Rise of the Crusader



Inside a room with only two wooden chairs and an unusual whiteboard, two figures sat in front of one another.

The duo was none other than Vernon and the woman he encountered earlier. Despite being inside the room for more than twenty minutes, neither of them uttered a single word.

However, followed by the woman heaving a deep breath, she spoke. "I'm curious about what someone of your kind would be doing here."

Her eyes were on the two snakes wrapped around Vernon's neck the entire time.

"We can say the same thing about you," The red snake responded.

A nod came from the woman after the red snake spoke. She stared at both snakes for a few more seconds before turning towards Vernon.

"I'm Edna Branurys, house of Branurys, princess of the house of Branurys." Said Edna with a prideful expression on her face.

"Vernon Orleans." Vernon blurted.

There was a tinge of mockery on his face after he spoke, and even though he said only his name, there seem to be an underlying meaning to it.

Edna raised an eyebrow, upon seeing the unbothered look on Vernon's face, as she spoke of her origin.

The house of Branurys was no small empire… Edna deduced that the only reason Vernon could remain calm after she spoke was is she was unfamiliar with where she was from.

"That would explain it," She muttered to herself.

Staring at the woman seating with one leg on top of the other, with the slit gown revealing her long leg, and a portion of her thigh area, Vernon took a deep breath.

He shook his head, "Er-Ehmm."

"Can I have the egg of Cleopatra now?" Vernon asked.

His eyes were glued to Edna, and despite uttering a word, the look on her face caused Vernon's lips to curl into a frown.

Upon seeing Vernon's demeanor, Edna chuckled. "Do you even know where you are?" Suddenly, Edna spoke.

As Vernon failed to respond to her question, she continued.

"I thought as much. Because, if you knew where you are, the egg of Cleopatra will be the last thing on your mind." The seriousness of Edna's voice as she spoke those words caused Vernon to raise an eyebrow.

He glanced at the snakes on his shoulder, and seeing this reassuring look, he turned towards Edna.

Edna looked at Vernon, and as he flashed her a light smile, she spoke. "I don't doubt that you must have a couple of trump cards, but I must warn you, it won't work in here."

"You're currently inside a prison," Edna stated.

"And you know what that red world meant to you, and the power you had in there, that is exactly what is happening in here." Edna paused, "We are in someone's world, and under that person's control."

As Vernon assimilated what was being said, his mouth opened slightly.

If what she was saying was true, then this was a serious problem to deal with. He placed his hand on his chin, but after a brief moment, he smiled.

The smile was creepy, to say the least, and seeing his unbothered attitude, Edna's voice rang out.

"What's making you smile?"

"As you were able to break into that world of mine, and act willfully, I will be able to do the same thing in this place," Vernon spoke with confidence present in his voice.

He seemed to be speaking into existence, but the expression on Edna's face after he spoke showed that she wasn't convinced.

"You flatter yourself, Vernon." She said. "As I was able to break in and out of that red world, shouldn't I be able to do the same here?"

"But I'm not." She added.

Edna sneered, "As I am unable to act willfully here, despite being ten thousand times stronger than you. what would do you think your fate in here will be." She retorted.

The expression of ridicule was written all over Edna's face as she spoke. She didn't bother to hide it, and Vernon received the message loud and clear.

However, he shrugged his shoulder a moment after. "You answered the question yourself."

"And if there's one thing I can bring out from all that you've said, then it's that we are not the same people." Said, Vernon.

"Just because you're trapped in here, doesn't mean I will also be trapped here." With his hand folded across his chest, Vernon muttered.

"I can't."

The confidence that was contained in Vernon's voice as he spoke caused Edna's lips to curl inwardly.

"Alright then, I look forward to you breaking out of here, Vernon Orleans," Edna said with her cheeks raised.

Edna was somehow certain that there was no way in hell, Vernon could break out of here. There had been several powerful people who were trapped in here, and they were all incapable of leaving this place.

If the people who she feared weren't capable of breaking out of here, then who was Vernon, whom she was able to slaughter with a casual wave of her hand?

Vernon let out a light cough, pulling Edna out of her trance state.

Upon seeing the look on his face, Edna smiled. "If you really want the egg of Cleopatra, then you must know about the origin of this place."

"Only when you have that knowledge will you be able to pass the test and be eligible to obtain the egg of Cleopatra," Edna said.

A stern expression emerged on Vernon's face as he heard Edna. He pondered deeply before saying.

"What are knowledge do I need to know about this place?"

"The first thing you need to know is what this place is called." Edna peered deep into Vernon's eyes as she spoke.

"Cells of the renegade!"

As those words were uttered, Vernon's body shook violently. He scanned through the surrounding, and a few moments later, his eyebrows furrowed.

The mention of the name of this place alone caused a change in the surrounding, and even though Vernon was yet to understand what it fully entailed, he could sense that it was no ordinary thing.

"Only the vilest of all beings are in here, the monsters of all monsters, and demons of demons are here. And by stepping into this place, you have become one of them." Edna stated.

"Don't be fooled by the move you made on them earlier, the majority have most of their power sealed, It's why you could act willfully to them." Edna paused, "You should also prepare to have yours sealed."