Kingdom Reboot: Rise Of The Conquest System

Chapter 4: Blood and Loyalty

Aurelius stumbled through the palace corridors. Blood dripped from his shoulder and leg as he ran. Each step sent pain shooting through his body but he couldn't stop. Behind him, Victor's voice echoed off the stone walls.

"Find him! Bring me the head of the king's murderer!"

The hallways felt different now. These were the same stones he'd walked for years but now they felt like enemy territory. His blood left a trail on the floor like breadcrumbs leading his hunters right to him.

Blue words kept flashing in his vision.

[ENHANCED ABILITIES AVAILABLE]

[ACTIVATE COMBAT MODE?]

What did that even mean? Combat mode? The words made no sense but they wouldn't go away.

A servant girl rounded the corner ahead of him. Young Sara from the kitchens. She'd always smiled and bowed when she saw him before. Now she took one look at his bloody clothes and screamed.

"Arrrrrrhhhhhh!"

She ran the other way as fast as her legs could carry her. Her screams echoed down the hall, bringing more attention he didn't need.

Fuck!

More guards appeared at the far end of the corridor. They shouted when they saw him and started running his way. Aurelius turned and went the other direction.

His wounds were slowing him down. The cut on his leg burned with each step. Blood ran down his arm and dripped off his fingers. How much more could he lose before he collapsed?

Another group of guards came from the side passage. They had him boxed in from three directions now. Only one way left to go - down toward the lower levels.

Aurelius ran down the stone steps. His boots slipped on the smooth stone and he almost fell. Behind him, the guards were getting closer.

A young man in blue robes stepped out from an alcove. A palace wizard. His hands glowed with magical light.

"Stop right there," the wizard called. "Surrender and I'll make it quick."

Magic hit Aurelius like invisible chains. His body started to lock up, muscles going rigid. But something was different . The spell felt weak. Was magic always this weak?

He threw himself sideways just as the magic grabbed him. The spell missed its full grip and he broke free. The wizard's eyes went wide with shock.

"That's not possible," the young man whispered.

Aurelius didn't stop to explain. He kept running toward the armory courtyard. Maybe he could find weapons there. Maybe he could make a stand. Maybe he could do something, he wasn't sure but he just had to do something.

But when he burst through the doors, he stopped dead.

Ten men in First Order colors stood in formation. For a moment, his heart sank. More enemies. Victor had turned even his own knights against him.

Then Sir Garrett stepped forward. The grizzled veteran's scarred face showed relief instead of anger.

"Commander," Garrett said. "Thank the gods you're still alive."

Aurelius couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Garrett? What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you, sir," Sir Roland said. The young knight's face was tight with worry. "When we heard the accusations, we knew they were lies."

"We?" Aurelius looked around at the other faces. Sir Bradley stood with his arms crossed, looking grim but determined. Sir Joseph was there. Behind them stood six more knights he'd fought beside for years.

Sir Edmund, tall and thin with a careful manner. Sir Gareth, broad-shouldered and quiet. Sir William, who always made jokes even in battle. Sir Thomas, the best archer in the Order. Sir James, barely twenty but already skilled with a blade. And Sir Philip, the oldest after Garrett, wise and steady.

All of them looked at him with loyalty in their eyes.

"You believe I'm innocent?" Aurelius asked.

"We know you're innocent," Sir Bradley said firmly. "Any man who says different is a fool or a liar."

Blue words flashed again.

[LOYALTY DETECTED]

[TEMPORARY ALLIES ACQUIRED]

What was this system trying to tell him? Why were these words appearing in his head?

"The timing doesn't make sense," Sir Thomas added. "Why would you plot a coup now? You had everything you wanted."

Sir Garrett nodded. "The palace isn't safe anymore. Victor's placed his men throughout the guard."

"Some of the guards still doubt," Sir Roland said. "But not all of them. Not yet."

"I saw what happened in the throne room," Aurelius said quietly. "Lord Caswell, Lady Morwen, Sir Aldrin and other nobles- they all witnessed Victor kill the king. They'll have to testify."

The knights exchanged glances. That was news to them.

"Then we need to move fast," Garrett said. "Before Victor silences those witnesses."

"We can take the secret tunnels," Sir Bradley suggested. "Get you out of the palace before they seal the exits."

"No," Aurelius said sharply. "That's too obvious. They'll be waiting there."

The knights looked confused. Sir William frowned. "Then where do we go, sir?"

"The dungeons," Aurelius said.

They all stared at him like he'd lost his mind.

"Sir," Garrett said carefully. "The dungeons are a dead end. We'll be trapped down there."

"I have business there," Aurelius said. He couldn't explain about Seraphina without sounding crazy. How could he tell them he'd lived through this before? That he knew she was going to be a valuable ally to fighting Victor?

Boots thundered in the corridors outside. Shouts echoed off the walls. They were out of time.

"Trust me," Aurelius said. "Please."

The knights looked at each other. Then Garrett nodded. "You're our commander, sir. We follow your lead."

They moved as a unit toward the dungeon stairs. Aurelius felt a spark of hope for the first time since he'd woken up with Mileena. These men believed in him. They'd risk everything to help him.

Two guards stood at the dungeon entrance. They looked up in surprise as the group approached.

"Commander?" one of them said standing up. "What are you doing here? We heard..."

Sir Bradley's fist connected with the man's jaw. He dropped without another word. Sir Gareth grabbed the second guard and put him in a chokehold until he went limp.

"Tie them up," Garrett ordered. "We don't want to kill innocent palace guards if we don't have to."

They bound and gagged the unconscious men, then dragged them into an empty cell. Aurelius led the way deeper into the dungeons.