The difference between Elemental Empress and Elemental Queen wasn't significant.
If anything, Elemental Empress carried a touch more prestige.
"Compared to Treyni, Snow Empress, you'd actually be better suited to deal with the Sorcerous Dynasty of Sarion."
"The Sorcerous Dynasty of Sarion?"
Snow Empress nodded. "I can handle it."
"No, no, I was just joking."
Damien had no intention of changing his strategy.
Sending a True Demon Lord to target the Sorcerous Dynasty of Sarion would be overkill.
And given Snow Empress's personality...
If she were tasked with handling the Sorcerous Dynasty of Sarion, it might end in a bloodbath.
In this regard, Snow Empress and Testarossa were cut from the same cloth.
Neither cared much for human lives.
To fulfill Damien's orders, they wouldn't hesitate to use extreme measures.
"Snow, don't steal my sisters' spotlight."
Treyni approached Snow Empress, speaking warmly. "They need a chance to shine too, please."
"Fine."
Perhaps because they were both of the Elementals, Snow Empress got along fairly well with Treyni.
Indeed, diplomacy was best left to the Dryad sisters.
Aside from Artoria, Damien didn't dare let the others loose so easily.
"You've all become True Demon Lords, your status now above the Four Heavenly Kings."
"Thus, I grant you the title of 'Kings.'"
Following the Four Heavenly Kings, Damien established a new title: the 'Eight Kings.'
The Eight Kings, inspired by a group of demon siblings from Blue Exorcist, children of the final boss, Satan.
King of Oni - Ogerpon
King of Star - Artoria
King of Daemon - Diablo
King of Nature - Snow Empress
King of Slaughter - Testarossa
King of Cruelty - Ultima
King of Ruin - Carrera
King of Celestial - Treyni
King of Skies - Frey
Just as the Four Heavenly Kings had five members, the Eight Kings had nine.
However, since Frey had her own nation, she remained a hidden figure among the Eight Kings, unknown to outsiders.
"That's all for now."
"The details will be handled by Violet."
After concluding the awakening assessments, Damien turned his attention to the Sealed Cave in the western Jura Forest.
There, two true dragon sharing his bloodline awaited his visit.
"Are you going alone?"
Snow Empress was concerned and wanted to follow, but Damien stopped her.
"This is different from before."
To put it bluntly, this was a family gathering.
A sibling dinner... why bring a bunch of underlings?
Even if a fight broke out, Damien didn't need his familiars' help.
Conquering Velzard and Veldora with his own strength would solidify his standing among the true dragon.
Cowering would only make him seem petty.
Moreover, Violet had told him about Velzard's voluntary protection of the forest, which improved Damien's view of her significantly, easing his previous reluctance.
He decided to acknowledge her gesture.
"But since she invited me, she'd better offer something worthwhile to satisfy me."
Velzard wanted Damien to call her 'nee-sama,' but Damien aimed to subdue both her and Veldora, making them guardian dragons of the Monster Kingdom.
Thus, this battle was crucial.
"Then, we wish you great success!"
Diablo knew what Damien was about to do. Meeting other true dragon wasn't something they could interfere with.
"Go get 'em!"
Ogerpon raised a fist in a cheering gesture.
"Don't worry, I'll win."
Damien casually set a flag with confidence.
With that, he left the resting town and headed toward the Sealed Cave in the west.
His movements were swift.
Though he appeared to walk, each step was like teleportation, impossible to track.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Damien paused.
He sensed human presences in the forest.
"Such a coincidence?"
Damien quickly identified them.
It was none other than Ellen's team and Shizue Izawa, guided by Treyni to their rescue.
"Huff... huff..."
"That was close, so close to death!"
"Miss Shizu, waaah~"
Ellen clung tightly to Shizue Izawa, tears and snot streaming down. "Thank you so much! If it weren't for you, we'd be dead, waaah~"
"Uh..."
Shizue Izawa was at a loss, faintly annoyed.
Rustle!
No, don't wipe that on me!!
But seeing how genuinely terrified Ellen was, Shizue couldn't bring herself to say something harsh.
She continued comforting her, hoping Ellen would calm down soon.
"Should I check it out?"
In no rush to confront Velzard, Damien thought for a moment and walked forward without hesitation.
He no longer needed to be as cautious as before.
In the cardinal world, nothing could make him wary.
This was the confidence granted by his two God-tier Ultimate Skills!
"Who's there?!"
The moment Damien dropped his aura concealment, Shizue Izawa sensed him and immediately demanded answers.
"Someone?"
"There's actually someone!"
"An adventurer? Exploring like us?"
Ellen's team looked in surprise at the young man emerging from the forest, giving them an oddly elusive feeling.
Despite standing there, he seemed shrouded in a hazy mist, hard to see clearly.
"Who are you?"
Unlike the trio, Shizue Izawa had decades of adventuring experience, far surpassing theirs.
The moment Damien appeared, her instincts screamed a warning.
Not just her... even Ifrit, the Greater Elemental of Flame residing in her, hid deep within her soul out of fear.
'A monster!'
'Absolutely, absolutely, we cannot oppose him!'
Shizue wasn't new to the Jura Forest.
But a being like Damien? She'd never encountered one in her life.
No, she'd never even imagined one!
"Huff... huff..."
Damien's presence made her head spin with dizziness.
Gritting her teeth, she forced down her fear and positioned herself protectively in front of the trio.
'I can't sense his magicules.'
'Is he hiding them?'
Shizue drew her sword, fully embodying the role of a seasoned adventurer.
"Miss Shizu?"
"Stay quiet!"
Shizue's tone was grave. "This guy is beyond your ability to handle."
***
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