Long slicked back golden hair and blood red eyes, his skin not as pale as Yue's but caucasian nonetheless. Flawless features with a strong build, the confidence he excluded tidied up by his appearance made him seem all but invincible.
Even with the wrinkles that adorned the skin beneath his eyes, one wouldn't be able to tell that the man in front of them was someone who's lived several dozen lifetimes.
At least that's if he were the man he claimed to be…
"Hello my beloved niece, it's been quite a while since we last met~" The man's overbearing disposition disappeared as an amicable smile covered his face, relieving his bow. He stood up straight and spread out his arms warmly.
Still, Yue was unconvinced. She remained in a combat ready stance, one arm forward as another held her spell casting spell to her side.
"Ah, to treat your uncle so coldly… I know it's been 300 years since we last met but how about some familiarity for old time's sake, Aletia?"
The middle-aged man claiming to be Yue's uncle put on an expression of faux pain, his shoulders slumping lowly as he spoke with a regretful smile.
If anything Ivan had to admit that the man's behavior was awfully convincing. After all he was without a doubt the only person besides Ivan's group that knew of Yue's old name. The very same name that she abandoned after being freed.
Even the others had let down their guard thinking about the semblance between the two relatives.
'Don't fall prey to his words, unless Yue herself says that the man in front of us is her uncle, stay on high alert. Hell, even if he is actually her uncle, be prepared to fight, he has a lot to make up for the way he treated Yue.'
The others nodded with glints in their eyes, Ivan was right, if he was really her uncle then they were going to teach him a lesson for all the things he put her through.
Dienleed watched the whole event transpire before him with an amused smile. He stepped down the stairs with no restraint even as the girls continued to point village-destroying weapons toward him.
"And to think you've made such reliable comrades during your travels, oh, as your uncle it makes me very proud~ At least with this I can be assured that you'll be safe in our upcoming tribulations…"
Once he reached the end of his journey downward he spoke with a proud expression, his eyes glistening as he recounted his memories.
But it was the latter of his words that took the group's interest.
"Upcoming tribulations…"
Tio muttered lightly underneath her breath. As the eldest in the group with a whopping experience of 500+ years, her judgment in people was quite accurate. And something about the man in front of her just put her on edge. Whether it was his words or demeanor, she didn't know just yet.
"Umu, I conclude that by your group's appearance here and the way you snuck into my castle like assassins that you are determined to deal with… 'him'... am I correct?"
Dienleed spoke mysteriously with one hand cupped around his mouth, his eyes shifting left and right as he observed the room for any unwanted listeners. A pointless task considering the volume he spoke in was enough for the whole group to hear from several feet away and loud enough for his words to echo through the somewhat empty throne room.
"Give me a second before I go into details."
Without waiting for the group to respond he turned around and slammed his two hands together.
*RUMBLE*RUMBLE*
The moment the two forces met each other a blue electrical discharge flowed throughout the room. Other than a slight tingle, Ivan felt nothing, instead he observed silently as apostles fell from the rafters like flies after they hit a bug lamp. Blue discharge covering their bodies as they hit the ground.
"Well, I'm glad that worked. Now, children, I don't have much time to explain so shut up and listen!" The man's former tranquil smile faded away in an instant as it was replaced by a more hurried and anxious expression.
"I know you all might have a lot of questions but we truly do not have much time. The discharge will only disable them for a few minutes before they go back online. Oh and I don't recommend killing them as they sleep, so long as the big guy up there is watching he'll notice the situation is strange the moment his toys start breaking."
Of course by 'big guy' Ivan knew he was referring to Ehit himself, as he concluded both the bastard god and the demons were colluding.
"A vampire being the king of demons, who would've thought~? Now, since we don't have much time as you said, explain in twenty words or less why you've treated Yue as you did 300 years ago."
Ivan adorned a sardonic grin as he approached the anxious man, not at all looking as though he cared about the time restraint. In his eyes Dienleed saw the promise of pain should he not provide a satisfactory answer.
"First of all, this was a position I was appointed to. Second of all, I have a very good reason, and that being related to the force that now oppresses us. Ehit's games went deeper than we ever expected."
Dienleed took a step toward Yue before finding his path blocked by Ivan and the others, a sad smile crossed his lips as a remorseful expression marred his face.
"Three hundred years ago, my brother, his wife, your parents, I indeed murdered them. And such a sin I do not expect for you to forgive. In fact though I stated that I had good reasons, do not take that statement as me validating the crimes I've committed."
"But months before your coronation as Ehit's Messenger, I learned the terrible truths about the Holy Church and their motivation. From the two dungeons I conquered I learned it all. And that is why I acted as coldly as I did the moment you took reign. If I didn't make it seem as though you truly died that day, we would have been powerless to stop it. I took advantage of your bond with me, and knew you wouldn't be able to overcome the shock the moment I tried to kill you."
He took on a mournful expression as he went into detail.
"The day of your coronation they intended on offering your body to the God they love, to Ehit himself. And with that he'd gain the powerful regenerative abilities and talent with magic that you were blessed with. I couldn't allow that to happen. But I also was too powerless to stand against his forces. So I locked you in that dungeon, hoping that one day someone would save you, someone powerful enough to do what I couldn't, and that is to protect you…"
Dienleed extended a hand toward Ivan, hinting to the fact that the opportunity he had been waiting for finally showed itself.
"From there I offered Ehit my fealty, well on the surface at least. To know his every move I submitted myself to him. And with my strength earning his trust to become the new Demon Lord was just trivial."
He got down on one knee and pleaded toward the group, staring into Yue's eyes as he begged for her aid. Not for his sake, neither for hers, but for the world.
"Our brethren, our families, they were all slaughtered by him! And now only I live to avenge the taken lives, to lead those more worthy than I to slay him! Now I ask of you heroes, would you please lend me your assistance?!"
"...."
For a minute time seemed as though it came to a complete stop. And in that silence everyone looked toward Ivan. Only Dienleed stayed with his head down as he prostrated seeking aid.
At that moment Ivan looked toward Yue, and she stared at him back.
"...."
She gave a single nod, seeing that Ivan smiled before turning back to Dienleed. Who in turn looked up to meet Ivan's smile, thinking he had obtained his trust, Dienleed smiled.
"What part of twenty words or less do you not understand!?"
Red sparks writhed around Ivan's arm, followed by a palm to Dienleed's face. The unsuspecting middle-aged man only stared stunned as he was lifted into the air.
*BZZZZZT*
And then his head popped open like a watermelon, blood flesh and the faint scent of burnt meat filled the room.
*FLOP*
His body fell to the floor.
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Hey guys, how was the chapter today? For this one I purely worked on dialogue. Refinement was the goal of course. I had a lot of fun with it. I decided to take my time with it and really make sure I produced something I was satisfied with.
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