Chapter 951 – A Prince That Would Plunge The World Into Darkness
When Haleth and the others arrived, they found Chiffon standing by the door. Just as the blonde Half-Elf was about to ask why the pink-haired girl was standing outside the room, she heard a moan, which made her body stiffen.
As a Half-Elf she was blessed with superior eyesight and hearing. Even though they were still standing in the hallway, she could hear the pleasure-filled sounds that escaped Lilith's lips from beyond the door.
"William is busy right now," Chiffon said with a smile. "How about all of you have an afternoon snack downstairs? We'll go out later, after Will finishes his business."
"O-Okay," Haleth stuttered as she walked away leaving the others behind.
Aldric followed behind Haleth. Because with his rank, it was fairly easy for him to know what was happening inside the room. Chloee, on the other hand, frowned because there was something she wanted to ask William.
As someone who likes to bash things, and break down doors, Chloee didn't see any problem with her barging inside the room in order to ask William her question.
However, before she could even smash the door apart, Elliot and Conan both grabbed his arms and tried to pull her away.
"Ei! What are you doing?!" Chloee asked as she struggled. "Let me go. There's something I need to ask my Disciple!"
"Now is not a good time, Chloee," Conan said while sweating buckets. "Will is really busy right now. He has no time to answer your question."
"Hmp! I am his Master," Chloee stated. "He will always have time to answer my questions!"
"My goodness, there's no need to rush," Elliot who was struggling to hold the little fairy said with difficulty. "The people downstairs were saying that the House Specialty is extremely delicious. Why don't we try it first before we come back to talk to Will? I heard that it is a limited edition thing, so we need to try it before it goes out of stock."
Chloee stopped struggling because anything related to food and fighting piqued her interest. Although her favorite food was pancakes, and desserts, eating something that has the word "special" in it would always make her want to try it out.
"Very well!" Chloee declared. "We will try this House Specialty first before I return to ask Will my question."
Elliot and Conan both sighed in relief because a crisis was averted. They then flanked the little fairy on both sides as they flew downstairs to order the House Specialty, which the two familiar hoped was good enough to help them buy enough time for William to finish his business.
—–
An hour later…
A satisfied looking Lilith calmly drank a cup of tea that William had prepared for her.
The Amazon Princess felt refreshed after the outbreak of her Sin had died out. She never thought that her Divinity could be calmed in such a manner, which made her feel sorry for her younger self, who had been locked up inside the Temple of the Gods, whenever her Divinity flared out of control.
William, on the other hand, had gained a better understanding of his fiance after her fiery outburst. Unlike Princess Sidonie's craving for his body, the Amazon's Princess' Sin encompassed his entire being.
Lilith didn't want the Half-Elf's body, she wanted his everything.
The good news was that her sin was more controllable than Princess Sidonie's. During their love making, Lilith focused on making William feel good, while greedily taking him inside her.
Although William didn't want to admit it, he found Lilith's desire to acquire him very hot and sexy, which made it so she did not lose to Succubus Princess' advances, whose Sin represented Lust.
Haleth couldn't look at William steadily because each time she would look at his face, she could feel her cheeks burning.
The red-headed teenager wasn't aware that Haleth had heard their lovemaking through the door because his attention was focused on Lilith. Only when Chiffon had returned did the Half-Elf know that his Sixth Master, Chloee, had almost barged inside the room while they were in the middle of a strenuous exercise.
'Good job the two of you,' William thanked his two familiars via telepathy because if it weren't for them, the little fairy might have barged inside the room, and discovered something she had never seen before.
'This was just the natural thing to do,' Elliot replied.
'Kekeke. I'm not going to lie, Will, that was close,' Conan commented. 'Chloee is really strong. It took everything I had just to hold her down.'
Chloee, who didn't know that the boys were talking about her, hovered in front of William with her arms crossed over her chest.
She was looking at the Half-Elf with a serious expression, but after a minute had passed, she still didn't say anything. This prompted William to take the initiative to ask her if there was something she needed from him.
"Sixth Master, Elliot and Conan said that you wanted to ask me a question," William said. "Is there anything that I can help you with?"
Chloee hummed before landing on William's right shoulder.
"You know, I wanted to ask you about that world that I appeared in," Chloee said. "That world is called Earth, right?"
William nodded his head. "Yes."
"How did I appear there?" Chloee asked. "The last thing I remember is that I was following your footsteps when suddenly, I was falling in the sky and saw you fighting against those Giant Black Golems."
The little fairy lightly poked William's cheek as she pressed him for an answer.
"I may not be as smart as my sister, Claire, but according to Celeste, I have an Eidetic Memory," Chloee explained. "It is impossible for me to forget things. However, no matter how hard I think, I can't recall how I ended up on Earth. This is something that greatly bothers me. So, Will, how did you appear in that world?"
(A/N: Eidetic Memory is also called Photographic Memory).
William shook his head because he also didn't know how he appeared on Earth. The only thing he could remember was a vague image of three shadowy figures.
"Sorry, Sixth Master, I really don't know," William replied. "I also can't remember how I ended up in that place."
"Is that so?"
"Mmm."
The little fairy stopped poking William because she could tell that he was telling the truth. Since he didn't know the answer to her question, she decided to just let it go for the time being, and decided to tell him the news that Celeste wanted to pass onto him.
"Will, when we get back to the academy, you need to look for Celeste right away," Chloee said. "According to her, certain things are happening in the Demonic Continent, which greatly concerns the safety of the Central Continent. I am also here to pass you an order from the Headmaster to investigate what the Demons are doing."
William frowned. "Can't the Headmaster assign someone else to do this job? I have some important matters to take care of after I return to the academy."
Since he had already lifted the curse from Est, Ashe, and Isaac, he planned to visit the Southern Continent to see Wendy, and Est because he missed them terribly.
"No," Chloee answered as she shook her head. "Because this matter also concerns Celeste's twin sister."
William's body stiffened and his expression became serious after hearing Chloee's words. Celeste had only one twin, and it was none other than his First Master, Celine.
"What do you mean?" William inquired. "What does the situation in the Demonic Continent have to do with my First Master?"
Chloee sighed as she lowered her head. She wasn't supposed to tell this information to William right now, but she had a feeling that the Half-Elf would keep on pestering her until she spilled the beans.
"You know about the Prophecy of the Elves, right?" Chloee asked.
"The Prince of Darkness?" William asked back.
The little fairy nodded her head. A letter had arrived at the academy on the day that she was about to leave to look for William. The letter came from the Silverwind Continent, and its sender was the Patriarch of the Rayleigh Family.
It was the same family that produced the Oracles of the Elven Race, and the ones responsible for making the prophecy of the Dark Prince known.
"According to the letter, the prophecy is about to be fulfilled, and it will begin in the Demonic Continent," Chloee stated. Celeste had told her that there was a possibility that William was the Prince in the prophecy.
If it was indeed the case, Chloee would be forced to fight against him if the prophesied bride became her Master. This was something that the little fairy didn't want to have happen. Deep inside, she wished that it would be someone else that would take on that role because she wasn't confident that she could raise her first to harm her Disciple, whom she had become fond of.
"Once the Prince has been born, this entire world will be covered in darkness," Chloee continued her explanation. "Your Master, Celine, is currently in the Demonic Continent. If the so-called Prince will appear in that place then the first people that he would look for will be one of the brides in the prophecy.
"Although there is only a fifty-fifty chance of her becoming the prince's bride, the possibility still exists. If possible, Celeste wants Celine brought to Hestia Academy where she can be protected from the fiend, who would force this world to submit to his rule."
William clenched his fist as he nodded his head. He had already heard this prophecy from his Second Master, Oliver, but the verse that the Parrot Monkey had told him wasn't complete.
In the past, he didn't care much about this prophecy because it felt very alien to him. However, things had changed.
Celine was someone important to him, and he would not allow anyone to harm her in any way possible. Not even the prophesied prince that would plunge the world into darkness.
Chapter 952 – It's That Dream Again
A gust of wind blew from high above the altar of the Vanir, located in the world of Vanaheim.
A silver-haired teenager was tied up in chains, and guarded by two champions that prevented him from breaking free from his bindings.
In front of him was an angelic beauty, with long purple hair and eyes that looked at him with a very sad expression on her face.
"Aila, you don't have to listen to them," the silver-haired teenager said with labored breaths as he looked at the maiden who had sacrificed many things for his sake.
She had saved him when he fell from a cliff during a great battle against the Fomorians. They were a race of monstrous beings whose ultimate goal was to lay waste to every land they set their sights on.
"Aila, it is better to put an end to his suffering," a seductive beauty with long blonde hair, and purple eyes said with a smile. "Your relationship with him will never be recognized by anyone. If you resist, the elders will just continue to torture him until you agree to end this farce."
Aila lowered her head as a single tear streamed down the side of her face. She knew that her friend, Hnoss, was right. If she continued to be stubborn, the only one who would suffer would be the silver-haired teenager whose entire body was now covered with wounds.
"Will, I'm sorry," Aila said as she pressed her hand over her lover's forehead. "Even if you forget about me, I promise that I won't forget about you. Not now, not until the end of time."
Her hand glowed with power as she activated her unique ability that could erase people's memories.
"Aila, please don't do thi-" the silver-haired teenager tried to resist, but he still lost consciousness after Aila used her ability on him.
William collapsed on the floor, as the purple-haired beauty covered her face with both of her hands and sobbed because she knew that she had lost someone very important to her today.
"It's not that hard, right?" Hnoss wrapped her arms around Aila's body and whispered in her ears. "Because of what you did, he doesn't have to suffer anymore. You made the right choice."
It was at this moment when the neighing of a horse was heard from the heavens.
Clad in lightweight armor, and carrying the flag of Asgard, a valkyrie landed on the altar. She glared hatefully at the Vanir who had tortured her Beloved, after what he had done for them.
Using her supernatural strength, Wendy broke the chains that bound William. She then supported his body until he was firmly mounted on her winged horse before mounting it herself.
Wendy's left arm supported William's waist and held him in place, while the Half-Elf's head rested on her chest.
She had traveled a great distance in order to arrive at Vanaheim to rescue her beloved from the stuck-up Vanirs who thought highly of themselves.
"Wendy, I'm sorry," Aila said as she looked at the Valkyrie Captain who was supporting William's body.
"You don't have to apologize." Wendy sneered. "From now on, never show yourself in front of him again. He doesn't need you in his life."
After having the final say Wendy lightly kicked the side of her winged-horse. The steed that carried the Valkyrie to battle, raised its wings and flew towards the sky.
Aila watched them go as the tears in her eyes blurred her vision. As someone who had lived for hundreds of years, this was the first time she felt as if a hole had opened up inside her heart.
And she knew, for certainty, that she would never-ever love again in her lifetime.
——
Hestia Academy…
"It's that dream again," Aila muttered as she wiped away the tears that had fallen while she was sleeping.
This was a recurring dream that she had been having, ever since William had left Hestia Academy to go to the Forbidden Grounds. The angelic beauty didn't understand why she was having this dream, over and over again.
The only thing she did know was that each time it happened, she felt like her heart was breaking.
A part of her wanted to ask Conan, and Elliot why this was happening, but a part of her opposed this notion. She was afraid that if she told William's two familiars about her dreams, the two of them would think that she was just making things up.
Aila sighed as she lightly patted her chest. Although the ache in her heart would fade away in time, it was still a very uncomfortable feeling.
Standing up from the bed, she opened the curtains and looked outside of the window. It was still dark, and sunrise was still a few hours away, but she no longer felt like sleeping.
Just as she was thinking on what to do next, she saw a flash of light in the distance. A second later, a streak of lightning descended on the open space, just outside of the Girl's Dormitory.
The angelic beauty subconsciously took a deep breath when she saw a red-headed teenager appear in the place where the lightning bolt descended. Tendrils of lightning snaked around his body, and his eyes glowed with power.
As if sensing that someone was looking in his direction, William raised his head and discovered Princess Aila looking at him from the window of her room.
The Half-Elf then smiled and raised his hand to wave at her in greeting. The angelic beauty waved back before her mind could register what she had just witnessed.
After greeting the Princess whom he thought he had woken up, William walked away and headed towards Celeste's personal quarters, which had been built beside the Girl's Dormitory.
He had some very pressing questions to ask his Master's twin sister, and had no time to chat with the purple-haired beauty, who was looking at him, while pressing her hand against her chest in an attempt to calm her wildly beating heart.
Chapter 953 – Infiltrating The Demonic Continent
"You do know that it's rude to barge in a lady's room, while she's getting her beauty sleep, right?" Celeste asked as she glared at William who was calmly sipping a cup of coffee in front of her.
The Elven beauty wasn't really angry at William for barging inside her room, while it was still dark outside. She just wanted to vent out her frustrations for not being able to sleep for the past few days due to the contents of the letters she had received from the Silvermoon Continent.
Due to William's sudden appearance, the beautiful Elf was still in her nightgown and didn't have the time to change it. Even so, William didn't even spare a glance at her body, and just sipped his coffee in silence.
Right now, the Half-Elf was not in the mood to appreciate the beauty that was seated across him.
"Tell me about the situation in the Demonic Continent," William didn't even bother to answer Celeste's question and jumped straight to the point. "Also, give me the letters that you received. I need to read them as well."
Celeste grumpily took a stack of letters out of her storage ring and placed it on the table in front of her. William put his cup down and reached to take the letters that had been responsible for canceling his planned, albeit short, vacation in the Port City of Alabaster.
A few minutes passed in silence as William read the contents of the letter. He was supposed to arrive earlier, but Ashe, Princess Sidonie, Chiffon, and Lilith managed to convince him that he should take a few hours of rest first, before going to Hestia Academy.
Since he could travel using the power of his Lightning Strider Skill, arriving in the academy in a short amount of time was not a problem for him.
Celeste sipped the coffee that Chloee had prepared for her and found it to her liking. This was a novelty for her, who preferred to drink tea most of the time.
Several minutes passed before William finished reading all the letters that had come from the Silvermoon Continent.
The Half-Elf frowned as he put the stack of letters on the table before looking at Celeste who had just finished drinking her cup of coffee.
"So, basically, the Oracle of the Rayleigh Family foretold that the Prince of Darkness will awaken soon, and it will take place in the Demonic Continent," William stated. "It doesn't state who the Prince was, or where exactly in the Demonic Land he will make his appearance. There is also no time frame and only the word 'soon' indicates that it will be happening in the near future."
The frown on William's face deepened as he looked at Celeste, who was looking back at him with a serious expression on her face. The two looked at each other for a full minute before the Half-Elf voiced the question he had in his mind.
"What exactly do you want me to do?" William asked.
Celeste took out a map from her storage ring and laid it on the table for William to see.
"This map was given to me by my sister before she went to the Demonic Lands," Celeste explained. "You don't have to worry about the accuracy of this map because it was made by a Demigod who likes to travel. Also, that Demigod is my sister's Master, which makes her your Grandmaster."
William nodded his head to acknowledge Celeste's words. There was a time when Celine had briefly explained to him about the old, and ugly hag, who had raised her with love and care during her stay in the Demonic Continent.
It was for this reason that Celine went to the Demonic Continent to find her Master, in order to talk to her one last time, and say her final farewell before the prophecy of the Dark Prince came to pass.
"What I want you to do is go to the Wicked Thorn Forest where my sister has gone to look for her Master," Celeste stated. "Her Master is a Demigod, so for now, her safety is assured. However, things will change once the prophesied Prince is born. You already know that one of us is meant to become that bastard's bride, and no matter what we do, we will not be able to fight our Fates.
"However, all hope is not lost. As long as you can bring her here to Hestia Academy, before that bastard appears, the protection of this place will keep him at bay. This is also why I am staying in the academy. While I am here, no harm will come to me."
William eyed the map where the Wicked Thorn Forest was located. It was a very dangerous place to go to, and it was located in the Northwestern Region of the Demonic Lands. The only reason why Celine was able to go there instantly was due to the special artifact that her Master, the Old Hag, Baba Yaga, had given her as a gift.
Without it, it would have taken her at least two months to reach her destination because of its distance from the Central Continent.
The Half-Elf scratched his head as he tried to conceive a plan on how to reach his destination. It was at that moment when a beam of light shot out from William's chest and reappeared beside him.
Chiffon glanced at the map on the table with an anxious expression on her face. Before meeting William, she had spent the majority of her life within the Demonic Realm. If possible, she didn't want to return, but since her husband was planning to go there, she would help him to the best of her abilities.
"As long as we don't wander into the Central plains of the Demon Realm, we will mostly be fine," Chiffon commented as she looked at the map. "The Demonic Continent has four Demigods in it. One resides in the Central Plains, one in the West, one in the South, and the last in the Northeastern Regions."
Chiffon pointed the location of the Demigods on the map based on her memory. During her stay in the Demonic Lands, she would often go to the library to read books in order to escape her brothers and sisters.
Just like Chloee, Chiffon had a photographic memory, and she could easily recall things that she had seen, heard, read, or experienced. Using the knowledge she possessed, she immediately drafted a route, while using a marker that William had handed to her.
"The Demonic General's forces are focused on the South," Chiffon continued her explanation. "This is in preparation for any possible invasion by the Humans into the Demonic Continent, as well as their stronghold for a preemptive strike on the Human Lands."
"Wait," William interjected his wife's explanation because he had a question to ask. "Did the Humans try to invade the Demonic Lands?"
""Yes,"" Chiffon and Celeste replied in unison.
"After your father dealt with the Demonic Invasion, the Empires of Humanity used that opportunity to try to conquer the Demonic Lands," Celeste explained like the professor she was. "The Humans succeeded, and would have probably taken more lands, but their plans were single-handedly ruined by the strongest Demigod in the Demonic Continent, which is none other than my sister's Master, Baba Yaga."
Celeste took a short break and took a sip of the freshly brewed coffee that Claire had given her. After wetting her throat, she resumed her explanation, which allowed William to understand the history of the place he was about to visit.
"After a series of negotiations, the seriously injured Demon Lord was forced to pay a vast amount of resources, in order to ransom the lands that the Humans had taken from them," Celeste narrated. "However, this only happened because Baba Yaga had intervened. Due to her presence, the Humans were forced to give up their lands in return for resources exclusive to the Demonic Continent.
After regaining their lands, the Demon Lord, along with his remaining Generals, had turned the entire Southern Region into a shield, as well as a sword that is always aimed outward."
"In short, your greatest obstacle is infiltrating their lands from the South. As long as you are able to bypass their blockade, you will be able to explore the Demonic lands with relative ease, as long as you stick to the Eastern Regions of the continent."
Chiffon, who listened to the side, held William's hand and pointed at the Southern Part of the map.
"A Demigod guards the Southern Regions," Chiffon said. "Although it isn't as strong as Baba Yaga, it is the second strongest Demigod in the Demonic Continent. It will be hard to bypass him unless you can hoodwink his senses."
William rubbed his chin as he looked at the map in front of him. Although he had two Job Classes that could make his rank jump to the Demigod level, he was not too keen on having a direct confrontation with the Demonic Race.
It was also at that moment when the Half-Elf realized that he was overthinking things. Although he couldn't use the Einherjar Job Class, he could use his Vampire Progenitor Job Class to blend in with the Demons without arousing suspicions.
He just needed to change the color of his hair, and adjust his facial features a bit, which could easily be solved with a few potions from the God Shop.
Having thought of the perfect way to infiltrate the Demigod's surveillance, William and Chiffon decided on the route they would take, just in case his cover was blown. Although the Half-Elf was confident in his acting skills, he was not conceited enough to think that his plan was foolproof.
Chapter 954 – Gaze At The Sunrise Together Once Again
After leaving Celeste's room, William went to the Academy's Garden to think.
The sun was about to rise, and the garden was one of the few places in Hestia Academy where you could see it rise from the East.
Standing beside him was Chiffon, Princess Sidonie, Ashe, and Lilith. Each of them were beautiful in their own right, and anyone that saw them standing beside William would definitely curse the Half-Elf and his seven generations for having such beauties by his side.
"Will, as much as I would like to go with you to the Demonic Continent, I can't," Lilith said as she glanced to her right side. "I need to go back to the Amazon Empire and talk to my mother about our relationship."
The Amazon Princess then walked towards the Half-Elf and wrapped her arms around his waist. She then kissed his lips for a few seconds before pulling back.
"Please be careful," Lilith gazed at William with a loving gaze.
After spending time with William in the Deadlands, the Amazon Princess no longer wished to share the red-headed teenager with her sisters back in the Amazon Empire.
Truth be told, Empress Andraste wanted her other daughters, aside from Lilith, to procreate with William also. If Lilith wasn't able to seduce the Half-Elf then Empress Andraste would resort to other means to drag the red-headed teenager to her Empire whether he liked it or not.
The Amazon Princess understood how her mother thinks because she had done this multiple times in the past. All the promising prodigies all over the Central Continent would find themselves kidnapped by an elite group, whose sole purpose was to take them back to the Ares Empire.
Of course, Empress Andraste wouldn't keep these prodigies in her territory for long. After she made sure that her warriors were pregnant, she would send these prodigies back to their homes loaded with treasures, and other precious artifacts for their troubles.
Because of this, the rulers of the various Kingdoms and Empires turned a blind eye to the Amazons' way of doing things. For them, as long as their geniuses were returned safely, a short vacation to the lands of the Amazons was considered as a good thing. This also allowed them to gain favors from Empress Andraste, which she would honor as a way to keep everyone happy.
This was one of the reasons why Lilith wanted to return home. She was afraid that, because she had been gone for a long time, her mother might have decided that she had failed, and would soon send an elite unit to hunt William down.
Truth be told, she wasn't worried about her Beloved. What she was worried about was that the Amazon Warriors who would be sent to abduct him would suffer a tragic end!
William kissed Lilith's forehead before nodding his head. He knew that Lilith had responsibilities as the Princess of the Amazons, so he wouldn't force her to accompany him. Also, he didn't know how dangerous this journey to the Demonic Continent would be. For him, it was best for Lilith to not involve herself in this dangerous mission.
"Tell your mother that when everything is over, I will have a private talk with her," William stated as he looked at Lilith with a serious expression. "Please remind her not to do anything underhanded. I don't want to hurt your people. Also, feel free to visit the Thousand Beast Domain anytime."
Lilith lightly touched her earring before nodding her head. "I know. I will visit the Thousand Beast Domain, so that you won't miss me too much."
"Good." William smiled. "I'll be waiting for you."
Lilith was about to say more, but she was interrupted when Princess Sidonie cleared her throat. The succubus Princess pried Lilith's hands off William and pulled him away.
"Will, do you want me to accompany you?" Princess Sidonie asked. "Although I haven't been to the Demonic Continent, I've read many things about it. Perhaps my knowledge could be put to good use if I go with you.
William firmly shook his head after hearing Princess Sidonie's proposal.
"Just stay here in the academy, Sidonie," William replied. "You're too beautiful and that will surely attract a lot of attention. If you go with me, wouldn't that make me the enemy of all the demons that we meet along the way?
"Did you also forget what happened in the Southern Continent? They tried to abduct as many teenagers as possible to be used as broodmares to increase their numbers. I'm sure that they would try to kidnap you the first opportunity they got."
William still hadn't forgotten what had happened many years ago when the Demons attacked the Hellan Royal Academy. If not for the fact that his Gramps, and the other veterans of Lont, had intervened, the Demons might have succeeded in their nefarious plans.
Fortunately they didn't and because of that, they were forced to acquire the broodmares they needed through the slave traders and the black market.
"Being beautiful is a sin," Princess Sidonie flipped her hair in order to imitate William when he was being narcissistic. "It's not my fault I was born beautiful."
The corner of William's lips twitched after the succubus Princess imitated one of his trademark lines. Even so, he forgave her because Princess Sidonie didn't lie. She was really beautiful to the point that any man or woman would be captivated by her, if she wished for it.
"I'll stay with Sidonie," Ashe commented from the side. "I know that you'll be worried if I leave her to her own devices. Also, someone needs to look after her when her Sin suddenly flares up."
"Thank you, Ashe," William smiled. "You really understand me."
"Of course I do. You and I share the same heart."
"Mmm."
Princess Sidonie, Ashe, and Lilith then turned to look at the pink-haired girl who was staring at the mountains in the East. Right now, the only one that could accompany William to the Demonic Lands was none other than Chiffon, so the three ladies wanted to entrust the Half-Elf to her.
Sensing her "sister's" stares, Chiffon turned around and nodded her head in understanding.
"Leave him to me," Chiffon declared. "I will not let him cheat on us during this trip."
The three girls nodded their heads in satisfaction, while the Half-Elf scratched his head in helplessness. He wanted to protest that he wasn't a womanizer, but after realizing that he already had five wives, and several fiances, the red-headed teenager was forced to swallow his words, and kept it to himself.
It was at that moment when the sun rose from the East, and bathed the world with its first rays of light.
Ashe, Princess Sidonie, Chiffon, and Lilith all moved to hold onto William as they stared at the beautiful scene in front of them. This was the last time that the five of them would look at the sunrise together before the red-headed teenager left for the Demonic Continent.
Although none of them voiced it out loud, they hoped with every fiber of their being that they may be reunited with their beloved in this place, and gaze at the sunrise together once again.
Chapter 955 – Reunion At The Gates Of Hestia Academy
After watching the sunrise with his wives and fiance, William went to find Zhu and Sha because he thought that bringing them along was a good idea.
Both of them were Demons, so if he needed some backup in the Demonic Continent, the two of them would be perfect for the job and wouldn't arouse any suspicions from the locals.
Soon, the time of parting came and Ashe, Princess Sidonie, Lilith, and Celeste stood at the gates of the academy to bid him goodbye. However, for some reason, Princess Aila, Princess Eowyn, Kenneth, and Pearl were also there.
The three other ladies, and gentleman, didn't know where William was planning to go because it was confidential. They just noticed that the Half-Elf's group was headed towards the gate, so they followed behind them.
Naturally, William's group stayed mum about the mission and simply bid their goodbyes to the red-headed teenager. Princess Aila, on the other hand, had a complicated look on her face as she looked at William. She had wanted to ask him a question, but the latter was leaving before she could have a proper talk with him.
In the end, she decided not to say anything and just wait for him to return. She believed that talking about her dreams right now would just make things complicated, and she didn't want the other party to think that she was making a big thing out of nothing.
Elliot and Conan wouldn't be accompanying William this time around, they would stay in the academy and keep him informed about the events that were happening.
"Take care, Will," Elliott said. "If you need our help again, don't hesitate to call us."
"Kekeke, no matter where you are, no matter where you go, our bonds will connect us together," Conan declared as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Even if you are going to fight against the Demon Lord, we will stand with you without fail. So, don't hesitate to summon us anytime."
William grinned as he shared a fist bump with his two familiars. He had experienced what it was like to be a true Familiamancer when Elliot and Conan merged with him. Without the two of them, fighting against the Gigantic Pseudo-God Apophis might have been more difficult if the red-headed teenager had fought him alone.
As William was about to leave, Kenneth walked towards him with a determined expression on his face.
"I'm going with you," Kenneth said.
"Hah?" William eyed the delicate-looking Elf with a surprised expression on his face.
Kenneth moved closer and handed William a piece of paper. The Half-Elf was curious about what his ex-roommate planned to do, so he took the paper and read its contents.
"I know that you are headed to the Demonic Continent to look for your Master, Celine. The Saintess wanted me to accompany you on your journey, and ensure that you are safe. Please, bring me along. I promise I won't get in your way."
William glanced at Kenneth then back at the paper in his hands. After pondering things for a bit, he then nodded his head. Elves were quite common in the Demonic Continent because most of them were captured slaves.
Having Kenneth around might help with his disguise, so having him around would also be a good thing. Also, Kenneth's ability was quite useful. Although he still hadn't experienced it, Princess Sidonie and Ashe acknowledged that it was a very troublesome ability that could turn the tides of battles if used properly.
"You can come with me, but on one condition," William said as he took out an item from his storage ring that he had secretly bought from the God Shop a few seconds ago. "You are going to wear this collar."
Princess Eowyn's and Pearl's bodies stiffened when they saw the silver collar in William's hand. On their way to the gate, Kenneth had told them that he would accompany the Half-Elf on his journey because it was a mission given to him by the Saintess.
As the Princess of the Elven Race, Princess Eowyn had no right to prevent Kenneth from doing his mission, especially a mission that came from the Saintess, whose rank was second only to the King of the Elves.
Pearl was also tempted to go, but Kenneth dissuaded her. Princess Eowyn couldn't be left alone without a guard to protect her, so Charmaine's older sister got the short end of the stick and could only do what she was told.
Contrary to what everyone expected, Kenneth only nodded his head, and didn't reject William's condition.
"Okay," Kenneth replied without batting an eye. "Put it on my neck."
"Are you sure about this?"
"I trust you."
William smiled because he didn't expect Kenneth to have complete faith in him. The collar in his hands was indeed a slave collar, but its effect was similar to the Collar of Wisteria. Anyone who wore it for a period of time would gain immunity from enslavement spells, and would no longer be able to be enslaved in the future.
After securely placing the collar on Kenneth's neck, William smudged a drop of his blood on its surface. The collar glowed faintly as it registered the Half-Elf as Kenneth's new master, which made the Elven Princess look at him with a serious expression on her face.
For Elves, being enslaved was a very tragic thing. No sane Elf would allow anyone to enslave them, so she wondered why Kenneth agreed to such a thing. Even though she knew that the son of the Saintess wasn't a bad person, it still left a bad aftertaste in her mouth.
"Good." William nodded. "Now you can accompany me. Let's go."
William then glanced at his wives and lovers one last time before waving his hand. Just as he was about to leave, he saw some movement at the corner of his eye, which made him pause.
A flying ship that was used to ferry people from the city to the academy appeared in his vision. This was a very common occurrence in Hestia Academy because most of the students used this mode of transportation to leave and return to the academy.
For some reason, William felt that this was no ordinary ship, so the Half-Elf narrowed his eyes to take a better look at it.
Standing on the ship's deck, an otherworldly beauty with long, light-blue hair stood with a smile on her face. Beside her, several Angorian Goats gathered and were looking at the gates of the academy with excited expressions on their faces.
They had already sensed that the red-headed teenager was close by, so they all gathered beside the beautiful lady with two horns protruding on her head because she was the leader of their herd.
William stood rooted in shock when his gaze landed on the beautiful lady who was looking back at him with a smile. He had already seen her once, and that encounter was something that he couldn't possibly forget in a short period of time.
"… Amalthea?" William muttered as the ship drew near. He didn't know if he was dreaming or not, because the lady in front of him was someone who had already turned into a constellation.
The change in the Half-Elf's expression was noticed by everyone, so they also looked in the direction he was looking in.
When Ashe saw the familiar looking lady on the ship's deck, her eyes widened in surprise because she never expected that William's foster mother would come to Hestia Academy to look for him.
Chapter 956 – Perhaps You Wanted To Drink Some Milk First?
William looked at Amalthea with a dumbfounded expression on his face because he didn't expect to see her in this place and time.
There was never an instance where he dreamed that he would meet that beautiful lady again, but lo and behold, she was now standing right in front of him, with a gentle smile on her face that made William's heart skip a beat.
'Optimus, I'm not dreaming, right?' William asked the System just to make sure that he was not seeing things.
< You're not dreaming. >
'Then, is she who I think she is?' William inquired. His gaze then landed on the goats that were standing beside her and a confused look appeared on his face. 'Also, are those my goats? Why are they with her? Where is Ella?'
< It would be best if you ask that lady your questions. I'm sure that she will definitely give you the answer you are looking for. >
Optimus didn't want to confirm or deny any of William's suspicions. The System had been in the know that Ella was special, but it didn't know her exact origin. Only when William had met Dias, in that alternate world did Optimus realize who the red-headed teenager's foster mother really was.
Ashe glanced at Ella then back at William with a complicated look on her face. Seeing William's confusion, she was confident that he was also not aware about her true appearance. This made her believe that Ella had finally chosen this time to show William who she really was because he had already reached an age where he would be able to cope with this shocking revelation.
Princess Sidonie, Chiffon, and Lilith, who still hadn't met Ella in the past, frowned. The way the Half-Elf was looking at the light-blue haired lady, whose beauty slightly surpassed that of Princess Sidonie, raised alarm bells in their heads.
As soon as the flying ship docked at the port, the blue-haired lady stepped out on the makeshift bridge with steady steps, but deep inside, she wanted to run towards William and give him a tight hug.
Naturally, the Angorian Goats followed behind her which caused a scene in the entrance of the academy.
The boys who saw Ella were mesmerized by her beauty, which made them forget the fact that several fluffy, white, goats were following behind her, like little ducklings following their mother.
The girls on the other hand, ignored Ella and focused their attention on the goats, which gave them the strong urge to hug and cuddle them.
Ella stopped a few meters away from William, and gazed at him with tenderness. It had been a while since she had last seen him, and the adorable little baby she had raised with love and care was now a handsome teenager who had made many achievements that took the world by storm.
"It's been a long time, Will," Ella said with a smile. "Won't you give me a hug?"
William didn't respond right away. Instead, he looked at the light-blue haired lady in front of him with a serious expression on his face.
"You are… Amalthea, right?" William inquired.
"Yes," Ella replied.
An amused expression appeared on her face. Originally, she planned to reveal her identity to William right off the bat, but seeing the look on his face gave her the strong urge to tease him for a bit.
"Didn't you turn into a constellation?" William asked again. "Also, what are you doing here? Why are you with my goats? Where is Ella?"
The Half-Elf had long scanned the group of goats and didn't see his foster mother among them. This made him a bit anxious, but watching the reactions of Chronos and the others, it made William feel that something wasn't right.
"The answer to your first question is yes. I did turn into a constellation," Ella replied with a mischievous smile that made everyone who saw it feel their hearts skip a beat. "As to why I am here, I came here to meet you. Chronos, and the others traveled with me from the Southern Continent because they missed you as well. As to where Ella is…"
Ella paused as she gave William a pouting look that made his heart tremble.
"Don't you recognize me, Will?" Ella asked.
It was only a simple question, and yet the aftershock it caused was profound.
Princess Sidonie was a smart person, and even though the beautiful lady in front of her didn't say anything explicit, it was very easy for her to connect the dots. As someone who had interacted with William in the Southern Continent after the war, she had seen him tending to the goats from time to time.
When Ella glanced in her direction, the Succubus Princess' mouth opened wide in disbelief. The lady's action confirmed her suspicion and it made him question whether or not she was going crazy.
William's reaction was more profound than Princess Sidonie's. As someone who had spent a lot of time with his foster mother, he already understood many things about her. Although he didn't notice it right away due to the lady's overwhelming presence, it was only a matter of time before he realized who she really was.
"M-Mama?" William asked. Although he was still half in doubt, his gut instinct was telling him that he was right.
Ella didn't answer right away. Instead, she remained silent as if digesting the endearment that William had used to call her when he was still young. It had been several years since the Half-Elf had called her in this manner, and she was half tempted to spoil him, like she did back then.
"Yes," Ella replied. "However, you're already old. You no longer need to call me in that manner. Just call me Ella from now on."
William's pupils shrank after hearing the confirmation of the lady that was in front of him. His mind froze for several moments as he tried to digest the big revelation that shook his entire being.
'Optimus, am I dreaming?'
< No. That is really Ella. The goat that fed you milk and raised you until your early teenage years. >
William was still in a state of shock that he didn't notice that Ella had already walked up to him. Only when the beautiful lady had hugged him did he finally understand that everything he had seen and heard was real.
"What's wrong?" Ella whispered in William's ears. "Are you so happy to see me that you forgot how to speak, or perhaps you want to drink some milk first? If it's the latter then I'm afraid that we'll have to postpone that until it's just the two of us. I don't want to be attacked by these beautiful ladies, who have already made their vows to follow you for life."
Her tone was laced with mischief as she eyed William's lovers who were looking at her as if they had seen their ultimate love rival.
They didn't know if she was joking or not. However, one thing was clear. There was no way that they would just sit by and watch as the otherworldly beauty… give their husband a taste of her precious milk.
Chapter 957 – A Third Uninvited Party
William didn't know what to do, or what to think. He didn't even hear Ella teasing him about drinking her milk again.
Right now, his mind was in a mess. It was not easy for him to accept that his foster mother was actually the Goddess that he had seen in Dias' world.
"Back then, Dias threw a feast to honor my arrival," William muttered as he stood rooted on the ground. "All I drank was wine, which was served by Hebe. However, when I woke up, I tasted milk on my lips. Was that your doing?"
Ella pulled back a little to gaze at William's eyes. She didn't have any intention of hiding that part from him, so she nodded her head and admitted that it was her doing.
"Have you been hiding your true form since I was a baby?" William asked.
This time, Ella shook her head.
"When we first met, I have no recollection of who I was," Ella answered, meeting William's gaze head on. This was her way of showing his foster son that she wasn't lying as she continued her explanation. "I only remembered a bit when you gave me this."
Ella lightly tapped the silver bell on her neck. It was the gift that the God of Shepherd, David, had given him many years ago, and the Half-Elf had given it to Ella as a gift.
"I know you have a lot of questions, and I am willing to answer them all," Ella said softly. "But, this is not the place for such a discussion. Should we go someplace more private?"
It was at this moment when William remembered where they were. Several students had already gathered just inside the gate and watched the otherworldly beauty with dazed expressions, while inwardly cursing at William for gaining another beauty to add to his harem.
If looks could kill, the Half-Elf would have already died a million times over.
William scratched his head as he thought of a way to solve this problem. He was supposed to go to the Demonic Continent, but with Ella's appearance, his plan suddenly halted mid-way.
Sensing his internal struggle, Ella decided to take the initiative and held William's hand.
"Come with me," Ella said as he pulled Wiliam towards the flying ship. "This ship belongs to me, so we can talk inside without worrying about others hearing our conversation."
William nodded and allowed himself to be led to the flying ship by the beautiful lady whose delicate hands made him feel warm and content.
Chiffon hurriedly followed behind him because she had no intention of letting her husband go anywhere with a lady whom she hadn't met before. Kenneth followed behind her. Although it didn't show on his face, he was equally shocked at the revelation that he had seen and heard.
He knew who Ella was and also understood how deeply William cared for her. Back then, when they were still in the Hellan Royal Academy, the Half-Elf had fought for the right to have her stay in the same room as him, which had shocked many students from the Martial Division.
He was very curious about how things would turn out now that Ella had finally reunited with William. The silver-haired Elf could sense that things weren't going to be peaceful now that the Half-Elf's foster mother had arrived on the scene.
Zhu and Sha on the other hand didn't know about Ella. For them, as long as the beautiful lady didn't show any malice, or threaten William, they would not do anything to harm her. Of course, as individuals who had spent over a thousand years in the Celestial Realm, they could feel the Divinity that radiated from Ella's body.
They knew that if they were to really fight her, the chances of them winning were close to zero.
More than anything else, they were very curious about how such an individual became William's foster mother. Both of them knew that the red-headed teenager was different from the rest, but they didn't expect that his foster Mama was a former high-ranking Goddess.
Although much of her powers were gone, someone like her was an existence that could never be provoked by any mortal living under the heavens.
When the ship finally left the port, the crowd that had gathered at the entrance finally dispersed. Ashe, Princess Sidonie, and Lilith looked at the flying ship with worry, while Princess Eowyn, Princess Aila, and Pearl looked at it with curious gazes.
The three had only heard bits and pieces of William's and Ella's conversation, but what they heard was enough to shock them to the core, especially Princess Aila and Princess Eowyn who had seen the "goat Ella" back in the Southern Continent.
—–
"Is this one of your wives?" Ella asked as she eyed Chiffon. "She looks adorable."
The pink-haired girl didn't reply and simply latched onto William, while looking at Ella with suspicion. She was like a mother hen protecting her chick, and would not allow a random stranger, especially someone more beautiful, endowed with well shaped breasts and a curvaceous figure, who made her feel inferior, take him from her.
"Yes," William replied. "Her name is Chiffon. She is my third wife, Ma–, I mean Ella."
Ella raised an eyebrow. "Third wife? How many wives do you have now?"
She knew that William was being chased by many girls, and she didn't mind him having many wives. But, as someone who had raised him, she didn't want the Half-Elf to end up like Dias, who was an expert skirt chaser.
"Right now, I have five wives," William replied, "and three fiances. You already know who Est is, so I won't say anything more about her. There is also the Amazon Princess, Lilith, whom I have recognized as my fiance. The last one is my Master, Celine. Although we didn't talk much about our relationship, as her first man, I have to take responsibility for my actions."
"So five wives, and three fiances," Ella nodded. "I met with Est before I left the Southern Continent. She misses you terribly, so you should go and visit her as soon as possible. As for Celine… I had a feeling that you will definitely make her yours once you grow up."
"Ma– I mean, Ella, actually I plan to go to the Demonic Continent to look for Celine," William stated. "There is this Elven Prophecy, which talks about this Prince of Darkness. My goal is to find Celine and bring her to Hestia Academy, so she can hide behind its walls until the prophecy's duration comes to an end."
When Ella heard about the Elven Prophecy, she didn't say anything and simply nodded her head. She was aware of this prophecy when William was still young. Right now, the prophecy was about to become a reality.
Ella knew that once that "being" made her move, the laws of the world would be flipped, and no one under the heavens would be able to stop her from doing what she wanted.
"I will go with you to the Demonic Continent," Ella said with a firmness that wouldn't take no for an answer. "Let's find Celine and get her out of there. The sooner you are behind the walls of Hestia Academy, the safer you will be."
"Okay." William nodded.
The Half-Elf thought that Ella was talking about Celine's safety. However, he failed to realize that Ella wasn't talking about the beautiful Elf who had taught William Dark Magic.
No. She was talking about his safety.
As the flying ship changed course and headed towards the Demonic Continent, a certain Primordial Goddess chuckled from high above the Temple of the Ten Thousand Gods. Although a single move from her could make her wishes a reality, she deemed that it would be too boring to do that.
Since that was the case, she decided to just watch from the sidelines and see how the events would unfold.
From her Obsidian Throne, the Goddess gazed into the void. A small frown appeared on her beautiful face as someone caught her attention.
"Looks like we will have some gatecrashers this time around," the Primordial Goddess said softly. "Unfortunately, I can't do anything about it. I just have to see whether or not you are willing to take that step, so that the gamble between the two of us can finally see the light of day."
As someone who had lived since time immemorial, she understood more than anything else that even the most well-thought out plans could easily be shattered when a third, uninvited party, arrived at the scene and messed everything up.
Chapter 958 – It Is Also Time For Us To Make Our Move
"Did he leave?" Byron, the Headmaster of Hestia Academy asked Celeste who was standing in front of him.
"Yes," Celeste answered. "He's now headed towards the Demonic Continent."
Byron sighed as he stood up from his seat and looked outside of his window. He gazed in the direction of the Demonic Continent as a frown appeared on his face. Inside Hestia Academy, his words were law, and anyone who dared oppose him would find themselves in big trouble.
However, right now, that same man who stood above the continent felt weariness deep in his bones. An unprecedented event was about to happen, and even now, he still wondered if he made the right decision in sending William to the Demon Lands to retrieve Celine, and bring her back to the academy so that she could be protected.
"Celeste, you know, I considered sealing William inside this academy," Byron stated. "However, I also know that it will be an unfair thing to do to him. Right now, he is just one among the many candidates that is suspected of becoming the prophesied prince. If I really lock him up, he might come to hate me and the academy.
"As the son of the Dungeon Conqueror, and the ruler of the Floor of Asgard, many expectations and responsibilities are placed on his shoulders. Locking him up will just breed resentment and, if I angered him, I'm afraid that even if he is not the prophesied prince, I will be creating an enemy that will not lose to that prophecy."
Celeste quieted down. As someone who was more deeply involved in the prophecy than most, she also shared the same thoughts as the Headmaster. When she first came to see William, her intention was to gauge whether he was indeed the prophesied Prince. However, after interacting with him, she wished more than anything else that she was wrong.
While she represented the Virtue of Chastity, Celeste didn't mind getting her hands dirty in order to protect herself and her sister from the person that was said to claim one of them as his bride. There was a time when she was tempted to end William's life, as well as the lives of the other candidates in order to prevent the prophecy from coming true.
However, she just couldn't take it upon herself in killing innocent people just to protect herself. Deep inside, she was afraid that doing so was a mistake. If she really killed them, and they turned out to be innocent, Celeste knew that the guilt she would feel would haunt her for the rest of her life.
"Headmaster, what are the chances of William being the one in the prophecy?" Celeste asked. This was the question that she wanted to know the answer to more than anyone else in the world.
If the boy, whom her sister had chosen to be her only Disciple, and the person who had also gained the Familiamancer Job Class just like her, turned out to be their enemy then it would just be too ironic, to say the least.
"His chances of being the one in the prophecy?" Byron snorted. "The same as everyone else, fifty-fifty. Right now, there are two hundred possible candidates that the agents of our academy have found. Perhaps, there are more in some reclusive regions that even our eyes cannot see.
Celeste, I'm saying this now. Don't leave the academy anytime soon. As long as you are here, you will be safe. But beyond these walls… you're just as defenseless as a newborn babe. No matter how strong Chloee is, or how smart Claire is, they won't be enough to save you."
""Perhaps, the only saving grace for you is that fifty percent chance that the chosen bride will be your sister and not you. Although it is a bit hard to swallow, this is the only protection that can be afforded to you, if and when that prophesied time comes."
Byron sighed for the second time as he returned to his chair. If he could be high-handed, he would forcefully abduct everyone on the list and have them all sealed in the deepest prison under the academy.
"What are the Elves up to?" Byron inquired. "They must be making preparations on their end as well, no?"
Celeste nodded. "I received a letter from my grandfather saying that the Elves are fortifying the defenses on the outer perimeter of the Silverwind Continent. They are also building large-scale magic barriers that will cover the land and sky of the ancestral lands.
"Although I don't know how much help these will be in the future, it is still better than doing nothing. Aside from that, they are also gathering the prodigies of the young generation, so that they can send them to a safe place, just in case the worst case scenario happens.
"They are also ramping up the training of the army, so that they will be able to respond to any kind of threats that will come to the Elven Lands. The Guardians have also finished recuperating from the injuries they had sustained in the battle on the Silvermoon Continent.
"With them taking the lead, the Elves are feeling more hopeful about the supposed tragedy that will befall them."
Byron nodded his head in appreciation when he heard what preparations were being made in the Silvermoon Continent. Although the Elves had suffered a setback in their conquest of the Southern Continent, they still remained one of the strongest races in the world. Even the Humans would have to think twice if they planned to launch an invasion on the Elven Lands.
It was simply unbelievable to think that a single Prince would be able to turn the tables on the Elves despite their race's strength and superiority.
"It's also time for us to make our move," Byron stated. "We cannot just sit on the sidelines and watch as things unfold. Tell the Watchers that they are ordered to mobilize the moment something unexpected happens in the Demonic Continent. Although we cannot openly oppose this new enemy, that doesn't mean that we can't support our allies from the shadows."
Celine nodded her head. The time had come to let the strongest warriors of Hestia Academy mobilize. They were the strongest warriors of Humanity, and none of them could be taken lightly.
The peace and security that Hestia Academy had enjoyed for the past hundreds of years was all due to their relentless effort in weeding out the threats and nipping them in the bud, before they could even grow strong enough to cause harm to the world that they called home.
Chapter 959 – Telltale Signs of Invasion
"And so it begins," the Emperor of the Kraetor Empire, Emperor Leonidas, muttered as he read the report given to him by the Grand Archmage, Evexius.
He had ordered everyone to leave the throne room because the things that they needed to discuss were of the utmost importance. Within the Kraetor Empire, only the throne room of the Royal Palace was the safest place to discuss such matters because of the quintuplet layers of protection that had been embedded within its walls.
"All the Kingdoms and Empires in the Central Continent are prioritizing the defense of their respective territories," Evexius stated. "It's really funny how a prophecy, that is not even related to us, can cause such things to escalate in this manner. It is as if everyone is preparing for an invasion that will raze the continent to the ground."
Emperor Leonidas shook his head. "Although you laugh at them for doing such a thing, I can't do the same, old friend. As a ruler, it is my noble obligation to ensure that my kingdom will be safe from harm. After you leave this room, make sure to summon the generals that watch over our borders. We also need to increase the number of men manning the walls of our fortresses, just in case our worst fears come to light."
Evexius nodded his head. "Should we also ask an elite force to escort Princess Sidonie back here to the Kreator Empire?"
"That won't be necessary. There is no safer place on the continent than Hestia Academy. I'm even tempted to send all of my grandchildren there to take shelter for the time being."
"Your Majesty, this is a prophecy that targeted the Elves. Surely, we don't need to make these kinds of preparations on our end?"
Emperor Leonidas leaned back on his throne as he lightly tapped its armrest.
"Old friend, as much as I want to agree with you, there is this nagging feeling at the back of my head that I can't ignore," Emperor Leonidas explained. "I might just be overthinking things, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
"The Demonic Continent has also been quite active as of late. Need I remind you that we are the second closest Empire to its borders? If that bastard Demon Lord suddenly feels the need to invade the Human Continent, our Empire will be the second one to clash with him."
Evexius frowned. "But, aren't you and the current Demon Lord friends?"
"Friends?" Emperor Leonidas scoffed. "I'd rather dine with murderers and criminals than to call that person a friend. I'm sure that all these years, he has wanted to stab me in the back repeatedly. If not for the fact that I am constantly on my guard against him, that bastard might have already succeeded in what he planned to do."
"Is this because of April?" Evexius inquired. He already knew about the feud between Emperor Leonidas and the Demon Lord. Chiffon coming to the Kraetor Empire to study was mostly because of Emperor Leonidas' concern for the last living proof of his strong feelings for Chiffon's mother, April.
"This has nothing to do with April," Emperor Leonidas answered. "Old friend, just believe me and make the necessary preparations. After several years of peace, I'm afraid that the order of the continent is about to shatter once again."
—–
Inside the Thousand Beast Domain…
The Angorian Goats grazed happily on the grass that William had procured from the God Shop. He had planted these grasses on the plains of his domain in huge numbers because there were several members of his herd that were herbivores.
The trip went pretty smooth at first, but they encountered a few problems along the way.
According to Ella, she had noticed several presences paying close attention to their journey, so Wiliam had personally dealt with these observers and knocked them unconscious.
In order to be lowkey, William ordered Soleil to fly high above the heavens and head to the borders of the Demonic Continent, while William, Ella, Chiffon, Zhu, Sha, and the goats, waited inside the Thousand Beast Domain.
This was the only way that he could think of to evade the eyes of those who were paying close attention to their movements.
Right now, William was currently lying on Ella's lap as he told her everything he had done whle the two of them were away from each other. Back when he was little, he would often take a nap while lying on her soft and fluffy coat.
Now, he was lying on her long, smooth legs, which were surprisingly comfortable.
After coming to know that Ella was William's foster mother, all the hostilities that Chiffon and Lilith felt earlier disappeared completely. In fact, the two were even doing their best to stay on good terms with their mother-in-law, even though Ella only served as William's foster mother when he was young.
Princess Sidonie had also come to accept this shocking revelation. However, seeing that Ella was a level more beautiful than her, she was paying close attention to the interaction between the mother and son pair.
Although everything looked amiable on the surface, the Succubus Princess noticed the loving gazes that the two shared with each other. This gaze was very different from the one William gave his wives and lovers, and it made her feel a bit jealous to see how special Ella was in her husband's heart.
< This can't be helped. How can we possibly measure up against someone who raised him since he was a baby? The way I see it, it's just familiar love, Sidonie. Don't think too much on how they interact with each other. >
'I know, I'm just feeling a bit insecure,' Princess Sidonie admitted her feelings to her other half. 'Times like this make me realize that, even though I've studied many things about Darling, there are still parts that I have missed.'
< This is one of your bad habits. You over analyze things. Just be yourself and interact with our mother-in-law. The way I see it, she's perfectly fine with William having many wives. When William told her about his meeting with his future daughters, Ella was genuinely surprised and happy for him. She couldn't be that bad, right? >
'That's true.' Princess Sidonie nodded.
Although she and the other girls, besides Chiffon, couldn't accompany William on his journey, they could still meet him in the Thousand Beast Domain anytime they wanted. Deep inside, everyone was very happy with this arrangement.
'But, the latest report we got from our spy is a bit concerning,' Princess Sidonie stated. 'The Demon Race is building up their forces along their borders. Although it is still too early to tell, these are the telltale signs that they had plans to invade. Should we warn the Kraetor Empire about what is happening? Do you think Grandfather already knows about this?'
< Although I think he already knows, it will be best if we still send him a report just to be on the safe side. Over a million strong Demon Army is now gathering at the borders. I'm very sure that their numbers are going to increase still. >
Although she had refrained from charming people en masse, Princess Sidonie had still some people planted in the different factions in the world that provided her with regular updates on what was happening in their respective territories.
As someone who always prioritized information battles, this was something that she took upon herself as William's wife. Her husband was a very capable individual, and the only thing she could do to match his brawn was her brains.
After receiving a report about what is happening all over the world, Princess Sidonie had come up with one conclusion.
Something big was happening in the Demonic Continent.
Whatever that thing was, she was sure that her husband would find out about it soon enough.
Chapter 960 – The Grudge Of The Demon Lord
Seated in the throne room of the palace, the Demon Lord, as well as Chiffon's father, Luciel, eyed his eldest son, Felix, with a serious expression on his face.
"Is it true that the ancient ruins have been found?" Luciel asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Felix answered. "I swear upon my life that what I said is true."
Luciel snorted as he slammed his fist on the armrest of his throne. "Your life is worthless, what I need are results. Tell me, how far have your subordinates explored the ruins?"
Felix gritted his teeth as he answered his father's questions. "Not far. The entrance has a very powerful array that only allows those who wield Dark Magic to enter."
"Then send all the demons who can wield dark magic to investigate," Luciel stated.
"We already did, Your Majesty," Felix replied. "However, none of them have come out yet. We are still waiting for the results of their investigation."
Luciel raised an eyebrow as he listened to his son's report. "None of them have come out? How long have they been inside the ruins?"
"Two weeks. We haven't heard from them since."
"Two weeks?"
The Demon Lord rubbed his chin as he pondered on what this meant for the Demon Kingdom. There were only two possibilities that he could think of.
The first one was that the Demons who entered the ruins had all died. The second one was that they had found something incredible inside and were unable to come out due to certain circumstances.
For Luciel, the second option was the best option because not only did it bode well for his kingdom, it also meant that they were one step closer to having their revenge.
"How is the search for the candidates in our domain going?" Luciel asked. "How many have you gathered?"
"All thirty three candidates have been gathered and are currently waiting outside of the Ancient Ruins," Felix answered. "As soon as our explorers have returned, we will continue with phase two of our plans."
"Very good, at least you can do something decent if you try hard enough."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Luciel made a gesture for Felix to leave, and the latter was more than happy to leave the throne room as fast as he could. When the Prince of the Demon kingdom passed through the doors, one of the ministers that had stayed silent voiced their opinion.
"Your Majesty, after we discovered the Ancient Ruins, the level of magic power in our Domain has increased by two hundred percent. This is the perfect opportunity to cultivate the young talents that will play a major role in our glorious conquest of the Central Continent."
Another minister stepped forward and bowed in front of Luciel before voicing his opinion as well.
"Your Majesty, the Humans, Elves, and the other races have noticed the movements of our armies," the minister said. "I think mobilizing our forces to increase the defenses of our strongholds in the south of our Domain was a premature move on our part.
"Not only did it alert the forces in the Central Continent, they also doubled the number of soldiers manning their fortresses, which are on the borders of our kingdom."
Luciel scoffed at the minister, which made the latter subconsciously take a step back.
"You call my decision premature?" Luciel asked in a tone that reeked of killing intent. "You dare question my order?"
"N-No, Your Majesty! I only think that we should hav—ahhh!"
The minister wasn't able to finish his words because a bastard sword had embedded itself in his chest. Right behind him, a demon with red-skin snarled as it pushed the minister's body away, making him fall face first on the floor.
"Our Lord never makes a mistake," the demon with red skin stated. "You're just too pathetic to understand the reasoning behind it. This Kingdom doesn't need pathetic people like you."
The Minister coughed out a mouthful of blood before he drew his last breath. In his dying moments, he deeply regretted voicing his thoughts for everyone to hear.
"The reason why I increased the forces on our borders was to put the Humans on alert in order to prevent them from spying on what we are currently doing," Luciel explained to everyone in the throne room.
Although he didn't like doing this, the different heads of each Demonic Clan were present, and he needed to make sure that all of them were with him in this grand undertaking that would make, not only the Elves, but all the races in the world to tremble in fear when their forces crossed their borders and invaded the rich and fertile lands of the Central Continent.
"Your Majesty is wise," the red-skinned demon praised Luciel with a tone of reverence. "As long as they think that we are going to invade them, they will use all of their manpower to monitor the forces on our border. They won't have enough men to send to try to find out what we are really doing behind the scenes. This is truly a brilliant masterplan to use their overly suspicious nature to our advantage."
Luciel nodded. Although he didn't like excessive bootlicking, this was part of the politics in the Demonic Continent. Only those with power had the final say in everything.
After losing his arm in the Silvermoon Continent fighting against William's father, Maxwell, the Demon Lord had almost lost his seat of power due to uprisings in the Demon Lands after his failure to conquer the Silvermoon Continent.
Many thought of this as a weakness and tried to usurp him, but all of them failed in the end. Even without his left arm, Luciel's position as Demon Lord wasn't just for show. He also had the skills to back it up, which made all of his adversaries lose their lives under his blade.
Since then, those who dared to challenge his position had been biding their time in the shadows. They were just waiting for Luciel to make another mistake, before all of them swooped in for the kill.
Right now, What Luciel needed was an overwhelming victory in order to solidify his position as the Lord of all Demons. If he can show the Demonic Clans that he was still capable of leading them then his position would remain unchallenged.
The good news was that the Prophecy of the Elves had said that the Prince would be born in the Demonic Continent. This meant that he would have the upper hand once this prophecy came to pass.
Luciel intended to use the Prince Candidate to do his bidding and to conquer the Silvermoon Continent in his name. Once he had fulfilled his revenge, he would then set his eyes on the Human lands, which were ripe for the picking.
"It's quite unfortunate that you're no longer alive, Maxwell." Luciel sneered. "I have long dreamed of paying you back for what you did to me."
For Luciel, getting his arms cut off by Maxwell was the greatest humiliation of his life. If an opportunity presented itself, he would definitely pay the dungeon conqueror tenfold for making his life a living hell ever since that fateful day, more than nineteen years ago.