Kursiu and Anastasia looked grim. Finally, Kursiu dropped her longsword to the ground, and Anastasia ceased her resistance. Both had no chance of winning.
"I'm really starting to like you more and more," Lucien said.
Four black thorns emerged from Lucien's coccyx, wrapping around the two women in mid-air. The sharp tips pierced their chests, injecting blood as they fell to the floor in agony, curling and twitching continuously. Neither woman was ordinary, and after a minute of struggling, their bodies fully transformed into demonic forms. Purple diamond eyes replaced their own, while patterns of cracks spread across their bodies.
"Clap," Lucien snapped his fingers. Golden lightning surged through the dilapidated reception room, and Julius, Wilhelm, and Filis' bodies melted into steam before reforming. Confusion flickered in their eyes, but consciousness gradually returned.
Lucien did not allow them to recover completely. Six black thorns pierced their backs, flooding them with hot blood. Within moments, their pupils turned into purple diamonds. As the Founding Titan and Founding Demon, Lucien had absolute control over the Titans and Demons he created. No one had yet resisted his command.
That evening, Kursiu and her group departed Priscilla's mansion, carrying Lucien's orders.
"Master," Priscilla said, bringing red tea to the bath. She entered alongside Lucien, her dress falling gracefully to the ground. Lucien leaned back against the bathtub, smoking a cigar and reflecting on the intelligence obtained from Kursiu and the others.
It was about Reinhardt, the cheat. The more Lucien learned, the more he realized this man was a true anomaly. Over forty types of divine protections rendered him nearly invincible, especially the Phoenix divine protection. Each revival strengthened him, making him unkillable, as he could revive like a phoenix repeatedly.
"I hope he won't oppose me," Lucien muttered, exhaling a smoke ring, before wrapping his arms around Priscilla and guiding her into the water like a dragon entering the sea.
Seven days passed in a blink. During this time, Natsuki Subaru remained under surveillance within the Royal Capital, lodging in a tavern. In the first four days, Kursiu, Anastasia, Julius, and others had effectively controlled the kingdom's upper echelons, transforming many into demons. Even the Sage Council, governing on behalf of the absent king, had fallen under their influence.
In essence, the Kingdom of Lugnica was now under Lucien's control. It was time to execute the next phase of his plan.
East Street bustled with citizens. Natsuki Subaru sought work to support himself. As he brushed past someone, he felt a sudden tearing pain in his eyes and neck. Blood gushed out, and he collapsed. In an instant, the street was stained red.
Lucien watched from a house above. Suddenly, Natsuki Subaru opened his eyes in his bed, with Priscilla sleeping beside him.
"Three days ago," he realized. His save point had reset to this moment, no longer at Roswaal's mansion.
Natsuki Subaru woke in his tavern room, preparing to leave. "I died once," he muttered, stunned by the repetition.
As he exited, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl brushed past him. Instantly, a dagger pierced his abdomen, turning red as searing pain shot to his brain. He collapsed again, seeing a pair of purple diamond eyes. Return by Death activated, and he was transported back to the tavern, barely ten minutes after his last attempt.
"Those eyes… impossible," Subaru whispered. Fear gripped him. Those eyes reminded him of someone he knew, yet the attacker was a young girl he had never encountered. This time, Subaru resolved to stay hidden in the tavern.
Ten minutes later, a knock sounded at the door.
"Who's there?"
"Room service," came the reply. Subaru opened the door, only to be met with a flash of light and a sudden strike to his neck. Blood sprayed, and a cat-eared maid with purple diamond eyes appeared. Return by Death activated again, placing him ten minutes prior.
"Damn it, they've tracked me to the tavern," Subaru groaned.
Three consecutive deaths reminded him of his twenty-six previous deaths at Roswaal's mansion. The pattern was identical. He could not remain there.
Desperation pushed him out the window. He ran through alleys, searching for an escape. Eventually, he reached the city gate, hoping for freedom. Every guard he glanced at, however, bore the same purple diamond eyes.
"Pfft…" Spears impaled him like a hedgehog, blood staining the ground.
By the sixth return, Subaru despaired. By the thirtieth, he had died countless times, killed by beggars, merchants, women, youths, cat-eared individuals, and lizardmen. Every direction held enemies, all centered around this tavern.
Even hiding, escaping, and attacking dozens of people failed to change the outcome.
"Bang! Bang!" Another knock echoed. Subaru grabbed a stool, ready to strike. But eight lizardmen violently kicked the door open. Subaru fought bravely, defeating two before being overwhelmed. This time, the attackers did not kill him immediately.