"Hand over the crown," said Eleanor, approaching a nearby woman. The latter scratched the back of her head before glancing at the other players who either nodded or cast cold glares in her general direction.
They all wondered the same thing; How could she delay the ascendance of the Queen?
'That's some professional boot licking,' thought Arthur. He normally wouldn't mind Eleanor taking the lead, but he couldn't sacrifice the benefits he would receive by being King. Sadly, he was forced to reveal himself.
Before Eleanor could place the crown over her head, a hand pushed it out of her grip, causing it to fall to the ground. The princess's expression darkened, and rage grew in her blazing eyes. She turned to face the perpetrator, her anger capable of burning villages to the ground.
"Who the fuck…" She cursed, glaring at the crimson-eyed man, who simply cast her a single glance before lifting the crown.
The crown was a lustrous, golden color, adorned with a rare stone named a "ruby." It seemed to reflect the rays of the Sun and emanated a blinding light that seemed capable of piercing the heavens themselves.
As Arthur was about to place it atop his head, a sphere of flames shot towards his general direction, threatening to burn his body to a crisp if he were to be hit with it. Arthur glanced at the ball of fire from beneath his dark robes.
'Amateur,' he thought, raising his hand before overloading the sphere with his own mana, detonating it before it could collide with his body. The ball burst into tiny sparks of fire, falling to the ground without having any effect.
Team A turned silent, and Eleanor's face turned beet red, either due to embarrassment or sheer anger.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Eleanor shouted, closing the gap between her and Arthur in mere seconds. Raising her hand, she pointed her index finger in Arthur's face, spouting undecipherable words. "Don't you realize that handing me the crown is best for the entire team? I'm the strongest here!"
Arthur didn't respond, and simply chuckled softly. However, that half-laugh was heard by the entirety of Team A, causing them to freeze. How daring was the cloaked figure, to laugh at the daughter of King Bahamut?
Did he have a death wish?
However, none of them voiced their thoughts, as that would be considered questioning Eleanor's authority.
"Are you truly fit for this position?" Arthur inquired, his voice laced with mockery. He raised his hand, brushing away Eleanor's index finger before placing the crown on his head. In ten minutes, he would be labeled as the King of Team A.
But how could Eleanor accept something such as that?
Having received everything she wished for her entire life, Eleanor was not used to suffering defeat. Nor was she used to being denied what she wished for. She also had the false belief that she was the strongest.
'She's certainly strong,' thought the crimson-eyed man. 'If she was a bit more shrewd, she could've been a pain in my ass, but unfortunately for her, her simple-minded personality only makes it easier for me.'
Unless he killed or crippled her, Arthur would not be offending King Bahamut.
"Yes, I am certain!" Eleanor replied, her eyes displaying her greed. When Arthur shook his head, the woman unsheathed her greatsword, coating it with a layer of flames. A cold expression appeared on her face. "Hand it over."
Arthur didn't respond, and simply unsheathed Skofnung. But he didn't strike and waited for Eleanor to make the first move.
He didn't have to wait for long.
"Ha!"
Eleanor took a step forward, raising her greatsword before swinging it vertically towards Arthur's head. Arthur didn't move, and simply raised his head, locking eyes with the red-haired woman for a split second.
'[Searing Gaze].'
As soon as he thought of those words, a cold look flashed across his eyes. A single glance instilled immense fear into Eleanor's heart, and her immaturity did not help the situation in the slightest.
She lost her balance, and Arthur lightly swung Skofnung, causing her to fall to the ground.
"I'll ask again, Lady Eleanor," said Arthur, deliberately raising his voice in order to strike the ears of his entire team, who watched with pale faces. "Do you still believe you are fit for this position? Do you truly?"
Eleanor gritted her teeth, her eyes darting from person to person. Such humiliation was something she had never experienced. She then glared at the cloaked figure who had caused it, her eyes suppressing the roar of a beast.
"Ye…"
"Think, Lady Eleanor," said the crimson-eyed man, causing her to hesitate. Was her unshakeable will so fragile? "If I killed you right now, no one would know. These fodder players wouldn't see the light of day after witnessing such a scene, either."
The players watching gulped. A person who could make Eleanor fall to her knees could definitely cause them to never see the light of day again. Arthur was undoubtedly the most dangerous foe.
But they were supposed to trust him with their lives? How could they possibly clear the Second Floor like that?
"So, who is more suited to be King? Me, or you?" Arthur inquired one last time, gripping Eleanor's chin with much strength. The latter gritted her teeth, refusing to admit her incapability to serve well.
But he left her no choice.
"Y–You."
"Good girl," said the crimson-eyed man, patting her head gently. He then left her on the ground and began barking orders to the other members of Team A. The players followed his every move as if it were absolute.
Fear was most easy to garner, and was most effective when ruling.
With fear, one could achieve virtually anything. By harvesting that fear and manipulating it, one was practically omnipotent.
When the fear begins to fade, one can simply create more. Fear was endless, and one could not be exhausted of it.
Fear was akin to a leash.
