The crown prince stood frozen for a long mont, his fists clenched so tightly that blood dripped between his fingers. His jaw was locked, teeth grinding so hard it sounded like they might shatter. Then the system panel flared brighter in front of him.
Slowly, painfully, he raised his hand. His finger trembled as it hovered over the contract. "…I refuse to kneel," he spat hoarsely. "But I won't die like a dog either." With a sharp motion, he slamd his palm down.
Ding. The contract finalized.
Good choice," Damon nodded. "You're still alive. That already puts you ahead of most people who try to kill ."
The crown prince didn't respond. He simply stared at the floor, breathing heavily, refusing to look at anyone. Around them, the surviving experts knelt in silence. Everyone had signed the contract without any other choice.
The emperor exhaled slowly, as if releasing years of buried tension. He looked at the kneeling figures, then at Damon. "…It's over," he said, unable to believe what he was seeing. The hidden orders that had plagued their Great Western Desert for generations and generations were brought to their knees just like that.
And not by a powerful B-rank monster. Everything was accomplished by soone who was still in C rank, just like the rest of them. Just the thought of how soone like this would beco if they actually stepped into the B rank made everyone shiver.
"Blood God! Even though I made you the emperor of this great western desert on a whim, I still had my reservations." The old emperor wheezed as he chugged down a recovery potion. "But now, all my doubts are shattered. You are the destined leader of these sands. Under your rule, these sands will finally know peace and true prosperity."
He straightened with effort, leaning on his staff as his gaze swept across the kneeling figures. There was no rcy in his eyes now. Only cold resolve. "Take them away. Every last one of them. Strip them of authority, resources, and titles and ask them to report back to the new emperor. From today on, these n will work and pay off their sins for the rest of their lives."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" imperial guards roared in unison, rushing forward.
Alzara exhaled shakily, as if only now realizing she was still alive. She leaned into Damon, gripping his sleeve. "It's… really over? Are you fine? That witch's soul attack is rciless. I should have warned you about it. Please forgive . I have been stupid and narrow-minded, only thinking about ."
Damon smiled and shook his head. "It's fine. Don't worry about it too much. Its not your job to take care of . Its my job to take care of you. And about that…" Damon knew what he needed to do next.
Alzara was about to say sothing but she beca silent as Damon started conjuring a Blood Gate straight to the Dark faction continent portal. "Alzara, how would you like to et the rest of my family?"
Alzara was about to say sothing but she beca silent as Damon started conjuring a Blood Gate straight to the Dark faction continent portal. "Alzara, how would you like to et the rest of my family?"
Alzara blinked in confusion. Damon then turned to the old emperor and said the sa thing. "I think you both should co with ."
The father and daughter duo were surprised because things had only just now changed drastically in the Empire. Even though the biggest problem was already sorted out, there were still many small fires that needed to be put out. Otherwise, civil unrest would rear its ugly head and there was a big chance that the Empire could even break up. After all, the change this ti was nothing short of earth shattering. A light faction empire being ruled by soone from light faction and dark faction together?
This was sothing unheard of!
"I don't think that is a good idea." The old emperor shook his head.
Damon smiled bitterly. He then started explaining so other things. Naturally, he did not plan to hide all of this from Alzara and the old emperor. It was important that they knew. However, only after explaining to them, Damon realized that he had probably underestimated the effect a news like this could have on most people.
"B… B rank… ? How… ?" The old emperor gulped, eyes wide in disbelief. "How did you offend soone like that?"
"It's important that I gather as many territories as possible for a special trial."
The old emperor stared at Damon as if he were looking at a calamity wrapped in human skin. For a long mont, he couldn't even find the words.
"…You provoked a B-rank existence," he finally said, voice hoarse. "For a trial?"
Damon spread his hands helplessly. "When you put it like that, it does sound a little insane."
"A little?"
The emperor dragged a hand down his face. "Do you have any idea what B-rank ans? That isn't soone who rules a city or an empire. That is soone who can erase empires if they feel mildly inconvenienced."
"I'm aware," Damon replied calmly. "That's why I stopped. The mont I crossed the threshold I needed, I pulled back. No more light-faction invasions. No more large-scale bloodshed. As far as they're concerned, I'm no longer interesting."
The emperor gave him a long, searching look. "…And you're confident of that?"
Damon could only shake his head helplessly. "I know it was a bit excessive but I have stopped my actions. I am not continuing to invade any more light faction cities. So most probably the B rank should have lost interest in already. We are also not announcing officially what happened here today. This should ensure that the B rank doesn't get involved."
"However, it would be naive to assu that just this much would be enough to stop the news from spreading. just being here might encourage the B rank to target the empire. Though I doubt he would blatantly harm the normal civilians or random cities, he might target people who are close to . I am taking so precautions to be safe."
The old emperor nodded and remained silent for a while. He then asked again, "You said… gather territories. For a trial. What kind of trial needs sothing like that?"
Damon could only explain briefly as he did not know all the details himself. The old emperor, however, seed to be in deep thought. After a while, he opened his mouth and spoke again.
"If you have already risked so much and there is a chance that this trial could lead to sothing extraordinary, then you should go all out. There is no point in hiding anymore."
How could Damon not know what the emperor was referring to? "That's not needed. It might lead to unnecessary bloodshed. Sothing I would like to avoid."
"Hmph." The old emperor grunted. "Blood God, I admit we are not as strong as you but don't think that our great western desert empire is a helpless lamb. We have survived for thousands of years surrounded by predators. We know how to defend ourself even if it is against a B rank. If a storm is inevitable, then the desert does not kneel to it."
Alzara inhaled sharply. "Father-"
"Alzara, you will listen to father. Go with Blood God and stay in the wilderness safely with the rest of his family. Father will handle everything here." The old emperor then turned to Blood God and gave a confident nod. "Trust these old bones and leave the empire to one last ti, I will not disappoint these sands. I will not allow anyone to touch this empire. Now go and win this trial and co back stronger. Strong enough to not hide from anyone."
The next second a series of notifications chid loudly, many screen flashing in front of Damon.
[Ding! Global Announcent: Blood Domain has conquered the Great Western Desert Empire.]
[Ding! All defending forces of the Great Western Desert Empire have submitted to Blood God.]
[Ding! Blood God has been crowned as the new Emperor of the Great Western Desert Empire.]
[Ding! Blood God now claims sovereignty over the Great Western Desert Empire]
[Ding! Blood Domain has altered the regional power balance. Influence across the continent is shifting…]
[Ding! New Achievent Unlocked: Emperor Authority]
[Ding! New Guild Territories Unlocked]
[Ding! New Trade Routes Unlocked]
[Ding! New Resource Allocation Panel Unlocked]
[Ding! New Military Panel Unlocked]
[Ding! Territory Bonus Unlocked: Blood Domain shops, housing, defenses and taxation system active]
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