.

Nothing happened!

The ordinarily responsive routes connecting the mortal plane to their preferred destinations had become inaccessible, their attempts to initiate transportation encountering an invisible obstruction that refused to yield.

The realization spread through the group almost immediately.

They were trapped!

Damian, meanwhile, also noticed something rather interesting.

His Grandmaster-level Misty Step ordinarily allowed him to relocate almost effortlessly across considerable distances, provided the destination satisfied the spell’s requirements.

However, when he examined the surrounding space through his magical perception, he discovered that the familiar spatial pathway was currently obstructed.

It was an extraordinarily unpleasant sensation.

Bloody hell! It was like trying to charge through a tunnel that’s been completely sealed with concrete!

Damian’s eyes narrowed.

He hadn’t actually attempted to cast Misty Step, but the spatial restriction was sufficiently obvious that forcing an ordinary teleportation through it would be extremely questionable.

Even his Grandmaster mastery couldn’t guarantee success against a Legend-level spatial blockade imposed by someone possessing superior authority over the surrounding environment.

That was a useful discovery!

He had grown rather accustomed to relying upon Misty Step for rapid repositioning, escaping unfavorable circumstances and creating unexpected tactical advantages.

However, Selene had just demonstrated that an accomplished opponent could potentially deny him access to one of his most convenient movement options.

Hmm, that’s something I’ll need to address later.

Fortunately, his existing movement arsenal wasn’t limited to teleportation.

His Qinggong techniques, ordinary physical speed and Longtian’s flight capabilities already provided several alternative methods of movement, although expanding that repertoire further would undoubtedly become necessary as he encountered increasingly powerful enemies.

For now, however, he had more immediate matters to settle.

The reckoning had finally arrived!

......

The centaur woman slowly examined the surrounding situation, her earlier confidence having diminished considerably.

The appearance of two additional Legends was already troublesome enough, but the spatial blockade made matters significantly worse.

Her delegation had entered Rosewood Town expecting to conduct a straightforward investigation backed by overwhelming force, only to discover that their supposed advantage had become a rather dangerous liability.

Furthermore, the surrounding crowd was becoming increasingly hostile.

The revelation concerning Ravelhorn and the Goblin invasion had transformed ordinary spectators into an angry gathering of civilians and warriors, many of whom appeared perfectly willing to support the Baines Household if violence erupted.

The Wild Court delegation had become thoroughly isolated.

The centaur woman finally turned toward Damian, her expression settling into an unusual combination of caution and reluctant respect.

"Human, what exactly do you want?" she asked solemnly, abandoning much of the arrogance that had characterized her earlier demands.

Damian smiled, then casually drew Longtian from his waist.

The magnificent sword gleamed beneath the afternoon sunlight as he raised it, its sharp point settling directly toward Serra’s throat.

There was no elaborate sword technique involved, nor any attempt to unleash a destructive attack, but the meaning of the gesture was perfectly unmistakable.

Serra immediately went pale.

She instinctively raised both hands toward her neck, her earlier indignation momentarily giving way to genuine fear as she stared at the weapon threatening her life.

Although she knew Damian was still standing several steps away, the memory of his terrifying swordsmanship made the distance feel thoroughly insignificant.

The centaur woman’s expression became increasingly complicated.

Her gaze shifted toward Serra, then toward the other members of the delegation, whose questioning expressions were becoming impossible to ignore.

They had arrived expecting their leader to deliver justice upon an arrogant human, not negotiate for their survival while one of their own stood beneath an enemy’s sword.

For several seconds, the Legend remained silent.

She closed her eyes briefly, her expression tightening as she considered the consequences of the choices available to her.

Then she apparently reached a decision.

Damian spread his arms slightly, keeping Longtian directed toward Serra.

"Well? What’s it going to be?" he asked with an almost pleasant smile.

The centaur woman opened her eyes.

"Human, I acknowledge that you possess extraordinary power, and perhaps your confidence isn’t entirely unfounded. Since this dispute concerns your actions against the Wild Court, I propose that we settle the matter directly between ourselves," she declared, stepping forward with renewed determination.

Damian raised an eyebrow.

Oh?

"A one-on-one duel between you and me. If I win, my delegation will depart unharmed, and you must present yourself before the Wild Court to answer for your actions. I give you my word that you will receive a fair trial." the centaur woman proposed, her expression becoming solemn.

Damian regarded her with an unreadable expression.

However, the centaur woman wasn’t finished.

"If I lose, you may take my head as compensation, provided you allow Serra and the other members of my delegation to return safely," she concluded firmly.

The surrounding Fae immediately erupted in disbelief!

"What?!"

"Lady Cantarea!"

"You cannot possibly agree to such terms!"

Several members stepped forward, their expressions filled with indignation as they stared at their leader.

Cantarea!

The centaur woman’s name finally became known to the surrounding crowd, although most spectators were considerably more interested in the extraordinary proposal she had just made.

A Legend-level powerhouse had offered her own life in exchange for the safety of her companions!

Such a declaration would ordinarily have been regarded as an extraordinary display of courage and responsibility, especially considering the tremendous value of a Legend’s life.

However, the circumstances made the proposal considerably less straightforward.

Serra was particularly unwilling to accept it.

"No, Cantarea, you can’t do this! This human doesn’t deserve such consideration, and the Wild Court will never accept you sacrificing yourself for the sake of some insignificant mortal!" Serra exclaimed furiously, stepping toward the centaur woman.

Cantarea finally lost her patience.

"Enough! You’ve caused enough trouble today, Serra. Be silent and observe!" the Legend thundered, her powerful aura erupting briefly as she turned toward the Moon Elf.

Serra froze.

She had evidently never expected Cantarea to reprimand her so harshly, especially in front of humans and the other members of the Wild Court.

Her beautiful eyes gradually reddened with grievance, while the humiliation of being publicly silenced left her trembling with suppressed fury.

However, she didn’t dare continue arguing.

Instead, she turned toward Damian, directing a thoroughly vicious glare toward the man she blamed for the entire situation.

Unfortunately for her, Damian was laughing!

"Hahaha! Are all you Wild Court Fae foolish, ignorant or just plain stupid?" Damian questioned incredulously, shaking his head as though he had just heard something extraordinarily ridiculous.

Cantarea frowned.

"Human, what exactly do you mean by that?" she demanded, clearly irritated by his reaction.

Before Damian could answer, however, an unexpected voice entered the conversation.

Lord Ferdinand!

The portly envoy had been observing the exchange with considerable interest, his earlier humiliation apparently forgotten now that an opportunity had emerged to demonstrate his considerable understanding of political negotiation.

He shook his head slowly.

"When negotiating, one must use the cards one possesses to contend against the cards held by the opposing party. This becomes even more important when negotiating from a position of weakness, because an unfavorable situation requires additional concessions to make an agreement attractive," Ferdinand explained with the confidence of someone who had spent decades navigating such matters.

Damian glanced toward him with mild amusement.

Well, well. Apparently the fat fellow does know something about negotiation after all!

Of course, possessing considerable political knowledge hadn’t prevented Ferdinand from making a spectacularly stupid decision earlier that afternoon.

Nevertheless, his assessment was entirely correct.

Gertrude Opper apparently agreed.

The tall woman pushed her glasses higher upon her nose before directing a disdainful glance toward Cantarea.

"Precisely! Your delegation currently holds practically no useful cards. There are two Legends present on our side, numerous powerful warriors within the surrounding town, and your escape routes have already been sealed," Gertrude observed sharply, her expression conveying unmistakable contempt.

"Even if you personally possess considerable strength, ensuring that none of your companions leave this place alive would be entirely possible without suffering unacceptable casualties!"

The Wild Court delegation immediately became furious.

However, none could easily refute her assessment.

The Lionman and Selene remained perfectly relaxed, their respective positions allowing them to observe the entire confrontation without exposing themselves to unnecessary danger.

Meanwhile, Damian stood directly before Cantarea, his drawn sword making it abundantly clear that he remained prepared to settle matters through violence.

The disparity was rather unpleasant.

And Janet was more than happy to make it even clearer!

"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Not to mention, your terms are practically the best possible outcomes for your own group!" Janet remarked with a wicked smile, folding her arms as she examined the centaur woman.

"If you win, everyone gets to leave, and Damian has to accompany you for some ridiculous trial. If you lose, you only surrender your own life while demanding that we release everyone else, including the little bitch who caused this entire mess!"

Janet shook her head theatrically.

"How generous of you to offer us a deal where you get practically everything you want regardless of the outcome! Honestly, I’m almost impressed by the audacity," she added sarcastically, her smile becoming increasingly unpleasant.

Several spectators laughed, and the reaction only made Cantarea’s expression darker.

She had genuinely believed her proposal represented a reasonable compromise, especially since offering the life of a Legend was hardly a trivial concession.

However, the criticism revealed an uncomfortable truth.

The terms she had proposed effectively protected the entire delegation in either outcome, while the opposing side would gain comparatively little beyond the satisfaction of defeating her.

Worse, she had offered those terms while standing in an overwhelmingly inferior negotiating position!

Cantarea’s jaw tightened.

She was a powerful Legend, accustomed to commanding respect wherever she traveled, and being publicly lectured about negotiation by a portly human official, a stern woman wearing glasses and a diminutive Halfling was becoming exceedingly irritating.

Nevertheless, she couldn’t simply dismiss their arguments.

The surrounding spatial blockade remained intact, and neither of the two human-aligned Legends showed the slightest intention of withdrawing.

Her options were becoming increasingly limited.

"Then what would you propose?!" Cantarea finally demanded, her eyes narrowing as she turned toward Damian.

The young man stepped forward.

His expression had become considerably colder, and the amused smile that previously occupied his face disappeared as he raised Longtian slightly.

"Here’s what’s going to happen if I even agree to this duel. If you miraculously manage to defeat me, you and your companions may leave unharmed, but Serra remains here," Damian declared firmly, his gaze settling upon the centaur woman.

Cantarea’s expression changed.

However, Damian continued without allowing her to interrupt.

"If I win, your companions will still be permitted to leave, but you and Serra will remain behind. Those are the only terms I’m willing to consider," Damian stated, lowering Longtian slightly as he examined her reaction.

The entire gathering fell silent.

For a moment, the Wild Court delegation appeared unable to comprehend the implications of his proposal.

Under Damian’s revised conditions, Cantarea could no longer secure Serra’s freedom merely by defeating him.

Even a victory would only allow the rest of her companions to leave, while the Moon Elf responsible for the confrontation remained within the Baines Household’s custody.

And if Cantarea lost?

She would become Damian’s prisoner alongside Serra!

It was an extraordinarily harsh arrangement.

Nevertheless, the difference between the two proposals was obvious.

Cantarea had attempted to negotiate from a position of weakness while demanding overwhelmingly favorable conditions. Damian, on the other hand, was fully exploiting the advantages available to him, making concessions only where they served his own interests.

After all, he had no particular quarrel with the remaining members of the delegation.

His anger was directed primarily toward Serra, whose actions had repeatedly endangered him and his household.

Cantarea had become involved by threatening the Baines Family, but the other Fae were largely accompanying their leader rather than acting independently.

Allowing those companions to withdraw after a successful duel would therefore be a concession Damian could reasonably afford.

However, Serra was another matter entirely!

The Moon Elf’s expression had become extraordinarily ugly.

She glanced toward Cantarea with growing alarm, realizing that the outcome of the proposed duel would no longer guarantee her release under any circumstances.

Unfortunately, Damian had already reached the limits of his patience.

"And that is my final offer. There will be no counterproposal, no additional conditions and no further negotiations," Damian declared coldly, his gaze locking onto Cantarea’s.

"Either you accept my terms, or all of you die here anyway!"

As his words fell, the refined Qi within Damian’s body began circulating rapidly.

An extraordinary pressure surged outward, its intensity combining with his already oppressive presence as he prepared to demonstrate that his earlier threats were hardly empty words.

Longtian trembled within his hand.

Then a deep, resonant roar erupted from the magnificent sword, the sound reverberating across the courtyard as its draconic presence awakened!

The surrounding crowd instinctively retreated.

Even Cantarea’s expression changed.

Damian Baines had finished negotiating!