Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix - Chapter 409

Chapter 409: Meeting His Future Knights
The following day, Sigurd invited Asura to meet the knights she had been training at the academy.

Although nothing like the academy in the capital, the smaller building instead felt built for a certain reason: combat, training and knowledge.

Inside the gym area, it smelt of blood and steel, causing Asura’s lips to curl into a smile when he saw the thirty men and women who looked to be aged between their later teens and early twenties.

All of them stood with both arms behind their backs, standing straight and looking forward without speaking.

“Oh, you guys are doing really well today! I have a special announcement for you all. Rejoice, your beloved Lord finally came to see you with his own eyes!”

Sigurd stepped ahead of the group with a graceful movement, like feathers dancing across the sky in a gentle breeze.

“I don’t believe I need to tell you the importance of the person standing behind me. Not only is he our kingdom’s Royal Prince, but also your lord and the Earl of this beautiful Phoenix Glade!”

Some of the trainees’ eyes widened slightly, though most kept their cool expressions and simply gave a firm bow.

A handsome male with red hair stepped forward and gave a sincere bow, his eyes filled with excitement. “Danos Odon, son of Felix, greets Our Lord.”

“Oh, Danos? You’ve grown up so well since I last saw you.” Asura knew about the knights of his father, and in the distant past, he met their sons despite him being useless and a no-mag. These were the only children who didn’t treat him like garbage; instead, even in his past life, they tried to rally around him. “I look forward to you surpassing your father’s fabled fire magic!”

‘Without Sigurd’s training, though, all of them were like me and reached their limits too soon.’

“My Lord!” Danos looked delighted and seemed happy with Asura’s compliment, while next, a nervous-looking male with a pretty face stepped forward. He was shorter than Danos, but he emitted a calming aura.

“My Lord, I am Vergil Calman! My specialities are water magic and spearmanship!” He seemed worried, but Asura nodded, his smile remaining as he appreciated the brief and honest greeting. “I look forward to your support, Vergil. I’ve heard of your improvements with the spear. Good work.”

“Hah!”

Next was Belial Montclair, son of Mander Montclair. He was a funny male with no hair and a body built like a bear; he was almost as tall as Asura and wielded an enormous axe. Yet his voice was soothing and warm; despite his figure, the knight gave off a welcoming feeling. “I am Belial Montclair, Your Highness!”

“Good work, Belial. I am grateful you have been looking out for the others—your strength is both admirable and worthy of being a Glade Knight.”

“!!!”

‘In reality, Belial is like the glue that keeps the group of misfits together… Thanks to Sigurd’s reports, I know these men better than they might know themselves.’

Alexander Ravenshaw, son of Alexius, a former noble who lost their fame and fell into debt and was saved from slavery by Asura’s father, wore an emerald robe and used a long staff that flickered with the wind. Although weak in physical combat in the past, now he could at least reach the basic level of a Stage 6 Knight.

‘Only Sigurd could have pushed them this far in such a short time. I have heard his magic far surpasses the others, too.’

“Alexander Ravenshaw greets the lord.”

All feeling of nobility seemed to have been transformed into grace and humble sincerity by Sigurd’s rough training as the noble bowed to Asura, and looked delighted to meet him, literally as his green eyes shimmered with delight.

The next person to step forward looked quite ordinary, if not for the massive sword they wielded and the determination almost blazing in his amber eyes.

“My Prince, I am Manfried Gotshold! Son of Fred, sworn to protect the Glade and its people!”

“It is my pleasure to meet Uncle Glade’s direct disciple. I have heard many things about you and cannot wait to witness your improvement.”

“Yes, My Lord!”

Although not as good as the others in terms of talent or status, his determination and ability to plan and use tactics were a sight to behold. He was the one who Asura was the most curious about, but he had an honest personality and had little to hide but his skill in martial combat was rumoured to be the top of the group.

Then, finally, was a handsome male with long black hair and dark brown eyes. His figure was lean, but an aura of danger constantly lingered around him.

“I am Louis, a descendant of the Devereaux family!”

His ancestor’s kingdom, once located to the south of the Emerald Empire, was destroyed over a thousand years ago.

Yet, as former nobles, they discarded everything when entering Silvara, their prestige and nobility and swore allegiance to the one who accepted them, Asura’s ancestor. “I hope to meet Your Highness’ expectations and become a worthy knight of the Glade!”

The Devereaux family’s espionage and assassination skills were used for the Fenix family, and despite Louis’s being quite handsome, he could blend in with the crowd, and his light leather armour was his primary weapon.

“It is my pleasure to work with you, Louis.”

Asura smiled warmly, his gaze remaining on the young man for a little while longer.

“Alright, you have all met the lord, so continue training until dinner! Show our Lord just how hard you have worked to be worthy of his name!”

Sigurd’s voice was like thunder, causing the young knights to shiver and move away. Her gaze towards Asura shocked the knight, but they said nothing and began to practise in earnest.

“Thank you, Sigurd.” Asura’s expression softened as he looked at the men, then gave a slight nod.

“I am always at your service, My Lord.”

“I was worried about how the kingdom was doing. Thanks to your efforts, I can relax, at least in this aspect. I truly appreciate what you’ve done here, Sigurd.”

“It’s all for you, Asura…” She whispered, her cheeks turning red.

“Is that so? Then I will have to thank you properly after the mission.”

“M-mission?”

“Yes, I’ll need your help with something soon.”

“I am your loyal subject, My Lord. I will always be at your beck and call!”

‘You sound more like a dog than a knight, but I guess I like it…’

Asura was amused, his smile not waning as he looked at the beautiful woman. Her silver hair and eyes shimmering while the sound of knights colliding continued in the large training room.

‘So these are my nights… A ragtag group from their backgrounds, but they work well together.’

“Hey Sigurd, do you want to go a round?”

“Huh?”

“I’ve been practising with the desire to beat you, so how about it? Want to spar?” Asura grinned while taking out Nova his ice blue sword, looking at the silver katana at Sigurd’s waist.

“Sure! I’ve been waiting for this day, Asura! I will make you submit to me!”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Sigurd. I have been looking forward to fighting you again, but I will make you submit.”

“Bring it on, My Lord.”

The pair stood a few metres apart, the sounds of the knights colliding suddenly stopping as all eyes were on the two.

“We shouldn’t damage the building, but what about a bet?”

“A bet? What for?”

“How about the loser has to do whatever the winner wants?”

“Winner?” Sigurd’s eyes narrowed. “You sure have got confidence. Fine, I will make sure you lose and become mine, My Dear Lord. Prepare yourself!”

Her voice was filled with passion and a hint of annoyance, but Asura simply smirked, his sword pointed directly at her.

“Then, I will take the right side, and you can take the left. No one interferes, and this will be a simple sparring match.”

“Hmph, I won’t go easy on you, Asura!.”

“You won’t need to.”

The pair moved away from each other, their eyes locked as the young knights watched in anticipation.

“Wait, you don’t mind us watching?” Danos asked.

“Shh, be quiet.” Belial placed a finger to his lips as the pair they watched suddenly began to emit ungodly amounts of magic pressure; from Sigurd, they felt it was normal, but the moment Asura’s magic began to flow through the room, they knelt to the pressure instinctively.

“This… He’s strong!”

“Is this a joke?!”

“The Prince’s magic is insane. Who said he wasn’t strong?!”

“We have to get stronger!”

“That’s right! Now let us watch our future Lord’s fight!”

Belial’s voice echoed through the hall, causing the knights to regain their composure and stand with their backs straight. They couldn’t help but watch in awe at the duel between their lord and the instructor, a fight that none of them would forget.

‘A fight between two geniuses…’

Danos thought, his heart racing as he couldn’t help but look forward to the day he could fight alongside his Lord and Lady Sigurd.

‘Just you wait, my Lord…’

“Asura?! How… you’ve become so much stronger…!”

Sigurd couldn’t help but tremble as she felt a massive difference in Asura’s strength; his power was no longer something she could match by holding back like before; rather, she felt a sense of danger even with magic…

‘What have you endured to grow this far? Asura…’ Sigurd’s eyes widened as she watched her lover with a shocked face. The man she once used a fraction of her power to defeat now stood equal with her, and he didn’t use his transformation!

“Sigurd, I am coming!”

“Let us fight!”