Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 516: Rhyner Team’s Self Introduction

No one else in the Rhyner Team recognized the stallion, but it didn’t take long for Karos’s teammates to see his shocked-stupid expression. The team leader walked over to Karos and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing... I just see a familiar face from someone that left to go get a new master. But I didn’t expect to see them here,” Karos gave a succinct answer and stopped staring.

But the leader squinted and gave Yeter a once over as well. Then, seeing his king acting like old friends with that team’s king, the leader began walking over to the Rot Team. Karos sighed and kept quiet but he followed along like the other team members.

Oli paid them no attention as he just smiled and watched Zelsh laughing with Rhyner.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Rot Team Leader.”

Only after hearing that did Oli turn to look at the people approaching him.

The man leading the Rhyner Team looked about thirty years old with a perfectly trimmed beard. His stature was broad compared to the average human and he was decently tall as well. But Oli still looked down at him without a care in the world. “Hm? What are you going on about? I’m just an elder, nothing special.”

.....

“To lead an elite region’s team, you must be someone special and brimming with talent,” stated the man. “I’m Hiztor Galdo, heir to the Galdo Territory, the most elite and wealthy territory in Rhyner Region.”

Already, Oli was instantly irked by the comment, as was everyone else on Oli’s team who had just witnessed Oli’s radical spending at the auction. Even Karos and a couple people in the Rhyner Team were annoyed by that statement.

“... I’ve never heard of it,” Oli stated flat out. “The only territory I know in Rhyner Region is Iron, the same one that held an interprefectural exhibition.”

Hiztor squinted but recovered instantly, commenting, “Iron did hold such an event, but Galdo has been the leading territory for almost a century. That spot can’t be taken by such a young territory that still hasn’t cemented its reputation.”

Now, every member of Hiztor’s team stared at him like he was incredulous. But the team leader didn’t seem to care or notice.

“Really? Iron has a people that killed a king and submitted a perfect candidate. What in Dominus’s name has Galdo done to surpass those achievements?”

A flash of irritation flickered in Hiztor’s eyes. “... We’ve been around for a century and have always contributed to the region regardless of who the king has been-”

“Every territory does that. What makes Galdo different apart from being older? You’ve got money? Can money buy talent or potential? Unless you can explain how you deserve more attention than Iron, why should I agree that Galdo is any different than most territories,” retorted Oli, scoffing and smiling. “... Oh, and why are you here trying to talk instead of waiting like the rest of us?”

Breathing slowly to keep his temper under control, Hiztor sighed, “... I came to introduce myself, and to ask why someone from our region is under your team instead of ours.”

“I’ve been a disciple of King Zelsh for more than two years now, so I’m more than qualified to join Rot Region’s team,” Yeter cut in with a boisterous laugh. “But since you came over, how are you doing Karos? I haven’t seen Iron Town for a while. What’s new?”

Karos eyed Yeter and was about to speak up, but Hiztor replied first, “It’s just a town. What’s so special about that? Nothing’s happened since they got lucky to host that surprise exhibition. There’s-”

“If I want to ask about Galdo ‘Village’, then I’ll ask you,” Yeter interjected with a scoffing whinny. “Anyway, what’s new, Karos?”

Hiztor clenched his fists and popped his knuckles. But Oli stepped forward and pressed up against Hiztor before he could get another word out. “Is something wrong? Are you wanting to start something before the qualifier has even begun, small fry?”

Yeter broke out in laughter, getting the rest of Rot Team to crack some smiles as well.

“It seems you’re the ones trying to start something. We came to introduce ourselves and you’re trying to intimidate us and force us down?”

Blinking, Oli glanced at the other team members from Rhyner Region. “... Is he for real? How did he become the team leader? Isn’t Galdo a prominent territory with political power? Yet he’s unable to even recognize the change in the wind?”

“THAT’S-”

“Hiztor...”

Stopping his fist, Hiztor took a few breaths and stepped back. On each hand he wore a gauntlet, which Oli guessed had been ordered after Hiztor lost the auctioned gauntlets to Oli. “... Master Rhyner, these-”

“Shut up and get back in line,” Rhyner calmly stated while staring a hole through Hiztor. “I know that young man personally. So shut up and back off.”

The entire Rhyner Team flinched as that statement was trapped in their minds, unable to let that phrase go.

“And we know Master Rhyner too,” Fulkar spoke up, adding to their shock. “We come from the territory that King Rhyner ruled before claiming Rhyner Region.”

The Rhyner Team’s shock lessened greatly after hearing that. But it still held a lot of weight when they realized the meaning behind Rhyner’s statement. Hiztor hesitated, then asked, “... Master Rhyner, how do you know this man?”

“Rhyner’s the one that introduced him to me,” Zelsh stated, inviting himself into the conversation. “If it weren’t for Rhyner bringing him to me, then I never would’ve been lucky enough to take Oliver as my pupil.”

“So he’s received both Zelsh’s approval and mine,” added Rhyner, not backing down. “If you want my advice, then don’t bother him or Rot Team. Otherwise, you’ll be asking to fight an uphill battle.”

Karos’s mind was running at full speed. He suddenly asked, “Does that mean you all are from the same city as the Practor Family?”

“That’s right,” Oli answered. “It was thanks to Patriarch Hurman that I got to enter the territory’s exhibition and get to know Master Rhyner. I have a great deal of gratitude for him. So, for him to join Iron Territory, I can only assume that Iron Territory has a lot to offer.”