Chapter 68: A Contract for Regicide
“If the Primordial Eastern Empire ever undergoes a Resurgence, it will be the first to face Divine Retribution.”
“The Great Cataclysm is approaching. Perhaps the Primordial Eastern Empire can only survive if it remains in its long slumber.”
Liam shook his head after hearing those words. “You’re wrong.”
“Is this Great Cataclysm you speak of an invasion by extraterrestrial civilizations, or the suppression from the Western Pantheon?”
Hanba the Drought-Bringer looked slightly surprised. “You certainly know a lot. It’s both.”
“Then do you truly believe that if the Primordial Eastern Empire stays dormant, they won’t strike? Do you think they’ll just leave it alone?”
Hanba fell silent.
Liam pressed on. “The Great Cataclysm is coming. We shouldn't pray for mercy from others. We should gather every ounce of our strength and strike back.”
“No matter the outcome, we should face it without regrets!”
“Without regrets...”
Hanba murmured the words to herself, a faint smile forced onto her face.
“‘Without regrets.’ A fine sentiment. But you’re only doing this for your own benefit, aren't you? There’s no need to wrap it in such high-sounding words.”
“My own benefit? I suppose so. I know I must do everything in my power to become stronger. It’s the only way to handle the trouble waiting down the road.”
“Only when power is in your own hands do you have a say in how things end.”
Hanba smiled thinly. “Your personality is quite to my liking. But do you have any idea what the Primordial Eastern Empire will face first if it returns?”
“The Astral Kingdom?”
Hanba nodded. “In a sense. But the Astral Kingdom is a tiny, insignificant speck. It could be wiped out in an instant. The real trouble lies with the Western Domains—the powers that the kingdom represents.”
“The Western Domains have spent ages cultivating their influence. They will never allow a Resurgence of the Primordial Eastern Empire.”
“So be it,” Liam replied. “If a war is inevitable, then we fight.”
Hanba gave a non-committal smile. “It seems you don't understand my point.”
“The only reason you can move so freely within the Astral Kingdom right now is that the Divine Blessing from Eira, the Frost Goddess, has them fooled.”
“But that deception won't last. Soon, they will realize you destroyed Eira’s residual soul. They will find out about your plan for the empire's Resurgence.”
“When that happens, what do you think they will do to you?”
Liam’s eyes narrowed slightly. “It doesn’t matter. If I were afraid, I wouldn’t be standing here. I’d be hiding in some dungeon, grinding my HP.”
Hanba laughed.
“If you did that, you wouldn’t have the strength you possess today.”
Liam shrugged. “True. But I also wouldn't have all these headaches.”
Hanba nodded. “You really are an interesting one, Frost Monarch. I admire you. However, my past experiences prevent me from trusting anyone ever again. You won’t be getting any favors from me.”
Liam didn't seem to care.
“I don’t need your help. However, I’m looking to kill a god. Do you know of any other Divines in a state similar to Eira, the Frost Goddess?”
Whether it was for the God-Slayer Registry or the Deicide Mark, he needed to hunt gods.
“God-slaying?”
Hanba was taken aback.
“You certainly have ambition. There are others like Eira, but you aren't nearly strong enough to step into those places yet.”
“I’ll be able to eventually,” Liam said with a smile.
“The God of Slaughter... he sought the ultimate path through blood. He once slew nine gods in a row before several God-Kings joined forces to severely wound and seal him away.”
Liam’s eyes lit up. “Where is he?”
“The Sanguine Ossuary, within the Lunaris Empire.”
Liam raised an eyebrow. He knew the Lunaris Empire well.
Once players completed their Second Advancement, they would gain access to the next major map: The Empires.
There were three Great Empires in total: the Lunaris Empire, the Aetheria Empire, and the Xithon Empire.
It wasn't just the players from the Dragon Empire server entering these maps; every player in the world would eventually converge there.
That was when the real game began.
It was also the point where player conflict became frequent and bloody.
Some nations held deep-seated grudges in the real world. While peace was maintained outside for the sake of global stability, there were no such restraints within the game.
Liam remembered it clearly.
In his past life, the Realm Wars reached a scale where over ten million players were fighting at once. The carnage was beyond description.
“In my last life, I was weak. I was just cannon fodder in the Realm War. But this time...”
Liam’s voice trailed off as a murderous glint flickered in his eyes.
“Thinking of something?” Hanba asked.
Liam smiled. “Nothing. I just realized there are some people I really want to kill.”
“Oh? Then kill them. Keeping that kind of urge bottled up inside will only make you miserable.”
Liam pulled himself back to the present. “So, how do I clear this dungeon? I don't actually have to defeat you, do I?”
“Originally, you only had to find my old residence. But since you released me, simply meeting me counts as a clear.”
“I see.”
Liam checked his interface. Sure enough, the dungeon status had changed.
[System Notice]: Your party has cleared "The Desiccated Abode." A Server-Wide Broadcast is about to be issued. Would you like to hide your name?
“No.”
[Server-Wide Broadcast]: Congratulations to players Frost Monarch and Valiant Snowflake for achieving the First Clear of "The Desiccated Abode." Their names shall be remembered. We encourage all players to keep striving for greatness!
...
[System]: You have obtained Equipment +99.
[System]: You have obtained Skill Tome +62.
[System]: You have obtained AP +100.
[System]: You have obtained...
...
Liam received a massive haul of rewards all at once, but he wasn't in a hurry to leave.
He wanted to head back and see what kind of reward the Young Scholar had for him.
“I'll be taking my leave now.”
Liam had briefly considered trying to use the Crimson Cord of Fate to bind Hanba, but he ultimately decided against it.
She had already made it clear she wouldn't grant him any favors. There was no point in embarrassing himself.
Returning to Eventide Town, he found the Young Scholar sipping tea.
When he saw Liam approach, the scholar’s face broke into a smile.
“Impressive. I didn't think Hanba the Drought-Bringer would actually let you pass.”
Liam paused.
He had realized earlier that the true difficulty of this dungeon was Hanba herself. If she hadn't been willing to show herself, clearing the dungeon would have been impossible.
“What’s my reward?” Liam asked, cutting straight to the point.
The Young Scholar raised an eyebrow. With a flick of his wrist, a spectral blade no longer than a finger appeared in his palm.
Liam took the blade, and its attributes materialized before him.
[Guardian Aegis-Blade]
Grade: Gold
Requirement: Level 50, All Classes (Does not occupy a main weapon slot).
Effect: Once activated, the blade automatically blocks incoming attacks from the surrounding area.
Duration: 1 hour.
Cooldown: 2 hours.
Durability: 100/100.
Liam was surprised. This seemed to be a miniature version of the Young Scholar's Nine-Blade Ward. He wondered how many attacks a single spectral blade could actually withstand.
Regardless, it was an extra layer of protection that didn't take up a weapon slot. He could maintain his offensive output while the blade guarded him.
“Thank you,” Liam said, bowing slightly.
The Young Scholar waved a hand dismissively. “Go on then. I hope you can make it to the end of your journey.”
Liam nodded and stepped out, leaving the dungeon behind.
Valiant Snowflake was waiting outside. When she saw him, she ran over.
“That was insane! You actually cleared it!”
Liam gave a faint smile. “It was nothing.”
His haul from this run was decent—AP, gear, and skills.
However, the equipment and skill tomes dropped by the regular mobs weren't very useful to him. Most skill values scaled with Attack Power or Magic Power—two stats that Liam practically ignored.
As for equipment, he was looking for a replacement for the Ninefold Longbow, but nothing had dropped in the Desiccated Abode to fit the bill. The other pieces offered minor improvements at best. They would serve as backups.
“If there’s nothing else, I’m heading out.”
Liam didn't have any immediate tasks to handle. He just had to wait.
He needed to see King Abraham’s quest through to the end. It was the fifth day; only two more remained.
Suddenly, a server-wide announcement blared.
[Server-Wide Broadcast]: Queen Fiona has committed treason and attempted regicide! She has fled the Astral Capital. A bounty has been issued: Kill Queen Fiona.
...
The bounty quest notification popped up. Liam checked it immediately.
[Server Bounty]: Queen Fiona’s Betrayal.
Objective: Kill Queen Fiona.
Penalty: None.
Rewards: AP +500, Class-Specific Golden Set x1.
Liam was tempted. Five hundred AP was a massive prize. If Monty could get his hands on that, it would be a game-changer.
But could Monty kill Queen Fiona in his current state?
The answer was almost certainly no. Even with the stat boosts Liam had helped him gain, Fiona was on a different level.
But while Monty couldn't do it, Liam could.
Of course, more than the bounty, Liam wanted the Blessing of the Gods: Prelude Scroll that Fiona carried.
He just had to find her first.
As he walked out of the Berserker’s Domain, he noticed the guild members were already mobilizing.
They looked eager to hunt her down. Between the 500 AP and the Golden Set, the incentive was enormous. Berserk already owned a Gold Grade set, so he knew exactly how much power a full Golden Set would provide.
It wasn't just the Berserker Guild; every major guild was on the move.
In Twilight of the Gods, the importance of cultivating a top-tier player couldn't be overstated. Frost Monarch was the perfect example of that. One peak player could easily snowball an entire faction's lead.
Liam moved quickly. If Fiona was on the run, there was a high probability she was heading for the Nether Realm. After all, she had always been in contact with the Nether-kin.
He increased his pace, heading straight for the entrance of the Nether Realm.
As he neared the portal, he spotted a bedraggled figure.
It was Queen Fiona.
She saw him and frowned. “Frost Monarch.”
“Hmph. Are you here to collect that bounty on my head?”
Liam gave her a calculating smile. “Yes and no. Mostly, I'm here for the Blessing of the Gods: Prelude Scroll in your possession.”
Fiona’s frown deepened. “I see. You really are different from the other players. Your greed is much grander.”
“I can give you the scroll. I’ll even let you kill me so you can claim the bounty.”
Liam’s eyes narrowed. When the benefits were this high, it usually meant the difficulty was just as steep.
“What’s the catch?”
“Kill King Abraham within fifteen days.”
Liam’s expression shifted. “You’re that confident I can kill him?”
“I’m not. But if even you can't kill him, then no one can.”
Fiona tossed a quest scroll toward him.
[Quest]: Regicide
Objective: Kill King Abraham within 15 days.
Penalty: You will suffer Divine Retribution. Required EXP for future levels will be multiplied by 10.
Rewards: AP +1000, Abyssal Longbow x1, Blessing of the Gods x1.
Do you accept?
Liam was stunned. The rewards were incredible.
“As long as you accept the quest, I will let you take my life,” Fiona said.
Liam thought about it for only a moment before nodding.
“Fine. I’ll take the quest.”
If he was taking it, it meant he had a plan.
Besides, he wasn't afraid of the penalty. For any other player, a ten-fold increase in required EXP would be a death sentence. To Liam, it didn't matter. He didn't rely on levels, and even if he did, leveling up was easy for him.
Fiona smiled, looking satisfied.
“You may kill me now and claim your reward.”
Liam was surprised she was actually willing to sacrifice herself.
“You’ve already made it this far. If you forced your way into the Nether Realm, I might not be able to stop you.”
Fiona gave a bitter laugh. “I have no value left. Even if I return to the Nether Realm, I won't meet a kind end. I might as well use my death to boost your strength.”
Liam grinned. “How noble of you. In that case, I’ll see you off.”
With a flick of his wrist, Liam unleashed a flurry of arrows.
Fiona didn't resist. Even so, it took Liam a full ten seconds of continuous fire to deplete her health.
[System]: You have slain Queen Fiona. A Server-Wide Broadcast is about to be issued. Hide name?
“No.”
[Server-Wide Broadcast]: Congratulations to player Frost Monarch for slaying Queen Fiona. Rewards: AP +100, Unique Gear x1. We encourage all players to keep striving for greatness!
...
As the broadcast echoed, Liam’s eyes widened.
A piece of Unique Gear.
He knew all too well that even Gold Grade sets like the ones Berserk wore were just transitional items. They would eventually be replaced.
But Unique Gear? That was the kind of item that could stay with a player for a lifetime.
The advance reading chapters on have reached 12chapters. Thank you for reading!
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