Chapter 515
Eastern Region. Muller stood in front of his army, radiating a killing aura, ready for battle.
Behind him stood his five generals, who had accompanied him since his days as a prince. Suddenly, one of his generals spoke up.
"Lord, we can easily defeat them and raze their base to the ground with our lineup. The Dukes pose no problem to you. Let me lead the troops and capture their base," suggested one of his trusted generals.
Muller declined the suggestion, responding, "No, that would be dangerous. We should follow Lord Kirito's plan. I am certain that a demon, on par with me, is hiding in this place."
Muller's expression turned solemn as he gazed at the towering walls marking the border of the Eastern Region.
Despite using their space portal to catch the enemy off guard, it seemed they were prepared, having noticed the incoming attack.
Kirito had predicted this, but he believed that everything could be solved with raw power.
"Send a message to Duke Gamion that if he surrenders, we will spare their lives. We do not seek bloodshed,"
Muller instructed. He knew Duke Gamion and had been friends with him before.
Muller hoped to spare him, recognizing their shared humanity.
Whether they had been demonized or were merely following orders, he wanted to give them a chance to rebel if they still retained their humanity.
....
Meeting room. Duke Gamion glanced at the messenger bearing Muller's message, his expression betraying the gravity of the situation.
The news of the Lightning Emperor personally leading the troops weighed heavily on him.
The messenger relayed Muller's words and awaited Gamion's response.
After a moment of contemplation, Gamion smiled and replied, "Tell Emperor Muller to surrender, and I will spare his life."
"You"
The messenger was taken aback by Gamion's bold response, sensing an air of arrogance in his demeanor.
Despite feeling angered by the disrespect, the messenger refrained from retorting and promptly departed to deliver the message.
Gamion harbored no fear of Muller, having learned of the poison that may have weakened him.
Furthermore, he believed that circumstances had shifted in his favor, bolstering his confidence.
Allowing the messenger to leave unharmed, Gamion recognized the taboo of harming a messenger, even among different races.
........
Muller received Gamion's response with apparent indifference, feeling only a twinge of pity for what he perceived as narrow-mindedness on Gamion's part.
"Very well, let's proceed with the attack,"
Muller declared with a smile, his demeanor betraying a sense of confidence. As he spoke, his body radiated the unmistakable aura of a Peak Transcendental Being, while around him, 50 soul flowers materialized in a display of his formidable power.
Muller's dedication to cultivation was evident, as he had swiftly ascended to the pinnacle of his abilities in a matter of days.
The cultivation technique bestowed upon him by Dave had exceeded his expectations, granting him a level of strength that bordered on the miraculous, allowing him to envision confronting multiple Transcendental Beings with ease.
................
"Kill!"
Muller's thunderous voice echoed across the battlefield as he surged forward like lightning, leading his troops into battle.
Unlike other emperors who preferred to remain in the safety of the rear, Muller was known as a ferocious warrior who never shied away from combat.
His reputation for fierceness preceded him, earning him the title of the most formidable emperor in warfare.
With a mighty punch, he shattered the walls of the Eastern Region, stunning the enemy army.
Lightning energy crackled around him as he decimated any troops unfortunate enough to cross his path.
"Surrender or die!"
Muller's commanding voice reverberated through the air, striking fear into the hearts of those who heard it.
"Hehe, such arrogance, Emperor Muller. It seems you are quite confident," came a retort from Duke Gamion, who suddenly appeared on the battlefield, his troops lined up behind him, ready for battle.
Duke Gamion was clad in red armor, his face adorned with numerous scars that bore testament to the many near-death experiences he had faced.
His presence instilled confidence in his soldiers, dispelling their fear of facing a Human Emperor. The title of Human Emperor was not just symbolic; it represented the leadership of all humans.
Muller glanced at Gamion's aura and was taken aback slightly, surprised by the level of strength the Duke had attained.
"Oh!"
"Gamion, I already gave you a chance, but you didn't cherish it. Looks like you've been demonized, just like your emperor," Muller said, eyeing Gamion and noting his newfound confidence.
Before, Gamion couldn't even meet Muller's gaze, but now he seemed more assured.
Gamion smiled and laughed confidently.
"Times have changed, Muller. I know about your injury. Even if it's not true, do you think you can fight our emperor?" he taunted.
"Hahaha, the power of demons is strong. We'd become slaves if we rejected their power. What's wrong with being stronger?"
Gamion questioned.
"Is achieving our goals not why we strive? Why should we care where the power comes from, whether demon, angel, or god?"
Gamion's disdain for gods was palpable. Muller remained silent, understanding Gamion's bitterness.
They had met before when Muller was just a crown prince, both acting as mercenaries.
Gamion, once cheerful, had become a close friend after just a few days.
Despite their many failed adventures, they had succeeded together.
But everything changed when Gamion's lover, also a member of their mercenary team, caught the eye of an Angel Race genius visiting the human clan.
Gamion's lover was abducted by the Angel Race and manipulated by them.
Gamion, unaware of this, was on a mission with Muller at the time.
When they returned, he discovered that she had passed away, her body found in the river.
Overwhelmed with sadness and anger, Gamion decided to quit being a mercenary and investigate his lover's death.
Muller, sharing his friend's grief and rage, returned to the empire to assist in the investigation.
Upon questioning the former emperor, Muller's father, they learned that the deed was done by an Angel prodigy.
Both men were furious, but they knew they couldn't retaliate against the Angels, who considered humans mere playthings.
Despite their supposed status as servants of the gods, Angels could be as corruptible as demons when faced with temptation.