Chapter 163: He Will Return Riding Darkflame (Monthly Ticket Bonus Chapter)
In the Hall of Thrones.
“According to the covenant between the Crimson Blood and the Pure White Sword, you who wear the double-headed eagle crown are appointed as the new King of the Freista Empire—”
“…Do you have the determination for this?”
In the Hall of Thrones, the white-haired old man was pale with illness, yet he possessed an indescribable majesty.
He gazed at his daughter before him, his eyes, haggard from sickness, showing a trace of unconcealed relief.
Whether it was her talent as a Beast Tamer or her ability to govern the kingdom as an Empress, the current Emperor of the Empire could only be described as mediocre, or more bluntly, inferior.
While not a tyrannical ruler, he wasn’t much better.
The consequence of this was that under his rule, the power of the Imperial Royal Family was increasingly curtailed, and the national strength grew weaker and more unstable.
Fortunately, he had a good daughter.
From that banquet of the Borgia Family, the moment the Holy Sword was covenanted for the first time in a thousand years.
Everyone knew who the new Emperor of the Freista Empire would be.
The next moment.
Isadorella’s solemn oath echoed in the Hall of Thrones.
“I heed the name of Freisbeg and the ancient covenant—”
“And for the peace of the Western Continent and the citizens of the Empire.”
“I swear to ascend to this throne.”
This was an oath that spanned a thousand years.
A thousand years ago, she, as the Knight of the Round Table who bore everyone’s hopes, had ultimately betrayed her promises and dreams—
In the Imaginary Belt, she had turned the Empire into a land of the dead shrouded by the Crimson Moon.
She should have borne this sin and been buried along with the Imaginary Belt by the cleansing force of historical correction.
But fortunately.
Someone had corrected her mistakes.
And then, given her a chance to start anew.
The pure silver double-headed eagle crown gleamed under the light of the magic lamp.
“Thus, the succession to the throne is complete…”
The ceremony for the succession to the throne was different from the founding ceremony a thousand years ago.
One was a sacred rite for all citizens of the Empire, while the succession ritual, due to the former Emperor’s poor health, was simplified.
This transfer of imperial power was completed within the Hall of Thrones, witnessed only by a few, such as the elders of the Royal Family, envoys from the Eight Great Oathbound Families, and the descendants of the original Knights of the Round Table…
With the ceremony complete, the former Emperor was quickly taken back to his chambers for treatment.
“What a fragrant beef smell.”
As they walked out of the Hall of Thrones, Diris, who had been Isadorella’s attendant throughout, could not help but speak.
“Lord Tarik, concerned that His Majesty and the envoys, along with the high-ranking nobles, had not dined while witnessing the succession ceremony, specifically arranged this banquet in the side palace.”
Soon, a waiter stepped forward to explain.
“This banquet has specifically invited several renowned chefs currently in the Imperial Capital for research and exchange. They have specially prepared a beef-themed menu, which we believe will surely satisfy His Majesty.”
Tarik von Freisberg.
By seniority, he was an elder several generations older than Isadorella.
He was also the only legend remaining in the Imperial Royal Family besides Isadorella.
Furthermore, he was the teacher of the former Second Princess, and now the Empress of the Empire.
Before Isadorella herself had truly grown, it was that old man who had protected everything in the Imperial Royal Family.
Hearing this answer, Isadorella paused slightly.
Then, she nodded to the waiter, “Thank you for your concern, Teacher. In that case, please lead me there.”
The distance between the Hall of Thrones and the side palace was only a few hundred meters, and they soon crossed it.
When Isadorella pushed open the door to the side palace, what met her eyes were neatly arranged beef dishes.
And, clearly demarcated by a dividing line, the Oathbound Families and the high-ranking nobles… as well as the descendants of the Knights of the Round Table.
“Your Majesty.”
As Isadorella arrived, everyone present rose to greet her.
Regardless of their thoughts at the moment, whether it was loyalty to the Royal Family or a desire to kill the Empress before them and seize the throne for themselves.
At least on the surface, they still showed sufficient respect to the new Empress of the Empire.
This was due to her status, and also because of Isadorella’s strength as the covenantor of the Holy Sword.
*Boom—*
Faint sounds of commotion came from the distant outer city.
The sound was very subtle, but everyone present was an extraordinary being, and none could fail to hear it.
In an instant, a commotion of discussions erupted in the side palace.
*Hummm—*
The magic crystal vibrated.
Diris’s expression changed as she checked the transmission within the magic crystal. She then leaned closer to Isadorella and whispered, “The cultists who infiltrated secretly have begun their activities.”
“Our people are suppressing them, but it will take time.”
“And it seems there are some movements beyond our observation.”
“The only explanation for them to completely bypass the Empire’s surveillance network is that there are legends among the infiltrators, or pseudo-legends forcibly elevated by pollutants.”
This was unavoidable.
Whether it was the military, the Directorate, or the newly formed Sword Holder organization, the highest-tier powerhouses were all at the Sixth Ring.
Legendary powerhouses, for any force, were like stabilizing pillars of a nation, never to be dispatched lightly.
However, for cults, this was not a problem.
With the power of faith and numerous sacrificial rituals, along with the augmentation of pollutants, it was not difficult to forcibly elevate a Sixth Ring extraordinary being to the status of a legend in a short period.
Of course, such pseudo-legends, raised through the method of forcing growth by injecting faith, were essentially one-time use items that had overdrafted their potential.
However, since they believed in evil gods, those fanatics naturally wouldn’t care about potential or the future.
Yet, in the side palace, Isadorella did not pay much attention to Diris’s report.
She simply placed her plain white hand on her waist, on the ancient hilt of the Holy Sword.
The next moment.
*Zing—*
A clear sword chime, accompanied by the crimson-gold radiance of the Holy Sword, erupted.
The golden majestic light, laden with immense mystery, pierced through the dome of the side palace.
And within the domain traversed by the brilliant golden sword light.
A ferocious beast, transformed from pitch-black shadow, was in that surging torrent of light particles—
Accompanied by a mournful cry, it beat its wings and gradually faded into scattered fragments.
The throne’s pressure that suddenly erupted made everyone around them feel as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
At the moment the power erupted, everyone saw it clearly.
It was a legendary-tier Beast King.
It had previously lurked in the shadows of the night, launching a sudden attack at the time when Isadorella and Diris were most relaxed in their conversation, intending to achieve victory in one fell swoop.
However, before the fully unleashed Holy Sword, this legendary-tier Beast King did not last even a moment before being annihilated into the most basic magic factor.
“The legendary-tier Night Summoning Beast, as far as I know, there is only one of its kind on the entire Western Continent.”
“That is the Night Summoning Beast King of the Lost Domain, and it is connected to the Twilight Ancient God and the Twilight Cult.”
“However— the reason it was able to evade my mental power and launch a surprise attack earlier was because that Night Summoning Beast King was hiding in your shadow, and out of respect for you, I did not use my mental power to scan that area.”
Isadorella’s voice echoed in the silent palace.
Then, she fixed her gaze on the old man with sparse white hair in the side palace.
“Although I had guessed it before, but—”
“Teacher Tarik, why?”
“It seems those people’s guesses were mistaken.”
“Your Highness, no, Your Majesty’s return from the Imaginary Belt to the current historical node has not caused any depletion to herself, nor has her throne status become unstable—”
“Even the Holy Sword, which should have borne the pressure of historical correction, still maintains its full power.”
In the silence, Tarik, with white hair, spoke slowly in his aged voice.
He looked down at Isadorella, his most accomplished disciple, and the one whom the entire Royal Family and he had placed their hopes on to revive the Empire, shaking his head slightly.
“As for the reason—”
“If Your Majesty had not covenanted with the Holy Sword, then at least you would have left me with the hope of making the Holy Sword recognize a master, and using the mystery of the Holy Sword to prolong my life.”
“If the Royal Family had not broken ties with the Borgia Family, then with the nourishment of the life potion condensed by Goodrian’s legendary-tier plant-type Familiar, the Rose Emperor, it could have also slowed down the decay of my physical body.”
“But, Your Majesty, you have personally erased my last hope.”
“In this world, no one does not seek to live, no one does not wish to live.”
“Even ants cherish life, let alone me.”
“I am not as talented or outstanding as you and Lord Shaya…”
“The limit of the Throne is an insurmountable chasm for me, one that I cannot overcome even with my entire life and hundreds of years of time.”
“I have only two or three years of lifespan left… Other than accepting the transaction with those cults, obtaining those unclaimed divinity, and choosing to embark on the Path to Godhood, I have no other way.”
“Is that so—”
Upon hearing the reply of this guardian of the Imperial Royal Family, Isadorella could not help but close her eyes slightly.
When she opened them again, the new Empress of the Empire no longer had the fleeting disappointment in her eyes.
Originally, there were still remnants of divinity fragments left when Shaya killed the Crimson Moon… When he returns, I can ask him to bestow some upon you—
Isadorella did not speak these words.
Because she knew that everything was irrevocable.
From the moment Tarik accepted the transaction, he had no turning back.
And as the new King of the Empire, at this moment, she could only cut the Gordian knot swiftly, with no room for her own softness.
Isadorella once again gripped the sword hilt.
The magnificent Holy Sword shone again, its golden brilliance transforming into a torrent of light that shot straight into the sky.
However, at that very moment.
Tarik suddenly picked up a wine glass from the dining table.
Then, he smashed it to the ground.
The Night Summoning Beast King from before was merely a means within the deal he made with the cults to test how much strength Isadorella retained after her fragmented return from the Imaginary Belt, and whether she still possessed a complete throne status.
Although, according to the original plan, even if the legendary-tier Night Summoning Beast King was defeated, it could have escaped unharmed, it had now died without a burial place.
But fortunately, the true trump card plotted by the organization Golden Dawn was never that Night Summoning Beast King.
Instead, it was the Divine Descent of the Lord of Ashes.
Smashing the wine glass was the signal he had agreed upon with the skull relic to break the seal and initiate the divine descent.
The next moment.
*Boom—*
A mystery, no less potent than the Holy Sword, and capable of rivaling it, erupted into the sky in an instant.
Along with it came the pitch-black sea of darkflame, as if to devour all light.
The scorching darkflame seemed to be able to burn down the entire side palace, along with the Imperial Capital.
And within that raging sea of fire.
The darkflame twisted and swirled.
Finally, it slowly converged into a blurry, colossal phantom image.
Even before it was fully formed, this projection exuded a daunting pressure that made everyone present frown.
Demigod—
No, this had already surpassed the level of ordinary demigods and thrones, infinitely approaching true gods.
This is…
The legendary divine realm.
Tarik felt the complete projection behind him overwhelm the magnificent Golden Sword, as if to swallow the world. His aged heart could not help but be filled with excitement, his emotions surging.
As long as this transaction is completed, I too can rely on the divine fragments obtained to embark on this long path to godhood.
And then, break free from the mortal body, breaking free from the limitations of human lifespan.
Become a truly supreme and eternal great being like the Lord of Ashes, unchanging as long as faith exists.
Along with the fluctuation of faith, the colossal projection finally solidified into substance.
Tarik noticed that within the entire side palace, whether it was other members of the Royal Family, the envoys of the Oathbound Families, or the high-ranking nobles attending the ceremony.
Even Diris behind Isadorella widened her mouth in disbelief upon seeing the projection.
Was the divine descent body of the Lord of Ashes that terrifying?
It was true, for the vast majority of those present, let alone the divine descent body of a true god, even a demigod or a throne was rarely seen.
For most people, their only understanding of a throne was the fleeting glimpse of the Azure Silver Witch Sylvia at the Borgia Family banquet.
While his heart surged with emotion, Tarik respectfully bowed and spoke to the solidified projection behind him.
“Great Lord of Ashes—”
He spread his withered arms towards the beef dishes on the surrounding tables.
“According to the will of the relic you bestowed upon me, I have made all the preparations for the ritual. I welcome your descent.”
However, in the next instant.
Pitch-black flames erupted into the sky.
A burning sensation spread throughout his limbs and bones.
Tarik turned back in horror.
He only saw, within the roaring sea of darkflame, the少年 figure that had solidified into substance.
Black hair, black eyes.
Handsome face, with deep and distinct features.
Everyone present recognized this projection.
Whether it was the banquet of the Borgia Family that shocked the entire Western Continent, or the Empress’s Consort that Isadorella later brazenly announced in parliament…
It was enough to make the entire Empire remember this name.
Shaya Egut.
Seeing Tarik turn his head, the figure made of darkflame glanced at the dazzling array of beef dishes and regretfully shook his head.
“The preparations were good, but…”
“I don’t eat beef.”
