Chapter 465: Under Control
Before the imperial palace's golden gates, a solemn and magnificent throne commanded the summit of marble steps.
An weathered emperor sat with casual authority, one arm resting on the armrest, supporting his weathered face.
Those turbid yet penetrating eyes fixed unwaveringly on the distant horizon.
His gaze—chaotic yet supremely dignified—seemed to pierce the void itself, boring straight into those twisted, writhing cloud formations.
High above, pitch-black clouds rolled like spilled ink, as if countless hollow eye sockets were surfacing from their depths.
A crimson fissure suddenly tore through the chaotic cloud mass—long and jagged as a wound across the sky.
Massive pupils dilated within that breach while blood-colored shadows tried infecting surrounding darkness, spreading endlessly outward.
In Aubrey's calm eyes reflected the fusion of blood and ink.
He felt winter's bitter wind continuously buffeting him, allowing that chill to slowly creep across his aged frame.
Just as he became absorbed in this apocalyptic vista, a clear feminine voice rang out behind him:
"You seem remarkably untroubled, Aubrey."
Aubrey didn't turn, merely straightening his posture with measured dignity:
"From the day she died, I knew this moment would inevitably arrive."
Blood-red light spilled through the palace gates, those refracted rays penetrating deep into the grand hall, stretching shadows into grotesque shapes.
Light flashed—and a woman's silhouette materialized within the palace's crimson interior.
She stood with arms crossed, leaning against marble walls, galaxy-bright silver hair cascading down—yet unstained by even a trace of that blood-red radiance.
The woman slowly raised her head, revealing half a face marked with intricate crimson patterns.
Deep-set scarlet pupils trembled slightly—like a beating heart made visible.
Her gaze fell upon Aubrey, painting his silhouette with deeper red.
"As you wished."
"My affairs—I'll handle personally."
She turned, and instantly a blood-red vortex materialized beneath her feet.
Multiple crimson streams erupted from that whirlpool, intertwining as they gradually enveloped her entire form.
Gurgle—
The sound of churning liquid followed as those twisted blood currents sank into their pool, carrying the woman with them.
Within moments, the remaining vortex dissolved into mist and vanished.
Sensing the woman's departure behind him, Aubrey's expression remained serenely aloof, still contemplating the heavens.
That wretched blood-red glow appeared even more vivid beneath the bright full moon.
Heaven and earth bathed crimson—boundlessly, ominously silent.
Suddenly, amber light gently rose from before the palace—like a flickering candle ignited against endless night.
A majestic lion's phantom slowly emerged behind Aubrey.
Every strand of its mane radiated intimidating power, the flowing locks around its neck burning like celestial flames—as if seeking to rend the very sky.
The lion unleashed an earth-shaking roar—sound waves like titanic pillars smashing through cloud layers, instantly tearing an even wider fissure across the heavens.
Finally, it settled behind Aubrey, breathing streams of warm air from its mighty jaws.
......
The sky—woven from blood and black ink—pressed down with suffocating weight, each breath seeming to bear crushing burdens.
Three colossal demonic titans stood upon shattered earth.
Three streams of oppressive aura collided, stirring mighty air currents that raged without restraint.
Exhausted nobles collapsed groundward, staring up at those sky-supporting behemoths, thoughts completely paralyzed.
Chaotic essence invaded their lungs—heavy as molten lead, that oppressive presence making every breath a struggle.
Meanwhile, those blood-red and pitch-black intertwined massive forms stood united to one side.
Two razor-sharp gazes pierced deep into the minotaur demon's hulking frame.
Crocodilian teeth snapped open and shut while razor claws ground continuously.
That wrinkled toad manipulated its tongue, devouring airborne stench.
Yet beyond all this crushing oppression, what left these nobles most bewildered was—
What the hell was happening here?
Even that pitch-black giant toad belonged to Viktor's... people? No—demons?
They vividly remembered the chaos that demonic incident had unleashed in the royal capital.
The very creature that had stirred such pandemonium was this massive toad now standing before them!
Viktor had battled this beast extensively before achieving complete victory.
After that incident's conclusion, Viktor had not only earned imperial praise but received noble rank elevation.
Yet now, every noble's face displayed pure shock.
Who could have imagined—you were all conspirators?
At this moment, Lia cowered behind Gwen, cheeks flushed, not daring to witness the terrifying spectacle directly.
As someone who prized family honor above all else, Lia couldn't bear contemplating the implications.
After today's events, what reputation would the Kravina family hold among the empire's nobility?
Criminal vassals who consorted with demons?
Things might worsen with those nobles fanning inflammatory rumors.
After all, she'd initially used that demon to frame Devon Reiser—legitimately saddling the Reiser family with enormous blame.
Now this toad had not only returned but stood openly beside Viktor.
It was practically advertising "I'M AN UNDERCOVER AGENT" across its face.
Wasn't this obviously inviting suspicions of Viktor's collusion?
Lia's mind churned chaotically. Though maintaining surface composure, internally everything was crumbling.
She realized that with the Kravina family facing such predicament, Leopold would probably laugh himself sleepless.
Because inadvertently, the Reiser family had been completely exonerated!
Thinking this, Lia drew a steadying breath, barely stabilizing her nerves.
Just as she peered out, preparing to observe Leopold's current expression—
She paused, struck by something odd.
Where was he?
Leopold, who'd just been emerging from those ruins—how had he vanished?
While Lia puzzled over this, an enraged bellow erupted, involuntarily drawing her attention.
The Second Prince's savage bull head descended into madness, his enormous eyes nearly bulging from their sockets, forehead veins throbbing violently.
He glared furiously at the toad, his roar thundering forth:
"GREED! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
The Second Prince never could have imagined that the toad he'd painstakingly nurtured would betray him at the most crucial moment.
The bull-headed Second Prince's expression grew increasingly livid.
This betrayal felt as if all his efforts had fallen into an undercover agent's hands—utterly infuriating.
No wonder this toad had been savagely pummeling that blood-red crocodile, only to suddenly collapse from a single punch.
So after all that fighting—you two were acting!
The greed-embodying toad clutched its massive belly, releasing chaotic, resonant laughter.
That rumbling sound continuously assaulted the Second Prince's eardrums:
"Your Highness, you truly misunderstand my intentions."
It spoke with dripping sarcasm:
"I've always been utterly loyal to you."
Nearby nobles, hearing this dull, viscous voice, muttered internally:
This is loyalty?
The Second Prince's nostrils flared with rage—every word from this creature seemed designed to mock him.
That greedy toad suddenly added:
"I told you before, Your Highness—"
"When I'm properly fed, I never lie."
The assembled nobles fell silent again, studying the toad's enormous abdomen, unsure how to respond.
It appeared incapable of ever being truly satisfied.
The Second Prince lowered his head, crimson eyes seeming to burn with infernal flames as he snarled viciously:
"You're saying I've never fed you adequately?"
Yem burst into thunderous laughter, slapping his belly with both hands—sounds like massive drums reverberating:
"Your Highness, I must be brutally honest—"
He lowered his head again, grumbling contemptuously at the Second Prince:
"What the hell gave you the delusion that feeding me grapes would ever satisfy me?!"
Hearing this, Leighton cast several pitying glances toward Yem.
Sound ceased abruptly as Yem suddenly whipped out a bright crimson giant tongue.
That appendage pierced air, erupting with violent sonic waves.
Quickly, the elongated tongue slithered along the Second Prince's muscular arm.
The Second Prince forcefully spread both arms, attempting to tear apart this greed-infused tongue.
But exerting pressure, he discovered with surprise—
This tongue possessed rubber-like resilience, elastically flexible yet firmly adhered to his body.
His entire strength exploded outward while surrounding thorns flowed across his skin, carving deep bloody furrows.
They also sliced through that greedy crimson tongue.
Yem, feeling pain, rapidly retracted his appendage, spitting repeatedly while ejecting several severed black thorn segments.
"Ptui! Absolutely revolting."
"Bondage and whips—you're the most ridiculous minotaur I've ever encountered."
Hearing this, the Second Prince smiled contemptuously, retorting:
"Ungrateful cur."
"Fortunately, I've always maintained vigilance against you."
As his words concluded, the bull-head's enormously massive frame began expanding continuously.
Those powerful muscles inflated like air-filled balloons, soon surpassing Yem and Leighton's original dimensions.
He gazed down at the seemingly diminished demon pair, unleashing earth-shaking roars.
Countless nobles, witnessing those approaching gigantic hooves, stumbled backward in terror.
Their eyes filled with dread of this sky-obscuring bull-headed Second Prince—too frightened for further words.
The Second Prince panted heavily, his breath dispersing like misty white clouds.
His entire muscular frame hardened to iron while thorns that had previously flowed over skin were now deeply embedded within flesh as his body expanded.
Instantly, this maddened demon seemed transformed into a colossal mountain giant.
The crocodile and toad couldn't help looking up at the minotaur now several times their size.
They clearly sensed this bull demon had become far more formidable than before.
At this point, the Second Prince had reached absolute madness—those crimson eyes seemingly capable of incinerating everything before them:
"Do you believe two-against-one makes you my equal?"
"Indeed, two-against-one lacks sufficient certainty."
Suddenly, a melodious yet profound voice rang out from beneath the demons' feet, leaving everyone momentarily stunned.
All gazes inevitably converged upon Viktor.
Another expert?
Viktor extended his hand, slowly opening his palm to reveal a white, drowsy little dog.
This small white puppy lay peacefully in his palm, sleeping soundly.
When the Second Prince spotted this lethargic creature, his blood-red eyes suddenly contracted, betraying traces of surprise.
Then Viktor casually placed the white puppy upon the ground.
The instant its paws touched earth, its eyes snapped open.
Pupils saturated with endless crimson suddenly blazed brilliant.
Accompanied by surging air currents, countless nobles immediately felt that approaching aura's overwhelming weight.
A powerful wave swept over them—all nobles sensed that oncoming presence as abnormally heavy.
No wait—it wasn't the air current that felt heavy... it was their own eyelids.
The nobles' vision immediately blurred dramatically, as if drowsiness was overtaking them, consciousness slowly becoming unclear.
Almost simultaneously, the small dog's body began expanding at alarming rates.
Its originally adorable diminutive size rapidly enlarged while its chubby belly instantly became muscular and bulging.
Its mouth stretched ruthlessly, transforming into a ferocious giant wolf's maw.
Menacing white fangs gleamed with lethal edges, constantly radiating savage ferocity in all directions.
In one instant, three demons stood shoulder-to-shoulder behind Viktor—like three massive mountain peaks emanating dense, oppressive aura.
Viktor raised his head expressionlessly, gazing indifferently at the minotaur-transformed Second Prince, speaking with calm authority:
"Therefore, three-against-one."
"Advantage: mine."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
/BZDXG - Unlock a HUGE stash of advance chapters now!
Dive deeper into the story ahead of everyone else!