"Hah... hah..."
Royal City Roland, the King’s bedchamber.
Deep growls echoed through the palace, with heavy footsteps occasionally sounding out.
The vast bedchamber had no servants or attendants present, not because they had abandoned their duty, but because of a direct order from King Ainz III.
A dark figure moved about the palace, its limbs unnaturally elongated, coarse fur protruding from beneath its nightwear, hinting at its beastly nature. Its face, barely human, bared sharp fangs, with thick saliva dripping down.
If anyone had been here today, they would likely have been killed by this humanoid beast. Fortunately, the smart ones had already fled.
But there are always those who realize danger only when it’s too late.
"Huff..."
A maid hid in a dark wardrobe, clutching her mouth tightly, her tear-filled eyes peeking through the gap in the door.
The beast-like growls reverberated outside. It felt as if the sound was closing in, yet the terrifying figure remained unseen, which was the most tornting part.
The maid dared not make a sound. Suddenly, the footsteps approached, causing her to quickly shut the wardrobe door.
"Bang!" The wooden door made a slight collision sound, exceptionally noticeable in the silent palace. Her breath stopped for a mont.
The outside noise disappeared.
No, could it be...
Tears stread down her face uncontrollably, the intense fear driving her to the brink of madness. After the growls ceased for several minutes, she bravely pushed open a small gap.
The outside was empty, with nothing in sight.
The classic move now should be to open the door and step out; she thought so too, but her legs had gone weak, unable to move. She could only choose to close the wardrobe door again and continue hiding.
Just as she closed the door—
"Co out now!"
A chaotic roar suddenly sounded above the wardrobe, the thick, heavy door shaking violently, scaring the maid into a scream.
The fur-covered claws swung down wildly, viscous saliva pouring down like a waterfall. The growls and screams mixed together. If nothing unexpected happened, the screams would soon stop, leaving only the sound of flesh being torn apart.
In her despair, the maid saw the full form of the beast, its blood-red eyes glowing with a sinister light, etched deeply into her mind. The claws reached for her chest!
"Your Majesty, you seem very spirited today."
A gentle voice ca, causing the beast to pause and reveal a human-like confusion on its face.
The maid and the beast both turned to the source of the voice, eting a smile.
A tall young man stood there, his brilliant silver hair still gleaming in the dim palace. His face was flawless, exuding a blend of handso and androgynous beauty that anyone would find captivating.
What was most striking were his eyes.
Eyes like sapphires, resembling a lake reflecting the blue sky, drawing you in with each glance.
He wore luxurious clothes devoid of any noble family badge, the only identifiable mark being the embroidered white eagle on his chest.
The maid joyfully exclaid, "Lord Eliphas!"
Eliphas responded with a reassuring smile, then bowed courteously to the beast, saying,
"Your Majesty, you are undoubtedly very tired. It’s ti to rest."
In a daze, Ainz III nodded and walked towards the bed. With each step, the coarse fur fell off, and by the ti he lay down, Ainz III had returned to his human form, vaguely resembling the portrait hanging in the palace.
The only difference was that the portrait portrayed him as wise and powerful, exuding an intimidating aura, while the current figure in bed was just a silent, hollow-eyed elderly man.
Eliphas watched Ainz III rest, then turned to the maid, still smiling warmly.
"L-Lord Eliphas, thank you..." the maid stamred, blushing and fidgeting shyly.
Eliphas’s gaze turned even gentler, and he lightly tapped the maid’s forehead with his slender fingers, whispering, "Be more alert next ti."
"Eep!"
Even with such a brief touch, the maid felt her body go limp. Watching Eliphas’s departing figure, her body trembled with a shiver and she let out a moan, eventually fainting.
In the last second before she lost consciousness, she thought:
The white eagle bringing dawn to the kingdom.
The undefeated military genius.
The legendary captain of the Light Eagle Group.
Lord Eliphas is so handso!
The bedroom door closed, blocking all prying eyes.
Eliphas sat by the bed, injecting a crimson Blood Healing Potion into Ainz III’s body, whispering in his ear, "Wake up."
In no ti, Ainz III’s eyelids fluttered, and he surprisingly opened his eyes, letting out a murky sound before finally speaking, "Eliphas, is that you here?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I ca to visit you."
Ainz III forced a smile, "Seeing you every ti I wake up really puts at ease."
"I am always here, Your Majesty."
"Indeed, you are always by my side during difficult tis, during conflicts with the Warrior Country, during the Barbarian invasions, and... cough cough."
Eliphas produced a cup of warm water from sowhere, helping Ainz III drink it. After a bout of coughing, Ainz III said, "Last ti you ntioned my offspring lost out there, have you found them?"
"It has been confird. The Light Eagle Group is escorting her back. You will soon see the Princess."
"The Princess..."
Ainz III sighed with emotion and suddenly grasped Eliphas’s wrist tightly, saying:
"She will be the Queen of this kingdom. Please assist the future Queen, just as you have assisted !"
Eliphas lowered his gaze, sweeping over Ainz III’s hopeful eyes and withered body. His enchanting smile appeared once again.
"I will, Your Majesty."
"Swear it!"
Eliphas placed his hand on his chest and solemnly said:
"I swear, I, Eliphas, will do my utmost to protect Yanor Kingdom, to protect the Queen, to protect..."
Before he could finish, Ainz III had already fallen into a deep sleep. Just a few sentences had exhausted his strength.
"To protect ’my’ kingdom."
White Eagle spoke the last words with a victor’s confidence in his eyes.
He once again administered a Blood Healing Potion to the King, tucked him in, straightened his attire, and then turned to leave.
Upon exiting the palace, the anxious ministers were waiting outside. He only nodded slightly, and they breathed a sigh of relief and began praising him.
"As expected of Lord Eliphas, the King’s most trusted confidant."
"Only you can alleviate the King’s illness. Truly, a savior sent by the heavens."
"It’s rely a fortunate talent I possess," Eliphas responded calmly to the ministers’ flattery, having grown accustod to such interactions.
After everyone had exchanged greetings, a captain from the Light Shadow Team led a white horse over.
"Captain, we have new information from [that side]."
Eliphas maintained his composure, greeting people from afar while saying, "Ignore it."
"But..."
"They are rely stepping stones. No one ever listens to stepping stones."
Eliphas mounted the horse, gazing at the gradually setting sun, and said:
"Compared to them, I am more concerned about the dungeon discovered near the outpost."
"But it hasn’t opened until now."
"I have a feeling it will open soon." Eliphas’s blue eyes sparkled brightly.
"I had a dream, and in that dream lies sothing I need."
————————————
Sain Dungeon, the City Lord’s room.
Gong Qiying was reading the letter from Unihorn Dungeon.
[Three days later, the Burning Demon exorcism begins officially. You will receive an invitation from the dungeon, and you only need to accept it.]
[Additionally, here is the information related to the Burning Demon.]
"This ti it’s starting so soon,"
Gong Qiying muttered to himself, "Last ti, there was a long period between the start and the finish, with many events happening in between."
He began reading the information sent by Unihorn Dungeon, wondering how they managed to obtain details about the Sealed Item. What exactly was Sain Dungeon keeping hidden? He had inquired about this with many dungeons but had always co up empty-handed, the question persisting.
"The Burning Demon is said to be a creature from Hell, blessed by an unknown God. It is unafraid of high temperatures, possesses a strong physique and tenacious life force, adapts quickly to the environnt and evolves continuously, reproduces rapidly, and, under suitable conditions, can even regrow new individuals from severed limbs."
"The most important point is that their bodies burn with an inextinguishable fla. Once touched by this fla, it will not extinguish until the enemy is burned to ashes."
"It once caused the burning of half a continent before being sealed in the Eagle Capital Dungeon."
Gong Qiying pondered for a mont and said:
"It looks like a fusion of Hulk, Wolverine, and Fla Fist, though its recovery power might not match Wolverine’s."
Having read through the entire docunt, it seed the most critical aspect was the "inextinguishable fla." He wondered if a legendary Fire Extinguishing Skill could put it out.
But given that it had burned half a continent, this fla seed truly malevolent.
So what is the power of these flas truly like? If it’s just ordinary fire, Gong Qiying’s body could stand still and let it burn for days. If it were like Mad Fire...
Thinking about it, that seed impossible; otherwise, the Burning Demon would have destroyed the world by now.
But when it cos to exorcising the "Demon," no one is more suitable than Gwyn King’s subordinates—the Black Knights.
Losric’s Twin Princes might also be good, but...
The letter from Unihorn Dungeon also ntioned that Red Teeth Dungeon, the leading force in the exorcism, has the ability to deal with the flas, and its Monsters will be the main power.
As for Gong Qiying and the other dungeons invited, they are rely supporting roles, an opportunity for Red Teeth Dungeon to make acquaintances and show off.
Unihorn Dungeon specifically instructed him that everyone—aning all the dungeons invited except for Red Teeth Dungeon—had decided to keep a low profile.
Since it’s Red Teeth Dungeon’s solo performance, it wouldn’t be appropriate for Sain Dungeon to steal the spotlight. Taking soone else’s mont of glory might lead to grudges.
Moreover, showing too much power in front of other City Lords could also be a bad idea.
Gong Qiying lay down on the altar, staring at the ceiling, muttering to himself,
"This ti, I’ll just play the part of the supporting role."
Not a supporting role.
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