Chapter 79: The One Who Stood Against the King
The wind swept his white hair to the side. His muscles ached, struggling to hold him in place.
’Don’t look down,’ he repeated in his head. In theory, even if he fell he was going to be fine—he was tied to the other Chosen, and if that failed, he could call forth Cinder. But he didn’t want to test if the beast would be able to act fast enough to break his fall.
Extending his hand forward, he took a firm hold of an edge. His eyes widened as the weight of his body suddenly increased severalfold.
A Chosen had slipped and fallen. The rope held, distributing the weight equally around the others.
’Shit.’ Cursing bitterly, Azrael threw a look down. This was one of the Chosen whose names he hadn’t even bothered to remember. They hadn’t managed to display even the smallest amount of competency to catch his attention.
Azrael simply assumed that the reason Seraphina had taken them on board was so that should the worst happen, she could use them as live bait in order to escape.
"Sorry." The Chosen bowed his head slightly once he got a firm hold once again.
’Useless,’ with a darkened expression, Azrael continued to climb higher.
Their target was the windows. Since the entrance was blocked, this was the only way to enter. Unfortunately, since they were located fifteen stories high, it was going to take some time.
Breaking into a cold sweat, vision blurred due to the little oxygen and ears being assaulted by the staggeringly powerful wind, Azrael didn’t falter.
Eventually, after several agonizing hours of climbing, he reached his goal. Resting his exhausted body at the ledge, he observed the view in amazement. Just now did his achievement finally sink in. The kingdom was so massive it easily rivaled the Golden Lands in sheer size.
Even the sight he had been able to witness upon Cinder’s back paled in comparison to this.