Primordial's Conquest

Chapter 10: Pressure

"Name. Rank. And purpose for your visit," came one of the two towering Blue Mornan guards as they finally turned their attention to the group.

Yome stepped up.

"Vanguard Yome Kyun."

"And this is my Knight, Bridge," she added with a gesture.

"We're here on an escort mission for… Arbus."

The guard nodded with a hum as he began running the information through the device attached to his wrist.

Arbus's dazed gaze turned to Yome for a few moments.

He had noticed she didn't refer to him by his full name like before.

The second guard's brows furrowed as he studied the trio more carefully.

"A Vanguard? I thought you were at least a Captain since you felt too weak to be a Commander."

"Why in the world is a mere Vanguard escorting a half-human prisoner?" he asked suspiciously as he glanced at Arbus - his gaze filled with contempt and disdain.

Yome met his stare directly.

"That's because he is not a prisoner. He is a Renegade Sentry."

The eyes of both guards widened in recognition.

"That guy!?" the first one bellowed.

Almost every Commander in the Star System had heard of the half-human Renegade that had caused a commotion among the Council almost a year ago.

The Sentinel had nearly lost his position at one point, due to a vote of no confidence.

Their gazes returned to Arbus's impassive face as they reassessed him wearily.

"Why did you bring him here?" the second guard asked as he turned to Yome.

Yome considered her words for several moments.

"To meet the Sentinel."

The guard's brows furrowed.

"Why?"

Yome hesitated for a few seconds, then said evenly.

"I'm afraid we're not allowed to discuss that with anyone besides the Sentinel."

As of right now, she wasn't sure who had already been informed about the Terytl-B tragedy.

Which meant she couldn't tell anyone until she was sure that it was public information.

The guard studied Yome intently for a few seconds, then frowned.

Then, without warning, Yome's eyes went wide in shock as an overwhelming pressure crashed into her like a tidal wave.

The invisible weight pressed down on her from all directions – crushing, suffocating, and making her feel as though she were drowning.

Her knees buckled as she staggered backward, her jaw clenching tightly.

Bridge turned to face her, confusion and shock etched across his features.

"Yome?" Bridge muttered worriedly.

Arbus frowned as he stared at the guard intently.

"I asked you a question, Vanguard. You would do well to answer me now," the Commander-class guard sneered.

The first guard turned to his colleague in exasperation as he felt his killing intent slam into the poor Vanguard.

"Stop it, Urn! I confirmed it already! She really did receive that order!"

"If she's not allowed to tell us why, then it must be for a good reason!" he bellowed as he held Urn by the shoulder.

"Shut up, Ace!" Urn shouted back.

"You can never rely on common sense alone when it comes to Reincarnators. The same for their spawn," he said as he glanced at Arbus.

Bridge stepped back with a perplexed expression - unsure of why things had suddenly taken such a drastic turn.

"T…sk," Yome's body shook visibly under the relentless assault, her legs threatening to give out completely.

The killing intent washing over her was beyond anything she'd ever experienced.

She'd already known Commanders were strong, frighteningly so.

But she hadn't truly understood the difference between her and a Commander until this very moment.

She'd always imagined that she could escape one with her ability if she ever found herself in a situation where she needed to.

But now she understood something like that wouldn't be possible.

"Are you deaf, Vanguard? Tell me, now!" Urn demanded again, his killing intent surging to even greater heights.

Bridge gritted his teeth and stepped forward.

"Stop it, please! We're Renegades like you!"

Urn didn't bother acknowledging his presence.

Yome's trembling form remained silent for a few moments.

Then her gaze met his.

"…Like I said before. W-e… are not allowed… to discuss that with anyone b-esides the Sentinel," she repeated defiantly.

Urn's eyes narrowed considerably for several moments.

But then, he smiled.

A moment later, Yome gasped audibly as she felt the intense pressure she'd been under disappear as suddenly as it had appeared.

Commander Urn chuckled loudly as he waved his hand apologetically.

"Sorry, sorry. I might have gone a bit overboard."

"Tsk. You think?" Commander Ace said with a click of his tongue.

"W-what?" Bridge muttered in confusion, his hand moving away from the weapon by his side.

Commander Ace sighed heavily.

"We already know who you are. We were briefed beforehand."

"Yeah, and we also know… why you're here," Commander Urn muttered, his expression turning somber.

He turned to Bridge.

"My little performance just now was a test for your Vanguard."

"But... it seems like you're not half bad yourself."

Yome let out deep breaths as she glared at the Commander.

"…A test? For what?"

"And on whose orders?"

Commander Ace shrugged.

"To see if you'd break under pressure, naturally. We're sometimes ordered to do this whenever an interesting Renegade below the rank of Commander is summoned to the Hold."

"I'm impressed. You're one of the few who didn't even seem like you were going breaking."

"Especially considering the fact that you're just a Red Mornan," Urn added.

Yome's expression darkened slightly.

Ace let out a faint breath at his colleague's bluntness.

"And as for who ordered it, well, isn't that obvious? The Sentinel, naturally." Commander Urn continued matter-of-factly.

"Anyway, you can ask him any other questions you might have."

"You can head in now," Commander Ace said finally, moving to push open the massive doors of the Hold – doors that only a Commander or above possessed the strength to move.

Yome straightened as she remained silent for several moments.

Then, she glanced at the two guards.

'Seems like I'm not anywhere near there yet. Not even close,' she thought - her fists clenching by her sides.

After a few more moments, she walked past the two Commanders without a word.

Bridge followed closely behind.

Arbus stood in place for a few moments as he glanced at the two guards.

He had seen these Commanders carry out a similar test on another Vanguard years ago, so the display hadn't surprised or worried him.

Both of them glanced at him as well.

The slightly warm expression they had shown Yome after the test seemed to have disappeared.

"Are you passing or not, half-breed?" Urn grumbled.

Arbus said nothing as he stepped forward.

It seemed their disdain for him wasn't a part of the performance.