The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

"Ashwolf!" Fenu shouted.

"Azure Sea!" Oscar shouted.

Oscar and Fenu projected their voices with Ein and filled the battlefield with their presence, the full might of powerful Middle Knight Exalts. Oscar breathed a sigh of relief at how fast everyone stopped fighting. His forces were at an advantage, but any further would lead to more loss of life. Oscar raised his hand to his troops and ordered them to withdraw, as did Fenu.

"Grand Elder, what is happening?" Arc, the Clan Head, limped over to Fenu's side.

Oscar nodded approvingly to Desmond, who responded with a wide triumphant smile. He also patted Avril on the back. He felt her rapid heartbeat from the palm of his hand on her back and frowned. Her heart was erratic and pounding like drums, a state he was well-acquainted with, and her forcefully hushed breathing couldn't hide the distress churning in her lungs.

"You did well. However, you should be more careful. There is no need to be as reckless as I am." Oscar whispered to Avril, his hand covered in a soft Ein, providing a comforting warmth that helped calm her rampaging heart.

"It's fine. She wanted to fight, so she needed to keep up with Oscar. Sevon told her she could handle it until the Marshal Exalt realm. She understands Oscar's worry and promises to stop when she's a Marshal Exalt." Avril whispered back.

"Bold words. A grade seven core does give you that confidence." Oscar scoffed and watched Fenu and Arc. The two wolves were conversing and arguing. After a short moment of deliberation between the two, Fenu left Arc behind and moved forward. Oscar left Avril and the others behind, moving forward with Erden.

"So, a minute?" Oscar asked. "I'm sure you have no objections to my friend being here."

"None. Your beast is a part of your Meld. It's not proper to deny one to use their full power, just like how you agreed to give me a minute to attack you." Fenu lifted his sword, still melded with the wolf anima. Oddly, the blade appeared slightly wider and larger than before. The fangs along its edges also seemed longer and sharper.

Oscar noted down the mystery of the blade in his mind. In the middle of the scorched battlefield, with the thick smell of blood and sulfur choking the air, Oscar held out his hand. "A handshake before we start. I hope to have your valued contribution once this is over."

Fenu stared dumbstruck at the hand in front of him and smiled. The old man grasped it and shook it once. "A minute is all I need to decide this properly for you and me. We, Ashwolves, are quite stubborn, especially the younger ones. As an old man, I know how far that stubbornness can lead to trouble. Still, we had to fight against you."

"Everyone in the Burning Valley needs to know what kind of person comes knocking on their doorsteps. So, have we passed your test? How do you appraise us?" Oscar asked.

"Impressive beyond anything I've seen other than the Four Lords. Your forces were outnumbered. Yet through individual might and maneuvering, you outclassed us. However, the transition of power is not complete." Fenu let go of Oscar's hand and flashed a fanged smile. "As I said, we're all stubborn, especially the ones behind me. If the Ashwolf is to come under your command, you will require no dissent to maintain cohesion. Hence, this showing."

"All this to make your clan follow me properly? Have you already decided your defeat?" Oscar stared into the old man's eyes. They were greatly aged and dull, but deep wisdom shone from within.

"If I cannot defeat you after using everything I have, the ones behind me will have no choice but to accept the outcome and know they have truly lost. Right now, Arc and the others still believe they can defeat you and the others with me at their side. If this is not handled properly, we will be destroyed here in battle or later in reckless rebellion, and you will lose a valuable force." Fenu retreated several paces. "Let's settle this for both our futures."

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Oscar admired the old wolf for his wisdom and understanding of the people. How formidable indeed. It was worth it to go to the Ashwolf Clan not just for their tough forces and lands but also for the wisdom Fenu carried in him. Oscar retreated several more paces, tightened his buckler, and waited for Fenu to start.

'Will this be alright? The elder is crafty and must have something which gives him confidence.' Erden communicated through his mind.

Oscar mounted Erden and patted his head. 'There is no need to worry. After everything we've been through, we can handle it. Look, even Demon isn't saying this is foolish because he understands we need numbers.'

'I wouldn't look to Demon as a guidepost to follow.' Erden snorted.

"I, Fenu Ashwolf, Grand Elder of the Ashwolf Clan, hereby call this stalemate to make a challenge to the young lord over here. We have seen their prowess in war. Now I will put the pride of my clan on the line. I will defeat this young lord and show we Ashwolves can still bite." At Fenu's declaration, the Ashwolf Clan behind him cheered and howled.

"I accept. I also make a promise to all of you. I did not come here to oppress or slaughter. I came here for a purpose, and you all are needed for that purpose. But you will all be well-rewarded and treated fairly. Everyone will be welcome at the Azure Seas Company." Oscar addressed the chaotic crowd. He turned to his forces behind him and shouted, "Is that not so?"

"Yes, Boss!" Everyone shouted, not letting their words trail, cutting them short. They were a well-disciplined group.

"The minute starts now. Fenu, show me the power of the Ashwolf." Oscar melded his anima into Erden.

Fenu gripped his sword, clenching it to the point of his knuckles whitening. Following a deep breath, he swung his blade wildly, flailing it all over. His fanged sword chomped into the ground, swallowed lava, and breathed in the soot with the invisible maws around it.

The ground was a mess of bitemarks and oddly shaped craters. What alarmed Oscar most was the growing size of Fenu's sword. As the black metal grew and grew, the fangs protruded further until metallic wolf heads branched from the sword. They were as thin as metal sheets yet let out bloodcurdling growls.

'Impressive….' Astonished by Fenu's power, Oscar gripped his fists and waited longer. After fifty seconds, Fenu stopped swinging, his sword as tall as the walls of the Ashwolf Clan and wide as the gate. Metal wolf heads lined the edges, clamping their jaws up and down, drooling molten magma.

"Take my strike!" Fenu leaped into the air and swung his sword down. The metal wolves stretched and enlarged, twisting and contorting to face Oscar with their metallic hunger.

Rather than a sword slash, it resembled a downpour of wolf's fangs with a drizzle of magma. Oscar was thoroughly impressed with Fenu's power and decided to respond with his power. Golden drills spun around from his arms and also from Erden's antlers. They burned with Eirin. Erden's antlers shifted and spiraled around the drills, pointing their tips together.

It had been a long time since he used this technique, the Quartet Lance. His heart no longer felt discomfort or pain from the use of Reis and Eirin, allowing him to master it truly. He trained his control of Ein for fifteen years, so that was no longer an issue. Oscar rode out with Erden against the flood of wolves.

His spinning drills and antlers screeched against the numerous jaws and fangs. They clamped shut to hold his attacks in place while the other maws moved to bite him. Oscar felt no fear. His Eirin Quartet Lance shredded apart the wolves as if they were made of paper and reached Fenu. The elder flashed a fierce smile and met Oscar with all of his Ein.

The slash of Fenu's sword and Oscar's drills sent out devastating shockwaves that quaked the earth. The two armies retreated as fast as possible from the epicenter. In the air, Fenu fell and landed on his feet before kneeling with blood flowing from the wounds covering his body.

"Grandfather!" Arc shouted. But Fenu held his hand up to stop him from coming.

"Well fought. I would have been killed if you didn't hold back at the last moment. The Ashwolf Clan is yours. I only ask for you to keep the promise you mentioned." Fenu bowed his head despite his severe injuries. The other Ashwolf Clan members also knelt. Their fierce howling and confidence were wiped from their faces.

Standing before the subjugated crowd, Oscar stepped over to Fenu and lifted the elder to stand. Smiling, Oscar reached out to Fenu and said, "I need an advisor who can help me govern the lands I will lead. You have shown great wisdom and knowledge in that field. Will you take up the post of my advisor?"

Fenu smiled, his wrinkles more pronounced. He gladly took Oscar's hand. "I accept this responsibility. May the Ashwolf serve you well."

Oscar patted Fenu on the shoulder. At last, he found someone to help him lead his new power. He had limited knowledge and no experience compared to Celestina and others. Fenu was the one he needed all along. Now, his Azure Sea Company was ready.

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