Chapter 71
Inside Dante's dreamscape, Kilamahi put him through some gruesome training. What felt like merely one hour of sleep in the real world was equivalent to a hundred days of hellish training within his dreamscape. Every moment was spent pushing his body and mind beyond their limits, leaving him utterly exhausted.
"Alright, since you've completed the basic training for a hundred days, we'll begin the real training now."
"Puak!"
Dante nearly choked on his own breath, coughing as he struggled to catch his breath. His entire body was drenched in sweat, and his muscles trembled from exhaustion. He stared at Kilamahi in disbelief, unable to comprehend what he had just heard.
"YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS WASN'T THE REAL TRAINING, WOMAN?!"
Kilamahi slowly turned her head towards him. Her expression remained calm, but a dangerous glint flashed in her eyes. She clenched her fist, cracking her knuckles before giving him a cold glare.
"Would you like to try raising your voice against me, child?"
Dante immediately froze. He swallowed whatever words he had left and slowly lowered his head.
"...I'm shutting up."
"Good boy."
Kilamahi nodded in satisfaction, seemingly pleased with his response.
And so, Dante continued his training under Kilamahi's guidance, focusing on building a proper foundation. She corrected his posture, movements, breathing, and control over his abilities, making sure that not a single technique was performed carelessly. Whenever he made a mistake, she would immediately point it out and force him to repeat the exercise until he got it right.
There were moments when Dante thought he had finally gotten the hang of something, only for Kilamahi to find another flaw in his technique. She showed no mercy, occasionally knocking him flat on his back whenever he became too confident. Despite the constant punishment, Dante gradually began to understand the importance of proper fundamentals and discipline.
After observing his progress, Kilamahi eventually decided to move on to something more specialised.
"Alright, I've been observing how you've been using your chain blades over the past year, including during that invasion. So, I'll teach you how to properly wield them as a chain blader."
She paused for a moment, recalling something from the distant past.
"One of the first Aldermen I created was also a chain blader. He was quite the madman, indeed. Now, take out your Vermillion."
Dante nodded and extended his hand. Crimson energy gathered around his palm before materialising into his Vermillion chain blades. The weapons appeared with their familiar crimson glow, their chains rattling softly as they settled into his grasp.
Kilamahi approached him and took the weapons from his hands, examining them with genuine interest. She inspected the blades, followed the length of their chains, and carefully studied their construction. Her fingers traced the intricate craftsmanship before she began testing their weight and balance.
"My, what a fine masterpiece. Three modes, huh? The chains, the katana, and a scythe."
She examined each transformation, shifting the weapons between their different forms. A faint smile appeared on her face as she appreciated the versatility of their design.
"Interesting. Whoever created these certainly understood how to make a weapon adaptable to different combat situations."
After finishing her inspection, she casually tossed the Vermillion back towards Dante.
He caught both weapons with ease, their chains briefly swinging through the air before settling around his arms.
"Alright. Come at me with everything you've got. Don't hold back just because I'm a woman. Don't forget who I am. I'm the Goddess of War, the head goddess of the Alderman House. Now, COME AT ME!"
Her voice echoed throughout the vast dreamscape.
Dante tightened his grip around the Vermillion, his expression gradually changing from exhaustion to determination. He lowered his stance, allowing the chains to hang loosely from his hands before taking a deep breath.
"Alright, don't blame me if you get hurt."
Kilamahi raised an eyebrow.
"Such confidence. Let's see how long that lasts."
Without another word, Dante launched himself towards her.
The first exchange began with a swift slash from his katana form, aimed directly at Kilamahi's shoulder. She effortlessly tilted her body aside, allowing the blade to pass by before delivering a quick strike towards his abdomen. Dante twisted his waist and barely managed to avoid the attack, immediately swinging his second blade towards her exposed side.
Kilamahi caught the incoming weapon with her bare hand.
"Too predictable."
Before Dante could react, she pulled him forward and drove her knee into his stomach. His body folded from the impact, sending him crashing across the ground.
"Ugh!"
"Again!"
Dante gritted his teeth and pushed himself back up. This time, he switched to the chain mode, sending both blades flying towards her from different angles. The chains twisted through the air, attempting to restrict her movements while the blades approached from opposite directions.
Kilamahi stepped between them with almost insulting ease. She grabbed one chain, redirected its momentum, and used it to pull Dante off balance.
He quickly released the tension on the other chain, allowing the second blade to circle around from behind. However, Kilamahi simply ducked beneath it before striking him across the chest.
"Your weapons are extensions of your body, Dante. Don't treat them like separate objects. Understand their movements, their weight, and their momentum. A chain blader who cannot control his own weapon will eventually become its victim."
Dante absorbed her words, even as he struggled to regain his footing.
The training continued with relentless intensity. He experimented with different combinations, switching between the katana, chain, and scythe forms to create unpredictable attack patterns. Kilamahi responded to every technique, countering his movements and exposing the slightest openings in his defence.
Whenever he relied too heavily on one form, she forced him to adapt. Whenever he became careless, she punished him for it. Even when Dante managed to land a successful strike, she would immediately increase the difficulty, refusing to let him become complacent.
The process repeated countless times.
Days turned into hundreds, and hundreds eventually became a thousand.
Within his dreamscape, Dante spent another thousand days perfecting all three modes of the Vermillion. He fought Kilamahi through countless battles, each one pushing his understanding of chain-blade combat further than before. Their sparring sessions were often fought to the death, with Dante repeatedly falling before getting back up and challenging her again.
By the end of it, his movements had become considerably more refined. His transitions between the three forms were smoother, his control over the chains more precise, and his attacks far more deliberate. He no longer wasted unnecessary movements, learning to make every swing, strike, and movement count.
"Good. You're getting better, Dante. Your foundation is very strong, and you've built it with proper discipline."
Kilamahi looked at him proudly, a satisfied smile appearing on her face.
Dante stood before her, breathing heavily but managing to maintain his composure. His Vermillion rested in his hands, the crimson chains gently swaying with his movements.
"Now, for the two forms. The Wargod and the Asura forms as well." She said.
"You mean Asura's Wrath? I was kinda surprised myself, too, actually," said Dante.
"Of course. Even I was surprised. Asura's Wrath is not something that can be easily earned, Dante."
Dante nodded before beginning his transformation. His body gradually shifted as he entered his Wargod form. This time, however, there was no struggle or hesitation. He was perfectly synchronised with the transformation, maintaining complete control over the immense mana pressure surging within him.
His skin turned white, while black, scorched-like tattoos spread across his body. A garland of skulls adorned his appearance, accompanied by black hakama trousers and tall, lace-bound black boots. His eyes turned completely white, without any visible irises or pupils, giving him an almost otherworldly appearance.
Kilamahi examined him from head to toe, nodding in satisfaction.
"Perfect. You're in complete control, successfully channelling all that mana pressure within you. I suppose having an infinite mana foundation made it considerably easier for you."
Dante looked at his transformed hands, clenching and unclenching his fists as he familiarised himself with the immense power flowing through his body.
"Alright, let's move on to Asura's Wrath now."
He took a deep breath before attempting to enter his second form. His body began responding to his intentions, but something felt different. He tried channelling more mana, attempting to force the transformation to take shape.
"Hrk!"
His muscles tightened as he struggled to bring forth the power. However, no matter how hard he tried, the transformation refused to manifest.
"Don't force yourself, kid. Like I said, the Asura's Wrath form isn't that simple. It requires an enormous amount of rage, just like what you experienced back then against Akka at Járnheimr a year ago."
Dante gritted his teeth, making one final attempt before eventually releasing his concentration. His shoulders slumped as he exhaled heavily, clearly exhausted from the failed attempt.
Kilamahi approached him, placing a hand on her hip as she looked at the boy.
"Look, Dante. You don't have to prove anything to me, boy. This goddess isn't the type of being who expects perfection from others, okay?" she asked.
"Okay," Dante answered, nodding slightly.
"Good. Rest for a while. Next, I'll teach you another technique. One that could take a hundred, perhaps even a thousand years, to perfect."
Dante raised his head, his curiosity slowly returning despite his exhaustion.
"And that is?"
"Kharvane."
Dante tilted his head slightly.
"Kharvane? What is that?"
Kilamahi smiled faintly before beginning to prepare the dreamscape around them.
"Kharvane is a release of your true power. It takes shape from your entire livelihood, from your birth to your rise. Your upbringing itself will shape what your Kharvane becomes, kid."
Kilamahi continued explaining the technique, adding that only Aldermen could achieve Kharvane. It was a unique trait exclusive to their kind, something she had deliberately ensured would remain that way.
"So yeah, basically, I made sure no one else could possess this trait," she said.
She finally finished arranging the dreamscape, creating a suitable environment for Dante's next stage of training. Satisfied with her preparations, she turned towards him and crossed her arms.
"Alright, enough chit-chat. I'll make sure you achieve Kharvane within nine hours, which is approximately nine hundred days in this dreamscape. So, get to it."
Dante stared at her for a moment, his expression slowly turning into one of disbelief.
"You're insane..." he muttered under his breath.
Despite his frustration, he paid her no further attention and began his training. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for yet another gruelling experience under the Goddess of War's supervision.
Meanwhile, inside the Tianyu Palace, the King of Tianyu entered the royal library. The enormous chamber was lined with countless shelves of ancient scriptures, historical records, and forgotten knowledge accumulated over thousands of years.
However, something immediately caught his attention.
A lone figure stood before one of the bookshelves, quietly examining an ancient scripture. The figure appeared completely unbothered by his surroundings, casually turning through its pages as though he were in his own residence.
The King narrowed his eyes.
"Funny. You have the audacity to come here after so many years, Guang Dei Long..."
The dark figure didn't turn to face him. Instead, he calmly turned another page, continuing to study the scripture in his hands.
"Oh, please. Is that how you greet me, brother?"
The figure finally closed the scripture and turned around. He slowly walked forward, allowing the light of the library to reveal his appearance.
It was Ceylon, the Commandment of Reverence.
The two brothers stood face to face, separated by countless years of history and an unresolved past.
King Gu Dao Duolong stared at him with a hardened expression, his eyes carrying a mixture of resentment and exhaustion.
"You haven't changed after what you did. We're all still trapped in this curse you placed upon Tianyu a hundred thousand years ago."
The King said, but Ceylon retorted in a calm, almost uncaring tone.
"A small price to pay for the greatest result."
He casually walked past his brother, showing little regard for the King's presence.
"How are you here? The Demon Race and the God Race should have been sealed during the Great War," King Gu Dao Duolong questioned, turning his head to follow Ceylon's movements.
"A certain human broke the seal. I don't know why, nor do I particularly care. My only concern is fulfilling my own purpose under my mistress's leadership," Ceylon replied, referring to Ingrid Von Balmung.
"What do you actually want?" the King demanded.
Ceylon stopped walking and glanced over his shoulder.
"I only came for what's mine. My original quest has always remained the same. What else could it be? The death of Tianyu and the rise of my greatest creation."
The King's expression darkened.
"You're joking! After all these years, you're still craving vengeance for what Father did to you?! He should have killed you instead of sparing you! He saved your life!"
For a brief moment, Ceylon remained silent. His expression twisted, and the calm demeanour he had maintained finally shattered.
"HE TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!!!"
His furious roar echoed throughout the library.
"Stepson? STEPSON?! I WAS NOTHING BUT A PAWN IN HIS STUPID, SIMPLE-MINDED GAME THAT YOU AND SHION NEVER KNEW ABOUT!"
His metallic fingernails dug into his palms as his mana began surging around him. The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive, causing the ancient scriptures and surrounding bookshelves to tremble.
"And this time, I will destroy everything he has built and rebuild it under my own vision. The true Tianyu Dynasty!"
Ceylon unleashed his powers, releasing an overwhelming wave of mana that swept through the royal library.
"GUARDS!" King Gu Dao Duolong roared.
He immediately summoned his blade, its mana gathering along the edge as he prepared for the incoming threat.
Ceylon turned towards him, and in the next instant, the two brothers clashed their mana-infused weapons.
BOOOOM!
The impact unleashed a tremendous explosion, shattering the surrounding walls and destroying the upper section of the castle. Debris and fragments of stone scattered through the air as the two combatants were thrown apart.
Both landed on the castle grounds, their feet digging into the shattered stone. Without wasting a moment, they immediately raised their guards, staring each other down.
Ceylon straightened his posture and looked at his brother.
"My apologies for losing my composure. However, I'm in no mood for this. Where is it?!"
King Gu Dao Duolong tightened his grip around his blade. He knew exactly what Ceylon was referring to.
It was his greatest Genesis Creature, a monstrous creation that had once required hundreds of Aldermen and Tianyu cultivators to bring down. It had taken an enormous battle to finally defeat and kill the creature a hundred thousand years ago.
The King narrowed his eyes, refusing to back down.
"You're going to have to kill me first."
Gu Dao Duolong sharpened his stance and launched the first strike, his blade cutting through the air with tremendous force.
Ceylon barely moved. He raised his metallic fingernails, using them to intercept his brother's incoming attack.
CLANG!
Sparks erupted from the collision as their weapons met once again.
"Hmph. Stubborn, just like that buffoon of an old man. Where's my dearest stepsister? Oh, wait. Still trying to kill her but failing as always?"
Ceylon's mocking words struck a nerve. King Gu Dao Duolong's expression darkened as his grip tightened around his blade. The mana surrounding him intensified, and without another word, he continued his offensive.
He launched himself towards Ceylon, delivering a series of precise strikes aimed at his vital points. His movements were swift and calculated, each slash carrying enough force to tear through the surrounding structures. However, Ceylon remained composed, effortlessly redirecting the attacks with his metallic fingernails.
Rather than rushing into an offensive, Ceylon patiently waited for an opening. He studied his brother's movements, observing every shift in his stance and every slight hesitation between his strikes.
Their battle continued across the shattered castle grounds. Stone pillars crumbled, walls collapsed, and debris scattered in every direction. Both combatants sustained injuries, with blood gradually dripping from their wounds. Yet neither showed any intention of backing down.
Suddenly, the palace bells began ringing throughout the capital, signalling an emergency.
The royal guards had finally detected the disturbance.
"GUARDS! TO MY LOCATION! I NEED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE!" King Gu Dao Duolong shouted.
Ceylon merely smirked.
After their prolonged exchange, he finally noticed an opening in his brother's defence. The King had momentarily overextended himself following another powerful strike.
Ceylon seized the opportunity.
In a flash, he closed the distance and drove his sharp metallic fingernails straight into the King's chest, piercing his heart.
"Gah!"
King Gu Dao Duolong's eyes widened as he felt the deadly attack penetrate his body. His blade slipped from his grasp, clattering against the shattered ground as blood trickled from his mouth.
Ceylon leaned closer, whispering directly into his brother's ear.
"Tell that old man in heaven or hell that the real King of the Tianyu Dynasty has returned."
He pushed his metallic fingers deeper, ensuring the fatal wound.
The King's vision began to blur. His consciousness gradually faded as he struggled to draw his final breath. Despite his condition, he managed to gather enough strength to utter his last words.
"He... will bathe Tianyu... with our blood... a hundred million times..."
His head dropped, and his body went limp.
King Gu Dao Duolong had fallen in battle.
Ceylon slowly withdrew his metallic fingers, allowing the King's lifeless body to collapse onto the ground. He stood over his fallen brother for a moment before beginning his next move.
His appearance gradually changed, transforming into an exact replica of King Gu Dao Duolong. His facial features, complexion, and even his clothing were replicated perfectly. Meanwhile, the fallen King's corpse underwent another transformation, changing into the appearance of Ceylon, the Commandment of Reverence.
Within moments, the deception was complete.
The royal guards finally arrived at the scene. Among them was a tiger-like being who immediately rushed towards the figure standing over the fallen demon.
"Your Majesty! Are you alright?" one of the guards asked anxiously.
"I'm fine. It turns out I've already taken care of the demon that infiltrated the immigration port. It was Guang Dei Long, after all this time," replied the fake King, Ceylon.
The guards looked towards the fallen figure, their expressions changing as they recognised the demon's supposed identity.
"The traitor? Weren't the demons sealed during the Great War?" another royal guard questioned.
"It seems the demon managed to break free from the seal. Prepare the thing," Ceylon ordered, maintaining the King's authoritative demeanour.
"The thing? You mean... the skeleton?" the royal guard asked.
Ceylon's lips curled into a faint smile. Thanks to the information provided by the Rat King, he didn't need to ask twice to understand what they were referring to.
"Yes. Prepare everything necessary. I want all the items required to resurrect Calamithus."
The royal guards immediately bowed.
"Understood, Your Majesty!"
They quickly dispersed, carrying out their orders without questioning their sovereign.
None of them realised what had truly happened.
Their beloved King was already dead, his body lying lifeless on the shattered grounds. The man standing before them was none other than Ceylon, the Commandment of Reverence, who had stolen his brother's identity.
And just like that, the true King of the Tianyu Dynasty had been replaced by an imposter.
A dark storm approached, with lightning crackling across the sky and thunder rumbling in the distance. The sudden noise awakened Ryu Shion Meilin from her sleep. She jolted upright in her bed, clutching her chest as a sudden, heavy ache overwhelmed her. She gasped, trying to steady her breathing while pressing a hand against her chest.
After a moment, she threw aside her blanket and got out of bed. She walked towards the window of her towering restaurant in the brothel district of Tianyu's Red-Light District, looking out towards the distant capital.
Her eyes widened slightly when she noticed that part of the Tianyu Dynasty's main castle had crumbled. Even from such a distance, she could tell that something terrible had happened.
"Something isn't right..." she muttered, her brows furrowing.
She continued staring towards the castle, an uneasy feeling settling within her.
"Why does my chest ache whenever something bad happens to him?"
She was referring to her brother, King Gu Dao Duolong, who had seized the throne despite their late father's original intention of making her the next ruler. He had stolen her rightful position and altered the heir contract, securing the throne for himself instead.
Yet, despite everything that had happened between them, she couldn't shake the strange feeling in her chest.
Meanwhile, back in the northern region of the Valekoris Kingdom, at the Ruthwilfer Estate, Evan Ruthwilfer suddenly awoke from his sleep upon hearing his wife coughing beside him.
He immediately turned towards Ariel, only to notice blood on her lips and a trace of it on her hand.
"Ariel! Wait here. I'll get the healer!" he exclaimed, quickly throwing aside his blanket and preparing to get out of bed.
However, Ariel reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Evan..."
He turned towards her, noticing the tears gathering in her eyes.
"My love, I wish to see our son, Taka, one last time. Even if I'm being selfish, I fear my time is coming soon. Please, Evan..."
Her voice trembled as she pleaded with him. She knew how much Evan wanted Taka to return to the estate and eventually claim the patriarchal seat as the next heir of the Ruthwilfer family. However, she also knew that Evan's love for her meant everything to him.
Evan stared at his wife, his expression softening as he gently held her hand.
"I understand. I'll inform my brother this instant."
He leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead before getting out of bed, determined to fulfil her final wish.
The following morning, somewhere in the southern region, Taka was leading a small group of adventurers during a demon assault. Their objective was to eliminate the remaining demons before advancing towards the next kingdom.
"Hold the lines! We've got this!" Taka shouted to his teammates.
He rushed forward, coordinating the group's movements as they pushed through the enemy ranks. The adventurers fought fiercely, supporting one another and gradually overwhelming the demons. After a prolonged engagement, their assault succeeded, and they emerged victorious.
With the battle concluded, the group began returning to their camp to recover. Taka, meanwhile, was minding his own business, checking his equipment and preparing for their next expedition.
However, their brief moment of peace was interrupted when a group of hounds arrived at the camp.
"Taka Ruthwilfer," the leader called out.
The adventurers turned towards the newcomers, exchanging confused glances. Taka looked up from his equipment and approached them.
"Wait, Johnny, you're a Ruthwilfer?" one of his teammates asked in surprise.
Taka paid little attention to the question. Instead, he focused on the hound leader standing before him.
"Taka Ruthwilfer, you are required to return to the Ruthwilfer Estate by order of Will Ruthwilfer, the Patriarch," the leader announced.
Taka raised an eyebrow.
"On what occasion, and for what reason?"
The hound leader paused before delivering the news.
"Your mother's condition has deteriorated. We don't know how much time she has left. Her final wish is to see her son one last time."
Taka's expression changed. His brows gradually furrowed as he absorbed the news.
For a moment, he remained silent.
He knew better than anyone what his mother had been enduring. Although he had spent considerable time away from the estate, he had never forgotten her condition.
Without a second thought, he accepted the summons.
"Alright. I'll return."
The hound leader nodded before informing him of another matter.
"Also, according to the hierarchy trial of the Ruthwilfer family, you have been placed fifth in the rankings."
Taka acknowledged the information with a slight nod. However, his mind was already elsewhere.
There was only one thing he wanted now.
To return home and see his mother.
The hounds escorted him away from the camp, leaving his fellow adventurers behind with more questions than answers. Taka didn't bother explaining himself. He simply followed the hounds, heading north towards the Ruthwilfer Estate.
For now, his only concern was reaching home in time to stay beside his mother until her final breath.
That same morning, back in Tianyu, the three adventurers, consisting of the blue elf archer, the mysterious samurai, and Dante in his Maladeva identity, arrived at the palace.
Upon entering the throne room, they noticed the King already seated upon his throne. He appeared composed and relaxed, with several royal guards stationed around the chamber.
The King looked towards the three adventurers before addressing them.
"As you may or may not know, there was a sneak attack on the palace. The demon was actually attempting to assassinate me, but I managed to deal with it myself. Therefore, the three of you are no longer needed, since the crisis has been averted."
He gestured towards one of the royal attendants, who immediately stepped forward carrying a bag.
"Please, as kind and humble as I am, accept this as an apology for wasting your time."
The attendant approached the adventurers and handed them a bag containing five thousand gold coins.
"Now, please leave. I thank you for aiding us during our darkest hour. If you wish to go sightseeing around Tianyu, feel free to do so as you see fit. I have other matters to attend to, especially now that the Demon Race has returned. There are preparations I must make."
The three exchanged glances but eventually accepted the King's decision. They bowed before turning around and leaving the throne room.
Once outside the palace, the trio found themselves standing in the courtyard, somewhat lost for words.
"Well, that was a waste of days. So, what do you guys have planned?" the blue elf asked, letting out a sigh.
The mysterious samurai chuckled before resting a hand on his sword.
"You know, now that we've got some free time and can return whenever we want, why don't we properly introduce ourselves? I'm Kento, from the southern region."
"Alya. That's my name," the blue elf introduced herself with a slight smile.
Dante looked at the two before shrugging.
"Well, you guys already know my name. Maladeva."
"Then this calls for a toast! Come on, drinks are on me!" Kento announced enthusiastically.
The three eventually made their way to a nearby inn, where they decided to celebrate their newfound freedom. Kento and Alya ordered heavy beers, while Dante settled for something lighter. After all, he was only seventeen and had no intention of getting himself completely wasted.
As the evening progressed, the two adventurers continued drinking until they were thoroughly intoxicated. Kento was barely able to stand straight, while Alya had practically surrendered to the effects of the alcohol.
Dante sighed at the sight.
"Seriously, you two..."
He summoned several of his shadow soldiers, instructing them to carry the two drunken adventurers back to their rented inn accommodation. Once they were safely taken care of, Dante decided to return to Ryu Shion Meilin's tower.
Upon arriving, he made his way towards his room. However, before he could settle down, a familiar voice came from behind him.
"I heard the news. The demon you were supposed to investigate has apparently been dealt with."
Dante turned around to see Ryu Shion Meilin standing nearby.
"Yeah, but something feels odd about the King today," he replied, his expression slightly troubled.
Meilin raised an eyebrow.
"How so?"
"He never mentioned anything about the Five Underworld Lords or their current status. It's almost as if he's suddenly lost interest in the entire matter."
Dante crossed his arms, recalling the King's unusual behaviour during their meeting.
"Considering how important the investigation was, I find it strange that he dismissed us so easily without even asking for an update."
Ryu Shion Meilin rested her chin against her finger, contemplating Dante's observation. Rather than appearing concerned, however, a fierce determination gradually settled across her expression.
"Well, it doesn't matter. Now that he's weakened a little, I intend to kill him myself," she declared.
Dante stared at her, momentarily wondering whether she had lost her mind. Before he could properly object, Meilin grabbed him and pulled him along, making it clear that she had waited long enough. She wanted the tooth of Calamithus from Dante, intending to absorb its DNA cells and use them to enhance her own powers.
Dante was still trying to process her rather ambitious plan when a small rat suddenly emerged from somewhere nearby. A tiny letter was fastened around its body. Meilin crouched down, carefully retrieved the message, and unfolded it.
After reading its contents, her expression changed.
"Dante, the Rat King wants to have a private conversation with you."
Confused by the unexpected invitation, Dante reluctantly agreed.
A few hours later, the two descended into the underground sewers of Tianyu. The air was damp and foul, with water dripping from the stone ceilings and flowing through narrow channels beneath their feet.
Meilin took the lead, guiding Dante through the winding passages. Unlike her, he was unfamiliar with the territories controlled by the other Underworld Lords.
Eventually, they reached the Smuggler Domain.
However, the moment they entered, both of them froze.
Gui Myeong Kage, the Rat King, was lying on the ground, his body covered in wounds and blood. His usual composure was nowhere to be seen. He struggled to move, his breathing shallow and uneven.
"Gui Myeong!" Meilin exclaimed.
The two rushed forward. Dante immediately helped support the wounded Lord while Meilin knelt beside him.
"Who did this to you?" she demanded, her voice filled with alarm.
Gui Myeong Kage weakly raised one hand, gesturing for her to listen. His bloodied face twisted with pain as he struggled to speak.
"Ryu Shion Meilin... your brother... King Gu Dao Duolong... is dead."
Meilin's eyes widened.
"He was stabbed by your adopted stepbrother," Gui Myeong Kage continued, his voice growing weaker. "He's returned... to bring havoc and continue the plan he began a hundred thousand years ago."
He coughed, blood escaping the corner of his mouth.
"To annihilate Tianyu... and rebuild it according to his own vision..."
His trembling hand slowly lifted, pointing towards Dante.
"He will bathe Tianyu with our blood a hundred million times..."
Gui Myeong Kage struggled to draw another breath. His gaze remained fixed on Dante.
"You are the one who can stop him... Maladeva... no... Alderman..."
With those final words, his hand fell limp. His body went still as his life faded away, leaving him motionless in Meilin's arms.
For a moment, Meilin said nothing. She gently lowered Gui Myeong Kage's body onto the ground, allowing him to rest before slowly rising to her feet.
She looked towards Dante, her expression darkening.
"It seems that even in death, the Rat King still loves to deliver information." She paused, taking a breath as she processed the revelation. "So, my brother is dead, and the one currently sitting in his place is Dei Long."
Before Dante could respond, a sudden surge of telepathic energy entered Meilin's mind. Her expression immediately changed as she received an urgent message.
It was the Raven.
She was under attack.
A second transmission followed almost immediately. This time, it was from the Wolf King, who was also on the run as the royal guards launched a full-scale manhunt against him.
"Fuck!" Meilin cursed, clenching her fists. She turned towards Dante, urgency evident in her voice. "Dante, can you help the Wolf King while I go and assist my friend?"
Dante nodded without hesitation.
There was no time to waste. With two more Underworld Lords in danger, the pair separated, each heading towards a different destination to save the remaining members of the Five Underworld Lords.
Dante teleported to the location Meilin had shared with him. The moment he arrived, he immediately spotted the Wolf King fleeing through the streets, with hundreds of royal guards and numerous cultivators in pursuit. Their numbers were overwhelming, and several of them were already closing in on the wounded crime lord.
"Great, just my luck," Dante sighed.
He wasted no time joining the fray. Appearing beside the Wolf King just as a spear was about to pierce him, Dante raised his arm and deflected the weapon with a sharp metallic clash. The spearhead veered away, narrowly missing the wolf's body.
"Need some help, Wolfie?" Dante asked with a mischievous smirk.
"Don't call me that, boy!" the Wolf King growled, baring his fangs. "We need to warn Gui Myeong Kage and..."
"He's dead," Dante interrupted.
The Wolf King's expression changed instantly.
"What?"
Dante quickly explained what had happened. He and Meilin had gone to the Rat King's territory after receiving his invitation for a private conversation. However, upon arriving at the Smuggler Domain, they had found Gui Myeong Kage gravely wounded. Before dying in Meilin's arms, the Rat King had revealed that King Gu Dao Duolong was dead and that their adopted stepbrother, Ceylon, had returned to carry out his century-old plan.
Dante also relayed everything Gui Myeong Kage had told them, including the warning about Calamithus and the threat hanging over Tianyu.
"Fuck!" the Wolf King snarled. His claws dug into his palms as anger spread across his face. "That traitorous stepbrother of Meilin's! We Underworld Lords came together because of her, all to help stop the real King. Now he's dead, and that bastard Dei Long is impersonating him?"
He turned towards Dante, his golden eyes narrowing.
"He's planning to revive Calamithus?"
"Yeah. Seems like Guang Dei Long intends to bring it back to life and use it against the Demon Race," Dante replied.
The Wolf King let out a furious growl. Before either of them could say anything further, the surrounding cultivators and royal guards charged forward, determined to prevent their escape.
Dante and the Wolf King immediately turned to face their pursuers.
The first wave rushed towards them, weapons drawn and cultivation techniques already gathering in their hands. Dante stepped forward, his shadows spreading across the ground as he intercepted the incoming attacks. Beside him, the Wolf King unleashed his ferocity, tearing through the formation with his claws and overwhelming strength.
The battle quickly descended into chaos. Spears and swords clashed against Dante's defences, while cultivators unleashed one technique after another in an attempt to overwhelm the two fugitives. However, neither Dante nor the Wolf King showed any intention of backing down.
They fought side by side, gradually breaking through the encirclement. One by one, their pursuers fell, until the final cultivator was taken down and the remaining royal guards could no longer continue their assault.
With the immediate threat dealt with, Dante turned towards the Wolf King.
"Come on. The Raven is in trouble too."
The Wolf King gave a firm nod. Without wasting another moment, the two prepared to teleport to the location where Meilin and her friend were fighting for their lives.
At the designated location, Xuan Mei Fang and Ryu Shion Meilin stood back to back, surrounded by hundreds of cultivators. Their enemies had completely sealed off every possible escape route, leaving the two Underworld Lords with no choice but to fight their way out.
"By order of His Majesty, you two are to be executed for your crimes!" one of the cultivators declared.
Despite their predicament, neither woman showed any intention of surrendering. They fought with everything they had, unleashing their respective abilities against the advancing forces. However, the sheer number of enemies was beginning to take its toll. Their mana reserves were rapidly depleting, and the pressure they had maintained throughout the battle was gradually fading.
Meilin staggered slightly, struggling to maintain her footing. Her breathing had become heavier, and her body was covered in scratches and wounds. Xuan Mei Fang was in no better condition. Even with their combined strength, they were gradually being overwhelmed.
One of the cultivators approached Meilin, grabbing her long black hair and pulling her head backwards.
"Heh. I never realised that the Spider Queen who controls the Brothel District had such a banging body," the arrogant cultivator remarked.
He was a Peak Mahayana cultivator, someone whose strength placed him among the more formidable fighters in the surrounding army. Yet, rather than showing any respect towards his opponent, he allowed his arrogance to get the better of him.
Without hesitation, he reached out and boldly grabbed Meilin's breast.
"You filthy cultivator..." Meilin sneered, glaring at him with undisguised disgust.
"Oh, please," he scoffed. "Take it as atonement for your..."
"Atonement my ass!"
A familiar voice interrupted him.
Before the cultivator could even turn around, a flash of crimson swept through the air. Dante had arrived just in time, and with one powerful swing of Vermillion, he cleanly beheaded the man.
His head separated from his body, and blood sprayed across the ground.
Dante immediately caught Meilin before she could collapse, supporting her with one arm as he checked her condition.
"Are you alright?"
Meanwhile, Guo Duolong, the Wolf King, rushed towards Xuan Mei Fang and helped her regain her footing.
"Mei Fang, I'm sorry I arrived too late," he apologised.
However, Xuan Mei Fang paid little attention to his apology. Instead, she raised her hand and gently reached towards his head, running her fingers through his thick fur.
The Wolf King stood there, momentarily taken aback by her reaction.
Unfortunately, their brief reunion was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. More cultivators were arriving, their numbers continuing to grow until the surrounding area was practically flooded with hostile forces.
"Fuck! That's hundreds of thousands of them! All this just for the four of us?!" the Wolf King exclaimed, his ears twitching as he surveyed the approaching army.
Dante glanced towards the incoming forces before turning to the others.
"Guo Duolong, take them far away from here. I'll lure these bastards somewhere else."
He carefully lifted Meilin and handed her over to the Wolf King.
"Make sure you get them somewhere safe."
The Wolf King frowned but understood what Dante intended. He glanced towards the distant terrain, considering the most suitable location for the battle.
"Then you should head towards the Guang Xo Valley. It's an open river valley with plenty of space. You should have enough room to deal with them there."
Dante nodded.
"Got it."
Without wasting another second, the Wolf King carried Meilin while helping Xuan Mei Fang escape. The two women were in no condition to continue fighting, and leaving them behind would only put them in further danger.
Once they had disappeared from sight, Dante turned towards the approaching army.
He then took off, deliberately drawing the attention of the countless cultivators and leading them towards the Guang Xo Valley.
The valley was a vast stretch of open land, with a wide river running through its centre. Its surroundings offered little cover, making it an ideal battlefield for someone who intended to face an overwhelming army head-on.
As Dante arrived, he glanced down at his clothes. Much of his outfit had been torn apart during the earlier fighting, leaving it in tatters.
"Your clothes are shredded to bits, kid," Kilamahi remarked from within him.
"Yeah, well, shit happens," Dante replied casually.
He turned his attention towards the horizon. Before long, the countless cultivators began appearing, spreading across the valley like an enormous tide. Their combined mana pressure weighed heavily upon the surroundings, causing the air itself to tremble.
Dante stood his ground, facing the approaching army without the slightest intention of retreating.
With a deliberate motion, he summoned Vermillion. Its crimson chain blades materialised in his grasp, the chains rattling as he adjusted his grip.
Across the valley, the cultivators began preparing their techniques. Thousands upon thousands of weapons were raised, while powerful streams of mana gathered around their bodies. The ground trembled beneath their collective pressure.
Then, the entire army launched its assault.
Dante slowly began walking towards them.
His pace gradually increased. First, he walked faster, then broke into a run, charging directly towards the overwhelming army. Behind him, countless dark silhouettes began emerging across the surface of the river, their forms spreading through the water like an approaching tide.
Dante raised his weapon.
"RISE UP!"
The river erupted.
Countless shadow soldiers burst out from beneath the water, their dark figures rising into the air before surging towards the incoming cultivators. Among them were several familiar presences, including Lustia, Taouon, and Akka.
Their emergence sent waves of darkness across the valley as the two opposing forces collided. A clash of power against power shook the entire Guang Xo Valley.
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Chapter 71 — End.