Chapter 69
Dante wielded both his Vermillion chain blades and his guns, Eve and Lilith, as he clashed furiously with Cai Yok Tan. Their attacks collided with tremendous force, sending shockwaves through the restaurant. Dante relentlessly drove the demonized Pig King out of the building, refusing to give him even a moment to recover.
He did not wait for Cai Yok Tan to get back up or say a single word. The moment he saw an opening, Dante dashed forward and pursued him relentlessly, their battle moving from one building to another.
Their bodies crashed through walls and shattered windows as the fight spilled across the Red Light District. Dust and debris filled the air, while terrified people scrambled to get out of their way.
Dante channeled his mana into his guns, enhancing the power of every bullet. Without straining his trigger fingers, he unleashed a rapid barrage of gunfire at Cai Yok Tan.
Each shot carried amplified force, striking the demonized Pig King from multiple angles and forcing him to defend himself against the relentless assault.
Dante continued pressing forward, his expression cold and his movements precise, refusing to give his opponent any chance to retaliate.
"Kaen! Get Farah into the Spider Queen's restaurant!" Dante ordered.
Kaen immediately obeyed. She rushed toward Farah, who lay broken and battered from the earlier assault, and carefully picked her up before dashing toward the restaurant's entrance.
She could feel the urgency of the situation. Farah needed immediate protection, and Dante was determined to ensure that no further harm came to her.
"No!" Cai Yok Tan roared.
The demonized Pig King attempted to pursue them, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Farah as he unleashed a furious growl.
His enormous body surged forward, radiating an oppressive demonic aura that made the surrounding air feel heavy. However, Dante immediately stepped into his path, blocking his way with an intimidating glare.
Enraged, Cai Yok Tan raised his massive warhammer and brought it crashing down against the ground. The impact shook the surrounding buildings, causing the streets to tremble as though a small earthquake had struck the district. Cracks spread across the ground, and nearby debris jumped into the air from the sheer force of the blow.
Dante remained firmly planted in place. He raised his left palm and blocked the incoming force, his body barely budging despite the tremendous pressure.
With his dominant right hand, he gathered his inner mana and concentrated it into a tightly clenched fist. His muscles tensed as the energy surged through his arm, radiating a powerful aura around his knuckles.
Without hesitation, Dante struck the warhammer with all his might.
CRACK!
The enormous weapon shattered into pieces, its fragments scattering across the street. Cai Yok Tan stared in disbelief at the remains of his weapon, barely having time to process what had happened before Dante surged forward.
Dante swung his Vermillion chain blades, launching their crimson chains toward the demonized Pig King. The blades wrapped around Cai Yok Tan's massive body, binding his arms and torso before he could react. The chains tightened around him, restricting his movements as he struggled to break free.
But Dante was not finished.
His figure suddenly dissolved into shadowy smoke, disappearing from Cai Yok Tan's sight. Before the Pig King could turn around, Dante materialized behind him and drove a devastating punch into his back.
Another followed, then another, each strike landing with brutal precision. The successive blows forced Cai Yok Tan forward, his enormous body staggering under the relentless punishment.
Dante continued pummeling him with his fists, his expression twisted with anger. Every strike carried the weight of his fury, fueled by the sight of Farah's battered body and the knowledge that Cai Yok Tan had gone so far as to attack her in such a monstrous state.
Finally, Dante seized the chains and pulled them tight, wrapping them around Cai Yok Tan's neck. He positioned himself behind the demonized Pig King and locked him into a strangling hold, tightening his grip with every passing second.
"RAAAGGGHHG!!!" Dante roared furiously.
His voice echoed through the damaged streets as he continued to choke Cai Yok Tan. The Pig King thrashed violently, desperately trying to pry the chains away from his neck, but Dante's grip remained unyielding. His enormous hands clawed at the chains while his breathing grew increasingly labored.
Dante tightened his hold further, his face contorted with rage. Cai Yok Tan's struggles began to weaken as his consciousness slipped away. Black dots seemed to dance across his vision, and his movements grew sluggish.
The demonized Pig King, who had moments earlier unleashed destruction throughout the district, was now on the verge of losing consciousness in Dante's grasp.
"Maladeva! Don't!"
Dante suddenly turned his head toward the voice.
Standing a short distance away were Ryu Shion Meilin and Guo Duolong, who had arrived just in time to witness the confrontation. Both had their eyes fixed on Dante and the struggling Pig King, taking in the destruction surrounding them. Ryu Shion Meilin's expression hardened as she realized how close Dante was to killing Cai Yok Tan.
"Stop this at once!" she warned, her voice carrying the authority of someone who understood the consequences of what was happening. "If you kill him here, you will have to answer for it!"
Dante's expression darkened. Still holding Cai Yok Tan in his strangling grip, he glared at Ryu Shion Meilin with barely contained fury.
"Answer for what?!" he shouted. "Look at what he did to Farah! He was going after her, and just look at what he's become! He's demonized!"
His voice echoed through the damaged street, his anger spilling out with every word. Dante could hardly believe that, even after witnessing Cai Yok Tan's monstrous transformation and the destruction he had caused, someone would still demand that he spare the Pig King's life.
Ryu Shion Meilin understood his anger. She could see the fury in his eyes and knew that his reaction was not without reason. Farah had been brutally attacked, and Cai Yok Tan had clearly lost control of himself. Nevertheless, the situation was far more complicated than Dante seemed willing to acknowledge.
"If you kill an Underworld Lord in the Red Light District, you'll upset the balance between the ranks!" she explained firmly. "The other gangs will see it as an act of aggression. They'll retaliate, and before long, every gang in the district could be dragged into an all-out gang war!"
Her warning carried weight. The Underworld's hierarchy was maintained through a fragile balance of power, and the death of a prominent lord could trigger a chain reaction that neither she nor anyone else could easily control. Regardless of Cai Yok Tan's crimes, killing him here would have consequences that extended far beyond the two of them.
Dante remained silent for a moment, his breathing heavy as he stared at the demonized Pig King. His grip gradually loosened, and Cai Yok Tan collapsed forward, gasping for air as the chains slipped away from his neck.
Dante eventually released him, but he was not foolish enough to leave the situation unresolved. With a sharp movement of his arms, he manipulated his Vermillion chains and bound Cai Yok Tan tightly, restraining his limbs and torso to prevent him from going berserk again.
Once he was satisfied that the Pig King could no longer move freely, Dante released a frustrated breath and jumped down from the elevated rubble where the struggle had taken place. His boots struck the ground with a heavy thud as he began walking toward Ryu Shion Meilin.
Ryu Shion Meilin walked toward him as well, her expression still tense. She wanted to make sure Dante understood the seriousness of his actions, but before she could say anything more, something caught her attention.
Behind Dante, the chains binding Cai Yok Tan began to strain.
The demonized Pig King had regained enough strength to break free. With a violent jerk, he snapped the restraints and launched himself forward, his enormous body surging toward Dante's back. Demonic energy gathered around his arms, forming a destructive wave that he intended to unleash against his unsuspecting opponent.
Ryu Shion Meilin's eyes widened.
"Dante, behind you!"
But Cai Yok Tan had already committed himself to the attack.
Dante did not turn around.
BANG!
In one swift motion, he drew his black Lilith gun and fired directly at Cai Yok Tan's forehead at point-blank range. The shot rang through the street, cutting through the Pig King's roar and silencing the confrontation in an instant.
The force of the impact sent Cai Yok Tan flying backward. His enormous body crashed onto the ground and lay motionless, his demonic aura fading as the last traces of life left him.
Silence descended upon the ruined street.
Ryu Shion Meilin stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief. Beside her, Guo Duolong stared at the fallen Pig King, seemingly unable to process what had just happened. Only moments ago, Dante had spared Cai Yok Tan's life and restrained him. Now, the Underworld Lord lay dead before them.
"What have you done....." Ryu Shion Meilin whispered, unable to hide her shock.
Dante slowly turned his head to look back at Cai Yok Tan's lifeless body. His expression remained cold, showing no sign of regret as he lowered Lilith.
Then, staring at the dead Pig King, he replied in a flat, emotionless voice.
"Consequences."
Back at the palace of the Tianyu Dynasty, the king stood before a grand balcony overlooking the sprawling capital at night. From his elevated position, he could see the magnificent city stretching into the distance, its towering buildings and bustling streets reflecting the prosperity of his dynasty.
However, the peaceful atmosphere was abruptly interrupted when a messenger came rushing into the palace, his breathing ragged and his expression filled with panic.
"Your Majesty! Urgent news from the Red Light District!"
The king turned his head, his gaze sharpening at the messenger's distressed appearance.
"Speak."
The messenger immediately dropped to one knee and lowered his head.
"The individual known as Maladeva has slain Cai Yok Tan, the Underworld Lord of the Casino District!"
For a brief moment, the king flinched. His expression remained composed, but the unexpected news had clearly caught him off guard. Cai Yok Tan was no ordinary figure in the capital's underworld, and his death could have serious repercussions for the balance of power among the various factions.
"Maladeva..." the king muttered under his breath.
He turned his gaze back toward the capital, contemplating the implications of the incident. The death of an Underworld Lord was not something that could simply be ignored, especially when the individual responsible was an outsider whose presence had already attracted considerable attention.
Meanwhile, the news spread beyond the palace walls.
In separate resting quarters elsewhere in the capital, the two other adventurers who had accompanied the group received the same report.
The samurai man and the blue-skinned elf archer each listened to the news with their own reactions, realizing that Maladeva had once again become the center of attention.
Neither could dismiss the gravity of the situation. Killing an Underworld Lord in the heart of the Red Light District was bound to attract the attention of the authorities, and they could only wonder what consequences awaited Dante.
By the following morning, the atmosphere inside the palace's grand hall was considerably more solemn than usual.
Officials, nobles, and representatives of the dynasty's governing institutions had gathered in anticipation of the proceedings. The grand hall's towering pillars stood in orderly rows, while the polished floor reflected the light filtering through the enormous windows. Conversations filled the chamber, but they gradually subsided as the guards escorted the accused into the hall.
Dante was brought forward in restraints.
Heavy cuffs encircled his wrists, while chains secured his legs and restricted his movements. Sealing papers had been attached to the restraints, their inscriptions designed to suppress his mana and prevent him from using magic. The guards maintained a cautious distance around him, clearly aware that the man standing before them was no ordinary prisoner.
Despite his restraints, Dante showed little outward concern. He walked forward without resistance, his expression composed as he surveyed the assembled officials.
He knew why he had been brought here, and he had no intention of remaining silent about the circumstances that had led to Cai Yok Tan's death.
The murmuring within the grand hall finally ceased when the doors at the far end opened.
The King of the Tianyu Dynasty entered, accompanied by his attendants. The gathered officials immediately bowed in respect as he made his way toward the elevated throne at the center of the hall.
Once seated, the king surveyed the assembly before allowing his gaze to settle upon Dante.
"Let the proceedings begin."
His voice carried throughout the grand hall, leaving no room for further conversation.
"The accused, known as Maladeva, stands before this court in connection with the death of Cai Yok Tan, the Underworld Lord of the Casino District. Before a verdict is delivered, I will hear the circumstances surrounding the incident, examine the available evidence, and determine the appropriate judgment."
The king paused briefly before continuing.
"Maladeva, you will have the opportunity to present your defense. Speak truthfully, and ensure that your account addresses the events leading to Cai Yok Tan's death."
Dante lifted his head and met the king's gaze.
"Very well."
He proceeded to recount the events in the Red Light District, explaining how Cai Yok Tan had attacked Farah and pursued her even after she was being taken to safety. He described the Pig King's demonic transformation, the destruction caused during their confrontation, and the repeated attempts to stop him without resorting to killing him.
Dante made it clear that he had initially restrained Cai Yok Tan after overpowering him. He had even released his strangling hold and bound the Underworld Lord in chains, intending to prevent him from going berserk again.
However, Cai Yok Tan had broken free and launched a surprise attack from behind. With demonic energy gathering around him, the Pig King had attempted to strike Dante while his attention was elsewhere. Dante had responded by drawing Lilith and firing a shot at point-blank range.
He did not deny killing Cai Yok Tan.
Instead, he maintained that the fatal shot had been fired in self-defense.
"I had already restrained him once," Dante explained firmly. "I let him go, and I gave him another chance to stop. He broke free and attacked me from behind. I wasn't going to stand there and let him kill me."
His words drew quiet murmurs from several officials.
Dante then addressed another aspect of the accusation.
"I was protecting my property, including Farah, the prize slave I won at the Empyrean Ascendant Pavilion's auction a few days ago. Cai Yok Tan went after her, and I intervened to stop him."
Some of the officials exchanged glances at the mention of the auction. Others remained focused on the central issue: whether Dante's actions had been justified under the circumstances.
The king listened without interrupting. Once Dante had finished, he motioned to one of the officials standing nearby.
"Bring me the reports concerning the incident, along with the testimonies gathered from those present."
An attendant immediately stepped forward and presented a collection of documents. The king accepted the files and began examining them, carefully reviewing the reports on Cai Yok Tan's death, the damage caused throughout the district, and the accounts of those who had witnessed the confrontation.
He also examined the information Dante had provided concerning the Raven and the Wolf King, two figures whose involvement and knowledge could help establish a clearer picture of the situation.
The king's expression grew more serious as he turned through the documents. He was not merely considering the death of an Underworld Lord. He also had to determine whether the killing had been an unavoidable act of self-defense or an intentional execution that could destabilize the capital's underworld.
After thoroughly examining the available evidence, the king closed the final file.
For several moments, the grand hall remained silent.
Then the king placed the documents aside and slowly rose from his throne.
"Having examined the evidence, heard the accused's testimony, and considered the circumstances surrounding the death of Cai Yok Tan, I shall now deliver my verdict."
Every eye in the grand hall turned toward him.
The king looked directly at Dante, his expression stern but measured.
"Maladeva, you are an outsider to the Tianyu Dynasty. Nevertheless, your presence here is not without purpose. You were brought into our dynasty through the Northern Region to assist in resolving the matter concerning a Commandment demon at the immigration port."
He paused, allowing his words to settle over the assembled officials.
"Your contributions to that matter have not been overlooked. However, your status as an adventurer does not place you above the laws of this dynasty. The death of an Underworld Lord is a serious matter, and the consequences of your actions cannot be disregarded."
The king's gaze sharpened.
"Yet the evidence presented before this court indicates that Cai Yok Tan attacked you, pursued your companion, and continued fighting even after you had restrained him. His final attack was directed at you from behind, leaving you to respond in the moment to a potentially fatal threat."
He took a measured breath before continuing.
"Furthermore, the evidence does not establish that you entered the Red Light District with the intention of assassinating Cai Yok Tan or deliberately provoking a conflict between the underworld factions."
The officials listened intently as the king prepared to announce his final judgment.
"Therefore, after careful consideration, I hereby deliver my verdict..."
The king reached for the small wooden gavel resting beside his throne. He lifted it and brought it down firmly against the surface before him, the sharp sound echoing throughout the grand hall.
"Maladeva is found not guilty!"
The announcement sent a wave of murmurs through the assembled officials. Some exchanged surprised glances, while others remained silent, carefully considering the implications of the verdict.
The king raised his hand, demanding silence.
"Although the death of Cai Yok Tan cannot be dismissed lightly, neither can his crimes be ignored. For years, countless young women have suffered under his cruelty. His victims have endured unspeakable humiliation and torment, and his influence has allowed him to escape the consequences of his actions for far too long."
His expression hardened as he looked toward Dante.
"In light of the evidence presented, I shall consider this incident an act of self-justice on behalf of the women of Tianyu who suffered under Cai Yok Tan. Let this verdict serve as a reminder that even those who hold power within the underworld are not beyond judgment."
The king struck the gavel once more, officially concluding the trial.
"That concludes today's proceedings."
The officials bowed as the king rose from his throne. Before Dante could be escorted out of the grand hall, however, the king raised his hand again.
"Maladeva. You will accompany me. There are matters I wish to discuss with you in private."
Dante glanced at the guards before looking back at the king.
"Understood."
With that, the guards removed his restraints, including the sealing papers that had suppressed his mana. Dante rubbed his wrists briefly before following the king out of the grand hall.
---
Inside a private chamber within the palace, the king stood before a wide window overlooking the inner courtyard. The room was quieter than the grand hall, its furnishings modest compared to the throne room, with several chairs arranged around a polished wooden table.
Dante entered behind the king, followed by the two adventurers who had been investigating the incident at the immigration port: the samurai man and the blue-skinned elf archer.
Once the doors closed, the king turned toward them.
"First, I would like to express my gratitude for the information you have provided concerning the Commandment demon and the situation at the immigration port. Your reports have helped us understand the severity of the threat facing our dynasty."
He paused, his expression growing more serious.
"However, there is one matter that remains unresolved. Ryu Shion Meilin is still alive."
Dante maintained a neutral expression, concealing what he knew about the Spider Queen's whereabouts. The king appeared dissatisfied, and Dante could sense that the matter was far more personal than an ordinary dispute between the ruler and one of his subjects.
He had questions of his own, particularly concerning the rumors surrounding Ryu Shion Meilin's age and her connection to the Tianyu royal family.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Dante spoke.
"Your Majesty, forgive me if I may ask, but how old are you? You look rather young."
The moment the words left his mouth, the two tiger guards and the wolf guard stationed inside the chamber drew their swords.
"How dare you!" one of the tiger guards barked, pointing his blade toward Dante.
Asking such a question so directly was considered a grave insult to the Tianyu king. The guards moved forward, ready to punish the audacious adventurer for his apparent disrespect.
However, the king raised his hand.
"Calm yourselves."
The guards immediately halted, though they kept their weapons drawn.
The king looked at Dante with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
"Although it is rather unusual for an outsider to ask such a personal question, I suppose there is no harm in answering. I am forty-one years old, Maladeva."
With that, the king collected the documents he had brought into the chamber and made his way toward the exit.
"That will be all for now."
The doors closed behind him, leaving Dante alone with the two adventurers and the palace guards.
The moment the king was gone, the blue-skinned elf archer crossed her arms, her expression twisting into frustration.
"What were you thinking?"
Dante turned toward her.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed, kid?" she demanded.
The samurai man remained silent at the side, watching Dante with an unreadable expression. Unlike the elf, he made no immediate attempt to reprimand him, though his attention suggested that he was equally interested in hearing an explanation.
Dante glanced toward the closed doors before snapping his fingers.
A faint ripple of mana spread throughout the room. The surrounding air shimmered, and a translucent bubble formed around the three adventurers. The palace guards remained at their posts, completely unaware that a barrier had silently separated the trio from the outside world.
Within the bubble, their voices could no longer be heard by anyone beyond its boundaries.
"I have some intel on Ryu Shion Meilin," Dante began, lowering his voice. "And I think I understand why the king wants her dead."
The blue-skinned elf and the samurai exchanged glances before turning back toward him.
"Go on, Maladeva," the samurai said.
Dante proceeded to explain the rumors he had gathered concerning Ryu Shion Meilin and her connection to the Tianyu royal family. He carefully avoided revealing that he had met the Spider Queen personally, presenting the information as something he had pieced together through various reports and rumors.
According to what he had learned, Ryu Shion Meilin was believed to be the eldest and rightful heir to the throne. Her extraordinary age, said to exceed one hundred thousand years, was another source of speculation, raising questions about her origins and the true history of the dynasty.
The more Dante explained, the more the elf's expression changed.
"Huh. I knew something was fishy," she muttered.
Even the samurai man appeared troubled by the revelation.
"To think the Spider Queen might be the eldest and rightful heir to the throne," the blue-skinned elf said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "But a hundred thousand years old? How could someone live that long?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Dante replied.
He folded his arms, his expression thoughtful.
"For now, that's all I've got. What about your investigation at the immigration port?"
The blue-skinned elf let out a sigh before recounting the findings she had already explained earlier. The samurai man also provided his account, adding the details he had gathered during their investigation.
Despite their efforts, the reports still left several unanswered questions.
"I still can't figure out the dying message," the elf admitted, her frustration returning. "We've gone through everything we found at the port, but I can't make sense of what the victim was trying to tell us."
She turned toward Dante, hoping he might have discovered something they had overlooked.
"What about you? Have you figured anything out?"
Dante fell silent for a moment, considering the information he had gathered.
"I have a theory," he finally said. "The demon we're hunting might be a Commandment."
The samurai man narrowed his eyes.
"What makes you say that?"
Dante explained the information he had pieced together, carefully choosing his words without revealing the source of his knowledge. Based on the evidence surrounding the immigration port and the circumstances of the investigation, he suspected that the demon they were pursuing might be connected to an attempt to revive one of the greatest calamities in Tianyu's history.
The blue-skinned elf's expression immediately changed.
"You mean Calamithus?"
Dante looked at her in surprise.
"You know about it?"
The elf nodded.
"Yeah, a little. I've heard some things about Calamithus, but I don't know enough to draw any conclusions yet."
She glanced toward the chamber's closed doors, then lowered her voice.
"Whatever the case, this isn't something we should discuss inside the palace. We need somewhere more secluded, away from the royal officials and their informants."
She paused before suggesting a meeting place.
"Quan Xin Restaurant, on South Sixth Street. We'll meet there and discuss everything properly."
The samurai man gave a small nod of agreement.
Dante accepted the proposal, and the three adventurers agreed to meet later. With their discussion concluded, Dante dismissed the mana bubble, allowing the barrier to dissolve without attracting the attention of the palace guards.
Shortly afterward, they left the castle and went their separate ways.
---
Dante eventually returned to the Red Light District.
As he approached the place where his restaurant had once stood, he stopped in his tracks.
The building had been destroyed and vandalized. Broken timber littered the street, shattered windows lay scattered across the ground, and parts of the walls had collapsed inward. What remained of the entrance was barely recognizable, while the surrounding debris suggested that whoever had done this had taken considerable care to leave nothing intact.
Dante stared at the wreckage for several seconds.
"Well, shit," he muttered.
"Well, shit indeed, boy."
A familiar voice came from beside him.
Dante turned his head and found Ryu Shion Meilin standing next to him, her presence seemingly at ease despite the destruction. She looked over the ruined building with an expression that was difficult to read.
"Come," she said. "You can stay at my place, Maladeva, until everything settles down."
Dante glanced at her before looking back at his destroyed restaurant.
He let out a tired sigh.
"Fine. I guess I don't have much of a choice."
---
Several minutes later, Dante found himself walking through the corridors of Ryu Shion Meilin's towering restaurant.
The establishment was considerably larger than his own, with elegant furnishings, polished floors, and discreetly decorated corridors leading to private rooms. Staff members moved through the building with practiced efficiency, while the occasional customer passed by without paying much attention to their arrival.
Dante looked around as they continued walking.
"So, the rooms here are...?"
"Yes," Ryu Shion Meilin answered casually. "My girls provide escort services for customers who request them. However, I've prepared a special room for you. I had my girls clean it beforehand."
Dante gave a small nod, accepting the explanation without further comment.
Eventually, they arrived at a private room. Ryu Shion Meilin slid open the door, revealing a spacious interior furnished with three beds.
Before Dante could properly inspect the room, a familiar figure suddenly came rushing toward him.
"MASTERRRRR!"
Kaen leaped forward and crashed into Dante, wrapping her arms around him with enough force to make him stagger backward. Tears streamed down her face as she clung to him, trembling with relief.
"Uwaaaahhh! Master is alive!"
Dante's eyes widened as Kaen buried her face against him, sobbing uncontrollably.
"OKAY, CUT IT OUT! YOUR SNOT IS EVERYWHERE, DAMMIT!"
"UWWWAAAHHH!"
Kaen only cried louder, refusing to let go.
Ryu Shion Meilin watched the reunion with an amused chuckle, clearly entertained by the sight of the usually troublesome girl clinging to her master as though she would never see him again.
Dante, meanwhile, struggled to pry Kaen away from him without causing her any further distress.
"Kaen, seriously! I'm fine! Look at me! I'm standing right here!"
"But Master almost died!"
"And yet here I am!"
It took some time before Kaen finally calmed down. Dante eventually managed to settle her by giving her some delicious fish cakes, which immediately captured her attention. She sat down with the food, still sniffling occasionally but no longer wailing at the top of her lungs.
With the commotion finally over, Dante walked farther into the room.
His attention was drawn toward the balcony, where Farah stood alone, gazing out at the distant sky. Her posture was still, and her expression remained vacant, as though her mind had drifted somewhere far beyond the city around her.
"Lady Farah?" Dante called gently.
Farah turned at the sound of his voice.
"Oh, you're back?" she said, offering him a faint smile. "I'm glad."
She then turned back toward the sky, her expression gradually returning to its earlier emptiness.
Dante watched her in silence for a moment before Ryu Shion Meilin stepped beside him.
"She's beyond broken, Dante," the Spider Queen said quietly.
Dante remained silent, his eyes fixed on Farah.
"Perhaps it's the trauma caused by her past," Ryu Shion Meilin continued. "I've heard that Al-Rayan is at war with several neighboring small kingdoms. And from what I know about their military tactics..."
She paused, her expression twisting with disgust.
"They're worse than Cai Yok Tan. Men are killed, while women are turned into... factories. Even children aren't spared. The boys are trained for the coming wars, while the little girls..."
She stopped, unable to hide her revulsion.
"Don't tell me any more," Dante interrupted in a stern tone. "I get the picture."
His expression darkened. He had already seen enough cruelty to understand the kind of suffering Farah might have endured. Whatever had happened to her, it had left wounds that could not be healed simply by removing her from immediate danger.
Dante exhaled slowly before turning toward Ryu Shion Meilin.
"For now, what's the situation I'm in?"
The Spider Queen studied him for a moment before gesturing for him to follow.
"Come with me. There's something you need to see."
She led Dante away from the private room and through a secluded corridor. After passing several doors and descending a short flight of stairs, they reached a concealed passage hidden behind an inconspicuous section of the wall.
Ryu Shion Meilin opened the secret entrance and led him inside.
Beyond it lay a hidden chamber.
Three figures were already waiting there: the remaining Underworld Lords of Tianyu.
The Rat King immediately rose from his seat, his expression contorted with fury.
"Spider! What the hell are you doing?!"
The Wolf King also stood, his eyes narrowing as he noticed Dante entering behind her.
"Grr...! You dare bring that boy here?!"
Their hostility filled the chamber, and the tension quickly threatened to erupt into an argument.
Before either of them could continue, the Raven Queen struck the floor with her cane.
THUD!
The sharp impact echoed throughout the hidden chamber, silencing the room.
"Enough!" she commanded.
Her stern gaze settled upon Ryu Shion Meilin.
"Spider Queen, you know what's going to happen," the Raven Queen warned.
Ryu Shion Meilin nodded, acknowledging the implications of the Raven Queen's words. She then turned toward Dante, her expression growing serious.
"Maladeva, you should watch your back from now on," she said.
Dante raised an eyebrow, looking at her with curiosity rather than concern.
"Go on," he replied.
Ryu Shion Meilin took a deep breath before making her announcement in front of the three Underworld Lords, including herself.
"Maladeva, you are now a member of our syndicate."
Her declaration hung in the air, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
Dante had entered the Tianyu Dynasty as an outsider, but his actions had now drawn him into the heart of its underworld. With Cai Yok Tan dead and his position within the syndicate established, Dante was about to face a threat far worse than simply eliminating an Underworld Lord.
Meanwhile, far away in the northern lands, two human soldiers were conducting their routine patrol along the coastline. They walked side by side, keeping an eye on their surroundings while casually chatting to pass the time.
"Another quiet day, huh?" one of the soldiers remarked.
"Don't jinx it. The last time someone said that, we ended up chasing goblins through the mountains for three hours," the other replied.
The two continued their patrol, unaware that they were about to encounter something far beyond their expectations.
Up ahead, two demon scouts were conducting their own patrol along the same stretch of coastline. Neither side had noticed the other until they were practically face-to-face.
Both groups stopped.
The humans stared at the demons.
The demons stared back at the humans.
For a brief moment, all four individuals stood motionless, their expressions frozen in mutual disbelief.
Then, as though acting on instinct, the two human soldiers reached for their weapons while the demon scouts unsheathed theirs.
Neither side seemed particularly pleased with the unexpected encounter.
"Humans!" one of the demons growled.
"Demons!" one of the soldiers shouted.
The four prepared to attack, their bodies tensing as they braced themselves for the inevitable clash.
Step.
Step.
Step.
A strange sound interrupted them.
All four paused.
Their heads slowly turned toward the sea.
Something was emerging from beneath the water.
At first, they saw only ripples spreading across the surface. Then, a shadow began to rise from the depths, its silhouette growing larger as it approached the shoreline. Water cascaded from its enormous body as it stepped onto the shallow seabed.
Its skin was blue and covered in scales. Its face resembled a grotesque fusion of a lizard and a dragon, while a trident rested firmly in its grasp. An ancient, suffocating presence emanated from the creature, sending a chill through everyone who laid eyes on it.
The demon scouts reacted first.
Their expressions changed instantly, and they abandoned their aggressive stances toward the human soldiers. Instead, they turned toward the approaching creature, raising their weapons in a desperate attempt to defend themselves.
One of the demons glanced at the human scouts.
"You two, go!"
The soldiers stared at him in confusion.
"What?"
"You don't know who they are! They're from before the war!" the demon shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "GO! Warn your people! Unless you want to stay here and die!"
The two human soldiers exchanged bewildered glances.
They had expected the demons to attack them, not warn them about something far more dangerous. For a brief moment, they hesitated, struggling to understand why their supposed enemies were urging them to flee.
The creature continued advancing.
Its scaled feet pressed against the wet sand, leaving deep impressions as it finally stepped onto dry land. The water dripping from its body formed small puddles around its feet, while its cold gaze swept across the four scouts.
Then it spoke.
"Are you..." The creature paused, its voice low and grim. "...the strong ones?"
The words sent a chill down the spines of the demon scouts.
Before anyone could respond, one of the demons lunged forward, launching a desperate attack against the creature.
"KHUAGH!"
The sound of his death rang out almost immediately.
The demon's body crumpled to the ground in a single, decisive strike. The creature had moved so quickly that the others barely registered what had happened.
In the same instant, the surviving demon grabbed both human soldiers and bolted away from the shoreline.
"Run!" he roared.
The soldiers barely had time to react before the demon dragged them along, sprinting at full speed in an attempt to escape the approaching horror.
But their escape was short-lived.
The creature vanished from its original position.
A heartbeat later, it appeared directly in front of the fleeing group.
The demon's eyes widened.
Before he could change direction, the creature swung its trident.
The weapon flashed through the air, cutting through the fleeing scouts with terrifying precision. Blood splattered across the sand, and the bodies of the fallen collapsed in a heap. The creature's movements were so swift and effortless that the entire slaughter seemed to unfold in a single instant.
When the movement finally ceased, the shoreline had become a scene of carnage.
The creature looked down at the fallen bodies, its expression devoid of emotion.
"Hmm... no."
It raised its head and continued walking inland, dragging the tip of its trident across the ground.
"Where is the strong one...?"
Its voice drifted across the desolate coastline as it left the gruesome scene behind.
However, one of the surviving demons had managed to stagger away from the massacre. Barely able to stand, he summoned the last remnants of his strength and retrieved a magical orb.
His hands trembled as he channeled his remaining mana into the artifact. A magical portal opened before him, its surface rippling with unstable energy.
The demon coughed violently, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He knew he had little time left.
With trembling fingers, he activated the orb and attempted to transmit an urgent message to both humanity and the demon forces.
"To both humans and demons..." he gasped, his voice breaking. "This is not a warning... nor a false message..."
He struggled to draw another breath, his vision blurring as he fought to remain conscious.
"Naga...rians... Nagas... nag... return..."
His voice faded into a series of broken whispers.
Summoning the last of his strength, the demon crushed the magical orb in half and hurled the fragments into the portal.
The artifact's remnants passed through the unstable opening, splitting into two separate destinations.
One fragment emerged within the Valekoris Kingdom.
The other arrived at the Demon Citadel.
Both carried the same desperate message.
A forgotten threat had returned.
And the northern lands were about to face a nightmare that neither humanity nor the demons had seen in ages.
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Chapter 69 — End.