The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 90 - Join Me [1]

Chapter 90: 90 - Join Me [1]

Kaiser and Viktor rested for a while, waiting for the ache in their bodies to ease and for the heaviness in their stomachs to fade.

And so, they just sat there in peace.

Then finally, after a few more minutes—

"Should we go now?"

Viktor asked that, rotating his shoulder.

Kaiser glanced at him, nodded his head, and answered casually.

"Yeah, let’s go."

With that, the two of them stood up and without hesitation, they made their way to one of the arenas inside the Silver Training Ground. There were three of them in total.

It didn’t take long for the two of them to reach it.

But before getting started, they agreed to use wooden weapons—just a spar, no need to open big wounds today.

Fwip~

Kaiser picked up a wooden greatsword from the rack nearby. It was much lighter than his weapon and the one he used earlier in training.

And with a quick swing using one hand...

SWOOSH—

’Would be nice if my weapon was really this light.’

He thought that to himself.

On the other hand, Viktor picked his usual—a pair of one-handed axes, both made of wood as well.

And with that, the two of them moved to opposite ends of the arena.

T A P—

"..."

"..."

They didn’t say much more. They didn’t need to.

They stood across from each other—calm, focused, and ready.

"Hmm?"

"Oh, a sparring match."

"What? Where?"

"There, idiot."

Curious eyes started gathering around Kaiser and Viktor. Other gladiators and a few bored guards took interest.

But Kaiser and Viktor just ignored them. This wasn’t anything new for them.

"Ready?"

Viktor asked, gripping both axes.

Kaiser took a stance, his wooden greatsword resting on his shoulder.

A faint smirk appeared on his face.

"Yeah."

Viktor smiled and got into his fighting stance too.

Then, without further ado—

BAM!

He kicked off the ground and dashed toward Kaiser!

But not waiting for him—

BAM!

Kaiser charged forward as well!

And with both hands gripping his wooden greatsword, he swung it horizontally with force!

TWHACK!

The sound echoed as Viktor intercepted the strike with his left axe. The weight behind the greatsword pushed him slightly, but he held his ground! And following that—

SWISH—

He ducked low under the sword, slipping past it with a sharp breath!

And while he was in that position, with one smooth motion—Viktor slashed upward with his right axe, aiming straight for Kaiser’s chin!

FWISH—

"Ugh?!"

But Kaiser reacted fast—he simply tilted his head back, avoiding the wooden blade by an inch! The strike grazed his jawline, but it didn’t land cleanly.

But there was no pause.

"HAAAAH!!!"

BOOM!

Kaiser brought his greatsword back down in a vertical arc, forcing Viktor to leap back with a grin still plastered on his face.

Neither of them was going easy.

Tap-

Then, as soon as Viktor landed on the ground...

’I’m not done yet!’

WHOOSH—!

He kicked off again and rushed at Kaiser without giving him time to breathe!

"..."

Kaiser narrowed his eyes, bracing himself—gripping his greatsword tight with both hands.

But—just before Viktor entered his range...

TAP-

He suddenly halted!

"...?!"

SWISH~

Kaiser’s eyes flinched in confusion—but before he could react, Viktor darted to the right, circling around him!

"Tch—!"

Kaiser gritted his teeth. Then with a sharp twist of his torso— he shifted the greatsword to one hand and swung it sideways with force, hoping to catch Viktor mid-move!

FWOOOSH—

But Viktor just smirked seeing that.

’Caught you.’

He thought.

And with one clean motion—

FWISH~

He circled back in front of Kaiser, stepping into the blind spot left open by the wide swing!

"!!!"

Kaiser’s pupils shrank. He was wide open!

And Viktor knew it. He planned this, after all.

Kaiser’s mind raced. He tried to shift his stance, to bring his weapon back up—but it was too late.

Viktor’s right axe was already in motion—raised high—and without hesitation, he brought it crashing down!

"Kh—!"

Kaiser grimaced. But instead of panicking—

WHOOSH—

He twisted his entire body into a full-body spin, using the momentum of his missed attack!

TWISH-

Making Viktor’s axe only grazed his left shoulder as he spun!

’GET FUCKED!!!’

Kaiser exclaimed in his head! Then using the force of his spin—

S W O O O S H—!!

His greatsword came flying back around in a wide, powerful 360 slash!

Though—

"That swing is too big."

Viktor said it calmly, ducking low with perfect timing.

FWISH—

Kaiser’s blade went past harmlessly overhead.

Then, already under his opponent’s guard again—

SWISH—

Viktor brought his left axe in a swift, brutal diagonal swing straight at Kaiser’s gut!

Kaiser couldn’t stop his momentum in time, he can’t do anything. So with that...

TWHACK!!

"GURGH—!"

The blow landed clean—his breath got knocked out of him!

Viktor smirked as he felt his attack hit cleanly.

’I got this fight now.’

He thought to himself, satisfied.

But then—

BAM!

"GAH?!"

Out of nowhere, something hard smashed into his face!

Viktor staggered back, his balance thrown off while crouched— his nose flaring in pain.

He immediately looked up— his eyes widened.

There, in front of him, was Kaiser, standing firm, his left knee raised in the air.

’He was able to launch a counter?!’

Viktor’s mind reeled in disbelief.

Then—

"Fuck, that hurt..."

Kaiser grumbled, frowning in discomfort.

Viktor’s eyes narrowed. Despite taking a clean hit to the gut, Kaiser wasn’t just still standing— he was counterattacking.

Viktor recalled how that same move would’ve sent him rolling on the floor just a couple of weeks ago.

’He’s really improving fast...’

Viktor thought, a smile curling at his lips.

At that moment, Kaiser looked down at him from above.

A brief pause.

"Erm, aren’t you going to wipe your nose?"

"...Huh?"

Viktor blinked and instinctively wiped the underside of his nose with the back of his left hand.

And on it—

A smear of red.

He stared at it for a second, surprised.

And in response—

Kaiser smiled. It was subtle, but victorious.

He was catching up to Viktor.

Slowly. Steadily.

But surely.

...

...

*****

Kaiser and Viktor continued their spar, it lasted for about seven minutes—longer than usual. Viktor still won though.

The only thing that made it last that long was Kaiser’s endurance. He was way sturdier than before, eating hits just to land counters, and in those counters—he managed to land three. Only one was clean, but it was enough to make Viktor’s nose bleed again.

Still... Viktor’s speed and precise control gave him the win.

"You’re getting good."a

Viktor said, stretching his arms as he sat beside Kaiser on the bench.

"Well, clearly not good enough."

Kaiser replied with a smirk.

"You made me bleed twice."

"Only because you got a big-ass nose."

"Right. And here I thought you were finally gonna thank me for going easy."

Viktor scoffed.

"You call that easy?"

They both chuckled lightly, shoulders rising and falling with exhaustion.

Then, after about ten minutes of rest... No words needed—

"Welp... Let’s go."

"Time to get back."

The two stood up at the same time.

Their muscles were still sore, but their energy hadn’t run out yet.

So, without hesitation, they returned to the weight lifting section.

They were back to training.

*****

Viktor and Kaiser trained for hours more after their sparring match. Fortunately, neither of them sustained any serious injuries earlier, so they were able to push through without any problems.

The time passed quickly, and before they even realized it, the sun had begun to set—the light turning softer, the air cooler.

And that was their cue. It was time to head back.

...

...

...

As usual, they wrapped up their training and headed back, escorted by a guard.

The return was quiet, the fatigue starting to settle in their muscles.

Then when they reached the Silver Place—

"I’m going on first, I need to lie down."

Viktor casually waved his hand and told Kaiser that.

"Sure."

Kaiser replied simply.

Then, he made his way to his own room too. But just as he was about to grab his door handle—

Creak—

The door to the left of his room opened.

(In the right of his room was Viktor’s room.)

Kaiser turned his head.

And from it—

Tap-

Edmar stepped out.

"..."

"..."

Their eyes met immediately.

Just like earlier that morning, silence stretched between them, thick and uncertain.

"Tch-"

Edmar slightly furrowed his brows, looking ready to walk off without a word.

But before he could take a step—

"Wait here for a bit."

Kaiser told him that.

"...What?"

Edmar asked, confused.

But instead of answering—

Creak—

Kaiser went into his room without another word.

"..."

Edmar stood there, unsure what to do. Seconds passed.

’Why am I even waiting?’

He asked himself mentally, already annoyed.

Then—

"I’m back."

Kaiser returned just as suddenly.

Edmar unconsciously turned his head to him.

"Huh?"

And that’s when he saw it.

In Kaiser’s hands... were his dual swords.

Edmar’s eyes locked onto the weapons in surprise.

Then, before he could ask anything or whatever—

"I’m starting an organization. Join me."

Kaiser suddenly declared that flatly in front of his face.

Edmar blinked, and opening his mouth...

"...What? Are you stupid?"

He asked that, frowning.