THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR
Chapter 44 - 44: REVELATION

The word "[Celestial Wheel]" echoed in David's mind, a whispered command that sent a jolt through his very being. His eyes, once normal, blazed open, and transformed into swirling maelstroms of cerulean and white. The crimson orbs, harbingers of fiery destruction, plummeted towards him, their descent echoing with an infernal hum.

David moved with an impossible grace, a dance honed on the precipice of death. He ducked and weaved, a whisper against a howling storm. Each orb slammed into the earth with a thunderous boom, pulverizing the ground and sending a shower of debris skyward. With a burst of speed that left him a blur, he rocketed towards an ancient, moss-covered fountain – the only hope for cover in the open courtyard.

The crimson orbs, denied their initial target, detonated against the fountain's base with a deafening roar. Half the structure crumbled in a cloud of dust, marble shards raining down like razor blades. As the dust settled, a figure materialized above.

Cloaked in a shadowy robe that seemed to devour the moonlight, he descended with a fluid elegance that belied his imposing size. This newcomer, shrouded in mystery, landed beside Orkler and Stripe, who watched David's display with a mixture of astonishment and dawning concern.

"He dodged even that!" Stripe exclaimed, a tremor of disbelief running through his voice."Indeed," a smooth, contemplative voice echoed from the newcomer. This was Mace, his tone betraying a hint of respect for David's unexpected prowess.

"He seems more than a mere nuisance."Orkler, however, bristled with barely contained rage.

"Skill means little against brute force!" he bellowed, hooves digging into the ground.

His massive horns thrust forward, an image of raw, unyielding power. "I'll crush him like an insect!"The earth trembled as Orkler charged. His massive form, a blur of muscle and fury, tore gouges into the ground with his horns. With a deafening crash, he obliterated the remnants of the ancient fountain, his monstrous roar echoing through the courtyard. But David, a phantom in the chaos, was nowhere to be seen.

A split second later, a bone-crunching impact resonated through the night. Orkler, jaw agape in a bellowing roar, staggered back, a hand clamped to his face where a brutal kick had landed. David, a whirlwind of motion, had materialized above the Minotaur, evading his charge with an agility that defied nature itself.

An arrow, a streak of deadly metal, tore through the air, aimed unerringly for David's head. He twisted like a dancer amidst flames, the fletched death narrowly whistling past him. Without missing a beat, he used Orkler's dazed form as a springboard. With a graceful roll that belied the brutal kick he'd delivered, David landed in a crouch several meters away, a predator surveying his prey.

Orkler shook his head violently, trying to clear the daze from David's powerful kick.

"You missed too," Mace, the enigma in black, muttered a surprised curse. Stripe had taken advantage of David's skirmish with Orkler, launching an arrow that seemed impossible to dodge mid-air. Yet David had shattered their expectations.

"Slippery bastard," Stripe, usually a picture of stoicism, let out a frustrated growl. David's unpredictable movements had outmanoeuvred them once again, leaving them scrambling to anticipate his next move.

Before Orkler could unleash another thunderous charge, Mace's voice boomed through the courtyard: "Orkler, stand down!" The Minotaur, a mountain of muscle and fury, skidded to a halt, irritation flickering like a dying ember in his eyes. Mace, his shadowed form radiating a strange authority, turned his gaze to David.

"You," he boomed, his voice surprisingly light compared to his imposing stature, "Join us!"The air crackled with disbelief. Stripe, ever the pragmatist, was the first to erupt.

"Are you mad, Mace? This intruder attacked our base!" His voice, usually a low hum, rose to a near-shriek. Mace met Stripe's outrage with an unwavering gaze. "Have you not seen, Stripe? The boy anticipates our attacks with an uncanny ability. But that's not all," he continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"I cannot sense his mana."The revelation hung in the air, a silent explosion that left all three of them reeling. Orkler, his previous rage melting into confusion, echoed Stripe's question. "What do you mean, Mace?"The cloaked figure straightened, his posture turning serious.

"He is unawakened," Mace declared, silencing his comrades with the weight of the statement. "We are facing a mortal."

David, caught in the crossfire of confusion, felt a knot tighten in his gut. The system within him hummed, a constant reminder of his supposed mana. But a seed of doubt had been planted.

The system displayed his class – Ascendant – yet, his rank remained frustratingly absent. This, too, was a revelation that sent a tremor through David's understanding of his own power.

Mace held David's gaze, a silent question hanging in the air. "What do you say, kid?" His voice, surprisingly gentle for such a formidable figure, hung in the tension-filled courtyard.

David, despite the danger he still faced, found the audacity to smirk. "Why should I?" he countered, his voice surprisingly steady for someone dangling at the precipice of annihilation.

A genuine smile, tinged with a hint of amusement, cracked Mace's stoic facade. "I like your spirit, kid," he rumbled.

"Joining the Fingers isn't something we offer to just anyone. It means power, wealth, the kind of respect that makes men tremble at your name."His voice was a honeyed drawl, weaving promises of power and prestige.

"Consider this a clean slate. You just tell me who hired you to play attack dog, and we'll call it a draw," he finished, his companions hanging on his every word. "First things first, young fella, what's your name?"

David threw his head back and laughed, a harsh sound that echoed through the devastated courtyard. He ran a hand through his unruly white hair. "Firstly," he scoffed, "your little gang holds no allure for me."

Orkler roared, a tremor shaking the ground. "You dare mock us, whelp?"

A dangerous glint flickered in David's eyes. "Secondly," he declared, his voice ringing with newfound confidence, "address me as David De Gor – your supposed assassination target."

The revelation slammed into the Fingers like a physical blow. Mace's mask of calm shattered, a flicker of rage replacing it. "Lies!" he roared. "Don't play us for fools, brat!"

"Mace, wait," Stripe interjected sharply. A thoughtful frown creased his brow. "Think about it for a second," he urged him

"What are you babbling about, Stripe? Have you lost your mind as well?" Mace bellowed, disbelief colouring his voice.

"Think, Mace," Stripe urged, his gaze fixed on David. "The white hair, the blue eyes that mirror the Earl's… a slender build… and no trace of mana."

Slowly, Mace's gaze shifted back to David, taking in his features with a renewed intensity. Disbelief morphed into shock, then finally, a chilling realization dawned on his face.

Mace's face contorted in a grotesque mask of disbelief. "No… It can't be," he rasped, his voice a strangled whisper. "You're… you're David De Gor?" The name tumbled out on a wave of shock, his gaze clinging to David like a drowning man to a life preserver.

David raised his hands in a mocking T-pose. "Look, big guy," he drawled, a hint of boredom creeping into his voice, "I'm not a fan of reruns either. Let's move on, shall we?"

Ignoring his remarks, Mace knew he had no power to alter David's fate; he would follow the Fingers' original plan: eliminate the target, no matter his talent. David's fate was sealed the moment they were assigned to assassinate him.

With a clenched fist, Mace slammed his decision on the table of chaos. "Change of plans!" he roared, his voice a desperate attempt to regain control.

"Orkler, keep the brat busy." A steely glint flickered in his gaze as he turned to Stripe. "You, find a blind spot. Take him down clean."

Stripe, ever the pragmatist, grumbled in defiance. "Don't bark orders at me, Mace," he muttered, nocking an arrow with practised ease. His eyes scanned the battlefield, searching for an opportunity to strike David down from the shadows.

Meanwhile, Orkler, oblivious to the internal Finger squabble, revelled in the prospect of destruction. "More talk later, less breathing now!" he boomed, slamming his fists together in a thunderous display. Blue sparks danced across his knuckles, a premonition of the devastating blow he was about to unleash. With a guttural roar, the half-man, half-bull charged towards David, a living battering ram fueled by primal rage. The courtyard, already littered with debris, braced itself for another earth-shattering collision.

David channelled the [Celestial Wheel], he shifted into a stance, grounding himself with a wide, stable base. His knees bent slightly, providing both flexibility and power, ready to spring into action. His weight was evenly distributed, giving him the ability to move swiftly in any direction.

His feet were positioned shoulder-width apart, with one foot slightly forward. The back foot was angled outward, creating a solid anchor. David's torso twisted slightly, presenting a smaller target while keeping his core tight and balanced.

His fists were up, guarding his chin, with elbows tucked in close to protect his ribs. One hand hovered near his face, ready to block or deflect incoming strikes, while the other hand stayed poised for quick jabs and counters. His eyes focused intently on his opponent, tracking every movement with laser precision. His entire body exuded a black aura, a perfect blend of tension and readiness, prepared to unleash a flurry of attacks or defend against any onslaught.

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A/N Hello guys, I really enjoyed writing this chapter, come on, David is a goat at mockery.

I would like to thank Jane_Dungo for the golden ticket

happy reading