Chapter Text
Everything happened before the White Star could completely demolish the Caro Kingdom like what he had done to the Empire. If it weren’t for Cale stepping up and opening his shield, Caro Kingdom would’ve been long wiped out from the map.
He was busy watching the battle go down from afar. The red-haired man originally planned to finally smack that son of a bitch in the back after Choi Han and his subordinates weaken the masked man.
Although now it seemed like he had to scrap that plan off his head because more than half of the swordmaster’s friends are busy evacuating normal civilians and Choi Han had infuriatingly decided to fight the White Star by himself.
You don’t even have to watch the spectacle to know who wins in the end. It was clear that it’s a one-sided battle with the White Star on the winning side.
So that’s how he ended up clashing against the masked man’s fiery sword with his Indestructible Shield. An ironic name really, ‘cause Cale could feel it starting to break with every swing of the White Star’s sword.
There was no way that he would do this to fucking Choi Han out of all people if the bastard hadn’t been an important individual in his plans. Cale would need to rearrange all of his plans if the swordmaster decided to die now, and he is not looking forward to that.
He spat out a curse when blood came trickling down from his mouth, and that is also when the White Star decided to draw back his attacks.
“You.. I’ve never seen you before, are you a new member in Choi Han’s group?” He found himself staring at reddish-brown colored eyes that are at least two shades lighter than his. The White Star seemed to be shocked, but Cale didn’t miss the slight glint of amusement in the man’s face.
“Either way, it’s interesting how he managed to recruit a person with all 5 ancient powers.”
Cale frowned.
‘What kind of bullshit is he spewing now? Me, a member of Choi Han’s group? I would rather die than be called that.’ Instead of voicing his thoughts, what came out of his mouth was, “Shut the fuck up won’t you?”
He could almost feel the black-haired swordmaster’s gaze burning into him from his back, Cale kept up his shield nonetheless.
The lips underneath the white mask curled up. The White Star almost looked.. Satisfied?
The man unsummoned his weapon, the intense heat pressuring the atmosphere quickly disintegrated. The White Star was still smiling as he held a teleportation scroll in his right hand where the sword used to be.
“I’m still very curious about you. Maybe one day we can meet again, won’t be fun if I end you today..” Was all the masked man said before ripping the scroll in half. In an instant, the man’s body turned into fragmented pieces and moved to a completely different place. Sayeru and his subordinates also followed the White Star shortly after, leaving Caro Kingdom in a complete mess.
The red-haired man clicked his tongue. ‘ The time we meet again is the time I’ll be ripping your head off from your body, asshole.’
Cale didn’t close his shield until he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He turned his gaze from the rubbles and dust to a man and children he had grown familiar with. Hans had On and Hong in his arms. Seeing how he’s breathing heavier than usual, the butler must’ve run all the way here to be by his side.
“Are you okay, nya?”
“Cale, you're throwing up blood again, nya!”
He quickly patted the heads of the silver and red kittens, assuring that he’s fine.
Cale really doesn’t know how he ended up traveling with On and Hong, and even Hans. But one thing that he remembers for sure is the fact that he gave the kittens food just one day before he got beaten to a pulp by Choi Han. Said kittens decided to barge into his room a day later when he’s recovering.
Since that day, the almighty trash resigned to having children. Which, in all honesty, it’s better than what he originally thought.
Well, he wouldn’t explicitly call them his children out loud. That’s way too embarrassing.
Anyways, it all started after he accidentally managed to get his hands on Indestructible Shield along with Vitality of the Heart after Basen got injured in the plaza bombing incident, and after the Indomitable Alliance’s war with the Henituse territory.
At first he wanted to leave all the matters to Choi Han and the annoying crown prince. But the White Star just had to attack his territory. In the end they managed to win, but with the price of hundreds, if not, thousands of people dead. Thousands of people that have a life of their own, a family of their own, had to be sacrificed for some stupid fucking battle.
Cale Henituse, a man who had been acting as trash from the age of 15, at least still had some dignity left in him. And he was not happy with that motherfucker causing a ruckus in his hometown.
Ever since then, Cale had decided it would be best for him to start moving as well. With the help of his companions, he wasted at least a year to get his hands on all of the 5 ancient powers (6, if you count Vitality of the Heart).
And the outcome of it has been pretty fruitful, shown by the fact that he managed to blow up one of Arm’s bases and a couple dozen of its soldiers. On and Hong are also very useful in plans featuring stealth, Hans turned out to not be a typical butler as well. The orange-haired man somehow possessed skills in multiple weapon arts.
Long story short, they have been successful so far. Both the crown prince and Choi Han didn’t place suspicion on them.
Though their so-called anonymous terrors (Hong was the one who made that name,) had to end today.
‘Choi Han is to blame.’
The red-haired man felt anger bubbling up inside him.
‘If only he let the White Star be and protect his life then I wouldn’t have to step into the battlefield like thi—’
“You, since when did you have ancient powers?”
A voice broke him out of his stupor. Unfortunately for him, the voice was still frustrating and anger-inducing as always. Reddish-brown eyes glared to onyx ones to the point where they blazed. Cale held a staring contest with Choi Han before he promptly turned his focus away, ignoring the black swordmaster in the end.
“Let’s go.” The red-haired man tapped on Hans’ shoulder, On and Hong eagerly followed from the sides.
“No, stop there.” A terribly powerful hand gripped on his arm. “Why did you save me? Why and when did you start working against the White Star?”
A sigh seeped out of Cale’s mouth. It felt like a headache was coming, his temples began throbbing non-stop at the endless flurry of questions Choi Han was sending him. It didn’t help either when the other’s hand was as strong as an iron shackle.
It didn’t take a whole lot for Cale to snap.
“Didn’t your dearly beloved crown prince tell you not to ask too much? Why is a dog disobeying his owner?” He gritted his teeth in irritation. ‘Besides I would’ve let you rot in hell if it wasn’t for my plans.’
The air around the black swordmaster turned into an incredible chilling degree which prompted the red-haired mage next to him to walk closer. ‘Good,’ Cale thinks. ‘Let the civilians know how wretched of a person you truly are.’
Hans stood in between him and Choi Han, just like how he tends to break up a tense situation whenever he’s causing ‘problems’ in a bar. “Young master-nim.. We can just teleport if you truly want to..”
The red-haired man shook his head at the suggestion and kept staring at the other for a stupidly long amount of time. Choi Han’s scowl was enough to make other swordmasters think twice due to how vicious he looked, but Cale was unyielding, the red-haired man had never been the type to go down without a fight.
“Young master Cale-nim,” the woman from earlier, Rosalyn, was now standing next to Hans in between them. Her words were carefully picked out. “I believe it is in the best interest of both parties to not escalate this considering what happened.”
The mage started to talk to the swordmaster too, although in a slightly hushed voice. “Choi Han, we need all the help we need.”
The violent aura around the black-haired man evaporated in an instant, although one could still clearly see the slight trembling coming from the man’s clenched fists. Seconds passed with them being shrouded in silence, until Choi Han took a few steps forward. His gaze was determined, the excess from earlier rage seemed to disappear completely.
“We need you to join us.” Was what he said.
Cale brushed aside the informal tone the other used when addressing him, rather he focused on the contents of the invitation. He stared at Choi Han, Rosalyn, and Lock respectively with disbelief. It happened in a split second, Cale quickly schooled his expression back to his normal stoic and ignorant face.
He didn't see the way Lock flinched after seeing his face.
The red-haired man doesn't know it, but from another's perspective, his wide eyes stared blankly to where Choi Han was, eerily akin to a doll’s face.
“Really?” He finally answered while trying his best to keep the venom cooking inside him from spilling out. “You took the small amount of dignity I have left in my territory, you took my father’s trust in me, you took both Ron and Beacrox away from me, and yet you still wish to take more?”
Onyx-colored eyes shook, but Cale continued.
He scoffed in bewilderment. “And now, after you, Choi Han, destroyed everything I had carefully built throughout the years, you want me to join you guys? Ha.. I always knew you’re not that innocent fucker that appears in front of a crowd, but I wasn't expecting you to be this much of an asshole too.”
The red-haired man took a quick glance to his right where two familiar figures could be spotted. There was the father and son duo busily calming the civilians alongside soldiers and mages alike.
.. The same father and son duo that he grew to call father and hyung .
“Young master Cale-nim, I know that we aren’t in the position to recruit and ask you to follow us after everything that has happened, but we need all the help we can get.”
Cale forcefully tore his gaze off the duo after hearing Rosalyn’s stern voice.
That’s when he realized something.
Even if he had declined, the other party wouldn’t take a no as an answer.