The Demons wouldn't let her go easily. Bayon grabbed the girl by her throat, staring at Queenie and Keith with bloodlust. "Sure, but your life for hers."Keith stepped forth, roaring, "Damn you!""Commander Moon, I know you're a Legend Realm, but take one more step, and the girl dies." Bayon tightened his grip on the girl's throat."No! Don't hurt her!" Queenie shouted, fearing that Nat would die.Bayon laughed venomously. "Your life for hers.""I'll do it!" said Queenie. Her great-aunt died protecting her, and Nat was all she had left. If the girl died too, Queenie would never forgive herself. She had to give up her life in exchange for the girl's."Milady, no!" Keith held Queenie's arm. He glared at the Demons with bloodshot eyes. "Listen up, she's the wife of my lord. If you hurt her, I will hunt you down no matter where you go, and your clans will die alongside you!"The Curseland Demons sneered darkly. "Is that a threat? Pity it doesn't work on us. Maybe we would, in the pa
Bayon looked at the pendant dangerously. He noticed the powerful barrier and shrilly said, "Take the pendant off."Queenie trembled and looked at the pendant Nox gave her. She smiled bitterly. "Okay." She grabbed the pendant and tore it off. The barrier slowly disappeared. "Now, can you let her go?" Queenie approached the Demons.Bayon cackled. "You're a brave and kind soul. I respect you, but this is our job." He swung his arm, and Nat flew through the air."Nat!" Queenie gasped.Keith leaped into the air and grabbed the girl. He lashed out at the Demons, trying to stop them from killing Queenie.However, the Demons didn't kill her. Bayon smiled eerily and raised his hand. A crimson corpse worm flew straight towards Queenie's forehead."Milady!" Keith roared and unleashed his strength once more. The tiger appeared, and shockwaves undulated across the street. The ground shattered once more.Queenie fell. A corpse worm the size of a nail had burrowed into her forehead and sunk in
Nox came to Queenie's side, his voice trembling."Milord, I'm sorry. I failed the lady. The bastards did this to her!" Keith went down on his knees, his eyes red.Nox didn't spare Keith a glance. Murder blasted forth and roared into the skies. He turned to the Curseland Demons, who'd escaped hundreds of yards away.Even so, the Demons could feel Nox's aura clamping down on them."His eyes. Who is this man? We gotta run!" Bayon exclaimed."You hurt my woman, and you think you can escape?" Nox bellowed. He pointed to the heavens, and thunder boomed.Lightning bolts the size of arms appeared, and a pool of lightning about ten feet in size followed. Nox declared, "Eight Techniques, Thunderlord's Seal! Destroy them!"Nox flipped his right hand. The pool of lightning rained down on the escaping Demons. They stared at it in shock.The lightning bolts hit Badon first, and he was turned into charcoal within moments. Bason feared for his life. He quickly made hand seals and threw dozens
Nox held Queenie tightly in his arms. A few more figures darted into the dilapidated zone. Draco, Tristan, Alexander, Bear, and Bard.Nox was the first to arrive after he noticed the attack, and his friends followed closely, but they were still too late."Milady!" Everyone gasped at the sight of Queenie unconscious."Milord, I failed the lady! Please, your punishment!" Keith went down on his knees, his eyes red.Nox perhaps didn't hear him, or he did, but he kept holding Queenie, walking into the darkness like a human shell that'd lost its soul.Everyone saw Nox off, and none said a word.…It was night, but hundreds of Sovereign's Society members stood guard at the base of the mountain. The one in the lead was Faye. Aside from them, a hundred armed Shadow Division members were on guard duty too.It was a sleepless night. The beloved of a god among men had been attacked. In the estate, Keith remained kneeling outside Nox's room. His eyes were red, and he was shivering with rage
"Calm down? My lady could be dying in there, and you want me to calm down?" Bear's eyes were getting red the more he spoke.Draco grabbed his collar. "And that's why you're an oaf! We're all worried for the lady, but have you wondered why she got attacked? Who sent the Demons? Who even has that kind of power?"Tristan, Bear, and Bard froze. Draco was right. The Curseland Demons were top ten in Skyweb's Most Wanted. They'd done all kinds of crimes over the years, but none could arrest them. They were too powerful.The fact they showed up in Riverton to assassinate Queenie meant something darker was at play.Tristan asked, "What are you suggesting, Draco?""Simple. Someone ordered them to kill the lady. The Curseland Demons have no grudge against her. Why would they do it otherwise?" Draco posited.Everyone else fell silent. They thought Draco had a point.Draco took a deep breath and looked at the room. "That's why you guys need to calm down. If the Curseland Five is behind this,
The green light of life flowed from Nox's palm and swam into Queenie's body. Legend had it that Revival could actually bring back a person from the dead. Some claimed it was a skill exclusive to Faeast's best doctor.Now, Nox was using that skill to heal Queenie. Though Revival was a healing technique, it required great amounts of inner energy to support it. Not many besides Nox could use it even if they'd learned it.Moments went by, and Queenie regained some color. At the same time, Nox noticed a corpse worm the size of a nail wriggling on Queenie's heart. His face fell."Curseland's cursebug." Curseland was infamous for its cursebugs, and naturally, their bugs were feared. The art of cursebugs had been passed down for millennia. Some of their poison had survived for that long, too.Nox didn't expect his lover to be infected by a cursebug. There were many different types of cursebugs. Snakes, butterflies, caterpillars, and more. If Nox wanted to heal Queenie, he must find out wha
Keith remained in somber kneeling, refusing to move. He cursed himself for his failure. He was furious at himself for his failure. He thought it was his fault Queenie got hurt. Therefore, he must kneel and await Nox's punishment.No matter how much Draco, Tristan, and everyone else said, Keith refused to stand up. A long while later, the door creaked open."Milord!" everyone greeted.Keith looked at Nox, his eyes red. Nox was looking at him, too. "What are you doing? Stand up.""No. I failed the lady. Your punishment, milord," said Keith in agony."This is not your fault. Stand up," Nox repeated.Keith was stubborn as a mule, refusing to stand up. Bear and Bard quickly pulled him up. "The lord's orders. It's not your fault, so stand up."Keith was pulled up in the end.Draco quickly asked, "How's the lady looking?"Everyone turned to Nox with looks of concern."Not too good," said Nox in a somber manner.Everyone's hearts skipped a beat."Not even you can save her, milord?"
His eyes red, Bear roared, "I don't care what happens to the nation! I want to avenge the lady! I'll kill the bastards who hurt her!"Draco stepped forth. "Enough, fatso!" he yelled. "We follow the lord's orders!""Draco, you're a coward! They attacked the lady! Aren't you even mad about it? Where did the guy who killed Snowground's army alone go?" Bear protested.Draco wouldn't take that lying down. He darted over and grabbed Bear's collar. "Did you just call me a coward? I have half the mind to shoot you where you stand right now!""Then do it! I dare you!"Bear and Draco were going to fight, but Nox icily growled, "Enough!"Like a royal decree, Bear and Draco fell silent. Nox glared at the two of them. "I know you're trying to help, but as long as I'm alive, I am the lord. I cannot neglect the people. And I alone am enough for this."Nox declared, "I faced the ten nations before. Do you think Curseland scares me?"His friends said nothing. Nox was right. He fought the ten na
Douglas worked through the night for the negotiation."One, you must apologize for your invasion of Faeast. Two, you will return all stolen relics to us and pay for damages. Three, you will open trade with Faeast, and it must be complete and total. Those are our demands. We promise not to interfere with your nation's administration. Once the aid is administered, our fleet and army will retreat from Brundela."And one more thing. Faeast recognizes you as Brundela's new ruler." That was interesting. It also meant that Faeast could rescind that recognition at any time. Elizabeth had no choice. Without Faeast, Brundela would be gone. In the end, the nations arrived at an agreement.At midnight, they called a press conference. Faeast helped Eropa settle a war and avert a world disaster. That news took the world by storm. The Eastern dragon was rising, and none could stop it. It wouldn't take long for Faeast to return to the top.Brundela's case was over. After they gave enough aid, Ferg
"They call you Great Generals?" the Ice Temple Lord laughed. "If I do want to betray him, how do you hope to stop me? You three had to take me on together, and it only ended in a draw. Now that I'm an Emperor and White Tiger is in a slumber, I can destroy you in a moment!"The Ice Temple Lord looked at Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise with disdain. Vermilion Bird's eyes were wide. She didn't care. She would fight the Temple Lord to the bitter end if she must.Black Tortoise was the calmer one, and he pulled Vermilion Bird back. "Calm down. Even if he wants to betray the lord, he at least would want to see the lord's body before he tries anything."Even a woman like Aphrodite lost this fight. He wouldn't dare try anything stupid."The Ice Temple Lord was still smug about being an Emperor, and now his celebration was cut short. Betraying Nox required a lot of courage. Nox's power terrified him. Even if he couldn't win the fight, Nox could at least come back safely.Besides, he only
The formation Nox created with the Sovereign Seal was on the brink of destruction. Once the formation was gone, the Sovereigns and the spirits would return to dust. In this final moment, Brundela's Faeastian called their friends and family in their homeland and projected the modern-day Faeast onto the gigantic screen in the plaza.The spirits cried when they saw how developed their nation had become. The Sovereigns and the rulers were meticulous people. They used to rule over a unified nation, so they knew how hard it was to create a dynasty. Every dynasty would have its peak and nadir.Every time a dynasty was on a decline, Faeast would be in danger. They didn't talk about the truth behind that video, of course. They admired the beautiful land of Faeast as they waited for their final moment to arrive."The hardest and darkest moment is behind us, sirs. Faeast has me now. You may rest in peace. I will not let you down. I will destroy the canker that infects Faeast and give it the pe
"You're going nowhere! Die!" The Sovereigns chased after the spirit, and a hundred rulers followed. They trapped the Titan's spirit and ripped him to shreds."Holy shit! That's the ancient Faeastian Sovereigns for you!" White Tiger roared with pride. He was on the roof of a tower somewhere.Emperor Elijah narrowed his eyes and exchanged a look with the other Sovereigns. He hurled the remaining essence of the Titan's spirit to White Tiger and stuffed him with it. The energy filled White Tiger up, and he ballooned. Black, rancid energy came out of his body, and he fell into madness.Nox cast Heaven's Demise and sealed White Tiger's consciousness. The Ice Temple Lord, realizing what the Sovereigns were trying to do, encased White Tiger in a coffin of magic ice."This is an impressive underling you have, Nine-State Lord. Devouring spirits gives him power. Anyone else would've lost their minds and become a killing machine, but White Tiger's already mad to begin with. There's no further
"The third kind of Emperor uses natural energy, the power of Yin and Yang, and the elements to become one. Since they use all kinds of elements and energy to become an Emperor, they are practically invincible."The Ice Temple Lord was excited. "So, you're saying I'm the strongest kind of Emperor?"Nox was speechless. "No, what I was trying to say was you took the wrong path. You could've absorbed the energy in the heavens, but you absorbed the Yin energy in the ground. You're stronger than Frostmir, but his level was higher, so you'd still be no match for him." Nox pursed his lips."Eh?" The Ice Temple Lord was disappointed. He thought he could be on par with Nox once he became an Emperor. The Ice Temple Lord wasn't the only one who gained power. The Ice Temple cultivators did as well. Black Tortoise, White Tiger, and Vermilion Bird gained a lot of power, too.Vermilion Bird was now a Flawless Supreme, Black Tortoise was an Advanced Supreme, while White Tiger was an Intermediate Pi
The fact that Nox could cast Sovereign Seal showed the Ice Temple Lord a new level of power. The Sovereign was more terrifying than the gods. 'No wonder they could rule the world in ancient times.'The ancient Sovereigns and rulers of Faeast attacked their enemies. The fate of Faeast gathered over their heads, piercing the clouds that hung over them. The weaker monsters were all slain, and Emperor Hans pierced the pharaoh with his spear, returning him to dust.Emperor Blade killed the god of another ancient civilization. The evil energy possessing them was purified. Moments later, the only gods left were the Titans. Unlike the possessed gods, the Titans were ancient cultivators.Even if they didn't master any spells or techniques, they'd trained their bodies to their absolute best. The Sovereigns and rulers didn't have much advantage against these enemies.These spirits were only summoned through the relics and the remnants of energy left within. Their bodies were gone, and their s
The talismans were Magic Mountain's Forbidden Art, and Nox had fused them with Ultimate Sun Dragon Manual. Nox's mentors back in Mystia had taught him the Sovereign Seal earlier than expected.Their goal was simple. If Nox became the Sovereign, he could use the seal to command all the natural energy around him. If he didn't become the Sovereign, he would teach the Sovereign how to use the seal.The Sovereign Seal was a Saintly technique and the most ancient technique around. It was stronger than a Celestial technique.A golden seal brighter than the sun slowly rose into the air. It was the Sovereign Seal.As it appeared, natural energy gathered around it. The energy flew into the relics Brundela took from Faeast. Within a museum not open to the public, a bronze sword started to tremble as natural energy flowed into it. That got the attention of a professor."That sword belonged to Faeast's Emperor Elijah! What is going on?"A silhouette came out of the sword, and his aura was maj
Back in the navy command center, Fergus got the drone footage of Brundela's latest development. There were a few generals from the Nox Army with him. They could see that the monsters in the capital were far stronger than the ones they took out."It's a pity the capital is too densely populated. We have the weapons, but we can't use them." Fergus slammed the table in frustration. Even if the capital were to fall into enemy hands and the people torn apart by the monsters, Fergus could not order his men to fire at the capital, or things would be bad for them.Fergus could only open fire if the monsters were in a no man's land."Commander Parrish, the lord has orders. We are to keep the waters guarded. Once the capital's crisis is over, we are to make our way to the port and give humanitarian aid," a Nox Army general said telepathically. He just got Nox's orders."Is that so? Then Nox can stop this crisis." Fergus' eyes shone. He had no idea what Nox was planning, but he was the Sovere
Demons were walking the lands of Brundela. Legendary creatures were roaming the streets as if the end of days were here. The resurrected monsters were causing chaos everywhere. When the Titans showed themselves, despair washed over Brundela.There were too many monsters running around. Even after the Twilight Order and Ice Temple cultivators sent out everyone they had, it still wasn't enough to stop these creatures. The monsters went straight to the council hall, and so did the Titans.The Ice Temple Lord created a Magic Ice Formation and kept using Forbidden Arts and mystical artifacts to fend off the enemies. He had already done his best."You have to do something, Nine-State Lord. I can't hold on much longer!" the Ice Temple Lord said telepathically.Though monsters were about, they were not a threat to the Ice Temple Lord. he could leave anytime he wanted, but he had a deal with Nox. If he were to desert the battlefield, he would face a hell far worse than he could imagine late