After the Sovereign's Society was gone, Keith quickly returned to Nox. He couldn't be more excited to see Nox alive. He told Nox how much he missed him and how the Shadow Division missed him.Nox was melancholic but knew he couldn't show himself now, so he stayed silent."If you can't make a comeback, milord, then I shall stay with you, even if I were to be a servant." Keith was tearful."You're a commander. If you leave, what should your men do?" Nox rolled his eyes."I don't care! You trained me, milord. Without you, I wouldn't be here. I'm staying even if you're kicking me out!" Keith declared.Nox had a headache, but in the end, he said, "Fine, stay with me for now. But deal with the Shadow Division mess yourself.""Thank you, milord." Just like that, Keith got his wish to stay with Nox. He followed Nox into the great hall and saw a young girl. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she ate a lollipop.When the girl noticed Keith, she asked, "Where'd this big guy come from, Gr
Nox still had no idea that Queenie had fallen sick. It had been nearly five days since then. The first three days, Queenie barely ate or drank. She only started eating on the fourth and fifth day.Even so, she still looked almost cadaverous, and her soul felt crushed. Her parents were worried sick but couldn't do anything about it. She wouldn't talk to them, and she only lay around."What now, George? She's going to kill herself at this rate. Look at her." Yvette was in her room, wiping her tears.George was sighing, and he couldn't stop smoking. "It's all that bastard's fault! If he hadn't cheated on Queenie, she'd never end up like this."Yvette said, "Cursing him helps nothing. We have no idea where his house is, and we can't find him.""I know. Just give me some time. I'll come up with something." George had a frown on his forehead; then he smacked his leg. "Wait. Derek is already in Riverton, isn't he? Try calling him again." George was reminded of Derek.Yvette said, "I've
Time flew by. At about four in the afternoon, a black SUV pulled over at the Sanders Residence. The door opened up, and out came a dashing Derek, wearing a suit. Four Shadow Division members followed Derek, and they were holding presents."This is the place, captain?" a member asked.Derek looked at the entrance. "Yes. I was raised in this household from four to ten years old. My aunt is just like a mother to me. And I have a cousin. We got along really well when we were kids. I wonder how she's doing."The thought of Queenie made Derek smile. "We should get inside." He led his team members into the residence.Yvette and George quickly ran up to Derek. "Derek, you're here. I've missed you!" Yvette hugged her nephew.Happily, Derek said, "Aunt Yvette!""Oh, you've grown a lot more handsome, Derek. Here, let me have a look at you." Yvette took a closer look at Derek."She missed you a lot, Derek. Sometimes, she would even call your name in her sleep," George said."Thank you. I'm
George froze in shock. A moment later, he asked in disbelief, "Really? He's that powerful?""Of course," said the member proudly.They weren't lying. Being the Shadow Division, all political leaders must work with them in any operation. Though Derek was just a captain, he could make Riverton's governor work with him if he had to.George was visibly excited. Yvette was happy as well."That is impressive, Derek. Come in. We'll talk inside. And you guys, too. Come in." George was more polite after that.He led Derek and his team members into the living room and quickly served them tea and cigarettes. Derek was feeling awkward.He, George, and Yvette chatted about life while the Shadow Division members sat silently. A long while later, Derek asked, "Where's Queenie? Ever since I left Riverton, I have never seen her. Is she alright?"Derek and Queenie played together often when they were kids. They grew up together and were close; he wanted to know how Queenie was doing.Yvette tear
"Don't worry, guys. I'll make sure I'll make that guy pay for what he did.""Thank you, Derek. That's good to hear," said George. "But the bastard can fight. You gotta be careful."The Shadow Division members laughed. "Don't worry, you two. No one fights better than us."George and Yvette were happy to hear that.Derek asked, "Where's Queenie? I want to see her."Yvette stood up. "I'll take you to her." She led Derek into the inner sanctum.Queenie was in her room, forlorn and gaunt. The days of starvation took away much of her weight. She was getting sallow, and she lay on her bed like a dead person.The door creaked. In came Yvette and Derek. The sight of Queenie made Yvette tear up. "She's here, Derek."Derek approached Queenie, and the sight of the cadaverous lady broke Derek's heart. "I'm here, Queenie."Queenie didn't move. She didn't seem to have heard Derek. Derek asked, "Remember me, Queenie? It's me, Derek."Queenie said nothing. Derek's heart sank.Yvette wiped he
"Give me your phone."The member handed his phone to Derek, and Derek called Nox.Nox was at Dragoncourt. His phone rang, and he picked up his phone. "Who is this?"Derek asked coldly, "Are you Greenshade?""Yes, and you are?" Nox asked."Not important. You know Queenie, don't you?"The look on Nox's face changed. "Who are you? How do you know Queenie?""You bastard. My cousin's been sick because of you, and you know nothing about it?" Derek asked angrily."She's sick? How is this possible?" Nox asked in surprise."It's your fault! If you're a man, you get here right now and apologize. If I get my hands on you, I'll make you regret it," said Derek coldly, and he hung up.The news of Queenie's sickness upset Nox majorly. "Jeb, get the car. We're going to the Sanderses' place."Keith was surprised. "What happened, milord?""My girlfriend is sick," Nox said."Your… girlfriend, milord?""Yes." Nox went down the mountain. Keith and Jebediah followed him quickly.…Nox felt h
Nox's look turned icy. "I'll say this only once. Out. Of. My. Way. I want to see Queenie!""What? And you'll hit me if I don't?" George stood up straighter, daring Nox to hit him.Nox would not stand for this. If it weren't for the fact he loved Queenie, he would've destroyed George a hundred times through the moment the fool insulted him."What's going on, you guys?" Derek asked. The Shadow Division members followed him."Just in time, Derek. See this? This is the bastard who cheated on Queenie. You gotta teach him a lesson." George pointed at Nox again.Derek turned his attention to Nox. "You're Greenshade? The guy who cheated on Queenie?""I'm Greenshade, but I didn't cheat on her," said Nox coldly."I'll give you props for coming here." Derek eyed Nox. For some reason, Derek felt a sense of pressure when he faced Nox, as if Nox was a god more than a man.Derek took a deep breath. "Why'd you hurt Queenie?""I did not," Nox answered."You deny it? I've seen men like you a t
Keith didn't even look at Derek. He approached Nox. "I am very sorry for the fools' harassment, milord. I have neglected discipline." He turned around and glared at Derek with fury.Derek shivered. "Comman—"Keith slammed his foot into Derek and sent him flying through the air. Derek fell with a thud and couldn't even get back up. Blood trickled down his mouth.George and Yvette were shocked. After Keith kicked Derek away, he turned to the remaining Shadow Division members. They were terrified."You bastards tried to attack him, didn't you?"The members quickly went down on their knees, shivering in fear."Mercy, commander! Mercy!""Mercy? What you did is punishable by death!" Keith roared.He was about to kill Derek's team members, but Nox said, "Keith, forget it.""Milord, these bastards should die for their insolence!" Keith was reluctant to stop."Are you going against me now?" Nox asked."I would never!" Keith said. He followed Nox's orders but turned to the terrified m
Dominic's energy formed a barrier, and his sword merged with his astral form. This was a true fusion between man and sword."Do you want to die that much, old man? It's not too late to back out. I can set up an exit, and your astral form can leave. Refuse, and I will snuff you out." The empress' face contorted. She was a demoness, and not an ounce of her beauty was left on her face.Dominic laughed. "Death does not scare me. It is not the end. Glory is what I seek. Generations to come will know me as a saintly swordsman, but none will remember even your name. You failed even after seventy thousand years. You will not get what you want! Give up on your delusions and accept reality!"There was a hint of death wish in Dominic's will-of-the-sword. Should he die in this battle, his name would be known throughout Faeast. He wasn't scared at all."Damn you. I will kill you! None of your faction will live!" The empress' third eye was bloodshot, and then the crimson strings came crawling ou
Aphrodite didn't react much. She said, "If she kills you, it's a good thing. Proves that you're a capable person. It's easy to kill someone. Not so much when it comes to controlling the heart. She doesn't have the power to control your soul just yet.""What the hell are you talking about? Same difference. Just tell me what I should do now. My sacred beasts are running out of energy. I can't ask them to put their lives on the line. They're practically an endangered species! They mustn't die!" Kirin had no choice but to call back the sacred beasts that'd exhausted their energy and dispel them.The Generals weren't sacred beasts, but they were Kirin's friends. He couldn't watch them die here."Oh, pipe down. There's nothing to worry about." Aphrodite snorted."So you have a plan?" Kirin thought they had hope, seeing that Aphrodite was so calm."No. I did everything I could. Everything is in fate's hands now," said Aphrodite."Dammit! What do you mean you did everything you could? I
"We're out." Dominic and Queenie were back in the real world. He saw the demonic mountain and the desolate world around him, and he wondered if this was another formation."We're out, master. This is the real world. Nono said Flame Emperor's trapped under the mountain," said Queenie solemnly."No, it's not the mountain that has him trapped; it's the empress." Dominic gasped. "No, that's not right. She doesn't have the right or authority to do that." He frowned. "And where's Nox?" he asked curiously. He only got out thanks to Nox's guidance, but the guy was nowhere to be found.Nox and Nineve fell into another illusion formation, and this time, they were transported back to Imperia. The formation carved out the whole city, and Nox was surprised it managed that. Nineve's head was spinning. She grabbed Nox's arm and wouldn't stop talking."Are we back in Imperia? You killed that bitch, Nox?"Nox was speechless. "No, we're in another illusion. Dammit, this can't trap me, but figuring
"What is he doing? Is he going to put everything on the line? No, he's trying to take the domain's control from me. How dare he! No, the golden kirin is something much more ancient than I am. If he activates some sort of secret spell, he might actually pull this off!"The empress would not leave this battle to chance. One mistake, and she would lose everything. She had no choice but to do everything she could to stop Kirin. However, using her eye power meant she would be distracted.And an opening was created.Nox was in the mist, but he suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Weird. The mist is growing thin. The empress' eye power is weakening?" This might be a trap, but Nox didn't care."Eight Saintly Techniques, Blazing Holy Eyes." Nox's golden eyes appeared and dispelled most of the mist. Right away, he found an opening. "Heaven's Demise! Shatter this thing!"He cast a Forbidden Art, and flames burned everything. A talisman sprang forth and burned into a crisp. The moment its ashes w
Nox, Nineve, Queenie, and Dominic were in the mist, all worried about one another. Back in Celestial Domain, the spirits' attack was growing fiercer. Some were even close to devouring the sacred beasts. Kirin had to call back the sacred beasts and send them away to keep the bloodline going."There are too many people who have died in this place over the last seventy millennia. We can't hope to kill them all. We can't last much longer at this rate." Kirin himself was bearing too much weight. He couldn't join the fray."I think it's time," Aphrodite suddenly said."What? Is it the final moment?" Kirin asked solemnly."No. I mean the empress is backed into a corner. You might think she's still relentless, but I think she's at her wit's end. Time to give her the final push. She's too tense, and one little distraction is enough to create an opening," answered Aphrodite seriously.Kirin had no idea what she had in mind, but he knew she wasn't lying. She was doing this for a reason. "Wha
Queenie was a little shocked. 'Next time? Please, no.'"I knew something was wrong. Nono wasn't sure if Nineve was Flame Emperor's descendant, but the one in the illusion was certain. I knew it was fake, but I couldn't help myself." Queenie sighed. She still couldn't get over herself.Dominic laughed. "You need some confidence. Be arrogant if you have to. It's better than to be craven. If Nineve is a Sovereign's descendant, then there must be a reason for your being here. Let's see if we can uncover the mystery."Dominic was about to take Queenie into a search for the truth, but Queenie stopped him. "Tell me the truth. Since you're an astral form, does that mean you're a sacrifice too?" she asked solemnly."No, not exactly. I can't break the formation, but I can enter it, though that comes with a price. It can't hurt me, but going out won't be easy." It was pointless to lie now, after all."So the empress can't hurt you for now, but if she wants to drag everyone down with her and
The empress didn't want Queenie to kill herself. She needed Queenie's willpower to crumble so she could plant her soul technique inside her. Once she controlled Queenie, Nox would have to relent if he wanted her freedom.Queenie was slowly walking into an abyss. "If my death can make you happy, then I will sacrifice myself, even if it can only take a bit off your shoulder."Sacrificing herself for Nox was a way for Queenie to fulfill her wish. Just when the empress thought she would succeed, a flash of holy light burst through the ground. Dominic had arrived, sword in hand."What?" The empress' eyes went wide. She thought, 'The old man entered my formation with nothing but his astral form just to save her?'Dominic harrumphed. "Surprised? Never thought I'd risk my own life?" He turned to Queenie. "Don't listen to her bullshit, Queenie! Nox has always been a straightforward man. No one can force him to do what he doesn't want to do! He's nice to you because he wants to!"No guilt t
His body was decayed, and violent energy radiated from head to toe. He was like a beast. Queenie had never seen him like this. Even though she knew this was an illusion, it still scared her. Perhaps this was what Nox would be like if he turned to the side of evil. If he wasn't a Sovereign, he would be a demon.Just like Nameless, he would be infamous. Nox slowly stepped toward the beach like a demon who'd clawed back out of hell. The sea was dyed red from his demonic energy. Everywhere Nox stepped, black, pungent lotuses bloomed."Look what you did to me, Queenie. Why did you save me? I am a loyal man, but I had to abandon Aphrodite to repay my debt to you! Who do you think you are? Even without Aphrodite, I have Nineve! She is royalty. A princess. A descendant of Flame Emperor."It is just right that I marry her. We are the perfect match! You keep hounding me just because you saved me. You made me marry a commoner! Do you know how hard I had it? I had to put on an act every day, te
Dos took a good look. Dominic did look like he was dead. "What is this? I can't sense any aura from him. But he's powerful enough. He shouldn't have walked into her trap." He thought Dominic might be trapped in a formation. If he didn't step into it, he wouldn't see Dominic. But if he did, he would be trapped, just like Dominic.Then, a ripple of energy came out of the training chamber. Dos was on guard. He mused about it and realized Dominic was trying to contact him. Obviously, Dominic saw him.Back in the mist, Dominic's astral form saw Dos. "Don't be stupid, Dos. They want you to walk into the formation. Remember why I called you back," said Dominic solemnly.At the same time, Dos was thinking hard. He was a master of talismans. This was probably why Dominic called him back. "I understand. Even if I can't help you, I won't walk into this trap." He made a few runes in the air and called upon a few powerful mystical artefacts to form a formation.Then, a formation appeared, and r