Chapter 179 Chapter 174 Aftermath
“I said, without the crown shards, we can still slaughter our way into the mortal world and wipe out the Sigma offspring. You don’t have to be so depressed; didn’t the previous eternal chosen ones all come through like this? There’s no rule stating that an eternal chosen one must collect all the shards of the Demon King’s crown.
“Didn’t your predecessor only collect three or four shards? Although he died in infighting before even reaching the mortal realm.
“Why are you silent? Is the rebel’s capital piled high and looking glorious? It should look glorious; that’s what I’ve been pondering in my designs. Once I’ve wiped out the empire, I’ll display the heads of the Sigma offspring in this manner…”
Blood Dragon Knight Duncan kept talking, causing the helmet of the eternal chosen Marus to buzz in response.
He felt extremely vexed inside.
In front of him were several grand displays, with many demons and devils contributing to the magnificent scene.
Although being of the demon race, the eternal chosen one Marus had a deep understanding of his own kind’s ambition and infighting, and he regarded it as a virtue. Only the mortals of the ordered races constantly yearned for peace.
However, before returning to the demon realm, he heard that his legion was splintering, engaged in infighting, and that only one-sixth remained loyal.
Something felt off to the eternal chosen Marus. He was one of the four chosen by the gods, selected to unite the followers of the four gods, to temporarily set aside disputes and work together to destroy the world.
Moreover, the challengers he had killed on his journey could pile up to form a capital.
Why were there so many traitors?
So many that he had to fight for eight days and nights just to barely defeat one faction.
In the distance, a volcano erupted, illuminating the capital beneath the black steps. Towering demon warriors held one head after another, displaying them at the high capital, while the flapping wings of demons raised the capital even higher.
The capital was as large as a small mountain, making the demon warriors appear like ants in comparison.
Under the leaden gray clouds, his loyal black dragon steed Mavor flapped her wings, swaying as she flew down.
Duncan, the incessantly noisy Blood Dragon Knight, was just about to comment on Mavor’s flying posture and her wounds.
“Shut up,” the eternal chosen Marus suddenly shouted at Duncan. “Otherwise, I’ll chop off your limbs.”
“Huh? I haven’t said anything.”
“Just be quiet.”
Black dragon Mavor landed at the bottom of the black steps. Her scales were still as black and shiny as before, reflecting the volcanic fire in the distance, but there were many wounds, and bits of flesh hung from her scales. She staggered a few steps, struggling to support her body with her injured front limbs and fell to the ground.
Raising a cloud of dust, by the time she stood again, she had transformed into human form. Her skirt was tattered, wrapped in black stockings that clung to her strong thighs, with many holes bleeding.
Yet even badly wounded, black dragon Mavor still crawled up the steps.
The eternal chosen approached her and said, “Get up.”
“Master, I don’t have the right to get up.” Black dragon Mavor rested her dignified forehead against the steps. “You commanded me to watch over the legion, but I let them splinter. I couldn’t even complete the diplomatic tasks you assigned me; the traitors not only insult you but also ambushed me.”
“It has nothing to do with you,” the eternal chosen said. “This is my command.”
At that, black dragon Mavor managed to push herself up with difficulty. The magical dragon saddle strapped around her long, powerful waist showed little damage compared to her battered body, for she had deliberately protected it, hoping the eternal chosen would soon ride her into battle.
“You said that just a few days after my failure, the entire demon realm would know about it?”
“Yes, I couldn’t control the rumors well.”
“If the lord of treachery and change, that sickly blue bird, couldn’t spread rumors, then he would have perished long ago.” The eternal chosen said, “Do not blame yourself further, Mavor. I do not wish to repeat this.”
“Yes, my master.”
At this moment, the leaden gray clouds above began to shift, taking on various shapes, with colorful lights cascading down from between them.
Accompanied by bird songs, surrounded by countless demon sharks and demon disc riders.
The weaver of life, appearing as a two-headed blue-feathered bird man, emerged, holding a staff diagonally in one hand, the top of which was fixed open with the “Codex of Endless Change,” emitting a constantly shifting array of colors that resembled a rising sun.
Almost everyone below found it hard to look directly, raising their hands to shield their eyes from the light.
Only the eternal chosen bore through the discomfort, staring intently at the ever-changing sun.
The weaver of life descended toward the eternal chosen, with the left bird head looking to the left and the right bird head looking to the right.
The left bird head said, “Here, here, he was here before.”
The right bird head said, “Also here, here, and in the future he will be here too.”
By contrasting the past and future, the weaver of life, who could not perceive the present, confirmed the eternal chosen’s exact location, accurately landing on the steps in front of him and looking at the eternal chosen:
The left head began to speak:
“I am the lord of change, the scheming strategist, the supreme eagle, the lord of cunning, and the great envoy of the lord of change. My master has long since seen your fate and has commanded me to wait for you to grant you the crown shards.”
The right head continued:
“Everything is as I previously stated; only when the false meets the true will it be obliterated. Now the new Demon King Jima has left this world, unable to return; without the true, the false becomes the true. Rejoice in the lord of change’s grace.”
The eternal chosen asked, “Is all of this part of your master’s grand scheme?”
“Naturally.” The weaver of life said, “Your fate has long been woven. Your failure has also been foreseen. It is my master, using Jima as a pawn, who made her take the crown shards, for otherwise, once the heretic followers destroy the crown shards.
“Even my master could not create such miracles out of thin air. Without the true, there cannot be the false.”
“If I accept the crown shards from your hand,” the eternal chosen said, “then the splintered legion will re-loyalty to me, right?”
“We can assure you that no demon dares to rebel against you; they will be proud and rush to join your legion.” The weaver of life spoke confidently. “The future will be so; I have seen it.”
Blood Dragon Knight Duncan finally found an opportunity to speak up:
“Aha, I understand what’s going on. It’s all the lord of change’s scheme; that weak and cowardly deity hiding in his ever-changing ethereal palace is instigating your legion to force you to accept the crown shards. I’m really clever.”
Though this truth was apparent even to a somewhat thoughtful goblin.
Black dragon Mavor looked surprised at Blood Dragon Knight Duncan, considering his other identity as the Chosen of the Blood God.
The weaver of life said, “Accept it; you will accept it. You have no choice.”
With that, he extended his hand, holding the crown shards, reaching out towards the eternal chosen Marus.
The eternal chosen swiftly drew his sword, moving so fast, he had only drawn it halfway.
The right head of the weaver of life screamed, “He will chop us, chop us!”
The left head yelled, “In the past, I’ve never seen anyone dare to desecrate my master like this.”
As they shouted, they flickered.
Unfortunately, just as they flickered, the eternal chosen pulled them back, slicing them in half with a sword. The two halves of the weaver of life fell to either side, dying an unremarkable death, very simply.
His body gradually transformed into colorful foam and light.
The eternal chosen Marus stretched out his hand, and the false crown shards floated into his grasp. He said, “This is a trophy, not a bestowal.”
The right head of the weaver of life, Carlos, said before turning into foam, “You will die by the hands of non-mortals in the future.”
With that, it completely dissolved into a large puddle of foam.
The weaver of life Carlos was dead, at least for the time being.
Blood Dragon Knight Duncan exclaimed, “You actually chopped him! As expected of the Chosen of the Blood God. Had I known he was so weak, I should have made my move sooner; I should have been the first to act.”
“How could my master’s achievements be something you could accomplish?” black dragon Mavor said. “It is precisely my master’s strength that made this battle clean and swift. If you went up, you would surely have been bombarded to dust by the weaver of life’s magic.”
The eternal chosen Marus placed the false crown shards into the empty space. In an instant, a complete crown formed above his head, and all the surrounding volcanoes erupted simultaneously, sending dense volcanic ash high into the sky…
…
…
Jenna had rushed for three days to arrive at the capital of Kisrilf—Kisrilf.
Due to their poor mobility, George and Frost Leaf decided to head out first.
But as soon as Jenna entered the city, she heard that George was a step too late and had not brought back the Demon King Jima.
Originally, Jenna wanted to urge George to stay calm and not act impulsively, at least to let Jima provide her side of the story.
But then she thought about it.
George had abandoned her to chase after Jima, and she had made the journey alone, enduring ambushes and struggles just to arrive. She was filled with anger, especially after discussing things with Eve Frost Leaf on the way.
She was even angrier, quickly took a bath, and hastened to find George, determined to talk to him.
She knocked on the door.
“George, it’s me.”
After knocking several times, George’s voice finally came from behind the door.
“Come in.”
Jenna pushed the door open and said in rapid succession, “George, is there anything else you’re hiding from us about Jima? Frost Leaf said your battle reports don’t match; how did Jima suddenly synchronize with the crown shards?”
George sat straight in a chair, the sword resting on his knee, and said, “Jenna, I’m sorry; there are some secrets I don’t want to share with you.”
“Why?”
George shook his head, and facing Jenna’s disappointed expression, he still couldn’t bring himself to reveal Jima’s secret—that she was merely the Demon King Kima in a female disguise.
Jenna turned around immediately, wanting to slam the door hard, but in the end, she slowly closed it instead, and footsteps of Jenna faded away outside.
After the door closed.
George finally showed a tired expression.
Before long, the door opened again, and it was Jenna.
George forced himself to put on a brave face and asked, “Is there anything else?”
Jenna sat beside him, hugged him tightly, and asked, “Are you okay?”
“Huh?”
“I’m sorry.” Jenna said, “I got too angry just now and didn’t notice you were so tired. George, you must have your own difficulties too.”
George hugged Jenna tightly.
