Thales' eyes flicked toward the corridor toward the shadow leaning lazily against the doorway. A figure stepped forward, hands in his pockets. His bright silver eyes were half-lidded.
"Hello to you too. You've got a loud mouth for someone who hides behind titles, you know that?"
Ceryon's smirk dropped. His Xana flared. The floor split. The walls trembled. Every tile vibrated with Xana as he focused his pressure entirely on Phaser.
But Phaser didn't even blink.
He stood still, letting the Xana wash over him as if it were nothing but a breeze. Then he tilted his head slightly and chuckled.
"Are you… trying to make me bow down? That's stupid."
His Xana erupted.
It was a void-lined current of impossible density that devoured sound itself. The platinum light from Ceryon's Flux flickered, warped and collapsed as if the air itself refused to carry it. Ceryon gasped as his knees buckled. His body slammed against the floor. The shockwave of impact cracked the tiles. Blood spilled from his mouth. Phaser didn't stop there. He walked up and kicked Ceryon square in the face. The impact sent him flying into the bathroom wall with a deafening crash, shattering mirrors, pipes, and porcelain sinks.
Phaser exhaled, brushing his sleeve like he just kicked mud off his shoe. Then he turned to Thales, who was still half-kneeling, stunned. Phaser smiled, offering him a hand.
"You should really stop trying to piss off people stronger than you. It's becoming a bad habit."
"H–How did you… even do that?"
"Because I'm an Ennéa, and you and him are Októ, Thales. In terms of Xana output, we are not even in the same division. And besides, he deserved that kick. I've been wanting to do that since he opened his mouth."
Thales couldn't help but laugh softly despite the pain he felt.
"You haven't changed."
Before Phaser could reply, the rubble shifted. Ceryon stumbled out of the wreckage, blood trickling from his nose and lips, Phaser turned his head lazily toward him.
"You're still standing?"
Ceryon wiped the blood off his chin with a trembling hand.
"What… what the hell are you?"
Phaser stepped forward, his boots echoing softly against the broken tiles. His tone became colder.
"Listen carefully, first heir of Erdict. Thales Erdict is sponsored by the House of Argemenes. Which means if he dies, the Argemenes will publicly acknowledge that you killed him."
Ceryon froze.
"And since this little family feud is about who will rule the House of Erdict, killing each other would technically invalidate the succession. So one of you will have to serve the other, right?"
Ceryon's jaw tightened. He didn't answer. Phaser's presence crashed down on him again before he realized it.
"I asked you a question, asshole."
Ceryon's body trembled. His legs gave out as he fell to one knee again. Blood dripped from his lips. His hands clawed at the ground, desperately trying to resist, but Phaser's Xana twisted around him, denying movement.
"Answer me."
Ceryon coughed violently as his blood splattered the floor.
"Yes…"
Thales stood behind Phaser in shock. He could feel it now. Phaser's Xana was very powerful. Even an Erdict could barely breathe under its weight.
"Just how strong are you now?" Thales muttered under his breath.
Phaser didn't respond. He crouched down beside Ceryon, grabbed him by the back of his head and slammed his face into the floor. The sound echoed like a hammer striking an anvil. Phaser continued pressing him down until the tiles cracked under Ceryon's skull.
"You listen to me, and listen well. If you ever bother Thales again, if you so much as look at him wrong, I will personally declare war on your House."
Ceryon grunted, trying to push back, but Phaser only pressed harder, his tone dropping to a whisper that somehow sounded more dangerous than his earlier fury.
"And when I'm done, there will be nothing left for you to rule. Nothing. Do not destroy your house just because you're arrogant. So you better stick to the traditions your precious ancestors wrote for the heirs. You'll play the part of the obedient noble, and you'll do it quietly. Do you understand?"
Ceryon's voice broke. "Y–Yes…"
Phaser didn't move. His fist tightened and then he punched the floor next to Ceryon's head, the shockwave splintering the marble. Ceryon flinched.
"I said do you understand?!"
"Yes!"
Satisfied, Phaser released him, standing tall again as his Xana slowly receded. The air pressure returned to normal, though the temperature in the room dropped several degrees, leaving only silence and the sound of Ceryon's ragged breathing. Phaser brushed his braid back with one hand and turned to Thales, his tone immediately shifting to a casual drawl.
"Let's go. Scum like him need to eat dirt and learn to beg like a dog before they can call themselves noble. I want you to meet my little sister. You have a fan."
Thales smirked faintly, following him toward the exit.
"You really enjoy humiliating people, don't you?"
"Only the ones who deserve it. Besides, it's therapeutic."
They walked out together, the door closing behind them with a hollow metallic thud. Ceryon stayed on the floor for a long while, trembling, coughing blood into the cracked tiles. His pride felt more broken than his bones. When he finally managed to sit up, his reflection in the shattered mirror glared back at him. It was face smeared with blood and defeat. He slammed his fist into the floor, growling.
"Why… why are the Argemenes so damn powerful?!"
He could still feel the weight of his Xana. He had tried to summon his Flux during the confrontation but it hadn't even responded. Phaser's energy had sealed it completely.
"Restricted… my Flux? Impossible."
His breathing quickened.
"Just how powerful are the Argemenes?And what kind of monster has Thales allied himself with?"
The realization sank in like ice. Even in victory, even in his fury, Ceryon couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just stared into the eyes of something far beyond normal wearing a calm smile.
He understood why the Argemenes were the kind of power no House tried to defy.