"What about you, Dragon Emperor?"David's eyes fell on Caelius, his gaze turning distant as he recalled the day they first met 70 years ago.Astria had been in turmoil at the time. The Western Navy had bombed its way through Astria's ports, while the Jesundese cavalry had gouged a ruinous path through Astrian soil. Two forces were frothing at the mouth to have their cut of Astrian riches.A devout cleric like David couldn't just sit on the sidelines upon witnessing the death and destruction wrought about his nation. So, he left the church, ready to devote himself to the war effort. He wanted to save the people and chase the invaders away.Caelius had been the first person he'd met after leaving the church.The King Phase was a thing of the past during World War II. At least, it had been a thing of the past for 30 years. However, it could erupt at any moment. How did they notice? Simple, the two of them had noticed something amiss during the chaotic times.noveldramaThe Arbitration Office and the Western Church had sneakily sent King Phase martial artists to Astria, turning already murky waters even murkier.As if that weren't enough, Jesund had summoned several King Phase demons to possess their military men to conquer Astria in the name of their nation.So, Caelius and David had formed a Martial Alliance. They had joined forces with the Twinfang Sect, the Righteous Sect, the Clarity Palace, and other powerful Astrian sects to keep invading forces at bay.Caelius and David had fought in countless battles together. During that time, they crushed many Western and Jesundese King Phase figures and won the respect of Astria's martial world. In time, people began to revere them as the Paragons of the Martial Alliance.They had boosted Astrian morale with their prowess in battle. Soon, the invaders were driven out of the nation one after another. Still, not all of them left, especially not the King Phase martial artists.There had been 15 King Phase martial artists lurking in Astria. Of 15, 10 belonged to the Arbitration Office and the Western Church.Caelius and Branson ran themselves ragged, trekking across Astria just to punt them back to their respective factions. Eventually, they managed to do just that, dirtying their hands with some of the invaders' blood.The Arbitration Office flew into a rage upon learning about their loss. So, they started using the King Phase Accord as a justification to call for Caelius and Branson's heads. Sure enough, 16 Supreme Arbiters descended upon Astria and swarmed Caelius like a plague of locusts.Caelius had been forced to flee for his life from those 16 martial artists, whereas David had been wounded by three of the strongest Supreme Arbiters in their ranks.Ever since then, one had been living in hiding in the wilderness while the other had returned to his church. Neither had bothered showing their faces in public ever again.Time passed, and it had been 70 years since their defeat. Yet, David could still remember the terror they had experienced on that fateful day.His eyes blazed with determination as he looked at Caelius. Honestly, he had already made his intentions known the second he had chosen to discard the title "Master".A cleric was supposed to uphold harmony. He should strive to perfect his hymns and cultivate inner peace. However, a wanderer was free to do whatever he pleased. He could play the good Samaritan; he could chase away the evil forces lurking in the shadows.Freedom of duty was what separated a cleric from a wanderer.Caelius' beard flapped against the wind as silence fell upon them. After a while, he said lightly, "You know full well what happened that day. Those 16 Supreme Arbiters will hunt us down if we leave seclusion."David grinned as he replied nonchalantly, "Are you telling the great and mighty Dragon Emperor is afraid of some lowly worms from the Arbitration Office?"Caelius' eyes sharpened at the jest as he answered solemnly, "I'm not afraid of any of them, but have you considered what would happen if we do this? What do you think would happen to Astria? No, that's not quite right. Have you considered that our decision will cause another world war?"Do you want to see another War of the King Phase?"David's pupils contracted as he envisioned the bloody consequences coming to life. Both he and Caelius represented the Eastern faction's King Phases. If they showed their faces, the 16 Supreme Arbiters from the West would be the least of their problems. They would also have to face the Western Church and their King Phases. When that happened, the world would be embroiled in war once more. That wasn't even considering the amount of destruction that would happen once they, as King Phases, battled it out.After all, the amount of destruction they could wreak upon the Earth was on par with modern superpowers of the 21st century.It had been peaceful thus far. So, David was well aware that Caelius would rather suffer this indignity than trigger a war that would cost at least millions of lives.He let out a thoughtful hum before saying, "I understand your concerns, Dragon Emperor. However, I know something you don't. Would you like to know what it is?"Caelius tilted his head in question, waiting for him to spill the beans.David slowly rose to his feet and continued, "The King Phase Rankings have returned."A powerful aura surged forth the second those words fell from his lips, threatening to overwhelm him with its might.The looming bamboo stalks toppled down with a resounding thump, and each stalk had been snapped in halfthrough the middle. It was as if the aura was like a rippling blade slicing square meter circle. Joe stalks in a 500.Caelius' eyes hardened as he turned to David. "The King Phase Ranking has returned? How could this be?"To them, the King Phase Rankings were a part of history older than even them. That was because it had first appeared 120 years ago. At the time, King Phase martial artists were quite literally kings of their respective nations.The King Phase Rankings were basically a public ranking of those King Phases' combat power.Besides, that was 120 years ago, when computers didn't even exist. There was no such thing as the internet, where everyone and anyone had the information they wanted at the tips of their fingers.So, the rankings had been spread through Morse code and various underground channels before arriving at the ears of those in the martial world.The King Phase Accord was formed after the War of the King Phase that had occurred at least a century ago. The surviving King Phases promptly went into hiding, and the King Phase Ranking vanished from the face of the Earth.As a result, it had been 100 years since it had resurfaced.It didn't even show up when Caelius and David had fought the King Phases from the Arbitration Office and Jesund.Yet, it has returned?"It's because of Jeff Ashcroft," David murmured with barely hidden excitement."Jeff had wiped out 3,000 soldiers at the borders of Ivoria's Sahar Wastes. I'm talking about an army with several armored vehicles and heavy tanks."Then, he sent 21 attack helicopters crashing and sliced apart 10 supersonic fighter jets with a single sweep of his air blade. Yesterday afternoon marked the second day of his monstrous showing, and he has chosen to reopen the King Phase Ránkings on that day."Do you understand what this means? This is a whole new era! An era that belongsto the King Phases!"The solemn look vanished from Caelius' face when he heard David talk about Leander's strength. In fact, he looked rather disbelieving when he heard the part about Leander wiping the floor with 10 supersonic fighter jets.It took a few seconds for Caelius to regain his composure. "Jeff Ashcroft, huh? Hereally did make it this far. It seems I wasn't wrong about him."His lips pulled back into a smile as his eyes glinted defiantly."It took two of us to carry the burden of being the Eastern faction's King Phase representatives. Now, we have Jeff in our ranks. I wonder just what @rt of fresh air he would bring to our rickety old bones. Let's go We should get in touch with some of our old friends. "Our 70 years of hiding are over. It's now time for the Martial Alliance to bare itsfangs once more!"