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
George could do nothing in the face of this kind of power. All Keith had to do was tighten his hold a bit more, and George would die.Derek quickly went down on his knees. "Commander, please, spare my uncle!""You think you're in any position to ask for favors?"Derek's final hope went up in smokes. Keith was not called the Butcher for nothing. Killing a thousand rogue organization members all by his lonesome was an impossible feat. No one in their right mind would dissuade the Butcher from doing what he wanted to do.Right before George could be killed, Nox stepped forth. "Keith, stop it.""Milord, the old git had the audacity to insult you. Please, let me slaughter him," Keith protested.Nox shot him a glare. Resigned, Keith sighed. "You're lucky, you old bastard. But if there's a next time, I will snap your neck." He swung George away, and the guy flew through the air.Nox didn't care about that. "I'll see Queenie. You guys stay here. And don't cause any trouble." Nox went in
Nox was confused. "What are you saying? When have I ever lied to you?" Nox quickly held down the uncontrollable Queenie."You liar! You still won't admit it?" Queenie glared at Nox, her eyes red."Admit what? I don't know what you're talking about," Nox answered."Fine, then why didn't you take my calls? And why haven't you called me back? I'm your girlfriend! I think about you every day, you know that?" Queenie kept crying like a baby."I'm sorry. I lost your number, and that's my fault." Nox wasn't at fault, but since Thalia deleted Queenie's number, Nox had no idea how to get it back.Queenie didn't understand his situation. She sneered. "You lost my number? I can't believe you came up with that kind of excuse.""I didn't! It's the truth!""It's the truth? Fine, then why'd you go on a date with another woman and hold her like she's your lover?"'What? A date?'"I didn't!" Nox was speechless."Oh yeah? See for yourself!" Queenie tossed her phone to Nox. Nox took it and saw
Since Nox sounded genuine, Queenie raised her head. "You're not lying?""I swear!" Nox held up his right hand."Queenie asked, "Why haven't you come to see me, then?""I've been busy, Queenie. I'm sorry." That was the truth."Don't lie to me again. Ever since I knew you, I've only had eyes for you. I'd die if you lied to me." Queenie started shedding tears again.Nox quickly hugged her and cooed. Now he realized Queenie wasn't sick. She was just heartbroken, but he still felt for Queenie. "I'm sorry I did this to you, Queenie. Look at you, all gaunt."Queenie said, "It's all your fault. My heart died the moment I saw that photo."Nox heaved a sigh and held Queenie tighter. There was love in his eyes. He decided to see Annie as soon as possible and clear things up with her so that Queenie wouldn't get the wrong idea."Nono, I'm hungry," said Queenie weakly. Of course, she was hungry. Days of starvation tended to have that effect on people. If Nox hadn't come in time, she'd have
Keith did not look happy after that call. He hung up and looked around, but Nox hadn't come out. Then he turned to Jebediah. "I have to go, Master White. Urgent matters. Tell the lord if he asks.""Of course.""Thank you. Derek, we're moving out." Keith then left the Sanders Residence.Derek wouldn't disobey his commander's orders. He looked at George and Yvette sadly before leaving the house. There were already Shadow Division members waiting outside. They approached Keith. "Commander.""What's the sitch?" Keith got into his car."Commander, this is news from the customs. A group of Black Flag's Rank A members have infiltrated Riverton under the guise of another identity. If the information's right, they're here for the Redmoon Auction House's case."Ice-cold murder swirled around Keith. "They dispatched Rank A members?"The member answered, "Affirmative."Keith sneered. "Guess they're desperate then. I want you to find the bastards' hiding place ASAP. This is an order! I don'
Queenie felt much better after Nox cleared things up with her. "Nono, how'd you know I was sick? You don't even have my number now.""It's all thanks to your cousin.""My cousin?""Yes. He gave me a call and told me about you." Nox told everything that happened to Queenie.Queenie was excited to hear Derek was around. "Derek? Gods, it's been years since I saw him. Where is he?" she asked quickly."Probably outside. Let's meet up with him.""Sure. Derek's the best. We've been close since we were kids. However, after graduating from college, some kind of national security agency recruited him. He never told us about the deets, and now he's in Riverton." Queenie walked out with Nox.Nox knew why Derek kept it a secret. The Shadow Division members must keep their jobs private. Fundamental rules, of course.They were tied to the nation's security, but more importantly, if their identities were known, the enemies could hold their friends and family hostage to threaten them.Jebediah
Nox scratched his nose and smiled wryly. "I'll tell you later."Queenie eyed him with suspicion. "Fine." She was disappointed that she missed Derek but then looked at the skies. The air felt warm. "Nono, I wanna go shopping. You gotta come with me.""Sure. We can go anywhere you want," Nox said gently."That's more like it." Queenie happily turned to her parents. "I'm heading out, you guys."Yvette didn't dare object, so she forced a smile. "Don't stay out too late. You're still weak.""Okay." Queenie and Nox left.Once they were gone, George couldn't hold it in anymore. His legs buckled, and he fell to the ground. "Dear gods. What did we do wrong to deserve Greenshade?" George bawled and whined like a big baby.Yvette quickly helped George up. "Calm down, George. As long as Queenie's fine, it's all okay.""My foot! That bastard's friend almost killed me! This is unacceptable!" Rage bubbled in George's soul."What do you want, then?""What do I want? I will never let that bas
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