Chapter 15: Sudden Change
In the winter of the year 10034 on the Yulan calendar, the Emperor of the Luoao Empire, ‘Gafoni’, was having a very difficult time.
“Your Majesty.” Gafoni’s most beloved consort, a mere eighteen years old and a water-style magus, nestled against him. She deliberately rubbed her firm chest against Gafoni’s body. His Majesty Gafoni was also a level-seven warrior, and his physique was fairly strong.
In the past, he would have already pressed this beauty beneath him.
But today, he had no mood for it.
“Get out, get out!” His Majesty Gafoni impatiently shoved the beautiful consort away.
The brown-haired beauty stumbled back two steps, barely managing to force a smile before bowing respectfully and withdrawing.
A beauty?
The empire was on the verge of collapse—how could he possibly have the mood for a beauty and…?
“All of you, get out! All of you!!!” Gafoni swept his arm violently, sending books, documents, and decorations from the table in front of him flying across the room, crashing onto the marble floor of the study. The maids and court attendants, terrified, immediately withdrew with respectful bows.
“This Baruch Empire is too arrogant. Too arrogant!” Gafoni’s eyes blazed with fury, but sweat beaded on his forehead.
He was enraged!
Yet he felt powerless.
“Why? Why has it come to this?” Gafoni’s heart churned with anxiety and helplessness. “Why have all the Saint-level experts of my Luoao Empire abandoned me, disappearing one by one? Are they afraid of that Linley? Linley has only been famous for a few decades—what’s there to fear?”
Gafoni cursed aloud.
But he knew full well that he could only curse with his mouth.
Faced with the relentless advance of the Baruch Empire’s army, he had no recourse. The Saint-level experts of his own empire had vanished as if they had disappeared. The only one loyal to the royal family had been turned into a pulp by a single tail swipe from a Saint-level Tyrannosaurus Rex on the battlefield.
He had no Saint-level experts to command!
“What do I do? What do I do? Is my Luoao Empire really going to be destroyed like this?” Gafoni truly didn’t know what to do.
Ever since learning that the Yulan Empire, the O’Brien Empire, and the Baruch Empire had joined forces, many of the Luoao Empire’s Saint-level experts had vanished without a trace. After all, those Saint-level experts understood that the alliance of these three empires was equivalent to—
The combined might of the War God, the High Priest, and Linley!
Not long ago, news of Linley and his forces destroying the Holy Island of the Radiant Church might not have been clear to the common people, but most Saint-level experts knew of it. Even the deeply entrenched Radiant Church had been annihilated. The Saint-level experts of the Luoao Empire also knew that resisting would be nothing more than throwing away their lives.
Naturally, none of them came to see His Majesty Gafoni or heed his commands.
Without Saint-level experts, the scales of war had long tipped in Linley’s favor.
“An empire that has stood for thousands of years—is it really going to be lost on my watch?” Gafoni was anguished and helpless. That afternoon, news had come from the front lines that another city had been captured by the Baruch Empire. Although the army had fought desperately to hold the line…
The enemy had three Saint-level dragons!
Even though those three Saint-level dragons hadn’t done much slaughtering or attacking, just the sight of a Saint-level dragon flying out and killing two or three enemy leaders was enough to crush their own side’s morale. Many soldiers, upon seeing the Saint-level dragons, were so terrified their legs gave out.
How could they fight this war?
“You’re Gafoni, aren’t you?” A hoarse voice rang out in the study.
Gafoni, who had been venting wildly, felt his heart clench in terror. This was his study, and the door was closed. There were guards posted outside. The door hadn’t opened, and there was no sound at all.
Yet someone was inside the study.
Suppressing his fear, Gafoni looked toward the source of the voice.
Two lean men in ordinary short-sleeved shirts stood there. Wearing short sleeves in winter wasn’t strange—even Gafoni, as a level-seven warrior, could manage it. What terrified Gafoni most was their eyes. They had a fierce, predatory look, as if they wanted to devour someone.
Though the two men hadn’t made a move, their every gesture exuded a cold, ruthless aura.
“You… how did you get in?” Gafoni asked in a panicked voice.
“How did we get in?” One of the lean, bald men sneered. “Simple. We killed the guards outside, opened the door, came in, and closed it again. That’s all.”
“Opened the door? Closed it?” Gafoni found it hard to believe.
He had been right there in the study, yet he hadn’t noticed the door opening or closing at all.
Gafoni was deeply frightened. The cold killing intent radiating from the two men made his mind race: “Could they be here to kill me? Sent by that Linley?” In Gafoni’s view, anyone who could command such powerful men and wanted him dead was likely the legendary Linley.
“Gafoni, listen carefully,” the bald, lean man sneered. “Us brothers coming here is your good fortune.”
“Good fortune? I’ve hit the worst luck possible,” Gafoni cursed inwardly, but he dared not show any displeasure on his face, fearing that if they got angry, they might actually kill him.
The other lean man had a head of short, steel-needle-like golden hair. The golden-haired man glanced at Gafoni and said coldly, “Our conditions are simple. First, you grant us both the title of duke. Second, give us a few thousand maids and servants to use as we please. In return, we’ll take care of those three annoying Saint-level dragons for you.”
Gafoni blinked twice, staring blankly at the two men.
He was stunned.
“Didn’t you hear me?” the bald, lean man barked in dissatisfaction.
In truth, the two brothers had spent over five thousand years in the Gebados Planar Prison, living a life worse than dogs and pigs.
In the Gebados Planar Prison, Saint-level peak experts were the weakest of the weak. They lived in constant fear, day after day, worrying that the next day they’d be killed by someone else. The prison had no elemental aura, so they couldn’t replenish the energy they expended. The only way to recover was to kill other experts and refine the energy crystals within their bodies.
Saint-level experts fought and killed each other.
As for encountering Deity-level experts, they could only tremble and obey their commands. If a Deity-level expert wanted to torment them, they dared not resist. Moreover, the natural environment of the Gebados Planar Prison was extremely dangerous. A single misstep could mean death.
Worse than dogs and pigs!
Living on edge!
Their nerves were always stretched taut!
Even the Deity-level expert ‘Dilin’ found it painful there. For Saint-level experts, it was endless torment.
Now, in the vast Gebados Planar Prison, they had discovered a weak spot in the spatial barrier. Risking their lives, they had broken through and escaped. They had returned to the mortal world. Over five thousand years of a dog’s life had driven them nearly mad.
Now, they wanted to throw their weight around, to have others obey their commands, to live a life above everyone else.
“Two lords, are you saying… you want me to make you dukes, give you thousands of maids and servants, and in return, you’ll deal with the Saint-level dragons for me?” Gafoni could hardly believe it. He felt as if a pie had fallen from the sky and hit him.
“That’s right. What, not willing?” The bald, lean man frowned.
“Willing, how could I not be willing?” Gafoni quickly said. “Two lords, rest assured. A few thousand maids and servants? No problem at all. Even ten thousand maids and servants would be fine. Dukes? Forget dukes—I’d even make you kings without royal blood!”
Heavens!
His Luoao Empire was being slowly devoured, step by step, on the verge of destruction. Now two powerful experts had appeared. What did Gafoni have to hold back?
Ten thousand maids and servants? Even buying them from the slave market wouldn’t cost much.
“Excellent.” The two men both smiled.
“But two lords, those three Saint-level dragons are extremely powerful. And behind them is an even stronger Saint-level expert named Linley.” Gafoni watched the two men carefully, worried whether they could stand against Linley’s side.
After all, Linley’s deeds were too shocking—especially the destruction of the Holy Island.
“Linley? What’s that?” The golden-haired man’s eyes showed disdain.
“Is he Saint-level?” the bald, lean man asked coldly.
“Yes, of course. The only Deity-level experts in human society are the War God and the High Priest.” Gafoni didn’t yet know that Hise had reached the Deity level.
“Hmph. Don’t worry. As long as he’s Saint-level, we can handle him,” the golden-haired man said confidently.
In the Gebados Planar Prison, surviving over five thousand years through countless battles already proved their strength. In a place like that, the weak had long since died. They were Saint-level limit experts who had gained insights through endless slaughter.
Gafoni’s eyes lit up.
“Then, two lords, please stay in the palace tonight. I will make sure everything is arranged for you.” Gafoni was extremely deferential in the presence of these two experts.
“Mm.” Both men nodded in satisfaction.
They now enjoyed being treated with respect. They loved the feeling of being above others. Over five thousand years of a dog’s life had deeply affected their minds and hearts.
The Baruch Empire’s army had split into two forces, both of which had already pierced deep into the Luoao Empire.
“Roar——”
A massive, winding Thunder Dragon, over a hundred meters long, hovered in midair. Its earth-shaking roar echoed through the city below. The Saint-level Thunder Dragon could see the enemy defenders on the city walls trembling in fear.
Below, the soldiers of the Baruch Empire’s army wore excited, triumphant smiles.
With a Saint-level dragon helping them, capturing cities and territories was effortless.
“Saint-level Thunder Dragon?” A disdainful shout rang out. A lean, bald man in an exquisite, gold-embroidered robe flew up from within the city. His fierce, predatory eyes locked onto the hovering Saint-level Thunder Dragon.
“A Saint-level expert has appeared?” The Saint-level Thunder Dragon was actually delighted. It had been a long time since it had encountered a Saint-level expert. Its eyes, as large as carriage wheels, fixed on the expert before it.
But upon closer inspection, the Thunder Dragon grew wary.
The natural, fierce aura emanating from the man’s every move made the Thunder Dragon sense a threat.
Over five thousand years of constant vigilance, always ready to fight for survival, had ingrained that fierce aura into them.
“Go back and tell Linley to be smart and withdraw his army. Otherwise…” The bald, lean man’s voice boomed like thunder across the sky. He showed no regard for Linley at all. “Every Saint-level expert you send, I’ll kill.”
“Shut up!” the Saint-level Thunder Dragon roared in anger.
Below, the massive army of the Baruch Empire also erupted in fury. In their hearts, Linley was invincible.
“Hmph!” The bald, lean man sneered, then transformed into a bolt of lightning, charging at the Thunder Dragon.
The Saint-level Thunder Dragon roared in response, turning into a streak of cyan lightning as it shot forward. In midair, the two Saint-level experts—one a magical beast, the other a human—clashed in an instant. The Thunder Dragon’s greatest strength was its speed, rivaling even Bebe’s.
“Ridiculous!” A contemptuous shout rang out.
The bald, lean man’s right leg swung like a massive guillotine, slamming viciously into the Thunder Dragon’s tail. With a crack of breaking bones, the Thunder Dragon’s tailbone shattered. The Thunder Dragon’s massive body was sent hurtling downward like a meteor, crashing heavily into the ground.
“Boom!” The Thunder Dragon smashed a huge crater into the earth, the ground cracking open.
“Die.” The bald, lean man dove straight down from the sky.
“Swoosh!” The Saint-level Thunder Dragon moved, instantly launching itself into the air and fleeing northward, blood dripping from its tail onto the ground below.
The bald, lean man stood by the crater, looking up at the escaping Thunder Dragon.
“Its speed isn’t bad, but it’s too weak. It couldn’t even withstand one of my attacks.” The bald, lean man was utterly dismissive. How many Saint-level experts had he killed in the Gebados Planar Prison? A Thunder Dragon of this caliber was beneath his notice.